Today: Unfiltered reaction to Week 13, CFP + Bowl projections, the cost of keeping Mike Norvell, and true freshmen of the week.

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NCAA FOOTBALL

Ari Wasserman's unfiltered takes after Week 13: Best vs. most deserving, Notre Dame, Miami, and much more

A lot happens on college football Saturdays. It is hard to keep up with everything. Here's a snapshot of Ari Wasserman's overarching thoughts from the previous weekend, with an eye toward what comes next. Let's keep it going with the latest edition of Unfiltered Takes.

The Notre Dame eye test

Notre Dame is an eye test team. The Irish look good in several of the advanced metrics the CFP Committee uses, but this still comes down to the eye test. It is the idea of choosing "best" over "most deserving." The problem with the eye test is that it should never take precedence over the results. It is easy to believe Notre Dame would beat Miami if they played again, but who cares what anyone thinks? The opinions of fans, analysts, and even the Committee should not override what already happened on the field, even if those games were played in August.

"Most deserving" vs. "best"

There is a lot of talk about the difference between "most deserving" and "best." The problem is that they often overlap. Best is a concept people create, but how valuable is it when the most deserving teams are the ones that won the games they had to win. If a team did not do everything possible to be the most deserving, it is hard to argue it is the best. Win the games on the schedule, regardless of timing or circumstance. If that feels unfair, then it probably is not a strong national championship argument.

Miami

Miami controlled its 34-17 win at Virginia Tech, but a late touchdown pass from Carson Beck to Malachi Toney highlighted where the sport is now. Miami has the same record as Notre Dame and beat the Irish head-to-head, yet Notre Dame remains firmly in the CFP picture while Miami sits outside of it. The current dynamic between the two teams is enough to make anyone uneasy.

Utah

Utah is another eye test team ranked above Miami, despite lacking a single quality win. The Utes have losses to Texas Tech and BYU and came close to losing again on Saturday before a late touchdown lifted them past Kansas State. Utah's struggles could open the door for Miami to inch closer in the rankings.

USC

USC's 42-27 loss at Oregon included elite offense, improved defense, and completely avoidable special teams mistakes that changed the game. Lincoln Riley's team is better than it showed, which makes the undisciplined play even more frustrating. USC will likely finish 9-3, a result that inspires some optimism but also raises questions about the broader direction of the program.

The ACC

The best team in the ACC is Miami. The Hurricanes likely will not play in Charlotte. SMU and Virginia control paths to the title game, and even Duke somehow still has a scenario to sneak in. It has been a chaotic conference that was not particularly strong, but Miami has done enough to make the ACC more likely to earn two CFP bids than the Big 12.

Alabama

Alabama's season has been a roller coaster. It began with a loss to a Florida State team spiraling into dysfunction, surged through a dominant run in the SEC, and then took a hit with a home loss to Oklahoma. Now, Kalen DeBoer is in a must-win situation at Auburn to reach the CFP. It is difficult to imagine the fallout if Alabama stumbles again on Saturday night as just a 5.5-point favorite.

Read all 20 of Wasserman's takes.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF

Brett McMurphy's updated College Football Playoff, bowl projections

With one week left in the regular season, the postseason board is settling, and the window for movement is narrowing. The SEC remains positioned to flood the 12-team field, while Oklahoma and Oregon strengthened already strong at-large cases with convincing wins. The top four avoided turbulence, keeping the playoff picture largely intact entering the final weekend.

The Big Ten still holds key leverage with Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon trending toward inclusion. The SEC can still place four teams if results break correctly. The ACC and Big 12 project as one-bid leagues, while Notre Dame remains the most credible at-large threat. The race for the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion remains tight, with North Texas, SMU, and Tulane clustered together entering rivalry and championship week.

College Football Playoffs

The first round offers stylistic contrast and high-leverage quarterback matchups. North Texas travels to Texas Tech in a clash of tempo and pressure. Alabama heads to Oklahoma in a game that could swing on defensive consistency. SMU visits Oregon, where balance and physicality tilt toward the Ducks. Notre Dame's trip to Ole Miss stands as one of the most evenly matched pairings of the opening weekend.

The quarterfinals form a heavyweight grid. Ohio State meets Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl in a game built on blue-blood history. Texas A&M faces Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, while Indiana and Oregon collide in the Cotton Bowl in a matchup with national validation at stake. Georgia and Texas Tech meet in the Orange Bowl, pairing contrasting identities and unpredictable momentum.

McMurphy's projection again leads to Ohio State and Texas A&M advancing to Miami for the national title, with the Aggies positioned to complete a breakthrough season.

Bowl projections

Gasparilla Bowl: Florida State vs. USF
Pinstripe Bowl: Pitt vs. Penn State
Gator Bowl: Miami vs. LSU
Music City Bowl: Vanderbilt vs. Illinois
ReliaQuest Bowl: Tennessee vs. Iowa
Citrus Bowl: Texas vs. Michigan
Las Vegas Bowl: Nebraska vs. Utah
Duke's Mayo Bowl: Missouri vs. Wake Forest

Read McMurphy's full projections.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Staples: Keeping Mike Norvell might cost Florida State a fortune in the long run

Florida State did not save $60 million by keeping Mike Norvell. The school simply nudged a massive financial obligation slightly down the road, and the administration is about to learn how apathy can undo the math. By keeping Norvell, Florida State avoided paying his $58.4 million buyout, but that does not mean those dollars are now free to fund roster upgrades. Unless Norvell engineers a complete turnaround and coaches through 2031, the Seminoles did not save anything close to that figure.

Norvell is 7-16 overall and 3-13 in ACC play since signing a huge contract extension after the 2023 season. That record would be fireable at a middle-tier ACC program, let alone one with national title expectations. Yet Florida State locked in a coach at an eight-figure salary and now faces the consequences. The Seminoles are betting on a miracle turnaround, but Florida offers a cautionary tale. The Gators kept Billy Napier because they believed in late-season momentum, only to watch him regress and eventually get fired amid a disastrous 2025. The buyout savings proved minimal once lost donations were factored in, and the delay may have cost Florida its preferred replacement.

If Florida State struggles again and fires Norvell after 2026, the payout would be $48.7 million plus the $10.3 million salary he will earn that year. The only true savings from keeping him now amount to about $9.7 million. Similar scenarios played out with Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M, where officials ultimately accepted that an expensive move would be expensive regardless of timing. A&M had the financial muscle to absorb the blow. Florida State does not.

The school also faces additional costs. If the offense needs a reset, firing coordinator Gus Malzahn would cost $4.5 million unless he leaves voluntarily. Board chair Peter Collins promised structural changes to the football operation, which signals an expanded front office with NFL-style hires that command seven-figure salaries. Even previous givebacks from Norvell were contractually structured to be repaid if he were fired later.

None of this includes potential losses from declining donations and season-ticket renewals. That erosion of passion could outweigh any perceived savings. Fans were furious after the loss at N.C. State. Anger still signals engagement. After Sunday's decision, many likely feel nothing at all. That apathy may become far more costly than the buyout Florida State believes it avoided.

Read the full story from Andy Staples.

🚨Headlines

NCAA FOOTBALL

True Freshman Standouts from Week 13 of College Football

In the penultimate week of the regular season, several true freshmen delivered standout performances on major stages. With postseason races tightening and pressure rising, these first-year players continued to show poise and playmaking ability well beyond their experience level. From explosive offensive outings to steady defensive efforts, Week 13 featured true freshmen making late-season statements.

True Freshman of the Week: QB Deuce Knight – Auburn

Deuce Knight made his long-awaited first career start and immediately showed why he was one of the most physically gifted quarterbacks in the 2025 cycle. Knight sparked Auburn's offense in a 62-17 win over Mercer, completing 15 of 20 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and adding 162 rushing yards and four scores on nine carries. He showcased his athleticism on the first play from scrimmage with a 75-yard touchdown run and added a 51-yard score later in the first quarter. Knight also flashed his arm talent with a back-shoulder strike to Cam Coleman and a 91-yard touchdown to Malcolm Simmons. The Mississippi native provided a clear glimpse of his elite physical tools and offered Auburn fans plenty of optimism moving forward.

RB Ja'Kyrian Turner – Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh's true freshman backfield powered a 42-28 upset win over No. 15 Georgia Tech, with Ja'Kyrian Turner rushing for 201 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Turner showed burst, speed to the second level, and surprising power, highlighted by a 51-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory.

WR Malachi Toney – Miami

Malachi Toney delivered again in Miami's 34-17 win over Virginia Tech, finding space, generating yards after the catch, and adding another trick-play completion. He capped his day with a contested touchdown on fourth and two, pushing his season total to 844 receiving yards, the most among all true freshmen.

WR Tanook Hines – USC

Tanook Hines was a bright spot in USC's loss at No. 7 Oregon, catching six passes for 141 yards and a touchdown and flashing body control on a double-pass score.

CB Kade Phillips – Texas

Kade Phillips stood out in Texas' 52-37 win over Arkansas, allowing just nine yards on five targets with two breakups and steady tackling. His blend of size and athleticism anchors a promising young cornerback duo for the Longhorns.

Read the full story from Charles Power.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

I was the No. 7-ranked recruit in the nation in the 2016 class, and made an immediate impact at Ohio State, playing in all 13 games as a true freshman and recording five sacks.
In my sophomore season, I became a unanimous first-team All-Big Ten selection and won the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Award after leading the Buckeyes with seven sacks.
My 2018 junior season opened with a two-sack performance against Oregon State, but surgery forced me to withdraw from school and prepare for the 2019 NFL Draft, where I became a top pick.

Answer at the bottom.

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