College Football Recap: Week 11
The College Football Playoff was thrown a curveball this week with unbelievable upsets, including five - yes, five - of the top ten teams in the country going down, including the numbers two, three, and four teams, marking the first time since 1985 this has happened (Michigan, Oklahoma, and Texas respectively lost to Iowa(ironically), Miami, and Arkansas). The top ten has drastically changed, with the Playoff door opening for some, shutting for others. These are the recaps of the games involving the college football's ten best teams, according to the committee rankings of the College Football Playoff.
10.) Penn State Nittany Lions, 8-2
WIN, 45-31, at Indiana Hoosiers
Penn State RB Saquon Barkley (right)
Penn State is experiencing a program resurgence this year. James Franklin, who was on the hot seat a few weeks ago, is now looking like a long-term option for Penn State, which is exactly what they need to maintain stability in their journey to former glory. Down 24-14 after three quarters, Penn State responded with 24 points in the final quarter, including two rushing touchdowns in the quarter by Saquon Barkley.
9.) Auburn Tigers, 7-3
Auburn QB Sean White
LOSS, 13-7, at Georgia Bulldogs
Any chance the Tigers had of climbing back into the Playoff are died with Maurice Smith's third quarter pick-six, along with Georgia kicker Rodrigo Blankenship's two fourth-quarter field goals. Auburn quarterback Sean White (6 of 20, 27 yards, an INT) was the face of the Tigers' lack of offense, and the only way Auburn can make an impact on the Playoff race is if they can pull off a huge upset in the Nov. 26 Iron Bowl against the Crimson Tide.
8.) Texas A&M Aggies, 7-3
Texas A&M WR Frank Iheanacho
LOSS, 29-28, vs Ole Miss Rebels
This loss was just adding insult to injury for the Aggies after dropping from the final Playoff spot last week. To add even more insult to injury, the Aggies lost this game after entering the fourth quarter 21-6. It took a 23-7 quarter for the Rebels to come from behind, sending A&M out of the top ten.
7.) Wisconsin Badgers, 8-2
Wisconsin QB Alex Hornibrook
WIN, 48-3, vs Illinois Fighting Illini
Last week we said that Wisconsin is the best team in the country with two losses. They have to keep winning - no, winning convincingly - in order to have a chance at the Playoff. Having two teams in the top five lose this week helps, but it's where those teams fall in the rankings that determines the Badgers' shot. For now, however, it looks like Wisconsin will vault into the Playoff, and it's starting to look like the winner of the Big Ten Championship (between presumably Wisconsin and presumably Ohio State or Michigan).
6.) Louisville Cardinals, 9-1
Louisville QB Lamar Jackson
WIN, 44-12, vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Louisville is now jumping into the playoff after this crazy week, and deservedly so. They have the best quarterback in the country in Lamar Jackson, and their only loss (Clemson) looks great compared to the losses of the teams that went down this week. This is the best thing that could have ever happened to the Cardinals and the number five team on this list.
5.) Ohio State Buckeyes, 9-1
Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett
WIN, 62-3, at Maryland Terrapins
I couldn't care less if this win was against 2-5 Maryland or against the University of Phoenix, this was a 62-3 victory that, if three teams hadn't lost on Saturday, proved that the Buckeyes belonged in the Playoff anyway. Ohio State's offensive has never been more explosive under head coach Urban Meyer than it has been this year, as J.T. Barrett (21 passing touchdowns in 2016) and Co. are now heading into three crucial weeks: at Michigan State, where anything can happen; against Michigan in Columbus, which could determine a Playoff spot despite Michigan's loss; and in the Big Ten Championship.
4.) Washington Huskies, 9-1
Washington QB Jake Browning
LOSS, 26-13, vs USC Trojans
It was fun while it lasted for the upstart program, but this was a week in which many thought there would be an upset against either Michigan or Washington, and surprisingly, they got both. USC quarterback Sam Darnold (287 yards, 2 touchdowns) outperformed the Huskies' Jake Browning (259 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions), and the Washington offense, unlike the Trojan Horse, was stopped dead in its tracks against the Trojan defense.
3.) Michigan Wolverines, 9-1
Michigan DB Jabrill Peppers
LOSS, 14-13, at Iowa Hawkeyes
This week included not one, but two upsets involving game-winning field goals. This was one of them, as Hawkeyes freshman Keith Duncan nailed a 33-yarder to drop Jabrill Peppers and the Wolverines from the Playoff. They may have another chance, however, if they can pound Ohio State and whoever they would play in the Big Ten Championship (presumably Wisconsin). Don't count out Harbaugh.
2.) Clemson Tigers, 9-1
Clemson HC Dabo Swinney
LOSS, 43-42, vs Pittsburgh Panthers
This the second game that came down to a field goal, though Duncan's kick was nowhere near the epic clutchness of Chris Blewitt's 48-yarder in Clemson's Death Valley. This leaves Clemson in an awkward spot, as Pittsburgh was the weakest team to pull of a top-five upset this week. If Dabo Swinney and the Tigers want to get back to the Playoff, they will need to win out while also needing Louisville to lose to either Houston or Kentucky (unlikely), or in the ACC Championship against either North Carolina or Virginia Tech, most likely Virginia Tech.
1.) Alabama Crimson Tide, 10-0
Alabama QB Jalen Hurts
WIN, 51-3, vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Tide was the only team in the Playoff to do their job on Saturday, destroying the Bulldogs to become college football's first ten-win team. Jalen Hurts put on another show today, throwing for 347 passing yards and four touchdowns, as well as 100 rushing yards - all before the fourth quarter.
This what MS Blog's CFB projections look like after Saturday:
(1) Alabama Crimson Tide vs (4) Wisconsin Badgers
(2) Ohio State Buckeyes vs (3) Louisville Cardinals
Which teams do YOU think should be in the College Football Playoff? Comment below or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook.
