College Football Week 13 Recap: 5 Undefeated Teams and One Bowl Bid Remain After Rivalry Week

Blake Corum scored twice in the Wolverines victory.

The regular season of college football is over (well, Army/Navy still have to play in two weeks), and after the dust settled, five teams remain undefeated and, due to some wildness, one final bowl spot. Liberty had the easiest road to perfection as they rolled past UTEP (3-9). Florida State was able to pull away late from Florida (5-7), while Georgia's lead proved insurmountable for Georgia Tech (6-6), 31-23. Washington needed a game-winning field goal to hold off and upset by Washington State (5-7), 24-21, and my favorite game of the week also ended in dramatic fashion.

Marvin Harrison Jr. watches Michigan clinch their half of the Big Ten.

The only time I felt that Michigan would not win was in the final minute when they kicked the field goal to make it a six-point game and leave the door open for Ohio State (11-1). Luckily, Kyle McCord threw a second beautiful pass straight to the Michigan defense, and paired with a missed field goal at the end of the first half, the Buckeyes shot themselves in the foot too many times in a 30-24 loss.

Ohio State will need chaos during Championship Week as they become one of four one-loss teams looking to make it in. The biggest difference is that Oregon, Texas, and Alabama will all play for a conference championship, although one could argue that Michigan and Ohio State was the defacto Big Ten Championship. Oregon will face Washington, and Alabama take on Georgia, meaning a win by either of those one-loss teams would create six one-loss teams vying for a spot in the playoffs.  Texas has the weakest opponent in the Big 12 Championship as they will face Oklahoma State (9-3). Even Michigan will face a higher-ranked opponent when they try to hit the over against Iowa (10-2) this Saturday. Florida State's bid took a hit after their star quarterback, Jordan Travis, was injured, but then took another blow when Louisville (10-2) was upset by Kentucky (7-5) to lower their stock heading into the ACC Championship.

Tulane is looking to make a New Year's Six Bowl for the second straight season.

The Group of 5 schools has their own chaos going for them. In the AAC, they played essentially a semi-final when SMU defeated Memphis two weeks ago, and then Tulane knocked off UTSA on Friday. That set up an electrifying final between the Mustangs (10-2) and the Green Wave (11-1), with Tulane needing a win to ensure a spot in a New Year's Six Bowl. Liberty hopes they stumble as the top team in the Group of 5 as they are the next highest-ranked school in that subdivision. The Flames can win the CUSA Championship in their first season by defeating New Mexico State (10-3) for the second time this season. The Aggies are a much different team since they met in Week 3 and have won eight straight, including a 31-10 dismantling of Auburn. If Liberty and Tulane both lose, then perhaps it opens the door for Toledo (11-1) if they defeat Miami (10-2) in Detroit for the MAC Championship. On the outside looking in is the Sun Belt Conference as their top school, James Madison (11-1), is not eligible to play for the Sun Belt Championship, however, because of a lack of bowl-eligible teams, the Dukes and Jacksonville State, should be able to qualify for a bowl. Troy (10-2) will face Appalachian State (8-4) in the SBC instead. The wackiest conference championship is in the Mountain West, where a computer had to decide between three schools to decide their fate.

San Jose State defeated UNLV to force their way into a 3-way tie atop the Mountain West.

All 12 teams have done everything to win the Mountain West or create chaos at the bottom. San Diego State (4-8), Hawaii (5-8), and New Mexico (4-8) all pulled off upsets in the past few weeks to create this madness. Heck, Hawaii even scrambled to kick a last-second field goal and end Colorado State's bowl chances in the last regular season game. The chaos led to UNLV (9-3), San Jose State (7-5), and Boise State (7-5) all tied at the top with two losses in conference play. As agreed upon, a computer will provide an unbiased ranking that will place the top two teams in the championship.

EMU secured their third straight bowl appearance for the first time in school history.

12 teams punched their tickets to a bowl game this week by earning the coveted sixth win. 11 teams lost their chance to become bowl eligible, but Navy (5-6) is still clinging to life as they play Army (5-6) in two weeks. Navy takes the last spot if they win, Army cannot become bowl-eligible if they win their sixth game, because two of their wins came against FCS schools. With JMU and Jax St earning eligibility because of the insanity, the one remaining spot would go to a 5-7 team if Navy loses. In this scenario, Minnesota (5-7) holds the best academic progress report score of any team with 5 wins, just edging out Mississippi State (5-7). That means if Army beats Navy, the Golden Gophers will become the ninth Big Ten team to earn a bowl bid.

Here's a look at where the teams rank heading into Championship Week.

The Huskies kick their way into a rematch with Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship.

1. Washington (12-0, 54.8 WAA, 0 LAA)

Last Week Rank: 1

Last Week: 24-21 over Washington State

This Week: Oregon (11-1, 9), Pac-12 Championship

2. Georgia (12-0, 67.7, 0)

LWR: 3

LW: 31-23 over Georgia Tech

TW: Alabama (11-1, 8), SEC Championship

3. Michigan (12-0, 68.9, 0)

LWR: 5

LW: 30-24 over Ohio State

TW: Iowa (10-2, 15), Big Ten Championship

4. Florida State (12-0, 71.7, 0)

LWR: 4

LW: 24-15 over Florida

TW: Louisville (10-2, 16), ACC Championship

Not to be confused with the Limu Emu, the Flames are the only undefeated Group of 5 school.

5. Liberty (12-0, 96.3, 0)

LWR: 6

LW: 42-28 over UTEP

TW: New Mexico State (10-3, 22), CUSA Championship

6. Texas (11-1, 50.7, 11)

LWR: 7

LW: 57-7 over Texas Tech

TW: Oklahoma State (9-3, 26), Big 12 Championship

7. Ohio State (11-1, 59.9, 5)

LWR: 2

LW: Lost 30-24 to Michigan

TW: Watching Iowa sputter on offense from home.

8. Alabama (11-1, 63.4, 20)

LWR: 8

LW: 27-24 surviving of Auburn

TW: Georgia (12-0, 2), SEC Championship

9. Oregon (11-1, 63.6, 2)

LWR: 9

LW: 31-7 over Oregon State

TW: Washington (12-0, 1), Pac-12 Championship

Since joining the Sun Belt, the Dukes have dominated the Chanticleers.

10. James Madison (11-1, 80, 53)

LWR: 11

LW: 56-14 over Coastal Carolina

TW: Feeling embarrassed that they made such a big deal about not being allowed to go bowling, only to earn a bowl bid.

11. Tulane (11-1, 86.1, 28)

LWR: 12

LW: 29-16 over UTSA

TW: SMU (10-2, 20), AAC Championship

12. Toledo (11-1, 95.5, 44)

LWR: 13

LW: 32-17 over Central Michigan

TW: Miami (10-2, 21), MAC Championship

13. Oklahoma (10-2, 67.6, 34.5)

LWR: 15

LW: 69-45 over TCU

TW: Reflecting on the mistake they likely made joining the SEC if they can't even win the Big 12.

14. Missouri (10-2, 69.9, 33.5)

LWR: 14

LW: 48-14 over Arkanas

TW: Trying to figure out which New Year's Six Bowl they are headed to.

Who needs offense or a kicker with experience?

15. Iowa (10-2, 74.1, 45)

LWR: 16

LW: 13-10 over Nebraska

TW: Michigan (12-0, 3), Big Ten Championship

16. Louisville (10-2, 76.2, 90)

LWR: 10

LW: 31-38 loss to Kentucky

TW: Florida State (12-0, 4), ACC Championship

17. Penn State (10-2, 83.6, 5.5)

LWR: 18

LW: 42-0 over Michigan State

TW: Wishing they had a better quarterback that could beat either Michigan or OSU.

18. Troy (10-2, 83.7, 28.5)

LWR: 17

LW: 35-17 over Southern Miss

TW: Appalachian State (8-4, 37), Sun Belt Championship

19. Ole Miss (10-2, 86.9, 26)

LWR: 19

LW: 17-7 over Mississippi State

TW: Awaiting their bowl game

SMU got a touchdown from its long snapper when he recovered a muffed punt in the end zone.

20. SMU (10-2, 97, 50.5)

LWR: 22

LW: 59-14 over Navy

TW: Tulane (11-1, 11), AAC Championship

21. Miami, OH (10-2, 97.9, 44)

LWR: 21

LW: 17-15 over Ball State

TW: Toledo (11-1, 12), MAC Championship

22. New Mexico State (10-3, 94.1, 108.3)

LWR: 23

LW: 20-17 over Jacksonville State

TW: Liberty (12-0, 5), CUSA Championship

23. LSU (9-3, 70, 18.3)

LWR: 29

LW: 42-30 over Texas A&M

TW: Hyping up the Jayden Daniels Heisman Campaign (He'd get my vote)

24. NCST (9-3, 70.4, 24.3)

LWR: 31

LW: 39-20 over UNC

TW: Awaiting bowl game

The surprise Wildcats raided their in-state rivals with over 500 yards passing.

25. Arizona (9-3, 70.8, 15)

LWR: 27

LW: 59-23 over Arizona State

TW: Thinking about how life will be in the Big 12 next season.

Dropped Out: UNLV, Kansas State, and North Carolina

Waiting List: Oklahoma State, Notre Dame, UNLV, Memphis, Ohio, Clemson, UNC, KSU, Oregon State, Utah, Kansas, Appalachian State, Wyoming, Fresno State, and West Virginia

The Golden Flashes held a lead heading into the fourth quarter but lost to Northern Illinois securing their fate as the worst.

The bottom 33 will be revealed later this week, but Kent State (1-11) finished as the worst team in the nation as the only one-win team.