College Football Week 12: Oklahoma Upsets Alabama, SEC’s CFP Dominance

Week 12 of college football? Wild as ever. This sport just refuses to be predictable. Fans saw upsets, heart-stopping comebacks, and playoff hopes teetering on every snap. Oklahoma’s surprise win over Alabama and Texas A&M’s historic rally were just the start. Here’s what stood out—and what it might mean for the College Football Playoff (CFP) race.

SEC Dominance: Five Teams in the Playoff?

The SEC flexed its muscles again, showing off serious depth and talent. Oklahoma pulled off a shocker against No. 4 Alabama in a game that went down to the wire. Texas A&M staged a wild 27-point comeback versus South Carolina. Ole Miss nearly slipped but held off Florida, hanging onto their spot near the top.

Oklahoma’s Path to the Playoff

Brent Venables, Oklahoma’s head coach, started the year under a lot of heat. Now? He’s turned this squad into a defensive machine. Eli Bowen’s 87-yard pick-six was just one highlight. With Missouri and LSU heading to Norman soon, Oklahoma’s got a real shot to jump up the rankings.

Alabama’s Struggles

Alabama’s loss snapped their eight-game streak and showed some cracks. Ty Simpson, once a Heisman favorite, hasn’t looked sharp lately. The run game isn’t helping much, either. Still, Alabama’s resume—like that win over No. 5 Georgia—keeps them in the playoff mix for now.

Georgia’s Ascendancy

Georgia sits at 9-1 and looks like the SEC’s top dog after stomping No. 10 Texas. Gunner Stockton threw four touchdowns and looked unstoppable. The Bulldogs’ pass rush made life miserable for Texas’ Arch Manning, too.

Texas’ Roller Coaster Season

Texas has ridden highs and lows all year, clawing back into the top 10 before Georgia pushed them down again. They’ve still got big home games left against Arkansas and Texas A&M. If they want back in the playoff conversation, they’ll have to make a statement soon.

Notre Dame’s Defensive Masterclass

Notre Dame’s defense absolutely smothered No. 22 Pitt in a 37-15 win. Pitt’s freshman QB Mason Heintschel managed just 126 passing yards, and the Panthers went 0 for 13 on third down. Notre Dame’s schedule looks pretty friendly the rest of the way, so they’re not out of the playoff hunt yet.

USC’s Resilience

USC came back from behind to beat No. 21 Iowa, 26-21, in a rain-soaked Coliseum. Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane made huge plays as receivers. Next up: a big test against No. 8 Oregon. That one could tell us a lot about USC’s playoff hopes.

Big 12 Contenders

Two Big 12 teams are lurking just outside the playoff: BYU and Texas Tech. BYU shrugged off a tough loss and hammered TCU 44-13. Texas Tech keeps finding ways to win, making the Big 12 a tough conference to call this year.

Utah’s Dominance

Utah’s been rolling, winning all eight of their games by at least 25 points. Their latest was a 55-28 blowout of Baylor, with freshman QB Byrd Ficklin putting on a show. The defense stepped up, too. But those two losses—Texas Tech and BYU—might haunt them when it comes to playoff selection.

ACC Drama

The ACC is tight at the top, with Georgia Tech and Virginia leading for now. Georgia Tech barely got past Boston College, 36-34. Virginia took care of Duke, 34-17. Both are eyeing the ACC Championship Game, so the last few weeks will be tense.

Louisville’s Missed Opportunities

Louisville’s season has unraveled with back-to-back home losses. The latest, a 20-19 heartbreaker to Clemson, stings. Missed field goals and penalties piled up, and now their playoff dreams are slipping away.

Group of 5 Playoff Hopefuls

The Group of 5 race is heating up, with several teams still hanging around. San Diego State leads the Mountain West after a gritty 17-7 win over Boise State. The American Athletic Conference is a dogfight, with Navy, North Texas, Tulane, and East Carolina all still in the hunt.

MACtion Highlights

Western Michigan has pulled ahead in the MAC after a gritty 17-13 win over defending champ Ohio. The conference is still up for grabs, though—plenty of teams are chasing that title.

If you want to dive deeper into Week 12’s college football chaos, the full article is over at the New York Times.