College Football Week 12: Gut reactions as playoff contenders survive upsets

Gut reactions to College Football Week 12 as teams like Michigan, TCU, and others survived very real upset attempts.

There is a theme emerging from College Football Week 12 and it’s this: survive and advance.

Michigan and TCU certainly did that this week. Ohio State too. In fact, all four of the top-4 teams won by 10 points or less. The Wolverines and Horned Frogs trailed for most of the fourth quarter and did so until last-second field goals.

Tennessee and others nearly got the help they needed and in our gut reactions, we look back at what’s happened so far in College Football Week 12.

Michigan survived but will have to play better

Blake Corum’s injury was a nightmare scenario for Michigan. Jim Harbaugh said after there was no structural damage to Corum’s knee but that they don’t know about the Ohio State game.

We saw how the loss of Corum impacted Michigan’s offense. The Wolverines were also without Donovan Edwards and tight end Luke Schoonmaker. Getting those guys back will help but the Michigan offense has been stagnant for weeks and Corum has been keeping it afloat.

J.J. McCarthy has all the talent in the world, but he is missing reads and throws. His receivers also dropped some very catchable balls including Andrel Anthony who dropped a touchdown pass that would have given Michigan the lead late in the third quarter.

Instead, Jake Moody won the game with three field goals in the fourth quarter. Michigan needed a drive late to get into range and while it wasn’t pretty, 11-0 is 11-0.

Michigan is going to need Corum next week but in terms of the College Football Playoff race, it’s in the same spot.

TCU is one step closer to the College Football Playoff

It might not look great but the Horned Frogs’ game-winning field goal and rally at Baylor was huge. With Iowa State on the schedule for next week, TCU needs to beat Iowa State and likely Kansas State again to reach the playoff.

The Horned Frogs were on the ropes but Max Duggan threw for 327 yards and ran for 50 more. He also got TCU in range for a game-winning field goal and all season long, when push has come to shove, Duggan has made plays and he’s a huge reason TCU is two wins from the playoff.

Just like Michigan, it’s win and in but if either team drops a game, making the College Football Playoff will be an uphill battle — depending on what happens elsewhere.

Georgia and Ohio State look beatable

The same team that lost to Vanderbilt last week — Kentucky, had a shot to knock off the Bulldogs on Saturday as UGA improved to 11-0 thanks to a 16-6 win. Will Levis didn’t get Kentucky on the board until the fourth quarter. Kentucky also missed a short field goal in the fourth quarter that sealed the UGA win, but if that goes through, it could have gotten dicey for the Dawgs.

Still, a win is a win and Georgia fans shouldn’t be too worried. Yet, there is at least a reason to think this UGA team can actually be beaten. Ohio State also survived but winning 33-30 at Maryland didn’t impress anyone either.

Michigan and Ohio State both seemed guilty of looking ahead.

 Navy plays spoiler

It might not get a lot of attention, but Navy’s win over UCF could have an impact on the New Years Six bowls since the Midshipmen knocked off the Knights who could have clinched a spot in the American Championship game.

Navy also beat a top-25 team without throwing a pass. Yet, 248 rushing yards will do that for you and the defense stymied Gul Malzahn’s crew one week after a huge win.

USC, Caleb Williams are big winners

Former Oklahoma QB Spencer Rattler did a big favor for Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams as the South Carolina Gamecocks scored 63 points in an upset win over Tennessee.

The Volunteers are done in terms of the College Football Playoff race and after Williams threw for 470 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-45 win over UCLA, he’s right in the mix for the Heisman Trophy and is probably now in the top three.

Tennessee wasn’t the only one-loss team to lose as Drake Maye, another Heisman contender and North Carolina fell 21-17 to Georgia Tech. That’s going to hurt Maye’s Heisman hopes and the Tar Heels outside chances of making the College Football Playoff.

Williams and the Trojans are on the way up and if they win, they are headed to the playoff.