To say that this past weekend was the greatest weekend of regular season college football in the BCS era is an understatement. Between thrilling finishes in which heavily favored teams barely survived rival opponents to the most unbelievable finish in football history (I mean of all-time),  the 2013 edition of rivalry week reminded us all why there is no sport like college football in terms of the emotion and passion evoked from fans and is indelible proof that anything can happen between the sidelines.

On a national landscape, not even the most devoted Michigan faithful could have predicted what went down in Ann Arbor early Saturday afternoon. I say this because I have relatives who are devout Wolverine fans, and the most optimistic response I received at Thanksgiving was that Big Blue might keep it within two touchdowns. What happened? Devin Gardner happened. Even in defeat, the Michigan put in as gutsy an effort as any player in the country totaling 461 yards on a bum ankle. In my humble opinion as an armchair quarterback, I think Brady Hoke made the right choice going for the regulation victory. Michigan’s defense would not have stopped a nosebleed, much less Carlos Hyde and Braxton Miller. That said, I disagreed with the play call, In and 99% of America would have liked to see Michigan come out with a different look out of the timeout rather than sticking with the same look that cause the Buckeyes to call timeout. Nonetheless, Saturday proved in my mind that Ohio State would get massacred by FSU and Bama, and would at least get beaten by Auburn and Mizzou. Ohio State’s rushing attack is as impressive as Auburn’s, but you can not tell me that Jameis Winston would not throw for approximately 1000 yards against the Buckeyes atrocious pass defense (Why did Vonn Bell go there again?)

Then came the Oregon game in which neither side of the Civil War wanted to play defense in the 4th quarter. Oregon’s season has to be labeled a disappointment as they have descended from BCS title contenders to a simply good team. Think they miss Chip Kelly yet?

And let’s pause and have a nice, long round of applause for Duke, who of course is headed by former Tennessee Offensive Coordinator David Cutcliffe. Granted, there is a high likelihood that the Blue Devils get annihilated by Florida State in the ACC title game, but still, Duke winning 10 games is simply astounding and Cutcliffe would be an absolute lock for national coach of the year if it were not for the absolute insanity going down on the Plains of Auburn right now.

Per usual, this college football season was chocked full of the unexpected, but I would venture to say that given the nature of the previous weekend, this season has been as unpredictable as any. This final edition of the BCS system as we know it has given us a cluster*&%$ that I think every college football fan can appreciate.

After a Thanksgiving week hiatus, here’s the final regular season SEC Power Rankings.

1. Auburn

Past Week: OMG THEY BEAT BAMA

This Week: ATL for the SEC championship

There are years where certain teams in America just carry that vibe of being a team of destiny. Take 1998 Tennessee (Stoerner fumble) plus 2009 Bama (Tennessee fans know what happened) and then multiply that by 1000 and you have what has happened to the “Gus Bus” and his rag-tag band of Tigers this season. The miracle at Jordan-Hare did not even have 2 weeks of glory before an even more improbable play happened. How improbable is it to win a game on a missed field goal returned for a touchdown? Try never been done before in the HISTORY of college football, or any football for that matter (that I know of). Give credit where credit is due, the Tigers ran right down Alabama’s throats just like they did to every other team this year and quarterback Nick Marshall made the throws when he had to. Gus Malzahn also had the foresight to stick the speedy Chris Davis to return a potential missed field goal. Oh, and also credit Malzahn with out-coaching the greatest coach to grace college football in three decades (and possibly more). He had his team prepared to win and despite adversity, they found a way to win and Malzahn did not crumble under the pressure of a National Championship berth unlike his more experienced and well-credentialed counterpart.

2. Alabama

Last Week: Rammer Jamme….Oh wait they lost

This Week: Sitting home crying and creating bitter petitions

Make no mistake college football fans, Nick Saban lost this game. There is no other way around it, the greatest college coach of my lifetime (in terms of on-field results) completely screwed his own team over. What’s even funnier than Saban screwing up and not having the wherewithal to own up to it? Bama fans’ reactions. They truly think that their team is God’s gift to football and that Saturday’s result was a job called in by the SEC to rob their precious Tide of their opportunity for a third straight national championship (although I’d bet on them trying to claim one at the end of the year).

Bama Bashing aside, Saban’s 4th quarter decision-making looked like the decisions a coach on the hot-seat would make rather than a guy coming off two consecutive National Titles. If he was going to replace the kicker, why not earlier, if a guy can theoretically make a 60 yarder (as Saban proclaimed in the post-game presser) he should be money for 30- yarders, specially given Cade Foster’s history of being a head case (LSU 2011). Why go for it on 4th and 1 at the Auburn 12 when you could have gone up 10 points? And finally, HOW IN THE HECK DO YOU DECIDE THAT A 57 YARD FIELD GOAL ATTEMPT BY A FRESHMAN WITH YOUR SEASON AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE IS THE LOGICAL DECISION? Everybody knows that field goals can be returned for touchdowns if they fall short, and I do not care if your kicker is good from 80 yards, 57 yards is a long way and there is a more-than-good chance that that kick will fall short.

Anyway Bama failed. It is someone else’s turn to take home the crystal ball.

3. Mizzou

Last Week: Won 28-21 over Texas A&M

This week: Journey to Atlanta to take on some other Tigers

The Tigers stymied Johnny Football and a clutch 4th quarter Henry Josey touchdown run powered the SEC’s northern-most Tigers to the SEC Eastern Division title and on a journey to Atlanta. Now they get to take on one of the other SEC’s Tigers in what should be an extremely competitive game. Gary Pinkel’s Tigers have the playmakers on both sides of the ball to win this game and find themselves in the Sugar Bowl, or more if the right breaks happen for them in other conference championship games. The balance of Mizzou’s offense with James Franklin at the helm makes the Tigers extremely hard to game plan against given that they can beat you in so many ways. The key match up in this game will be whether Mizzou’s front seven can handle the Auburn rushing attack that gets its production from a plethora of personnel and looks. Regardless of what happens in the other conference championship games, the SEC Championship is always must-see television and I fully expect this one to be as competitive as any.

4. South Carolina

Last Week: Beat Clemson…again

This Week: On the couch because they lost to the VOLS

Spurrier could not have said it any better; for some reason when Clemson plays South Carolina, the Tigers do not play their best football. South Carolina did what they usually do against Dabo Swinney’s team. The Gamecocks played a solid four quarters and Clemson eventually wilted. It’s the same script that has played over and over during the last 5 years. As great as Tajh Boyd’s career has been, the 0-for-his-career mark against the team from Columbia definitely puts an asterisk next to him in terms of greatness.

5. LSU

Last Week: Won 31-27 over Arkansas

This Week: Watching TV 

The Bayou Bengals were the beneficiaries of some “Death Valley” magic when freshman quarterback Anthony Jennings’ 49-yard touchdown pass landed safely in the arms of Travin Dural with a little more than a minute to play. Granted it was Arkansas, but LSU did avoid an absolutely embarrassing loss in a mildly disappointing season. Now the Tigers await the weekend of conference championships to see where they land for bowl season.

6a. Texas A&M

Last Week: Lost 28-21 to Mizzou

This Week: at home

Johnny Manziel’s potentially last regular season game was a disappointing one as his offense failed to get on track for the second week in a row and his defense did what it had done all year and that is give up points and rushing plays in bunches. It will be interesting to see the Aggies’ direction next year post-Manziel and they will have major pieces to replace on offense and returns a defense that simply did not play well together this year.

6b. UGA

Last Week: Won 41-34 over Ga. Tech

This Week: On the couch

Todd Grantham and the Georgia defense tried their best to hand the yellow jackets their second win in the series since George O’Leary was roaming the sidelines on the Flats. Yet Georgia Tech and their high school offense could not take enough advantage of UGA’s slow start. Hutson Mason did a more-than admirable job in the wake of Aaron Murray’s ACL injury and then Todd Gurley did that thing where he just runs straight through the defense like a knife against hot butter. What is funny about the Bulldogs this year is that Grantham will probably be retained despite a ppg average that is almost 5 points worse than the 2009 season where UGA fired Willie Martinez mid season.

8. Vandy

Last Week: Beat Wake Forest 23-21 in front of about 10,000 people

This Week: Building a shrine to James Franklin as he is not the new USC coach

The Commodores looked bad against Wake, but found a way to win. Which falls in line with their wins over UGA, Florida, and Tennessee. This team would not be bowl eligible were it not for Jordan Matthews, who continues to produce elite numbers despite facing defenses who completely gameplan to shut him down. The 4th down catch he hauled in between two Wake defenders on Vandy’s game-winning drive is the stuff of legends if he played for a program that actually had fans. They survived one of college football’s new job openings when USC elected to go with Steve Sarkisian as coach instead of Jimmy Franklin. It will be interesting to see if another coaching job comes open that has enough prestige and potential to lure him away from Nashville.

9. Mississippi State

Last Week: won 17-10 over Ole Miss

This Week: Watching TV

Dan Mullen somehow pulled this team back from the dead and to bowl eligibility and that deserves some kudos. Unfortunately, beating Ole Miss may be as high as this program can rise for the simple the fact that recruiting enough elite talent to Starkville to compete with the big boys seems to be an impossible task.

10. Ole Miss

Last Week: Lost 17-10 to Miss State

This Week: Watching TV

I am struggling to comprehend just how the Rebel Black Bears managed to lose to the SEC’s lesser Bulldogs. They have a clear talent edge over Dan Mullen’s program and this is the type of loss that can cast a shadow on what could have been a solid season for Hugh Freeze to keep building the Ole Miss program on.

11. Tennessee

Last Week: Beat Kentucky 27-14

This Week: Possibly finishing up their recruiting class

The Vols rebounded from last week’s disappointing loss to Vandy to score their first road win since 2010 and their first win outside of the state of Tennessee (not counting the Chikfila kickoff against NC State) since 2009. Josh Dobbs combined for three touchdowns to get a performance that he and the team can genuinely build upon as the Vols head into a spring practice with a wide open quarterback competition. The Vols also finished with their best season on the ground since 2004. The onus on next year will be replacing a touted (though inconsistent) offensive line. The Vols return playmakers at all the skill positions and are adding a bevy of newcomers who provide upgrades in athleticism and ability. So the development along the offensive line will be key to continued improvement on that side of the ball in 2014. On defense the Vols lose the majority of their defensive line, but the fact is, their front 4 rarely was able to generate pass rush against quality competition and it is hard to imagine them struggling any worse next year in terms of pressuring the quarterback. The South Carolina win gave Butch Jones a win to point at as early return on his improving the program. The next step is finding a way to the program’s first bowl game in more than 3 years in 2014.

12. Florida

Last Week: Well… at least they didn’t lost to Georgia Southern

This Week: Trying to recruit and find a new offensive coordinator

Will Muschamp appears to be safe in his job for one more year, however the Gators announced that they are on the market for a new offensive coordinator and new offensive line coach.  The question is: How do they expect to hire a proven offensive coordinator when there is a decent chance next year is Muschamp’s last year in Gainesville? Tennessee fans are familiar with this situation as this was when the Vols hired Sal Sunseri to replace the departed Justin Wilcox to help out Derek Dooley. Everybody in the country knows how that turned out for the Vols.

13. Kentucky

Last Week Week: Lost 27-14 to the Vols

This Week: Watching basketball

Mark Stoops Wildcats’ tried against the Vols, but they just are not very good at the game of football. Better luck next year.

14. Arkansas

Last Week: #karma

This Week: They are also watching TV

I can now guarantee that Arkansas will not lose for the rest of 2013! Seriously though, the Razorbacks have Alex Collins to look forward to for the next couple of years. Other than that this team will probably again be wretchedly bad next year and probably the year after that.. and after that… and after that… and then they maybe fire Bret Bielema once they figure out he’s Saban style of football and Saban level of fun without the wins.

Questions? Feel free to leave a comment or holler at me on twitter @thomasduggins