Thirty-eight unanswered points. That’s what it took for the Ohio State Buckeyes’ playoff hopes to get absolutely washed away right there at home on Saturday. Their season, which started with them at No. 12, looks to be over in terms of contention, thanks to a brutal loss to Oregon that saw Dylan Raiola and Co. run wild.
Utah Stays Undefeated, Eyes a First-Round Bye
While one contender crashed, others solidified their spots. The Utah Utes, for instance, are just quietly owning the Big 12. They pulled off a massive rivalry win at home against BYU, remaining undefeated at a stellar 9-0. Talk about taking over a game, Utah delivered two touchdowns and snagged three interceptions off BYU’s Bear Bachmeier in the second half. That’s a team that knows how to close! With that win, Utah has a clear path to a first-round bye in the CFB Playoff. They have a potentially tricky road trip to Arizona next week, but the Wildcats have already fallen to both BYU and Texas Tech. Utah is sitting pretty, two games up on everyone but Texas Tech in the Big 12 standings, which means a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game is practically locked in. Win that title game, and their resume for a top-four seed in December gets even stronger. BYU, on the other hand, saw its playoff chances take a serious hit. They’ll drop from their No. 9 spot, and with no big games left, their best shot is to win out and maybe, just maybe, get another crack at Utah in the Big 12 Championship.
Alabama Routs LSU, Reaffirms Spot Amid Concerns
Down in Baton Rouge, the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide flat-out routed No. 13 LSU with a commanding 31-13 road win. There were real questions swirling around Alabama’s No. 5 spot in the rankings because they’d already dropped two games, against the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers. But that dominant performance against LSU? It squashed those concerns, at least for now. While their resume might not be the absolute strongest among contenders due to those losses, they’ve now notched a pair of top-20 wins. For the rest of November, Alabama’s mission is simple: don’t lose, and earn a spot in the SEC Championship Game. A 10-3 Alabama, even if that third loss happens in the SEC Championship, could still punch its ticket to the 12-team playoff field. LSU’s playoff hopes, which were already hanging by a thread before Week 10, likely evaporated with that home loss to the Tide.
Ohio State’s Collapse and Oregon’s Glimmer of Hope
Back to the Buckeyes. Losing at home to No. 23 Oregon, giving up 38 unanswered points, is a soul-crushing defeat. This is Ohio State’s third loss of the season, and they’ve now suffered back-to-back losses. Honestly, it’s hard to see them winning multiple additional games at this point. Their playoff dreams are officially shattered. On the flip side, the Oregon Ducks, now at 6-3, are barely alive. They’re going to get a boost in the rankings on Tuesday, and while neither Oregon nor Ohio State will be anywhere near the top 12, at least Oregon can hold onto a shred of hope.
The playoff picture for December just got a whole lot clearer for some teams and a lot murkier for others. Utah’s path looks solid, Alabama still controls its destiny, and Ohio State is left to pick up the pieces. We’ll see how the rest of November shakes out as teams fight for every precious win!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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