— Week 12 of the 2025 college football season delivered a loaded Saturday slate, featuring multiple ranked-versus-ranked matchups and several games with College Football Playoff implications. Key windows included Notre Dame at Pittsburgh in the early window, Michigan at Northwestern at Wrigley Field, and a prime-time lineup led by Texas at Georgia and No. 1 Ohio State vs. UCLA. Several contests were in progress or settled by midafternoon, with Indiana improving to 11-0 and marquee starts producing notable injuries and statistical milestones.
Key takeaways
- Indiana improved to 11-0 with a 31-7 victory over Wisconsin; QB Fernando Mendoza threw his 30th passing TD of the season and completed 22 of 24 for 299 yards and four TDs.
- No. 18 Michigan led Northwestern 21-9 at the end of the third quarter, with RB Jordan Marshall rushing for 113 yards and two TDs on 16 carries as of that update.
- Top-3 upset alert: No. 3 Texas A&M trailed South Carolina 30-3 at halftime in College Station and 30-17 early in the third quarter after two Aggie TD drives.
- LSU ruled QB Garrett Nussmeier out vs. Arkansas due to an abdominal injury; Michael Van Buren was announced as the starter.
- Marcel Reed, Texas A&M’s QB, had multiple turnovers in the first half (two interceptions and a fumble) that led directly to South Carolina points.
- High-stakes matchups across the afternoon and evening — including Oklahoma at Alabama and Texas at Georgia — carried clear CFP implications for multiple one- and two-loss teams.
Background
Week 12 represents a late-season crucible in the expanded College Football Playoff era: with conference races narrowing and an enlarged 12-team field, many programs face near-elimination matchups. The November 15 slate paired 22 teams that appeared in the latest CFP rankings, creating a compressed window for résumé-building and potential bubble shakeups heading into conference championships.
Historically, late-November nonconference and crossover games can swing committee thinking, especially when power-conference teams meet. The SEC and Big Ten remain central to the debate this season — multiple unbeaten or one-loss teams in those leagues can still be displaced by a single loss, while out-of-conference defeats complicate playoff calculus. Coaches, committees and bettors alike watch Week 12 more closely than most midseason weekends because of those downstream effects.
Main event (selected game developments)
Michigan at Northwestern (Wrigley Field): After a tight first half the Wolverines began to separate in the third quarter, reaching a 21-9 advantage by the end of the period. Michigan’s ground game keyed the swing, with Jordan Marshall producing explosive runs and setting the tone; Northwestern’s passing game was unable to sustain drives, with low completion rates and limited rushing production hampering the Wildcats’ comeback chance.
Indiana vs. Wisconsin (Bloomington): Fernando Mendoza capped a dominant afternoon, breaking Indiana’s single-season passing TD record by throwing his 30th score en route to a 31-7 victory. Mendoza’s nearly flawless line (22-for-24, 299 yards, four TDs) pushed the Hoosiers to an 11-0 mark and intensified Heisman chatter around the transfer signal-caller.
Texas A&M vs. South Carolina (College Station): The Aggies, previously unbeaten and ranked No. 3, endured a chaotic first half in which turnovers and special-teams miscues yielded a 30-3 halftime deficit. South Carolina converted Aggie errors into points repeatedly, while Texas A&M relied on late third-quarter touchdown drives to reduce the margin. The momentum swing left A&M in a precarious position for its remaining schedule.
Notre Dame at Pittsburgh: The Fighting Irish struck early with a long run by Jeremiyah Love and an opportunistic pick-six that put Notre Dame ahead by two scores in the first quarter. Pitt’s coach framed the matchup as nonconference, but the result carried tangible CFP ripple effects for both sides, particularly for the Panthers’ résumé-building opportunities at 7-2.
LSU vs. Arkansas (Baton Rouge): Interim coach Frank Wilson announced Garrett Nussmeier would not play due to a practice-aggravated abdominal injury; Michael Van Buren started in relief. The surprise absence required LSU to rely on a less-experienced starter in a game with bowl and conference positioning implications.
Analysis & implications
Indiana’s win and Mendoza’s record have immediate and medium-term consequences. An 11-0 Hoosiers team entering a bye week strengthens its conference title positioning and creates a clearer path toward a high CFP seed — provided Mendoza’s efficiency holds through the regular season and into any postseason appearance. Statistically, Mendoza’s 30 TD passes and 2,641 season yards reflect an offense that has tightened execution in recent weeks.
Texas A&M’s collapse in the first half against South Carolina exacerbates questions about turnover management and offensive protection under pressure. Marcel Reed’s early turnovers (two interceptions and a fumble) converted into 17 points for South Carolina; in modern committee evaluation, such visible flaws can weigh heavily against a previously undefeated résumé. A&M facing a potential first loss this late in the season would complicate SEC pecking order and CFP seeding scenarios.
At-large and bubble dynamics: multiple two-loss teams such as Oklahoma, Texas and USC occupy precarious standings — a Week 12 loss for any of them would likely remove margin for error heading into conference finales. The expanded playoff field increases mathematical entry paths, but committees still prioritize conference strength, head-to-head results and quality wins; therefore, late-season losses to ranked opponents remain highly damaging.
Injury risk is another running theme. LSU’s Nussmeier absence underlines how quickly depth charts must adapt; teams with experienced backups or clear developmental plans are advantaged when midseason injuries strike. Over the next two weeks, medical reports and availability lists will be material for both selection committee assessments and oddsmakers.
Comparison & data
| Team | CFP Rank | Record (after games listed) | Notable status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State | No. 1 | undisclosed (in-season) | Home vs. UCLA in prime time |
| Indiana | No. 2 | 11-0 | Mendoza sets single-season passing TD record (30) |
| Texas A&M | No. 3 | previously unbeaten (first loss possible) | Trailed South Carolina 30-3 at halftime |
The table summarizes immediate status markers for select top teams and highlights why Week 12 outcomes shift both conference and national narratives. Committee members and pundits will weigh these in concert with strength of schedule and conference championship prospects.
Reactions & quotes
“Since this isn’t an ACC game it doesn’t matter if Notre Dame beats them by 100,”
Pat Narduzzi, Pitt head coach
Narduzzi delivered that line in a postgame context to emphasize motives and rivalry framing, but the comment also underscored how nonconference outcomes can carry outsized publicity and postseason implications.
“Garrett aggravated the abdominal issue in practice and will not play today,”
Frank Wilson, LSU interim coach
Wilson’s confirmation of Nussmeier’s status preceded a decision to turn to Michael Van Buren as the starter; the move triggered immediate discussion about LSU’s depth at QB and midseason roster management.
Unconfirmed
- Final outcomes for the prime-time matchups (Texas at Georgia, Oklahoma at Alabama, Ohio State at UCLA) were pending at the time of the midafternoon updates and could materially alter CFP positioning.
- Whether Texas A&M’s early second-half surge would produce a full comeback remained uncertain; the Aggies had closed to 30-17 but faced a large deficit to overcome.
- Any lingering effects of Garrett Nussmeier’s injury beyond the Arkansas game (such as multi-week absence) had not been independently confirmed by team medical statements.
Bottom line
Week 12 functioned as a high-leverage checkpoint in the 2025 season: several marquee games either reinforced existing top-team narratives or produced jolting near-upsets that risk reshaping the playoff picture. Indiana’s unbeaten rise and Mendoza’s record have propelled the Hoosiers into clearer national focus, while Texas A&M’s first-half collapse against South Carolina introduced a significant upset narrative that could affect the SEC hierarchy.
Through the next seven days, committee watchers, coaches and analysts will parse box scores, injury reports and strength-of-win metrics produced on Nov. 15. For teams on the bubble, the remainder of the regular season will require near-perfect execution to either lock in a playoff berth or secure a strong seeding for postseason positioning.
Sources
- CBS Sports (media coverage and live updates)
- Indiana University Athletics (official team release and statistics)
- LSU Athletics (official availability report and coach comments)
- College Football Playoff (official rankings and committee information)