College football winners, losers, overreactions: Playoff contenders survive, advance through Week 12 tests

All of the drama typically centers around Rivalry Week when it comes to deciding the final phase of the regular season. This year, however, top College Football Playoff contenders were on thin ice against tricky competition in Week 12. No. 3 Michigan and No. 4 TCU needed miraculous field goal drives to clinch games against Illinois and Baylor, respectively. No. 2 Ohio State had to withstand a late charge from Maryland, while No. 1 Georgia ambled through the fourth quarter against Kentucky. No. 7 USC also stayed alive in the national title race by surviving an upset bid by No. 16 UCLA to take control of the Pac-12 title race. 

So as the Week 12 action wrapped, the Trojans joined the Bulldogs, Horned Frogs and the winner of next week’s showdown between the Buckeyes and Wolverines as overwhelming favorites to make up the College Football Playoff field. USC has a slightly more difficult path than the others with No. 18 Notre Dame and likely No. 12 Oregon in the Pac-12 title game on the schedule, but win both and the Trojans are a lock. 

Clemson, meanwhile, remains on the periphery, but its best wins keep dropping like flies. No. 13 North Carolina became the latest upcoming Tigers opponent to fall against Georgia Tech. Short of absolute chaos, which is becoming less and less as the final week of the regular season looms, there are five teams fighting for four spots. 

The one team who didn’t get the survive-and-advance memo was No. 5 Tennessee, who was demolished on the road by unranked South Carolina as the Vols watched their CFP hopes fade in the process. 

Here are more winners, losers and overreactions from around the college football world in Week 12. 

Winners

USC quarterback Caleb Williams: Williams has been one of the most scrutinized players in college football over the past two seasons, but his ability shone through in the biggest performance of his career. The sophomore threw for 470 yards, rushed for 32 yards and posted three total touchdowns in a massive 48-45 victory over UCLA to effectively clinch a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. Williams had to be perfect against a feisty UCLA offense, and delivered with a pair of touchdown passes in the final two periods. The performance might earn him a trip to New York City for the Heisman ceremony if USC can find a way to win the Pac-12 for the first time since 2017. Regardless, it’s been a special season for the…