Week 12 CFB winners, losers: Georgia Bulldogs have plenty of bite

Winner: Tulane

The Green Wave are playing as well as any team in the country. Over their last three games, they've outscored their opponents 121-9. 

No. 25 Tulane (9-2, 7-0 in AAC notched a decisive 35-0 win over Navy (7-3, 5-2 in AAC) on Saturday to clinch a spot in the AAC title game, where it will play No. 24 Army (9-0, 7-0 in AAC).

Tulane has won eight in a row and has a Week 13 bye before hosting Memphis (9-2, 5-2 in AAC) in its regular-season finale.

It must win out to remain in the CFP conversation. If it does and No. 13 Boise State (9-1, 6-0 in MWC) slips, the Green Wave will likely be in the playoff.

Loser: Pitt goal line sequence

The Panthers squandered four potential points in a brutal goal-line sequence in a 24-20 home loss to No. 20 Clemson (8-2, 7-1 in ACC). Pittsburgh did everything wrong after getting a first-and-goal at the Tigers' two-yard line.

It failed to score on the first two plays in the goal-to-go situation, setting up a third-and-goal from the one-yard line. From there, it was its own worst enemy.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi was granted a timeout that erased a touchdown from running back Derrick Davis, followed by three consecutive penalties — illegal formation, delay of game and false start — to drive the Panthers back to Clemson's 16-yard line.

Pittsburgh (7-3, 3-3 in ACC) settled for a field goal on the 17-play drive that should have resulted in seven points. In a four-point loss, that sequence was the difference.

Winner: Unheralded freshman wide receivers

We know about Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, two electrifying freshmen who've made immediate differences.

Less was known about Emmett Mosley V (Stanford) and Cam Coleman (Auburn), but that changed when both freshmen had season-best games in Week 12.

Mosley had 13 receptions, 168 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter, as the Cardinal stunned No. 19 Louisville with a 14-point comeback in a 38-35 win.

His last score tied the game at 35.

Coleman also scored three touchdowns in a 48-14 win over Louisiana-Monroe. The Auburn freshman had eight receptions for 100 yards and arguably the year's best catch on his leaping one-handed third-quarter score while falling backward.

Neither Auburn nor Stanford have had good seasons, but their freshman wide receivers' performances should give both hope for the future.

Loser: Inexplicable Louisville penalties

The Cardinals were a 20.5-point road favorite against Stanford (3-7, 2-5 in ACC) and led 35-21 in the fourth quarter.

Even after allowing 14 unanswered points, No. 19 Louisville (6-4, 4-3 in ACC) still appeared to have an opportunity to win the game in overtime.

Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels completed a one-yard pass to Mosley at the Cardinal's own 46-yard line with one second left in regulation when Louisville defensive back Tayon Holloway was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after shoving Mosley.

That moved the ball to Louisville's 39-yard line, and Cardinals defensive back Quincy Riley made Stanford's winning field goal easier with an offsides penalty.

Winner: South Carolina

With three losses, the Gamecocks probably aren't CFP material. But that doesn't make No. 21 South Carolina (7-3, 5-3 in SEC) any less terrifying.

On Saturday, it recorded a thrilling 34-30 win over No. 23 Missouri (7-3, 3-3 in SEC), scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 15 seconds remaining. 

Without losses to LSU and No. 10 Alabama (8-2, 4-2 in SEC) by a combined five points, South Carolina would firmly be in the CFP conversation.

Loser: Sun Belt

The Group of Five race for an automatic playoff bid is down to the American and Mountain West.

Louisiana-Lafayette (8-2, 5-1 in Sun Belt) was the Sun Belt's last hope of reaching the 12-team CFP field but lost to South Alabama (5-5, 4-2 in Sun Belt), 24-22, after its furious second-half rally from 21 points down came up short.