2024-25 NCAA Football (Week 11)

Games I saw (some of):

Michigan 15-20 (8) Indiana

With the way Indiana has been trucking people all year long and as middling as the Wolverines have been, I kinda thought this would be an easy one for the Hoosiers. But Michigan does have a pretty good defense and they got into the Hoosier backfield routinely and Indiana found it difficult to convert on 3rd down. But Indiana pulled it out, they made the plays on both sides down the stretch, got the score they needed and I think this is exactly the kind of struggle they needed to make them a better team. Indiana is going to make the playoff--shocker to be sure, but luring in marginal teams is what the 12-team playoff is all about--and matches like this will make them a tougher out. As for Michigan, a flailing season but they're still playing hard and that is good to see. 

(11) Alabama 42-13 (15) Louisiana State

Bama has been up and down but they brought it here. LSU still has a turnover problem, they just can't consistently put enough points on the board to keep up with the gifts they're giving their opponents. I'm lukewarm on QB Millroe but this was one of his classic games. Alabama still on track to make the playoff but I think this result finishes off LSU.

Top 25

Handled their business

(1) Oregon, (2) Ohio State, (5) Texas, (6) Penn State, (7) Tennessee, (10) Notre Dame, (11) Alabama, (12) Boise State, (16) Mississippi, (20) Colorado, (21) Washington State, (23) Clemson, (24) Missouri, (25) Army

Won but did not impress

(8) Indiana. Didn't rack it up, but made the plays they needed to make late and, well, maybe that was more impressive than I'm giving it credit for. 

(9) Brigham Young. Hey, man, you can say they got bailed out by a fluky penalty, but the call wasn't so egregious and they finished the long drive to win it and they deserved it. That said, this game really shouldn't have been close (but Utah plays with pride). 

Bad beat

(15) Louisiana State. Sorry, LSU, you needed to beat Alabama but you didn't. 

Not so good

(3) Georgia. Losing at Ole Miss is forgivable but they got smoked in the 2nd half and it was another poor performance from QB Beck. 

(4) Miami. Looks like they were never in this game, I could forgive a conference L on the road but Miami is bucking for a bye in the playoff and I just don't think this team is good enough.  

(17) Iowa State. Yeah, I was never in on the Cyclones this season and I'm still not. 

(18) Pittsburgh. Pitt is a nice team but probably not a top 25 team. 

Next week's intriguing matches

(17) Clemson @ Pittsburgh (Clemson should be rolling by now but they're not; Pitt is coming off a tough L, should be ready to go this week)

Utah @ (18) Colorado (Utah, too, is coming off a heartbreaker, wouldn't be surprised to see them give the Buffaloes a scare)

(24) Missouri @ South Carolina (the Gamecocks have a lot of nice W's this season, not gonna be an easy out for Missouri)

(6) Tennessee @ (11) Georgia (Okay, both teams need this W, if Beck plays mistake-free, I think UGA is better but we'll see)

My Top 12

1 Oregon

2 Ohio State

3 Texas

4 Brigham Young

5 Penn State

6 Indiana

7 Georgia

8 Notre Dame

9 Alabama

10 Tennessee

11 Southern Methodist

12 Mississippi

(Miami, Boise State, Army, Texas A&M, Colorado still lingering)