Week 11 of college football saw more national championship hopefuls fall in dramatic fashion. Early in the day, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Miami were upset, disrupting their standings in the race for the College Football Playoff. Underdogs have won every week this season, making this one of the most unpredictable years in recent memory.
Miami’s loss has major implications for the ACC, as SMU now stands alone at the top of the conference. The Big 12 race was also shaken up, with Iowa State losing unexpectedly to Kansas, positioning Colorado as a surprising contender.
More shifts could happen as Saturday night games progress. No. 11 Alabama heads to No. 15 LSU for a crucial SEC matchup. No. 24 Missouri faces Oklahoma in a must-win game, while No. 6 Penn State hosts Washington.
Here are the biggest winners and losers from Week 11 so far:
Winner: Ole Miss
Coach Lane Kiffin and his Rebels finally scored a big win, defeating No. 3 Georgia 28-10. Ole Miss’s defense sacked Georgia’s Carson Beck five times, and quarterback Jaxson Dart, despite an injury, led the offense to 397 yards. With this victory, Ole Miss remains a College Football Playoff contender, as a loss would have dashed those hopes. South Carolina, whom Ole Miss defeated earlier, could enter the rankings after a victory over Vanderbilt.
Loser: Miami
The Hurricanes, who had been narrowly escaping losses, finally fell to Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets ran for 271 yards and held Miami to only 3.7 yards per carry. Miami quarterback Cameron Ward threw for 348 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough. This defeat complicates Miami’s ACC Championship Game chances, as Clemson and Pittsburgh now pose serious competition. Miami remains in the top 12 but is in a precarious position.
Winner: Colorado
Colorado has quietly reemerged as a College Football Playoff contender, advancing to 7-2 after a 41-27 win over Texas Tech. The Buffaloes, now second in the Big 12, could reach the Big 12 Championship Game against BYU. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback Travis Hunter have been pivotal, along with Colorado’s defensive line, which sacked Texas Tech’s Behren Morton six times.
Winner: UCLA
After a rough start, UCLA now has a three-game winning streak, defeating Iowa 20-17. UCLA held Iowa to just 265 yards, a stark contrast to the 35.5 points per game Iowa averaged in their previous four games. After entering the season on a five-game losing streak against power conference teams, UCLA has revitalized its season. They face Fresno State next and need one win over Washington or USC to secure a bowl spot, a major achievement for first-year coach DeShaun Foster.
Loser: Florida
The Gators endured a crushing 49-17 loss to Texas, marking a rough start to Billy Napier’s era as head coach. With DJ Lagway out due to injury, walk-on quarterback Aidan Warner started for Florida, but Texas dominated, gaining over 350 yards in the first half and averaging 8.8 yards per play. Though Florida knew Napier’s return might bring tough games, Week 11 underscored why some fans had reservations about his retention.
Winner: Army
No. 25 Army remained undefeated with a 14-3 win over North Texas, but the real highlight was a staggering 21-play, 94-yard drive that took nearly 14 minutes. This incredible drive used up more than 28 minutes of real time and helped Army secure its victory, slowing down North Texas’s high-powered offense. Army is now 9-0, with one of the most unique drives of the season to its name.
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