Playoff Picture - Week 11
by Aaron Lynn and Jonny Gaunt
Contenders
#1 Georgia Bulldogs (9-0)
Aaron: Like we mentioned last week, Georgia should be able to coast to the SEC Championship game and has essentially punched their ticket to the Playoff barring absolute disaster. This week, that disaster could be spelled T-E-N-N-E-S-S-E-E. It seems extremely unlikely that disaster actually strikes as UGA is clearly the best team in the nation (and it may not be particularly close).
Jonny: Georgia plays their final opponent with a pulse before the SEC title game in Tennessee. The Bulldogs haven't appeared to lose focus at any point this season unlike their fellow Top 5 teams. This year has been Georgia, and then everybody else.
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1)
Aaron: Bama avoided disaster against LSU this week. The name of the game is survive and advance, considering that a win in the SEC Championship game guarantees a Playoff spot. However, as concerns continue to mount, another loss removes both Playoff and even SEC title hopes considering that 2-loss A&M is on the rise and has the tiebreaker of the Tide in the West.
Jonny: Another huge scare for the Tide happened at home against the Tigers. There is real concern for Alabama as. their offense and defense seem to take turns being MIA. With losable games on the horizon, Bama needs to utilize the pseudo-bye-week against New Mexico State to regroup for the home stretch.
#3 Oregon Ducks (8-1)
Aaron: It wasn't pretty, but Oregon got another win, which is the name of the game at this point of the season. I still have plenty of concerns for this Duck team who seems to flirt with danger on a weekly basis. I think that danger will finally catch up to Oregon when they travel to Utah next week, assuming they handle business against Washington State in Eugene.
Jonny: Anthony Brown and the Ducks just aren't going to blowout teams and people have to get over it. With Oregon's dominant defense making life difficult for opponents, not much is asked of the offense outside of the run game. If they keep winning, they will be in the Playoff, period.
#4 Ohio State Buckeyes (8-1)
Aaron: Ohio State had some rocky moments in their win over the Cornhuskers, but, like most of the top teams in the country not named Georgia, a win is still a win. The Buckeyes will simply have to be more dynamic in the red zone. Ohio State will have four straight games against a Top 25 opponent so the time to put the pieces together is now.
Jonny: Red Zone struggles continue to haunt the otherwise explosive Buckeye offense. The defense gave up a few big plays against the Cornhuskers, but have shown great improvement overall. Like every team outside of Georgia, there are obvious flaws, which could be exposed against giant killer Purdue this week.
#5 Cincinnati Bearcats (9-0)
Aaron: The win over Tulsa was less than inspiring, but let's be honest, Cincinnati could be in a much worse spot than #5 following Tuesday's College Football Playoff rankings. I was afraid the committee would move the Bearcats down to #7 but they find themselves now just one spot outside the Top 4. UC needs to be more convincing and also needs Houston to have just one loss assuming those two end up in the conference championship as well as general chaos in the current Top 4.
Jonny: Cincinnati sure doesn't make it easy to love them. With the energy of Gameday on campus and scares the last few weeks, it was expected that the Bearcats would dominate Tulsa. This was far from the truth and UC got a needed mistake at the goal line to secure the win in the end. Style points matter as they still need more help to make the CFP.
#6 Michigan Wolverines (8-1)
Aaron: Ignoring the fact that it is ridiculous that Michigan is ranked ahead of Michigan State, who beat the Wolverines just 10 days before the CFP rankings were released, Michigan still has a chance to do damage and reach the Playoff. That's assuming they can get past Penn State and Ohio State, and there's a good chance they lose both of those games. A road test in Happy Valley should be quite interesting.
Jonny: A solid, but perhaps uninspiring win over Indiana has the Wolverines entering the final stretch of the season with their goals still within reach. The run game and pass rush remain keystones of the team, however, the passing game continues to be a concern when opposition toughens up starting this week with the Nittany Lions.
#7 Michigan State Spartans (8-1)
Aaron: Michigan State became the latest victim to fall to Purdue, and suddenly the Playoff chances for the Spartans have begun to crumble. MSU still has a big chance on the road at Ohio State next week and that win over rival Michigan means Sparty still can win the East and the Big Ten which does mean a Playoff spot.
Jonny: Giant killer Purdue struck again at home against the Spartans. This was an obvious strap game and one Michigan State fell for. Still, they control their own destiny in the Big Ten East and the Playoff, but that will require the defense to carry their share of the load.
#8 Oklahoma Sooners (9-0)
Aaron: It's finally time to see how legitimate the 2021 Sooner team really is. It's likely that OU will finish the season against 4 Top-25 teams. If they are successful, I anticipate the Sooners to vault up into the Top 4 rather quickly. If not, it will be yet another disappointing finish to the season for Oklahoma.
Jonny: Getting a bye week right before the final and toughest three weeks of the season is a godsend for the Sooners. With their struggles all season against inferior opponents, the country is waiting to see if Oklahoma can survive the gauntlet of Big 12 contenders.
#10 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-1)
Aaron: The Cowboys are still waiting around and will likely need to beat Oklahoma in back-to-back weeks to have a shot at the Playoff (and, of course, not slip up in the meantime). That challenge seems too difficult to overcome considering the team's disastrous record in Bedlam the last few years, but it's not
Jonny: An impressive defensive outing against the Mountaineers kept the Cowboy in the thick of the Big 12 Title race. What should be easy tests on the road the next couple weeks are all that stands in the way of Bedlam.
Jonny's Week 11 Top 25
1. Georgia (9-0)
2. Ohio State (8-1)
3. Alabama (8-1)
4. Oregon (8-1)
5. Cincinnati (9-0)
6. Oklahoma (9-0)
7. Michigan State (8-1)
8. Michigan (8-1)
9. Notre Dame (8-1)
10. Oklahoma State (8-1)
11. Texas A&M (7-2)
12. Mississippi (7-2)
13. Wake Forest (8-1)
14. Baylor (7-2)
15. Houston (8-1)
16. UTSA (9-0)
17. Penn State (6-3)
18. Auburn (6-3)
19. Arkansas (6-3)
20. BYU (8-2)
21. Purdue (6-3)
22. Louisiana (8-1)
23. Iowa (7-2)
24. Coastal Carolina (8-1)
25. Wisconsin (6-3)
Heisman Standings
Kenneth Walker - RB
Michigan State Spartans
1,340 YDS, 15 TD
56 Rec YDS, 1 TD
Matt Corral - QB
Mississippi Rebels
2,527 YDS, 16 TD/2 INT
528 Rush YDS, 10 TD
Bryce Young - QB
Alabama Crimson Tide
2,755 YDS, 28 TD/3 INT
David Bell - WR
Purdue Boilermakers
1,003 YDS, 5 TD
Jordan Davis - DL
Georgia Bulldogs
21 TKL, 2 SACKS
Others:
D. Ridder - UC - QB
C.J. Strorud - OSU - QB
K. Pickett - PITT - QB
S. Hartman - WF - QB
T. Henderson - OSU - RB
ELIMINATED
Wake Forest - The magical undefeated run came to an end against North Carolina. Oddly enough, the game was a non-conference matchup so the Demon Deacons still have the ACC Championship in mind. That's still an incredible opportunity for a team putting together their best season in program history. The Playoff opportunity did go out the window with the loss, however.
Baylor - The Bears couldn't overcome the Gary Peterson-less TCU Horned Frogs. Don't be mistaken, the Bears could seriously mess up title hopes for the likes of Oklahoma, however.
On the Verge
#9 Notre Dame - The Fighting Irish still need A LOT of chaos to happen in front of them to be a viable Playoff contender. The wins over Wisconsin and Purdue are looking a bit better however. You never know.
UTSA - The Roadrunners continue their undefeated season, which means they earn the honorary "On the Verge" ranking here. The Committee disrespects them so much that they confused the program with the U.S. Tennis Association, but at least they figured out how to rank them in the Top 25.