Last week, the college football scene was as good as it gets. With the new 12-team playoff format, stakes are getting increasingly higher as teams vie to compete for a national championship. Furthermore, here are some of week 11’s greatest upsets, top performances by players and marquee matchups for the coming week.
Biggest Upsets
No. 16 Ole Miss 28, No. 3 Georgia 10
From legendary Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban’s coaching tree, Kirby Smart (now Georgia head coach) and Lane Kiffin (now Ole Miss head coach) stand out as two of the most prominent names in college football. Smart and his Bulldogs have traditionally dominated in matchups against Kiffin and his Rebels. However, with almost 70,000 people in attendance at their own Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, the Rebels came through to stun Georgia by a score of 28-10 in a career-defining win for Kiffin. The Ole Miss defense was stifling, only allowing 10 Georgia points. In addition, kicker Caden Davis was perfect on the day, drilling all five of his attempted field goals to keep the game out of reach of the Bulldogs.
Georgia Tech 28, No. 4 Miami 23
Miami quarterback and Heisman-hopeful Cam Ward saw his hopes of an undefeated season end in a crushing defeat at the mercy of the unranked Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets by a score of 28-23. After leaving the game early with an apparent injury, Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King put on a gritty performance, grinding for 93 yards on the ground and throwing for several yards through the air, running for one touchdown and tossing another. The win would be Georgia Tech’s first win over a top-five opponent since 2009.
Kansas 45, No. 17 Iowa State 36
After an undefeated start, the No. 17 Iowa State Cyclones dropped their second game in a row to the unranked Kansas Jayhawks, likely putting their Big 12 and national championship hopes to rest. Leading the charge for the Jayhawks was running back Devin Neal, rushing for 116 yards on the ground on only 18 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Not only did he help his team win the game, but he also set the school record for all-time rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, continuing his remarkable Kansas Jayhawk legacy.
Top Performances
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
In Alabama’s dominant 42-13 win over long-time SEC rival LSU, quarterback Jalen Milroe solidified his case as one the best dual-threat quarterbacks in all of college football. Through the air, Milroe completed 12 of 18 passes for 109 yards. However, it was his legs where he did the most damage, rushing for 185 yards and scoring four touchdowns, displaying breakaway speed and making LSU defenders look silly the whole night.
Quinn Ewers, Texas
It would be foolish not to add Quinn Ewers to this list after his performance in a 49-17 Texas victory over the Florida Gators. Although the Gators’ defensive line gave the Longhorns offense some troubles earlier in the game, Ewers torched the opposing secondary by throwing for 333 yards and five total touchdowns. His NFL draft stock will continue to rise as the season progresses.
Abdul Carter, Penn State
Penn State’s Abdul Carter wreaked havoc over the opposing offense the entire night in a commanding 35-6 victory over the Washington Huskies. The defensive end recorded six total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble, finding himself in the Washington backfield nearly every play. His presence was felt by everyone in attendance, and his speed and sheer talent were put on full display.
Games to Watch
No. 6 Tennessee at No. 11 Georgia: Saturday – 7:30 p.m.
Led by Head Coach Josh Heupel, the Tennessee Volunteers have been on a roll this season, proving themselves as serious national championship contenders. However, it’s rare that perennial powerhouse Georgia loses two games in a row, which dropping the week 11 contest to Ole Miss could be the fuel needed to defeat the Volunteers. Not to mention, the game will be played at home in Athens, GA, giving the Bulldogs a much-needed edge.
No. 24 Missouri at No. 23 South Carolina: Saturday – 4:15 p.m.
In a week 11 matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners without star quarterback Brady Cook, Connecticut native and Missouri backup quarterback Drew Pyne led the Tigers to victory. On the other hand, the South Carolina Gamecocks have been dominating recently, winning three straight games and garnering a top 25 ranking for the first time since 2022. Although nothing has been said about Cooks’ return to the gridiron, a virtually even SEC matchup like this one should be interesting, and the winning team will likely knock the other out of the top 25.
No. 17 Clemson at Pittsburgh: Saturday – Noon
The Miami Hurricanes’ unprecedented loss to Georgia Tech helped Clemson’s chances of an ACC championship title tremendously. Pittsburgh looked to be a favorite for the ACC title a couple of weeks ago, but has since dropped two consecutive games, including a week 11 upset to unranked Virginia. Although Pittsburgh still mathematically isn’t out of title contention just yet, this week 12 matchup against the Clemson Tigers could yet again shake up the ACC standings completely.