Recapping Rivalry Week in NCAA

Rivalry weekend never fails to disappoint. This year more than ever.

Many people were skeptical about if these games were still going to be treated seriously in the era of the expanded playoff and the answer to that question was a resounding yes.

In a weekend full of flag planting, fisticuffs and field stormings, let's break down Week 14 of college football in the power conferences.

ACC

It was a two team race to claim the final conference championship bid in Charlotte.

SMU had already punched their ticket and all Miami had to do was beat Syracuse.

They did not.

Syracuse used the largest comeback in program history to stun the Hurricanes and cap off a 9-3 regular season. Fans rushed the field at the Carrier Dome, Fran Brown sent a special message to Dabo Swinney and Kyle McCord took a subtle shot at Ohio State in what was a great night for the Orange. The loss also just about eliminated Miami from playoff contention as well.

Speaking of Dabo, how did Clemson do?

Not good.

Two late scores propelled South Carolina over the Tigers 17-14 and this time it was Gamecock players and fans who got to “Gather at the Paw”.

But they did more than just that; they planted their flag on it, beat it with a belt, and Sir Big Spur may or may not have used it as a toilet.

The only thing that saved Clemson was the fact that this was an out of conference loss so they will be taking on SMU in Charlotte with a spot in the Playoff on the line.

The conference also had another flag planting incident when NC State also tried to pull the move in Chapel Hill after defeating North Carolina 35-30. That one was not executed as well as a fight ensued in what was the last game for Tar Heel coach Mack Brown.

Big 12

I would not be able to break down every scenario for the Big 12 title game but there were nine teams still eligible to play in Arlington.

The two to emerge. Arizona State and Iowa State.

The Sun Devils claimed the Territorial Cup in a trouncing over Arizona and even planted a pitchfork in the middle of the Wildcats logo almost causing a fight there.

The Cyclones earned a hard fought ranked win over Kansas State 29-21 which sets up a game where the winner clinches their spot in the College Football Playoff.

Elsewhere, Colorado is set to go to their first bowl since 2016 after Coach Prime’s squad append off a nine win campaign, BYU and Houston got involved in a brief scuffle late in the game and Neal Brown was shown the door at West Virginia after six years in Morgantown.

B1G

Everyone was ready for a rematch of one the best games of the year between Oregon and Ohio State.

All the Buckeyes had to do was beat their biggest rival Michigan.

They did not.

In the most surprising result of the weekend, the Wolverines extended their winning streak over Ohio State to four with a 13-10 win.

Then Michigan tried to plant a flag in the middle of the Horseshoe and it ended with a fight and police using pepper spray to get things under control.

The loss opened the door for Penn State to make the conference championship. The Nittany Lions easily took care of Maryland and now they will be going to Indianapolis to take on the Ducks.

SEC

Georgia was locked into the SEC Championship Game, but not the Playoff.

All the Bulldogs had to do was beat their in-state rival Georgia Tech and they would be.

And after eight overtimes, they did.

After not scoring a point in the first half and trailing by two scores late, Georgia was able to mount a comeback to secure a Playoff spot at the very least.

Then Saturday night rolled around and set the stage for a return of a Lone Star rivalry.

Texas and Texas A&M were set to duke it out at Kyle Field where the winner would take on Georgia in Atlanta.

The Longhorns ended up controlling the game from start to finish as they dispatched the Aggies 17-7. It sets up a rematch between the Horns and Dawgs after their first match in Austin broke Georgia’s way 30-15.

They were not the only two winners of the weekend though, as Tennessee took care of Vanderbilt to secure their playoff spot and Alabama won the Iron Bowl over Auburn in a game that also featured a scuffle between opposing teams. The Crimson Tide currently sit as the last team in the Playoff and will likely make it as long as Clemson does not beat SMU to steal the ACC’s automatic bid.

Chase Fisher is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email ctf5198@psu.edu.