College football Week 11 sneak peek: Keys to the crucial games,
Week 11 has shown up and with it a ranked challenger for Michigan. The Wolverines put their ideal season– on the field anyhow– on the line at one-loss Penn State.The game also is
considerable for Penn State and coach James Franklin, who is just 3-16 versus top-10 challengers. Another season of losses to both Michigan and Ohio State will raise larger questions about Penn State’s direction.Other secret games Saturday include Ole Miss at Georgia, Miami at Florida State, Utah at Washington and USC at Oregon.Our writers supply 3 secrets to each of those games, along with how Week 11 can help
Heisman candidates construct their cases and quotes from the week. Week 11: Three secrets to key games J.J. McCarthy and Michigan face their biggest test so far Saturday at Penn State. AP Photo/Al Goldis(Twelve Noon ET, Fox)After another week of off-field drama, Michigan will experience its biggest test on the field at
Penn State, which has won 7 straight in your home and boasts the country’s No. 1 defense versus the run.Michigan diversions: Michigan is still awaiting possible discipline from the Big 10, which sources say is considering a multigame suspension for coach Jim Harbaugh. The interruptions exist, however Michigan has managed them exceptionally well, even long before the NCAA examination. The Wolverines played their first three games without Harbaugh and have actually utilized the controversy and criticism around their program as galvanizing forces.Penn State’s run defense: For Penn State to remove Michigan, the Lions will need their elite run defense (just 60.3 lawns per game)to hold up much better than it did in 2022, when Donovan Edwards and Blake Corum led a Wolverines’rushing attack that piled up 418 lawns and 4 touchdowns. Franklin told me the group’s protective line depth is significantly better, and the group could gain back Chop Robinson and Amin Vanover from injury.Michigan’s QB: Penn State’s run defense is the priority, however it also must be aware of Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who might spark his Heisman Prize candidacy with a big performance. Franklin kept in mind McCarthy’s athleticism and capability to keep Michigan’s offense “on schedule, “preventing
“unique pressures on apparent passing downs.”– Adam Rittenberg (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)Georgia has an opportunity to win the SEC East again if it can beat the No. 9 Rebels in your home. The No. 2 Bulldogs can clinch the division if No. 14 Missouri removes No. 13 Tennessee earlier in the day. No matter what happens in the latter game, Georgia wins the SEC East with another triumph over the Rebels. Georgia has won 10 of the last 11 games in the series; Ole Miss won the last meeting 45-14 in Oxford, Mississippi, in 2016. Remarkably, the Rebels are making their first journey to Sanford Stadium because a 37-10 loss in 2012. Editor’s Picks 2 Related Slow the run game: The Bulldogs are tied for second in the SEC in run defense, enabling 100 yards per game. But Georgia was surprisingly porous in recently’s 30-21 success against Missouri, allowing Cody Schrader to run for 112 yards with one rating on 22 carries. Tigers quarterback Brady Cook included another 39 yards on the ground. The Bulldogs will face a comparable
two-way threat in Rebels tailback Quinshon Judkins, who is 5th in the league with 88.1 lawns per game, and quarterback Jaxson Dart, who has 334 rushing yards with seven scores.Plug the middle: Georgia will most likely lack junior linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson, who fractured his left lower arm versus Missouri. The All-American was using a cast and sling after the game. Georgia coach Kirby Smart stated earlier today Dumas-Johnson was searching for “ingenious methods “to keep playing, however it would be surprising to see him on the field versus the Rebels. Sophomores Jalon Walker and Xavian Sorey Jr. and freshman C.J. Allen will probably remain in the within linebacker rotation more in Dumas-Johnson’s absence.Protect this house: The Rebels will be pulling for Kentucky to somehow upset Alabama on Saturday to remain in the SEC West hunt. They’ll deal with a tall order in trying to beat Georgia at home. The Bulldogs have actually tied a school record by winning 24 straight games at home. They’ve won 12 in a row at Sanford Stadium against teams ranked in the AP poll.– Mark Schlabach
( 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC )The Seminoles’ remaining schedule recommends they’ll finish unbeaten heading into ACC national championship. Miami is next up.Miami quarterback: Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal was mum today when asked whether Tyler Van Dyke would start at Florida State, saying personnel decisions like that
stay in-house. The reality that Cristobal left some doubt is telling, beyond the truth there is gamesmanship included headed into a huge competition game.
Van Dyke has thrown 10 interceptions in his past four games. Because missing the Clemson game with a concealed injury, he has actually struggled much more, with no touchdown passes, five interceptions and QB scores under 36. Freshman Emory Williams led the Hurricanes to the win over the Tigers and could be a much better alternative if Van Dyke is still coping injury.Keon Coleman, Johnny Wilson: Florida State coach Mike Norvell likewise kept relatively mum on the status of the Seminoles ‘leading 2 receivers, who both missed out on last week against Pitt with injury. So did backups Hykeem Williams and Deuce Spann. Without them, Ja’Khi Douglas stepped up with a 100-yard game, however it was challenging for the Seminoles to press the ball down the field with their receivers. Norvell said,”I do see us being in a far better area.”The trenches: Miami is greatly enhanced on its offending and protective lines from a year back, and how these matches play out could set the tone. The Hurricanes average more yards hurrying(176.5 to 164.4 per game )and more lawns per rush (5.2 to 5.0) than Florida State. With the quarterback unpredictability, the Hurricanes could choose to pound the ball on a Florida State run defense that has allowed its share of huge games this season. Of course, Florida State will more than likely pressure Miami to put the game on the quarterback.– Andrea Adelson (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)Utah will head to Seattle in a must-win scenario if it is to keep its hopes of making it three straight Pac-12 titles alive, while the Huskies attempt to keep their undefeated record intact.Setting the tone: As Utah showed versus Oregon– when it was blown out 35-6– it
is not a group that is constructed to play from behind. When the Ducks began quick, that was practically game over. They can blend in the pass and find success, but when forced to become one dimensional, it’s simply not going to work. That’s why it is essential for the Utes to either stay close or construct a lead early and remain in their convenience zone.Heisman moment: As we’ll touch on below, Heisman citizens will be seeing. If Michael Penix Jr. is Heisman-worthy, it suggests big performances in these types of games. All eyes will be on him to see what he can do against this tough Utah defense.Utah offense: The Utah defense is as reputable as it comes. The offense? Not a lot. This is where the game will be won or
lost: when Utah has the ball. A 55-3 drubbing of ASU recently revealed the capacity exists, but it’s a totally various ask to trade ratings with this UW offense at Husky Arena.– Kyle Bonagura(10:30 p.m. ET, Fox) Oregon hosts a bruised USC team that’s now without defensive planner Alex Grinch, who was fired following Washington’s 52-42 win over the Trojans. Both groups technically have plenty to bet(USC requires to win out to have a shot at the Pac-12 title game)but it’s the Ducks who are expecting a CFP berth.Keeping up with Caleb Williams: Though it hasn’t been exactly the repetition Heisman season numerous expected Williams to have, he’s still good enough to overcome a number of USC’s imperfections(not to mention he leads the country in goals). The Ducks’defense will need to consist of Williams when he scrambles outside the pocket. As Dan Lanning said today, no quarterback hangs on to the ball longer than Williams, and restricting him will be the key to a win.The Bucky Irving aspect: The Ducks running back has been a force this season, running for 821 yards and nine goals at an average of almost 7 lawns per carry. USC’s run defense, meanwhile, is one of the nation’s worst, permitting 186 rushing yards per game. And while the Trojans will try to find a spark in the wake of Grinch’s firing, Irving could be their worst nightmare.Fighting to survive: USC, which has three losses in its past four games, somehow
discovers itself with an outdoors shot at making it to the Pac-12 title game. Despite the game’s place– the always hard Autzen Arena– and the Ducks being favorites, the Trojans ought to be having fun with a nothing-to-lose mindset that could make them an unsafe matchup versus a team that has larger aspirations.– Paolo Uggetti Heisman enthusiastic spotlight play 0:17 Jordan Travis throws TD pass to Markeston Douglas Jordan Travis hits Markeston Douglas for the TD to extend Florida State’s lead over Pittsburgh 17-7. Jordan Travis, Florida State: The fact that Travis tossed for 360 backyards last week without his leading 2 receivers in a 24-7 win over Pitt probably did not get as much attention as it deserved. Maybe that is due to the fact that everyone anticipates him to kip down an all-world performance every time he steps on the field,and that is more than most likely part of the issue when it concerns bring in more Heisman attention. So is the fact there are playmakers all over the field for the Seminoles, and the balance they have on offense has actually implied he is not setting up the exact same ostentatious numbers as other quarterbacks. But make no error, Florida State is nowhere near the CFP conversation without Travis.– Adelson Jayden Daniels, LSU: Alabama didn’t have much luck stopping Daniels recently up until he was knocked out of the game early in the 4th quarter when Dallas Turner teed off on him and was struck with a personal nasty charge. Daniels is listed as everyday entering the Florida game(7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)after being positioned in concussion procedure. Missing one game probably would not thwart Daniels ‘Heisman candidacy, specifically with how well he played against Alabama, but he would require a strong near to the season. Daniels has been one of the more dynamic players in the nation. He ‘s the nationwide leader in overall offense( 3,476 yards)and second in TD duty(33). Even in the Tigers ‘3 losses, Daniels has actually played lights out. It’s hard to see a situation where he’s not a minimum of among the finalists.– Chris Low Marvin Harrison Jr., Ohio State: The receiver, who is ninth nationally and leads the Huge Ten with 914 getting yards, has actually been on a torrid speed recently with 100-yard games in 4 of Ohio State’s past five games. He heads into Saturday night’s game against Michigan State( 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC )having actually hauled in at least one goal in 5 straight games– consisting of two apiece the past two weeks against Wisconsin and Rutgers. The Spartans’pass defense sits 10th in the conference (222.3 YPG )and Harrison went off in this game a year ago in East Lansing(7 receptions for 131 backyards and three TDs).– Blake Baumgartner Bo Nix, Oregon: It’s a great little proportion for Nix that as his Heisman
case gets, the super senior will be going head-to-head against the ruling Heisman winner in Williams this weekend. Nix has actually been on a tear this year, finishing a minimum of 70% of his passes in every game up until now. He’s got 25 goals and just two interceptions, while being on the edge of crossing the 3,000-yard threshold. Simply put, if Nix continues to construct on his effective numbers this weekend versus Williams and the Ducks keep winning, his Heisman possibilities will just enhance.– Uggetti Michael Penix Jr., Washington: Going up against Utah and the best defense the Huskies will see
during the regular season, Penix has a huge opportunity to make a declaration. Because the win versus Oregon, Penix’s Heisman project has been mainly treading water– consisting of recently’s 52-point outburst versus USC in which the Huskies rode running back Dillon Johnson (256 yards rushing ). Still, Penix leads the country in passing by a broad margin(3,201 yards in 9 games), is 3rd in goal passes (26 )and, possibly just as notably, is on an unbeaten team. Some people don’t think this ought to hold true, however the reality is the Heisman Trophy is really impacted by team success. When there isn’t an apparent candidate, team success is a major differentiator– so the Huskies need to keep winning.– Bonagura Quotes of the week “I’m a clean person, however I’m not a cleaner. Vacuums aren’t my thing. I don’t understand anything about that.”– Michigan running back Blake Corum, denying any knowledge on his name appearing on an LLC for a company run by previous football staff member Connor Stalions. Stalions, at the heart of the Michigan sign-stealing claims, supposedly was sued by his homeowners association for running a vacuum refurbishing company out of his home.”I am that committed, and we are all that devoted to playing excellent defense here, and whatever it takes to get that done, that’s what we’re going to do.”– USC coach Lincoln Riley on shooting protective coordinator Alex Grinch this week following USC’s 52-42 loss to Washington. “There aren’t a great deal of responses out there about how to
beat those guys in Athens.
… They have elite players, an elite personnel, and we’re playing them on the roadway. What’s the hardest thing to pull off? This is it.”– Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, on facing Georgia today.” Well, I like bourbon. “– Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, after stating he goes home and views games with a notebook and a Diet Coke, when asked his favorite taste of Diet plan Coke.