College football week 11: The most intriguing game in each conference
Each week, On3 takes a look at the most intriguing matchup in each Power 5 conference, along with a Group of 5 game worth keeping an eye on. Here’s our Week 11 edition, excluding our game of the week — No. 8 Oklahoma at No. 13 Baylor.
All games are Saturday and all times are Eastern.
ACC: No. 9 Notre Dame (8-1) at Virginia (6-3)
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., ABC
Notre Dame already has wins over two 6-3 teams — Purdue and Wisconsin. Here’s a chance for another one. Virginia, led by the nation’s No. 2 quarterback in passing yards (Brennan Armstrong), had won four in a row before a loss to BYU in its most recent game. Notre Dame, on a four-game winning streak since its Week 5 loss to Cincinnati, is a 5.5-point favorite.
Big Ten: No. 19 Purdue (6-3, 4-2) at No. 4 Ohio State (8-1, 6-0)
Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ABC
Purdue has won three in a row against top-five teams; that includes two top-five conference wins this season — over then-No. 2 Iowa and then-No. 3 Michigan State — and a 49-20 victory over No. 2 Ohio State in 2018. Last week’s 40-29 win over Michigan State was the Boilermakers’ third victory in their past four games. Wide receiver David Bell has been a key figure in the wins over Iowa and Michigan State, posting a combined 22 catches for 457 yards and two touchdowns in those games. Purdue is a 21-point underdog against Ohio State, which has won seven in a row since its Week 2 loss to Oregon.
Big 12: TCU (4-5, 2-4) at No. 10 Oklahoma State (8-1, 5-1)
Time/TV: 8 p.m., Fox
Oklahoma State is two weeks away from a potenial top-10 matchup with Oklahoma that could feature the top two teams in the conference. Only two teams nationally (Wisconsin and Georgia) are ahead of Oklahoma State in total defense. The Cowboys haven’t allowed more than 24 points in any game this season and have limited their past two opponents — West Virginia and Kansas — to six total points. TCU is coming off a 30-28 upset of then-No. 12 Baylor in its first game since parting ways with coach Gary Patterson. In the win, QB Chandler Morris, the son of former SMU and Arkansas coach Chad Morris, threw for 461 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. Still, Oklahoma State is a 13-point favorite.
Pac-12: Washington State (5-4, 4-2) at No. 3 Oregon (8-1, 5-1)
Time/TV: 10:30 p.m., ESPN
Washington State has won four of its past five following a 1-3 start, including a 34-21 win over Arizona State in its most recent game. The only loss during this stretch was a 21-19 setback to No. 14 BYU. Oregon is a 14-point favorite.
SEC: No. 11 Texas A&M (7-2, 4-2) at No. 15 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2)
Time/TV: 7 p.m., ESPN
Texas A&M has won four in a row, including a 20-3 win over then-No. 13 Auburn last week. Mike Elko’s Aggies defense has held each of the past three opponents — Missouri, South Carolina and Auburn — to 14 or fewer points. This will be a bigger test, though. Led by QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss scored at least 31 points in six of its first seven games before having to play its past two games without its top three wide receivers. A&M is a 2.5-point favorite.
Group of 5: Nevada (7-2, 4-1) at No. 22 San Diego State (8-1, 4-1)
Time/TV: 10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
This is a big one in the Mountain West Conference. San Diego State is ranked third nationally in defensive yards per play (4.30). The Aztecs have held four of their past five opponents to 14 or fewer points. The defense will provide a big test for Nevada QB Carson Strong, an NFL prospect who has thrown for an average of 395 yards in the Wolf Pack’s past five games. San Diego State is a three-point favorite.