Two of the top three teams in the College Football Playoff race fell on Saturday. How will the upsets impact the Top 25 when it comes out again on Tuesday?
We nearly saw all of the top three teams in the College Football Playoff lose on Saturday. It would have been the first time since 1966 that the top three teams in a major poll all fell on the same weekend. In the end, No. 1 Georgia and No. 3 Notre Dame both fell, but No. 16 Mississippi State couldn’t hold on for the upset of No. 2 Alabama in the prime-time SEC showdown.
The loss by the Bulldogs means there will be a new No. 1 team in the country after the College Football Playoff selection committee deliberates before Tuesday. Only four undefeated teams remain after Week 11 play is in the books, and it will make for an interesting reshuffling in the rankings ahead of Week 12 play in this season to rival the chaos of 2007.
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Only a few weeks remain before conference championship games, and time is waning for teams to consolidate their position. But as the country saw this weekend, one slip-up is enough for a team to lose its place in the Top 25. We saw it happen with several teams this weekend, as both Iowa schools each suffered their fourth losses of the 2017 campaign and Virginia Tech fell definitively out of ACC Coastal contention.
Who will be in and who will be out as we approach the penultimate weekend of November? Keep reading for the newest edition of the weekly College Football Playoff Top 25 projections ahead of the Tuesday release by the selection committee.
Against his former team, South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp led his current squad to a 28-20 win over Florida on Saturday. The Gamecocks survived three Jake Bentley interceptions to prevail over the Gators to move to 7-3 on the year. Muschamp’s crew survived thanks to strong defense and a solid effort on the ground.
Florida was held to just 78 rushing yards, forcing Feleipe Franks and Malik Zaire to try to beat them in the air. The duo combined to go 17-of-39 for 223 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks put up 220 yards and four rushing touchdowns when they had the ball. A.J. Turner led the way with 136 yards on 22 carries.
The win concluded South Carolina’s SEC schedule at 5-3, but they should move up into this week’s College Football Playoff rankings despite being out of the East race. The regular season concludes for the Gamecocks with games against FCS Wofford and the annual non-conference rivalry game against defending national champion Clemson.
No. 25 Northwestern took a 14-0 lead at home on Saturday night against Purdue. Then Pat Fitzgerald‘s team held on as their offense sputtered and the Boilermakers tried to mount an unsuccessful comeback. The Wildcats earned their seventh win of the season in a 23-13 takedown of Purdue.
The defense struggled against the pass as Elijah Sindelar threw for 376 yards and two touchdowns for the Boilermakers. But the secondary picked off Sindelar in the fourth quarter, and it was enough to preserve the win. It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was enough to keep Northwestern in the College Football Playoff Top 25 for another week.
All that stands between Northwestern and nine wins are Minnesota and Illinois. The Wildcats will be favored in both games. Northwestern lost its chance to win the Big Ten West when Wisconsin stayed undefeated in Week 11. But they will move up in the rankings a few spots this week into the low 20s, and a New Year’s Six berth is still on the table.
No. 22 Memphis had a bye this weekend, and it might ultimately work out to their benefit. With all the losses ahead of them in the College Football Playoff Top 25, the Tigers could climb up into the teens despite being idle in Week 11. The American Athletic Conference contender will remain the second-highest ranked Group of Five team for a second straight week.
At this point the only loss the Tigers have suffered came at the hands of AAC East leader UCF. If both teams win out, Memphis will get a rematch against the Knights for the conference title. That game would also serve as a play-in game for the Group of Five’s invitation to a New Year’s Six bowl game.
With one of the best offenses and a defense that gives up yards but generates plenty of turnovers, the Tigers could be a tough out for any bowl opponent. Memphis already boasts a win over a Power Five program after taking down UCLA back in September. If they win out, Mike Norvell’s team will be playing in a top-tier bowl game this season.
After getting shut out of the College Football Playoff Top 25 the past few weeks, Michigan will likely make its first appearance of the season. The Wolverines moved to 8-2 in the standings in a 35-10 blowout of Maryland on the road. A young team continues to show improvement with each passing week, and has a shot at 10 wins and even an outside chance of heading to Indianapolis.
Brandon Peters went 9-of-18 for 145 yards and two touchdowns in his third career start, adding a six-yard carry along the way. Chris Evans led the Wolverines in rushing, carrying 15 times for 80 yards and two scores. Maryland racked up 340 total yards of offense, but struggled to reach the endzone against the Michigan defense.
If both Michigan State and Penn State sustain another loss in conference play, it would open the door for the Wolverines to have a shot at the Big Ten East by beating Ohio State. That is the only scenario where Michigan can win the division given losses to the Spartans and Nittany Lions already on the record.
NC State rebounded from its loss to Clemson in Week 10 to earn its seventh win of the 2017 season. The No. 23 Wolfpack held position in the College Football Playoff Top 25 thanks to a tense 17-14 win at Boston College that pushed them to 5-1 in conference play. Defense carried the day as the Wolfpack offense struggled to put away the Eagles.
Ryan Finley had an uncharacteristic 13-of-32 performance, throwing for just 146 yards with an interception. Nyheim Hines picked up the slack, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown as NC State put up 221 yards on the ground as a team. Boston College outgained the Wolfpack on the ground, but managed only 110 passing yards as they alternated between quarterbacks Darius Wade and Anthony Brown.
Dave Doeren’s team won’t play for the ACC title after Clemson beat Florida State, but they will move a few spots upward in the rankings this week. Wins over Wake Forest and North Carolina to close out the regular season would keep NC State in the hunt for a New Year’s Six berth.
No. 24 LSU will climb a few spots in the College Football Playoff Top 25 on Tuesday after routing Arkansas 33-10 on Saturday. The Tigers won the Golden Boot over their SEC West rivals with solid performances on offense and a dominant display on defense. Though an SEC championship is out of reach, the Tigers still have a shot at reaching a New Year’s Six bowl this year.
Derrius Guice put in a sterling showing on the ground, running for 147 yards and three touchdowns against the Razorbacks. LSU quarterback Danny Etling also had a great game, finishing 11-of-16 for 217 yards and two touchdowns. The biggest issue for the Tigers was kicker Connor Culp, who missed two extra points and a 32-yard field goal attempt before ceding his role to sophomore Jack Gonsoulin.
Now LSU heads into the homestretch of the season with a 10-win season still on the table. The regular season concludes with winnable games at Tennessee and at home against Texas A&M. If the Tigers get to nine wins in the regular season, a major bowl appearance is still a possibility.
Stanford kept itself alive in the Pac-12 North race with an upset of No. 9 Washington. The Cardinal took down the Huskies 30-22 in #Pac12AfterDark action on Friday night, moving to 6-2 in conference play. The win put the Cardinal in a three-way tie atop the North standings and gave them a valuable tiebreaker over the Huskies.
New starter K.J. Costello had a strong performance for the Cardinal, going 16-of-27 for 211 yards. But the game was won thanks to another huge game on the ground by Heisman contender Bryce Love. The Stanford running back carried 30 times for 166 yards and three touchdowns, battering the Washington front seven all game long.
After taking down Washington, the Cardinal will now root for the Huskies to win their last few games. They will climb up into the College Football Playoff Top 25 this week, thanks to the big win. Stanford would play in the Pac-12 championship game if they beat Cal next weekend and Washington knocks off Washington State in their Apple Cup rivalry game on Thanksgiving weekend.
Facing No. 2 Alabama at home, No. 16 Mississippi State had a legitimate shot to take down the Crimson Tide and totally throw the College Football Playoff Top 25 into chaos. The Bulldogs led by a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but ran out of gas in the end. Alabama reversed the result for a 31-24 defeat of Dan Mullen‘s squad in Starkville on Saturday night, and the Bulldogs will drop a few spots when the newest rankings are released on Tuesday.
Even though they lost, Mississippi State gave Bama fits for most of the night. Nick Fitzgerald was 13-of-24 passing for 158 yards, and he added 66 yards and a touchdown running the ball. Aeris Williams led all rushers on both teams with 97 yards and two touchdowns. But the Bulldog defense struggled to contain Alabama’s offense for the full 60 minutes and paid the price.
Mississippi State will cling to its spot in the College Football Playoff rankings this week, but they must win out to stay in contention for a possible New Year’s Six invitation. A trip to Arkansas looms in Week 12. The Bulldogs also need to win the Egg Bowl over rival Ole Miss to get to nine wins and keep their hopes alive for a major bowl berth.
With a chance to surprise the field and claim the lead in the Big Ten East race, No. 12 Michigan State fell flat against No. 13 Ohio State on the road. The Spartans managed just one field goal in a 48-3 blowout loss that eliminated them from conference contention. Mark Dantonio‘s team will tumble far down the College Football Playoff Top 25 as a result of the defeat.
After two huge performances, Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke struggled against the Buckeyes. Lewerke finished 18-of-36 for 131 yards and two picks. Michigan State managed just 64 rushing yards against a stout Ohio State front seven. And the defense struggled to contain OSU backs Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins, who combined for 286 rushing yards on 27 carries.
No longer in the hunt for the Big Ten title, Michigan State must now turn its attention to new goals. 10 wins are still within reach if the Spartans can close out the regular season strong against Maryland and Rutgers and win their bowl game. But Dantonio’s team will have to wait for 2018 for another shot at the conference crown.
While other top teams fell, UCF stayed undefeated against UConn on Saturday. At home, the Knights doubled up the score in a 49-24 victory over the Huskies. The No. 18 team in the country moved to 9-0 after putting up over 500 total yards of offense and holding the visitors to a single score per quarter.
McKenzie Milton had another huge game for the Knights, throwing for 346 yards and a couple of touchdowns to fuel the win. Freshman rusher/receiver Otis Anderson had a breakout game in the backfield, leading the Knights with 84 yards and two scores. UConn’s backup quarterback David Pindell, starting for the concussed Bryant Shirreffs, put up nearly 300 total yards and three touchdowns but could not get the Huskies close to victory.
If UCF keeps winning, they will continue to move up the College Football Playoff rankings. As long as they win the American Athletic Conference title, the Knights will be playing in a New Year’s Six bowl game — and could even have a shot at the ultimate prize of a semifinal berth if chaos continues to strike across the country.
Despite getting 120 rushing yards and three touchdowns from running back Myles Gaskin, No. 9 Washington dropped its second game of the year 30-22 at Stanford on Friday night. Unable to put away the Cardinal, the Huskies are now in danger of falling out of the Pac-12 North race and will tumble hard down the College Football Playoff Top 25 this week.
Jake Browning was 17-of-23 passing the ball, but he threw for just 190 yards and failed to toss a single touchdown. After looking incredible against Oregon in Week 10, Browning fell back to earth in an inconsistent season. The Washington defense gave up over 400 yards to the Cardinal in the loss, including 166 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to Heisman hopeful Bryce Love.
The Huskies will try to pick up the pieces in the next few weeks with home games against Utah and Washington State. If they win out, though, it will be Stanford rather than the Huskies who play in the Pac-12 championship game. A second straight College Football Playoff spot is no longer in reach for Chris Petersen’s crew.
After Washington lost on Friday night to Stanford, the door opened for Washington State to jump back up in the Pac-12 North. The Cougars followed through on the opportunity, taking down Utah in Salt Lake City 33-25 to move to 9-2 on the year. Now the Cougars hold control of their own fate, needing only to beat the Huskies in the Apple Cup to win the division.
Against the Utes on Saturday, Luke Falk threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns. He needed 69 passing attempts to get over 300 yards, though, and threw two interceptions. Washington State managed to put up only 27 rushing yards on 17 carries. Defense dominated for both teams, but the Cougars pulled ahead with four interceptions of their own.
Mike Leach’s team gets a well-deserved bye next weekend ahead of the showdown against the Huskies in Seattle on Thanksgiving weekend. The College Football Playoff might be a longshot even if the Cougars win the Pac-12 title, but they will move up in the Top 25 this week after keeping their conference hopes alive.
After a slow start against Rutgers, No. 14 Penn State pulled away for a 35-6 win over the Scarlet Knights on Saturday. The Nittany Lions took down their visitors thanks to a strong effort from the defense that mitigated a flat performance by the PSU offense. James Franklin‘s team did enough to hold position in the College Football Playoff Top 25 this week and could move back up into the top dozen of the rankings.
Trace McSorley set the all-time mark in career touchdowns for Penn State in the win. The quarterback went 16-of-21 for 214 yards and two touchdowns, and added another 44 yards and a score running the ball. It helped balance another disappointing performance by Saquon Barkley, who had two rushing touchdowns but gained only 35 yards on 14 carries. The former Heisman hopeful finished with only 85 all-purpose yards.
The Nittany Lions could still hit double digits in the win column with victories over Nebraska and Maryland to close out the regular season. A New Year’s Six appearance could be in play even though Penn State is out of the Big Ten race.
TCU never had a hope on their trip to Norman, falling behind 38-14 by halftime against the No. 5 Sooners and then failing to mount any comeback in the second half. The 38-20 final dropped the No. 6 Horned Frogs to 8-2 on the season, and probably ended their chance of reaching the Big 12 championship game.
Gary Patterson‘s team racked up over 400 yards of offense, but they were unable to get into the endzone on many of their drives. The oft-hyped TCU defense coughed up 533 yards to the Sooners, as Baker Mayfield solidified his spot atop the Heisman rankings and Rodney Anderson finished with four total touchdowns.
TCU is going to fall outside the Top 10 of this week’s College Football Playoff rankings as a result, but they will probably remain in the Top 15. The Big 12 title game isn’t entirely out of reach, if they can get a little help from other results around the conference and win their last two games of the regular season against Texas Tech and Baylor.
In yet another defense-light Big 12 contest, No. 15 Oklahoma State held on for a 49-42 win over No. 21 Iowa State on Saturday. The Cowboys kept themselves alive in the conference race after a game-ending interception in the endzone prevented the game from going to overtime. Now 8-2, Mike Gundy‘s team needs two more wins to seal a spot in the revamped Big 12 title game.
Mason Rudolph had a near-perfect performance at quarterback for the Cowboys. The Heisman hopeful went 25-of-31 for 376 yards and three touchdowns. His aerial attack was balanced by another huge showing from running back Justice Hill, who ran for 134 yards and three touchdowns against the Cyclones.
If they close out the year at home with wins over Kansas State and Kansas, Oklahoma State could get a chance to avenge one of its two losses against either TCU or Oklahoma. A spot in the College Football Playoff might be out of reach even with a Big 12 title, but the Pokes are in position for a 10-win season and a New Year’s Six berth.
With a shot to consolidate its position in the College Football Playoff picture, No. 3 Notre Dame collapsed in a 41-8 rout at No. 7 Miami on Saturday night. Nothing went right for the Fighting Irish as they dropped their second loss of the season. As a result, Brian Kelly’s team could drop out of the top 10 after such a comprehensive defeat.
Both quarterbacks struggled for the Irish, as Brandon Wimbush and Ian Book combined to go just 13-of-27 for 152 yards and three interceptions. Notre Dame also struggled to get its ground game going, as Heisman dark-horse Josh Adams finished with 40 rushing yards on 16 carries. Miami ran roughshod on the Fighting Irish, racking up 261 total yards of offense in the blowout.
A spot in the College Football Playoff is probably out of the question now for Notre Dame. They could still land in a New Year’s Six game, especially if Miami wins the ACC and either USC or Stanford takes the Pac-12 title. But the semifinals are out of reach after a lopsided loss in prime time.
After falling hard against Iowa in Week 10, Ohio State needed a rebound performance against Michigan State to get back into the Big Ten race and the College Football Playoff picture. The No. 13 Buckeyes made an emphatic statement on Saturday, taking down the No. 12 Spartans 48-3 at home to take sole possession of the lead in the East division.
Mike Weber racked up 162 yards and two long touchdowns on just nine carries. J. K. Dobbins also topped 100 rushing yards, posting 124 on 18 carries. Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett had a decent showing, throwing for 183 yards and adding 55 on the ground to go with four total touchdowns.
A spot in the College Football Playoff is still a longshot since the Buckeyes have two losses on their record. But if any two-loss team can break the mold, it might be Urban Meyer’s crew if they manage to win the Big Ten title this year. Illinois and Michigan loom on the rest of the November schedule before the title game on the first weekend of December.
Georgia won’t be ranked No. 1 when the newest College Football Playoff Top 25 is released on Tuesday, thanks to a 40-17 blowout defeat at No. 10 Auburn. The Bulldogs collapsed against the Tigers, managing only 230 yards of offense as they dropped their first game of the season. Kirby Smart‘s team now has no room for error as they play out the rest of the regular season.
The Bulldogs already had a spot wrapped up in the SEC championship game after securing the East title last week. They might get a chance to avenge the loss to Auburn if the Tigers make it to the title game out of the West. But Auburn more than doubled up the score on Georgia, and as a result the Bulldogs are due to slide down the rankings on Tuesday.
Georgia now hosts Kentucky in their final conference tilt of the regular season. Then they head to Atlanta to face a Georgia Tech team that took down No. 17 Virginia Tech in Week 11. Losses in either would relegate the Bulldogs out of the College Football Playoff race, even if they do win the SEC crown.
USC took another step toward the Pac-12 championship game, defeating defending Pac-12 South champ Colorado in Boulder on Saturday. The Trojans rode a big first-half performance and then fended off a comeback effort by the Buffaloes to pull off the 38-24 victory on the road. The win locked up the division for Clay Helton‘s team, as they stayed a game ahead of both Arizona and Arizona State with one game left to play and tiebreakers over both the Wildcats and Sun Devils.
Sam Darnold continued his redemption tour in the back half of the regular season, going 21-of-34 for 329 yards and two scores through the air. Ronald Jones II continued to assert his place as one of the top running backs in the country, rushing for 142 yards and a touchdown. USC’s defense gave up 376 yards to Colorado quarterback Steven Montez but also forced two interceptions.
Now only the annual Victory Bell battle against crosstown rival UCLA remains on the regular-season schedule for the Trojans. They will climb up into the top 10 this week when the next College Football Playoff Top 25 is released on Tuesday, thanks to another solid victory.
Auburn didn’t just beat the top team in the country. The Tigers dominated No. 1 Georgia in every way possible, blowing out the Bulldogs 40-17 on the Plains for their eighth win of the season. Gus Malzahn’s team kept pace with Alabama in the SEC West race, setting up what could be another potentially epic Iron Bowl for the division crown and a trip to Atlanta.
Jarrett Stidham carved up the Georgia secondary, completing 16 of his 23 passing attempts for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Kerryon Johnson had another big rushing day, pounding the rock for 167 yards on the ground. Auburn’s defense stifled the Bulldog attack, allowing just 230 total yards to knock Georgia from the ranks of the unbeaten.
Next week Auburn takes a break from SEC play as they host Louisiana-Monroe from the Sun Belt. Then the showdown with Alabama looms at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Thanksgiving weekend. The winner will play for the SEC title and a shot at a College Football Playoff berth, while the loser will be relegated to a likely spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
Wisconsin started slowly against No. 20 Iowa, with quarterback Alex Hornibrook keeping the Hawkeyes in the game by tossing two pick-sixes. But the No. 8 Badgers got back on track to run away with a 38-14 victory at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday. Now one of a dwindling number of undefeated teams, Wisconsin locked up its spot in the Big Ten championship game with the win.
The Badgers defense was the catalyst for the win, giving up just 66 total yards and shutting out the Iowa offense. Leon Jacobs had a huge game, recovering two fumbles and returning one for a touchdown. Freshman running back Jonathan Taylor had another sterling performance, rushing for 157 yards in the victory, though he failed to reach the endzone.
Wisconsin hosts Michigan at home next weekend before traveling to Minneapolis for the annual Battle for Paul Bunyan’s Axe against Minnesota on Thanksgiving weekend. If they win both contests, the Badgers will be playing for a spot in the College Football Playoff when they face the East champion in Indianapolis on the first weekend of December.
Oklahoma rolled up the score in the first half against No. 6 TCU, then shut down the Horned Frogs in a runaway 38-20 victory. The Sooners moved to 9-1 on the season and is in position to play on the relaunched Big 12 championship. In Lincoln Riley’s first year as a head coach, Oklahoma will vault up into one of the top four positions in the College Football Playoff Top 25 when it comes out on Tuesday.
It was another Big 12 game where defense fell by the wayside. Baker Mayfield consolidated his Heisman case with an 18-of-27 performance for 333 passing yards and three touchdowns and another 50 rushing yards. Rodney Anderson had four total touchdowns, rushing for 151 yards and two scores and catching two of Mayfield’s touchdown passes.
Oklahoma will land either third or fourth in the College Football Playoff, depending on how far the selection committee boosts Miami after its win over Notre Dame. Ohio State’s surge to the top of the Big Ten East helps Oklahoma’s case, though Iowa State’s loss and fall out of the rankings will mitigate the impact of the Buckeyes victory for OU.
Miami is destined to jump up into one of the four College Football Playoff semifinal spots when the newest Top 25 is released on Tuesday. A much-hyped Top 10 showdown against No. 3 Notre Dame turned into a mismatch, as the Hurricanes shut down the rival Fighting Irish in a 41-8 blowout on Saturday night.
Defense was the key ingredient for Mark Richt‘s team as they held the Fighting Irish to a single score. Trajan Bandy had a 65-yard pick-six, while Brandon Wimbush and Ian Book threw three total interceptions in the contest. Notre Dame finished with just 261 total yards of offense in the rout.
As one of four remaining undefeated teams, Miami earned the statement win they needed to gain the confidence of the College Football Playoff selection committee. They probably won’t jump all the way to No. 1 in the rankings, but Miami is now guaranteed a spot in the ACC championship against Clemson and can continue to build their case if they beat Virginia and Pittsburgh in the coming weeks.
Clemson had an up-and-down game against Florida State on Saturday. For a moment they were on upset alert as the Seminoles pulled within three, but the No. 4 Tigers eventually pulled away for a 31-14 victory. The win will keep the defending national champions in one of the top four spots in the College Football Playoff Top 25 for another week.
Kelly Bryant went 20-of-30 passing, but he managed just 150 yards through the air. He added 60 yards and a touchdown on the ground, as the Tigers finished with 227 rushing yards and four touchdowns as a team. The defense held James Blackman to 13-of-32 passing for 208 yards, while the Seminoles running game averages less than a yard per carry with 21 net yards on two dozen rushes.
With the ACC schedule in the books, Clemson sealed its place atop the ACC Atlantic with the win. Now they just need to win against FCS The Citadel and in the regular-season rivalry game out of conference against South Carolina to stay in the College Football Playoff race. If they win the ACC again, they will be in the semifinals.
Alabama survived a scare against No. 16 Mississippi State, coming back to win 31-24 on a touchdown in the final minute. The win pushed the Crimson Tide to 10-0 and kept them among the dwindling ranks of the undefeated. After Georgia’s loss to Auburn, Nick Saban’s crew will jump up to the No. 1 spot in the College Football Playoff Top 25 after going wire-to-wire atop the other major polls since the preseason.
Jalen Hurts was just 10-of-19 throwing the ball, but he racked up 242 yards and a touchdown in the process. Hurts also ran for 40 yards and a score, one of three Tide players to rush for touchdowns on the night. Andy Pappanastos struck a field goal off the upright that could have been the game winner late in the fourth quarter, but Alabama got the ball back and left nothing to chance as DeVonta Smith caught a 26-yard touchdown pass for the winning points.
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The Tide become the frontrunner in the race for a semifinal spot with the survival in Starkville. After next week’s home game against FCS Mercer, the trip to the Plains to face Auburn in the Iron Bowl will serve as the de facto SEC West championship game. The winner will head to Atlanta to face Georgia, while the loser will wait to see which New Year’s Six bowl it plays in this postseason.