Week 14 of the college football season was a wild ride. Teams battled for their shot at the College Football Playoff (CFP), and honestly, the energy was off the charts.
Oregon made a statement, Oklahoma barely escaped LSU, and Vanderbilt pulled off something historic against Tennessee. There was just a ton to keep up with. Here’s a look at some of the best moments and what stood out most from a jam-packed weekend.
No. 6 Oregon’s Dominant Performance Against Washington
Oregon took care of business with a 26-14 win over Washington. That victory keeps them firmly in the CFP conversation and, yeah, they looked pretty legit doing it.
The Ducks had to deal with injuries, but their depth really showed. They managed to put together a complete game on both sides of the ball.
Key Highlights
- Malik Benson broke loose for a 64-yard touchdown, his first 100-yard game as a Duck.
- Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 286 yards, going 20-of-29, though he had a few shaky moments.
- Kicker Atticus Sappington hit four field goals, including a booming 51-yarder.
- Linebacker Teitum Tuioti racked up 1.5 sacks and was everywhere on defense.
- Interceptions by Jadon Canady and Dillon Thieneman really slammed the door shut.
If you want the play-by-play, check out the NCAA’s live updates.
No. 8 Oklahoma Survives LSU Scare
Oklahoma had to dig deep to beat LSU, squeaking out a 17-13 win. The Sooners’ CFP hopes are still alive, but it wasn’t exactly pretty.
Quarterback John Mateer had a rollercoaster day. He made some big throws but also handed LSU a few gifts.
Game Recap
- Mateer put up 318 yards and two touchdowns but threw three picks.
- LSU’s interim coach Frank Wilson rolled with redshirt freshman Michael Van Buren, who had his moments but couldn’t pull off the upset.
- Both teams looked stuck in the mud early, tied 3-3 at halftime.
- The game swung on a 58-yard strike to Isaiah Sategna for the winning touchdown.
Want more details? The NCAA’s live updates have you covered.
No. 14 Vanderbilt Overcomes No. 19 Tennessee
Vanderbilt pulled off a stunner, beating Tennessee 45-21. It’s the first time these rivals have met as ranked teams in 119 years—kind of wild, right?
The Commodores owned the second half and punched their ticket to a better postseason spot. This was a huge moment for their program.
Key Moments
- Quarterback Diego Pavia was a force, throwing for 268 yards and running for 165, with two touchdowns.
- The defense held Tennessee to just three points after halftime.
- Vandy kept the ball away from Tennessee with long, grinding drives.
Full breakdowns and highlights are at the NCAA’s live updates.
FCS Playoffs: Ivy League Debut and More
The FCS playoffs got underway, and there were some memorable moments. The Ivy League finally joined the postseason party, and we saw a few wild finishes.
Ivy League’s First Playoff Appearance
- Harvard had a rough go, losing 52-7 to Villanova. Villanova’s quarterback Pat McQuaide tossed four touchdowns and just looked unstoppable.
- Yale pulled off a miracle, erasing a 28-point hole to win 43-42 behind running back Josh Pitsenberger‘s heroics.
Trick Plays and Snowy Conditions
- Illinois State dialed up a “Philly Special” and it worked, adding some flair to their game.
- South Dakota State played in a winter wonderland, rolling to a 41-3 win with Chase Mason running the show at quarterback.
More FCS highlights? Head to the NCAA’s live updates.
HBCU Football: Upsets and Celebrations
The HBCU regular season wrapped up with a few upsets and some genuine feel-good moments. Fans definitely got their money’s worth.
Mississippi Valley State and Southern Shine
- Mississippi Valley State beat Florida A&M for the second year in a row, nabbing their second win of the season.
- Southern University locked up their fourth straight Bayou Classic, thanks to a clutch fumble recovery late.
Oh, and the Bayou Classic halftime was wild—Glorilla lit up the stage. Check out more at the NCAA’s live updates.
Ohio State and Miami Make Statements
Ohio State and Miami both made loud statements this weekend. Their conference races just got a lot more interesting, if you ask me.
Ohio State vs. Michigan
- Ohio State finally snapped their four-game skid against Michigan, winning 27-9 in a snowy slugfest.
- Quarterback Julian Sayin threw for 233 yards and three touchdowns. He was locked in.
- Michigan couldn’t really get anything going, finishing with just 163 total yards.
Miami vs. Pitt
- Miami ran away from Pitt, 38-7, and kept their ACC title hopes alive.
- The Hurricanes racked up 416 yards, and five of their six scoring drives ended in touchdowns.
- Pitt’s offense sputtered—six punts and two turnovers on just 10 drives.
Full recaps for both games are at the NCAA’s live updates.
Other Notable Performances
There were a few other games worth mentioning from a jam-packed week. Some individual efforts really stood out.
Clemson vs. South Carolina
- Clemson’s Ricardo Jones had a day, picking off two passes, one of which he took to the house.
- The Tigers grabbed a 28-14 win in the Palmetto Bowl.
Kansas State vs. Colorado
- Kansas State’s Joe Jackson scored three touchdowns. That led the Wildcats to a 24-14 win and bowl eligibility.
For more on these games and other highlights from Week 14, check out the NCAA’s live updates.
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