With Week 12 of the 2022 college football season behind us, one cannot help but think about how great Week 13 is going to be. With both Ohio State and Michigan still undefeated, their game next week may even eclipse the epic battle they had at "The Big House" one year ago. Overall, this season has been the most competitive in recent memory, emphasizing the need for an expanded playoff.
What ultimately defined Week 12 were the numerous upsets that none of us saw coming. With all this noted, let us review what we learned this week.
What Did We Learn In Week 12?
TCU continues to find ways to win. Against Baylor, they were trailing the entire game until kicker Griffin Kell field goal with no time remaining put them over the top. This was a big one for the Horned Frogs, as a loss would have effectively ended their playoff run.
Michigan may have pulled out a hard-fought win against Illinois, but in the process, they may have exposed how vulnerable they are offensively without star running back Blake Corum. Depending on his status, this does not bode well for their chances in next week's rivalry extravaganza against Ohio State. For the Wolverines' sake, Corum needs to come back if they want to beat the Buckeyes for a second straight year.
Speaking of Ohio State, they overcame a very stubborn Maryland team with two touchdowns (one on offense, one on defense) in the last seconds of the game. With both Michigan and the Buckeyes undefeated, next week's rivalry clash should be one for the ages.
So, let's talk about Tennessee for a bit. In Week 12, they were dominated and completely humiliated by Spencer Rattler and South Carolina. Rattler has not received the national attention he once did with Oklahoma, but what we learned is that he can still play at a high level. As for the Volunteers, their defense completely unraveled. To make matters worse, Heisman hopeful Hendon Hooker went down with what may end up becoming a season-ending injury. This once-fairytale season has become a nightmare.
One word to describe USC vs. UCLA: epic! In a game that featured 1,162 total yards of offense, the game came down to turnovers. Unfortunately for the Bruins, Dorian Thompson-Robinson's three interceptions did not help matters. Either way, it was one of those games in which no one deserved to lose. As for the Trojans, their 10-1 record should be enough to keep them in the playoff picture for now.
Alabama beat Austin Peay, that all!
Texas has the best running back in the last decade. His name is Bijan Robinson and he ran wild over Kansas.
Simply put, Will Levis and his Kentucky Wildcats had no chance against Georgia. The Bulldogs are in a league of their own and destined to repeat as national champions.
Georgia Tech's upset win effectively ends North Carolina's bid for a spot in this year's playoffs. That said, their future is bright with quarterback Drake Maye, and they will be playing for the ACC Championship against Clemson.
Penn State dominated Rutgers, but for what purpose at this point? It is very unlikely a two-loss team will make the College Football Playoffs; the Nittany Lions are no exception.
Dj Uiagalelei and the Clemson Tigers put together a complete performance in their win over the Miami Hurricanes. Considering they only have one loss, the Tigers should not be ignored as part of the playoff picture.
Notre Dame's shutout win over Boston College may not mean much at this point of the season, but it sent a message that the Fighting Irish should be a team to reckon with next season.
Congratulations to Navy, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Arkansas, and Louisville for their upset wins in Week 12.
Week 12 Top Performers
Offense:
QB Spencer Rattler - South Carolina
RB Bijan Robinson - Texas
RB Mohamed Ibrahim - Minnesota
QB Jaren Hall - BYU
QB Caleb Williams - USC
QB Matt McDonald - Bowling Green
WR Jordan Addison - USC
WR Odieu Hiliare - Bowling Green
RB Chase Brown - Illinois
WR Antwane Wells jr. - South Carolina
QB Sam Hartman - Wake Forest
RB Shaun Shivers - Indiana
RB Jase McClellan - Alabama
WR Keanu Hill - BYU
WR A.T Perry - Wake Forest
QB Will Rogers - Mississippi State
RB Dallan Hayden - Ohio State
WR Monaray Baldwin - Baylor
RB Cartavious Bigsby - Auburn
Defense:
DL Keion White - Georgia Tech
DE Durrell Johnson - Liberty
DL Jordan Kelley - Oklahoma
DB C.J. Coldon - Oklahoma
LB Jack Campbell - Iowa
DB Devon Witherspoon - Illinois
DE Avery Dunn - Michigan State
LB Dj Lundy - Florida State
DL Karl Brooks - Bowling Green
LB Melique Straker - Arkansas State
DL Zach Harrison - Ohio State
S Daniel Scott - California
LB Laiatu Latu - UCLA
LB Brian Holloway - Texas State
LB John Marshall - Navy
LB Jordan Botelho - Notre Dame
DB Kydran Jenkins - Purdue
LB Tommy Eichenberg - Ohio State