Saturday saw playoff dreams came to an end for several teams on the bubble, whilst those on the winning side took one step closer to the postseason as the field begins to take shape. We wrap up the best of the action and playoff permutations from Week 13, along with the latest AP rankings, below:

USC 27 @ 42 Oregon

Trojans’ playoff hopes dashed as Ducks soar to fourth straight win over USC.

It looked like we had the makings of a real shootout on Senior Day in Autzen Stadium as the Trojans and Ducks exchanged touchdowns early on. Jayden Maiava connected with Makai Lemon on the opening drive before Oregon fought back with scores from Jordon Davison on the ground and Kenyon Sadiq through the air. USC then drew level on a trick play that saw Lemon make the 24-yard pass to Tanook Hines for a touchdown, the first passing score from a Trojans wideout since 2018.

An 85-yard Malik Benson punt return followed by a Bryce Boettcher rumble gave Oregon a two-score lead that ultimately proved insurmountable for the Trojans despite their best efforts to fight back. USC coach Lincoln Riley tried to lean on their usually effective ground game, arguably too much as it became clear that King Miller and Bryan Jackson were not having the impact that we are used to seeing. Oregon, on the other hand, looked unstoppable on the ground as Noah Whittington consistently gashed the Trojans defensive line on his way to 104 yards and a score.

USC-Oregon games are always highly charged and, with it being Senior Day and having ESPN’s College Gameday in Eugene — where USC hasn’t won since 2011 — it was difficult for players not to get swept up by the occasion, although Ducks QB Dante Moore did his best to keep the team’s emotions in check.

“At the end of the day, I kind of just kept telling the team it was going to be an emotional game, because it was senior night, but also you can’t let emotions take over because with the emotions come negativity,” he explained. “So it’s been a lot within this game. But I feel like we pushed ourselves Monday through Friday to get the result we wanted.”

Riley gave some brief evaluation of the team’s performance, admitting that the Trojans ‘didn’t play our best’.

“We had some penalties that we haven’t been having that showed up and definitely hurt us,” he said. “We were gutsy, made a lot of plays but, in the end, we were just a couple of plays short.”

Those plays included two Maiava interceptions and a failed fourth down attempt late in the final quarter. Despite the loss all but eliminating USC from playoff contention, Riley tried to maintain a positive focus on their upcoming Rivalry Week clash with UCLA.

“We’ve won a bunch of good games this year [and], the ones we haven’t won, we’ve been right there,” he insisted. “We’ve got a great opportunity to go get win number nine this week and that’s where our focus is.”

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Kansas State 47 @ 51 Utah

Utes avoid upset with late comeback.

The game pivoted on a K-State two-point attempt that was intercepted by Tao Johnson and returned for two points at the other end. That score brought the Utes within ten at 47-37 and gave them the impetus to overcome the 12-point, fourth quarter deficit.

“If that play doesn’t happen, it’s probably a different outcome,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said after the game. “It was four-point switch.”

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, who accounted for four total touchdowns, never wavered in his belief that the Utes could win this game, right up until his go-ahead score with 56 seconds left.

“Believe until that clock says zero!” Dampier said. “This is a special team and we’re going to do something with it. Finished out the game strong. My confidence is high when all my team-mates tell me I’m going to get it … so to finish that drive after all the adversity, a game-winning drive with no errors, felt good.”

Byrd Ficklin, who rushed for three touchdowns, shared with Dampier his belief in him, telling him in the fourth quarter: “Pressure makes diamonds. Prove you are a diamond. Show who you are.”

Whittingham, who has been weighing up retirement, was noticeably emotional after the game, claiming it had been ‘one for the ages’. You can’t dream that up,” Whittingham said.

Despite the valiant effort from Kansas State, including a school record 293-yards and three touchdowns from running back Joe Jackson, the Wildcats can’t help but think this is one they let slip away. The game ended for K-State on an Avery Johnson interception as they tried to salvage the game with 49 seconds left, and coach Chris Klieman admitted after the game that this was ‘one of the greatest efforts I’ve been a part of as a coach’.

“It’s hard to say this because we lost the game.” Klieman added, now very much on the hotseat after a difficult season. “I’ve given my life for this place for seven years. I’ve given everything for seven years and I think I deserve a little bit of respect.”

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Arkansas 37 @ 52 Texas

A Manning for all seasons as the Longhorns’ QB continues to rise.

The Arch Manning we were hoping to see at the start of the season made an appearance in Week 13, with a performance that saw him post a career high 389- yards and score four passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and a touchdown reception in the Longhorns’ victory over Arkansas.

Manning said of his scoring grab on a reverse pass from Parker Livingstone, “It was kind of sunny out and I lost it for a second. He threw it well (in practice). He’s bailed me out a few times, so I had to bail him out.”

After some very rocky outings in the early weeks of the season, Manning continues to make positive progress as he clings to the hope of leading his team to a playoff spot, but was quick to acknowledge those early struggles and how that adversity has helped him.

“Going through the tough games and the struggle, you know, I think you need that as a quarterback,” he reasoned. “It’s not easy, but you try to overcome it. Going through those tough experiences has helped me a lot.”

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian also noted the difference in Manning between the start of the season and now.

“Even going into the game, he feels different in pregame than he did two months ago. He is playing at a high level at the right time for us,” Sarkisian said of his quarterback.

Sarkisian also appeared to feel that his team is being overlooked ahead of their clash with conference-topping Texas A&M next week.

“I do think we’re playing good football,” Sarkisian said in a nudge to the Playoff Committee. “But the best way we can impress anybody is going and winning next Friday night.”

Razorbacks interim coach Bobby Petrino, who took over after Sam Pittman was fired, found himself questioning his team amid a nine-game losing streak.

“In the second half, we couldn’t get off the field and turned the ball over,” he reflected. “For the first time, I felt like there was a couple of guys on the team whose attitude wasn’t what it needed to be. And that’s not what we are and not what we want.”

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Missouri 6 @ 17 Oklahoma

Sooners lean on defense to shut down Tigers.

Oklahoma’s playoff aspirations are very much alive and kicking with a third straight win over a ranked opponent as they eked out a gritty win over Missouri.

The Sooners amassed just 276 yards of total offense, but stifled their opponent with stout defense. Missouri outgained Oklahoma with 301 yards but, crucially, were shut out in the second half, the fourth time the Sooners have completed a second half shutout this season. Ahmad Hardy, who had previously led the FBS with 134.6 rushing yards per game was held to just 57 yards against the Sooners.

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, who recorded 173 passing and 60 rushing yards, acknowledged that this wasn’t the prettiest of wins but still counts nonetheless.

“Winning is the goal, and all that matters,” he insisted. “Some people say we should win pretty. That’s a good [Missouri] defense, and that’s a good team. So I’m proud of the guys, and I’m proud of the offense.”

Mateer’s acceptance of the need to sometimes rely on the defense, and his development as a leader was echoed in offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle’s description of his quarterback.

“Playing insanely tough, not turning the ball over, doing the little things that it does take to win and being a great teammate, a great leader — that’s how I’ve seen him progress, and I expect nothing different from him,” Arbuckle said.

Missouri quarterback Beau Pribula returned after missing three games with a dislocated ankle and accounted for 231 yards, but also threw two costly interceptions as the Tigers searched in vain for a touchdown.

“I thought he distributed the ball well, and I thought he made good decisions for the most part,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said of his quarterback, “You know, ultimately the two takeaways or two turnovers hurt at the end, but I was proud of the courage he showed to play. All we needed was to get one score, one touchdown, and we’re right back exactly where we need to be. But ultimately, we never were able to muster enough offense to get it done.”

Oklahoma now turn their focus to their final game, at home against LSU, and a chance to secure postseason football.

“Show back up ready to go,” coach Brent Venables said of what he feels his team needs to be ready for the challenge. “Renew your spirit, get your mind right. Enjoy tonight and stay humble, stay thankful, stay hungry and get ready to go back at it again here on Monday.”

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AP Poll Top 25 (entering week 14):

1. Ohio State

2. Indiana

3. Texas A&M

4. Georgia

5. Oregon

6. Ole Miss

7. Texas Tech

8. Oklahoma

9. Notre Dame

10. Alabama

11. BYU

12. Vanderbilt

13. Miami

14. Utah

15. Michigan

16. Texas

17. Virgina

18. Tennessee

19. USC

20. James Madison

21. North Texas

22. Tulane

23. Georgia Tech

24. Pitt

25. SMU