Hand-to-hand combat with the setting up of flags. Jawing trainer. Fans with tears in their eyes. Shocking surprises. And this year results with playoff implications!

Welcome to Rivalry Week in the expanded College Football Playoff era.

Ohio State’s stunning loss to Michigan was just the start of a wild day in sports. Another playoff contender, Miami, lost to Syracuse in a loss that could cost the Hurricanes a CFP spot and keep Clemson’s playoff hopes alive. UM’s loss sends the Tigers to the ACC Championship Game against SMU, despite their loss to South Carolina, which kept their own hopes of remaining in the CFP bubble alive.

Georgia, which faces Texas in the SEC championship game, needed eight overtimes Friday night to beat rival Georgia Tech and likely punch its ticket — win or lose against the Horns. Arizona State defeated Arizona to reach the Big 12 title game in Kenny Dillingham’s second season, and Penn State edged out Maryland early for a surprise trip to the Big Ten championship game.

Notre Dame survived its trip to USC and is now in position to host a first-round playoff game. Curt Cignetti’s Indiana Hoosiers defeated their in-state rival Purdue 66-0 and should also feel comfortable within the 12-team CFP.

Tennessee stormed back from a 14-0 deficit at Vanderbilt to likely secure its CFP ticket. Meanwhile, Boise State and UNLV won and set up a Mountain West championship game that effectively serves as a CFP play-in game.

Did you understand all of that? If not, here’s a quick overview of the playoff picture based on our estimates and the CFP Committee’s latest rankings:

Castles

– SEC: Texas, Tennessee, Georgia

– Big Ten: Penn State, Oregon, Ohio State

– Independent: Notre Dame

– Big 12 title game winner: Arizona State or Iowa State

– ACC title game winner: SMU or Clemson

– MWC title game winner: Boise or UNLV

bubble

– Big Ten: Indiana

– ACC: SMU, Miami

– SEC: Alabama, Ole Miss, South Carolina

– AAC title game winner: Army or Tulane

And now to the top 10!

1. Oregon Ducks

This week: Beat Washington 49-21

Next week: vs. Penn State (Big Ten Championship)

The Ducks completed their first perfect regular season since 2010 and did so in spectacular fashion, defeating the rival Huskies and cementing their place at the top of the rankings. They are the only undefeated team in FBS and will be assured of the No. 1 seed in the playoffs with a win over the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten title game.

2. Texas Longhorns

This week: Beat Texas A&M 17-7

Next week: vs. Georgia (SEC Championship)

QB Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns let the Aggies come back to their rivalry matchup many times in an ugly second half. Ewers threw a pick-6 and lost a fumble — both in the red zone — and Texas had a punt blocked. But it didn’t matter. The Longhorns defense flexed its muscles in front of more than 100,000 players at Kyle Field. The Aggies didn’t break the 250-yard mark.

3. Penn State Nittany Lions

This week: Defeat Maryland 44-7

Next week: vs. Oregon (Big Ten Championship)

After a home loss to Ohio State on November 2nd, coach James Franklin and the Nittany Lions seemed largely written off. Less than a month later, the Buckeyes’ loss to the Wolverines gave Penn State its first Big Ten title game since 2016. At stake: a first-round bye in the playoffs and, of course, the Big Ten crown.

4. Notre Dame battles Irish

This week: Beat USC 49-35

Next week: None

Marcus Freeman’s team played its first game outside of Indiana State since the season opener. The result was a commanding victory over the Trojans and a 10th straight victory that likely secures Notre Dame a playoff spot. According to the committee’s latest rankings, it’s likely the Irish will even host a game. Could they host Ohio State or Indiana in a first-round matchup? It’s certainly possible.

5. Georgia Bulldogs

This week: Beat Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes

Next week: vs. Texas (SEC Championship)

Here’s a survival if ever there was one. The Bulldogs trailed 17-0, 20-6 and 27-13 before storming back to tie the game at 27-27 and send it into a never-ending overtime period. While Georgia won in the eighth OT period, the performance cast more doubt on UGA’s ability to be an elite playoff team. Maybe no team in the SEC is elite? It is possible!

6. SMU Mustangs

This week: Beat Cal 38-6

Next week: vs. Clemson (ACC Championship Game)

The Mustangs are continuing their winning streak since switching quarterback from Preston Stone to Kevin Jennings. They have won nine straight since Jennings took charge in Game 4, seven of them by at least two points. In their first year in the league, Rhett Lashlee’s team is capable of winning the league and earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. Remarkable.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes

This week: Lost 13-10 to Michigan

Next week: None

At home. A 19.5 point favorite. A trip to the Big Ten Championship is on the line. It seemed like everything was in place for the Buckeyes to end their three-game losing streak against their arch-rival. And yet the Wolverines and their stout defense stifled Ohio State’s $20 million squad in a madcap game that threatened coach Ryan Day’s job and his team’s playoff chances.

8. Tennessee Volunteers

This week: Beat Vanderbilt 36-23

Next week: None

The Vols rallied from a 14-0 deficit against the Commodores and are now in perhaps the best position of any SEC team entering the playoffs. They sit at home while Georgia and Texas face off in a top-10 matchup in Atlanta. Additionally, Josh Heupel’s program could also host a first-round playoff game.

9. Indiana Hoosiers

This week: Beat Purdue 66-0

Next week: None

If anyone thought Curt Cignetti’s team wouldn’t recover from its loss to Ohio State, they were quickly proven wrong on Saturday night. Indiana led the hapless Boilermakers 21-0 after a quarter and a half, finished the regular season 11-1 in Cignetti’s first year and, in all likelihood, secured a playoff spot.

10. Arizona State Sun Devils

This week: Beat Arizona 49-7

Next week: vs. Iowa State (Big 12 Championship)

The Cam Skattebo Show went to Tucson for its latest performance: 21 carries, 177 yards and three touchdowns. He had at least 100 yards in five of the last seven games and coach Kenny Dillingham’s group punched its ticket to the Big 12 title game with a fifth straight win.

Dropped out: Miami (8)