There merely is nothing higher than school soccer.
If there was ever a doubt about that assertion, Rivalry Week put the dialog to mattress.
Barrett Carter (0) of the Clemson Tigers celebrates after defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium Nov. 25, 2023, in Columbia, S.C. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Pictures)
In cities throughout the nation, followers packed stadiums to witness one other version of video games between in-state rivals, border wars which have been fought over many a long time, matchups which have break up households because the nineteenth century.
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The rivalries simply imply extra in college football, and so they virtually at all times enable for seemingly uneven matchups to turn out to be aggressive.
Week 13 of the faculty soccer season delivered at a excessive degree. So, let’s have a look at what was realized from an exceptional Rivalry Week.
With or with out Jim Harbaugh, Michigan has owned Ryan Day
The sport of the yr in school soccer arrived throughout a sign-stealing scandal that price Michigan its head coach for 3 video games. Ohio State entered Ann Arbor ranked forward of Michigan with the assumption it might snap a two-game dropping streak in opposition to its hated rival and safe a visit to the Large Ten championship sport with a shot at one other Faculty Soccer Playoff bid.
After which the Wolverines went on a soul-crushing drive in opposition to the Buckeyes, taking part in smash-mouth soccer to ship Ryan Day dwelling with one other loss to Michigan.
The Wolverines went on a 13-play, seven-minute drive within the fourth quarter, ending the drive with a area aim to take a six-point lead, which proved to be sufficient. Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord threw an interception with 25 seconds left in Michigan territory.
Blake Corum of the Michigan Wolverines runs the ball in opposition to the Ohio State Buckeyes through the first quarter in a sport at Michigan Stadium Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Pictures)
The drive was emblematic of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry the previous few years. The Wolverines have confirmed to be the extra bodily group beneath Jim Harbaugh.
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In 2022, Michigan ran for 252 yards in opposition to Ohio State. On this yr’s sport, Michigan ran 9 instances in its closing possession and left Ohio State simply 1:05 remaining to get into the top zone.
“No. Definitely not,” Michigan broad receiver Roman Wilson stated when requested if Ohio State had grown harder through the years. “I told the receivers this whole week: You’ve got guys back there — this is a thing I thought too — guys who you want to put on the Louis V, the thousand-dollar outfit. You want to act hard. But when we’re out there, they’re not hard. I see the film. You’re not tough.
“I don’t assume I’m the hardest man on this planet. However I am on the market, I’m getting bodily. I do not assume they wished it like I wished it.”
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Head coach Ryan Day of the Ohio State Buckeyes during warmups before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium Nov. 25, 2023, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
The loss dropped Day to 1-3 against Michigan, the ultimate no-no for an Ohio State head coach.
Against all other opponents, Day has a record of 55-4. He’s been dominant in the Big Ten, going 40-0 in games against all conference opponents that don’t play in Ann Arbor.
And while the stellar overall record is appreciated, beating Michigan is all that issues in Columbus. A 3rd straight loss to the Wolverines will go away the fan base greater than stressed.
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Washington gained’t go down and not using a struggle
The Washington Huskies have lost some of their luster over the past few weeks, but winning is all that matters.
Washington avoided a disaster in the Apple Cup, beating Washington State on a walk-off field goal to head into the Pac-12 championship game against Oregon undefeated.
While it was the eighth straight conference game decided by 10 points or fewer for Washington, the Huskies became the first team in the 12-team Pac-12 era to finish the regular season undefeated.
And it happened with one of the gutsiest calls college football fans will ever see.
With the game tied and the Huskies facing a fourth-and-1 from their own 29-yard line with 1:11 remaining in the fourth quarter, head coach Kalen DeBoer sent his offense onto the field.
Washington kicker Grady Gross (95) sets up to kick the game-winning field goal during the 115th Apple Cup between the Washington Huskies and the Washington State Cougars Nov. 25, 2023, at Husky Stadium in Seattle. (Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Wide receiver Rome Odunze took a pitch from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. for a gain of 23 yards that got the Huskies into Washington State territory.
“Man, what a play name. Acquired to offer kudos to the offensive workers and coach DeBoer for believing in us on that,” Odunze said. “We simply went on the market and executed. It was good.”
The Huskies now have a rematch with Oregon in the Pac-12 title game with a trip to the CFP on the line, which will snap a six-year drought for the conference.
Count Washington out if you’d like, but the Huskies will be throwing haymakers the entire way.
The Iron Bowl rarely disappoints
Just one week removed from a three-touchdown loss to New Mexico State at home, Auburn was going to defeat Alabama, snapping its nine-game winning streak and ending Nick Saban’s run at another CFP berth.
And then Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe completed a pass on fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line, throwing a touchdown to Isiah Bond in the corner of the end zone to send Jordan-Hare Stadium into a deafening silence.
Jalen Milroe of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a 27-24 win over the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
It was a moment that will go down in Iron Bowl lore alongside the Kick Six in 2013 as Alabama kept its playoff hopes alive for one more week.
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The game between the in-state rivals perfectly encapsulates Rivalry Week.
Hugh Freeze and his Tigers were coming off an embarrassing loss that cost the university $1.7 million, dropping Auburn to 6-5 on the year.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (17) of the Alabama Crimson Tide catches a pass for a touchdown in front of cornerback D.J. James (4) of the Auburn Tigers during the second half at Jordan-Hare Stadium Nov. 25, 2023, in Auburn, Ala. (Michael Chang/Getty Images)
And still, Auburn took Alabama down to the wire, with the Crimson Tide needing a miracle to win the Iron Bowl a third straight year.
No matter the records, the game between Alabama and Auburn always delivers.
Rivalry Week, baby.
The Texas A&M coaching search was must-watch theater
Texas A&M moved on from Jimbo Fisher two weeks ago after the national championship-winning coach underperformed for the third consecutive year. Despite the firing, the university owes Fisher roughly $77 million, paid out until 2031.
The expectations in College Station are so high that they don’t mind paying Fisher nearly $80 million not to coach.
That’s what made the search for a new coach so fascinating.
Most reports had the Aggies going big-name hunting, with names like Dabo Swinney, Dan Lanning and Ryan Day bandied about.
Mark Stoops, the head of the Kentucky Wildcats, against the Louisville Cardinals in the first half at L&N Stadium Nov. 25, 2023, in Louisville, Ky. (Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Late Saturday night, reports surfaced that Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops could be the subsequent head coach at Texas A&M. After which he wasn’t.
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Social media was on fire with many pushing back against the idea of Stoops taking over the program. It all led to Stoops releasing a statement shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, announcing he would remain at Kentucky despite being contacted “about a potential opportunity this weekend.”
So, the search continued for the Aggies.
On Monday, former Duke head coach Mike Elko was introduced to lead Texas A&M after two years in Durham.
At Elko’s introductory press convention, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork addressed the Stoops rumors.
Duke head coach Mike Elko reacts on the sideline during the first half of a game against Florida State Oct. 21, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
“Properly, look, right here’s the factor. During the last two weeks, after we have interaction with as much as 30 completely different coaches at various completely different ranges? Some have been in particular person, some have been Zoom, some have been calls, some have been by means of third events, and so forth. There’s going to be a whole lot of shifting components,” Bjork explained, according to On3.
“As President Welsh stated, one of many issues he realized going by means of this — it ain’t over ’til it’s over. We wished to ensure we engaged with our closing group of candidates so long as potential.
“I don’t know how all of that got out,” Bjork admitted. “I respect Coach Stoops. He has been in the SEC a long time. I appreciate his statement.”
It was an unbelievable 48 hours in Faculty Station, but it surely seems just like the Aggies have their man.
The Related Press contributed to this report
