Rivalry Week is at once the best and worst of times for college football fans.
At its best, this extended weekend wrapped around the Thanksgiving holiday offers up a litany of games that mean something beyond conference or BCS implications, giving all fan bases something just as meaty and satisfying: bragging rights and pride, especially when it’s an in-state rival humbled in defeat on the opposing sideline. At its worst, however, this weekend means that yet another college football season is quickly wrapping up, with just a handful of regular season games remaining to go along with conference championship games and bowls.
There are, though, the obvious implications beyond just bragging rights and pride. Myriad implications, from conference races to BCS placement to the chase for the 2013 Heisman Trophy.
So, with that as the backdrop, here’s a look at the marquee matchups for Week 14 and the potential implications the outcomes of the games could/would/should have on all fronts.
No. 1 Alabama at No. 4 Auburn
“The Mother of All Iron Bowls” indeed. The stunning turnaround by Auburn under Gus Malzahn -- from 3-9, 0-8 last season to 10-1, 6-1 in 2013 -- has nearly overshadowed Alabama’s quest for three straight BCS titles and four in five years . Who would’ve thought, prior to September, that this year’s version of the Iron Bowl would carry more conference and national weight than Alabama’s games against Texas A&M and LSU combined? Certainly not anyone who doesn’t end their prayers with “War Damn Eagle!” Speaking of a Higher Football Power, the last four Iron Bowl winners have gone on to win the BCS championship.
What it means for...
... the SEC: Everything, at least as far as the West is concerned. It’s a winner-take-all battle, with the victor staking its claim to the divisional title and a spot in the conference championship game against either Missouri or South Carolina. The Tide would earn a share of the divisional title even with a loss, although, obviously, the head-to-head tiebreaker would go to the Tigers with a win.
... the BCS: An Alabama win keeps the No. 1 Tide on its year-long inside track for one of the two spots in the BCS title game. Even with a loss, Alabama would be a near-shoe-in for an at-large berth in a BCS bowl, although that wouldn’t be clarified until after the conference championship game. The same could be said for Auburn, which would get serious consideration for an at-large bid despite an Iron Bowl loss.
... the Heisman: Thanks to the missteps of others in Week 13, AJ McCarron has suddenly vaulted into the No. 2 position behind Florida State’s Jameis Winston in the eyes of both the voters and the oddsmakers. A strong performance on a national stage would most certainly keep the Tide quarterback toward the top of the conversation and, depending on how the Winston off-field situation plays out, could send him hurtling toward front-runner status.
No. 2 Florida State at Florida
To say that the Sunshine State rivalry has lost some luster for this year’s game would be an understatement. While Florida State is more than holding up its end of the bargain -- nationally-ranked and seemingly predestined for a shot at the crystal -- Florida enters the game armed with an embattled head coach and a six-game losing streak that’s the program’s worst since 1979. The Gators won last year in Tallahassee, although the Seminoles are four-touchdown favorites this year in The Swamp. While his boss continues to back him, Will Muschamp directing an embarrassing blowout loss in Gainesville could force Jeremy Foley to reconsider that very strident public support.
What it means for...
... the ACC/SEC: Literally nothing for either conference. FSU has already locked up the Atlantic division’s spot in the ACC championship game, while UF was long ago eliminated from SEC East contention.
... the BCS: For a team that’s outscored its opponents 402-65 the past seven games, this game would appear to be nothing more than a worn-down speed bump on its inexorable march to the BCS title game. Seemingly the only thing standing between the Seminoles and an early-January date in the Rose Bowl is a win over the Gators as well as an ACC championship game in which they will be prohibitive favorites regardless of which team comes out of the Coastal.
... the Heisman: For Jameis Winston, the Heisman is his for the taking -- provided he doesn’t trip over himself the next two weeks and, more importantly, the investigation into an alleged sexual assault doesn’t give him bigger things to worry about than a fumbled trophy.
No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan
Michigan has stumbled through a disappointing season with a 7-4 record that could easily be sub-.500 were it not for a couple of escapes against vastly inferior opponents. At the other end of the spectrum is Ohio State, riding a nation’s best 23-game winning streak. In fact, the Buckeyes set a school record last weekend, surpassing the 22-game streak of the 1967-69 squads. The team that snapped the previous mark? The 7-2 Wolverines in Ann Arbor, of course. When it comes to The Game, you just never ever know -- especially when a heavy home underdog is involved.
What it means for...
... the Big Ten: As is the case for the game above this one, absolutely nothing. Not only have the Buckeyes already clinched the Leaders division, they also already know they will face Legends winner Michigan State in the Big Ten championship game next weekend in Indianapolis. Thanks to NCAA sanctions last year, OSU will be making its first-ever appearance in the conference title game.
... the BCS: If Ohio State has any shot at a BCS title, they have to hope either Alabama or Florida State loses once the next two weekends. Outside of the crystal title game, they could also earn an automatic BCS bowl bid with two more wins, or perhaps an at-large bid with a loss in the Big Ten title game. Either way, their BCS future won’t be decided until next weekend, although it could certainly take a significant at-large hit with a loss this weekend.
... the Heisman: When it comes to the Buckeyes and stiff-armed talk, “what if” is certainly in play. Braxton Miller entered the 2013 season as the Heisman front-runner, but an injury that cost him a pair of September games knocked him completely off the radar. Thanks to the stumbles of others, the quarterback is back on at least the periphery of the discussion, although it would take something monumental to once again make the junior a serious contender. Perhaps Carlos Hyde, he of the three-game suspension to start the year, could make a late push? Doubtful, but, as the last couple of weeks have shown, anything is possible when it comes to the most prestigious award in college football.
No. 6 Clemson at No. 10 South Carolina
Stated simply, South Carolina has owned this rivalry of late with wins each of the past four years, with none coming by less than 10 points. Steve Spurrier has Dabo Swinney‘s number and is not shy about letting people know about it, which is part and parcel of why this is such a tremendous non-conference rivalry.
What it means for...
... the ACC/SEC: Clemson’s chances at an Atlantic division title went down in flames in the midst of a 37-point beatdown at the hands of Florida State in mid-October. If Missouri loses to Texas A&M, South Carolina will represent the East in the SEC championship game.
... the BCS: The Gamecocks’ lone opportunity for a BCS bowl rests in securing the SEC’s automatic bid via a conference championship. If Florida State does indeed make the BCS title game, the Tigers are primed to replace the Seminoles in the Orange Bowl and insert the 70-33 jokes here.
... the Heisman: You would think that Tajh Boyd would be in the thick of the Heisman conversation. The Clemson quarterback’s not, and I don’t have a clue as to why.
No. 25 Notre Dame at No. 8 Stanford
While it’s hardly on par with Notre Dame-USC, Notre Dame-Stanford has evolved into quite the entertaining rivalry the past several years. Of the past nine games played, six have been decided by eight points or less. The Irish own a 6-3 edge during that span, including an overtime win in South Bend last season en route to the BCS championship game.
What it means for...
... the Pac-12: The North division’s game of hot potato continued -- and ultimately ended -- last week thanks to Oregon’s lopsided loss to Arizona, handing the division title and a spot in the conference title game to Stanford. The Cardinal will (likely) travel a week later to South winner Arizona State for a game that will decide the league’s automatic BCS berth. If the Sun Devils lose to the same Wildcats that dumped the Ducks, the Cardinal would play host.
... the BCS: The Irish have no chance to move into the top-14 of the final BCS rankings necessary to qualify them for an at-large BCS bid. If the Cardinal entertain any hope of qualifying for a fourth straight BCS bowl, they will need to win the conference; a third loss, whether it be this week or next, would effectively eliminate them from at-large contention.
No. 21 Texas A&M at No. 5 Missouri
One year after Texas A&M exploded onto the SEC scene in wildly-entertaining fashion, the Aggies have been reduced to playing the role of spoiler to a fellow former Big 12 member. Playing the role of 2012 A&M is Missouri, which enters Week 14 with something the Aggies of a year ago didn’t: an opportunity to claim its first SEC divisional crown.
What it means for...
... the SEC: The conference scenario for Mizzou is very simple and straightforward. Win, and the Tigers are in the SEC championship game as the East’s representative. Lose and they’re out, replaced by South Carolina.
... the BCS: With three losses on their current résumé, there’s no need to use “A&M” and “BCS bowl” in the same sentence, unless it’s separated by “won’t be in a.” Just as it was for its conference scenario, Mizzou’s BCS dreams are very simple and straightforward: win this weekend... win next weekend... and they’re in as the SEC’s automatic bid. Lose at any point the next two weeks, and the Tigers will (very likely) be sitting outside the BCS window looking in.
... the Heisman: Johnny Manziel made significant repeat strides in the eyes of those who passionately follow the Heisman the last several weeks before a damaging performance against LSU seemingly knocked him out of contention. Of course, based on how the stiff-armed landscape has drastically shifted the past couple of weeks, a resurgent performance against a high-quality opponent could put the reigning Heisman winner right back in the conversation.
Texas Tech at Texas
No. 9 Baylor at TCU
The most interesting aspect of this pair of games is how Baylor responds to an embarrassing and devastating loss. In firm control of the Big 12 race entering Week 13 and with a BCS title game appearance a possibility, the Bears’ loss to Oklahoma State all but ruined what was a once-promising season. A loss to the Cowboys the previous week, oddly enough, also cost Texas control of its own destiny in the conference.
What it means for...
... the Big 12: Here are the scenarios for each of the one-loss teams currently tied atop the Big 12 standings and what they need to happen to claim the conference crown.
- Oklahoma State: a win over Oklahoma in Bedlam Dec. 7 coming off a bye week, regardless of what Baylor or Texas do and based on head-to-head wins over both.
- Baylor: an OSU loss, plus wins over TCU and Texas.
- Texas: an OSU loss, plus wins over Texas Tech and Baylor.
... the BCS: For both Baylor and Texas, their BCS bowl odds are long. Each needs an Oklahoma State loss in order to claim the Big 12’s automatic berth as neither will be in play for an at-large bid, although there’s an asterisk when it comes to that absolute --there are a couple of scenarios that could get BU in as an at-large, although they are longshots at best and pipe dreams at worst.
No. 24 Duke at North Carolina
Will the shoe fit, or will the clock strike midnight on Duke’s Cinderella season? The Blue Devils are in the midst of a historic campaign, with nine wins tying the school record set in 1941 and the opportunity to reach double digits for the first time since the program began playing football back in 1922. They’ve qualified for a bowl game in back-to-back seasons for the first time ever. Simply put, Duke is one of the best stories of the 2013 season. Whether the Blue Devils cap their fairy-tale story with a divisional crown remains to be seen.
What it means for...
... the ACC: If Duke beats North Carolina, which has won five straight after beginning the season 1-5, the Blue Devils will stake their claim to their first-ever ACC Coastal title. If not? A five-way tie between Duke (5-2), Virginia Tech (4-3), Miami (4-3), Georgia Tech (5-3) and North Carolina (4-3) is a possibility, although only the first four remain alive in the divisional race. So, if Duke loses and all Coastal hell breaks loose, here’s what each team would need in order to secure the spot as Florida State’s sacrificial lamb in the ACC championship game.
- Duke: a win over North Carolina; cannot win the division with a loss.
- Virginia Tech: a Duke loss, plus a win over Virginia.
- Miami: a Duke loss, a Virginia Tech loss, plus a win over Pittsburgh.
- Georgia Tech (ACC slate complete): a Duke loss, a Virginia Tech loss, a Miami loss.
... the BCS: Whichever team survives the Coastal chaos and represents the division in the division in the ACC championship technically has an opportunity to secure an automatic BCS bid. Realistically, none of the four teams with a chance to win the Coastal has any type of shot at upsetting the Seminoles in Charlotte.
USF at No. 19 UCF
How little respect does UCF get? The Knights, whose lone loss on the season came by three points to No. 10 South Carolina, are ranked by the coaches three spots behind a one-loss Louisville team that UCF beat on the road. Obviously the lack of respect for the AAC as a whole is playing a significant role, but it doesn’t change the fact that George O’Leary‘s squad deserves better treatment in the polls than what they’ve been getting.
What it means for...
... the AAC: A win by UCF pushes its conference record to 7-0 and clinches the AAC regardless of what the Knights do a week later against SMU. Louisville’s conference title hopes remain alive but on life support, with the Cardinals needing two UCF losses as well as a win of their own Dec. 5 at Cincinnati.
... the BCS: The AAC receives an automatic BCS bid, so a conference crown for UCF also means a guaranteed spot at the BCS table, with the chair likely coming in the Sugar Bowl against an SEC foe.
No. 16 Fresno State at San Jose State
This game is all about the scenarios and possibilities, which appear below.
What it means for...
... the MWC: Fresno State has already clinched the West and will represent that division in the MWC championship game. The Bulldogs will face Utah State for the league title if the Aggies beat Wyoming Saturday, Boise State -- based on the head-to-head tiebreaker with USU -- if the Broncos beat New Mexico and the Aggies lose.
... the BCS: If Fresno State can win out, they will battle Northern Illinois for what should be the lone BCS bowl berth for a non-automatic qualifying conference member. In order for a non-AQ to qualify for an at-large bid, it needs to finish in the top-16 of the final BCS rankings and ahead of the lowest-ranked AQ conference winner (No. 19 UCF in this case); the Huskies leapfrogged the Bulldogs in last week’s rankings and are now at No. 14, while Fresno sits at No. 16. Whichever of those two teams finish ranked higher in the final BCS standings, provided it’s in the top-16 and ahead of (presumably) UCF, will grab the non-AQ berth and a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
... the Heisman: Derek Carr is one of the most prolific passers in the country, ranking first in total offense and passing touchdowns and second in passing yards. Up until this week, however, he’s barely been a part of the Heisman discussion. Thanks to the shortcomings of others he’s now in the mix, although it should never have taken others tripping up for that to happen.