Image Courtesy: James Madison University Athletics
CFP Top 6
1.Georgia 10-0 (7-0) SEC This week: @ 18.Tennessee (7-3) (3:30 PM ET, CBS)
2.Ohio State 10-0 (7-0) Big Ten This week: Minnesota (5-5) (4 PM ET, BTN)
3.Michigan 10-0 (7-0) Big Ten This week: @ Maryland (6-4) (12 PM ET, FOX)
4.Florida State 10-0 (8-0) ACC This week: North Alabama (3-7) (6:30 PM ET, CW Network)
5.Washington 10-0 (7-0) Pac-12 This week: @ 11.Oregon State (8-2) (7:30 PM ET, ABC)
6.Oregon 9-1 (6-1) Pac-12 This week: @ Arizona State (3-7) (4 PM ET, FOX)
Biggest risers and fallers in the CFP Top 25 this week:
Risers
1.Georgia 10-0 (7-0) SEC Week 11: #2 (Defeated 9.Ole Miss, 52-17)
9.Missouri 8-2 (5-2) SEC Week 11: #14 (Defeated 13.Tennessee, 36-7)
15.LSU 7-3 (5-2) SEC Week 11: #19 (Defeated Florida, 52-35)
16.Iowa 8-2 (5-2) Big Ten Week 11: #22 (Defeated Rutgers, 22-0)
17.Arizona 7-3 (5-2) Pac-12 Week 11: #21 (Defeated Colorado, 34-31)
Fallers
2.Ohio State 10-0 (7-0) Week 11: #1 (Defeated Michigan State, 38-3)
12.Penn State 8-2 (5-2) Big Ten Week 11: #10 (Lost to 3.Michigan, 24-15)
13.Ole Miss 8-2 (5-2) SEC Week 11: #9 (Lost to 2.Georgia, 52-17)
18.Tennessee 7-3 (3-3) SEC Week 11: #13 (Lost to 14.Missouri, 36-7)
22.Utah 7-3 (4-3) Pac-12 Week 11: #18 (Lost to 5.Washington, 35-28)
23.Oklahoma State 7-3 (5-2) Big 12 Week 11: #15 (Lost to Central Florida, 45-3)
25.Kansas 7-3 (4-3) Big 12 Week 11: #16 (Lost to Texas Tech, 16-13)
Dropped Out
N/A
New
N/A
Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)
Appalachian State (6-4) @ James Madison (10-0) (Saturday, 2 PM ET, ESPN+)
ESPN’s College GameDay heads to James Madison to see the undefeated Dukes face Appalachian State. Despite James Madison’s terrific season, “is ineligible for a bowl game under NCAA guidelines, and under Sun Belt rules can’t play in the conference championship as the school plays its second year in a transition from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision” per The Virginia Pilot. Despite all of that for the Dukes, they are not ranked in the College Football Playoff top 25. Quarterback Jordan McCloud has thrown for almost 3,000 yards, 26 TDs, rushed for 458 yards, and 6 TDs. McCloud has two great running backs by him, including Kaelon Black (531 yards and 1 TD) and Ty Son Lawton (310 yards and 6 TDs). Receivers Reggie Brown (903 yards and 8 TDs) and Elijah Sarratt (841 yards and 4 TDs) make it easier for McCloud as reliable targets. Their front seven continues to dominate with linebackers Aiden Fisher (80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception) and Jailin Walker (45 tackles and 1.5 sacks), as well as defensive linemen Jalen Green (50 tackles, 15.5 sacks, and 1 interceptions) and Mikail Kamara (42 tackles and 6.5 sacks). Because of this NCAA ruling, Appalachian State is still in play to win the Sun Belt East over the Dukes, as they are a half game behind Coastal Carolina (5-2) with a 4-2 conference record. Mountaineer QB Joey Aguilar has been as good as McCloud this season, also throwing for 26 touchdowns so far this season. Aguilar’s offensive weapons, tailback Nate Noel (766 yards and 5 TDs), receiver Kaedin Robinson (541 yards and 6 TDs), and fellow receiver Christian Horn (456 yards and 5 TDs) continue to be great as they try to appear in another Sun Belt title game. Former Arkansas linebacker Andrew Parker Jr. (86 tackles and 2 sacks) must continue his great play if Appalachian State wants to beat James Madison. Projected Score: James Madison 34, Appalachian State 24
22.Utah (7-3) @ 17.Arizona (7-3) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, P12N)
Barring potential collapses from Washington and Oregon, the two squads will have a rematch in December 1st’s Pac-12 title game. S0, Arizona and Utah must focus on controlling what they can control to keep themselves in the conversation by winning. The Wildcats are led by their signal caller, Noah Fifita, who has thrown for over 1,700 yards and 16 TDs while his running backs Jonah Coleman (744 yards and 3 TDs) and DJ Williams (347 yards and 4 TDs) continue to shine for Arizona. Receivers Tetairoa McMillan (860 yards and 8 TDs) and Jacob Cowing (534 yards and 10 TDs) are reliable for Fifita while defenders Jacob Manu (84 tackles and 5.5 sacks) and Dalton Johnson (54 tackles and 1 sack) must get through the Utah offensive line to Bryson Barnes (1,197 yards and 10 TDs) to help their team win this game. Running back Ja’Quinden Jackson (627 yards and 4 TDs) and receiver Devaughn Pele (482 yards and 2 TDs) must continue to be great against a great Arizona defense. The Utes’ defense is pretty great themselves, using talented linebackers Levani Damuni (60 tackles) and Karene Reid (54 tackles and 1 interception) to get to the quarterback consistently. Utah may not be able to win a third consecutive Pac-12 Championship but they can keep Arizona from continuing their success with a win over the Wildcats. Projected Score: Utah 27, Arizona 20
1.Georgia (10-0) @ 18.Tennessee (7-3) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
Perceived to be the two favorites to win the SEC East in the final season of divisions in the conference entering the season, Georgia has lived up to the gigantic hype like usual but Tennessee was killed last Saturday by Missouri, who only lost to the Bulldogs by nine the previous weekend in Athens. Georgia’s offense absolutely obliterated Ole Miss’ defense last weekend for 611 yards with Kendall Milton carrying the ball just nine times for almost 130 yards and 2 TDs and receiver Ladd McConkey going for 81 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Their first year starting quarterback, Carson Beck, continues to thrive in Kirby Smart’s system, going 18-25 for 306 yards and 2 TDs. On the other side of the ball, Smart’s patented defense held the high scoring Rebels to just 17 points, CJ Smith made nine tackles and a sack and Tykee Smith made six tackles. Tennessee’s offense must show up with the great way this Georgia defense is playing right now. Joe Milton (2,283 yards and 16 TDs) has not lived up to the pre-season hype he garnered but top tailback Jaylen Wright continues to attract attention as he almost reaches the 900 yard mark with three touchdowns by his name through ten games this season. The Vols’ receivers, Squirrel White, 609 yards and 2 TDs, and Ramel Keyton, 469 yards and 4 TDs, must be excellent Saturday if they want to play spoiler. Similar to the Bulldogs’ defense, their offense is thriving as well. So, linebacker Elijah Herring, who has an incredible sixty-four tackles on the season, will be important to shutting down Beck and the Georgia offense. Projected Score: Georgia 42, Tennessee 24
21.Kansas State (7-3) @ 25.Kansas (7-3) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, FS1)
With Kansas State (5-2) tied with four teams for second in the Big 12, the Wildcats have a lot to play for the last two weeks of the season. Kansas, on the other hand, is 4-3 in conference and will have to pull off a miracle to show up in the conference championship game. Jason Bean (1,431 yards and 10 TDs) has been phenomenal since replacing star Jalon Daniels under center. The running back combo of Devin Neal (965 yards and 8 TDs) and Daniel Hishaw Jr. (552 yards and 8 TDs) has definitely made Bean’s life easier in addition to the great play of receivers Lawrence Arnold, who has made 33 catches for 559 yards and 2 TDs, and Quinten Skinner, who has made 21 catches for 421 yards and 2 TDs. Safety Kenny Logan Jr. (70 tackles and 1 interception) and linebacker Rich Miller (51 tackles and 2 sacks) will look to make Will Howard (2,190 yards and 21 touchdowns) and the Wildcat offense’s life hard on Saturday. Tailback DJ Giddens (859 yards and 7 TDs) and receiver Phillip Brooks (554 yards and 5 TDs) have starred next to Howard in this offense. Defensively for K-State, it will be up to linebacker Austin Moore (54 tackles and 1.5 sacks) to stop the Jayhawks running game. A win for the Wildcats puts them in great position to get a rematch with Texas in the Big 12 Championship game, assuming both teams win out. Projected Score: Kansas 35, Kansas State 31
5.Washington (10-0) @ 11.Oregon State (8-2) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
Led by their tremendous offense, Washington must make it through two more regular season games before they complete an undefeated season entering the Pac-12 title game. They must avoid a loss to a pesky Oregon State team, who has climbed all the way to number 11 in the CFP poll, led by former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei (2,254 yards and 20 TDs). The Beavers could do something very funny by beating the Pac-12’s top two teams, the Huskies and their instate rival, number six Oregon on Thanksgiving Saturday, which would end the Pac-12’s College Football Playoff hopes in their final season as the conference everyone knows. The Beavers have had great success leaning on their running game and defense. Damien Martinez makes it look easy at that position, carrying the ball for over 1,000 yards and 7 TDs on just 155 carries. Linebacker Easton Macarenas-Arnold (88 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions) and defensive back Akili Arnold (58 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 0.5 sacks) must get to Heisman front runner Michael Penix with ease if they want to stop the awesome Husky offense. Receivers Rome Odunze (1,100 yards and 9 TDs) and Ja’Lynn Polk (943 yards and 8 TDs) make it look easy for the Washington offense. With Washington’s defense not being great, this primetime Pac-12 battle will come down to the Kalen DeBoer’s offense going up against Jonathan Smith’s great defense. Projected Score: Washington 31, Oregon State 24
