25 Key Storylines to Watch Heading into Week 14
Turkey, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, dinner rolls, pie and football: the seven staples of a successful Thanksgiving week.
Tune in Thanksgiving Day to see two sets of in-state rivals do battle: Texas Tech-Texas and Ole Miss-Mississippi State.
Then, heat up some leftovers Friday and sit down for another round of rivalries, headlined by the Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State.
Finally, throw together a big leftover sandwich Saturday and strap in for the biggest day of football yet this season.
The Iron Bowl between No. 1 Alabama and No. 4 Auburn is just the tip of the Week 14 iceberg. Down below are several huge matchups, including Ohio State-Michigan, South Carolina-Clemson, Texas A&M-Missouri and USC-UCLA.
Click on to see a full preview of the coming weekend, as well as updates on the rest of college football's running storylines.
Note: All rankings based on Week 14 BCS standings.
1. Give Thanks for College Football
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When you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner Thursday, be sure to give thanks for the wondrous college football season that has been and, more importantly, the gripping finish that is coming.
Then go watch football.
Here are some can't-miss rivalries and contests involving BCS and conference title contenders coming this week (all times EST).
Thursday, Nov. 28
| Matchup | Time | Station |
| Texas Tech at Texas | 7:30 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| Ole Miss at Mississippi State | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Friday, Nov. 29
| Matchup | Time | Station |
| Iowa at Nebraska | Noon | ABC |
| Bowling Green at Buffalo | 1:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| Arkansas at No. 17 LSU | 2:30 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 16 Fresno State at San Jose State | 3:30 p.m. | CBS Sports Network |
| Washington State at Washington | 3:30 p.m. | Fox |
| Oregon State at No. 13 Oregon | 7 p.m. | Fox Sports 1 |
| South Florida at No. 19 UCF | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
Saturday, Nov. 30
| Matchup | Time | Station |
| No. 2 Florida State at Florida | Noon | ESPN |
| No. 3 Ohio State at Michigan | Noon | ABC |
| Minnesota at No. 11 Michigan State | Noon | Big Ten Network |
| No. 24 Duke at North Carolina | Noon | ESPN2 |
| No. 1 Alabama at No. 4 Auburn | 3:30 p.m. | CBS |
| No. 9 Baylor at TCU | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Penn State at No. 15 Wisconsin | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Georgia at Georgia Tech | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Virginia Tech at Virginia | 3:30 p.m. | ESPNU |
| No. 6 Clemson at No. 10 South Carolina | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| No. 25 Notre Dame at No. 8 Stanford | 7 p.m. | Fox |
| Louisiana-Monroe at Louisiana-Lafayette | 7 p.m. | ESPN3 |
| No. 21 Texas A&M at No. 5 Missouri | 7:45 p.m. | ESPN |
| No. 22 UCLA at No. 23 USC | 8 p.m. | ABC |
| Arizona at No. 12 Arizona State | 9:30 p.m. | Pac-12 Network |
2. Jameis Winston Update
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As reported by the Associated Press (H/t Gary Fineout, The Florida Times-Union), state attorney Willie Meggs said that the decision whether or not to charge Jameis Winston likely won't come until after Thanksgiving.
For ongoing coverage of the circumstances surrounding Winston, save this link from Bleacher Report's Matt Fitzgerald for live updates as they are available.
How his situation plays out will have a major impact on both the Heisman Trophy and BCS national championship picture.
3. Heisman Mess
3 of 25The Heisman Trophy situation is an absolute mess given the poor play of Johnny Manziel and Marcus Mariota, coupled with the off-field issues of Winston.
B/R's Barrett Sallee tried his hand at making sense of the situation. His top five after Week 13:
"1. Winston, Florida State
2. Manziel, Texas A&M
3. AJ McCarron, Alabama
4. Mariota, Oregon
5. Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois
"
As Sallee broke down, Winston's campaign will come down to his issues off the field. If he is arrested between now and the end of the season, his Heisman hopes will be done.
Manziel had an excellent opportunity to take control of the race against LSU, but he turned in one of his worst performances of the season. He'll have one last chance to impress voters this week against Missouri.
Mariota had a terrible performance as well, making his already small chances now miniscule.
Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron might be the biggest benefactor of all of this. If he leads the Crimson Tide to a win in the Iron Bowl and an SEC title, the Heisman could be his.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
4. NIU Passes Fresno for BCS Non-AQ Bid
4 of 25The Week 14 BCS standings brought a major shock, as Northern Illinois came up at No. 14, two spots ahead of Fresno State.
The two are vying for one BCS non-AQ automatic bid. As long as both win their conference titles, the one with the better BCS ranking will be going BCS bowling.
The Bulldogs have been in the lead in every BCS standings to this point, but the Huskies made a huge jump this week, despite their low ranking in the polls. NIU comes in at No. 17 in the Harris Poll and No. 20 in the USA Today coaches poll.
Northern Illinois is incredibly strong in the computer portion of the BCS, coming in 10th or better in all six of the individual computer rankings.
The voters don't like NIU because of its poor result in the BCS last season when it was crushed by Florida State in the Orange Bowl. However, the computers want to give the Huskies another chance.
Unless Fresno can make up that ground over the next two weeks, NIU will have that chance.
5. The Iron Bowl
5 of 25If, for whatever reason, you aren't brimming with anticipation for the Iron Bowl, watch this video.
It's finally here. No. 1 Alabama at No. 4 Auburn. The winner will win the SEC West Division and could be on the fast track to a national title berth.
One of the most bitter rivalries in all of sports will play out between two talented teams with colossal consequences.
As ESPN's Chris Low writes, the stakes have never been higher in this rivalry:
"And while it’s a rivalry that has spawned scores of legendary names, games, moments and memories, it has been a while since an Iron Bowl has meant more for both sides going into the game than the one that will be played Saturday afternoon on the Plains.
It’s only the second time in Iron Bowl history that both teams have been ranked in the top five nationally. Alabama is No. 1 and Auburn No. 4 in the latest BCS standings.
"
Don't miss it. UA and AU will kick off from Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. EST.
6. Mizzou's Moment of Truth
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Just after Auburn and Alabama battle for the West, Missouri will play Texas A&M, and a win will give the Tigers the East title.
It has been a remarkable season for Mizzou, which was picked to finish sixth in the East in the preseason.
But as Joe Walljasper of the Columbia Daily Tribune wrote, the Tigers have proven that they belong among the SEC's best:
"Now all that stands between the Tigers and a date with ultimate SEC heavyweight Alabama — or possibly Auburn — in the conference championship game is Texas A&M. The Aggies and quarterback Johnny Manziel, who will be smarting from yesterday's pasting by LSU, are the bunch that euthanized Missouri's debut season in the SEC.
"
""That was a dispiriting end to a year in which the Tigers made big moves — new conference, new uniforms — but didn't seem to really belong with their new peers. One year after the cosmetic changes, we're seeing the substance.
"Missouri not only belongs in the SEC, it belongs in the championship game.
"
Mizzou will have to keep up with the explosive Texas A&M offense and its Heisman Trophy quarterback Manziel to fulfill that forecast.
If the Tigers fall, the division title will go to South Carolina, which beat them 27-24 in double overtime back in October.
Missouri can make that loss irrelevant by topping the Aggies Saturday at 7:45 p.m. EST on ESPN.
7. Duke's "Greatest Challenge"
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Duke is just one win away from winning the ACC Coastal Division outright and heading to the conference title game against Florida State.
The Blue Devils have never won the Coastal and have already matched a school record with nine wins. They will take on rival North Carolina Saturday.
It is a game that head coach David Cutcliffe calls his team's greatest challenge, per Laura Keeley, The Charlotte Observer:
"No question, this is our greatest challenge. As a competitor, you want to challenge yourself and see if you’re up to the task. And the best way to do that is prepare.
This is as good as anything I’ve ever been through, and that’s not understating anything else I’ve ever been a part of. Being a part of this with so many exceptional people, it’s been amazingly rewarding. These are exceptional young men, and each one of these seniors I really feel a deep affection for."
"If Duke falters, well, the door remains open for several other Coastal contenders. Miami beat Virginia 45-26 on Saturday to keep its slim division hopes alive. The Canes need to beat Pitt on Friday, and then have Duke and Virginia Tech lose."
Virginia Tech must beat Virginia next week to have any shot at the crown. Georgia Tech, already in the clubhouse with a 5-3 mark in the ACC, needs Virginia Tech to lose to have any chance.
A five-way tie atop the division remains possible. If North Carolina beats Duke, and Miami and Virginia Tech win, then they would join the Jackets at 5-3 in division play. Virginia Tech would win in a five-way tie based on its 5-1 Coastal Division record.
8. The Palmetto Bowl
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While the Iron Bowl will feature two Top Five teams, the Palmetto Bowl isn't far behind, featuring two in-state foes ranked in the Top 10.
Clemson will come in ranked No. 6, while South Carolina is at No. 10 in the BCS. As both schools also started in the Top 10 of the rankings, head coach Steve Spurrier said the game will be great exposure for the state, per Brad Senkiw, OrangeandWhite.com:
"It’s sort of neat that we’ve got two teams in the top 10 that started the season there and are still there after 11 games. I know our state is proud of the two football schools. It should be a heck of a game.
It just adds to some recognition for our state. Both universities are pretty good at football and emphasize football and we’re trying to be the very best, just like (the Tigers) are.
"
With both teams hoping for a BCS at-large bid, this game carries heavy postseason implications, but Spurrier insisted that his team isn't approaching this contest differently than any other.
"We don’t talk about where anybody’s ranked or anything. I do like all coaches try to do and hopefully our players will listen to the coaches in that it’s another game. It’s a big game. It’s our in-state rival. We’re going to try go play the best we can.
"
CU and USC will kickoff at 7 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN2.
9. Battle for Los Angeles
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USC and UCLA are both out of contention for the Pac-12 South title, but that doesn't mean their rivalry will be played without purpose.
The Trojans, winners of six of their last seven games, are amid a remarkable renaissance under interim coach Ed Orgeron. While the charismatic Coach O's future is still up in the air, his players would love to add a rivalry win over UCLA to his resume.
As Orgeron said, he won't have to do much to motivate his players in this rivalry, per Tom Hoffarth, Los Angeles Daily News:
"I know our guys will be fired up for this game — it’s game eight of our new season. Obviously, it’s a rivalry game, the last regular-season game, but we won’t plan any different in practice or preparations.
We won’t say much about it this week. We don’t have to. What’s done is done. This is all about the USC Trojans.
"
It will be an interesting dynamic between the rising Trojans and a Bruin squad that just had its Pac-12 title hopes crushed by Arizona State. Per Hoffarth, UCLA head coach Jim Mora isn't discouraged by the loss. Rather, he senses promise in his program's future:
"There’s something growing around here that’s going to be special. It’s not there yet. But it’s growing. I’m proud of them. . . . I’m excited about the future of this program.
"
While this season fell just short of expectations, a win over USC would help temper the feeling of disappointment and set UCLA up to move toward the future Mora envisions.
UCLA and USC will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on ABC Saturday night.
10. Big Ten Title Game: Michigan State vs. Ohio State
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Mark your calendars: Ohio State and Michigan State will play for the Big Ten title Dec. 7 in Indianapolis.
The winner will at least go to the Rose Bowl, though OSU is still holding out hope for a national title berth.
Ohio State sewed up its berth by trampling Indiana 42-14 in the snow Saturday.
MSU dominated Northwestern 30-6 over the weekend, keeping the Wildcats out of the end zone all game and off the scoreboard in the second half. And according to MLive.com's Mike Griffith, Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio isn't looking to settle for No. 2:
"Win the Big Ten championship game on Dec. 7 in Indianapolis over No. 3 Ohio State (11-0, 7-0), and the Spartans are guaranteed a trip to the Rose Bowl.
That's Dantonio's plan, once Minnesota (8-3, 4-3) is dispatched of in Saturday's noon Senior Day game at Spartan Stadium.
"We don't intend to take second place in the conference,'' Dantonio said on his Sunday night teleconference. "We are going to play; our goals are set high, so we'll worry about that (BCS) next week.''
"
MSU and OSU will make a great match for the league crown. The Spartan defense, ranked No. 1 nationally, will provide a tremendous challenge for Braxton Miller, Carlos Hyde and the Buckeyes offense.
Michigan State will close the regular season against Minnesota Saturday at noon EST on the Big Ten Network. Ohio State will finish up with rival Michigan—but more on that later.
11. Pac-12 Title Game: Arizona State vs. Stanford
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The date between Arizona State and Stanford for the Pac-12 title is booked.
The only question is where the two will meet.
As of now, ASU will host the conference title game, as it has the best league record at 8-1. However, if the Sun Devils lose to rival Arizona this weekend, Stanford (9-2, 7-2) will host with the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Arizona already helped Stanford once by beating Oregon to give the Pac-12 North title to the Cardinal.
Stanford coach David Shaw revealed that he received the news during Stanford's 63-13 win over Cal over the weekend and is eager to see how his team will respond to receiving that second chance, per John Marshall, Associated Press (h/t MyDesert.com):
"He just tapped me on the shoulder and didn’t say anything, showed me his phone, which had the score on it. Of course, I was a little bit shocked, thought I was seeing it the wrong way.
We’re back in the Pac-12 championship game. Now the fact is what are we going to do with this opportunity? That’s the question.
"
Like Shaw, Arizona State head coach Todd Graham, in just his second year in Tempe, is thrilled at the chance to play for the Pac-12 title:
"To watch these kids on that field lay it on the field with that kind of heart was just overwhelming to me.
It’s been a quick journey the last year and a half, two years. I’m really really proud of them for buying into what we’re doing. These guys are winners.
"
ASU finish up at home against Arizona Saturday at 9:30 p.m. EST on the Pac-12 Network. Stanford will close the regular season against non-conference rival Notre Dame at 7 p.m. ET Saturday on Fox.
12. "Worlds Apart:" Ohio State vs. Michigan
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Michigan was supposed to provide the highest hurdle for Ohio State on its road to the Big Ten championship and perhaps the national title. In fact, the Wolverines were supposed to represent one last strength-of-schedule boost for the Buckeyes in their BCS run.
Instead, Michigan has fallen apart, its season lowlighted by near losses to Connecticut and Akron and four losses in the last six games.
As ESPN's Adam Rittenberg writes, those downfalls have cut a massive rift between the rivals as they come together in Ann Arbor:
"Ohio State and Michigan seemingly are worlds apart as they gather this week for The Game at Michigan Stadium.
Ohio State is No. 3 in the BCS standings, two wins away from a trip to Pasadena, Calif., possibly for the national championship game on Jan. 6. The Buckeyes rank third nationally in scoring (48.7 ppg) and boast arguably the nation's most dynamic offensive backfield in quarterback Braxton Miller and running back Carlos Hyde.
Michigan is fortunate to be bowl eligible, is unable to run the ball and, barring a major surprise Saturday, is headed for its worst stretch under Hoke (losses in four of its final five games). Hoke, along with his offensive staff, is feeling the heat. While Ohio State has reached historic milestones under Meyer, Michigan has endured historic lows in recent weeks, from the lowest net rushing total in team history (minus-48 against Michigan State) to becoming the only FBS team in the past 10 seasons with consecutive games of minus-20 rush yards or fewer (minus-48 against MSU, minus-21 against Nebraska).
"
An upset win over Ohio State would right the wrongs for Michigan this year, but it looks like the Wolverines will need a miracle to top the Buckeyes.
The two will meet at noon EST Saturday on ABC.
13. Will Muschamp's Job Status
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Florida suffered the most embarrassing loss in its long history, falling to FCS Georgia Southern over the weekend. The Gators won't be going to a bowl for the first time in 22 years.
Even despite the daunting circumstances, Will Muschamp isn't worried about losing his job, ESPN's Jeff Barlis writes:
"In the wake of a stunning loss to Georgia Southern, and with a public outcry that has gotten louder with every defeat, Florida's Will Muschamp met the media on Monday in a relaxed, jovial mood looking nothing like a coach who is worried about his job.
When asked if he is concerned about being fired, Muschamp confidently replied, "Absolutely not." When asked if he believes he will coach the Gators in 2014, he replied, "Absolutely."
"
Well, then. Muschamp certainly has plenty of explanation as to why is team has faltered so in 2013. The Gators, facing a murderous schedule, have suffered the loss of countless key contributors on both sides of the ball, including its top two quarterbacks.
As they look forward to 2013 just being over, they'll likely suffer one more brutal loss against rival Florida State this weekend.
UF will host the Seminoles at noon EST Saturday on ESPN.
14. Baylor Moves Forward
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Going into its tilt in Stillwater with Oklahoma State, Baylor had its sights set on the a national title berth and a Big 12 championship.
Goal No. 1 is out of reach after the Bears fell 49-17 in their worst game of the season, but that doesn't mean they'll give up on Goal No. 2.
Baylor remains tied atop the Big 12 with OSU and can still win at least a co-Big 12 crown by winning out. Plus, if the Cowboys fall to rival Oklahoma, the Bears will be going BCS bowling.
As reported by John Werner of the Waco Tribune-Herald, quarterback Bryce Petty and safety/linebacker hybrid Ahmad Dixon are still focused forward, even through the setback:
"Following his first loss as Baylor’s starting quarterback, Petty refused to make excuses. He did what a good leader should do: He took his share of the blame yet remained optimistic about the future.
“Would (a win) have been nice?” Petty said. “Sure, but it’s not going to ruin our goal as Big 12 champions. I’m not going anywhere, and we’re not going anywhere. We still have a lot to accomplish. We have to get back right and have a great week of practice."
...
“We wanted something that’s never been done before and that was go to a national championship,” said Ahmad Dixon, who switched from safety to linebacker due to an injury to Bryce Hager. “The dream came down. I promise this next one won’t crash down on us.”
"
Baylor is still the only original Big 12 member without at least a divisional title, and the Bears can change that by winning out.
BU will take on TCU at 3:30 p.m. EST on ESPN Saturday.
15. Oregon's Attitude Issues
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Oregon was given a golden opportunity, only to squander it. The Ducks were granted new life in the Pac-12 North when USC beat Stanford.
They first lamented about potentially playing in the Rose Bowl. Then they fell flat on their face against Arizona, giving the North right back to the Cardinal.
As reported by Jason Quick of The Oregonian, head coach Mark Helfrich called his team's mentality "lax" and not the sport played with netted sticks. Receiver Josh Huff echoed his coach's sentiments after the defeat:
"They kicked our (behind). They just came out and played harder than us.
We just came out flat. We had no energy. Arizona played with a lot of emotion - it was their last home game. They didn’t have anything to lose and that’s how they played. They went out there and left it out on the field.
"
Oregon left a lot out on the field too—but it wasn't energy and effort—it was a Pac-12 title berth and probably its shot at a BCS bowl.
The Ducks will look to muster up some new emotion this weekend in the Civil War against rival Oregon State. OSU and UO will kick off at 7 p.m. EST Friday from Autzen Stadium.
16. The Apple Cup Is Meaningful Once Again
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After both programs spent several seasons in the Pac-12 dumps, the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State finally has meaning again, Jacob Thorpe of The Spokesman-Review writes:
"It’s been awhile since the Apple Cup had any lasting meaning beyond rubberstamping the ineptitude of UW’s 2008 season with an 0-12 record. While in-state bragging rights are reason enough for fans of both programs to pay attention, recently it’s been rare for the game to hold the promise of a reward greater than a year spent with the Apple Cup trophy and a photo with the governor.
But for the first time since 2003 both teams enter Friday’s rivalry game with more wins than losses. In that season the Cougars were left out of the postseason, illustrating that despite the Cougars’ win over Utah on Saturday, this game will have plenty on the line.
"
As Thorpe alluded to, Washington State isn't taking its 6-5 record for granted. The Cougars are approaching their rivalry with the Huskies as a must-win game, as several players relayed to Thorpe:
"“'Bowl eligible' sounds good, it sounds great. The two sweetest words I’ve heard in awhile,” safety Deone Bucannon said. “At the same time, it’s only being eligible. We’re not guaranteed anything and we’re going to attack the next week like Coach Leach wants us to.”
“We need one more,” quarterback Connor Halliday said. “Seven will guarantee it, six you might not get it. So we need one more.”
"
While the Huskies are safely in at 7-4 after destroying Oregon State 69-27 over the weekend, the Cougars are still searching for one more victory. Wazzu is coming off two straight wins and will look for win No. 3 and the second straight in the Apple Cup Friday.
UW and WSU will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. EST on Fox from Husky Stadium.
17. Hard Boiled Egg Bowl
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Ole Miss and Mississippi State aren't playing for an SEC West title like their neighbors a state over, but that won't soften the Egg Bowl one bit.
As Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt and quarterback Barry Brunetti told Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion Ledger, the Egg Bowl will be boiling hot as always.
"“To me it doesn’t matter what our records are going into the game,” safety Cody Prewitt said. “This is a game we can’t lose. We’re the flagship university and we have to keep it that way.”
Said quarterback Barry Brunetti: “It’s not that difficult (to forget the loss), because it’s the Egg Bowl. That’s a year-round thought.”
"
Mississippi State, fresh off an emotional overtime win over Arkansas, will need a win to attain bowl eligibility.
Meanwhile, the Rebels, coming off a disappointing 24-10 loss to Missouri, will be looking to finish strong to improve on their 7-6 mark from a season ago. Ole Miss took the Egg Bowl a year ago, ending MSU's three-game winning streak in the rivalry.
Will the Bulldogs exact revenge and break even on the season this time around?
Tune in to ESPN at 7:30 EST Thanksgiving night to find out.
18. Georgia Carries on Without Murray
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Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray suffered a torn ACL in the Bulldogs' 59-17 win over Kentucky Saturday, bringing his illustrious career to an unfortunate end.
USA Today's Dan Wolken detailed the outstanding career had by the Tampa, Fla., native:
"Murray ends his career as the Southeastern Conference's all-time leading passer with 13,166 yards and 121 touchdowns. He started 52 consecutive games for Georgia and nearly led the Bulldogs to the SEC title and a shot at the national title in 2012, falling just 5 yards short against Alabama.
Murray returned for his senior season, spurning a shot at the NFL draft, but things didn't work out as expected for the Bulldogs. Though Murray performed admirably, completing 64.8 percent of his passes with 26 touchdowns against just nine interceptions, Georgia (7-4) was plagued by injuries and fell out of the SEC race with consecutive losses to Missouri and Vanderbilt in mid-October.
"
Going deeper, Seth Emerson of The Macon Telegraph tabbed Murray as the greatest signal-caller in UGA history:
"1. Aaron Murray (2010-13)
"
Yes, he never won an SEC or national championship. But Murray broke pretty much every school record, and holds the school record for pass efficiency rating despite starting for four seasons. History will show that he did everything in his power to get Georgia titles, but was failed by factors out of his control.
19. Award Finalists Announced
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ESPN released its list of finalists for the The Home Depot College Football Awards Monday:
Bednarik Award (Defensive POY)
Anthony Barr (UCLA)
Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
C.J. Mosley (Alabama)
Biletnikoff Award (Outstanding Receiver)
Brandin Cooks (Oregon State)
Mike Evans (Texas A&M)
Sammy Watkins (Clemson)
Groza Award (Outstanding Placekicker)
Robert Aguayo (Florida State)
Anthony Fera (Texas)
Marvin Kloss (South Florida)
Ray Guy Award (Punter of the Year)
Tom Hornsey (Memphis)
Drew Kaser (Texas A&M)
Cody Webster (Purdue)
Maxwell Award (Player of the Year)
Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M)
AJ McCarron (Alabama)
Jameis Winston (Florida State)
O'Brien Award (Best Quarterback)
Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M)
AJ McCarron (Alabama)
Jameis Winston (Florida State)
Outland Trophy (Outstanding Interior Lineman)
Aaron Donald (Pittsburgh)
Jake Matthews (Texas A&M)
Cyril Richardson (Baylor)
Thorpe Award (Best Defensive Back)
Darqueze Dennard (Michigan State)
Justin Gilbert (Oklahoma State)
Lamarcus Joyner (Florida State)
Doak Walker Award (Premier Running Back)
Ka'Deem Carey (Arizona)
Bishop Sankey (Washington)
Andre Williams (Boston College)
Mackey Award (Outstanding Tight End)
Eric Ebron (North Carolina)
Nick O'Leary (Florida State)
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Washington)
Rimington Award (Outstanding Center)
Finalists announced Monday, Dec. 9
The awards show will air on ESPN Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. EST.
20. AAC Breakdown
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Conference Title Race
| Team | AAC Record | OVR Record |
| UCF | 6-0 | 9-1 |
| Louisville | 6-1 | 10-1 |
| Cincinnati | 6-1 | 9-2 |
Bowl Hopefuls
Already eligible: UCF, Louisville, Cincinnati, Houston
Still hopeful: Southern Methodist (5-5), Rutgers (5-5)
Outlook
Central Florida moved one step closer to the American Athletic Conference title with a dominant effort against Rutgers this past Thursday.
Louisville and Cincinnati are still waiting in the wings in case UCF falters, but the Knights are in control and will win the conference by beating South Florida and SMU to close the season.
Since UCF holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over UL, the Cardinals will need the Knights to lose twice to take the league title.
Cincinnati could win the league if UCF loses one game. Cincy would need to beat Louisville Nov. 5 and pass the Knights in the BCS rankings to win the tiebreaker since the two don't play.
21. MWC Breakdown
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Conference Title Race
| Team/Division | MWC Record | OVR Record |
| WEST | ||
| Fresno State | 7-0 | 10-0 |
| EAST | ||
| Utah State | 6-1 | 7-4 |
| Boise State | 5-2 | 7-4 |
Bowl Hopefuls
Already eligible: Fresno State, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah State, Boise State
Still hopeful: San Jose State (5-6), Colorado State (6-6), Wyoming (5-6)
Note: Colorado State plays a 13-game schedule and must beat Air Force this weekend (Nov. 30) to close out the regular season above .500.
Outlook
Fresno State locked down the Mountain West's West Division by trouncing New Mexico 69-28 behind seven passing touchdowns from quarterback Derek Carr. The Bulldogs hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over San Diego State in second place, so they could lose in their final regular-season game against San Jose State and still win the division.
In the Mountain Division, Boise State held the head-to-head advantage over Utah State and seemed destined to take on Fresno for the league title. However, the Broncos fell 34-31 in overtime to SDSU, giving the divisional lead to USU.
The Aggies will host Wyoming this week (Nov. 30). If they win, they win the Mountain Division.
22. Sun Belt Breakdown
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Conference Title Race
| Team | SBC Record | OVR Record |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | 5-0 | 8-2 |
| Arkansas State | 5-1 | 7-4 |
Bowl Hopefuls
Already eligible: Louisiana-Lafayette, Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, Texas State
Still hopeful: Louisiana-Monroe (5-6), Troy (5-6), South Alabama (4-6)
Outlook
Louisiana-Lafayette has the Sun Belt Conference title all but locked up. With the head-to-head tiebreaker over Arkansas State, the Ragin' Cajuns only need one more win to win the league.
ULL will host rival Louisiana-Monroe Nov. 30 and will visit South Alabama Dec. 7. A win in either game will give the Cajuns the SBC crown.
Arkansas State will finish up with Western Kentucky Nov. 30. The Red Wolves must win that game to stay alive for the conference title.
23. MAC Breakdown
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Conference Title Race
| Team/Division | MAC Record | OVR Record |
| EAST | ||
| Bowling Green | 6-1 | 8-3 |
| Buffalo | 6-1 | 8-3 |
| WEST | ||
| Northern Illinois | 7-0 | 11-0 |
Bowl Hopefuls
Already eligible: Bowling Green, Buffalo, Ohio, Northern Illinois, Ball State, Toledo
Still hopeful: Central Michigan (5-6)
Outlook
Northern Illinois, owner of a head-to-head tiebreaker over Ball State (9-2, 6-1), clinched the MAC West with a win over Toledo Wednesday. The Huskies finish up Tuesday against Western Michigan, but even a loss won't knock them from the MAC Championship game.
NIU will take on either Buffalo or Bowling Green for the league crown. Major kudos go to the MAC schedule makers, as the Bulls and the Falcons will meet in Buffalo Nov. 29 to decide the East champion.
24. C-USA Breakdown
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Conference Title Race
| Team/Division | CUSA Record | OVR Record |
| EAST | ||
| East Carolina | 6-1 | 9-2 |
| Marshall | 6-1 | 8-3 |
| WEST | ||
| Rice | 6-1 | 8-3 |
| UTSA | 5-2 | 6-5 |
| Tulane | 5-2 | 7-4 |
Bowl Hopefuls
Already eligible: East Carolina, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Rice, UTSA, Tulane, North Texas
Still hopeful: Florida Atlantic (5-6)
Outlook
The Conference-USA East's fate has been decided for weeks now, as the division will come down to a Nov. 29 tilt between East Carolina and Marshall. The winner will win the East.
The West was close to being decided, as North Texas controlled its own fate up until last week. However, the Mean Green went from first to being eliminated from contention after falling to Texas-San Antonio.
Now, Rice is in control and will win the division with a win over Tulane. If Tulane beats Rice, the Green Wave need a UTSA loss to Louisiana Tech to win the division. UTSA will take the division crown with a Tulane win and a win of its own over Louisiana Tech.
A hat tip goes out to Jerry Briggs of the San Antonio Express-News, who provided the full breakdown straight from Conference-USA.
Both of those key games take place Nov. 30.
25. Looking Ahead
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An early look at Conference Championship Week (all times EST):
| Matchup | Time | Date |
| No. 20 Louisville at Cincinnati | 7:30 p.m. | Thurs, Dec. 5 |
| Northern Illinois vs. ??? | 8 p.m. | Fri, Dec. 6 |
| No. 18 Oklahoma at No. 7 Oklahoma State | Noon | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| No. 19 UCF at Southern Methodist | Noon | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| Texas at No. 9 Baylor | 3:30 p.m. | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| SEC Championship ??? vs. ??? | 4 p.m. | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| No. 8 Stanford vs. No. 12 Arizona State | 5 p.m. | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| No. 2 Florida State vs. ??? | 8 p.m. | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 11 Michigan State | 8:17 p.m. | Sat, Dec. 7 |
| No. 16 Fresno State vs. ??? | 10 p.m. | Sat, Dec. 7 |
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