In between Week 10 and Week 11, the College Football Playoff Committee released its first ever 12-team poll since its inception in 2014. With each passing week, the stakes of every game become increasingly amped up; the slate of games from Week 11 sent shock waves throughout the country.
Yellow Jackets sting Hurricanes for second consecutive year
With how well “The U” has performed in 2024, you wouldn’t be faulted for forgetting that Miami lost in embarrassing fashion to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets last season; the Hurricanes fumbled the ball on a carry when it should have been victory formation time. Georgia Tech would capitalize on that fumble and dash Miami’s hopes at making any noise in January last year.
Come 2024, GT has seemingly gone and done it again. The Yellow Jackets handed its opponent the first loss of the season, blending a running attack led by quarterback Haynes King and a powerful defense in Romello Height, who sacked Heisman contender Cam Ward on what could have been the game-winning drive for a fumble.
Moving past the 28-23 loss, the Hurricanes need to play its best brand of football in order to stay in the 12-team bracket.
Ole Miss checks off first box in quest to avenge early season demons
Hotty Toddy indeed. After losses to Kentucky and LSU early in the season, the Rebels of Ole Miss have held a real mean streak and have won the biggest game of the season Saturday against second-ranked Georgia.
The Rebels’ defense was absolutely stout against anything the Bulldogs tried on offense, forcing four fumbles, wreaking havoc to the tune of five sacks and picking off Georgia quarterback Carson Beck late in the third quarter. Although it may seem like a pipe dream, the Rebels are not out of the playoff picture after beating Georgia 28-10.
For the Bulldogs, the team is in complete disarray, as it now stares down the barrel of a match with the sixth-ranked Tennessee Volunteers. Beck, who has now played himself out of being drafted any higher than the fourth round next April, may look to play hero ball in order to resuscitate his team’s season.
Alabama stays alive in brutal beatdown in the Bayeux
Speaking of avenging yourself, the Alabama Crimson Tide did exactly that in its blowout win in Death Valley against the 14th-ranked LSU Tigers, 42-13. With most teams in the SEC carrying one or two losses, the Tide’s losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee seem so far away now that Bama has this win under its belt.
Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe was the star of the night for his team, posting an award-worthy stat line of nearly 300 yards of total offense and four rushing touchdowns. With questions surrounding Milroe’s play in big game scenarios, this performance must have been a breath of relief for Tide fans, as Milroe exceeded expectations in a primetime game against a rival.
LSU’s playoff hopes seem to be in the dumps now that the Tigers have virtually no shot at clinching an appearance in the SEC championship game and have three losses on the year.
BYU Cougars stay undefeated after controversial win in Salt Lake City
Following Iowa State’s perfect season ending, BYU has emerged as the front runner of the Big 12 after it has won every game in 2024. Heading into a road match with rival Utah, the Cougars would have to pull out all the stops to move to 9-0.
Utah Athletic Director Mark Harlan said in the postgame press conference the game was “stolen” by the refs in a 22-21 loss. Harlan was referring to a defensive holding call on a play where BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was sacked, which would have given the Utes the win, but Retzlaff capitalized on the holding call and drove his team down the field for a game-winning field goal.
The Cougars are alive and well in the Big 12 picture and would be favored in any potential conference championship game match.
Deep cuts and what’s next
The Indiana Hoosiers beat the Michigan Wolverines for just the second time since 1987 Saturday. The Hoosiers are undefeated and control their own destiny with two big games against No. 2 Ohio State and rival Purdue.
With not a lot of big-time matches in Week 12, the marquee ticket seems to be a nighttime SEC showdown between Georgia and Tennessee.
Week 11 served as a reality check for the college football landscape. Players, coaches and fans alike are now on high alert, as November slowly gives way to December.
Gage Wellman is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected] or @GageWellmanKSTV on X.
