College Football Week Thirteen Recap: Winners and Losers - jmik58's Blog

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College Football Week Thirteen Recap: Winners and Losers Stuck

Posted on November 26, 2012 at 02:17 PM.

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If you want a taste of what playoffs will feel like for the 2014 FBS college football season, look no further.

Notre Dame has done their part, after playing a brutal schedule as an independent, finishing the regular season undefeated and an all-but-guaranteed spot in the BCS title game. Their opponent will be decided with the conclusion of the SEC championship game between the nation's number two and three teams, Alabama and Georgia.

This season certainly has had it's highs and lows, but few points in the year are as full of each as the final week of the regular season. Championship games are settled, teams earn or are denied bowl eligibility, and floundering coaches are told to pack their bags and fill them with large amounts of cash thanks to lucrative buyouts in their contracts.

Here are five winners and losers from week thirteen of the college football season.

FIVE ON THE RISE

Gene Chizik, HC -- Auburn
Week 13: Fired after a 3-9 season (0-8 in the SEC)

How is it possible to be a "winner" after being fired? It's relative, of course, but in his short time in Auburn, Chizik claimed a national championship but struggling through a disastrous coordinator change with the departure of Gus Malzahn. Despite the ups and downs, it's hard to be a loser when your buyout clause of your contract calls for you to receive over $200,000 a month -- per month! -- through the rest of his previously signed extension.

All Chizik must to do claim his "unemployment check" is to actively seek a coaching job elsewhere, and once hired his new contract would stop payments from the buyout. For some reason I don't see Gene in a big hurry to find a new gig.

#1 Notre Dame (12-0)
Week 13: USC, won 22-13

The Irish are the last BCS-eligible undefeated team and are headed for a BCS championship contest. All they needed to do is win. Mission accomplished -- for now.

#2 Alabama (11-1)
Week 13: Auburn, won 49-0

Taking down your rival (and their head coach) en route to a de facto BCS championship semifinal isn't a bad way to spend the week.

#3 Georgia (11-1)
Week 13: Georgia Tech, won 42-10.

Like the Crimson Tide, the Buldogs destroyed their rival and move on to the SEC championship game. The winner likely moves on to face Notre Dame in the national championship game.

Ineligible Big Ten Teams
Week 13: Ohio State (12-0), Penn State (8-4)

It's hard to tell if things would have been different had each team been playing with more on the line this year. The Buckeyes finished an unblemished record while the Nittany Lions blew away expectations by finishing with eight wins.

FIVE ON THE DECLINE

Auburn (3-9)
Week 13: #2 Alabama, lost 49-0

They got stomped by Bama, finished the year without a single win in the SEC, and will pay the man responsible six-figures on a monthly basis until he finds work elsewhere. War-nothin'.

#18 Rutgers (9-2)
Week 13: Pittsburgh, lost 27-6.

Does anyone want to win the Big East? Better yet, does anyone really want to watch the Big East champion (it could be Syracuse) play in a BCS game?

ACC's Top Two
Week 13: #10 Florida State and #11 Clemson

The Seminoles -- and the ACC -- just can't turn the corner. This was their signature moment to show that they were legit as national championship contenders but their defense disappeared -- especially in the fourth quarter (24 points surrenderred).

Like their ACC brethren Florida State, the Tigers desparately needed to make a statement in the Carolinas with a win over the rival Gamecocks. It wasn't to be, however, but who expected a defensive battle?

Southern Misissippi (0-12)
Week 13: Memphis, lost 42-24

It had to happen to someone, right? A totally defeated season -- not something to brag about.

Silas Redd, HB -- USC
2012 Season: Transfered from Penn State

Who would have thought that Penn State would finish with a better record (8-4) than the USC Trojans (7-5)? Redd departed from Happy Valley for a chance at a national championship with the Trojans. Sorry Silas, Lane Kiffin has a way of ruining things.

Sound Off: Who are your winners and losers from week thirteen of the college football season?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. Follow him on Twitter: @long_snapper

Comments

# 1 snaz16 @ Nov 26

Ohio State finished undefeated.

# 2 jmik58 @ Nov 26

@snaz16 ... Ohio State is credited at 12-0 and Notre Dame is pointed out as the only "BCS-eligible" undefeated team. I've made my fair share of type-o's but I was careful on this one.

Thanks for reading