You never know what to expect when two hated rivals match-up against each other in a college football game. You can throw each other’s records out the window, as these rival programs are playing in more than just a game. This past weekend, we saw some of the most bitter, toxic rivalries unfold in front of our very eyes, producing some of the greatest games college football has had to offer this season. Here are some of rivalry week’s greatest games, top performances and must-see conference championship games in college football.
Greatest Games
The Game: Michigan 13, No. 2 Ohio State 10
In perhaps the greatest rivalry game in all of sports, a less-than stellar Michigan Wolverines team led by first-year Head Coach Sherrone Moore shocked the world by defeating their archrivals, the No. 2-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. With several starters missing on both sides of the ball like star tight end Colston Loveland and cornerback Will Johnson, the Wolverines’ defense managed to stifle the Ohio State offense both through the air and on the ground while keeping them off the scoreboard for the entire second half. This marks Ohio State’s fourth consecutive loss to their rivals, which was the first time in the history of The Game that an unranked team defeated a ranked team.
Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate: No. 7 Georgia 44, Georgia Tech 42
After being down 17-0 at halftime with their playoff hopes teetering, Head Coach Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs found a way to comeback and defeat Georgia Tech in a whopping eight overtimes by a score of 44-42. With one minute left in the fourth quarter, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck found Dominic Lovett wide open in the endzone to send the game to overtime with the score knotted at 27-27. While both teams exchanged possessions over eight overtime periods, it would be the Bulldogs who prevailed after running back Nate Frazier found the endzone for the game-winning two-point conversion.
The Palmetto Bowl: No. 15 South Carolina 17, No. 12 Clemson 14
In the fourth quarter of yet another heated rivalry game, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers was able to shrug off an untimely interception by plunging into the endzone with one minute left in the game to stun the rival Clemson Tigers. The Gamecocks were down 14-7 going into the final quarter of the game. However, it was Sellers who put the team on his back and led them to victory, contributing 330 all-purpose yards while scoring two touchdowns on the ground. With the loss, Clemson will still have an opportunity to make the College Football Playoffs in a do-or-die ACC Championship game against ninth-ranked SMU.
Top Performances
Haynes King, Georgia Tech
Despite losing to Georgia 44-42, Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King put on an inspiring performance, bringing Head Coach Brent Key to tears after the game finished. King delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns while adding another 110 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. While his numbers were remarkable, it was King’s grit and toughness that were put on a full display. While playing with an apparent shoulder injury, King took several massive blows on nearly every drive, somehow finding a way to get back up and keep going. His performance was like that of Rocky Balboa in his fight against Ivan Drago in the movie Rocky IV.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Quarterback Kyle McCord transferred from Ohio State to Syracuse seeking a fresh start after an otherwise toxic fan base ran him out for losing in The Game against Michigan, the eventual national champions, last season. On the same day that his former team lost to Michigan again with his replacement, McCord shocked the world by out-dueling Heisman Trophy contender Cam Ward and the sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes by a score of 42-38. McCord accounted for 380 passing yards and three touchdowns, potentially ending the Canes’ shot at making the College Football Playoffs.
Travis Hunter, Colorado
According to Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders, Travis Hunter clinched the Heisman Trophy with his performance in a 52-0 blowout win over Oklahoma State on Saturday. Once again, Hunter did damage on both sides of the ball to further submit his legacy as the greatest two-way player in college football history. On offense, Hunter hauled in three touchdowns on 10 catches with 116 total receiving yards. On defense, he picked off an Oklahoma State pass for his fourth interception of the season.
Must-See Conference Championship Games
SEC Championship: No. 7 Georgia (10-2) vs. No. 3 Texas (11-1): Saturday – 4:00 p.m.
After soundly defeating in-state rival Texas A&M last weekend, the No. 3 Texas Longhorns are looking for revenge in the SEC title game after losing to the Georgia Bulldogs at home earlier this season. While both teams have evidently solidified their spot in the College Football Playoffs, a SEC Championship would be monumental for Texas as it’s their first season in the conference; however, this is the last thing Head Coach Kirby Smart wants to happen after being upset by Alabama in the title game last season.
Big 10 Championship: No. 4 Penn State (11-1) vs. No. 1 Oregon (12-0): Saturday – 8:00 p.m.
With the Ohio State loss to Michigan, No. 4 Penn State advanced to the Big 10 championship game for the first time since 2016. On the other hand, Head Coach Dan Lanning’s top-ranked Oregon Ducks have thrived in their first season in the Big 10, cruising to an undefeated 12-0 record with star quarterback Dillon Gabriel. With that being said, Penn State will have the opportunity to spoil the Ducks’ undefeated season and bring some much-wanted hardware back to Happy Valley. Seeing how Penn State’s stout defense holds up against Oregon’s aerial assault is must-see TV.
Big 12 Championship: No. 18 Iowa State (10-2) vs. No. 16 Arizona State (10-2): Saturday – Noon
Unlike the SEC and the Big 10, the two teams playing in the Big 12 title game will fight for a College Football Playoff berth at the world-famous AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. Head Coach Kenny Dillingham’s Arizona State squad features one of the conference’s best running backs in Cam Skattebo, who has helped the Sun Devils win five consecutive games and cruise to the conference title game. Meanwhile, the Cyclones of Iowa State have been battle-tested the whole season, capping the regular season off with a 29-21 win over a talented Kansas State team. With a playoff spot on the line, both teams are set to leave everything on the field in what promises to be a thrilling Big 12 heavyweight matchup.
Great stuff Lato. Keep up the work