What a season, what a time to be alive! This week of college football perfectly encapsulates the 2024 season as a whole. Dramatic upsets that seem impossible on paper, not one, but two field stormings that had to be delayed and plenty of messiness and hilarity to muck through.
Indiana “Googles” its way to first loss in Columbus
The Indiana Hoosiers, also known as the losingest program in CFB history, have been enjoying a program renaissance in 2024 and were undefeated heading into Ohio Stadium to take on a second ranked Buckeyes team that Indiana hadn’t beaten since 1988 (wow!). The Hoosiers have experienced this revival largely thanks to coach and FCS legend Curt Cignetti, who has really lit a spark under his team with his play-calling and brash sense of speaking.
With seemingly everyone in CFB hyping this Big Ten game up, it seems the only ones who weren’t ready were the Hoosiers themselves. Quarterback Kurtis Rourke and the Hoosier offense were absolutely embarrassed by the OSU defensive unit to the tune of five sacks, two forced fumbles and a failed punt to boot in a 38-15 Buckeye win.
The table is officially set to be ran by QB Will Howard and Ohio State. This team has been beaten, battered and spit on in the 2020’s, and should the Bucks win in rivalry week over Michigan, the team will look to advance to its first Big Ten championship game since 2019.
Auburn pulls off miraculous upset over Texas A&M
Speaking of teams who haven’t had the start to the decade that the program wanted, the Auburn Tigers have been stuck in the mud as of late. The Tigers were 4-6 heading into a game where Auburn was not favored – even in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
In a theme that’s been consistent throughout this fall’s iteration of America’s oldest pastime, the Tigers played the best game of the season and pulled off a shocking upset over the 15th ranked Aggies in 4OT, 43-41. In what may very well go down as the game of his life, transfer QB Payton Thorne threw for over 300 yards, two touchdowns and the game-winning score to KeAndre Lambert-Smith to cement the upset.
It would now seem with the loss to Auburn being A&M’s third of the season, the Aggies’ backs are now officially to the wall – but who knows? If Texas A&M could make some mischief of its own, the team would play for the SEC title.
Kansas strong man’s Colorado in Arrowhead game
For as much as Colorado’s players and coaching staff boast about the program’s presumed excellence, sooner or later the Buffaloes have to back up the smack talk. A casual fan who sees the Sanders family on TikTok or commercials would be shocked to know that the Buffaloes had two losses on the year already, and the team picked up its third Saturday.
The Jayhawks of Lawrence, Kan., were technically playing a home game, but the team wasn’t even in its own stadium as it was in the confines of Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs. KU, led by senior running back Devin Neal, who had a whale of a game, simply bullied the Buffaloes and even got away with a few controversial calls in a 37-21 Jayhawks win.
This game carried historical significance with the 2024 Kansas Jayhawks being the first unranked team in FBS history to win three straight games against ranked opponents. Unless Colorado is able to win out and sneak into the CFP, it seems that Sheduer Sanders’ tenure at Colorado will end as it started: lots and lots of noise but ultimately nothing to write home about.
Gators chomp down on Rebels in “The Swamp”
The Jayhawks and Tigers were not the only teams this week to avenge losing seasons with shocking upset wins over playoff hopefuls. The Florida Gators, who have really turned it up in the month of a November after a slow start, welcomed the ninth ranked Ole Miss Rebels into the ever-dangerous Ben Hill Griffin Stadium that had already claimed the LSU Tigers.
Defense was the name of the game for Gators, picking off Mississippi QB Jaxson Dart twice on back-to-back drives that could have won the game for the Rebels, but it ultimately swung the game in favor of Florida. Sophomore defensive back Bryce Thornton had a monster game for the Gators, leading the team in tackles with 14 and claiming the two interceptions for himself in a 24-17 Florida win.
Ole Miss’ season is now finished. The rivalry game with Mississippi State has virtually no impact outside of the deep south, and the Rebels have no path towards the title.
Crimson Tide rolls flat in Oklahoma
The Crimson Tide, despite showing weakness in losses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt, have still shown glimpses of the past in 2024. However, heading into Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the seventh ranked Alabama team would have to play its best ball to avoid the dreaded “trap game.”
The Sooners seemingly knew that Alabama was playing with a lot at stake, and took full advantage of that. In a 24-3 Oklahoma win, the Crimson Tide just might have confirmed doubts that the offense this season is not championship quality.
Similarly to Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide have been thrown down a virtual well. It won’t get any easier for Alabama this weekend as it welcomes Auburn, the team who put the Aggies in that position in the first place.
Deep cuts and what’s next
Additionally, the Arizona State Sun Devils pulled off an upset as well, this one being over the then 14th ranked BYU Cougars. The Sun Devils are now riding a wave of momentum, and could carry it into the Big 12 title game.
As this article was composed, the College Football Playoff Committee announced its rankings. There are no surprises, with the top five being comprised of Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, Penn State and Notre Dame. There is some room for fun on the outside looking in, with teams such as South Carolina or Tulane looking to poke into the postseason.
This week was a perfect picture of what college football is all about. It gave upsets, crazy college students running around celebrating and most importantly – fun.
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X
