College football Week 11 recap: Fatal flaws for every playoff contender

It was an “virtually” kind of Saturday in faculty soccer. No. 2 Indiana flirted with catastrophe at Penn State however survived due to an Omar Cooper Jr. toe faucet. No. 9 Oregon practically bought Iowa’d however saved itself with an Atticus Sappington subject purpose. Auburn got here shut to truly profitable a detailed recreation towards a ranked group for as soon as however bought Diego Pavia‘d in extra time and could not reply. We even had almosts on the FCS and Division II ranges, the place top-ranked groups North Dakota State and Ferris State every trailed late however rallied.

Granted, we nonetheless bought some upsets. Two extra top-15 ACC groups fell (in what seems like a weekly incidence), No. 23 Washington fell to 2-6 Wisconsin in drizzly Madison, and Hawai’i knocked San Diego State out of playoff competition late Saturday evening. Lord is aware of the ACC race does not make any extra sense than it did per week in the past, however Week 11 wasn’t fairly as chaotic because it might have been, and it ended up providing us an honest quantity of readability within the School Soccer Playoff hunt.

Utilizing the identical common CFP odds method that I used final week — combining these of the Allstate Playoff Predictor with my very own odds derived from SP+ — we now have eight groups with at the least an 81% likelihood of constructing the sphere of 12. A great deal of groups are within the hunt for these different 4 (or so) spots, however with three Saturdays remaining earlier than Championship Week, let’s once more break contenders into tiers and speak about their most poisonous traits, the failings that may seemingly maintain them from both profitable the nationwide title or reaching the CFP in any respect.

Playoff contenders’ deadly flaws

Tier 1

At a mixed 28-0 with a 95% (Indiana), 75% (Ohio State) and 49% (Texas A&M) likelihood of ending the common season 12-0, respectively, these three groups are nearly on the end line with regards to sealing playoff bids. Indiana wanted all 60 minutes to get to that time at Penn State, nevertheless. For these groups, we’re positively gauging deadly flaws by way of what’s going to forestall them from profitable the nationwide title; virtually nothing will forestall them from reaching the CFP.

Indiana (common CFP odds: 99.9%): Massive-play glitches. Indiana has had a dynamite protection since Curt Cignetti and coordinator Bryant Haines moved to Bloomington, however when the Hoosiers hand over a profitable play, it is a very profitable play. Often that comes by way of run protection — as evidenced by a 59-yard run for Penn State’s Nicholas Singleton on Saturday — however IU additionally gave up six completions of 19 or extra yards towards an iffy PSU passing assault, and, mixed with an ill-timed interception from Fernando Mendoza, it virtually value them their unbeaten file.

Ohio State (99.6%): A merely first rate run recreation. Indiana’s mixed playoff odds are ever-so-slightly increased than these of top-ranked Ohio State, primarily as a result of the Hoosiers solely have two remaining regular-season video games left and the Buckeyes have three (together with one towards 7-2 Michigan). However OSU is certainly the top-ranked group per each the computer systems. It isn’t arduous to see why: The protection ranks first nationally in factors per drive and yards per play, and the offense options the very best receiver within the nation (Jeremiah Smith) and a quarterback finishing over 80% of his passes (Julian Sayin).

Sayin will face loads of elite defenses down the stretch, nevertheless — Michigan ranks ninth in defensive SP+, seemingly Massive Ten championship opponent Indiana ranks fourth regardless of the massive performs, and the CFP will clearly function numerous good defenses — and there is a likelihood the Buckeyes are rendered one-dimensional in some unspecified time in the future due to a run recreation that ranks nineteenth in speeding success charge* however does not actually go wherever (4.7 yards per carry). Sayin might carry the offense anyway, however he is nonetheless a redshirt freshman.

(* Success charge: how often an offense is gaining 50% of obligatory yards on first down, 70% on second and 100% on third and fourth.)

Texas A&M (99.3%): Run protection. A&M as soon as once more proved its versatility on Saturday. The Aggies thumped a Missouri group that was admittedly with out beginning quarterback Beau Pribula — third-string freshman Matt Zollers was a dire 7-for-22 passing — however they confirmed off a splendidly spaced passing recreation and an elite go rush, and after a poor first half, the run recreation confirmed up within the second half, too. However even with no go menace, Mizzou rushed for 207 yards, furthering a scary development: A&M ranks a hundred and thirtieth in yards allowed per carry (no sacks). I am actually struggling to see them profitable three or 4 straight playoff video games with that anchor dragging them down.

Tier 2

The entire groups in Tier 2 have one loss; 4 are a part of both the Massive Ten or SEC, whereas Texas Tech lands right here each due to its overwhelming high quality (the Pink Raiders stay fourth in SP+) and its more and more seemingly Massive 12 title push. Solely James Madison (74%) can prime Tech’s 71% convention title odds, per SP+. There’s nonetheless an opportunity that one among these 5 groups misses the dance, so we’ll say deadly flaws imply a few various things right here.

Texas Tech (common CFP odds: 90.1%): Quarterback. On one hand, Tech has performed a reasonably weak schedule that includes solely two SP+ top-40 opponents. However, after Saturday’s win over BYU, the Pink Raiders have crushed these two opponents by a mixed 63-17. The dream season rolls on in Lubbock. However the college of Patrick Mahomes and the Air Raid’s legacy continues to be merely good throwing the ball, not nice. Behren Morton is (A) injury-prone and (B) solely forty fifth in Whole QBR, and whereas the Pink Raiders have scored 34 or extra eight instances, they’re 53rd in three-and-out charge and are mortal towards good defenses.

Ole Miss (87.7%): The run recreation is a wash. Trinidad Chambliss‘ emergence at quarterback has given Ole Miss one other dimension, each passing effectively and working effectively at instances. However even with Chambliss, and even with Kewan Lacy rating tenth nationally in speeding yards (first in speeding TDs), Ole Miss nonetheless averages solely 4.8 yards per carry whereas permitting the identical. They’ve huge benefits within the passing recreation (8.7 yards per dropback, 5.6 allowed), nevertheless it’s their solely path to victory towards superior opponents, and it will likely be arduous to win three or 4 playoff video games and not using a strong Plan B.

Oregon (87.0%): No straightforward factors towards good defenses. Oregon’s protection has rounded properly into type, and beating Iowa in chilly and rain, because the Geese did Saturday, is a good way to show your resourcefulness. However of their 5 video games towards SP+ top-50 protection, they’ve scored simply 22.0 factors per recreation in regulation, with Dante Moore averaging simply 9.2 yards per completion (he averages 15.3 towards everybody else). The run recreation virtually at all times exhibits up, however can Moore make huge throws in a run of massive video games?

Georgia (85.4%): The protection solely exhibits up when it has to. Georgia tried one thing novel Saturday, exhibiting up earlier than the fourth quarter and placing away Mississippi State early with a 38-0 run. However the season stats are nonetheless alarming: Within the first half, the Dawgs rank 74th in factors allowed per drive (2.1) and 106th in success charge allowed (44.8%). It is arduous to beat a string of elite groups if you happen to’re taking 30-45 minutes to play your manner into the sport.

Alabama (81.0%): No run recreation. As you are in all probability selecting up by now, numerous contenders wrestle both with or towards the run (or each). Alabama ranks 83rd in yards allowed per carry (not factoring in sacks) regardless of a strong exhibiting towards an admittedly poor LSU run recreation, however the extra alarming half was on the opposite facet of the ball, the place Jam Miller and Daniel Hill mixed to hurry 15 instances for 34 yards. Bama is 126th in yards per carry and continues to place every part on Ty Simpson and the (robust) passing recreation.

Tier 3

Notre Dame was, as anticipated, the highest-ranked two-loss group in final week’s CFP rankings, whereas BYU and Georgia Tech have every suffered just one loss (regardless that each losses had been latest and relatively demoralizing). It is extremely unlikely all three will attain the CFP, however they every have an honest likelihood.

Notre Dame (common CFP odds: 59.6%): Third-and-longs. They face too a lot of them on offense and permit too many conversions on protection. Thanks partly to numerous unfavorable run performs (which are sometimes offset by explosive runs), CJ Carr & Co. have wanted at the least seven yards on 50% of third downs, 86th within the nation. They’ve transformed 46.9% of them (second), however that can be more durable to do towards elite groups. In the meantime, they rank 87th in third-and-long conversion charge allowed.

BYU (45.4%): Not sufficient offensive menace. Regardless of Saturday’s loss at Texas Tech, BYU nonetheless has lots to supply: The Cougars defend the go effectively and each create and keep away from unfavorable performs. However towards two SP+ top-30 defenses, they’ve scored simply 31 mixed factors and averaged 4.8 yards per play. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has been wonderful for a freshman, however he does not get the assistance he wants towards the very best defenses.

Georgia Tech (37.4%): Protection. The Yellow Jackets rank 82nd in factors allowed per drive, they usually do not provide sufficient by way of both effectivity (87th in success charge) or explosiveness (113th in % of 20-yard beneficial properties allowed). Haynes King and the offense are dynamite, however the dam broke in Week 10’s 48-36 loss to NC State, and it’ll in all probability break once more transferring ahead.

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Tier 4a: Non-ACC groups

All of those groups are in “win out to complete the common season, and you’ve got to be ok with your probabilities” territory. Sadly, SP+ offers solely one among them (Utah) a higher than 35% likelihood of profitable out, and a 10-2 Utah group would not have a spectacular résumé to lean on.

Texas (common CFP odds: 28.0%): Detrimental performs. Offensive line points have plagued Texas this season; it ranks 108th in stuff charge allowed (run stops at or behind the road) and 122nd in strain charge allowed. Operating again accidents and Arch Manning taking perpetually to throw have not helped, clearly, and shuffling the road a bit paid off towards Vanderbilt. But it surely’s so much to ask for the O-line to all of the sudden grow to be a energy in November.

Oklahoma (27.0%): Offensive errors. Regardless of their previous two video games coming towards top-10 offenses, the Sooners rank fifth in factors allowed per drive and first in success charge allowed. The protection will maintain exhibiting up. However the offense has needed to grasp the artwork of doing simply sufficient to beat an absence of massive performs (102nd in yards per profitable play), too many unfavorable performs (84th in proportion of snaps gaining zero or unfavorable yards) and turnovers (12 of them, for 71st).

Utah (25.6%): Untrustworthy explosiveness. Of their seven wins, the Utes have been the 1985 Chicago Bears — common rating: 46-10 (similar as Tremendous Bowl XX) — however in two losses they’ve scored simply 31 whole factors, with below-average effectivity, minimal big-play presence and 6 turnovers. Even together with the wins, quarterback Devon Dampier averages simply 10.3 yards per completion. As with different groups right here, an absence of straightforward factors will seemingly be their downfall.

Vanderbilt (25.5%): The protection is fading rapidly. Whereas a majority of contenders are much less reliable on offense, Vandy has few points in that regard. Simply ask Auburn, which was permitting 17.0 factors per recreation in regulation this season however allowed 38 to the Commodores. However after permitting 34 factors to Texas and 38 to Auburn, Vanderbilt ranks simply 84th in factors allowed per drive and 124th in completion charge allowed.

USC (15.8%): Run protection. My line for some time has been that if Lincoln Riley might simply craft a top-40 protection, he’d have himself a playoff group. Nicely, the Trojans are forty second in defensive SP+. Shut. However they’re going to in all probability have to beat Iowa and Oregon to achieve the CFP, and each groups have offenses constructed to punish a very passive run protection that ranks 126th in speeding success charge allowed. USC can do the bend-don’t-break factor fairly effectively, however that is far an excessive amount of bending.

Michigan (7.6%): Not sufficient danger or reward. Michigan runs the ball effectively, prevents huge performs and takes as few dangers as doable with freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. The problem: The Wolverines cannot power the difficulty very effectively. They cannot knock opponents off schedule to benefit from a superb go rush, and amongst 132 QBR-eligible QBs, Underwood ranks ninety fifth in completion charge (60.9%) regardless of rating 86th in air yards per try (7.6).

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Tier 4b: ACC groups

Somebody has to win the ACC, and after each Louisville and Virginia went down Saturday, every part is as blurry as doable. Listed below are the present ACC title odds, per SP+: Georgia Tech 25.5%, Virginia 17.6%, Duke 17.1%, SMU 15.8%, Pitt 11.3%, Louisville 8.5%, Miami 4.2%. Tech is in Tier 3 due to its one-loss standing, however there is a 74.5% likelihood somebody not named the Yellow Jackets will win the convention title.

Miami (15.7%): Not sufficient huge performs. The Canes nonetheless have an opportunity regardless of two demoralizing losses prior to now month, however the offense has underachieved towards projections 5 instances in six video games, primarily attributable to a complete lack of explosiveness.

They’ve Georgia’s effectivity however Kentucky’s explosiveness. A scarcity of straightforward factors will seemingly be their downfall.

Virginia (14.5%): The offense has run out of juice. Even earlier than Chandler Morris left Saturday’s loss to Wake Forest injured, Virginia had gained simply 36 yards in 14 scoreless snaps, furthering a latest downward development.

First six video games: 6.4 yards per play, 46.5% success charge, 3.25 factors per drive

Final 4 video games: 5.0 yards per play, 37.0% success charge, 1.37 factors per drive

That the Cavaliers reached 8-1 earlier than lastly dropping a detailed recreation was outstanding. It was additionally unsustainable. We’ll see in the event that they’re in a position to rebound in an elimination recreation at Duke this week.

SMU (11.8%): Alls vs. nothings. Let’s deliver that effectivity and explosiveness chart again up for a second and spotlight a unique group.

SMU has gained 5 of six due to a surging protection and an offense that will get chunk performs from receivers Romello Brinson and Jordan Hudson and again Chris Johnson Jr. However even with some latest enchancment, the Mustangs nonetheless rank 86th in success charge and 114th in three-and-out charge. That can make beating Louisville, Cal and a possible ACC championship recreation opponent awfully troublesome.

Louisville (8.1%): Detrimental performs. In Saturday’s 29-26 upset loss to Cal, Louisville ran 69 performs; 29 of them (42.0%) gained zero or unfavorable yardage. The Cardinals turned constructive yardage on simply 4 of their final 13 snaps. That raised their season common to 35.0%, which ranks 116th nationally. Operating again accidents and unreliable QB and line play are dragging Louisville down.

Pittsburgh (7.8%): Pink zone and turnovers. Pitt is on a five-game profitable streak since making freshman Mason Heintschel the beginning quarterback, and even when the Panthers do not win the ACC or make the CFP, they’re going to determine who will — their final three video games are towards Notre Dame, Georgia Tech and Miami. Pitt’s protection ranks fourth in three-and-out charge however 112th in crimson zone TD charge allowed. In the meantime, even wanting solely at Heintschel’s begins, the offense ranks 78th in crimson zone TD charge and 73rd in turnover charge.

Tier (Group of) 5

With Memphis and San Diego State getting more-or-less eradicated in Week 11 – Memphis attributable to a good loss to Tulane, SDSU attributable to a blowout loss at Hawai’i – we’re mainly a 1-in-3 playoff likelihood for James Madison and a 2-in-3 likelihood for whoever emerges from the American Convention battle royale.

James Madison (34.3%): Turnovers and brief fields. JMU ranks third in success charge allowed (31.2%) and eighth in yards allowed per play (4.5), however the Dukes have given up at the least 20 factors towards all 4 top-60 offenses they’ve confronted, partly due to turnovers (together with a pair of fumble-return scores) or brief fields generated by particular groups points. The Dukes are good at virtually every part, however underdogs cannot afford egregious breakdowns within the CFP.

North Texas (28.3%): Run protection. Drew Mestemaker is on tempo for about 4,000 passing yards, UNT ranks third nationally in factors per drive, and the protection – perpetually flawed in Denton – ranks a strong twenty sixth in yards allowed per dropback. There’s so much to love right here. One factor to dislike? The Imply Inexperienced are a hundred and twenty fifth in speeding success charge allowed. Of their lone loss, to USF, they gave up 306 speeding yards. That feels fairly damning.

South Florida (22.4%): Mushy go protection. Like North Texas, USF can rating in all kinds of the way, and the Bulls’ run protection creates unfavorable performs and renders opponents one-dimensional. However they will let opponents off the hook. They’re simply 73rd in each third-down conversion charge allowed and sack charge, and in two losses their opponents accomplished 69% of their passes.

Tulane (7.5%): Defensive inefficiency. When Tulane appears good, you see a transparent playoff contender. The Inexperienced Wave have two power-conference wins on their résumé, they usually look the half athletically. However they rank 117th in success charge allowed, they do not create unfavorable performs and their protection no-showed in two losses, permitting a mixed 93 factors and 1,071 yards to Ole Miss (forgivable) and UTSA (much less so).

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This week in SP+

The SP+ rankings have been up to date for the week. Let’s check out the groups that noticed the most important change of their total rankings. (Notice: We’re rankings, not rankings.)

Transferring up

Listed below are the 5 groups that noticed their rankings rise probably the most this week:

Hawai’i: up 4.1 adjusted factors per recreation (rating rose from ninetieth to 72nd)

Utah State: up 3.3 factors (from ninety fifth to 79th)

Akron: up 3.1 factors (from 126th to 123rd)

Florida Worldwide: up 3.1 factors (from a hundred and twenty fifth to 118th)

Kentucky: up 3.1 factors (from 63rd to 52nd)

Hawai’i’s blowout of San Diego State was a stunning spotlight for a stunning season out on the islands. The Rainbow Warriors hadn’t gained greater than six video games in a season since 2019 and have not completed within the SP+ prime 75 since 2010, however they’re at the moment 7-3 and 72nd. School soccer is much more enjoyable when Hawai’i’s doing imply issues to opponents late on Saturday evening.

In the meantime, Kentucky has overachieved towards SP+ projections by double digits in three of its final 4 video games and has gained two in a row to get to 4-5 and maintain bowl hopes alive. Good second-half enchancment from Mark Stoops’ Wildcats.

Transferring down

Listed below are the 5 groups whose rankings fell probably the most:

San Diego State: down 4.5 factors (rating fell from forty fourth to 56th)

Navy: down 4.0 factors (from fiftieth to 63rd)

Florida: down 3.1 factors (from thirty ninth to forty eighth)

Nevada: down 2.8 factors (from 123rd to 128th)

BYU: down 2.8 factors (from sixteenth to twenty second)

In my Friday preview, I wrote that if BYU’s Bachmeier was ever going to seem like a freshman, it was going to be towards a hostile crowd and hostile protection in Lubbock. He did not fully implode by “freshman implosion” requirements, however he averaged simply 4.7 yards per dropback, discovered no room to run, threw what amounted to a game-clinching interception within the third quarter and misplaced a late fumble for good measure. Tech was too good, and BYU’s offensive SP+ rating fell from twenty fifth to thirty ninth.

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Who gained the Heisman this week?

I’m as soon as once more awarding the Heisman each single week of the season and doling out weekly factors, F1-style (on this case, 10 factors for first place, 9 for second, and so forth). How will this Heisman race play out, and the way completely different will the outcome be from the precise Heisman voting?

Right here is that this week’s Heisman prime 10:

1. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (25-for-33 passing for 377 yards and three touchdowns, plus 114 non-sack speeding yards and a TD towards Auburn).

2. Emmett Johnson, Nebraska (28 carries for 129 yards and a landing, plus 103 receiving yards and a couple of TDs towards UCLA).

3. Jake Retzlaff, Tulane (16-for-23 for 332 yards and three touchdowns, plus 53 non-sack speeding yards and a TD towards Memphis).

4. Byrum Brown, USF (14-for-15 for 239 yards and a couple of touchdowns, plus 109 non-sack speeding yards and a TD towards UTSA).

5. Ashton Daniels, Auburn (31-for-44 for 353 yards and a couple of touchdowns, plus 103 non-sack speeding yards and a couple of TDs towards Vanderbilt).

6. Bryun Parham, UConn (16 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, 1 sack, 1 pressured fumble and 1 interception towards Duke).

7. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (27-for-33 for 303 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT towards Purdue).

8. Isaiah Smith, SMU (9 tackles, 4 sacks towards Boston School).

9. Beau Sparks, Texas State (10 catches for 186 yards and a landing, plus a 49-yard TD run towards Louisiana).

10. Antwan Raymond, Rutgers (41 carries for 240 yards and a landing towards Maryland).

Vandy’s protection is working on fumes, and Auburn’s offense confirmed up for nearly the primary time all season, however the Commodores’ playoff hopes stay alive as a result of Diego Pavia pulled one other Diego Pavia. Vanderbilt trailed by 14 early and practically blew it on the finish of regulation, however Pavia’s third TD go of the night, to Cole Spence in extra time, saved the day and put him atop this listing.

Honorable mentions:

• Sieh Bangura, Ohio (17 carries for 102 yards and a landing, plus 30 receiving yards and a 97-yard kick return TD towards Miami of Ohio).

• Jacob De Jesus, Cal (16 catches for 158 yards and a landing towards Louisville).

• Phillip Dunnam, UCF (4 tackles and three interceptions, together with a pick-six, towards Houston).

• Nate Frazier, Georgia (12 carries for 181 yards and a landing towards Mississippi State).

• Makai Lemon, USC (5 catches for 166 yards and a landing towards Northwestern).

• Jayden Maiava, USC (24-for-33 for 299 yards, 2 TDs and 1 INT, plus 19 non-sack speeding yards and 1 TD towards Northwestern).

• Josh Moten, Southern Miss (six tackles, three interceptions and 1 go breakup towards Arkansas State).

• Mason Posa, Wisconsin (11 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 pressured fumble, 1 fumble restoration and 1 go breakup towards Washington).

• Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Cal (30-for-47 for 323 yards and a couple of touchdowns towards Louisville).

• Gunner Stockton, Georgia (18-for-29 for 264 yards and three touchdowns, plus 31 non-sack speeding yards towards Mississippi State).

By 11 weeks, listed here are your factors leaders. The place there is a tie, I will use gamers’ factors from the previous 4 weeks as a tiebreaker.

1. Julian Sayin, Ohio State (29 factors, 20 prior to now 4 weeks)
2. Ty Simpson, Alabama (29 factors, zero prior to now 4 weeks)
3. Taylen Green, Arkansas (27 factors)
4. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss (25 factors)
5. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt (24 factors)
6. Demond Williams Jr., Washington (21 factors)
7. Gunner Stockton, Georgia (19 factors, 10 prior to now 4 weeks)
8. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana (19 factors, 9 prior to now 4 weeks)
9. Luke Altmyer, Illinois (16 factors)
10. Jake Retzlaff, Tulane (14 factors)

I perceive that it is my very own rattling fault for bringing stats to the vibes-based Heisman race, however I am by no means going to completely perceive Heisman odds. Sayin entered the week because the Heisman betting favourite and went 27-for-33 for 303 yards, a landing and an interception. His Whole QBR for the week was 89.2, he stored his season completion charge above 80% — a ridiculously excessive quantity — and his interception occurred when the Buckeyes had been up 21.

Fernando Mendoza, in the meantime, went simply 19-for-30 for 218 yards towards a Penn State protection that Sayin simply torched. He averaged 6.1 yards per dropback with a 75.0 Whole QBR, each his worst numbers since Week 1. He threw a devastating fourth-quarter decide that would have value the Hoosiers the sport. However then he rallied, making a few pretty throws on Indiana’s game-winning drive, and receiver Omar Cooper Jr. made perhaps the best TD catch of the season — or the 2020s? The twenty first Century? Ever? — to save lots of his group.

And in any case that … Mendoza turned the Heisman betting favourite? Cooper’s superb catch turned Mendoza’s Heisman second as a result of Sayin’s group gained too simply? Do I’ve that proper? Mendoza profitable the Heisman can be a spectacular story (simply add it to Indiana’s listing of spectacular tales at this level), but when something occurred Saturday, it ought to have been Sayin solidifying his lead.

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My 10 favourite video games of the weekend

1. No. 2 Indiana 27, Penn State 24. No matter my confusion towards Heisman odds, this was a superb soccer recreation. Penn State reminded everybody of its expertise, the Nittany Lions’ dwelling crowd got here by way of, and Indiana drove 80 yards in 1:15 for a wonderful game-winning TD. Good stuff, with a superb in-game win chance chart.

2 and three. Division II: No. 1 Ferris State 51, Saginaw Valley State 45 (2OT); No. 6 Colorado State-Pueblo 41, Colorado Mines 34 (OT).

Division II introduced it Saturday. Ferris State gained its first 9 video games by a median of 54-15, however redshirt freshman Wyatt Bower, Trinidad Chambliss’ successor, appeared extremely freshman-like Saturday, throwing three picks on eight passes and shedding two fumbles. With the Bulldogs trailing 24-7 early within the third quarter, backup QB Chase Carter keyed a 31-7 run, however SVSU tied the sport on a Mason McKenzie-to-Zarek Zelinski landing go with 1:55 left. FSU missed a 39-yard subject purpose on the buzzer and could not seal the deal till Taariik Brett’s 12-yard landing run within the second OT. If not for the Mendoza-to-Cooper landing, this may have simply been the No. 1 recreation of the week.

In the meantime, after getting back from 21 factors right down to beat a top-10 Western Colorado group final week, CSU-Pueblo noticed rival Colorado Mines a 28-6 lead late within the first half, then slowly clawed all the best way again. Roman Fuller discovered Marcellus Honeycutt Jr. for a tying 32-yard landing with 56 seconds left, then hit Reggie Retzlaff for the go-ahead rating in OT. Peyton Shaw then sealed the ThunderWolves’ win with an interception.

4. Delaware 25, Louisiana Tech 24. The Blue Hens led 16-10 with beneath 4 minutes remaining, however Louisiana Tech scored twice in 46 seconds, first on a brief TD run, then on a Jacob Fields pick-six, to take a 24-16 lead. Delaware’s Nick Minicucci rebounded with a TD go to Elijah Sessoms with 34 seconds left, then the Blue Hens recovered an onside kick and set Nate Reed up for a game-winning 51-yard subject purpose.

5. No. 9 Oregon 18, No. 20 Iowa 16. Iowa proved its top-20 bona fides, Dante Moore and Oregon proved their playoff chops and Atticus Sappington nailed an enormous subject purpose. Only a nice recreation in November Iowa climate.

SAPPINGTON CONNECTS FOR THE DUCKS! pic.twitter.com/8QZdcfVMhW

— CBS Sports activities School Soccer 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 8, 2025

6. No. 16 Vanderbilt 45, Auburn 38 (OT). Indiana’s win chance chart was a basic of 1 style (blow it, after which save your self). Vandy’s was a basic in one other (rally, then practically disintegrate a number of instances).

7 and eight. FCS: No. 2 Montana 29, Eastern Washington 24; No. 1 North Dakota State 15, No. 15 North Dakota 10. Prime-ranked groups struggled within the FCS as effectively. NDSU, barely challenged all yr, trailed its in-state rival 10-9 heading into the fourth quarter. The Bison lastly took their first lead on Cole Payton‘s 8-yard landing with 2:22 remaining, however UND drove contained in the NDSU 30 within the closing seconds earlier than Anthony Chideme-Alfaro made a lunging interception to seal the win.

After all, we have seen game-sealing picks earlier than. Have you ever ever seen a game-sealing fumbled spike?

Unbeaten Montana took a 29-14 lead early within the third quarter however shifted into cruise management too early, permitting 4-6 EWU to attain twice, get well a late onside kick — it was an important week for profitable onside kicks, by the best way — and drive inside the ten with eight seconds remaining. However Jake Schakel, who shined in his first profession begin, let the ball slip out of his palms on a spike, and the Griz survived.

9. UConn 37, Duke 34. There have been 12 scores on this recreation; 10 gave a group the lead, together with all six within the second half. Skyler Bell‘s 19-yard landing catch gave UConn the benefit with 1:58 remaining, however the recreation wasn’t iced till Trent Jones II recovered a sack-and-strip of Darian Mensah with 18 seconds left.

10. Sam Houston 21, Oregon State 17. Oregon State has been totally snake-bitten this season, however this one takes the cake. The Beavers led 17-0 halfway by way of the second quarter, however due to an interception (which arrange a 35-yard landing go), a kick return landing to open the second half and a blocked punt return rating with 8:29 remaining, SHSU one way or the other got here again to win its first recreation of the season regardless of a yardage drawback of 474-157. Stunning stuff. And you recognize what? Good. I ache for Beavers followers this yr, however fielding even a nasty group is so troublesome, and each group deserves to rejoice at the least one win. Now we simply have to get 0-9 UMass off the schneid in some unspecified time in the future within the subsequent three weeks.

Honorable point out:

• Division II: Chadron State 27, No. 11 Western Colorado 24 (OT)

• FCS: No. 10 Mercer 49, No. 24 Western Carolina 47

• FCS: Mercyhurst 16, Saint Francis 15

• Missouri State 21, Liberty 17

• Ohio 24, Miami (Ohio) 20 (Tuesday)

• Division II: Ouachita Baptist 42, SW Oklahoma State 38

• Tulane 38, Memphis 32 (Friday)

• FCS: William & Mary 30, Campbell 27 (OT)

• Wisconsin 13, No. 23 Washington 10

• Division III: No. 14 Wisconsin-Platteville 24, Wisconsin-Stout 23

One final particular shoutout: Army’s 14-13 win over Temple did not fairly make the listing, however Military’s final drive — an epic, 18-play, 9:53 clock killer — deserved to.

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The midweek playlist

Ohio at Western Michigan (Tuesday, 8 p.m., ESPN2). One week into our midweek MACtion slate, the convention title race is as blurry as ever. Ohio’s win over Miami gave the Bobcats the slightest of edges, nevertheless it might disappear this week. Present MAC title odds, per SP+: Ohio 22.2%, Toledo 20.2%, Western Michigan 20.1%, Miami 19.2%, Buffalo 16.7%. What a race! The winner of this one ought to inch forward within the odds.