College Football Chaos Ensues After Big-Name Losses

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The Miami Hurricanes finally earned a spot in the top-four this weekend after a huge 40-8 win over Notre Dame.

Chaos fell upon the college football world this weekend as two of the top-four teams in the College Football Playoff rankings suffered losses on Saturday. Then-No 3. Notre Dame was blown out by No. 7 Miami, who has jumped up to No. 2 in the current rankings. The Hurricanes decimated the Fighting Irish on both sides of the ball, forcing four turnovers on the way to a 41-8 victory, giving the turnover chain a full night’s use. Then No.1-ranked Georgia also found itself upset, courtesy of now No. 6 Auburn in a 40-17 blowout. The Tigers will face No. 1 Alabama next weekend in the annual Iron Bowl, in which an Auburn win would surely turn the playoff rankings on their heads and give the playoff committee fits.

The Big 10 kept its playoff hopes alive, as Wisconsin held off Iowa and secured a No. 3 ranking in the playoff standings. Ohio State remains the second-highest-ranked B1G team after routing No. 21 Michigan State 48-3. The PAC-12 seems to be all-but-eliminated from playoff contention, as no team in that conference has fewer than two losses after No. 20 Stanford topped No. 16 Washington, 30-22. The highest-ranked team in the conference is now USC at No. 14, making it extremely unlikely that any member school will make the playoffs, barring a miracle.

This week’s games don’t include as many ranked matchup as last’s, but one game to watch out for is No. 18 Michigan travelling to Madison to face Wisconsin in a B1G contest that could cause more chaos if the undefeated Badgers go down.

Thanksgiving week/weekend looks to be an exciting one, though, (at least for SEC fans) as Aubrun will face-off against Alabama in the annuual Iron Bowl and Ole Miss will take on Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl. Ohio State and Michigan will also play each other in an annual rivalry game that looks to be a good one despite its diminished playoff implications this time around.