The Impact of Late-Stage College Football Games

Nov 19, 2024 at 3:36 AM
As the college football season progresses to its later stages, the significance of each game starts to grow. In Week 12, although not many major upsets occurred, the conference races are starting to take on a more defined shape in late November. To mark this, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit decided to honor a few coaches for their outstanding performances over the weekend. He named seven top-performing coaches from Week 12 of the 2024 season, with almost all coming from power conferences.

ESPN's Coach Recognitions

BYU was on a path to a perfect season and a potential spot in the College Football Playoff. However, Leipold and the Jayhawks had other plans. They traveled to Provo and pulled off an upset against the No. 6 team in the country. The Kansas defense was the star of the night, holding BYU to just 13 points. This victory not only kept their bowl game hopes alive but also improved their record to 4-6.

Florida's Napier has faced a lot of job-related pressure this season. But the announcement that he will be returning for the 2025 season has already started to pay off. On Saturday evening in the Swamp, the Gators celebrated after a big win over LSU. Just like Kansas, Florida still has a chance to make a bowl game, and Herbstreit was impressed with what he saw in Gainesville.

Georgia's Offensive Struggles and Comeback

Many Georgia fans have not been happy with Bobo's performance this season. Despite losing valuable NFL players during the offseason, the offense has had its ups and downs with second-year starter Carson Beck. But a strong performance against Tennessee made a significant difference. Beck looked much more comfortable, and Georgia moved the ball effectively. Bobo's game plan kept the season alive for the Bulldogs.

Arizona State and Kansas State's matchup was not expected to have major implications this season. Even Dillingham admitted that the Sun Devils are ahead of schedule in their rebuild and entered the game with a 7-2 record. Thanks to a road victory, Arizona State is now 8-2, with three forced turnovers and nearly 400 yards of offense. Dillingham is continuing to stack up impressive wins in Tempe.

New Mexico's Upset and Mendenhall's Return

A ranked Washington State team came to New Mexico and left with a second loss of the season. This was a huge win for Mendenhall as he tries to make a big impact in Albuquerque. It's been a long time since New Mexico last beat a ranked team (since 2003) or at home (since 1994). Mendenhall, who was out of coaching for two seasons, has returned and made a strong statement with the Lobos.

South Carolina's SEC Rivalry Victory

In Columbia, SC, a pair of ranked teams faced off, with potential CFP implications. The home team, South Carolina, emerged victorious after a great performance. Beamer was ecstatic after the win, talking about the culture his program has built. It was a complete victory for the Gamecocks in what has become a sneaky rivalry within the SEC.

Stanford's Unexpected Win

Year One in the ACC and Taylor's second year have not gone well for Stanford, entering the weekend with a 1-5 record. Tough trips across the country haven't helped, but Louisville was the latest destination. Out of nowhere, the Cardinal were able to get a win. Emmet Kenney hit a 52-yard field goal with one second remaining after Louisville was driving the other way.