College football Week 11: The 10 best games this week
We’re in Week 11 of the college football season, and it’s getting to be white-knuckle time for a lot of teams — and a lot of fan bases.
This is a hugely important week in the ACC, with both division races potentially being thrown into turmoil. There also are big games in the Big Ten, Big 12, Mountain West, Pac-12 and SEC.
Here are the 10 best games of Week 11. All games are Saturday unless indicated, and all times are Eastern.
10. North Carolina (5-4) at Pitt (7-2)
Time/TV: Thursday, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
The buzz: This is one of two big ACC games this week; depending on the outcomes, both division races basically could be over — or thrown into a tizzy. Pitt leads the Coastal by a game over Virginia (which Pitt plays next week) and Miami (which beat the Panthers); UNC is out of the hunt but can be a spoiler. This one should feature a ton of yards and points. Two of the best quarterbacks in the nation will be on view in UNC’s Sam Howell (345.3 yards of total offense per game, accounted for 28 TDs) and Pitt’s Kenny Pickett (379.2 ypg, 33 TDs). Two of the best receivers will be on view, too, in UNC’s Josh Downs (74 receptions, 1,014 yards, eight TDs) and Pitt’s Jordan Addison (54-986-11). UNC has scored at least 34 six times, and three times the Heels have scored in the 50s; alas, the Heels have surrendered at least 35 six times and have allowed at least 42 four times. Pitt has scored at least 34 seven times and at least 52 four times; the Panthers have allowed at least 29 four times.
9. Washington State (5-4) at Oregon (8-1)
Time/TV: 10:30 p.m., ESPN
The buzz: This is the first of a tough three-game stretch for Oregon (well, “tough” for the Pac-12, anyway), with contests against Utah and Oregon State finishing out the regular season. The Ducks’ rushing attack basically has bludgeoned teams all season (they even ran effectively in their loss to Stanford), and Washington State is iffy against the run. Cougars QB Jayden de Laura has played well, though he is a little loose with the ball (seven picks) and Oregon feasts on turnovers. The Ducks own a plus-8 turnover margin. Keep an eye on any one-on-one matchups between Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux and Washington State RT Abraham Lucas, who is one of the best linemen in the nation.
8. Nevada (7-2) at San Diego State (8-1)
Time/TV: 10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
The buzz: The West Division of the Mountain West is the strongest of the conference’s two divisions, and these teams are tied for the lead. Fresno State is a game behind these two; the Bulldogs beat both, but lost to Hawaii in early October and were hammered by Boise State this past Saturday. Nevada has one of the passing attacks in the nation with QB Carson Strong, WRs Romeo Doubs and Melquan Stovall and TE Cole Turner. San Diego State is all about defense, especially against the run. The Aztecs struggled against Fresno State’s passing attack, and Nevada’s is better than the Bulldogs’. Can Nevada handle the Aztecs’ rushing attack? RB Greg Bell is SDSU’s key offensive player. San Diego State DE Cameron Thomas is dangerous off the edge and has 13 tackles for loss.
7. Minnesota (6-3) at Iowa (7-2)
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
The buzz: There is a four-way tie atop the Big Ten West, and these are two of the teams involved (Purdue and Wisconsin are the others). Both want to win with their rushing attacks and defense; if either has to throw to win … well, it’ll be an ugly sight. Minnesota has been much more productive on the ground than Iowa even though its top two backs are injured and out for the season. Iowa needs to find a way to get RB Tyler Goodson some room to run. This will be the 115th meeting in the series, and this is the best trophy game of them all. They play for “Floyd of Rosedale,” and nothing says intense rivalry like a bronze pig. Iowa has won six in a row and eight of the past nine in the series.
6. Georgia (9-0) at Tennessee (5-4)
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., CBS
The buzz: The Vols’ offense is playing well, and as such, it might be the best offense Georgia has seen. Even so, it’s hard to see Tennessee even scoring in the 20s. Still, QB Hendon Hooker can stress a defense with his arm and his legs, and Georgia needs to make sure he plays from the pocket. Tennessee’s defense isn’t much: The Vols have allowed at least 31 points five times and at least 38 four times. For comparison’s sake, Florida scored 38 on Tennessee and seven on Georgia; Kentucky scored 42 on the Vols and 13 on the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs figure to be able to run quite effectively.
5. Texas A&M (7-2) at Ole Miss (7-2)
Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN
The buzz: These are two of the three teams tied for second in the SEC West, one game behind Alabama. One difference: The Tide hammered the Rebels but lost to the Aggies. A&M is coming off a great defensive performance, holding Auburn to 226 total yards in a 20-3 victory over the Tigers. (Auburn rolled up 483 yards in beating Ole Miss 31-20.) But the Aggies’ lone TD against Auburn came on a fumble return, and it’s becoming more apparent by the week that Zach Calzada’s incredible performance against Alabama isn’t going to be duplicated. Ole Miss’ defense is mediocre, and A&M RBs Isaiah Spiller and Devon Achane should get a lot of opportunities. Ole Miss’ rushing attack has sputtered a bit the past two games, and the Rebels need to get that cranked back up.
4. Michigan (8-1) at Penn State (6-3)
Time/TV: Noon, ABC
The buzz: A few weeks ago, this looked like one of the biggest games of the season. But the Nittany Lions have lost three of their past four, including setbacks to two teams with weak offenses (Illinois and Iowa). Michigan does not have a weak offense. The Wolverines prefer to run with RBs Blake Corum and Hassan Haskins, and the Nittany Lions have struggled against physical rushing attacks. Penn State will like its chances if Michigan is forced to throw; the Nittany Lions have allowed just six TD passes and have 10 picks. There is a lot of pressure on Penn State’s defense because its offense is inconsistent, mainly because the rushing attack frequently disappears; in seven games against Power 5 foes, the Nittany Lions have rushed for less than 100 yards five times. QB Sean Clifford needs to find WR Jahan Dotson as often as possible. Dotson could do some notable damage against Michigan’s secondary if Clifford can get him the ball. Michigan needs to win to stay in the hunt in the Big Ten East — and to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive. Penn State is in spoiler mode.
3. NC State (7-2) at Wake Forest (8-1)
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ACC Network
The buzz: Wake has been a great story this season. The Demon Deacons lost to North Carolina this past Saturday in a non-conference game and are the only unbeaten team in ACC play. But they have NC State (one league loss) and Clemson (two league losses), the two teams immediately behind them in the Atlantic Division, in their next two games. Wake is much better offensively than those two — but also much worse (much, much, much worse) defensively. One positive for Wake, which has a potent passing attack behind QB Sam Hartman (27 TD passes): NC State’s secondary struggled against pass-first offenses from Mississippi State, Louisiana Tech and Miami, losing to Mississippi State and UM and edging Louisiana Tech by seven. Wake’s rush defense is flat-out bad, but NC State’s rush offense is the worst in the league.
2. Purdue (6-3) at Ohio State (8-1)
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC
The buzz: Purdue already has beaten two teams ranked in the top three: No. 2 Iowa on October 16 and No. 3 Michigan State this past Saturday. Can the Boilermakers pull another upset of a team in the top five? Purdue is solid defensively, but the Boilermakers haven’t seen an offense as explosive as Ohio State’s. QB C.J. Stroud, RB TreVeyon Henderson and the deepest receiver room in the country are basically impossible to stop. Purdue must find a way to get some pressure on Stroud, who has been flustered by defenders in his face this season. The three teams that beat Purdue (Notre Dame, Minnesota and Wisconsin) did it with defense, with each holding the Boilermakers to 13 points. Ohio State’s secondary figures to have trouble with WR David Bell, who is one of the best in the nation. In its upsets, Purdue ran for a total of 146 yards. In short, if the Boilermakers are to pull another shocker, it’s up to Bell and QB Aidan O’Connell.
1. Oklahoma (9-0) at Baylor (7-2)
Time/TV: Noon, Fox
The buzz: This lost a bit of luster with Baylor’s surprising loss to TCU, but it’s still a huge game in the Big 12. The Bears are the best team Oklahoma has played, and this is the start of a difficult three-game stretch for the Sooners to close the regular season; games against Iowa State and Oklahoma State follow, and OU almost certainly will see one of those three teams in the league title game. Sooners true freshman QB Caleb Williams has done some magical things since becoming the starter, and Baylor was torched by TCU QB Chandler Morris in his first career start. If this is a shootout, Baylor cannot win. Figure Dave Aranda to show Williams some looks he has not seen; will that be enough for the Bears to pull the upset? Baylor also needs a big game from physical RB Abram Smith.