2025 Week 13 College Football Recap And Top Performers

It’s hard to believe we’ve already reached the final stages of the 2025 college football season. The good news is that the best is still ahead: rivalry week, the conference championships, and of course the College Football Playoff, all woven into the excitement of Bowl season. In other words, there’s still plenty of football left to enjoy.

With that in mind, let’s dive into what we learned from this pivotal week.

What Did We Learn In Week 13?

• USC vs. Oregon was a game that everyone had on their radar and with good reason; excellent quarterbacks on both ends, high level playmakers, strong defensive units, NFL prospects galore.

• Unfortunately, turnovers proved to be the decisive factor in this game. The two interceptions thrown by Jayden Maiava were exactly what the Trojans could not afford. To make matters worse, Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher even found the end zone on a rushing touchdown. Simply put, the Ducks are operating on another level compared to the Trojans, whose playoff hopes likely came to an end with this loss.

• The Oklahoma Sooners made a strong statement by shutting down one of the nation’s premier running backs, Ahmad Hardy, in their victory over Missouri. For the Tigers, if they can keep Hardy and quarterback Beau Pribula together, they could emerge as legitimate playoff contenders next season.

• Samford’s most notable contribution this week was helping Texas A&M reach 11-0, further solidifying the Aggies’ position in the College Football Playoff picture.

• Heisman frontrunner Diego Pavia and his Vanderbilt squad delivered a masterclass performance in their victory over Kentucky. The lingering question is whether their 9-2 record will be enough to persuade the selection committee that they deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff.

• Though the game felt uncomfortably close before halftime, Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns offense seized control in the third quarter, ultimately blowing out Arkansas. For Manning, it was unquestionably the best performance of his career—a glimpse of just how impactful he could be for the Longhorns next season, should he return.

• As for the playoff picture, the outlook remains doubtful. With other 9-2 teams already on the outside looking in, Texas faces an uphill climb to break into contention.

• Similarly, Rutgers played a role in reinforcing Ohio State’s standing as the nation’s top team at 11-0. To be candid, it was surprising to see the Scarlet Knights manage nine points against the Buckeyes’ dominant defense.

• Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson struggled, but against an opponent like Eastern Illinois, it hardly mattered. The game was effectively decided before it began. Now sitting at 9-2, it will be interesting to see whether the Crimson Tide remain in the Top 12.

• Unfortunately for Georgia Tech, this game offered a glimpse of what happens when Haynes King isn’t wearing the Superman cape and carrying the offense. Now sitting at 9-2, the Yellow Jackets’ chances of reaching this year’s College Football Playoff appear slim.

• When a team puts up 42 points in a single half, it usually signals that the opponent has little chance of recovery. It’s remarkable to think that Syracuse once opened the season 3-0. Fast forward to November, and the Orange are 3-8 and found themselves on the wrong end of a lopsided defeat at the hands of Notre Dame. For the Fighting Irish, Week 14 looms large as a pivotal moment in determining their playoff position.

  
  

• For BYU, the win over Cincinnati further solidified their standing in the College Football Playoff race, improving their record to 10-1. The Cougars have become one of those teams no one wants to face in the postseason.

• Following a decisive win over Hawaii, UNLV improved to 9-3 heading into Week 14. Playoff consideration is unlikely, but the Rebels have certainly earned a spot in the Top 25 conversation.

Week 13 Top Performers

Offense -

QB Arch Manning - Texas (Performer of the week)

QB Carson Beck - Miami

QB Diego Pavia - Vanderbilt

RB Kaytron Allen - Penn State

QB Anthony Colandrea - UNLV

WR Tre Richardson - Vanderbilt

RB Ja'Kyrian Turner - Pittsburgh

RB Sieh Bangura - Ohio

WR Tanook Hines - USC

RB Darrion Dupree - Wisconsin

RB Jalen Buckley - Western Michigan

WR Malachi Toney - Miami

RB DeSean Bishop - Tennessee

WR DeAndre Moore Jr. - Texas

RB Jeremiyah Love - Notre Dame

RB Bo Jackson - Ohio State

QB Rocco Becht - Iowa State

QB Brok Lowry - Western Michigan

WR Kevin Coleman Jr. - Missouri

Defense-

Darryl Peterson - Wisconsin

Gabe Jacas - Illinois

DE Caden Curry - Ohio State

DL Ahmad Moten Sr. - Miami

S Jalen Stroman - Notre Dame

DB Bray Hubbard - Alabama

DL Tim Keenan III - Alabama

DB DeShon Singleton - Nebraska

LB Matayo Uiagalelei - Oregon

LB Cayman Spaulding - Georgia Tech

DB Ahmari Harvey - Georgia Tech

CB Devon Marshall - NC State

LB Jack Fries - Ohio

LB Kyle Louis - Pittsburgh

CB Jojo Johnson - Bowling Green

DL David Onuoha - UMass

DL Cody Sigler - Arkansas State

DL Boubacar Traore - Notre Dame

DB Brent Gordon Jr. - Louisiana

DL Ronald Hull - Akron

DE Demarcus Hendricks - Arkansas State