Michigan stuns No. 2 Ohio State, Georgia wins in 8OT, more from Rivalry Week

Follow us as we reflect on an always chaotic rivalry week, just one week before conference championship weekend. No. 7 Georgia and Georgia Tech delivered an 8OT classic back on Friday before Michigan stunned Ohio State in Columbus in the early window on Saturday.

Michigan upsets No. 2 Ohio State in an exciting rivalry game

Michigan secured its fourth straight win over No. 2 Ohio State in a hard-fought rivalry showdown, edging the Buckeyes 13-10.

After a crucial turning point in the second quarter, the Wolverines and Buckeyes were tied 10-10 at halftime. Michigan’s defense intercepted a pass in the red zone, setting up Kalel Mullings’ 1-yard touchdown run. That crucial score gave Michigan an early lead until Ohio State fought back.

Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the third quarter as both defenses dominated, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.

Late in the fourth quarter, Michigan marched into the red zone but was prevented from making a critical field goal, giving the Wolverines a 13-10 lead with under two minutes left.

Ohio State had one last chance to respond but failed, sealing the upset.

The loss dropped the Buckeyes (10-2, 7-2) in the Big Ten standings, a major setback to their conference championship ambitions.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines (7-5, 5-4) can maintain their winning streak in this historic rivalry.

No. 15 South Carolina strengthens CFP resumption with win over rival No. 12 Clemson

The Palmetto Bowl came to an end with both teams only one point apart the entire game.

Clemson led with 4:57 to play when Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers led a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to give South Carolina the lead. With just 1:08 left, he lunged for a 20-yard touchdown run on a critical third-and-16. Sellers finished 13 of 21 with 164 passing yards, but his legs made up for it with 16 carries 166 yards and two touchdowns made the difference.

HIM. https://t.co/qlOMWeM5ZU pic.twitter.com/paMeuyV7Jt

– Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 30, 2024

On the next drive, with Clemson (9-3, 7-1 ACC) already within field goal range and the Gamecocks leading 17-14, South Carolina’s defense made a game-winning pick on Cade Klubnik’s come -from secured -behind the victory.

With the win, South Carolina (9-3, 5-3 SEC) will likely move up the standings for the next College Football Playoff and has secured itself a prime position for an at-large bid.

No. 7 Georgia escapes Georgia Tech in 8OT, 44-42

The rivalry week started with a bang as No. 7 Georgia and Georgia Tech played eight overtimes in Athens, Georgia – one overtime away from matching Penn State and Illinois’ all-time record set in 2021. The Bulldogs completed the comeback and secured the 44-42 victory.

The Clean, Old Fashioned Hate rivalry has been a one-sided matchup in its recent incarnations, with Georgia outscoring the Yellow Jackets 248 to 72 in the last six meetings. However, Brent Key’s team made a quick push into Athens and took a 17-0 lead at half-time. Tech recorded 307 total yards in the first 30 minutes compared to UGA’s 137 yards.

Kirby Smart’s team got back into the game and scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to force the start of the second-longest overtime game in FBS history.

The in-state rivals traded touchdowns in the first two overtime periods, increasing the score from 27-27 to 40-40 heading into Game 3. But then the defense came back when there were only two-point conversions in overtime as neither team was able to convert the two-point attempt in the 3OT and 4OT.

The offense returned in the 5OT with each quarterback connecting with their receivers for the two-point attempt, increasing the score to 42-42 heading into the 6OT. The sixth and seventh overtimes were the same story as the third and fourth as the defense stepped up again and kept the score at 42-42 until the eighth overtime.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King failed to connect with Eric Singleton to open 8OT, giving the Bulldogs another chance to tie the game. And – finally – Georgia went back to basics and sent true freshman running back Nate Frazier to center to get the win.

One to remember. #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/vBzAneU8JW

– Georgia Football (@GeorgiaFootball) November 30, 2024

Entering this game, Georgia (10-2, 6-2 SEC) had already punched its ticket to the SEC Championship and secured a shot at a top-four spot in the College Football Playoff. But a loss in that game likely would have made the Atlanta matchup a must-win to keep the Bulldogs in the CFP. Tonight’s dramatic win should keep Georgia in the first 12-team playoff regardless of the outcome of the SEC Championship.

Georgia Tech (7-5, 5-3 ACC) was as close as possible to another upset. The Yellow Jackets defeated then-top-10 Florida State earlier in the year and later defeated Miami three weeks ago. Key’s team had earned bowl eligibility for the second straight year after missing a bowl in the previous four years.

Jeanty’s elite day pushes No. 11 Boise State past Oregon State

The Broncos gave Oregon State another monster day with superstar running back Ashton Jeanty. The junior Heisman candidate was a workhorse, carrying the ball 37 times and rushing for an outstanding 226 yards with one touchdown. Jeanty finished his regular season with 2,062 yards and 27 TDs, leading the entire FBS.

Boise State now waits to see who it will face in the Mountain West title game next Friday night. No. 22 UNLV secures a date against Boise State with a win over Nevada on Saturday night. With a UNLV loss, Colorado State will battle the Broncos for Mountain West supremacy. Both potential championship matchups could have massive implications for the College Football Playoff, as the Broncos are currently projected in the 12-team field and receive a first-round bye in the latest CFP projections.