The college football season’s really starting to sizzle as the regular season winds down. Week 13 didn’t have the big-name matchups, but it sure brought the drama and set up a wild Week 14.
There were wild plays, standout performances, and more than a few surprises. Let’s take a look at the week’s biggest moments, the shifting College Football Playoff (CFP) picture, and some players who made headlines—especially Arch Manning, who’s turned things around in a big way. If you want the deep dive, here’s the full article.
Week 13 Highlights: The Calm Before the Storm
Week 13 didn’t have a bunch of top-ranked head-to-heads, but it was anything but boring. There was a nail-biter Friday night with Florida State and a gutsy fake field goal by Duke that ended up winning them the game over North Carolina.
Pittsburgh nearly blew it with a fake punt. And then there was Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia—he made his presence known, that’s for sure.
Key Plays and Moments
- Florida State’s Friday Night Thriller: This one had fans glued to their seats.
- Duke’s Fake Field Goal: Bold, risky, and it worked—Duke took down North Carolina.
- Pittsburgh’s Fake Punt: Almost a disaster, but they survived Georgia Tech.
- Diego Pavia’s Statement: Vanderbilt’s QB showed off some serious skill.
College Football Playoff Picture: Who’s In and Who’s Out?
With just a week left in the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to snap into focus. Here’s how the tiers are shaping up and what each team needs to do if they want in.
Locks
Three teams are pretty much in, barring something truly bizarre:
- Ohio State
- Indiana
- Texas A&M
They’ve been steady all season. FanDuel isn’t even bothering to post odds for them to make the field—it’s that much of a sure thing.
Would Take A Disaster To Miss
Two teams are in great shape, but can’t afford a slip-up:
- Georgia: Even if they lose to Georgia Tech and in the SEC title game, they might sneak in as a three-loss team.
- Texas Tech: Just need to avoid a loss to West Virginia.
Win And In
Three teams control their own destiny. Just win and they’re in:
- Ole Miss: Beat Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.
- Oklahoma: Take down LSU and it’s a done deal.
- Oregon: A win over Washington locks it up.
In A Good Spot
Notre Dame and Alabama are in decent shape, but they can’t let up now:
- Notre Dame
- Alabama
Both have separated themselves from the other two-loss teams. A win in Week 14 would put them in a strong position for the playoffs.
They Wouldn’t Be Left Out, Right?
BYU and Michigan have a shot, but it’s complicated:
- BYU: Gotta win the Big 12 title game to erase any doubts.
- Michigan: Beating Ohio State would help, but they’d still have to jump some other two-loss squads.
The ACC (Non-Miami Division)
The ACC’s in a weird spot, with a handful of teams still in the mix:
- Virginia
- SMU
- Pittsburgh
- Georgia Tech
Odds are, the ACC champ gets into the 12-team bracket. But there’s this nightmare scenario where a couple of Group of Six teams sneak in over a three-loss ACC winner. Stranger things have happened.
The G-5 Race
One Group of Five team is guaranteed a spot, and the American conference is still up for grabs:
- James Madison: If they finish 12-1, they’ve got a real argument.
- Tulane
- Navy
- North Texas
Needs Some Help
Four teams on the outside looking in, hoping for a little chaos:
- Utah: Beat Kansas and cross your fingers for upsets above.
- Miami: Could play spoiler for Pitt, but needs a big upset in Norman or Starkville, too.
- Vanderbilt: Needs to take down Tennessee and hope for a break.
- Texas: Honestly, it’s a long shot—they need total chaos to have a chance.
Arch Manning: From Flop to Phenomenon
Arch Manning came into Texas with sky-high expectations and, fair or not, caught a lot of heat after a shaky start. Plenty of folks were ready to write him off, but Manning’s turned things around in a hurry.
Manning’s Turnaround
Since the criticism, he’s been on fire. Texas is 5-1 with him starting, and his stats are nothing to sneeze at:
- 1,612 yards passing
- 12 touchdowns vs. 2 interceptions
- 64.1% completion rate
Against Arkansas, Manning went off for 389 yards and six touchdowns. He threw for four, ran in one, and even caught a score. Not bad for a guy some called a bust, right?
The Road Ahead
Manning’s resurgence has given Texas an outside shot at the playoffs. There’s still a crucial game left against No. 3 Texas A&M.
His performance in that matchup could make or break Texas’s playoff dreams. Honestly, it’s a lot of pressure for any quarterback, let alone one still carving out his place among the elite.
For more insights and detailed analysis, visit the [original article](https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-football-overtime-playoff-tiers-arch-manning-diego-pavia-the-heisman-favorite-top-week-13-takeaways-263012259/).
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