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The week in college football

Just like that, everything we knew or thought we knew, was gone. Alabama will not make a run at a third consecutive national championship, as they've joined Oregon and Baylor as college football's great powers of 2013 who have fallen.

Week 14 is in the books, and it served as a reminder why college football is quite possibly the most unpredictable game on the planet. This was not a week anyone will be forgetting any time soon, and perhaps not ever.

Headlining

An Iron Bowl for the ages

It wasn't supposed to go like this.

We all looked on as Auburn stared down defeat, trailing 28-21 Alabama in the dying minutes of the Iron Bowl. Then the Tigers would tie the game on a Sammie Coates 39 yard TD pass from Nick Marshall. Overtime appeared imminent as just over 30 seconds remained. 

With overtime looming, on the final drive of regulation, a review determined that one second be placed back on the game clock. Alabama would atempt a 57 yard field goal try for the win. Nick Saban summoned kicker Adam Griffith to replace Cade Foster, who had missed three field goals. Auburn senior CB Chris Davis waited in the end zone. 

The rest is now comfortably ensconced in college football history, and sporting history for that matter, as one of the most unlikely endings to a game ever.

It went like this:

The BCS standings have imploded, Alabama's SEC title game plans have been cast aside, and suddenly Saban's decision making appears questionable. 34-28, Auburn.  

Auburn has booked a date with Missouri in the SEC title game, just like we all drew it up in September, right? 

Michigan nearly upend Ohio State in The Game

Michigan nearly put an end to Ohio State's run of 23 straight wins, but they would fall short on a failed go-ahead two point conversion attempt.

Tyvis Powell intercepted Devin Gardner's two-point conversion pass with 32 seconds left and No. 3 Ohio State held on for a 42-41 victory. The Wolverines pulled to within a point of the Buckeyes when Gardner and Devin Funchess hooked up on a two yard pass to make it 42-41. Rather than kicking for the tie and booking a trip to overtime, Wolverines coach Brady Hoke saw it as an opportunity to play for the win.

"We play the game to win," Hoke said following the game. "I thought about it. And we did it."

Braxton Miller accounted for five total TDs, and Carlos Hyde rushed for 226 yards on 27 carries, punctuating his performance with one yard score with 2:20 left to put Ohio State up 42-35.

Urban Meyer and co. will now wait and see how the polls shakedown later today to see if they can potentially land a date in the national championship. 

Hot seat coaches receive votes of confidence

Two head coaches who have been the subject of much criticism over the past couple of months received votes of confidence from their respective athletic directors. 

Bo Pelini, who told assembled media members "If they want to fire me, go ahead," following Nebraska's 38-17 loss to Iowa on Friday, got some support from athletic director Shawn Eichorst. 

Via an official release:

“My approach has always been to not comment publicly about our coaches until their full seasons are complete, as I strongly believe it is unfair and counter to best practices. However, given the volume of unfounded speculation and conjecture about our head football coach, I want to reaffirm what I have said many times since I have arrived at the University of Nebraska — that I positively respect, appreciate and support our football student-athletes, coaches and staff, as we do everyone in the Husker family. We very much look forward to our upcoming bowl game and Coach Pelini continuing to lead our program in the future.”

Yes, that bowl game is in the future, Mr. Eichorst. Hmm, could the end of Pelini's time as the Cornhuskers head coach be near? Pelini's Cornhuskers finished the season 8-4, and 5-3 in Big Ten action.

Will Muschamp's season at Florida 4-8 overall, 3-5 SEC record makes Pelini look like he led a BCS team. Nevertheless, Florida's "unacceptable" season will not cost Muschamp his job, according to UF athletic director Jeremy Foley. 

Before Florida suffered a 37-7 loss to Florida State on Saturday, Foley had the following to say about the Gators disappointing season:

"Obviously, it's not acceptable. It's not who we are. It's not what we're about. We're confident we can fix it."

A fix will not come at the expense of Muschamp's job, apparently, as this condemnation of the season came after he lent a vote of confidence to Muschamp:

"I have total confidence in coach Muschamp," Foley said. "I've made that very, very clear. You know, gotta fix some things and you know when you have seasons like this, that's what you do. You evaluate, you analyze and you fix things. You don't panic."

You have yourself a great 2014, Florida. 

Kevin Sumlin gets six-year contract from Texas A&M

Speaking of head coaching jobs... The vote of confidence Kevin Sumlin received from Texas A&M is a little more tangible than those of Pelini and Muschamp. 

The Aggies' transition from the Big 12 to the SEC could not have gone much smoother, netting a Heisman winner in Johnny Manziel, as well as a top-five ranking (and upset of Alabama) in his first season, and another strong showing in his second campaign. 

Sumlin has reportedly agreed to a new six year contract with Texas A&M, CBS Sports reports. Sumlin has an impressive 19-6 record in his two seasons with the Aggies and helped the school to its first top-5 finish since 1956. Sumlin was also named SEC Coach of the Year by the AP in 2012.

Sumlin will learn if Johnny Manziel will be in the picture for the 2014 season in the coming weeks. 

Duke earns improbable berth in ACC title game

Here's where I want to give you something more than "look it's Duke going to the ACC title game in football," but all I've got is "look it's Duke going to the ACC title game in football."

No. 24 Duke got by North Carolina 27-25 (in football) to earn a berth in the ACC title game. Duke, not Miami, not even Virginia Tech, will sacrifice itself to Florida State in Charlotte. 

Also: David Cutcliffe possesses psychic powers...

Michigan State's quiet dominance

They don't put up a lot of points, and they certainly don't allow many either. Michigan State completed a perfect Big Ten season (11-1 overall) with a 14-3 win over surprising Minnesota. The Spartans held the Golden Gophers to just 3.2 yards per play, as is their custom. 

It was the fifth time in the last six games that Michigan State held an offence without a TD. 

Michigan State will meet Ohio State in the Big Ten title game next weekend. That killer defense will have a chance to prove how great it can be as the Buckeyes bring the nation's 7th ranked total offense.

Truly great things

The Auburn radio call of Chris Davis FG return TD is the best call

Mizzou's L'Damian Washington goes up and gets one

Missouri capped its unbelievable season by downing Texas A&M 28-21 to earn a berth in the SEC title game. L'Damian Washington did his part by going up to bring down this five yard pass from James Franklin.

Jadeveon Clowney sacks Tajh Boyd

Clowney was just resting this season, he's gonna do this all the time in the NFL next year. 

David Fales, future NFL quarterback

Fales completed 37-of-45 passes for a school-record 547 yards and six touchdowns in a 62-52 victory that killed Fresno State's unbeaten season and clinched bowl eligibility for the San Jose State Spartans. He might be a good one. 

Braxton Miller spots a 53-yard hole 

Virginia Tech's textbook onside kick

It's always nice to see a team pull this off successfully. Also: this is a legitimate candidate for the highlight of Virginia Tech's season.

ROLL DAMN SEWING MACHINE

Just a seam getting fixed on the Auburn sidelines. So do you think sewing's tough now?

Via Deadspin

The week in worst

Ohio State and Michigan melee leads to double middles

Three players were ejected after a fight broke out during the second quarter between Ohio State and Michigan Saturday. Ohio State's Dontre Wilson and Marcus Hall were ejected along with Michigan's Royce Jenkins-Stone.

It's a rather pointless exchange with all that equipment on, but it is pleasant to see Michigan beating up on someone other than themselves for once. 

The only way to beat this is to cross 'em. 

This is no way for Hall to set an example for the drunk Michigan students who were probably heckling him following his ejection for his role in the fracas. I mean, I leave rooms in this fashion all the time, but I'm not on national television. 

Andre Williams injured in Boston College loss 

Boston College RB Andre Williams entered the Heisman discussion on the strength of 897 yards over his last three games. Andre Williams bowed out of the discussion after leaving the Eagles loss to Syracuse in the third quarter with just 29 yards on nine carries. 

TCU butt fumble? TCU butt fumble

Mark Sanchez approves, but he'd like to see more face in the butt.

USC falls flat in season finale

Ed Orgeron did the right thing and garnered all that praise for his hand in USC's apparent turnaround before they got thumped by UCLA.

Brett Hundley threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns as the Bruins trounced 35-14. 

Orgeron did a great job in his run as head coach since taking over for Lane Kiffin. Me thinks this ending will provide Pat Haden with the opportunity to get the man he wants for the job without upsetting anyone. 

Illinois' student section is even more depressing than previously thought

Via Deadspin

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