Seven unbeatens went on the road this weekend in college football and three remained perfect.
But four of those previously unblemished teams, Nebraska, Baylor, West Virginia and Boise State fell for the first time on what can be described as "Shake Up Saturday" just before the first College Football Playoff rankings are unveiled Tuesday night.
Here are my five winners and losers from this weekend.
WINNERS
1. Clemson
The Tigers haven't looked like the same juggernaut this season that reached the national championship game last year, but Saturday's 37-34 win at Florida State kept them a perfect 8-0 and in position for a return trip to the playoff. Deshaun Watson threw for 430 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning 34-yard strike to Jordan Leggett with 2:06 to go giving Clemson control of the ACC Atlantic division.
2. Washington
I'm still not sure the Huskies belong in the elite discussion with Alabama, Clemson or Michigan, but they are a perfect 8-0 and on top of the PAC-12 after a 31-24 victory at Utah. Dante Pettis's 58-yard punt return for a touchdown with 3:25 to play gave Washington the win and should secure its spot in the top four Tuesday night.
3. Virginia Tech
The Hokies won at Pittsburgh for the first time in 17 years Thursday night, improving to 6-2 on the year. Quarterback Jerod Evans shook off a gimpy ankle to throw for a career-high 406 yards and two touchdown to put Virginia Tech in control of the ACC Coastal in Justin Fuente's fist year as head coach.
4. Craig Bohl
After winning three consecutive FCS championships at North Dakota State, Bohl took over a struggling Wyoming program. The Cowboys went just 6-18 in his first two years in Laramie, but this season are 6-2 and Saturday night's upset of no. 13 Boise State moved them to 4-0 in the Mountain West Conference.
5. Western Michigan
The biggest beneficiary of Wyoming's upset of Boise State is Western Michigan, which now might row the boat all the way to a New Year's Six bowl game. P.J. Fleck's Broncos are unbeaten, have two wins over Big Ten teams (Northwestern and Illinois) and should be favored in their remaining games.
LOSERS
1. Big 12
The weakest of the power five conferences this year was all but officially eliminated from the playoff race Saturday when its last remaining unbeatens both fell in road games. Eighth-ranked Baylor fell on a late field goal at Texas 35-34 and no. 10 West Virginia was handled 37-20 at Oklahoma State. The Big 12's best team once again looks like Oklahoma, but after losing to Houston and Ohio State decisively in September the Sooners seemingly have no shot to be included in the playoff field.
2. Butch Jones
Jones has a talented and experienced team in his fourth season at the school and the SEC East is mediocre at best. Yet, for some reason, the Vols haven't been able to put it all together. Tennessee rallied from double digit deficits four times in a 5-0 start to the season, but ran out of gas in losses to top 10 foes Texas A&M and Alabama. On Saturday, the slow starts finally caught up with Tennessee in a 24-21 upset loss at South Carolina that pretty much ends its division title hopes. A huge disappointment in what was supposed to be the Vols' breakthrough year.
3. Nebraska
The Cornhuskers actually played well in a primetime showdown at no. 11 Wisconsin, but the 23-17 overtime loss drops them from the ranks of the unbeatens and severely hurts their chances of winning the Big Ten West. Meanwhile, the two loss Badgers seem to be the team to beat in the division and should be a stiff foe for Michigan or whoever comes out of the East in Indianapolis.
4. N.C. State
Two weeks ago the Wolfpack should've beaten Clemson in Death Valley if it wasn't for a missed chip shot field goal. Now the Wolfpack are on a three-game losing streak after following that near miss up with a blowout loss at Louisville and a 21-14 loss to Boston College Saturday. Considering the Eagles hadn't won an ACC game in two years, Dave Doeren's life in Raleigh just got a little bit more rocky.
5. Brandon Hatfield
You could pick on a college kicker every week if you wanted to, but the TCU kicker falls on to this dubious list after missing three field goals in a double overtime loss to Texas Tech. Hatfield's final miss was a shanked 40-yarder that fluttered low off the ground and never had a chance from the left hash mark. His kick fluttered straight ahead and opened the door for the Red Raiders to win with a field goal, giving Kliff Kingsbury a much needed Big 12 victory.
