By Sarah Turner, Sports editor 

The regular season is coming to a close in the world of college football, and teams with everything to play for laid their seasons on the line during the week of Thanksgiving. From wacky traditions to wild endings, here’s some of the major results from the week, as well as what those results mean for conference championship and playoff implications for those teams.  

The Egg Bowl: Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State 

The Egg Bowl is always a Friday highlight of rivalry week, and Ole Miss delivered with a 38-19 victory over the Bulldogs on Nov. 28. Redshirt senior quarterback (and Division II transfer) Trinidad Chambliss threw for 359 yards and four touchdowns, completing 23 of 34 passes.  Mississippi State, however, exploited an Ole Miss defensive line that has struggled this season, rushing for 262 yards. Those defensive issues could prove significant as the Rebels look toward the playoffs, assuming they receive a bid in the new 12-team format.  

While the game itself lacked late drama, the implications for Ole Miss extend far beyond the final score, especially with major off-field changes unfolding. Head coach Lane Kiffin’s departure for LSU dramatically reshapes the program’s trajectory at a moment when a postseason run seemed attainable. Stepping into the head role is longtime defensive coordinator Pete Golding, whose promotion brings both stability and uncertainty as the Rebels approach their most important stretch of the season. A team once poised for a clear playoff push now enters December with renewed questions about its direction and readiness under new leadership.  

The Iron Bowl: Alabama vs. Auburn 

The Iron Bowl is known for producing unbelievable endings, especially at Jordan-Hare Stadium, and this year delivered another chaotic finish. Auburn’s hopes of tying the game evaporated when a late fumble inside the final 30 seconds sealed a 27–20 Alabama victory. Offensively, both teams sputtered for much of the evening, with Alabama particularly sluggish in the second half. The Tide converted just 23% of their third-down attempts and leaned heavily on a run game that has lacked explosiveness all season. Senior fullback Jam Miller paced Alabama with 83 yards on 15 carries, while four other backs combined for the remainder of the team’s 158 rushing yards. In the passing game, redshirt junior quarterback Ty Simpson threw for 122 yards and three touchdowns but completed only 19 of 35 attempts, struggling to find rhythm against the Auburn defense.  

The Tigers, on the other hand, exploded in the second half, as senior quarterback Ashton Daniels began hitting his stride. Throughout the game, he threw for 259 yards and a touchdown and went 18-for-39. He also added 108 more yards on the ground. The Tigers defense also stepped up with 55 tackles and 3 sacks against the struggling Alabama offense. The win was essential for Alabama, keeping its SEC Championship berth and playoff hopes alive. Next up is a rematch with Georgia, a team the Tide edged 24–21 in September. With the Bulldogs looming, Alabama will need a cleaner offensive performance to stay in the national title conversation. 

Clean, Old Fashioned Hate: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech 

Georgia’s win, and Texas A&M’s loss, secured the Bulldogs’ spot in the SEC Championship, marking their fifth straight appearance in the conference title game. Despite the 16–9 victory over Georgia Tech, neither team delivered a complete performance, with both offenses struggling to find consistency throughout the 60 minutes. Redshirt junior quarterback Gunner Stockton managed just 70 passing yards for Georgia, finishing 11-for-21 with one touchdown and an interception. The Bulldogs leaned heavily on their ground game, which totaled 190 rushing yards, while the defense recorded 49 tackles and came away with an interception of its own. 

Meanwhile, Georgia Tech found more success through the air. Redshirt senior quarterback Haynes King went 19-for-27 for 181 yards, though the Yellow Jackets mustered only 69 rushing yards. Their defense stayed active with 77 total tackles, helping keep the game within reach despite Tech’s offensive limitations. With the regular season wrapped, Georgia now turns its attention to a Dec. 6 showdown with Alabama in the SEC Championship, a rematch of their early-season meeting in Athens, where the Bulldogs fell at home. This time, with playoff implications on the line, Georgia will be looking for redemption and a far cleaner offensive showing.  

The Lone Star Showdown: Texas A&M vs. Texas 

In perhaps one of the weekend’s biggest shocks, Arch Manning and the Longhorns made a statement as they toppled Texas A&M 27-17 in Austin, proving they belong in the playoff conversation. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Manning went 14-for-29 for 179 yards and a touchdown. Texas’ ground game racked up 218 rushing yards, led by junior fullback QuintrevionWisner, who contributed 155 of them. On defense, the Longhorns recorded 75 tackles, including a sack and two interceptions. With a win, Texas A&M would have been a shoe-in for both the SEC Championship as well as the playoffs, but now things have changed. The previously undefeated Aggies now await the conference championship results to determine their playoff fate, while the Longhorns hope this statement win keeps their own postseason dreams alive. 

The Game: Ohio State vs Michigan 

This big noon kickoff confirmed what many already suspected: the Buckeyes continue to solidify that they’re the best team in the country. Ohio State beat Michigan 29-9 in their first victory over the Wolverines since 2019. The Buckeyes’ offense racked up over 400 yards, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, who completed 19 of 26 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns. True freshman running back and Ohio native Bo Jackson added 117 rushing yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. On defense, the Buckeyes held Michigan to just 163 total yards, as true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood struggled on his home field in his first rivalry game. Next, Ohio State will face the only other undefeated team in the nation in Indiana in the Big Ten Championship on Dec. 6.