College football has certainly lived up to our expectations. Huge recent losses from two of the top four teams and several top-25 match-ups shook up the College Football Playoff Rankings.

Thanks to former No. 1 Georgia’s collapse, Alabama jumped to the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Crimson Tide took advantage of a last-minute touchdown to defeat No. 16 Mississippi State 31-24 and stay undefeated on the season. The Tide battled hard after trailing for much of the game, and the Alabama defense stepped up when it mattered, allowing only a field goal in the fourth quarter.

Alabama will end their regular season on the road against conference rival Auburn, who is riding a big wave of confidence. Despite a relatively weak schedule so far, Alabama will most likely remain at the No. 1 spot if they can fend off Auburn and eventually Georgia in the SEC championship game.

Clemson rolled to a 31-14 win over Florida State, improving to 9-1 on the year. Clemson was rewarded with a rise to the No. 2 spot in the rankings after both Georgia and Notre Dame were dismantled by their opposition. The Tigers came up big on both sides of the ball as clutch plays proved pivotal to the victory. A fourth quarter interception from Van Smith pushed the momentum in Clemson’s favor for good. Freshman Travis Etienne broke free for a big run after the takeaway and eventually finished with 97 rushing yards and two touchdowns. When the final seconds trickled off the clock, the Tigers claimed the ACC Atlantic Division title, securing a spot in the ACC championship against the Miami Hurricanes on December 2. For Head Coach Dabo Swinney, this is the fifth time in nine seasons he has lead Clemson to the conference title game.

Georgia’s playoff hopes took a big hit after the Bulldogs were embarrassed in a 40-17 loss to Auburn. They fell flat on both sides of the ball, producing just 230 yards to Auburn’s 488. The Auburn defensive front smothered the Georgia run game, holding them to just 46 yards, well below their average of 279. Despite their painful loss, Georgia can remain in playoff contention if they run the table and beat an undefeated Alabama team in the SEC Championship game.

Notre Dame ran into a meat grinder, being demolished 41-8 by an old rival in Miami. After being favored entering the contest, Notre Dame walked off the field stunned by the outcome. An elite Miami defense, failure to keep the opposition from moving the chains and a rowdy Miami crowd proved too much for the Fighting Irish as they watched their playoff chances take a massive blow.

Notre Dame’s offense was highly inefficient, totaling just 253 yards along with four turnovers. The defense did not do them any favors either, surrendering 41 points in the beatdown. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it looks like Notre Dame’s playoff hopes are dead.

As the college football season nears an end, heavyweight contenders for the title emerge. Alabama and Clemson showed they belonged producing clutch victories while Georgia and Notre Dame flopped in their prime time matchups. When the National Championship concludes, the difference between a true contender and a wannabe may be linked to these key contests.