Alabama rolled into the Palace on the Prairie with high hopes and a clear objective. Beat Oklahoma and Auburn and head to Atlanta for the SEC Championship game and the playoffs. Alabama was a 14 point favorite over the down trodden Sooners. Good game plan, but a funny thing happened on the way. The Tide ran across a buzz saw of very hungry, angry Sooners determined not to give up on their disappointing season. Much to the delight of an overflowing raucous crowd the Sooners played the best game of the season, and perhaps the best defensive game since beating Florida State 13-2 for the National Championship in 2000. Needless to say the win soothed a lot of heart ache for Oklahoma players and fans who have suffered through a disappointing debut season in the SEC.  

It was a wild weekend of college football. Alabama was not the only team to suffer a surprising setback. Ole Miss headed to the Swamp with similar hopes only to fall to the Gators 24-17, and Texas A&M traveled to Auburn and came up just short, 43-41 in 4 overtimes. Now the Aggies return to College Station to prepare for the show down with arch rival Texas. Notre Dame walked all over previously unbeaten Army 49-14 to position themselves nicely in the eyes of the CFP committee. Ohio State dominated Indiana and leap frogged Texas for the #2 position in this week's Billingsley Report. Minnesota took Penn State to the wire, but the Nittany Lions prevailed 26-25. Much to the delight of the home crowd Nebraska became Bowl eligible with a 44-25 win over Wisconsin. The Big 12 is all up for grabs after Arizona State sneaked by BYU 28-23 and Colorado fell to a resurgent Kansas 37-21. Iowa State kept pace creating a 4 way tie for the conference lead. Oregon State shocked Washington State 41-38 to win the unofficial Pac 12 Championship with a 1-0 record. 

We are headed into Rivalry Weekend. I approach it with great excitement and great sadness at the same time because it means the season is coming to a close. I'm just not ready for that! Of course we have the championship games, the bowl games and the playoffs to come, but every year it seems to go faster. This weeks projections post Tuesday. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!