Ten Takeaways: Week 13

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1. Ohio State decimates Indiana

I've spent my fair share of time trashing Ryan Day for his "leave no doubt/don't let it come down to one play" mantras. In almost every big game Ohio State's played in the Day era, they've left doubt and it's come down to one play. Well, their 38-15 win over Indiana was what it looks like when the Buckeyes execute on both fronts.

The biggest difference in the game was just how dominant their defense was. After Indiana's opening 70-yard touchdown drive, the Buckeyes gave up next to nothing the rest of the way. Indiana mustered just 81 yards, scoring a touchdown plus a two-point conversion in garbage time. The Silver Bullets harassed IU quarterback Kurtis Rourke to the tune of five sacks, led by a monster game from linebacker Cody Simon:

You know things are really going Ohio State's way when special teams gets involved, too. The Buckeyes' got their first punt return touchdown in a decade, courtesy of this spectacular effort from Caleb Downs:

Ohio State's offense whiffed in the redzone a couple of times in the first half, but Will Howard was on point (22 of 26, 201 yards, three total TD) and they did a great job of controlling the game when it became clear that Indiana's offense had no hope of moving the ball. Regardless of what you might think of Indiana's status as an actual contender, this was as thorough a beatdown as you'll see in a top five showdown and should be treated as such. This is easily the most well-rounded Ohio State's looked since 2019 - now it's up to Ryan Day and his squad to prove they can get it done when it matters most.

What does it mean for Indiana's playoff hopes?

SEC contenders losing as the day went on turned this loss from something that could legitimately knock them out into what I think is an almost-guarantee that they're in. If I'm being honest, Indiana is the exact team that makes me hate the 12-team playoff. There's no denying how great they looked through the first ten games. At the same time, it's hard not to look at their schedule and laugh. Nebraska or Michigan as your best win and then you get smoked by the only legit team you play? Indiana is a team we should be talking about as one of the best stories of the season, and then placing in a New Year's Six bowl. Instead, this new system has turned them into the largest hot-button issue of the season. They'll deserve a spot if they get in, but I think whoever they play will torch them. Even if that happens, it doesn't take away what a spectacular season they've had in Curt Cignetti's debut.

2. SEC madness

For the first time since September 30, 2000, three ranked SEC teams lost to unranked conference opponents on the same day. Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M all fell, leaving the conference with a glut of two-and-three-loss teams with playoff aspirations in limbo.

Oklahoma 24 - Alabama 3

When's the last time you saw that type of performance from an Alabama team? A beleaguered Oklahoma ran for 260 yards at over five yards per carry, held Bama to just 70 yards rushing, and picked off Jalen Milroe three times:

Having wins over Georgia, South Carolina and Mizzou is a resume that a lot of other playoff hopefuls can't match, but so are losses to Vanderbilt and this OU squad. I have no clue how the committee will approach them.

Florida 24 - Ole Miss 17

Florida continued their late-season surge by dominating Ole Miss' offense in the trenches, and winning the turnover battle three to one. I thought defensive tackle Caleb Banks (four tackles, three TFL, two-and-a-half sacks) was the best player on the field:

Ole Miss didn't have much of a problem moving the ball, but came away with zero points on three separate redzone trips. First, they got stopped on a fourth-and-one:

Then they missed a 34-yard field goal:

Finally, they got stopped on another fourth-and-short:

That's how you end up with the other team upsetting you and then literally dunking on your property:

The Rebels' win over Georgia is doing most of the heavy lifting for their playoff case (South Carolina is also pretty nice) but with three losses –two of which are Kentucky and Florida– and no path to the SEC Title Game, it's hard to picture the Rebels getting in.

Auburn 43 - Texas A&M 41 (4OT)

This was arguably the dumbest game of the year. Auburn led 21-0 at one point before giving up 21-straight points. Then they led 28-21 to start the fourth quarter when QB Payton Thorne did this:

A&M eventually took a 31-28 lead, but Auburn sent it to overtime with a last-second field goal. After the two traded touchdowns, field goals, and failed two-point trys in the first three overtimes, Auburn receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith went Randy Moss Mode:

Texas A&M went Jackie Smith Mode in response:

A tough loss for the Aggies for sure, but not a killer. If they beat Texas, they play Georgia in the SEC title.

Here's what the top of the conference looks like after all the carnage:

How the committee decides to sort through SEC in relation to other at large-teams around the country is the most fascinating story of the season, and one that's sure to piss off everyone, no matter who they root for.