Fun. That’s how we would describe College Football Week 11. Saturday’s action started with the Indiana Hoosiers surviving a scare from the Penn State Nittany Lions thanks to a once-in-a-decade catch. Minutes later, rain made things interesting in a battle between the Oregon Ducks and Iowa Hawkeyes. It all wrapped up on Saturday night with the LSU Tigers vs Alabama Crimson Tide, a classic rivalry.
As the slate of action draws to a close, let’s dive into what the Top 25 College Football Playoff rankings could look like after Week 11.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (1)
Even without Carnell Tate on the field, who didn’t take the field in Week 11 for precautionary reasons, Julian Sayin looked like a quarterback who belongs in the NFL. The Ohio State Buckeyes star might not be putting up jaw-dropping numbers, but the ball placement and decision-making from the freshman is truly phenomenal. Sayin’s 35-yard touchdown strike to Jeremiah Smith was a dime and that connection is clearly proving to be the best QB-WR combo in college football. On top of hat, the Buckeyes defense allowed just 3 points and and is the only team in the FBS that still hasn’t allowed 2,000 total yards to opponents through nine games.
2. Indiana Hoosiers (2)
Destiny. That’s the sense you got watching the Indiana Hoosiers‘ game-winning drive at Penn State on Saturday. Heisman Trophy candidate Fernando Mendoza, facing a four-point deficit with no timeouts and a 2nd-and-17 from the Nittany Lions’ 13-yard line, thrived in the clutch. On the game-winning series, Mendoza completed five passes for 87 yards, including a touchdown catch by Omar Cooper Jr. that showed a level of body control that previously seemed impossible. For Indiana to win this game, it’s hard to deny the Hoosiers (10-0) feel like a team of destiny.
3. Texas A&M Aggies (3)
These aren’t your same ol’ Texas A&M Aggies, who previously would’ve gone into Missouri and found a way to lose to the Tigers. With that said, it needs to be mentioned that 20th-ranked Mizzou isn’t the same team with a backup quarterback, and running back Ahmad Hardy is slowing down after an electric start to the season. Still, all that really matters for the Aggies is a 9-0 record, and Mike Elko’s team is decisively winning the games it should. We see no reason why Texas A&M won’t be undefeated when it faces Texas on Nov. 28.
4. Alabama Crimson Tide (4)
On a night when the Alabama Crimson Tide couldn’t get anything going on the ground, the rivalry game versus LSU rested on the shoulders of quarterback Ty Simpson. He delivered. Saturday night’s victory in Tuscaloosa marked the eighth consecutive victory for the Crimson Tide. The Sooners are coming to town, which will be another great test for an Alabama offense that could really use a performance when it is firing on all cylinders. Given the state of Oklahoma’s offense, though, the Crimson Tide should still roll to a victory.
5. Georgia Bulldogs (5)
After a scare last Saturday at home versus the Florida Gators, Gunner Stockton and the Georgia Bulldogs made sure they didn’t fall into a trap in Week 11 at Mississippi State. Nate Frazier (181 yards on 12 carries) made sure the Dawgs never had to sweat this one, setting up three touchdowns for Stockton as Georgia put up 38 unanswered points on Mississippi State before the end of the third quarter. The Dawgs will have their shot at a signature win next Saturday at home versus Texas, a game that has massive College Football Playoff ramifications.
6. Texas Tech Red Raiders (8)
A defensive clinic from the Texas Tech Red Raiders will go down as one of the best performances across the nation from College Football Week 11. In a top-10 matchup versus the BYU Cougars, the Red Raiders allowed just a 21.4 percent third-down conversion rate (3-for-14) and a 3.9 yards-per-play average, with 2 takeaways. That’s how you get Texas Tech winning 29-7 at home, in a game where Behren Morton (17-of-32 passes completed) was inefficient. A dominant win like this warrants jumping Ole Miss in the top 25 college football rankings.
7. Ole Miss Rebels (6)
It’s been a few weeks since Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels got to devastate a cupcake opponent, but the break in Mississippi’s schedule allowed for a home matchup versus The Citadel. It went exactly how you’d expect, with the Rebels putting up a 49-0 shutout in a matchup where they outgained The Citadel by 500 total yards with seven times as many first downs (35-5). Up next, a home matchup for Ole Miss where all of the spotlight will be on whether or not Kiffin leaves the program just weeks after the matchup to coach the Florida Gators.
Related: Ole Miss Coaching Candidates if Lane Kiffin Leaves
8. Oregon Ducks (9)
Saturday’s road win in the rain at Iowa carries weight for a variety of reasons for the Oregon Ducks. First, it’s a much-needed victory over a ranked opponent. Second, in a game where their receiving corps was decimated by injuries, the Ducks proved they could win an ugly one. This might not be a top-six team in college football right now, but this is a signature win for Oregon that answered some questions and came against plenty of adversity. Up next, a home matchup versus Minnesota.
Related: Winners, Losers from Oregon Ducks Win over the Iowa Hawkeyes
9. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (9)
The CJ Carr-Jeremiyah Love combo seems unstoppable right now. After a slow start to the season, Love now has over 530 scrimmage yards in his last three games. Meanwhile, the freshman quarterback is becoming increasingly dangerous as a downfield passer for this Notre Dame Fighting Irish offense. Saturday night’s win over Navy might not have eased any of the concerns we have regarding Chris Ash’s defense, but Carr and Love will likely prove far too much to handle next week for the Pitt Panthers.
10. Texas Longhorns (11)
With BYU losing by multiple scores in Week 11, it certainly feels like the 10th spot in the College Football Playoff rankings will now be handed to the Texas Longhorns. There are fair arguments to be made that a two-loss team that needed OT to beat Kentucky and Mississippi State shouldn’t belong in the top 10. However, the Longhorns have two wins over top-10 teams (Oklahoma and Vanderbilt) in the last five weeks, and they played Ohio State closer (14-7) than any of the other Buckeyes’ opponents this season. Besides, the big test is coming for Arch Manning and Texas next Saturday in Athens against the No. 5 Bulldogs.
11. Oklahoma Sooners (12)
What’s really noteworthy about the Oklahoma Sooners performance in the past few games is that quarterback John Mateer hasn’t been particularly effective. It’s been running back Xavier Robinson carrying the unit, putting up 251 scrimmage yards on just 27 touches in his last two games. In that same span, Mateer has a 2-4 TD-INT line and he’s averaged just 183.5 passing yards per game. The hope is for Oklahoma that the bye week gave him some extra time to truly recover from his injury. Otherwise, the Sooners will be a three-loss team after next Saturday’s trip to Tuscaloosa.
12. BYU Cougars (7)
Maybe it’s a different game if the BYU Cougars don’t turn it over three times on Saturday at Texas Tech, giveaways that turned into three quick scoring drives for the Red Raiders offense. However, BYU’s defense only allowed 9 points and 8 total yards across those three drives. The Cougars offense simply didn’t look playoff-caliber in this matchup. BYU is still only a one-loss team, but its only noteworthy victory this season came in the Holy War versus Utah.
13. Utah Utes (13)
With so many one-loss teams going down in Week 11, the Utah Utes join the two-loss programs who get to be in the top 13 even after a bye. Utah dominated Cincinnati two weeks ago, putting the loss in the Holy War in the rearview mirror. With an end-of-season slate against Baylor, Kansas State and Kansas, the Utes control their path to a 10-win season.
14. Vanderbilt Commodores (16)
Diego Pavia did it again. The Vanderbilt Commodores found themselves in an early 20-3 hole late in the second quarter and still faced a double-digit deficit (20-10) at halftime. Fittingly, Pavia just put the Commodores on his back again and decimated the Auburn Tigers defense. Pavia put up 489 total yards and 4 touchdowns in Saturday’s 45-38 overtime win. It’s fair to wonder, though, if the College Football Playoff committee will see the 563 total yards allowed to Auburn and wonder if Vanderbilt is quite as good as everyone thought it was a few weeks ago.
15. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (17)
The bad news for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets is that the hopes of an undefeated season were lost last weekend at NC State. Fortunately, head coach Brent Key indicated this week that he is committed to this program long-term and, if that proves to be the case, that erases one big uncertainty that hung over this program. Georgia Tech had two weeks to prepare for Boston College, but one is more than enough. As long as the Yellow Jackets handle their business, it’ll be a 9-1 record entering late November with a shot to end the season with ranked wins versus Pittsburgh and Georgia.
16. Miami Hurricanes (18)
It’s not exactly encouraging that the Miami Hurricanes defense struggled to defend the run versus a Syracuse team that doesn’t have a starting-caliber quarterback, but it’s the win that ultimately matters. We are now weeks removed from when the Hurricanes looked like one of the best college football teams in 2025, and that’s largely an indictment on Mario Cristobal and Carson Beck. The good news for Miami is that its next two matchups versus NC State and Virginia Tech should still put this program in a position for a 10-win season heading into the regular-season finale at Pitt on Nov. 29.
17. USC Trojans (19)
USC Trojans running back King Miller is one of the best stories in college football right now. A former three-star recruit, Miller didn’t have much of a role for the first half of the season. Then, Lincoln Riley’s hand was forced after Waymond Jordan and Eli Jordan went down with severe injuries. Miller has risen to the occasion. Friday’s 127-yard performance marked his third 100-yard game over the last month, and he’s averaged 8.1 yards per carry and 138 rushing yards per game in USC’s three wins with him as the starter. Once USC’s fourth-string running back, another big game will likely be needed next Saturday at home for the Trojans to beat Iowa.
18. Michigan Wolverines (21)
It’s about to get very interesting for this Michigan Wolverines offense. Heading into the Week 11 bye, the team learned that star running back Justice Haynes needed surgery on his foot that will sideline him indefinitely. Jordan Marshall has made the most of his opportunities in recent weeks—473 scrimmage yards, 5 touchdowns, and a 6.6 yards-per-carry average—in his last three contests. Marshall and this Michigan defense can collectively lead the team to road wins in the next two contests versus Northwestern and Maryland. However, the time is coming up for freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood to deliver, and he’ll need to in The Game.
19. Louisville Cardinals (15)
The Louisville Cardinals have been winning despite Miller Moss as of late. Cal made the cross-country trip for this matchup, but you would’ve thought it was the opposite based on how these two teams performed for three quarters. Fortunately for Louisville, it had Keyjuan Brown and he’s the only reason the Cardinals made it to overtime. Unfortunately, a penalty on the first drive of OT forced Louisville to put the ball in Moss’ hands and it resulted in a field goal. Cal took advantage, with the better quarterback leading his team to a win.
20. Pittsburgh Panthers (24)
The only thing better than moving up multiple spots in the college football rankings after your bye week is having a freshman sensation quarterback who is a reason for it. That’s the great situation the Pittsburgh Panthers find themselves in entering Week 12. A 2025 247 Sports three-star recruit, Mason Heintschel has made his fair share of mistakes, but he’s also been instrumental in Pitt’s offense putting up 200 points and five wins since taking over as the starter. However, the freshman’s impressive run could come to a halt next Saturday against Notre Dame.
21. Iowa Hawkeyes (20)
The Iowa Hawkeyes gave away five points in Saturday’s two-point loss to Oregon. If a three-loss Tennessee team that doesn’t have a win over a top-40 opponent this season can earn a spot in the College Football Playoff rankings, Iowa certainly doesn’t deserve to fall out after nearly beating Oregon on Saturday. This is the best the Hawkeyes have looked in a few years. A road trip to Southern California to take on the Trojans will be difficult, but no one who has watched this team this season would be surprised if Iowa beats USC.
22. Tennessee Volunteers (25)
The Tennessee Volunteers are exceeding expectations this season. When Nico Iamaleava was pushed out the door and Joey Aguilar transferred in, it was realistic to think Josh Heupel would only get seven wins out of this program in 2025. Instead, with three games left in the regular season, the Volunteers have an outside shot at a nine-win season before bowl games even arrive. We don’t necessarily view Tennessee as one of the 25 best college football teams this season, but the College Football Playoff committee does, and the results from Week 11 when the Vols were on a bye shouldn’t change that.
23. Virginia Cavaliers (14)
The drop has been a long-time coming for the Virginia Cavaliers, but that second loss of the season is largely a result of the Chandler Morris injury. It’s not entirely the one-score loss at home to Wake Forest (6-3) that sends Virginia plummeting down the rankings. It’s the fact that, even before Morris went down, this team struggled to get by Washington State, North Carolina, and Cal. If Morris misses time, the Cavaliers are in real danger of losing at Duke next week.
24. James Madison Dukes (Unranked)
With Missouri and Washington both picking up their third losses of the season in Week 11, it’s time for the James Madison Dukes to crack the College Football Playoff rankings. Quarterback Alonza Barnett delivered another three-touchdown performance, this time on the road versus Marshall. Group of Five teams aren’t getting much love from the committee, but an 8-1 record when there are so many three-loss teams deserves a top-25 spot.
25. Cincinnati Bearcats (Unranked)
The Cincinnati Bearcats might back their way into the 25th spot in the college football rankings during a bye. They entered Week 11 ranked 25th in ESPN’s strength of resume, ahead of Tennessee, though they are 35th in FPI. Getting blown out at Utah certainly hurts, but this is still a 7-2 team that will have a chance at redemption in a few weeks when it hosts BYU.
