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Week 11 of the college football season provided plenty of excitement, from a blowout in Dallas to a thrilling last-second comeback in Baton Rouge. The weekend's action underscored the unpredictability that makes the sport so captivating.
Each week, analysts highlight the most compelling storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders, and recognize standout individual and team performances.
Wake Forest Demands Attention
The Demon Deacons are making a powerful statement in the ACC, having defeated their last five conference opponents by an average margin of 39.6 points. Their latest victory, a 42-0 halftime lead over SMU, came just two days after head coach Jake Dickert signed a long-term extension. Dickert's fiery halftime comment to radio sideline reporter Dave Goren—"We're not finished with them yet. We came for 60 minutes, and they've got nowhere to hide"—epitomized the team's dominant mindset. This performance served as a clear message to the College Football Playoff selection committee, which has yet to rank the Deacs high enough for a 12-team bracket spot. Much of the misperception surrounding Wake Forest stems from preseason notions about the ACC, with teams like Louisville and SMU being overhyped. It's time to give credit to Gio Lopez and Carlos Hernandez for their contributions.
Georgia Reasserts Dominance
After an inexplicable loss to Auburn, the Bulldogs have looked like the best team in college football, winning their last three SEC games by an average of 27 points. Georgia has been dominant on both sides of the ball, balancing a potent offense with its typically stingy defense. Ole Miss felt the brunt of it a week ago, and Missouri became the latest victim on Saturday.
Lane Kiffin's Struggles at LSU
Lane Kiffin's debut season at LSU has been nothing short of disastrous. The Tigers, who invested heavily to bring him in, are currently 6-4 after back-to-back excruciating losses—first to rival Alabama and then to Texas in the final seconds. Kiffin now holds a 5-19 record against top-ten teams as a head coach, raising questions about his ability to win big games. While he is a good coach, he has yet to prove he can elevate his team in crucial moments.
Indiana's Much-Needed Win
Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti voiced frustration this week about the College Football Playoff selection committee after the Hoosiers dropped five spots during a bye week. However, the committee has been consistent: it values big wins and will overlook losses if there are signature victories to offset them. Indiana's offense had been shaky for much of the year but exploded against USC's defense on Saturday. Grant Wilson threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in his first start for the Hoosiers, leading the team to its first win over a committee-ranked opponent.
Kentucky's Playoff Hopes Dim
Kentucky was a great story, but the Wildcats are not a College Football Playoff team. A few weeks ago, it seemed their true mettle would be tested in a grueling stretch against Tennessee, Florida, and Missouri. That stretch defined their season—and not in a good way. Saturday's loss to unranked and reeling Florida followed a blowout loss to Tennessee, dropping Kentucky to 7-3 and likely ending their CFP aspirations. Despite the setback, the program is in good hands with Will Stein, and Year 1 has been fantastic. The future is bright, but a historic CFP berth is not in the cards this season.
A Strange Heisman Race
This year's Heisman Trophy race is unusually quiet. The best player in the sport, Jeremiah Smith, plays for a team that is disappointing without its starting quarterback and likely won't compete for a conference title. The potential top quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, Drew Mestemaker, is on a non-contender, which may mean voters aren't watching closely. CJ Carr of Notre Dame has no ranked opponents left and won't play in a conference championship game. Darian Mensah of Miami is in the mix, but he lost to another contender in South Bend. Perhaps Gunner Stockton of Georgia or Devon Dampier of Utah could gain traction with marquee opportunities ahead. It's a weirdly quiet race lacking buzz and big moments—but that could change in the coming weeks.
UCLA's Remarkable Turnaround
UCLA is 10-0 and appears headed to the College Football Playoff. In just one season, head coach Bob Chesney has flipped the script, leading the Bruins to the greatest one-year turnaround in program history after a 3-9 campaign last year. The Bruins still have tough tests ahead—a trip to Michigan and a home game against USC—before an expected Big Ten championship appearance. At this point, it's safe to pencil them into the CFP, and a win would make it ink. Given the losses suffered by other contenders, UCLA's achievement is even more impressive.
Michigan's Coaching Questions
Is Kyle Whittingham a one-and-done head coach at Michigan? Another embarrassing on-field performance and another week of foot-in-mouth comments to the media have raised doubts. The fit isn't working, and there's little to build on. What can excite fans or donors about Year 2? The honeymoon is over, and the pressure is mounting.
Originally reported by nbcsports.