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          College football Week 14 scores, Top 25 analysis and must-see moments

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          Sanders flips over defender for the Oklahoma State first down (0:18)

          Spencer Sanders gets airborne as he tries to hurdle a TCU defender and ends up flipping head over heels for the first down. (0:18)

          • Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff WriterDec 5, 2020, 09:30 AM ET
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              Dave Wilson is a college football reporter. He previously worked at The Dallas Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.
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          Week 14 is one for the ages for college football.

          Never before have we seen two undefeated teams, thousands of miles apart, up and schedule a game against each other in just a matter of days. But that's what happened with No. 13 BYU and No. 18 Coastal Carolina. Of course, the fact that these two teams are among the darlings of the 2020 season is its own storyline.

          Hitting the streets is the theme of this week. The three contenders -- Ohio State, Texas A&M and Florida -- for the No. 4 spot in the College Football Playoff are all on the road this week, but only the Aggies (at Auburn) are less than a touchdown favorite.

          We'll have all the highlights, uniforms and analysis of the top games here all day. So let's buckle up and get to truckin'. We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there.

          Top 25 games

          No. 1 Alabama 55, LSU 17

          You think Alabama forgot what happened against LSU last year? Think again. This team took that loss and the celebration that followed personally, and the Tide took out that frustration on Saturday in Death Valley, marching up and down the field at will. Not only did Mac Jones cement his status as a Heisman Trophy front-runner, but wideout DeVonta Smith made the case he should be receiving votes as well with more than 200 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. Smith is posting monster numbers this season with 16 touchdowns and counting. -- Alex Scarborough

          No. 11 Oklahoma 27, Baylor 14

          It wasn't pretty -- the Sooners finished with just 269 offensive yards -- but it was enough for the win, thanks to the Oklahoma defense. The Sooners held Baylor to just 25 rushing yards and only 263 passing yards despite 56 pass attempts from Baylor quarterback Charlie Brewer. They came up with two turnovers and punched their ticket to the Big 12 championship game once again. -- Sam Khan

          No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels 49, Western Carolina Catamounts 9

          The Heels were supposed to rout Western Carolina, and that's exactly what happened. It was mostly a chance to get some experience for the younger players, but it also offered a chance for Sam Howell to throw two more touchdowns, tying him with Bryn Renner for second on the school's all-time list. Michael Carter also had a huge day with three scores, and the UNC offense clearly looked like its old self after a tough game against Notre Dame a week earlier. -- David Hale

          No. 10 Miami Hurricanes 48, Duke 0

          Miami absolutely dominated Duke in its first game since Nov. 14 after coronavirus issues forced the postponement of its previous two games. The matchup against Duke was a late addition, too, but you would never have known based on the results. Despite missing 15 players -- including multiple starters on defense -- the Hurricanes never let up. D'Eriq King had three passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown for the 10th time in his career, tied for the third most such games in FBS over the past 25 seasons. -- Andrea Adelson

          No. 3 Clemson 45, Virginia Tech 10

          Let's just say the Tigers didn't get off to an inspired start against Virginia Tech, struggling to get many plays on offense in the first half as the Hokies controlled the ball and the clock. But Clemson pulled ahead in the second half thanks to a scoop-and-score fumble by Derion Kendrick to put the game out of reach. The 45-10 win clinched Clemson a spot in the ACC championship game for the sixth straight season, where the Tigers eagerly await a rematch with Notre Dame. -- Andrea Adelson

          California 21, No. 23 Oregon 17

          Just two weeks ago, it was fair to question if Oregon had a path to reach the College Football Playoff. Now, after a 21-17 loss to Cal, it's no longer a foregone conclusion the Ducks will even reach a bowl game. Oregon couldn't find any sort of an offensive rhythm all game, especially as it was shut out in the second half as Cal picked up its first win of the season. -- Kyle Bonagura

          No. 18 Coastal Carolina 22, No. 12 BYU 17

          With ESPN's College GameDay on site, the Chanticleers' 22-17 win against No. 13 BYU stands as the biggest win in school history. Mateo Sudipo's game-saving tackle on the final play secured the win on a rare night when college football fans across the county were fixated on Conway, South Carolina. CJ Marable ran for 128 yards as Coastal Carolina's offense had BYU off balance all night.

          The Cougars went to Coastal Carolina with the hopes of improving their stock in the eyes of the College Football Playoff committee. Instead, the Cougars fell a yard shy on the final play of the game and lost both the game and their undefeated record. Not only that, the loss almost assuredly removes BYU from New Year's Six bowl consideration and takes the steam out of quarterback Zach Wilson's Heisman Trophy campaign. -- Kyle Bonagura

          No. 2 Notre Dame 45, Syracuse 21

          A slow start against Syracuse might've raised some eyebrows, but 21 points in the final four minutes of the first half also offered a reminder that the Irish aren't going to lay down without a fight. Ian Book was brilliant once again, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two more. His mobility combined with a ferocious defense makes Notre Dame a legitimate national title threat, but don't overlook the ground game, where Kyren Williams and Chris Tyree combined for 229 yards on 26 carries Saturday. -- David Hale

          Stanford 31, No. 22 Washington 26

          They got close, but the Huskies weren't able to engineer another second-half comeback victory, falling 31-26 at home against Stanford. Even in a year with a limited slate of games, the Pac-12's usual parity has surfaced again. The Huskies began the day as the only undefeated team in the Pac-12 North and still head into next week's rivalry game against Oregon with a chance to win the division. -- Kyle Bonagura

          No. 19 Iowa, 35, Illinois 21

          The Hawkeyes climbed out of an early two-touchdown hole to reel off 35 consecutive points and finish with a two-touchdown victory. Iowa had only 28 yards after the first quarter, but rolled to 396 in the final three quarters. Spencer Petras threw three touchdowns, Tyler Goodson was just a hair short of 100 rushing yards and the defense didn't give up any points in the second half until the reserves were in and the game was well out of reach. -- Sam Khan Jr.

          No. 24 Tulsa 19, Navy 6

          The stout Golden Hurricanes defense showed up again, keeping Navy out of the end zone to win a low-scoring affair. The Tulsa defense finished with five sacks and a whopping 12 tackles for loss. The win earned Tulsa a trip to the American Athletic Conference championship game and consecutive clashes with Cincinnati -- Tulsa will play its regular-season finale against the Bearcats next week, then see them again on Dec. 19 in the AAC title game. -- Sam Khan Jr.

          No. 6 Florida 31, Tennessee 19

          After a sluggish start on offense, Florida cruised to yet another win over Tennessee, clinching a spot in the SEC championship game as the East Division champion. Kyle Trask delivered, throwing four touchdown passes for the seventh time this season to lead all FBS passers. He ended up with over 400 yards passing, becoming the first Florida quarterback with three 400-yard passing games in a single season. Maybe more encouraging is the way the Gators' defense shut down the Vols for the majority of the game and played perhaps its best game on the defensive line. -- Andrea Adelson

          No. 12 Indiana 14, No. 16 Wisconsin 6

          This was the first week Indiana played without starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and Jack Tuttle did exactly what he needed to do in his place. Tuttle didn't turn the ball over and completed 13 of his 22 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Indiana's defense continued to be strong as it has been all season, forcing two turnovers. The Hoosiers have now beaten three ranked teams, the first time they've done that since 1945.

          The Badgers have had a difficult season. They have had three canceled games due to the coronavirus, a 17-7 loss to Northwestern, and now another close loss to Indiana on Saturday. The Hoosiers' defense never let the Badgers get into a flow on offense, and forced Wisconsin into a pair of turnovers. Wisconsin had a chance late, but Indiana made the bigger plays in the end. The Badgers are now 2-2 on the season, and will close out the season at Iowa. -- Harry Lyles Jr.

          No. 9 Iowa State 42, West Virginia 6

          The Cyclones are in the Big 12 championship game for the first time in school history. That was decided early in their game on Saturday once Oklahoma State's loss went final, but the Cyclones played like it was a must-win, dominating West Virginia. Brock Purdy was near perfect, Breece Hall was his usual productive self and the defense held the Mountaineers without a touchdown. Iowa State nearly doubled West Virginia in total yards. -- Sam Khan Jr.

          TCU 29, No. 15 Oklahoma State 22

          Despite forcing five turnovers, including a school-record three forced fumbles from Amen Ogbongbemiga, the Cowboys scored just six points off takeaways. Mike Gundy said the team is down six starters (including Chuba Hubbard) from the beginning of the season and is playing three freshmen on the offensive line. In a seven-point loss, OSU also missed an extra point and two field goals. The Cowboys were officially eliminated from the Big 12 race, a disappointing turn in a promising season that was hampered by injuries. -- Dave Wilson

          No. 4 Ohio State 52, Michigan State 12

          Playing without three starting offensive lineman and linebacker Tuf Borland, a three-time captain, Ohio State made quick work of Michigan State in its return to the field following a COVID-related cancellation. Quarterback Justin Fields was brilliant (199 pass yards, 104 rush yards, four total touchdowns), and running back Trey Sermon, a transfer from Oklahoma, had his best game as a Buckeye (112 yards, 64-yard touchdown). The Buckeyes led 28-0 at halftime, outgaining MSU 270-80, and overcame several errant snaps from center Harry Miller, a converted guard. A defense that struggled against Indiana's passing attack recorded a touchdown by lineman Haskell Garrett and shut out the Spartans for 39:30. -- Adam Rittenberg

          No. 5 Texas A&M 31, Auburn 20

          A week after a frustratingly anemic offensive showing against LSU, the Aggies pushed Auburn around, rushing for 313 yards and controlling the clock for 38:00. Kellen Mond was efficient, going 18-for-23 for 196 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for 60 more. He got the breaks, too, when a would-be interception bounced into Jalen Wydermyer's hands for a touchdown, a fortuitous twist in a game where the Aggies stopped a three-game losing streak to Auburn. All in all, it was a solid, physical performance for a team trying to make a playoff case. -- Dave Wilson

          Rice 20, No. 21 Marshall 0

          The previously 7-0 Thundering Herd looked like a completely different football team in their loss to Rice at home. Quarterback Grant Wells threw five interceptions on the afternoon, something a Marshall quarterback hadn't done since 1995 (Chad Pennington). Marshall became the third team with a record of 7-0 or better to lose by shutout to a team with a losing record, which hadn't happened since 1961. It just wasn't Marshall's week. -- Harry Lyles Jr.

          No. 25 Louisiana 24, App State 21

          The Ragin' Cajuns played in what will probably be the most odd game of the weekend, beating App State for the first time Friday. The one thing you need to know from this game was Louisiana head coach Billy Napier taking a safety from his own 35-yard line to cut App State's deficit to three because of three bad snaps from their long-snapper. It ended up working out, as the Mountaineers missed a game-tying field goal in the final seconds. -- Harry Lyles Jr.

          No. 8 Georgia-Vanderbilt -- postponed

          The Bulldogs wanted Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. Coming off back-to-back wins, with JT Daniels settling in nicely at quarterback, it was going to be Senior Day, and athletic director Greg McGarity didn't hide his frustration on Friday when it was announced that the game was postponed because of COVID-19 cases, contact tracing issues, injuries and opt-outs within the Commodores' football program. Whether the game can be made up on the 19th is even a question. "If we're playing the 19th, that's great, but I think there's some concern if that will be played," McGarity said. "I know Vandy's committed to play. I just hope it develops that way." -- Alex Scarborough

          This close

          The BYU-Coastal Carolina game lived up to all the hype Saturday as the Chanticleers pulled it out against the Cougars, 22-17. How close was the contest between the two undefeated Group of 5 teams? This close:

          Tensions are high

          Players are getting heated in the BYU-Coastal Carolina game.

          Right at home

          Well, the Oregon Duck finally got in the stadium. (Oregon's playing on the road.)

          You hate to see it

          Miles Marshall had an easy touchdown lined up, but he dropped the ball.

          He caught some major air

          Flipping for a first down? Sure, why not.

          Johnson was amped up

          The Buckeyes couldn't help but hype up Larry Johnson after the Buckeyes beat Michigan State.

          And of course, LeBron James needed to chime in about the Ohio State win.

          Texas Fight!

          If there's anything you watch today, watch the Longhorns rally around Derek Kerstetter.

          Where did all his friends go?

          What's Big Bird doing all alone in the stands?

          Nothing's raining on Mizzou's parade

          Missouri beat Arkansas for the fifth time in a row, thanks to a game-winning field goal from Harrison Mevis, and its social team was more than ready to let these end-of-game tweets fly.

          A team win

          Cam Taylor-Britt celebrating Nebraska's win over Purdue will put a smile on your face.

          Big-time plays from the Horned Frogs

          These clutch moments from TCU helped the team secure a win over Oklahoma State. And it doesn't get better than this 71-yard TD and a one-handed interception, just for the style points.

          Are mullets actually in?

          The Chanticleers are making the case the hair trend should come back, and their flow is sparking a creative name for this new-formed matchup with BYU.

          Whatever it takes

          Because sometimes, a park is the only place you can get in a practice.

          Do you even lift, bro?

          Marvin Grant has clearly been getting his reps in.

          Nix has a few tricks up his sleeve

          Bo Nix truly made an unthinkable escape to score this touchdown.

          A little extra motivation

          Missouri's Nick Bolton wasn't too happy about Arkansas claiming to have the "baddest dudes on the field."

          As odd as it gets

          Here's how the Louisiana-App State game ended, and yeah, it was weird.

          East bound and down

          After BYU and Coastal Carolina agreed on Thursday to play this weekend, the Cougars' equipment truck had to make a mad dash, 2,200 miles from Provo, Utah to Conway, South Carolina. They drivers had to leave Wednesday night in case the game was scheduled, so they started a live-tweet cross-country journey with a joke that they were making a run for the border.

          And the end result:

          What a difference a year makes

          Last year, during one of the greatest seasons in college football history, LSU had a massive celebration after beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa. This year, going into the rematch, the Tigers are 3-4. These clips might have gotten some run in film rooms this week for Alabama.

          The sickest of edits

          In the social media wars, Texas A&M's 12th man has been spotted flying high above a canyon to take down an eagle before the Aggies' big game against Auburn. It has been a theme all season long for the graphics team in College Station.

          Back to the couch for Bob

          Former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops was back on the sideline this week in practice due to a coaching shortage from COVID-19 testing, but will be kicking back on Saturdays again after the Sooners had enough coaches back.

          Sign him up

          Notre Dame is having one of its best seasons under Brian Kelly. This momentum has apparently filtered all the way to the Leprechaun.

          Making dad proud

          Mack Brown's daughter, Katherine, went on Jeopardy! and, much like her father's trip to California in '06, she earned the crown.

          Sports, but make it fashion

          Rutgers is wearing its "Black Knight" uniforms, complete with some carbon fiber chrome on the numbers.

          Illinois is wearing a "Gray Ghost" honoring the Red Grange era.

          Clemson, meanwhile, arrived in style for its game at Virginia Tech.