How did we get to the final week of the regular season already?
There’s a lot at stake for the College Football Playoff. Rivalry week only featured two games between ranked teams, but that hasn’t taken away from what’s been an entertaining day.
The early portion of the day already delivered some big surprises, with Michigan shocking No. 2 Ohio State 13-10 to end OSU’s Big Ten title hopes. And then, No. 6 Miami saw its ACC title hopes slip away with a 42-38 loss to unranked Syracuse. Might that cost Miami a shot at the playoff as well?
One team that won’t need to worry about its playoff status is No. 5 Notre Dame, which secured its spot in the field with a 49-35 win over USC. And amid all the chaos, could No. 13 Alabama perhaps sneak into the playoff after a 28-14 win over Auburn in the Iron Bowl?
Here’s what we’re watching late on Saturday. (Scroll down for live updates.)
No. 3 Texas at No. 20 Texas A&M
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: Texas -5.5 | Total: 48.5
It’s fantastic that these two longtime rivals are finally playing each other again. And it’s made even better by the stakes. The winner will play Georgia for the SEC title on Dec. 7. The Longhorns and Aggies haven’t played since 2011, when Texas needed a late field goal in College Station for a 27-25 win. That was A&M’s final game in the Big 12 before moving to the SEC.
No. 24 Kansas State at No. 18 Iowa State
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: Fox | Line: Iowa State -3 | Total: 51.5
Farmageddon has serious Big 12 title implications. Both teams are alive for the conference title, though Kansas State will know by kickoff if it still has a chance. If there’s a four-way tie at 7-2, Iowa State is in the Big 12 title game against Arizona State. If the Cyclones lose, they’re out of the title race.
Live103 updates
-
Texas A&M stuffed on 4th down!
The Texas defense holds strong on 4th down at the Longhorns 10-yard line.
A long drive ends up empty for the Aggies.
-
Texas A&M on the move early
The Aggies get the ball first to start this massive SEC matchup, and they’ve quickly moved the ball into the red zone.
-
Touchdown Iowa State!
The Cyclones are on the board first after the turnover. Rocco Becht found Jayden Higgins for a 15-yard touchdown.
-
Iowa State recovers fumble!
The Cyclones take advantage of a sloppy option pitch by K-State on the opening possession of the game, recovering a fumble.
-
Indiana starts off hot
Indiana scored first in its rivalry game with Purdue and then Jailin Walker just came down with this wild interception.
-
Final: Notre Dame 49, USC 35
No. 5 Notre Dame is in the playoff with an 11-1 record. The Irish will almost surely host a first-round game.
-
Final: Alabama 28, Auburn 14
No. 13 Alabama keeps its slim playoff hopes alive with a win in the Iron Bowl. With all then chaos today, can a 9-3 Crimson Tide team sneak into the field?
-
ANOTHER Notre Dame pick-6!
Xavier Watts takes it 100 yards to the house. And that will for sure put a cap on this one.
-
Final: Syracuse 42, Miami 38
Syracuse pulls off a shocking comeback win over No. 6 Miami, which loses out on a shot at the ACC title game and may be in peril of missing the playoff. The ACC title game will now be Clemson vs. SMU next week.
-
Miami penalty gifts Syracuse key first down
A brutal offside penalty on Miami’s Mishael Powell gives Syracuse a fresh set of downs inside the 2-minute timeout.
Miami has to burn its final timeout, which means this game is close to over.
-
Arizona State advances to Big 12 title game
With a blowout win over rival Arizona, the Sun Devils are the first team to secure a spot in the Big 12 championship. They’ll either play Iowa State, BYU or Colorado, depending on tonight’s results.
-
Notre Dame pick-6!
Jayden Maiava is picked off in the red zone and Notre Dame’s Christian Gray takes it all the way back for a 99-yard touchdown return. That may just seal it for the Irish.
-
Miami settles for FG
A long Miami drive stalls just inside the 10, so its forced to kick a short field goal.
Syracuse still leads 42-28 with 3:42 remaining.
-
Penn State secures Big Ten title spot
Penn State is officially in the conference title game, where it’ll face Oregon next week in Indianapolis. PSU got the help it needed from Ohio State’s loss to Michigan earlier today.
-
Gadget play fails for Auburn
-
Touchdown USC!
The Trojans have made it a one-score game in Los Angeles after this short pass from Jayden Maiava to Ja’Kobi Lane.
-
Touchdown Syracuse!
The Orange have the lead once again LeQuint Allen scores from 3 yards out.
Miami needs a 4th-quarter rally to keep its ACC title hopes alive.
-
Auburn recovers fumble!
The Tigers have it right back after a fumble by Jalen Milroe.
-
Touchdown ASU
The Sun Devils are pouring it on in the Territorial Cup. The latest is this 64-yard catch and run by Derek Eusebio.
-
Touchdown Miami!
The Hurricanes have tied things up in Syracuse. Xavier Restrepo had a long catch that got them down to the 1-yard line and then Damien Martinez ran it in from there.
There’s just over 13 minutes left in the game.
Miami 35, Syracuse 35
