Week 11 // 2023
Week 11
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “If Clemson’s a stock, you better buy all you freaking can. Buy right now.” – Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney of the Tigers’ 31-23 upset over Notre Dame
TEAM OF THE WEEK
OKLAHOMA STATE
T E A M T O W AT C H
ALABAMA Facing the top offense in the country, Alabama is one step closer to winning the SEC West after defeating LSU, 48-28, in a shootout for its seventh consecutive win. The Tigers struck first with a 46-yard touchdown before Jalen Milroe responded with back-toback rushing scores. LSU scored three more times, but it wasn’t enough to combat Alabama’s offense. Matching the Tigers’ Heisman Trophy candidate Jayden Daniels, Milroe led the charge past the Tigers with 374 total yards, 155 rushing and 219 through the air on 15-of-23 passes, and four rushing touchdowns – the most-ever by an Alabama quarterback. Defensively, Caleb Downs recorded 13 tackles, including nine solo stops, to help the Tide emerge victorious in Tuscaloosa.
No. 15 Oklahoma State edged No. 17 Oklahoma, 27-24, in the final scheduled Bedlam Series game before Oklahoma departs the Big 12 for the SEC next year. The upset prompted jubilant Cowboys fans to rush the field and disassemble the goalposts, throwing them into Oklahoma State’s Theta Pond. Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week Ollie Gordon II ran for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the first on a 20-yard run to cap Oklahoma State’s gameopening drive and the second on a two-yard rush in the fourth quarter, putting the Cowboys up, 24-21. Alex Hale increased the margin by three with his second field goal of the game, and the Sooners only managed a field goal in the final seven minutes to come up short to the Cowboys, who earned the Cheez-It National Team of the Week. In its first matchup ever, Oklahoma State takes on UCF in Orlando on Saturday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. PHX on ESPN.
On deck for No. 8 Alabama (8-1, 6-0) is its penultimate SEC matchup at Kentucky (6-3, 3-3) on Saturday, November 11, at 10 a.m. PHX on ESPN.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
Week 11
CFP WEEK 11 RANKINGS
GAMES OF THE WEEK TEXAS TECH AT #16 KANSAS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
11.11 // 10 AM // FS1
#18 UTAH AT #5 WASHINGTON
Ohio State Georgia Michigan Florida State Washington
6. Oregon 7. Texas 8. Alabama 9. Ole Miss 10. Penn State
For the full CFP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
11.11 // 1:30 PM // FOX
#13 TENNESSEE AT #14 MISSOURI 11.11 // 1:30 PM // CBS
#9 OLE MISS AT #2 GEORGIA 11.11 // 5 PM // ESPN
USC AT #6 OREGON 11.11 // 8:30 PM // FOX For a full schedule of Week 11 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
2023 BOWL PREDICTIONS
GAME OF THE WEEK NO. 3 MICHIGAN AT NO. 10 PENN STATE In another stacked Saturday of College Football, all eyes will be on Michigan (9-0, 6-0) at Penn State (8-1, 5-1) on November 11, at 10 a.m. PHX on FOX, to find out who will emerge in this Big Ten showdown with CFP ranking implications. This will be the fourth time the two programs meet as Top 10 ranked opponents, with the Wolverines leading the all-time series 16-10. Michigan and Penn State’s defenses pilot the nation in defensive stats. The Wolverines are on top of the NCAA in total defense (231.4), first downs allowed (102) and scoring defense (6.7). Meanwhile the Nittany Lions are right behind them at No. 2 in total defense (234.2) and first downs allowed (118), and No. 3 in scoring defense (11.9). With the homefield advantage, will Penn State give Michigan its first loss of the season, or will the Wolverines persist and disrupt the Nittany Lions’ perfect record at home?
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ESPN Bonagura – Oregon vs. Penn State Action Network – Washington vs. Alabama USA Today – Washington vs. Penn State College Football News – Washington vs. Fresno State Bleacher Report – Oregon vs. Tulane FOX Sports – Washington vs. Texas
ESPN Bonagura – West Virginia vs. Minnesota Action Network – Houston vs. Maryland USA Today – Kansas vs. Nebraska College Football Network – Iowa State vs. Nebraska Athlon Sports – Kansas State vs. Illinois 247 Sports – Oklahoma vs. Nebraska
Week 11
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT
DERIUS DAVIS The Los Angeles Chargers rolled past the New York Jets, 27-6, on Monday Night Football in East Rutherford, and their rout was kickstarted by Derius Davis’ 87-yard punt return touchdown. Davis’ touchdown was the first of his NFL career and the longest punt return in the NFL this season. In his rookie season, Davis has recorded eight receptions for 38 yards and seven carries for 75 yards through eight games. The former TCU wide receiver had two receptions for 12 yards and added 106 return yards in the 2022 CFP Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Michigan that saw the Horned Frogs win 51-45 to advance to the CFP National Championship game. The Chargers will enjoy a bye week before hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, November 19, at 2:25 p.m. PHX on CBS.
BIG NEWS The Guaranteed Rate Bowl will once again feature Bowl Season’s only Big 12 vs. Big Ten matchup. As we eagerly await the Dec. 26 kickoff, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news from Week 11:
BIG TEN
BIG 12
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Four Big Ten teams are ranked in the latest CFP poll, including three Top 10 teams, the most among all leagues: No. 1 Ohio State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 10 Penn State and No. 22 Iowa. Iowa, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers have all secured bowl eligibility by reaching six wins this season. All 14 Big Ten teams take the field this week, featuring seven conference games and four divisional matchups. There are seven undefeated teams left in the FBS and two hail from the Big Ten, Michigan and Ohio State, with identical 9-0 records. Two former Guaranteed Rate Bowl teams are represented in this week’s Big Ten Football Honors: Indiana linebacker Aaron Casey earned Defensive Player of the Week after piling up nine tackles and forcing a fumble against Wisconsin, and Iowa kicker Drew Stevens was Special Teams Player of the Week for a 53-yard game-winning field goal over Northwestern.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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Five Big 12 teams are ranked in the CFP Top 25: No. 7 Texas, No. 15 Oklahoma State, No. 16 Kansas, No. 17 Oklahoma and No. 25 Kansas State. Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and West Virginia are all bowl eligible with at least six wins, while BYU and Iowa State are one win away. All 14 Big 12 teams compete this week. The Big 12 has two of the three teams with three wins over CFP Top 25 teams: Texas (Alabama, Kansas, Kansas State) and Oklahoma State (Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma). Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy won his 100th career Big 12 game, becoming the third coach in conference history to reach the milestone, alongside Bob Stoops (Oklahoma) and Bill Snyder (Kansas State).
Week 11
MORE THAN A GAME WISHES FOR TEACHERS ARIZONA TEACHERS RECEIVE $1.25 MILLION THROUGH PALO VERDE FIESTA BOWL CHARITIES WISHES FOR TEACHERS DRAFT DAY PRESENTED BY SRP In its annual tradition to honor, support and celebrate Arizona’s educators, Fiesta Bowl Charities has granted 500 teachers $2,500 each during the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers Draft Day presented by SRP, for a total of $1.25 million. Wishes were granted by local celebrities, community champions, volunteers and Fiesta Bowl staff in a telethon-style event. This year’s funding impacted more than 220,000 students in 368 different schools across 73 Arizona cities and towns. A full list of Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers grant awardees can be found here. Read the full release here.
GRAND MARSHALS ANNOUNCED FOR 51ST ANNUAL Vrbo FIESTA BOWL PARADE PRESENTED BY LERNER & ROWE Former Arizona State University and NFL quarterback Jake Plummer and former Moon Valley High School, University of Arizona and NBA standout Richard Jefferson will be honored as grand marshals for the 51st Annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe on Saturday, December 16, at 10 a.m. Honoring this year’s theme of Spirit of Competition, the two-mile route in Central Phoenix will be led by perhaps the mostcelebrated players in Sun Devils football and Wildcats basketball history, who both went on to long careers in the NFL and NBA. The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe Grand Marshal honors an individual or group whose actions align with the Fiesta Bowl’s commitment to driving economic growth, championing charitable causes and executing innovative experiences. Admission is free to the public with premium and reserved seating available for purchase for $30 here. For more information, click here.
Week 11
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
JA NUA RY 1, 2024
D E C EM B E R 26, 2023
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2023
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Week 11