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College Football Playoff Rankings 2017: Projected top four after Week 13

By Brad Weiss

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first quarter of the game on November 25, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - NOVEMBER 25: Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers calls a play at the line of scrimmage against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first quarter of the game on November 25, 2017 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN, AL – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Gus Malzahn of the Auburn Tigers celebrates after the victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL – NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Gus Malzahn of the Auburn Tigers celebrates after the victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
2

Auburn Tigers (10-2)

Last week: W 26-14 vs. Alabama
Last rank: NR

In the biggest win of Week 13 of the college football season, the Auburn Tigers slayed the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl. The Tigers were definitely the hotter team coming into the game, although they were listed as a home underdog. With the win, Auburn has now beaten the No. 1 team in the country twice in the last three weeks, as they clinched the SEC West title in front of a packed crowd on Saturday.

Watching the Iron Bowl, one thing was very clear, and that’s the Auburn Tigers were the better team on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham was very precise in his passing, not turning the ball over through the air, and made some tough throws against a very good Alabama secondary. The real hero, however, was running back Kerryon Johnson, who could not finish the game due to an apparent arm injury.

Prior to being knocked out in the fourth quarter, Johnson dominated the Crimson Tide defense, rushing for over 100 yards. In addition, Johnson found the end zone not only with his feet but also his arm, as he had himself a Darren McFadden-style jump-pass touchdown to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Johnson’s third-quarter touchdown run gave the Tigers the lead for good, and they will now head into the SEC Championship Game controlling their own destiny.

The Tigers opponent in the SEC title game will be Georgia, whom they destroyed three weeks ago by the score of 40-17. The loss of Johnson is huge, and if he cannot go, it will be very hard for them to do what they do on offense without their best weapon in the backfield. Win or lose next Saturday, this has been an incredible run for the Tigers, who were left for dead after losing their second game of the season five games ago, but have looked like a juggernaut since that loss to LSU back on October 16.

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