College Football - Week 11 (Nov. 13)

[Andy]

Top 25 games

------------------------------

(1) Georgia at Tennessee (3:30 pm, CBS)

New Mexico State at (2) Alabama (12 pm, SEC Network)

Washington State at (3) Oregon (10:30 pm, ESPN)

(19) Purdue at (4) Ohio State (3:30 pm, ABC)

(5) Cincinnati at South Florida (6 pm Friday, ESPN2)

(6) Michigan at Penn State (12 pm, ABC)

Maryland at (7) Michigan State (4 pm, FOX)

(8) Oklahoma at (13) Baylor (12 pm, FOX)

(9) Notre Dame at Virginia (7:30 pm, ABC)

TCU at (10) Oklahoma State (8 pm, FOX)

(11) Texas A&M at (15) Ole Miss (7 pm, ESPN)

(16) NC State at (12) Wake Forest (7:30 pm, ACC Network)

Mississippi State at (17) Auburn (12 pm, ESPN)

Northwestern at (18) Wisconsin (12 pm, ESPN2)

Minnesota at (20) Iowa (3:30 pm, BTN)

North Carolina at (21) Pittsburgh (7:30 pm Thursday, ESPN)

Nevada at (22) San Diego State (10:30 pm, CBSSN)

Southern Miss at (23) UTSA (3:30 pm, ESPN+)

(24) Utah at Arizona (2 pm, Pac-12 Network)

(25) Arkansas at LSU (7:30 pm, SEC Network)

 

Other nationally available games

---------------------------------------------------

Tuesday

Buffalo at Miami (OH) (7 pm, ESPNU)

Akron at Western Michigan (7 pm, CBSSN)

Ohio at Eastern Michigan (8 pm, ESPN2)

 

Wednesday

Ball State at Northern Illinois (7 pm, ESPN2)

Toledo at Bowling Green (7 pm, CBSSN)

Kent State at Central Michigan (8 pm, ESPNU)

 

Friday

Wyoming at Boise State (9 pm, FS1)

 

Saturday TV

West Virginia at Kansas State (12 pm, FS1)

Rutgers at Indiana (12 pm, BTN)

UCF at SMU (12 pm, ESPNU)

UConn at Clemson (12 pm, ACC Network)

Bucknell at Army (12 pm, CBSSN)

Syracuse at Louisville (12 pm, Regional Sports Networks/ESPN3)

Miami at Florida State (3:30 pm, ESPN)

Iowa State at Texas Tech (3:30 pm, ESPN2)

Duke at Virginia Tech (3:30 pm, ACC Network)

UAB at Marshall (3:30 pm, CBSSN)

Boston College at Georgia Tech (3:30 pm, Regional Sports Networks/ESPN3)

Tulsa at Tulane (4 pm, ESPNU)

South Carolina at Missouri (4 pm, SEC Network)

Stanford at Oregon State (5:30 pm, Pac-12 Network)

Kentucky at Vanderbilt (7 pm, ESPN2)

Arizona State at Washington (7 pm, FS1)

Air Force at Colorado State (7 pm, CBSSN)

Kansas at Texas (7:30 pm, ESPNU)

Colorado at UCLA (9 pm, Pac-12 Network)

Utah State at San Jose State (10:30 pm, FS1)

 

Saturday Streaming

Samford at Florida (12 pm, ESPN+)

East Carolina at Memphis (12 pm, ESPN+)

Houston at Temple (12 pm, ESPN+)

Georgia State at Coastal Carolina (2 pm, ESPN+)

Western Kentucky at Rice (2 pm, ESPN+)

South Alabama at Appalachian State (2:30 pm, ESPN+)

Georgia Southern at Texas State (3 pm, ESPN+)

Florida International at Middle Tennessee (3:30 pm, ESPN3)

Charlotte at Louisiana Tech (3:30 pm, Stadium)

Florida Atlantic at Old Dominion (3:30 pm, ESPN+)

UL Lafayette at Troy (3:30 pm, ESPN+)

UTEP at North Texas (4 pm, ESPN+)

Arkansas State at UL Monroe (5 pm, ESPN+)

New Mexico at Fresno State (7 pm, Stadium)

Edited November 10, 2021 by Andy

[OleMissCub]

It’s beautiful. This will never be eclipsed. The perfect tweet for a college football account.

 

[UMFan83]

lol, not that it matters because both will lose to Ohio State but Michigan somehow ranked higher than Michigan State in the CFP rankings. To twist the knife further, they said this:

 

 

Michigan State fans are going ballistic on Twitter right now.

[Andy]

It's completely absurd, but MSU controls their destiny at this point and Michigan does not, which is ultimately all that matters. And underscores how dumb it is to release these rankings weekly.

[NewUserName]

lol, not that it matters because both will lose to Ohio State but Michigan somehow ranked higher than Michigan State in the CFP rankings. To twist the knife further, they said this:

 

 

Michigan State fans are going ballistic on Twitter right now.

 

this MSU fan isnt balistic. If we win out we will probably be in the playoff, if we lose we will not. We would pass UM up, so it is really not that big of a deal. I also wouldnt look at the UM game at E Lansing and draw some conclusion that we were a better team, well except for the score:)

[Andy]

We came so close to making it the whole season without Mustache Man

 

 

They have rescheduled the game for conference championship weekend since both teams already know they won't be playing in the title game.

[Derwood]

On the one hand, James Franklin can’t beat top 10 teams.

 

On the other hand, I don’t know who PSU could hire who would be better

[UMFan83]

On the one hand, James Franklin can’t beat top 10 teams.

 

On the other hand, I don’t know who PSU could hire who would be better

 

It’s the same discussion with Harbaugh. Michigan of course doesn’t have the Big Ten title like Penn State has but everything else is similar to Franklin’s run. But look at programs like Florida, Texas and Florida State. They hired new coaches and took a step back as a program. Michigan had the same with RichRod and Hoke. Sure you might hire the next Nick Saban but you are much much more likely to hire the next RichRod.

 

Harbaugh and Franklin have their programs not on the top tier but probably the second tier of teams that can make the CFP. Their teams are top 25 caliber and both teams have been a break or two from the CFP. I can understand wanting to strive for more as a program but you risk ending up with less.

[sneakypower]

i can't make heads or tails of Franklin; he recruits well, his offense gets so many easy, free yards and he randomly turns into Madden kid on 4th downs, but there's something missing there

 

Harbaugh just runs antiquated and predictable schemes but teaches fundamentals well i guess

[OleMissCub]

We came so close to making it the whole season without Mustache Man

 

 

They have rescheduled the game for conference championship weekend since both teams already know they won't be playing in the title game.

 

Lol mustache man. I had forgotten

[OleMissCub]

lulz at Auburn giving up 40 unanswered points to Miss State

[Andy]

Alabama effectively clinches the SEC West with A&M's loss to Ole Miss - the Tide need only split their final 2 to get to the SEC title game. Even if they did lose one of the next 2 I think they'd get in the CFP by beating Georgia. In fact I think their odds are better that way than by winning the next 2 and then losing to UGA.

[soccer10k]

LOL Texas.

[UMFan83]

Alabama effectively clinches the SEC West with A&M's loss to Ole Miss - the Tide need only split their final 2 to get to the SEC title game. Even if they did lose one of the next 2 I think they'd get in the CFP by beating Georgia. In fact I think their odds are better that way than by winning the next 2 and then losing to UGA.

 

Would be interesting to see. I don’t believe any 2 loss team has made the CFP so far, but if any team was going to be the first of course it would be Alabama

[soccer10k]

Alabama effectively clinches the SEC West with A&M's loss to Ole Miss - the Tide need only split their final 2 to get to the SEC title game. Even if they did lose one of the next 2 I think they'd get in the CFP by beating Georgia. In fact I think their odds are better that way than by winning the next 2 and then losing to UGA.

 

I still think a 2-loss Bama would have to win the SEC title game to have any sort of a shot. The committee has prioritized conference champs assuming they have as many losses as a non-conference champ. So if Bama loses to Georgia to finish 11-2 and you have 13-0 Georgia, 1 loss Big 10 champ, 1 loss Big 12 champ and 1 loss Oregon, Bama isn't getting in. I don't think a 2-loss Bama that wins the SEC gets a spot in that scenario either though.

 

That being said, this year certainly seems like it's set up for a 2-loss team to get in, especially if the committee just refuses to put Cincy in.

 

-The only conference with an undefeated team is the SEC with Georgia.

-The ACC is kind of a disaster and it seems pretty unlikely Wake goes 12-1.

-In the Big 12, OU and OSU still have to play, which means one of them gets a second loss. OU also still plays Iowa State next week. Plus the winner of OU-OSU is going to have to face OU/OSU/Baylor in the Big 12 title game. Easily could have every Big 12 team with 2 losses.

-In the Big 10, OSU still plays both MSU and UM. MSU also plays Penn St. Likely only one 1-loss team there barring MSU and UM both beating OSU.

-In the Pac-12, Oregon will have to beat Utah twice, including next week in Utah, plus a 6-4 Oregon St team.

-Notre Dame seems to have no chance to make the playoff because they lost at home to Cincinnati.

 

Of course we do stuff like this every year and whatever scenario we're discussing as a possibility doesn't usually happen. But a 2-loss playoff team is definitely in play this year.

[Andy]

Alabama effectively clinches the SEC West with A&M's loss to Ole Miss - the Tide need only split their final 2 to get to the SEC title game. Even if they did lose one of the next 2 I think they'd get in the CFP by beating Georgia. In fact I think their odds are better that way than by winning the next 2 and then losing to UGA.

 

I still think a 2-loss Bama would have to win the SEC title game to have any sort of a shot. The committee has prioritized conference champs assuming they have as many losses as a non-conference champ. So if Bama loses to Georgia to finish 11-2 and you have 13-0 Georgia, 1 loss Big 10 champ, 1 loss Big 12 champ and 1 loss Oregon, Bama isn't getting in. I don't think a 2-loss Bama that wins the SEC gets a spot in that scenario either though.

A 2-loss SEC champ Bama absolutely gets in and there's already precedent for it. 2-loss Auburn was sitting at #2 in the CFP going into the 2017 SEC title game (they had beaten Georgia and Alabama that year), so they were clearly going to get in if they had won the conference. The Tide wouldn't have quite the same resume - Ole Miss is the only really good team they've beaten - but I think any team anywhere near contention that beats Georgia has to be in given the way the Bulldogs have looked since week 1. (The Clemson win looks oddly quite unimpressive right now given the Tigers' season, but they've destroyed everybody else.)

[soccer10k]

Alabama effectively clinches the SEC West with A&M's loss to Ole Miss - the Tide need only split their final 2 to get to the SEC title game. Even if they did lose one of the next 2 I think they'd get in the CFP by beating Georgia. In fact I think their odds are better that way than by winning the next 2 and then losing to UGA.

 

I still think a 2-loss Bama would have to win the SEC title game to have any sort of a shot. The committee has prioritized conference champs assuming they have as many losses as a non-conference champ. So if Bama loses to Georgia to finish 11-2 and you have 13-0 Georgia, 1 loss Big 10 champ, 1 loss Big 12 champ and 1 loss Oregon, Bama isn't getting in. I don't think a 2-loss Bama that wins the SEC gets a spot in that scenario either though.

A 2-loss SEC champ Bama absolutely gets in and there's already precedent for it. 2-loss Auburn was sitting at #2 in the CFP going into the 2017 SEC title game (they had beaten Georgia and Alabama that year), so they were clearly going to get in if they had won the conference. The Tide wouldn't have quite the same resume - Ole Miss is the only really good team they've beaten - but I think any team anywhere near contention that beats Georgia has to be in given the way the Bulldogs have looked since week 1. (The Clemson win looks oddly quite unimpressive right now given the Tigers' season, but they've destroyed everybody else.)

 

"The Tide wouldn't have quite the same resume" is a massive understatement.

 

Going into the SEC title game, Auburn had beaten No. 6 Georgia (11-1) by 23, No. 5 Alabama (11-1) by 12 and No. 24 Miss St (8-4) by 39. Plus their two losses were at No. 1 Clemson (11-1) by 8 and at No. 16 LSU (9-3) by 4.

Meanwhile, Bama has beaten No. 10 Ole Miss by 21. If we assume they beat Arkansas but lose to Auburn to get to 10-2, Arkansas might be ranked in the 23-25 range if they beat Missouri. Meanwhile their two losses would be at a No. 10-15 Texas A&M (9-3 assuming they beat LSU) by 3 and at Auburn (8-4 if they beat South Carolina) who might be ranked in the 23-25 range if they beat Bama.

 

So 2017 Auburn had two wins that were way better than anything than 2021 Alabama has, a loss way better than Alabama has and a second loss that would be way better than Alabama's second loss. Auburn was already ranked No. 2 with two losses. Alabama is No. 2 with only one loss. If they lose to an unranked Auburn, they're going to drop. They'll be behind whatever 1-loss team emerges from the Big 10 East and a 1-loss Oregon for sure. They'd be behind a 1-loss Oklahoma State if they beat OU, though they'd probably be might be ahead of OU. And of course Georgia. Because all of those teams (except Georgia) would also be winning big games while Alabama is losing to an unranked Auburn team.

 

I do agree that Alabama has a chance of getting in with 2 losses if they beat Georgia. But I don't think it's a lock that they can just lose to a mediocre Auburn team and make up for it by beating Georgia to get in, especially with their resume this year.

[Old Style]

Wasn't expecting A&M to horsefeathers the bed again but Ole Miss kicked our butts. Not sure why Achane only had 12 carries when he was averaging 9.2 yards per touch but Jimbo has done that a few times this season. Credit Ole Miss for running all over the Aggie D who had been so great lately, especially against the run.

[NOLA]

Wasn't expecting A&M to horsefeathers the bed again but Ole Miss kicked our butts. Not sure why Achane only had 12 carries when he was averaging 9.2 yards per touch but Jimbo has done that a few times this season. Credit Ole Miss for running all over the Aggie D who had been so great lately, especially against the run.

If it makes you feel any better, the big rumor down here is that the LSU AD is going to make Jimbo tell him no. Tucker and Campbell are on the back-up list.

[Old Style]

Wasn't expecting A&M to horsefeathers the bed again but Ole Miss kicked our butts. Not sure why Achane only had 12 carries when he was averaging 9.2 yards per touch but Jimbo has done that a few times this season. Credit Ole Miss for running all over the Aggie D who had been so great lately, especially against the run.

If it makes you feel any better, the big rumor down here is that the LSU AD is going to make Jimbo tell him no. Tucker and Campbell are on the back-up list.

I'm not the least bit worried about Jimbo leaving. And if he does, life will go on.

[UMFan83]

Sorry I cant get enough of expanded playoffs, and I'm jumping the gun because the next CFP ranking doesn't come out until tomorrow but this is how I see a potential 12 team playoff looking like after last week.

 

12 Baylor @ 5 Alabama - winner to play Cincinnati - Alabama probably wins but has been wobbly lately and Baylor has beaten several quality opponents this year. Think it would be a close fun matchup, with the winner getting a chance to prove Cincinnati isn't legit

 

11 Wake Forrest @ 6 Michigan - winner to play Ohio State - of course my preferred matchup for Michigan. Blah blah blah Jim Harbaugh in big games. Michigan would win this, and go on to play none other than Ohio horsefeathering State. Would be an epic matchup even though it will probably be the same smackdown Michigan is getting in 2 weeks except in Columbus

 

10 Oklahoma @ 7 Michigan State - winner to play Oregon - Oklahoma is a very iffy one loss team so MSU probably wins especially with friendly refereeing in East Lansing (i cant help myself), and gets to face an Oregon team looking to knock off another Big Ten giant.

 

9 Oklahoma State @ 8 Notre Dame - winner to play Georgia - I don't know much about either of these team's seasons other than Notre Dame was looking very iffy and has started to put it together. Would that translate to a gigantic win against Georgia or would they get depantsed in another big playoff matchup (yes Andy getting depantsed in the CFP is better than never making it, I know).

 

Anyways screw the regular season, let's get this version of the CFP off the ground. I would like CFB 435% more if it happened.

[UMFan83]

Sorry I cant get enough of expanded playoffs, and I'm jumping the gun because the next CFP ranking doesn't come out until tomorrow but this is how I see a potential 12 team playoff looking like after last week.

 

12 Baylor @ 5 Alabama - winner to play Cincinnati - Alabama probably wins but has been wobbly lately and Baylor has beaten several quality opponents this year. Think it would be a close fun matchup, with the winner getting a chance to prove Cincinnati isn't legit

 

11 Wake Forrest @ 6 Michigan - winner to play Ohio State - of course my preferred matchup for Michigan. Blah blah blah Jim Harbaugh in big games. Michigan would win this, and go on to play none other than Ohio horsefeathering State. Would be an epic matchup even though it will probably be the same smackdown Michigan is getting in 2 weeks except in Columbus

 

10 Oklahoma @ 7 Michigan State - winner to play Oregon - Oklahoma is a very iffy one loss team so MSU probably wins especially with friendly refereeing in East Lansing (i cant help myself), and gets to face an Oregon team looking to knock off another Big Ten giant.

 

9 Oklahoma State @ 8 Notre Dame - winner to play Georgia - I don't know much about either of these team's seasons other than Notre Dame was looking very iffy and has started to put it together. Would that translate to a gigantic win against Georgia or would they get depantsed in another big playoff matchup (yes Andy getting depantsed in the CFP is better than never making it, I know).

 

Anyways screw the regular season, let's get this version of the CFP off the ground. I would like CFB 435% more if it happened.

 

To add to this, ESPN projected a 24 team playoff (based on its projected results the next 2 weeks). 24 is too much for me. When you start seeing teams that you haven't even thought about for weeks as a playoff team, that's when I get on board with the 'regular season should matter' crowd. I do believe there should be enough teams where the margin for error in the regular season is not 0, but when you are talking about teams with 4 losses, then it matters way too little.

 

First round

17. Texas A&M (9-3) at 16. UTSA (13-0)

24. Northern Illinois (9-4) at 9. Pitt (11-2)

21. Utah (9-4) at 12. Oklahoma (11-2)

20. NC State (9-3) at 13. Baylor (10-2)

22. Appalachian State (11-2) at 11. Ole Miss (10-2)

19. Wisconsin (9-4) at 14. BYU (10-2)

23. Utah State (10-3) at 10. Michigan State (10-2)

18. Wake Forest (10-3) at 15. Iowa (10-2)

 

Second round

UTSA/Texas A&M at 1. Georgia (13-0)

Pitt/NIU at 8. Michigan (10-2)

Oklahoma/Utah at 5. Alabama (11-2)

Baylor/NC State at 4. Notre Dame (11-1)

Ole Miss/App State at 6. Oregon (11-2)

BYU/Wisconsin at 3. Cincinnati (13-0)

Michigan State/Utah State at 7. Oklahoma State (11-2)

Iowa/Wake Forest at 2. Ohio State (12-1)

[OleMissCub]

Wasn't expecting A&M to horsefeathers the bed again but Ole Miss kicked our butts. Not sure why Achane only had 12 carries when he was averaging 9.2 yards per touch but Jimbo has done that a few times this season. Credit Ole Miss for running all over the Aggie D who had been so great lately, especially against the run.

 

Jimbo had money on the game or something. You can easily beat Ole Miss by running the ball straight up the middle. I’m stunned he threw Calzada so much.

[OleMissCub]

They killed it this week. The Texas reveal is great

 

[NewUserName]

Sorry I cant get enough of expanded playoffs, and I'm jumping the gun because the next CFP ranking doesn't come out until tomorrow but this is how I see a potential 12 team playoff looking like after last week.

 

12 Baylor @ 5 Alabama - winner to play Cincinnati - Alabama probably wins but has been wobbly lately and Baylor has beaten several quality opponents this year. Think it would be a close fun matchup, with the winner getting a chance to prove Cincinnati isn't legit

 

11 Wake Forrest @ 6 Michigan - winner to play Ohio State - of course my preferred matchup for Michigan. Blah blah blah Jim Harbaugh in big games. Michigan would win this, and go on to play none other than Ohio horsefeathering State. Would be an epic matchup even though it will probably be the same smackdown Michigan is getting in 2 weeks except in Columbus

 

10 Oklahoma @ 7 Michigan State - winner to play Oregon - Oklahoma is a very iffy one loss team so MSU probably wins especially with friendly refereeing in East Lansing (i cant help myself), and gets to face an Oregon team looking to knock off another Big Ten giant.

 

9 Oklahoma State @ 8 Notre Dame - winner to play Georgia - I don't know much about either of these team's seasons other than Notre Dame was looking very iffy and has started to put it together. Would that translate to a gigantic win against Georgia or would they get depantsed in another big playoff matchup (yes Andy getting depantsed in the CFP is better than never making it, I know).

 

Anyways screw the regular season, let's get this version of the CFP off the ground. I would like CFB 435% more if it happened.

 

To add to this, ESPN projected a 24 team playoff (based on its projected results the next 2 weeks). 24 is too much for me. When you start seeing teams that you haven't even thought about for weeks as a playoff team, that's when I get on board with the 'regular season should matter' crowd. I do believe there should be enough teams where the margin for error in the regular season is not 0, but when you are talking about teams with 4 losses, then it matters way too little.

 

First round

17. Texas A&M (9-3) at 16. UTSA (13-0)

24. Northern Illinois (9-4) at 9. Pitt (11-2)

21. Utah (9-4) at 12. Oklahoma (11-2)

20. NC State (9-3) at 13. Baylor (10-2)

22. Appalachian State (11-2) at 11. Ole Miss (10-2)

19. Wisconsin (9-4) at 14. BYU (10-2)

23. Utah State (10-3) at 10. Michigan State (10-2)

18. Wake Forest (10-3) at 15. Iowa (10-2)

 

Second round

UTSA/Texas A&M at 1. Georgia (13-0)

Pitt/NIU at 8. Michigan (10-2)

Oklahoma/Utah at 5. Alabama (11-2)

Baylor/NC State at 4. Notre Dame (11-1)

Ole Miss/App State at 6. Oregon (11-2)

BYU/Wisconsin at 3. Cincinnati (13-0)

Michigan State/Utah State at 7. Oklahoma State (11-2)

Iowa/Wake Forest at 2. Ohio State (12-1)

 

Since the Bowl games have pretty much become meaningless, I wonder how long before they are talking 24/32 team playoff. At some point Bowls will start losing too much money to exist.