Ohio State capped off a remarkable late-season surge with a dominant 42-10 win over UCLA in the Big Ten Championship Game, securing their eighth straight victory and a No. 4 seed in the upcoming College Football Playoff.

Transfer quarterback Rocco Becht delivered a masterclass, throwing five touchdown passes to lead the Buckeyes’ high-octane offense. Ohio State jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead and extended it to 35-10 by the end of the third quarter, putting the game away early.

Full Championship Week coverage

Week 13 — Ohio State surges, Oregon flops, Bama out of CFP picture

Ohio State is back in the spotlight after Rocco Becht threw for 305 yards and five touchdowns — two of them to junior receiver Jeremiah Smith — to lead the Buckeyes to a 45-35 win over Michigan at Ohio Stadium.

The rivals entered the fourth quarter tied 28-28, but Ohio State pulled away late to earn its seventh straight win and a ticket to the Big Ten Championship Game, where they’ll face No. 6 UCLA.

Meanwhile, Oregon’s playoff hopes were dashed after a stunning 32-31 loss to Michigan State. The Ducks led late but were outscored 15-7 in the final quarter. Makhi Frazier ran for two touchdowns to lead the Spartans, while Dante Moore connected with Cooper Perry for three scores — a valiant effort that wasn’t enough to prevent Oregon from falling to 8-4 (5-4 Big Ten).

OTHER TOP HEADLINES

• Alabama’s CFP hopes are officially over after a loss to No. 4 Auburn, sealing the Crimson Tide’s playoff exit.
• Notre Dame’s late-season collapse is complete following a 19-7 loss to USC. Head coach Marcus Freeman now faces serious job security questions.
• Jeff Gundy’s Troy team finishes 8-4 and is bowl-bound after a solid season.
• No. 2 Clemson will face No. 5 Virginia Tech in the upcoming ACC Championship Game.

Week 12 — CFP hopes fade for Texas after upset loss to Tennessee

The Volunteers haven’t had much to celebrate this season, but they’ll mark their 44-42 win over Texas at Campbell–Williams Field as a signature moment. Junior quarterback Austin Mack threw for three touchdowns, two of them to wide receiver Chris Barazzell II, while junior running back Desean Bishop added two rushing scores to lift Tennesseeto 7-4 (4-3 SEC).

For Texas, the loss could be a season-defining blow. The Longhorns have now dropped three of their last four games, and their latest setback sent them tumbling 10 spots to No. 17 in the CFP standings, likely knocking them out of playoff contention.

Week 10 — Texas drops again, Duke and Notre Dame stumble, CFP bracket unveiled

Texas suffered its second straight loss, falling 49-35 to Alabama in a pivotal SEC clash. The defeat dropped the Longhorns seven spots to No. 12, though they managed to cling to a No. 12 seed in the season’s first College Football Playoff bracket reveal.

TOP HEADLINES

• Duke’s perfect season came to an end with a stunning 17-10 loss to Georgia State, sending the Blue Devils from No. 3 to No. 9 in the rankings. Despite the loss, they still landed at No. 9 in the first CFP bracket.
• Michigan took a step back after falling to No. 3 UCLA 39-28. The Wolverines dropped from No. 9 to No. 11, but still secured the No. 10 seed in the CFP bracket.
• Notre Dame’s playoff hopes are fading fast after a 38-35 upset loss to SMU. The Fighting Irish fell 12 spots to No. 24, putting them on the edge of CFP contention.

Week 9 — Auburn climbs, Texas falls, Gators take a hit

In a highly anticipated showdown between No. 2 Auburn and No. 3 Texas, overtime was needed to separate the two powerhouses. Auburn emerged with a thrilling 41-38 win, outscoring the Longhorns 13-10 in the extra period. Quarterback Jackson Arnold led the way with 359 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a rushing score, narrowly outdueling Arch Manning, who threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns.

The result shook up the top five, with Auburn climbing to No. 2, while Texas dropped three spots to No. 5 in the latest rankings.

Elsewhere, Florida’s steady rise since entering the rankings in Week 5 came to a crashing halt. The Gators, who had reached as high as No. 9, were upset in a 48-21 blowout by unranked Missouri — a loss that sent them plummeting to No. 20.

Week 8 — Top teams hold firm, Oregon stumbles again, Ohio State reappears

There was little drama at the top of the rankings in Week 8, as the nation’s elite teams continued to handle business. No. 1 Georgia edged Texas A&M in a 17-6 defensive battle, while No. 2 Texas rolled over Ole Miss 49-28. No. 3 Alabama also stayed the course with a comfortable win against Mississippi State.

Further down, Oregon’s playoff hopes may have taken a fatal blow. The No. 10 Ducks suffered their third loss of the season, falling 29-24 at home to No. 10 Michigan. The Wolverines, now third in the Big Ten, continue their climb up the rankings and the CFP conversation.

Meanwhile, Ohio State — the 2024 national champion — has reentered the Top 25 at No. 25 following a dominant 45-17 win over Nebraska. The Buckeyes, now 5-2 (3-1 Big Ten), still face an uphill battle to reach the CFP.

Week 7 — Georgia is Top Dog again

Georgia has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the national rankings for the first time since Week 4, overtaking Texas after a dominant 49-31 win over No. 6 LSU. The committee viewed the Bulldogs’ victory as the more impressive performance, despite Texas also winning convincingly — 49-31 over unranked Missouri. For now, the Longhorns slide into the No. 2 position, with Georgia back on top of the college football world.

N. CAROLINA STUNS NOTRE DAME IN OT

Notre Dame’s playoff hopes took a major hit after a 41-39 overtime loss to unranked North Carolina. Despite a huge night from sophomore quarterback CJ Carr, who threw for 436 yards and five touchdowns (with one interception), the Irish defense couldn’t slow down Gio Lopez, who totaled 260 passing yards, three touchdowns through the air, and another on the ground.

The upset loss drops Notre Dame 12 spots to No. 16, putting their College Football Playoff hopes in serious jeopardy.

Week 6 — Clemson, Illinois, Ole Miss stumble

The top four — Texas, Georgia, Auburn, and Notre Dame — held their ground, but No. 5 Clemson suffered another blow, dropping 11 spots to No. 16 after a 34-18 home loss to Virginia Tech.

Hokies running back Tyrion Stewart ran wild for 116 yards and four touchdowns, while Tigers quarterback Christopher Vizzina failed to find the end zone and threw one interception. It was Clemson’s first loss since Week 1 against LSU.

Illinois had no answer for No. 8 UCLA, falling 38-7. Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more as UCLA stayed perfect at 7-0.

Ole Miss’s playoff hopes took a hit with a 38-36 loss to No. 22 Texas A&M. Aggies quarterback Brady Hart passed for 282 yards and three scores, while kicker Bart Terrill sealed the win with a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Week 5 — Texas takes top spot, Oregon tumbles after second loss

Texas moved into the No. 1 spot in the rankings this week, edging out Georgia after a narrow 26-21 win over No. 7 LSU. While the Bulldogs handled Louisville44-30, it was the Longhorns’ quality win that tipped the scale. Georgia now sits at No. 2, while LSU slid four spots to No. 7.

Also dropping in the rankings was Ole Miss, who were overwhelmed by No. 3 Auburn in a 59-35 rout. But the steepest fall came from Oregon, who suffered their second straight loss — a 45-20 defeat at the hands of Ohio State. The Ducks plummeted from No. 9 to No. 21.

The Buckeyes, led by transfer quarterback Rocco Becht, looked explosive on offense. Becht threw for 410 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Despite the performance and a 3-1 record, Ohio State remains outside the Top 25and continues to push for its first appearance this season.

Week 4 — Alabama keeps sliding, Georgia holds firm, Ducks fall back

Alabama continued its downward spiral, dropping to No. 22 after suffering a second straight loss — this time a 42-28 defeat at the hands of unranked Florida. The Crimson Tide defense collapsed early, giving up 38 first-half points and leaving the offense with too much ground to make up.

Jadan Baugh led the charge for the Gators, rushing for 136 yards and four touchdowns. The defense pressured Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell relentlessly, recording four sacks. Despite the pressure, Russell still threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns with one interception, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the defensive collapse.

Week 3 — Florida State stuns Alabama, sends Tide tumbling to No. 11

Florida State pulled off the biggest upset of the weekend, taking down No. 1 Alabama 51-34 in Tuscaloosa to hand the Crimson Tide their first loss of the season and drop them to No. 11 in the rankings.

The Seminoles jumped out to a 14-0 lead and never looked back, with freshman quarterback Tanner Applewhitethrowing three touchdowns and the ground game piling up points behind Cam Davis and Adrian Webster. Despite the setback, Alabama may not be too concerned — they entered the College Football Playoff last year as the No. 11 seed and went on to win the national title.

Notre Dame climbs after gritty OT win over Miami

Meanwhile, Notre Dame remained undefeated after a hard-fought 27-24 overtime win over No. 12 Miami, improving to 4-0 and climbing to No. 6 in the rankings. Sophomore quarterback CJ Carr came through in the clutch, throwing for 250 yards and two touchdowns without turning the ball over.

Week 2 Roundup — Steady among the Top 10, but Illinois takes a fall

The Top 10 remained unchanged after Week 2, with Alabama, Georgia, and Texas holding firm in the top three positions. The most significant drop came from Illinois, who fell from No. 11 to No. 18after a 14-6 loss to Duke. The Blue Devils climbed eight spots to No. 14 following the win.

As reported, Texas Tech suffered a major setback, losing 45-31 to unranked Oregon State, resulting in a fall from No. 12 to No. 20.

Meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian’s Michigan squad took a heavy blow, falling 38-14 to No. 6 Oklahoma. The Wolverines, ranked 18th a week ago, now cling to the 25th and final spot in the Top 25.

Week 1 Roundup — Clemson tumbles, LSU surges into Top 10

Alabama, Georgia, and Texas held steady at No. 1 through No. 3, but the big shakeup came just behind them, as Clemson fell 10 spots to No. 14 after being upset by LSU, 34-24.

LSU junior quarterback Marcel Reed, who transferred from Texas A&M over the offseason, lit up Clemson’s secondary for 414 passing yards and three touchdowns, two of them caught by junior receiver Destyn Hill. On the other side of the ball, the LSU defense made life miserable for Christopher Vizzina, sacking the Clemson QB five times despite his 269-yard, one-touchdown outing.