With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here are the top Week 13 college football storylines to know before the family feasts begin.
Auburn stuns No. 15 Texas A&M in 4OT thriller
Auburn delivered a statement victory Saturday, outlasting No. 15 Texas A&M in a 43-41 quadruple-overtime epic at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The win revitalizes Auburn's season and keeps bowl hopes alive under first-year head coach Hugh Freeze.
The Tigers jumped to a 21-0 first-half lead, powered by quarterback Payton Thorne's two touchdown passes to Cam Coleman and Jarquez Hunter’s early rushing score. Coleman finished with 128 receiving yards, while Hunter was unstoppable on the ground, tallying 168 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the fourth overtime.
Texas A&M (8-3, 5-3 SEC) stormed back after halftime. Quarterback Marcel Reed threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Noah Thomas, who dazzled with 124 receiving yards. Amari Daniels’ late rushing score tied the game at 31, forcing overtime.
The teams traded scores through three overtimes, with Auburn clinching the win on a Thorne 2-point conversion to KeAndre Lambert-Smith after Reed’s attempt fell incomplete for the Aggies.
The win propels Auburn to 5-6 (2-6 SEC), keeping their postseason dreams alive heading into their finale. Meanwhile, the loss significantly damages Texas A&M’s hopes of reaching the College Football Playoff, turning their rivalry game against Texas next week into a must-win.
Auburn’s resilience and Texas A&M’s comeback efforts made for an unforgettable SEC showdown.
Oklahoma silences No. 7 Alabama in 21-point win
Oklahoma’s defense shined in the program’s first-ranked win of the season, forcing four turnovers in the team’s 24-3 upset win over No. 7 Alabama.
Although each of OU’s forced turnovers came in the second half, the defense didn’t give Alabama much breathing room in the first half either. Oklahoma allowed just three points and 97 total yards, leading 10-3 at halftime.
And purgatory only got worse in the second half. The Sooners snatched back-to-back interceptions against Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe, with the latter being a pick-six by linebacker Kip Lewis, to give OU a 24-3 lead.
Kip doesn't like teams from Alabama... |
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football)
Besides a passing touchdown called back due to a penalty early in the fourth quarter, Alabama’s offense was at a standstill the entire contest. It’s the first time the Crimson Tide didn’t score a touchdown in a game since 2011 and their lowest point total in a game since 2004.
Additionally, the loss snapped the Crimson Tide’s 13 consecutive seasons with two or fewer losses and arguably ended their College Football Playoff hopes.
No. 21 ASU takes down No. 14 BYU in Big 12 showdown
No. 21 Arizona State pulled off a thrilling 28-23 win over No. 14 BYU in Tempe on Saturday, shaking up the Big 12 standings and College Football Playoff (CFP) implications.
The Sun Devils (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) dominated early behind Cam Skattebo, who rushed for 96 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Arizona State led 21-3 at halftime after an onside kick and a 23-yard scoring burst by Skattebo.
BYU (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) rallied in the second half. Jake Retzlaff threw for 297 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown to Jojo Phillips, and orchestrated two scoring drives capped by Keelan Marion’s rushing touchdowns. The Cougars closed the gap to 28-23 with 8:44 remaining, but their comeback bid ended when Javan Robinson intercepted Retzlaff at midfield with two minutes left.
Arizona State’s defense held on despite giving up 391 total yards. Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 247 yards and a touchdown, including a 61-yard strike to Xavier Guillory in the third quarter, keeping the Sun Devils in control.
The victory propels Arizona State into second place in the Big 12, bolstering its CFP hopes and positioning it for a potential conference championship berth. For BYU, back-to-back losses jeopardized its CFP aspirations, making next week’s game crucial for a chance at the Big 12 title.
Kansas continues hot streak, knocks off No. 16 Colorado
The Jayhawks kept the good times rolling, beating No. 16 Colorado 37-21, and extending its win streak to three — all against ranked conference opponents.
It was the Devin Neal show at Arrowhead Stadium, as the Buffaloes had no answer for the Kansas running back.
This was apparent on Neal’s 51-yard receiving touchdown to open the scoring and a rushing touchdown in the second. Alongside the Jayhawks (5-6, 4-4 Big 12) putting points on the board every possession in the first half, Neal had 153 yards before the break.
Despite KU's success, Colorado (8-3, 6-2 Big 12) showed signs of life with three straight scoring drives behind quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ two passing touchdowns to wideout/cornerback Travis Hunter and another to Drelon Miller. It was only a two-point game minutes into the third quarter.
However, it was all Kansas from there. The offense scored on two of its three possessions in the second half, while the defense allowed less than 75 yards and shut out the Buffaloes for the rest of the contest after their early third quarter touchdown. Neal, who led the team in rushing and receiving yards, scored all four of the Jayhawks' touchdowns and racked up 287 scrimmage yards.
Depending on the result of the Iowa State-Utah game, a win could’ve moved Colorado into sole possession of first place in the Big 12 standings. Instead, the Buffaloes are tied for first place with BYU and Arizona State, putting their conference championship game hopes in jeopardy.
No. 25 Illinois tops Rutgers in thrilling finish
Illinois secured a dramatic 38-31 victory over Rutgers on Saturday in Piscataway, with quarterback Luke Altmyer delivering a 40-yard touchdown pass to Pat Bryant with four seconds left to seal the win. The Illini improved to 8-3 overall and 5-3 in Big Ten play.
The game was a back-and-forth battle, with Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis leading the Scarlet Knights on a late drive to reclaim the lead, 31-30, with just over a minute to play. Kaliakmanis was impressive throughout, throwing for 175 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 84 yards and two scores.
Illinois struggled early, trailing 17-9 at halftime despite Hank Beatty’s electrifying 59-yard punt return and a touchdown catch. The Illini leaned on Altmyer, who threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Josh McCray, whose third-quarter rushing score cut the deficit to two points.
The fourth quarter was filled with drama. After Rutgers extended its lead to 24-15, Illinois stormed back with an 8-yard touchdown run by Aidan Laughery and Altmyer’s 30-yard rushing score to take a 30-24 lead. Rutgers responded with a clutch drive, but Altmyer’s heroics proved decisive in the closing seconds.
Bryant finished with 197 receiving yards, including the game-winning score, while Illinois’ defense forced a key fumble in the third quarter. Rutgers fell to 6-5 overall, 3-5 in the Big Ten, despite strong performances from Kaliakmanis and running back Kyle Monangai, who rushed for 122 yards.
Florida upsets No. 9 Ole Miss
Florida made its second straight upset, defeating No. 9 Ole Miss, 24-17, Saturday afternoon at The Swamp. Just last week, the Gators upset then-No. 22 LSU in their first series win since 2018. The win put serious doubt in Ole Miss' College Football Playoff hopes.
Gator QB DJ Lagway was efficient, completing 10 of 17 passes for two touchdowns and one interception, but Florida's defense was what kept the Rebels uneasy all day. The real dagger came in Ole Miss’ last two offensive drives when QB Jaxson Dart threw two consecutive drive-ending interceptions that sealed the upset for Florida. It was Dart's first multi-interception game in two years.
Third down was the looming issue all game. The Rebels converted just 3 of 14 opportunities. And they couldn’t shake the frustrating inability to cross into the end zone, resulting in three field goal attempts (two makes).
Florida RB Montrell Johnson Jr. kept the offense moving behind Lagway, rushing for 107 yards on 18 carries with one touchdown.
Dart tried everything he could to make something happen for Ole Miss (8-3 overall, 4-3 SEC), packing his boxscore with 323 yards through the air, 71 yards on the ground and passing for two touchdowns, but the Florida defense wouldn't bust.
Florida (6-5, 4-4) secured bowl eligibility with the win.
No. 2 Ohio State gives No. 5 Indiana's first defeat
No. 2 Ohio State handed No. 5 Indiana its first loss of the season in a 38-15 showdown at Ohio Stadium.
The Buckeyes held a 14-7 lead at halftime, capitalizing on a costly Indiana miscue late in the second quarter. A fumbled snap on fourth down gave Ohio State possession at the Hoosiers' 7-yard line, setting up TreVeyon Henderson's 4-yard touchdown run to close the half with momentum firmly in the Buckeyes' favor.
Ohio State carried that momentum into the second half, highlighted by a game-changing 79-yard punt return for a touchdown by Caleb Downs early in the third quarter. From there, the Buckeyes dominated.
BEST. IN. AMERICA. |
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB)
The Ohio State defense was relentless, recording five sacks and limiting Indiana to two scoring drives, the first on its opening series in the first quarter and the second in the final two minutes of the game.
Quarterback Will Howard was impressive, completing 22 of 26 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, anchoring Ohio State’s offensive success.
Indiana (10-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) entered the game hoping to clinch a Big Ten title spot. But now Ohio State is in position to make it to the championship game. The Buckeyes (10-1, 7-1) face rival Michigan next week, while Indiana takes on rival Purdue.
No. 4 Penn State escapes potential upset to Minnesota
No. 4 Penn State avoided an upset to Minnesota on the road, winning 26-25, to keep its College Football Playoff resume intact as the postseason nears.
The Golden Gophers had Huntington Bank jumping in the first quarter, scoring 10 straight points complemented by forcing a turnover on downs. Although Penn State dropped 16 points in the second, Minnesota entered halftime with a three-point lead after blocking PSU’s extra-point and returning it for a touchdown — the program’s first since 2006.
TWO POINTS THE OTHER WAY!!
— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB)
The affair turned into a slugfest after the break. Minnesota attempted to milk the clock as much as possible in the third quarter, reaching a time of possession over 10 minutes. However, the Nittany Lions still found the end zone to take a 23-22 lead entering the final 15 minutes of play.
The two teams traded field goals in the fourth, but Minnesota’s defense wasn’t able to give its offense one more stop in the last six minutes of play, as PSU’s fourth-and-one conversion at the two-minute warning put the nail in the coffin.
The win improves Penn State to 10-1 and keeps itself in contention for an at large spot in the CFP.