Bill Connelly, ESPN Staff Writer Nov 15, 2024, 7:00 a.m. ET
CloseBill Connelly is an ESPN.com staff writer.
By week 12, it’s all about survival. We think we know who’s going to be in the College Football Playoff, we think we know the pecking order in every conference race, and if you’re one of those teams in, you’re just trying not to screw it up.
In 2014, the first year of the four-team CFP, Week 12 saw No. 3 Florida State barely beat unranked Miami, No. 4 TCU barely beat Kansas 7-3, and No. 6 Arizona State fall to Oregon State 5-5. 5. No. 8 Ohio State barely beat No. 25 Minnesota and No. 14 Arizona barely beat unranked Washington. We had a major top-five finish — No. 5 Alabama over No. 1 Mississippi State — and we made a change that was almost a big change.
In the years since, Week 12 has presented plenty of jump scares for major teams — Notre Dame barely beat Boston College in 2015 and Navy in 2017, Florida went to OT with Florida Atlantic in 2015, and Ohio State barely beat Michigan State In 2016 and Maryland. In 2018, Michigan nearly lost to Illinois in 2022 and Maryland in 2023. Losses are rare, but concerns persist. And look! Each of the top four teams in the CFP rankings (Oregon, Ohio State, Texas and Penn State) is on the road this week! Additionally, No. 6 BYU is just a minor favorite, and in the biggest game of the week, No. 7 Tennessee is the underdog on the road.
I can feel it: This is going to be an unconventional week. Here’s everything you need to keep track of in the dangerous week 12. (All times EST; lines from ESPN BET.)
Go to section:
Tennessee-Georgia | Top 4 road trips
12 big obstacles | Advocates acc
Super Chaos | Playlist for week 12
Small school fair
Must win in Athens
No. 7 Tennessee at No. 12 Georgia (7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+)
There are three one-loss teams and five one-loss teams in SEC play. The best conference in college football is also the most chaotic right now, and with at least five to six SEC teams harboring semi-legitimate CFP hopes, this is not the time to also find yourself in the quagmire of losing teams (if you’re… Tennessee) or trying to stand out with three losses (if you’re from Georgia).
