The final week of the 2024 college football regular season, aptly dubbed "hate week" by fans, lived up to its name with a series of intense rivalry matchups. Beyond the anticipated hard-fought games, several on-field altercations erupted, sparked by the provocative act of planting flags at midfield. From the conclusion of the Michigan-Ohio State clash to the North Carolina-NC State and Florida-Florida State games, tensions boiled over. Even Arizona State joined the fray, further highlighting the heated emotions of rivalry week.

Amidst the drama, several teams emerged victorious, while others faltered. Let's delve into the notable winners and losers of this action-packed weekend.

Triumphant Teams

Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord in action. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

South Carolina: The Gamecocks continued their impressive run with a late-game victory over Clemson, solidifying their potential playoff contention. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has been instrumental in their recent success.

Syracuse: The Orange upset No. 6 Miami, throwing the ACC into chaos and securing Clemson's spot in the conference championship game. Quarterback Kyle McCord orchestrated a historic 21-point comeback.

Penn State: Benefiting from Michigan's upset over Ohio State, the Nittany Lions secured their place in the Big Ten title game after a commanding win against Maryland.

Texas: The Longhorns navigated their first SEC season successfully, capping it off with a dominant road win against Texas A&M.

Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish secured their spot in the 12-team playoff with a hard-fought victory over USC, extending their winning streak to 10 games.

Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Kyle McCord: The Syracuse quarterback's exceptional performance in the upset over Miami not only showcased his talent but also offered a measure of personal redemption after transferring from Ohio State.

Teams Facing Setbacks

Ohio State: The Buckeyes suffered a shocking upset at home against Michigan, dashing their Big Ten title hopes and raising questions about coach Ryan Day's future.

Texas A&M: The Aggies fell flat in their highly anticipated matchup against Texas, struggling offensively and failing to capitalize on opportunities.

Auburn: The Tigers were outmatched by a determined Alabama team in a disappointing Iron Bowl performance.

Kansas: Despite a strong mid-season run, the Jayhawks stumbled in their final game against Baylor, missing out on bowl eligibility.

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Ryan Day: The Ohio State coach's job security is in question after the team's disappointing loss to Michigan and the ensuing on-field brawl.

Flags: The seemingly innocuous act of planting flags at midfield became a catalyst for multiple brawls, raising the possibility of future restrictions on this practice.