From last week’s rankings we saw 6 teams lose but only 1 team drops out of the 18 Stripes Top 20 poll this week. A few of these teams really suffered ugly losses that in different ways ruined their seasons. Meanwhile, Notre Dame keeps moving on up!
Check out the latest 18S Top Poll ahead of Thanksgiving weekend:
18 Stripes Top 20 Poll
| RANK | TEAM | RECORD | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 11-0 | 16-6 W at Kentucky |
| 2 | Ohio State | 11-0 | 43-30 W at Maryland |
| 3 | TCU | 11-0 | 29-28 W at Baylor |
| 4 | Michigan | 11-0 | 19-17 W vs. Illinois |
| 5 | USC (+1) | 10-1 | 48-45 W at UCLA |
| 6 | LSU (+1) | 9-2 | 41-10 vs. UAB |
| 7 | Clemson (+1) | 10-1 | 40-10 W vs. Miami |
| 8 | Alabama (+2) | 9-2 | 34-0 W vs. Austin Peay |
| 9 | Oregon (+2) | 9-2 | 20-17 W vs. Utah |
| 10 | Tennessee (-5) | 9-2 | 63-38 L at South Carolina |
| 11 | Penn State (+4) | 9-2 | 55-10 W at Rutgers |
| 12 | Washington (+4) | 9-2 | 54-7 W vs. Colorado |
| 13 | Notre Dame (+4) | 8-3 | 44-0 W vs. Boston College |
| 14 | Kansas State (+4) | 8-3 | 48-31 W at West Virginia |
| 15 | UCLA (-2) | 8-3 | 48-45 L vs. USC |
| 16 | Utah (-2) | 8-3 | 20-17 L at Oregon |
| 17 | North Carolina (-8) | 9-2 | 21-17 L vs. Georgia Tech |
| 18 | Ole Miss (-6) | 8-3 | 42-27 L at Arkansas |
| 19 | Florida State (+1) | 8-3 | 49-17 W vs. Louisiana |
| 20 | Cincinnati (NR) | 9-2 | 23-3 W at Temple |
National Storylines
SMU turned it over 5 times and totaled 31 first downs in a 59-24 loss at Tulane. The Green Wave remain tied for the lead in the AAC.
Wisconsin trailed 14-3 at Nebraska but rallied to win 15-14 following a Graham Mertz 1-yard touchdown run.
Vanderbilt’s losing streak in the SEC was broken last week. Now, they have a winning streak! The Fighting Clark Lea’s upset Florida 31-24 in Nashville. They’ll need to beat Tennessee this weekend to gain bowl eligibility.
Indiana outlasted Michigan State in double overtime. The Hoosiers only managed 11 first downs and were almost doubled up in total yardage. The Spartans now fall to 5-6 on the season.
The TCU-Baylor game was a fun back and forth affair with the Horned Frogs nailing a 40-yard field goal as time expired to keep their undefeated season alive.
Illinois almost did it! They were up 17-10 and blew it. Michigan hit a late field goal to escape and remain unbeaten ahead of The Game.
Louisville has largely been off the radar this season but added to NC State’s recent misery with a 25-10 win. It can’t feel good to lose to Boston College and then let this happen.
No problems for the Texas offense this week as they total 539 yards in a 55-14 blowout win at Kansas.
Sad news for Tennessee as they lose quarterback Hendon Hooker to a torn ACL. The Vols traveled to South Carolina this past weekend and were embarrassed 63-38 and crashed out of a playoff bid. I’m sure Tennessee won’t be wearing the orange helmets again any time soon. Former 5-star recruit Spencer Rattler put together his best career game with 438 passing yards and 6 touchdowns.
Oklahoma raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter during Bedlam then held on to defeat Oklahoma State 28-13.
In a low-scoring game featuring a combined 6 turnovers, Oregon got past Utah 20-17 to remain in the Pac-12 Championship Game driver seat.
OUT:
No. 19 UCF
Navy only managed 3.87 yards per play and didn’t complete a pass. It doesn’t matter, they beat UCF 17-14 in Orlando.
Opponent Watch
Ohio State (11-0): Maryland wouldn’t go away until a late sack/fumble was returned for a touchdown and the Buckeyes escaped a tough road game 43-30.
Marshall (7-4): Now 3 straight wins for the Herd as they beat Georgia Southern 23-10 on the road.
California (4-7): The Bears scored 21 points in the 4th quarter to beat rivals Stanford in The Big Game.
North Carolina (9-2): The Tar Heels led 17-7 at halftime but in one of the more shocking upsets of the season fall to lowly Georgia Tech 21-17 in Chapel Hill.
BYU (6-5): The Cougars trailed Utah Tech for most of the 1st half then turned up the heat in a 52-26 victory. The Cougars totaled 676 yards.
Stanford (3-8): If the Cardinal lose this weekend to BYU it’ll be back-to-back 3-9 seasons for David Shaw.
UNLV (4-7): The Rebels traveled to Hawaii and lost by 6 points.
Syracuse (6-5): Once ranked and 6-0 Syracuse has now become 5 straight losses for the Orange after a 45-35 loss at Wake Forest.
Clemson (10-1): The perfect ACC season is complete as Clemson thrashes Miami 40-10. The Hurricanes totaled 6 first downs and 98 yards, big yikes.
Navy (4-7): The Middies pull themselves up to .500 in the AAC with their 17-14 win at UCF.
Boston College (3-8): The Eagles lost to a brand name.
USC (10-1): A spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game is clinched following a wild 48-45 victory over UCLA.
Week 13 Games to Watch
Now featuring dates, channels, and times eastern!
Miss State (+2.5) at Ole Miss
Thursday, ESPN, 7:30 PM
This game will go up against the New England at Minnesota NFL game on NBC. The Egg Bowl typically delivers an undeniable package of entertainment, though. We also have the rumors swirling of Lane Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for Auburn.
Tulane (+2.5) at Cincinnati
Friday, ABC, Noon
Friday action kicks off this weekend with the top 2 teams in the AAC battling each other. Cincinnati has won 4 straight in this series.
NC State (+6.5) at North Carolina
Friday, ABC, 3:30 PM
The Drake Maye Heisman campaign came to a screeching halt after last week’s stink bomb against Georgia Tech. This line probably should be much higher given NC State’s lack of offensive success in recent weeks without Devin Leary. Perhaps UNC is their remedy.
Florida (+10) at Florida State
Friday, ABC, 7:30 PM
Florida has won 3 straight in this rivalry. I think we can officially call Florida State sneaky good this year. They’ll now have a weird amount of pressure to win this game. My prediction about Billy Napier turning things around quickly at Florida has not looked good–a loss here would drop the Gators to 6-6.
Michigan (+7.5) at Ohio State
Saturday, ABC, Noon
We’re all Ohio State fans.
Auburn (+21.5) at Alabama
Saturday, CBS, 3:30 PM
Auburn has been a train wreck and fired their coach, sure. But this is the most beatable Alabama team in quite a while. I’m a little surprised the line is so large.
Oregon (-3.5) at Oregon State
Saturday, ABC, 3:30 PM
Oregon State may be the best team no one is talking about this year. The Ducks have won 12 out of the last 14 games in this rivalry. It tends to be an Oregon blowout or a really close game, though.
There are a bunch of nd rivals/recruiting rivals/teams in which ND holds a grudge vying for 2 or maybe even 3 playoff spots. Curious what people would consider the rooting guide for an nd fan for these teams to make the playoff.
1. Clemson: already killed them, they make the playoffs it’s just a great resume win. Plus they can’t win a title
2 Ohio state: Nd played them close, plus them being in means michigan probably isn’t. Plus it’s not like a playoff bid can make their recruiting go higher
3. LSU: really no impact on ND, and if ND beats USC this becomes much more palatable
4. USC: honestly they would be higher except them making the playoff means they beat ND. I realized this week that I hate usc again but also them being good is actually really good for nd. ND anr usc have never really had a continuous important series in my life and it would be awesome for nd, recruiting, and as a fan to have it matter but time. anthem making the playoffs would elevate it more.
1000000. Michigan: man I hope they don’t make the playoffs.
CardinalBaseball,
Good thoughts, especially good hate for the Skunkbears, except… no possible way we want USC to even sniff the CFP, honestly. The rivalry doesn’t need embellishment.
I want USC to lose every game. I hate when they are good. I don’t care if it’s good for ND’s perception. I never want to see them make the playoff.
As someone who was a student in the 2000s and squarely in the middle of the Pete Carroll era, trust me, you do not want SC to be good. It is not in any way, shape, or form good for Notre Dame football when that happens.
Hopefully Riley takes an NFL job and their all-transfer roster scatters to the winds.
Amen! I was thinking that. Even under Ara, John McKay was a burden. The Carroll era, yuck!!!
I want Clemson to lose because I simply don’t like them, don’t care if it helps the schedule.
Ohio State I actually like for personal reasons and the tendency to beat Michigan. O-H-I-O indeed.
LSU? Eat shit, BK
USC? Should lose every game ever, as others covered.
Georgia? Can’t stand em. Lose.
Basically as a Notre Dame fan I’m pulling for TCU vs. Ohio State
Of all listed, other than TCU, I mind Clemson the least. Dabo does have snake oil salesman-quality charm, but I guess it works on me at times. I like how he’s been in reverence of Notre Dame and his family/father’s story was nice. He’s corny and all and I don’t really care if they win or lose..But it’s enough to put them above the LSU/tOSU level for me and way above USC and Michigan as far as tolerable endings go for playoff teams, especially since they’re not currently a huge juggernaut either.
In general as nd fans we will have to plug our nose at half the teams in the playoff. Not ideal but at least nd had salvaged the season to a degree.
As far as my USC take, Riley is not pete and will not get USC to that degree. If i thought that was a possibility I would be rooting against them harder. Also I am not advocating for usc to be elite, just competent/borderline good/very good. ohio state michigan gets all the air, but nd usc can be more interesting and isn’t played in 20 degree weather with a gray sky.
Which is a negative
I don’t think he’ll be Pete Carroll either, but that’s finishing top 2-4 like seven years in a row and rarefied air.
Riley turned them from 4-8 to 10-1 in year 1. His recruiting class isn’t super-impressive but does have elite QB and WR. Modern day techniques seems to suggest teams can fill out the rest in the portal. Unfortunately, I fear USC is going to be way closer to 12-team playoff caliber than just “competent” for a long time, though who knows how move to the Big10 will complicate matters.
12 team playoff caliber isn’t anything special. The ACC stinks, navy and stanford stink. ND needs usc to stay to 12 good to have some relevant games. Hell I am not sure how this happened but now i’m dying on a hill for usc to be good. alex me be clear, a good usc team is super hateable and I had missed hating them, their dumb hype men on the sidelines and fake fans
I wouldn’t call it a “need”, I liked it rather fine in the Helton days when USC was a joke and easy win. I agree with your premise that for football and entertainment’s sake it will be better when the stakes make the game mean something…I’m just saying I think you’re going to get that for a while, they’re probably coming out of the desert and back into being a meaningful program again.
Michigan-Ohio State will be hyped to the moon of course, but I think it’s quietly kind of a pillow fight. Michigan’s SOS is ranked in the high 60s, which is comparable to an AAC team. Virtually all of their gaudy stats are the product of about 9 weeks of bumslaying. Their best win is Penn State; after that, it’s probably an Iowa team that’s fielding a literal joke of an offense. Both Ohio State and Michigan have struggled with some far less talented teams.
I think Ohio State will probably win, but I expect both of these teams to get blasted in major bowl games.
The CFP committee’s treatment of LSU and Clemson, who have a common opponent in Florida State, should be enough to immediately disband the committee in favor of, frankly, anything else, with current committee members being blackballed from sport industries.
“The game results don’t matter because of this stat that we made up” is out of control.
They’ve made it pretty clear since the beginning, big wins trump essentially trump all else. Which I think is good for college football.
I am confident that Vandy will beat Tennessee and become bowl eligible and become the eleventh bowl bound SEC team. Missouri (Arkansas) and Auburn (Alabama) have a chance to join the club. Then A&M would be the lone SEC team sitting at home. Although a nine conference game schedule has been discussed for years, it ain’t happening.
Oregon State is very real. They lost to USC and to Washington by three points. Caleb Williams was held to 180 yds, 1 touchdown and a QBR of 62 in a game played in Corvallis. USC scored in the last minute to win. The Beavers held Michael Penix to his worse performance of the year. Washington kicked a FG in the last minute to win. (So I talked about them.)
The Ducks and the Beavers play in Corvallis, which is difficult for any opponent. The Platypus trophy – a nod to their combined mascots – goes to the winner of the game formerly known as the Civil War.