In a gripping Week 12 of college football, fans witnessed heart-stopping moments and shocking upsets that left many teams reeling from playoff eliminations. San Jose State was soon leading No. 13 Boise State by 14, and Wisconsin shocked the nation by leading top-ranked Oregon at the onset of the fourth quarter. However, it wasn't just the favorites who were in peril, as Arkansas, Boston College, and Pitt all had opportunities to seize victory against ranked foes.

Predictably, chaos reigned supreme, proving my Week 12 prediction of “jump scares” to be spot on. Boise State, Oregon, Texas, SMU, and Clemson managed to survive some nail-biting contests, but several other hopefuls faced elimination from the College Football Playoff (CFP) race.

The major casualties included No. 6 BYU and No. 16 Kansas State, who suffered heart-wrenching defeats alongside LSU, who were outplayed in Gainesville by a motivated Florida team. This loss not only dashed the Tigers' CFP hopes but highlighted their dismal performance, needing a miracle just to lose by 11 points. New Mexico celebrated its first victory over a ranked opponent since 2003 by taking down Washington State, ending their aspirations for the playoffs. Meanwhile, Conference USA favorites like Western Kentucky stumbled while Jacksonville State and Sam Houston barely held on.

If you were betting on underdogs this past Saturday, you would have made a profit, winning 62% of your bets—a testament to the unpredictable nature of this week’s matchups.

Teams Eliminated from CFP Contention

LSU

Past Playoff Odds: 39.8% What Went Wrong? The loss to Texas A&M took a significant toll. The Tigers, once riding high with an impressive scoring average, have seen their production plummet since that game, averaging just 17.3 points over the last three outings. Defensive struggles and an unseen avalanche of negative plays have buried their chances.

Kansas State

Past Playoff Odds: 39.0% What Went Wrong? Turnovers proved fatal. The Wildcats scored 41 points in some games but were woefully ineffective in their losses, scoring just 42 points in three games combined. Young quarterback Avery Johnson’s mistakes during critical moments further complicated their already challenging season.

Pittsburgh

Past Playoff Odds: 20% What Went Wrong? Their schedule toughened considerably. Pitt began strong with a favorable schedule but faltered when they faced tougher opponents. A combination of injuries and declining performance from quarterback Eli Holstein hastened their downfall.

Long Shots Still in the Race

While several teams have seen their playoff visions dimmed, others cling to tenuous hopes. Clemson is still in the mix after a narrow victory over Pitt, and Texas A&M remains one win away from potentially shaking up the SEC race. Iowa State, though struggling, is still a player in the Big 12 hunt, and Army remains undefeated, revealing an interesting narrative ahead.

Clemson

Current Playoff Odds: 20.1% What’s Gone Wrong? The offense has stagnated, failing to reach their scoring potential after an impressive start. With inconsistent performances affecting their ability to keep pace with other contenders, they now find themselves needing support from other teams to hope for an ACC championship game berth.

Miami

Current Playoff Odds: 62.7% What’s Gone Wrong? Their defense has faltered just when it mattered. Once a competitive unit, Miami's defensive lapses led to critical yardage allowed, making them vulnerable in tight games.

BYU

Current Playoff Odds: 39.1% What’s Gone Wrong? The red zone offense collapsed at crucial moments. Despite strong performances early in the season, their inability to convert scoring chances in the red zone has left them scrambling for consistency.

Surprising Results from Week 12

Some of the biggest surprises came from unexpected performances that tested the limits of projections. Notable games included Utah State trouncing Hawai'i 55-10 and Air Force beating Oregon State 28-0.

In the midst of all this chaos and unpredictability, the Heisman race thickened. Carson Beck from Georgia, T.J. Parker from Clemson, and LaNorris Sellers from South Carolina stood tall with impressive performances that may very well change the course of their teams’ fates and the Heisman rankings.

As we move into the final weeks of the regular season and prepare for bowl games, remember: anything can happen in college football. Buckle up, because the drama is just beginning! Will these teams rise from the ashes or fade into obscurity? Only time will tell.