As the college football regular season comes to a close, fans witnessed some intense matchups between top contenders in Week 13. With rivalry week in full swing, teams faced high-stakes games with College Football Playoff (CFP) implications on the line.
The highly anticipated clash between the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 3 Michigan Wolverines took center stage, with the Wolverines prevailing with a 30-24 victory. In a game marked by Michigan’s tenacious defense and Blake Corum’s two rushing touchdowns, Ohio State’s bid for a comeback fell short, with their final drive ending in an interception. This win also marked Michigan’s third consecutive triumph over the Buckeyes and secured their status as the first Big Ten team to win 30 straight regular season games.
Meanwhile, other playoff hopefuls faced their own challenges, with the No. 4 Washington Huskies narrowly defeating the Washington State Cougars 24-21. The No. 6 Oregon Ducks also emerged victorious, triumphing over the Oregon State Beavers with a final score of 31-7.
In addition, the No. 5 Florida State Seminoles overcame the absence of quarterback Jordan Travis to secure a 24-15 win against the Florida Gators, while the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs clinched a hard-fought 31-23 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, relying on a dominant running game to carry them to success.
Looking ahead to championship weekend, key matchups include Georgia facing Alabama, Michigan taking on Iowa, and Oregon meeting Washington in a highly anticipated rematch.
So, who do the experts at ESPN believe will secure spots in the playoff? Here are their predictions:
– Andrea Adelson: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Blake Baumgartner: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Kyle Bonagura: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Bill Connelly: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Heather Dinich: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Oregon
– David Hale: 1. Michigan 2. Georgia 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Chris Low: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Harry Lyles Jr.: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Ryan McGee: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Oregon
– Adam Rittenberg: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Alex Scarborough: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Mark Schlabach: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Oregon 4. Texas
– Paolo Uggetti: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Oregon
– Tom VanHaaren: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
– Dave Wilson: 1. Georgia 2. Michigan 3. Washington 4. Florida State
As championship weekend approaches, the playoff picture remains uncertain, with key matchups set to determine the fate of the top contenders. Fans can anticipate an intense and thrilling conclusion to the college football regular season.