PARK CITY, Utah — Access to the Sundance Film Festival doesn’t require a trip to Park City, Utah, anymore — just an internet connection. Over half of the films that premiered this past week will be available to steam on the festival’s online platform starting Thursday.
What started as a COVID-era necessity has become one of the festival’s most beloved components, even for those who do brave the cold and the lines to see films in person.
“I think it’s really great to be able to offer that opportunity to our audiences, but also to our artists. Sundance is a festival of discovery and each of the films coming to the festival is seeking that moment with audiences,” said festival director Eugene Hernandez. “How cool is it that even for that short window of time, just a few days, folks from anywhere in the country can log on in their living room with family and friends, get together and watch a few of the films?”
The Sundance Film Festival website has information on the technical requirements, but there are ways to watch on your computer and television. After you click the “Watch Now” button, you have five hours to complete the feature film.
Anyone in the U.S. can access the online portal. Rights restrictions make the films and shows unavailable to stream internationally.
All of the feature films playing in the main competitions are included on the platform and a few extras, many of which do not yet have theatrical distribution plans. That includes the Dylan O’Brien breakout “Twinless,” the Marlee Matlin, Sally Ride and Selena Quintanilla documentaries, and Ukrainian documentaries “2000 Meters to Andriivka” and “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.”
Other highlights include “Love, Brooklyn”; “Ricky”; the Barry Jenkins produced “Sorry, Baby” made by triple threat Eva Victor; the politically relevant “Heightened Scrutiny” which looks at how the media is responsible for shaping narratives around transgender issues; and “The Perfect Neighbor,” which uses police bodycam footage to reconstruct a deadly neighborhood incident in Florida.
Some films already have distributors and won’t be streaming on the platform. A24 will release both the Ayo Edebiri film “Opus” and the Rose Byrne psychological thriller “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” in theaters this year. Same with Focus Features’ Carey Mulligan charmer “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” which will be in theaters in March. And in general, movies that played in the premieres section will not be available online, whether or not they have distribution plans yet. That includes Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” remake.
Between Jan. 30 through Feb. 2.
It’s $35 for a single film and up to $800 for unlimited. Proceeds benefit the Sundance Institute’s artist programs and funds.
12:00 PM: Big 12 Championship: [15] Arizona State vs. [16] Iowa State (in Arlington) (ABC) Announcers: Joe Tessitore, Jesse Palmer, Katie George The No. 15 Sun Devils (10-2, 7-2) and No. 16 Cyclones (10-2, 7-2) meet for the first time to decide the champion of the Big 12. Arizona State won its last five to emerge from a crowded field in its first Big 12 campaign after departing the Pac-12.
No. 16 Iowa State (10-2, 7-2) makes its first appearance since 2020; No. 12 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2) plays in the Big 12 Championship in its first year.
12:00 PM: MAC Championship: Ohio vs. Miami (OH) (in Detroit) (ESPN) Announcers: Anish Shroff, Andre Ware, Paul Carcaterra The RedHawks (8-4, 7-1) and Bobcats (9-3, 7-1) clash in the Mid-American Conference championship game in Detroit. Miami (Ohio) seeks back-to-back titles, and a third since 2019. Miami defeated Ohio 30-20 on Oct. 19 during a seven-game MAC win streak.
Ohio (9-3, 7-1) won five-straight games; Miami (8-4, 7-1) beat the Bobcats, 30-20, on Oct. 19 behind three passing touchdowns from Brett Gabbert.
2:00 PM: SWAC Championship: Southern @ Jackson State (ESPN2) Announcers: Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker, Coley Harvey The Tigers play the Jaguars in the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship. Jackson State has won its past eight. Southern dropped its past four title-game appearances, including 43-24 to Jackson State in a battle for the 2022 SWAC crown.
2 PM: FCS Playoffs: Montana @ South Dakota State (ESPN+) Announcers: Lowell Galindo, Fozzy Whittaker
2 PM: FCS Playoffs: Villanova @ UIW (ESPN+) Announcers: David Saltzman, Taylor McHargue
2 PM: FCS Playoffs: Rhode Island @ Mercer (ESPN+) Announcers: Michael Reghi, Forrest Conoly
3 PM: FCS Playoffs: UT Martin @ Montana State (ESPN+) Announcers: Jason Ross Jr.,Tyoka Jackson
3 PM: FCS Playoffs: Abilene Christian @ North Dakota State (ESPN+) Announcers: Noah Reed, Craig Haubert
4 PM: FCS Playoffs: Illinois State @ UC Davis (ESPN+) Announcers: Richard Cross, Charles Arbuckle
4:00 PM: SEC Championship: [2] Texas vs. [5] Georgia (in Atlanta) (ABC) Announcers ABC: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe ESPN (Field Pass): Harry Douglas, Cole Cubelic, Marty Smith, Ryan McGee SEC (Sky Cast): Tim Tebow, Jordan Rodgers, Roman Harper No. 5 Georgia (10-2, 6-2) won its season meeting with No. 2 Texas (11-1, 7-1), 30-15, on Oct. 19 behind three rushing touchdowns from Trevor Etienne.
7:30 PM: Sun Belt Championship: Marshall @ Louisiana (ESPN) Announcers: Roy Philpott, Sam Acho, Taylor Davis The Ragin’ Cajuns (10-2) host the Thundering Herd (9-3) for the Sun Belt Conference championship game. West Division champ Louisiana Lafayette owns four Sun Belt titles after winning in 2021. East victor Marshall plays for its first SBC crown.
Marshall (9-3, 7-1) won six-straight games behind Braylon Braxton; Louisiana (10-2, 7-1) makes its first Sun Belt Championship appearance since 2021.
8:00 PM: ACC Championship: [17] Clemson vs. [8] Southern Methodist (in Charlotte) (ABC) Announcers: Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath No. 18 Clemson (9-3, 7-1) is 8-1 in the ACC Championship; No. 8 SMU (11-1, 8-0 makes its first appearance in its first year as an ACC member.
8:00 PM: Big Ten Championship: [3] Penn State vs. [1] Oregon (in Indianapolis) (CBS) Announcers: Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jenny Dell No. 3 Penn State (11-1, 8-1) makes its first appearance since 2016; No. 1 Oregon (12-0, 9-0) plays in the Big Ten Championship in its first year in the Big Ten.
9 PM: FCS Playoffs: Lehigh @ Idaho (ESPN+) Announcers: Shawn Kenney, Marcus Ray
Week 14 will be the toughest one of the fantasy football season yet. Most fantasy leagues will be playing their final week of the regular season, but a whopping six NFL teams will be on bye after zero were off for Thanksgiving week.
That will create plenty of roster dilemmas for fantasy managers hoping to play their way into the playoffs. It won’t just be about key start ’em, sit ’em decisions; it will also be about add/drop choices for their roster.
Late-season injuries have put fantasy stars such as J.K. Dobbins, in precarious positions. Will Dobbins return before the end of the regular season, or will he remain out through the fantasy playoffs? Owners will have to weigh that possibility as they investigate whether to keep Dobbins, and other banged-up stars, on their roster.
Here’s a look at five players to cut after Week 13 of the fantasy football season, including some big names who may no longer have fantasy value in redraft leagues.
Cousins has a high ceiling – as evidenced by his 509-yard, four-touchdown game earlier in the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers – but his floor is low, as fantasy managers have learned the hard way in recent weeks. During his past three games, Cousins has failed to throw a touchdown while throwing six interceptions, four of which came against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13.
Could Cousins bounce back in short order? Sure, but he is facing a tough Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 14. It’s probably best not to start him in that contest, so you can drop him this week to pick up other pieces. And if he bounces back against the Vikings, then you can add him back for a more favorable three-game stretch against the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants and Washington Commanders.
But if not? Consider him a boom-or-bust QB2 the rest of the way.
KIRK COUSINS:Falcons QB endures forgettable afternoon with four interceptions vs Chargers
Dobbins was one of the best sleeper picks from fantasy football drafts in 2024, but his owners are facing a brutal reality. The veteran running back suffered an MCL sprain in Week 12 and was put on IR just a day before the Chargers’ Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
That will put Dobbins out for at least four games. As a result, the earliest he can return to action is in Week 17, which will be the fantasy championship game in most fantasy leagues.
There is no guarantee that Dobbins will be in action in Week 17, especially if the Chargers are out of the AFC West divisional race and have a strong hold on a wild-card spot. If he doesn’t return for that contest, then he will simply spend the last month of the fantasy season eating up a roster spot that could be used on other waiver-wire pickups.
As such, fantasy owners needing roster flexibility might be best served dropping Dobbins. It will be a painful decision, but it is probably the right move at this point.
White is starting to look more and more like the No. 2 back for the Buccaneers. Bucky Irving out-touched him 27-9 against the Carolina Panthers in Week 13 and the rookie outgained White 181-34 in the quality matchup. Irving also scored a touchdown while White did not.
Keeping White certainly won’t hurt fantasy owners, as he looks like a high-end handcuff for a team that runs the ball well. At the same time, it will probably take an injury to Irving to make White a legitimate lead back again. Parting with him for a player at a position of need could be worthwhile for fantasy owners in need of depth at quarterback, tight end or defense.
MIKE TOMLIN:George Pickens needs to ‘grow up in a hurry’
There is little doubt that Lockett has dropped to third in the pecking order among Seattle’s receivers. He has posted three or less catches in five consecutive games and has only topped 20 receiving yards once in that span.
The Seahawks still have a higher-volume passing offense, but it’s clear that Geno Smith prefers throwing to DK Metcalf and Jaxon Smith-Njigba over Lockett. The veteran and longtime Seattle weapon might still occasionally pop off in favorable matchups, but you can’t really trust him as anything more than a shaky flex given his lack of volume.
Johnston is in a similar boat to Lockett. He will pop off on occasion, as evidenced by his three-game touchdown streak from Weeks 9 through 11, but he also has recorded 24 or less yards in five of his past seven games.
Johnston’s value doesn’t appear to be on the upswing, either. In Week 13, Justin Herbert threw the ball 23 teams. A whopping 12 of those targets went to Ladd McConkey while Johnston ranked second on the team with four targets.
Perhaps Johnston will be able to earn a more consistent share of Herbert’s looks as teams increasingly pay attention to McConkey. But barring a big-time change in the Chargers’ philosophy, Johnston figures only to be a streaky DFS play the rest of the season.
The fifth College Football Playoff rankings of 2024 will be announced tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 30, and things are bound to change after seven ranked teams lost last weekend. Before the CFP committee unveils the next rankings, I predict where the top 25 teams will land, along with the bracket.
Note that these are my predictions and mine alone. I look at head-to-head results, schedule strength, games against ranked teams and more to help rank the teams how I think the CFP committee will do so. You can read the CFP committee’s official protocols here.
2024 College Football Playoff rankings predictions: Fifth Top 25 projections
These predictions are as of Sunday, Dec. 1.
Oregon (12-0) LW: 1 — Oregon will be ranked No. 1 as long as it’s undefeated.
Texas (11-1) LW: 3 — Texas won its long-awaited rivalry game with Texas A&M, adding a quality win to its resume as it moves up to No. 2
Penn State (11-1) LW: 4 — Penn State moves up in this week’s rankings after Ohio State’s loss.
Notre Dame (11-1) LW: 5 — Notre Dame escaped USC and will likely host a game in the first round of the playoff, potentially rising to the No. 5 seed when it’s all said and done.
Georgia (10-2) LW: 7 — A win is a win in the committee’s eyes this week. Georgia moves up thanks to winning its close game in a week where Miami and Ohio State lost.
Tennessee (10-2) LW: 8 — Tennessee assured its spot in the playoff with a win over Vanderbilt. The Volunteers will be in a great position to host a playoff game.
Ohio State (10-2) LW: 2 — Ohio State will still be in the playoffs even with its second loss because of wins over Penn State and Indiana. Those wins keep the Buckeyes over a pair of one-loss teams.
SMU (11-1) LW: 9 — SMU defeated Cal to enter the ACC championship with just one loss.
Indiana (11-1) LW: 10 — Indiana stays behind SMU after a win over a one-win Purdue team.
Boise State (11-1) LW: 11 — Boise State handled business against Oregon State and will rise into the top 10.
South Carolina (9-3) LW: 15 — Theorder of the rankings from No. 12-14 will be the cause for plenty of debate. South Carolina beat a Clemson team ranked No. 12 last week, while other three-loss SEC teams beat unranked opponents. However, teams like Alabama and Ole Miss defeated the Gamecocks head-to-head. True as that may be, the committee already showed that head-to-head isn’t the end-all factor when the Tide, Rebels, Bulldogs and Vols were all in the top 10 a few weeks ago. The Clemson win pushes the Gamecocks into the playoffs.
Alabama (9-3) LW: 13 — Alabama will be the first team out this week at No. 12 since it’s ranked higher than any Big 12 team. The Tide will need one team to falter to help it make the playoff.
Ole Miss (9-3) LW: 14 — Ole Miss will be ranked 14th by the committee and require conference championship game blowouts to make the playoff.
Miami (FL) (10-2) LW: 6 — Miami lost its second game of the season to Syracuse. The Hurricanes have fewer losses than teams ranked above it, but Miami hasn’t defeated a currently ranked team. The loss to Syracuse knocked Miami from the ACC championship game and the playoff picture.
Arizona State (10-2) LW: 16 — Arizona State dominated Arizona with a spot in the Big 12 championship game on the line. The Sun Devils are just one more win away from a playoff spot.
Iowa State (10-2) LW: 18 — Iowa State won Farmeggedon, holding off Kansas State. The Cyclones can clinch a playoff spot with a win next week.
BYU (10-2) LW: 19 — BYU finishes the regular season with 10 wins but is out of the playoff picture since it won’t play in the Big 12 title game.
Clemson (9-3) LW: 12 — Clemson’s hopes of making the playoff as an at-large team died with a loss to South Carolina, but its hopes of making the playoff revived when Miami’s loss sent it to the ACC Championship Game. Nonetheless, expect Clemson to land outside the top 15 this week.
Missouri (9-3) LW: 21 — Missouri rallied past Arkansas and will move inside the top 20 this week.
UNLV (10-2) LW: 22 — UNLV took down Nevada and will enter the top 20 ahead of a CFP elimination game in the Mountain West title game.
Syracuse (9-3) LW: NR — At 9-3 with a win over a then-top-10 team, Syracuse will enter the rankings this week.
Illinois (9-3) LW: 23 — Illinois defeated Northwestern and will remain ranked this week.
Colorado (9-3) LW: 25 — Colorado moves up after a 52-0 win on Black Friday. Unfortunately, the Buffaloes saw their playoff hopes disappear last week in a loss.
Texas A&M (8-4) LW: 20 — Texas A&M lost to Texas, but the committee will keep the Aggies ranked since Texas is a top-two team.
Army (10-1) LW: NR — I have no idea who the committee will rank in the final spot, but I’ll go with Army since the Black Knights are 10-1 and bounced back from their first loss with a win.
First Teams Out: No. 12 Alabama, No. 13 Ole Miss, No. 14 Miami
Notable College Football Playoff rankings questions
How far does Ohio State fall?
Ohio State lost to an unranked Michigan, but it still has wins over two top-10 teams. The playoff committee already had a pair of two-loss teams ranked above one-loss teams last week. Could a third two-loss team in Ohio State continue the trend?
Where are the three-loss SEC teams in comparison to Miami?
Miami is the other top-10 team to suffer its second loss this week. However, the Hurricanes don’t have nearly the quality wins of a team like Ohio State. Miami likely will fall below a one-loss Boise State team putting it out of the top 10. The next teams outside of the top 10 are all three-loss teams based on last week’s rankings. When comparing resumes, how much the committee will weigh a third loss will determine where Miami lands compared to South Carolina, Alabama and Ole Miss.
Resume comparison
Team
Rec.
LW Rank
LW Result
Current Ranked Wins
Losses
Miami (FL)
10-2
No. 6
L Syracuse
None Best win: Louisville or Duke
Georgia Tech (28-23) Syracuse (42-38)
Alabama
9-3
No. 13
W Auburn
Georgia (41-34) South Carolina (27-25) Missouri (34-0)
Is a win over Clemson enough to move South Carolina past teams it lost to?
South Carolina lost to LSU in a controversial 36-33 finish, lost to Ole Miss in a 27-3 rout and lost to Alabama 27-25 in a close one. That’s two losses to two teams ranked right in front of the Gamecocks. However, South Carolina was the only team to beat a ranked team this week. Will that be enough to make the Gamecocks the last team in?
Michigan stuns No. 2 Ohio State, Syracuse upsets No. 6 Miami, more from Rivalry Week
Recapping Rivalry Week’s college football action that saw No. 7 Georgia escape Georgia Tech in 8OT, Michigan upset No. 2 Ohio State and Syracuse remove No. 6 Miami from the ACC title game.
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2024-25 FCS National Championship Game: Date, time, TV channel, history
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2024-25 FCS Championship Game.
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Lafayette-Lehigh football: Memorable moments, all-time history
It’s been more than 135 years since the first Lafayette vs. Lehigh football game. Here are key moments from their rivalry and an all-time history of the series.
Rivalry week lived up to the billing as several of the top teams in the country were dragged down by their respective arch-nemesis. No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Miami lost stunners, while No. 7 Georgia and No. 8 Tennessee needed late comebacks to pull away from far lesser opponents.
The chaos had a major impact on the conference title races. Penn State will now play in the Big Ten Championship Game instead of Ohio State, while Clemson made it to the ACC title game after Miami’s loss.
The night slate brings more potential for upheaval. No. 3 Texas travels to Kyle Field to play No. 20 Texas A&M in a historic matchup. With wins, No. 18 Iowa State and No. 19 BYU have openings to the Big 12 Championship Game. Here are the biggest winners and losers of college football’s Week 14.
Loser: Ohio State coach Ryan Day
Ohio State was a four-score favorite against its hated rival. Michigan was down their two best players. The Buckeyes had the more talented roster by a massive margin. Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork confirmed that the program spent more than $20 million in the NIL market to assemble this team. It didn’t matter. Michigan shocked Ohio State 13-10 after a late field goal from Dominic Zvada to pick up one of the most devastating losses in modern Ohio State history.
Day may return next season as Ohio State’s coach and the Buckeyes still technically have a chance to win the national championship as they should still make the playoff. Still, there are three expectations in Columbus: Beat Michigan, win the Big Ten and win the national championship. Day has now whiffed on the first two in four straight seasons. If he doesn’t win the national championship this year, he could very soon be out of a job.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been one of the rising stars in the sport, but his performance in a 17-14 win over No. 12 Clemson will put him firmly on the national map. Sellers threw for 164 yards and rushed for 166 and two touchdowns to pull the upset victory at Death Valley. Sellers had a game-winning 20-yard run with 1:08 remaining that will go down as one of the biggest runs in South Carolina history. There’s no guarantee that the Gamecocks find their way into the College Football playoff, but Norris’s Herculean effort at least gives them a chance.
Loser: Miami
All Miami had to do was survive Syracuse. More, all the ‘Canes really had to do was maintain 21-0 lead they took early in the second quarter and they would be essentially a lock to play for the national championship. Instead, another poor game management decision from Mario Cristobal proved costly in a 42-38 loss against the Orange.
Cristobal opted to kick a field goal from the 10-yard line with 3:42 remaining in the game despite trailing by seven points. The Hurricanes did not get the ball back again as the defense failed to get Syracuse off the field. Now, Miami has no control of its CFP fate and will be in a battle with teams like Alabama and South Carolina to make the field. It’s a total failure and could prove to be the end of the season for the best Miami passing offense in school history.
Loser: SEC title contenders
The good news for the top of the SEC is most of its top contenders ultimately pulled off victories in tight rivalry week games. However, none of them looked anywhere near national championship caliber during a miserable 24-hour stretch on Friday and Saturday.
No. 7 Georgia looked miserable in a 44-42 win over Georgia Tech that went to eight overtimes, the second-most in college football history. The Bulldogs needed 21 points in the fourth quarter just to give themselves a chance. No. 8 Tennessee similarly got off to a slow start against Vanderbilt, going down 17-7 in the first quarter before finally turning things on. No. 14 Ole Miss needed a late fourth quarter touchdown to pull away for a 26-14 win over a horrendous Mississippi State team.
Ultimately, the performances probably won’t hurt the SEC’s place in the College Football Playoff, but it certainly didn’t help.
Sitting at 2-4, Baylor coach Dave Aranda seemed dead to rights. The Bears faced a tall task just to make a bowl game. Instead, the Bears are suddenly the hottest team in the Big 12. Baylor shocked Kansas 45-17 to cap off a six-game winning streak and clinch an eight-win season for the first time since 2021. The Bears won’t get the tiebreaker luck they need to reach the Big 12 title game, but Baylor is playing as well as anyone in the conference.
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson (23 for 31 for 310 yards and four touchdowns) and running back Bryson Washington (28 carries for 192 yards and two touchdowns) have been the breakout stars of the run and present Aranda some serious building blocks. The Bears will have a serious case to be a preseason Big 12 favorite in 2024.
Loser: The AAC
No. 17 Tulane was perhaps the biggest winner of the last CFP Rankings after sitting at No. 17, ahead of multiple two-loss Big 12 teams. If Arizona State lost, there was a serious chance that Tulane could get into the CFP over the Big 12 champion as the fifth conference champion.
Instead, the Green Wave were unprepared for the moment and lost against Memphis 34-24 to pick up a third loss and likely risk their spot in the top 25. Tulane rushed for only 57 yards and gave up 242 yards on the ground, including 177 to running back Mario Anderson. Instead of being the hunter, Tulane is in rough shape as both Boise State and UNLV are likely to finish ahead of the AAC champ in the rankings.
Rivalry week lived up to the billing as several of the top teams in the country were dragged down by their respective arch-nemesis. No. 2 Ohio State and No. 6 Miami lost stunners, while No. 7 Georgia and No. 8 Tennessee needed late comebacks to pull away from far lesser opponents.
The chaos had a major impact on the conference title races. Penn State will now play in the Big Ten Championship Game instead of Ohio State, while Clemson made it to the ACC title game after Miami’s loss.
The night slate brings more potential for upheaval. No. 3 Texas travels to Kyle Field to play No. 20 Texas A&M in a historic matchup. With wins, No. 18 Iowa State and No. 19 BYU have openings to the Big 12 Championship Game. Here are the biggest winners and losers of college football’s Week 14.
Loser: Ohio State coach Ryan Day
Ohio State was a four-score favorite against its hated rival. Michigan was down their two best players. The Buckeyes had the more talented roster by a massive margin. Ohio State athletic director Ross Bjork confirmed that the program spent more than $20 million in the NIL market to assemble this team. It didn’t matter. Michigan shocked Ohio State 13-10 after a late field goal from Dominic Zvada to pick up one of the most devastating losses in modern Ohio State history.
Day may return next season as Ohio State’s coach and the Buckeyes still technically have a chance to win the national championship as they should still make the playoff. Still, there are three expectations in Columbus: Beat Michigan, win the Big Ten and win the national championship. Day has now whiffed on the first two in four straight seasons. If he doesn’t win the national championship this year, he could very soon be out of a job.
South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been one of the rising stars in the sport, but his performance in a 17-14 win over No. 12 Clemson will put him firmly on the national map. Sellers threw for 164 yards and rushed for 166 and two touchdowns to pull the upset victory at Death Valley. Sellers had a game-winning 20-yard run with 1:08 remaining that will go down as one of the biggest runs in South Carolina history. There’s no guarantee that the Gamecocks find their way into the College Football playoff, but Norris’s Herculean effort at least gives them a chance.
Loser: Miami
All Miami had to do was survive Syracuse. More, all the ‘Canes really had to do was maintain 21-0 lead they took early in the second quarter and they would be essentially a lock to play for the national championship. Instead, another poor game management decision from Mario Cristobal proved costly in a 42-38 loss against the Orange.
Cristobal opted to kick a field goal from the 10-yard line with 3:42 remaining in the game despite trailing by seven points. The Hurricanes did not get the ball back again as the defense failed to get Syracuse off the field. Now, Miami has no control of its CFP fate and will be in a battle with teams like Alabama and South Carolina to make the field. It’s a total failure and could prove to be the end of the season for the best Miami passing offense in school history.
Loser: SEC title contenders
The good news for the top of the SEC is most of its top contenders ultimately pulled off victories in tight rivalry week games. However, none of them looked anywhere near national championship caliber during a miserable 24-hour stretch on Friday and Saturday.
No. 7 Georgia looked miserable in a 44-42 win over Georgia Tech that went to eight overtimes, the second-most in college football history. The Bulldogs needed 21 points in the fourth quarter just to give themselves a chance. No. 8 Tennessee similarly got off to a slow start against Vanderbilt, going down 17-7 in the first quarter before finally turning things on. No. 14 Ole Miss needed a late fourth quarter touchdown to pull away for a 26-14 win over a horrendous Mississippi State team.
Ultimately, the performances probably won’t hurt the SEC’s place in the College Football Playoff, but it certainly didn’t help.
Sitting at 2-4, Baylor coach Dave Aranda seemed dead to rights. The Bears faced a tall task just to make a bowl game. Instead, the Bears are suddenly the hottest team in the Big 12. Baylor shocked Kansas 45-17 to cap off a six-game winning streak and clinch an eight-win season for the first time since 2021. The Bears won’t get the tiebreaker luck they need to reach the Big 12 title game, but Baylor is playing as well as anyone in the conference.
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson (23 for 31 for 310 yards and four touchdowns) and running back Bryson Washington (28 carries for 192 yards and two touchdowns) have been the breakout stars of the run and present Aranda some serious building blocks. The Bears will have a serious case to be a preseason Big 12 favorite in 2024.
Loser: The AAC
No. 17 Tulane was perhaps the biggest winner of the last CFP Rankings after sitting at No. 17, ahead of multiple two-loss Big 12 teams. If Arizona State lost, there was a serious chance that Tulane could get into the CFP over the Big 12 champion as the fifth conference champion.
Instead, the Green Wave were unprepared for the moment and lost against Memphis 34-24 to pick up a third loss and likely risk their spot in the top 25. Tulane rushed for only 57 yards and gave up 242 yards on the ground, including 177 to running back Mario Anderson. Instead of being the hunter, Tulane is in rough shape as both Boise State and UNLV are likely to finish ahead of the AAC champ in the rankings.
Looking back at how each team reached the final Saturday of November, there was almost nothing out there to suggest the Wolverines would score this upset.
But there were two factors that were clearly overlooked. One was history: Michigan had won three in a row in this rivalry, so thoroughly humbling Ohio State that the No. 2 Buckeyes essentially reinvented themselves to regain a foothold in the series.
Another was Michigan’s defense. While not quite up to the standard set a year ago, this group carried the Wolverines into the postseason with no help from one of the worst offenses in modern program history.
History, defense, key plays in key moments, the ability to eventually dictate the flow of this game despite Ohio State’s best efforts, another dominant fourth quarter – that’s how the Wolverines scored what should go down as one of the great upsets in the rivalry’s history.
For Michigan, the win overwrites what had been an often miserable year under new coach Sherrone Moore. His tenure now has a marquee moment upon which to build the foundation for a future Big Ten or national champion.
In the immediate future, the Buckeyes will no longer reach the conference championship game. No. 1 Oregon will instead meet No. 4 Penn State, which closed out the regular season by beating Maryland. Not playing for the Big Ten crown will force Ohio State to sweat out the final College Football Playoff rankings and see where their postseason journey begins..
And in the bigger picture, this is a nightmare moment for coach Ryan Day. He is the first Ohio State coach to lose four in a row to Michigan since John Cooper from 1988-91 and the first coach to lose to an unranked Michigan team since Cooper in 1993.
FIRING TIME?:Latest Michigan loss has Ohio State’s Ryan Day under fire
This is the worst loss of Day’s tenure and one of the Buckeyes’ worst losses in this series. Despite his regular-season success against teams other than the Wolverines, Day may never live this one down.
The Buckeyes, Wolverines and South Carolina lead Saturday’s winners and losers:
Winners
Michigan
Michigan should play a bowl game in Charlotte, Nashville or Tampa while Ohio State might end up in the playoff, so the Buckeyes could end up having the last laugh. Yeah, right: The Wolverines are going to be laughing at the Buckeyes’ expense for another year after owning the fourth quarter, continuing one of the dominant themes of this four-game winning streak. Going back to 2021, Michigan has outscored OSU 75-31 in the second half.
South Carolina
With his team down 14-10 with just over a minute left, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers weaved his way through No. 12 Clemson’s defense for a 20-yard touchdown run to complete the Gamecocks’ 17-14 win and an incredible run through the second half of the regular season. No. 14 South Carolina closed with six wins in a row, four against ranked competition, and now are in position to earn a miraculous playoff berth with some help in the Power Four. In a do-or-die rivalry matchup for both teams, the Gamecocks were able to intercept Cade Klubnik on the game’s final possession to win in Death Valley for the second time in a row.
Clemson
But Clemson is also a winner, of a sort. Despite losing the rivalry game, the Tigers will backdoor into the ACC championship game by virtue of No. 6 Miami’s loss to Syracuse. After all this, Clemson might get back into the playoff by beating No. 9 SMU and winning the ACC for seventh time in nine years.
Tennessee and Notre Dame
These two prominent playoff contenders locked down at-large bids with rivalry wins to close out the regular season. Nico Iamaleava had four touchdowns passes to spark No. 8 Tennessee’s 36-23 win against Vanderbilt. Later on Saturday afternoon, the No. 5 Fighting Irish outscored Southern California 21-7 in the third quarter and then had two field-length interception returns for touchdowns in the fourth to win 49-35. The Irish are in position to host an opening-round playoff opponent. The Volunteers may as well, depending on what happens in next week’s conference championship games.
Losers
The ACC
Losing 42-38 to Syracuse puts No. 6 Miami’s playoff hopes in dire straits. But they aren’t dead entirely, not with the messiness that has ensued in the SEC and the dearth of contenders with fewer than three losses. We’ll know with the penultimate playoff rankings on Tuesday night where Miami really stands. The Hurricanes’ case rests on at least five wins against bowl teams, led by wins against Duke and Louisville. Overall, though, this is the story for the ACC: That Clemson and Miami lost on Saturday very likely makes this a one-bid league to the playoff.
Ryan Day
It’s hard to describe just how disastrous Saturday was for Day, who has excelled at Ohio State in every metric but the two that matter: beating the Wolverines and winning national championships. He may still have the chance to achieve the latter thanks to playoff expansion. But regardless of what happens over the next two months, this loss to Michigan is one Day will never live down. While the idea that he’d be replaced after this year remains difficult to imagine, Day will at a minimum head into the 2025 season needing to beat Michigan, play for the Big Ten crown and make a deep run into the playoff to ensure his future with the Buckeyes.
Kansas
The second-half magic ran out near the finish line for Kansas, which had three ranked wins in a row against Iowa State, Brigham Young and Colorado but lost 45-21 to Baylor to fall just shy of bowl eligibility. Down 21-10 at halftime, the Jayhawks allowed three touchdown drives of at least 62 yards in the third quarter to trail 42-17 heading into the third quarter. This was the first game all year that got out of hand: The Jayhawks’ remaining six losses came by a combined 30 points.
Auburn
The Iron Bowl came at the right time for No. 13 Alabama. After last week’s 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide took out some frustration on Auburn by running for 201 yards and four scores in a 28-14 win. That’s the Tigers’ fifth loss in a row in the series, the program’s longest losing streak since dropping nine in a row from 1973-81. The loss also keeps Auburn out of the postseason for the second time in three years while handing coach Hugh Freeze back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in his coaching career.
Looking back at how each team reached the final Saturday of November, there was almost nothing out there to suggest the Wolverines would score this upset.
But there were two factors that were clearly overlooked. One was history: Michigan had won three in a row in this rivalry, so thoroughly humbling Ohio State that the No. 2 Buckeyes essentially reinvented themselves to regain a foothold in the series.
Another was Michigan’s defense. While not quite up to the standard set a year ago, this group carried the Wolverines into the postseason with no help from one of the worst offenses in modern program history.
History, defense, key plays in key moments, the ability to eventually dictate the flow of this game despite Ohio State’s best efforts, another dominant fourth quarter – that’s how the Wolverines scored what should go down as one of the great upsets in the rivalry’s history.
For Michigan, the win overwrites what had been an often miserable year under new coach Sherrone Moore. His tenure now has a marquee moment upon which to build the foundation for a future Big Ten or national champion.
In the immediate future, the Buckeyes will no longer reach the conference championship game. No. 1 Oregon will instead meet No. 4 Penn State, which closed out the regular season by beating Maryland. Not playing for the Big Ten crown will force Ohio State to sweat out the final College Football Playoff rankings and see where their postseason journey begins..
And in the bigger picture, this is a nightmare moment for coach Ryan Day. He is the first Ohio State coach to lose four in a row to Michigan since John Cooper from 1988-91 and the first coach to lose to an unranked Michigan team since Cooper in 1993.
FIRING TIME?:Latest Michigan loss has Ohio State’s Ryan Day under fire
This is the worst loss of Day’s tenure and one of the Buckeyes’ worst losses in this series. Despite his regular-season success against teams other than the Wolverines, Day may never live this one down.
The Buckeyes, Wolverines and South Carolina lead Saturday’s winners and losers:
Winners
Michigan
Michigan should play a bowl game in Charlotte, Nashville or Tampa while Ohio State might end up in the playoff, so the Buckeyes could end up having the last laugh. Yeah, right: The Wolverines are going to be laughing at the Buckeyes’ expense for another year after owning the fourth quarter, continuing one of the dominant themes of this four-game winning streak. Going back to 2021, Michigan has outscored OSU 75-31 in the second half.
South Carolina
With his team down 14-10 with just over a minute left, South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers weaved his way through No. 12 Clemson’s defense for a 20-yard touchdown run to complete the Gamecocks’ 17-14 win and an incredible run through the second half of the regular season. No. 14 South Carolina closed with six wins in a row, four against ranked competition, and now are in position to earn a miraculous playoff berth with some help in the Power Four. In a do-or-die rivalry matchup for both teams, the Gamecocks were able to intercept Cade Klubnik on the game’s final possession to win in Death Valley for the second time in a row.
Clemson
But Clemson is also a winner, of a sort. Despite losing the rivalry game, the Tigers will backdoor into the ACC championship game by virtue of No. 6 Miami’s loss to Syracuse. After all this, Clemson might get back into the playoff by beating No. 9 SMU and winning the ACC for seventh time in nine years.
Tennessee and Notre Dame
These two prominent playoff contenders locked down at-large bids with rivalry wins to close out the regular season. Nico Iamaleava had four touchdowns passes to spark No. 8 Tennessee’s 36-23 win against Vanderbilt. Later on Saturday afternoon, the No. 5 Fighting Irish outscored Southern California 21-7 in the third quarter and then had two field-length interception returns for touchdowns in the fourth to win 49-35. The Irish are in position to host an opening-round playoff opponent. The Volunteers may as well, depending on what happens in next week’s conference championship games.
Losers
The ACC
Losing 42-38 to Syracuse puts No. 6 Miami’s playoff hopes in dire straits. But they aren’t dead entirely, not with the messiness that has ensued in the SEC and the dearth of contenders with fewer than three losses. We’ll know with the penultimate playoff rankings on Tuesday night where Miami really stands. The Hurricanes’ case rests on at least five wins against bowl teams, led by wins against Duke and Louisville. Overall, though, this is the story for the ACC: That Clemson and Miami lost on Saturday very likely makes this a one-bid league to the playoff.
Ryan Day
It’s hard to describe just how disastrous Saturday was for Day, who has excelled at Ohio State in every metric but the two that matter: beating the Wolverines and winning national championships. He may still have the chance to achieve the latter thanks to playoff expansion. But regardless of what happens over the next two months, this loss to Michigan is one Day will never live down. While the idea that he’d be replaced after this year remains difficult to imagine, Day will at a minimum head into the 2025 season needing to beat Michigan, play for the Big Ten crown and make a deep run into the playoff to ensure his future with the Buckeyes.
Kansas
The second-half magic ran out near the finish line for Kansas, which had three ranked wins in a row against Iowa State, Brigham Young and Colorado but lost 45-21 to Baylor to fall just shy of bowl eligibility. Down 21-10 at halftime, the Jayhawks allowed three touchdown drives of at least 62 yards in the third quarter to trail 42-17 heading into the third quarter. This was the first game all year that got out of hand: The Jayhawks’ remaining six losses came by a combined 30 points.
Auburn
The Iron Bowl came at the right time for No. 13 Alabama. After last week’s 24-3 loss to Oklahoma, the Crimson Tide took out some frustration on Auburn by running for 201 yards and four scores in a 28-14 win. That’s the Tigers’ fifth loss in a row in the series, the program’s longest losing streak since dropping nine in a row from 1973-81. The loss also keeps Auburn out of the postseason for the second time in three years while handing coach Hugh Freeze back-to-back losing seasons for the first time in his coaching career.
This isn’t the first time Abby Vernier has earned an award from the Pensacola News Journal this week.
But this award is definitely minimal compared to her accomplishment earlier this week.
After a third-place finish at the Class 2A state golf tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, Vernier cemented herself as one of the area’s top high school golfers. She carded a two-day total of 148, bouncing back on the second day with a one-over par 72.
For her efforts, Vernier was named the PNJ Athlete of the Week after mustering 43.91% of the poll’s votes.
On Friday, Vernier was announced as the PNJ Girls Golfer of the Year. Safe to say she had a solid junior season with West Florida, which, as a team, made it to the region tournament for the first time in program history.
Next she has a few big tournaments coming up to start her offseason from high school golf. And she’s still got one more season at the high school level to accomplish some lofty – but definitely within reach – goals her senior year.
Here’s a quick question-and-answer session with Vernier after she spoke with PNJ Sports Reporter Ben Grieco.
Q & A with West Florida golfer Abby Vernier
PNJ: Overall, for your junior season, how did you think the year went?
Abby Vernier: “It was so much fun. We had a great team this year. Everyone was nice. … It was a fun time making it to regionals for the first time in school history. We were all in the hotel room, having fun. … Then I made it to state, which was fun.”
PNJ: What’s it like going to regionals as a team, especially since it was the first time?
AV: “It’s a totally different experience. Your practice rounds and dinners with them, it gave me a taste of what college golf would be like. It made me excited for the future.”
PNJ: Speaking of the state tournament, you finished in a tie for third. What was working for you during the tournament?
AV: “The first day, I was struggling a little bit. I had two tricky holes that raised my score a bit. Other than that, I feel like I played pretty solid. There’s some tight holes on the course, but I just had to recover a little bit with a solid short game.”
PNJ: With how close you were to the top, does it give you any sort of fuel for your senior year?
AV: “Definitely. I want to win it next year, so we’ll see what happens.”
PNJ: How about long-term? Have you thought about any of those big goals are?
AV: “I want to get my scoring average down a little bit. I can’t remember what it is right now, but closer to even-par – maybe under-par. I want to play in college, as well. … I don’t think I’ll go pro. It’s not really in my vision.”
PNJ: Outside of high school golf, do you think all the tournaments in the offseason help you prepare for the fall?
AV: “Absolutely. I know other states, their season is in the spring. Coming straight from summer golf to high school golf is really helpful because you’re still in that competitive mindset.”
PNJ: Do you have any tournaments throughout the winter?
AV: “Florida is all-year-round for golf. But I don’t have as many tournaments as I do during the summer, but I try to still keep warm.”
PNJ: Do you have any tournaments coming up soon?
AV: “Yes. I have one in New Orleans in early December, then one in Point Clear – the tournament of champions for SJGT – and then I think I’ll play in the Tom Dorsey.”
PNJ: Now for some quick ones. Do you have any pre-match superstitions or traditions that you follow?
AV: “I say a little prayer, and then me and my parents have a small talk.”
PNJ: Any go-to snack or meal during the round or before the round?
AV: “Before the round, I usually have an egg sandwich – like a bacon, egg and cheese – or a bowl of yogurt. Then during the round, I have a peanut butter and banana sandwich cut into quarters, and I’ll eat a part of it every four holes.”
PNJ: Do you listen to any music before a round or when you’re warming up?
AV: “I listen to a lot of music. I like rock, reggae, country, really anything.”
PNJ: Anybody specific?
AV: “Bob Marley or Led Zeppelin.”
PNJ: Is there a dream course you’ve always wanted to play at?
AV: “My dream course was Pebble Beach, but I got to play that over the summer. That was really fun to achieve.”
PNJ: Anywhere else you’ve got your eye on now?
AV: “Probably St. Andrew’s. It’s a classic. That would be fun to play.”
PNJ: How about a dream golfer that you’ve always wanted to play with?
AV: “Nelly Korda, Viktor Hovland and Tiger Woods.”
PNJ: Are there any major golf influences that you follow?
AV: “I love watching Good Good (a golf brand and a group of golfers on YouTube). … Nelly Korda, I follow her a lot. And then Ellie Hildreth, she’s a junior golfer that’s a year older than me. She has a lot of drills and fun videos to watch.”
This isn’t the first time Abby Vernier has earned an award from the Pensacola News Journal this week.
But this award is definitely minimal compared to her accomplishment earlier this week.
After a third-place finish at the Class 2A state golf tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, Vernier cemented herself as one of the area’s top high school golfers. She carded a two-day total of 148, bouncing back on the second day with a one-over par 72.
For her efforts, Vernier was named the PNJ Athlete of the Week after mustering 43.91% of the poll’s votes.
On Friday, Vernier was announced as the PNJ Girls Golfer of the Year. Safe to say she had a solid junior season with West Florida, which, as a team, made it to the region tournament for the first time in program history.
Next she has a few big tournaments coming up to start her offseason from high school golf. And she’s still got one more season at the high school level to accomplish some lofty – but definitely within reach – goals her senior year.
Here’s a quick question-and-answer session with Vernier after she spoke with PNJ Sports Reporter Ben Grieco.
Q & A with West Florida golfer Abby Vernier
PNJ: Overall, for your junior season, how did you think the year went?
Abby Vernier: “It was so much fun. We had a great team this year. Everyone was nice. … It was a fun time making it to regionals for the first time in school history. We were all in the hotel room, having fun. … Then I made it to state, which was fun.”
PNJ: What’s it like going to regionals as a team, especially since it was the first time?
AV: “It’s a totally different experience. Your practice rounds and dinners with them, it gave me a taste of what college golf would be like. It made me excited for the future.”
PNJ: Speaking of the state tournament, you finished in a tie for third. What was working for you during the tournament?
AV: “The first day, I was struggling a little bit. I had two tricky holes that raised my score a bit. Other than that, I feel like I played pretty solid. There’s some tight holes on the course, but I just had to recover a little bit with a solid short game.”
PNJ: With how close you were to the top, does it give you any sort of fuel for your senior year?
AV: “Definitely. I want to win it next year, so we’ll see what happens.”
PNJ: How about long-term? Have you thought about any of those big goals are?
AV: “I want to get my scoring average down a little bit. I can’t remember what it is right now, but closer to even-par – maybe under-par. I want to play in college, as well. … I don’t think I’ll go pro. It’s not really in my vision.”
PNJ: Outside of high school golf, do you think all the tournaments in the offseason help you prepare for the fall?
AV: “Absolutely. I know other states, their season is in the spring. Coming straight from summer golf to high school golf is really helpful because you’re still in that competitive mindset.”
PNJ: Do you have any tournaments throughout the winter?
AV: “Florida is all-year-round for golf. But I don’t have as many tournaments as I do during the summer, but I try to still keep warm.”
PNJ: Do you have any tournaments coming up soon?
AV: “Yes. I have one in New Orleans in early December, then one in Point Clear – the tournament of champions for SJGT – and then I think I’ll play in the Tom Dorsey.”
PNJ: Now for some quick ones. Do you have any pre-match superstitions or traditions that you follow?
AV: “I say a little prayer, and then me and my parents have a small talk.”
PNJ: Any go-to snack or meal during the round or before the round?
AV: “Before the round, I usually have an egg sandwich – like a bacon, egg and cheese – or a bowl of yogurt. Then during the round, I have a peanut butter and banana sandwich cut into quarters, and I’ll eat a part of it every four holes.”
PNJ: Do you listen to any music before a round or when you’re warming up?
AV: “I listen to a lot of music. I like rock, reggae, country, really anything.”
PNJ: Anybody specific?
AV: “Bob Marley or Led Zeppelin.”
PNJ: Is there a dream course you’ve always wanted to play at?
AV: “My dream course was Pebble Beach, but I got to play that over the summer. That was really fun to achieve.”
PNJ: Anywhere else you’ve got your eye on now?
AV: “Probably St. Andrew’s. It’s a classic. That would be fun to play.”
PNJ: How about a dream golfer that you’ve always wanted to play with?
AV: “Nelly Korda, Viktor Hovland and Tiger Woods.”
PNJ: Are there any major golf influences that you follow?
AV: “I love watching Good Good (a golf brand and a group of golfers on YouTube). … Nelly Korda, I follow her a lot. And then Ellie Hildreth, she’s a junior golfer that’s a year older than me. She has a lot of drills and fun videos to watch.”