College Football Rankings Week 11: B/R's Official Top 25
After another wild weekend of college football, we'll have to wait until Tuesday to see how these results impact the latest College Football Playoff rankings. But we won't make you wait nearly as long to see the latest version of the Bleacher Report Top 25.
Losses by six teams from last week's rankings led to plenty of shake-up, but not everyone fell as much as you'd expect.
The Top 25 is voted on by 19 members of Bleacher Report's college football team: writers Keith Arnold, Ben Axelrod, Phil Callihan, Michael Felder, Justin Ferguson, Kyle Kensing, David Kenyon, Ben Kercheval, Adam Kramer, Brian Leigh, Brian Pedersen, Barrett Sallee, Brad Shepard, Erin Sorensen, Marc Torrence and Greg Wallace, as well as editors Eric Bowman, Hunter Mandel and Eric Yates.
Each voter submits their ballots based on observations made during the just-completed week's games. Teams receive 25 points for a first-place vote, all the way down to one point for being ranked 25th, and then the top 25 vote-getters are ranked in order of their point totals.
Check out B/R's Week 11 poll, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Others Receiving Votes
1 of 26
Wisconsin won its third straight game and earned its first victory away from home, dominating Rutgers en route to a 37-0 win in Big Ten play. Corey Clement ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns, and Melvin Gordon added 128 rushing yards and two scores.
However, it wasn't enough to get the Badgers back into the Top 25.
- Wisconsin (32)
- East Carolina (12)
- USC (11)
- Louisville (7)
- Missouri (6)
- Temple (4)
- Florida (3)
- Iowa (3)
- Miami, Florida (3)
- Boise State (2)
25. Colorado State Rams
2 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 38-31 at San Jose State
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Hawaii
Poll points: 37
Last week's ranking: Not ranked
Colorado State (8-1, 4-1 Mountain West) got four rushing touchdowns from Dee Hart, three in the second half, as part of his 104 yards for its seventh straight win.
The Rams also got 290 passing yards and a touchdown from Garrett Grayson, while Rashard Higgins had eight catches for 143 yards and a score.
Colorado State forced three turnovers.
24. West Virginia Mountaineers
3 of 26
Week 10 result: Lost 31-30 vs. TCU
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Texas
Poll points: 48
Last week's ranking: 21st
West Virginia (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) squandered a pair of 13-point leads, with five turnovers contributing to the home loss that ultimately came down to TCU making a 37-yard field goal on the final play.
Clint Trickett threw for 162 yards and a touchdown on 15-of-26 passing, but he was intercepted twice. The Mountaineers also lost three fumbles, which prevented them from holding leads of 13-0 in the first quarter and 27-14 in the third quarter. That last lead came thanks to Terrell Chestnut stripping the ball from a TCU receiver and returning the fumble 35 yards for a touchdown.
West Virginia also got a five-yard TD run from Dreamius Smith, who led the team with 70 rushing yards on 12 carries.
23. Marshall Thundering Herd
4 of 26
Week 10 result: Bye
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Southern Mississippi
Poll points: 81
Last week's ranking: 23rd
Marshall (8-0, 4-0 Conference USA) scored a major win despite not playing this weekend, as the loss by East Carolina put the Thundering Herd in better position to earn the coveted at-large spot awarded to a non-power conference team for a College Football Playoff-associated bowl game.
The Herd have a nine-game winning streak dating back to their victory over Maryland in the Military Bowl. This season they have scored at least 35 points in every game, and quarterback Rakeem Cato has thrown a touchdown pass in an FBS-record 40 consecutive games.
22. Arizona Wildcats
5 of 26
Week 10 result: Lost 17-7 at UCLA
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Colorado
Poll points: 96
Last week's ranking: 15th
Arizona (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) had its worst offensive performance of the season, by a long shot, managing only 255 yards and failing to get onto the scoreboard after getting a touchdown on its opening drive.
Cayleb Jones caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Anu Solomon fewer than three minutes into the game, but after that the Wildcats had 180 yards on their remaining 13 drives. Solomon completed only 18 of 48 passes for 175 yards with an interception.
Arizona also had two missed field goals, one blocked with under three minutes left. The Wildcats gave up 320 yards of total offense to UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley in losing to the Bruins for the third straight year.
21. Utah Utes
6 of 26
Week 10 result: Lost 19-16 (in OT) at Arizona State
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Oregon
Poll points: 104
Last week's ranking: 18th
Utah (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) gave up a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter before officially losing after Andy Phillips missed a field-goal attempt in overtime to snap a three-game win streak.
The Utes trailed 13-3 before scoring 13 straight points and led most of the second half. Quarterback Travis Wilson had a four-yard touchdown pass to Devontae Booker, who also ran for 146 yards.
Phillips made field goals of 50 and 36 yards in the second quarter, but in OT his 35-yard try was wide left.
20. Duke Blue Devils
7 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 51-48 (in 2 OT) at Pittsburgh
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Syracuse
Poll points: 105
Last week's ranking: 24th
Duke (7-1, 3-1 ACC) got a five-yard touchdown run from quarterback Thomas Sirk in the second overtime to give the Blue Devils their third straight win and extend their lead in the Coastal Division after a wild game in Pittsburgh.
Sirk had two short TD runs, the first tying the game at 28 at the end of the first half. Fellow Duke quarterback Anthony Boone threw for 266 yards and three TDs, also scoring on a 12-yard run for Duke's first-overtime TD.
Jamison Crowder had nine catches for 165 yards and two TDs, while DeVon Edwards returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score.
The game needed extra time after Pittsburgh kicker Chris Blewitt missed a 26-yard field goal as time expired in regulation. Duke won despite allowing 358 rushing yards to the Panthers, including 263 with three scores to James Conner.
19. Clemson Tigers
8 of 26
Week 10 result: Bye
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 6 at Wake Forest
Poll points: 112
Last week's ranking: 22nd
Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC) took a five-game win streak into its bye, and over the last four wins only allowed 36 total points. For the season, the Tigers allow 18.3 points per game and currently rank second in total defense at 268.6 yards allowed per game.
Though its offense has struggled to move the ball since quarterback DeShaun Watson broke his hand on Oct. 11, the Tigers have still gotten a great performance all season from receiver Mike Williams. The 6'3" sophomore is averaging 21.2 yards per catch on his 35 receptions.
18. UCLA Bruins
9 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 17-7 vs. Arizona
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Washington
Poll points: 124
Last week's ranking: NR
UCLA (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) used a swarming defense to hold down Arizona's uptempo attack, while Brett Hundley carried the Bruins with 320 yards of total offense to end a two-game home losing streak.
Hundley threw for 189 yards on 19-of-26 passing, connecting with Jordan Payton for a 70-yard touchdown pass, and he added 131 rushing yards. Paul Perkins ran for 78 yards and a five-yard TD run midway through the third quarter to give UCLA a 10-7 lead.
The Bruins held Arizona to 255 yards of total offense, forcing Anu Solomon to complete only 18 of 48 passes.
17. Georgia Bulldogs
10 of 26
Week 10 result: Lost 38-20 vs. Florida (in Jacksonville)
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Kentucky
Poll points: 137
Last week's ranking: 9th
Georgia (6-2, 4-2 SEC) looked ill-prepared for a desperate Florida team, and in turn took itself out of the playoff race after getting run over in the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party at EverBank Field in Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs gave up 418 rushing yards, including 21 to Michael McNeely on a fake field goal in the middle of the second quarter that tied the game at seven and started a run of 31 straight points by the Gators. Two different Florida players ran for more than 190 yards, and Florida only had to attempt six passes because Georgia couldn't stop the ground game.
"They physically whipped us," Georgia coach Mark Richt told David Paschall of the Chattanooga Times-Free Press. "That is the best description I can give you."
Nick Chubb ran for 156 yards and a touchdown in his third start in place of the suspended Todd Gurley, while Hutson Mason threw for 319 yards and a TD. But the entire game hinged on Georgia's inability to defend the run, something it had done well coming in by allowing only 105.1 yards per game.
16. Oklahoma Sooners
11 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 59-14 at Iowa State
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Baylor
Poll points: 177
Last week's ranking: 19th
Oklahoma (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) dominated on the road thanks to an all-around great performance from Trevor Knight and an offense that racked up 751 total yards, rushing for 510.
According to ESPN, the total yardage was fourth most in school history, while the rushing tally was the most for the Sooners since 1989.
Knight threw for 230 yards and three touchdowns—two to tight end Blake Bell—and ran for 146 yards and three scores. He was one of three Oklahoma players with at least 100 rushing yards, along with Alex Ross (144 yards) and Samaje Perine (110, one TD).
The Sooners limited Iowa State to 87 rushing yards and held Cyclones quarterback Sam B. Richardson to 239 yards on 15-of-40 passing.
15. LSU Tigers
12 of 26
Week 10 result: Bye
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Alabama
Poll points: 184
Last week's ranking: 17th
LSU (7-2, 3-2 SEC) won three straight heading into this bye week, the last a 10-7 defeat of previously unbeaten Ole Miss. During that streak, the Tigers have held opponents to 37 total points.
The Tigers are allowing 318.1 yards per game, which ranks 13th nationally, while they're fifth in the country in scoring defense at 15.9 points per game.
Freshman running back Leonard Fournette is coming off a 113-yard effort, his third 100-yard game of the season, and leads LSU with 657 yards and seven TDs.
14. Nebraska Cornhuskers
13 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 35-14 vs. Purdue
Week 11 matchup: Bye
Poll points: 227
Last week's ranking: 16th
Nebraska (8-1, 4-1 Big Ten) lost star running back Ameer Abdullah to a knee injury early, but the Cornhuskers didn't need him for this game thanks to backup Imani Cross and quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr.
Abdullah suffered a sprained MCL and did not return after gaining just one yard on six carries. He came into the game with 1,249 yards and 17 touchdowns.
In his absence, Cross ran for 66 yards and two TDs, while Armstrong ran for 70 yards and a score while also throwing a touchdown pass. Armstrong's quarterback play wasn't good overall, though, as he had 118 yards with two interceptions on 8-of-21 passing.
Nebraska came into the matchup averaging 514.8 yards per game but was held to a season-low 297.
13. Ohio State Buckeyes
14 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 55-14 vs. Illinois
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Michigan State
Poll points: 258
Last week's ranking: 13th
Ohio State (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) jumped out to a 48-0 lead and gave visiting Illinois no chance at an upset, breezing to victory in its final tuneup before next week's East Division championship game at Michigan State.
The Buckeyes gained 545 yards, including 296 rushing yards. Curtis Samuel had two rushing TDs, while quarterback J.T. Barrett threw for 167 yards and two TDs on 15-of-24 passing.
OSU held Illinois to 243 yards and forced four turnovers.
12. Arizona State Sun Devils
15 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 19-16 (in OT) vs. Utah
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Notre Dame
Poll points: 261
Last week's ranking: 14th
Arizona State (7-1, 5-1 Pac-12) got field goals from Zane Gonzalez to force overtime and then to win it in extra time for their fourth straight victory while taking over first place in the Pac-12 South Division.
Gonzalez's 36-yard kick in OT came after Utah missed its own field goal. He had two field goals in the first quarter, then drilled a 30-yarder with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter to tie it at 16.
The Sun Devils ran for 239 yards, led by Demario Richard's 116 yards. Taylor Kelly threw for 205 yards and a six-yard touchdown pass to Jaelen Strong that had given ASU a 13-3 lead in the second quarter.
11. Ole Miss Rebels
16 of 26
Week 10 result: Lost 35-31 vs. Auburn
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Presbyterian
Poll points: 269
Last week's ranking: 8th
Ole Miss (7-2, 4-2 SEC) suffered a painful home loss in more ways than one. Star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell suffered an apparent severe leg injury as he lost a fumble just short of the goal line with 90 seconds left on what would have been a go-ahead touchdown catch. The sellout crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was crushed.
Treadwell caught a tunnel screen from Bo Wallace and raced through the Auburn defense toward the end zone, but as he was being pulled down just before the goal line, the ball came out and was recovered by the visiting Tigers for a touchback with 90 seconds left. Treadwell appeared to have hurt his leg on the play.
It was the second straight loss for the Rebels after a 7-0 start, but unlike the 10-7 loss at LSU, this time their vaunted defense couldn't make a stop. They allowed 507 yards to Auburn, 202 more than average, and the 35 points were 15 more than allowed to any other opponent this season.
Wallace had 402 yards of total offense with two touchdown passes and a TD run, but he also lost a fumble in the red zone. Treadwell had 10 catches for 103 yards and a score, one of three Ole Miss players with 100 or more receiving yards.
10. Baylor Bears
17 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 60-14 vs. Kansas
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Oklahoma
Poll points: 295
Last week's ranking: 12th
Baylor (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) had little trouble destroying Kansas at home, gaining 669 total yards and forcing three turnovers in an easy victory heading into next week's showdown at Oklahoma.
The Bears went three-and-out on their first drive and then scored on 10 of their next 11 possessions. Bryce Petty threw for 277 yards and three touchdowns (two to Corey Coleman) on 15-of-27 passing, while Devin Chafin ran for 112 yards and two TDs.
Chris Callahan made four field goals, including three on consecutive drives in the second quarter, and Baylor's defense held Kansas to 16 rushing yards.
9. Kansas State Wildcats
18 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 48-14 vs. Oklahoma State
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at TCU
Poll points: 331
Last week's ranking: 11th
Kansas State (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) scored 45 straight points after allowing a touchdown to Kansas State on the game's opening drive, the Wildcats' fifth straight win heading into a huge season-ending stretch.
The Wildcats—who play on the road against three teams currently ranked in the College Football Playoff standings over the final month—tied the game 12 seconds after Oklahoma State went up 7-0 on an 86-yard kickoff-return touchdown by Morgan Burns. Charles Jones had the first of his two rushing TDs seven minutes later, then quarterback Jake Waters took over with two TD passes and 223 yards on 19-of-28 passing.
Curry Sexton had 159 yards and a TD on nine catches, including a 64-yard TD reception. K-State's defense held the Cowboys to 261 yards and forced three turnovers.
8. TCU Horned Frogs
19 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 31-30 at West Virginia
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Kansas State
Poll points: 347
Last week's ranking: 10th
TCU (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) got a 37-yard field goal from Jaden Oberkrom as time expired to cap a fourth-quarter rally and escape Morgantown with a win on a sloppy and mistake-filled afternoon.
"TCU adds another quality win to its resume while showing the nation its ability to overcome adversity and make key plays when it needs them," wrote ESPN.com's Brandon Chatmon.
The Horned Frogs trailed by 13 points on two occasions, including down 27-14 midway through the third quarter after Terrell Chestnut stripped Josh Doctson and returned the fumble 35 yards for a touchdown. It was one of two TCU turnovers, but it countered by forcing five takeaways and holding West Virginia quarterback Clint Trickett to 162 yards on 15-of-26 passing.
Trevone Boykin struggled as well, completing just 12 of 30 passes for 166 yards with a TD and an interception, while adding 49 rushing yards and a two-yard TD run. B.J. Catalon ran for 105 yards and two scores, the last a six-yard run with 7:33 left to pull TCU within two.
7. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
20 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 49-39 vs. Navy (at Landover, Maryland)
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Arizona State
Poll points: 348
Last week's ranking: 4th
Notre Dame (7-1) scored two touchdowns in less than three minutes early in the fourth quarter to erase a three-point deficit, avoiding a second straight loss to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
The Fighting Irish led 28-7 midway through the second quarter before Navy scored 24 unanswered points. But Everett Golson gave Notre Dame the lead back early in the fourth quarter on the second of his three rushing TDs, and he finished the night with 348 yards of total offense while accounting for six TDs.
Tarean Folston added 149 rushing yards and a TD, and Notre Dame overcame allowing 336 rushing yards after having yielded an average of 101.9 yards per game on the ground beforehand.
6. Michigan State Spartans
21 of 26
Week 10 result: Bye
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Ohio State
Poll points: 370
Last week's ranking: 7th
Michigan State (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) had the week off before playing what is arguably the biggest conference game of the season, the visit from fellow one-loss team Ohio State.
The Spartans have won six consecutive games since their 46-27 loss at Oregon on Sept. 6, and during that streak they've averaged 48.7 points per game and are coming off a 35-11 win over rival Michigan.
Running back Jeremy Langford has heated up of late, with five straight 100-yard games, helping MSU rank 13th in FBS in total offense at 515.3 yards per game.
5. Alabama Crimson Tide
22 of 26
Week 10 result: Bye
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at LSU
Poll points: 405
Last week's ranking: 3rd
Alabama (7-1, 4-1 SEC) took the week off ahead of its big showdown at LSU next Saturday, where it has won two of the last three matchups there with the Tigers.
The Crimson Tide have won three straight since their 23-17 loss at Ole Miss, but they currently sit sixth in the College Football Playoff rankings. They rank 15th in the country in total offense at 508.9 yards per game, led by Blake Sims' 2,034 passing yards and 15 touchdowns, and Amari Cooper's 71 catches for 1,132 yards and nine TDs.
Alabama hasn't lost two regular-season games since 2010.
4. Oregon Ducks
23 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 45-16 vs. Stanford
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 at Utah
Poll points: 410
Last week's ranking: 6th
Oregon (8-1, 5-1 Pac-12) conquered its nemesis in convincing fashion, becoming the first team to score more than 30 points against Stanford in more than two years.
Marcus Mariota accounted for four touchdowns, throwing two TD passes with 258 yards while rushing for 85 yards and two scores. Mariota, who had lost his previous two starts against Stanford, has thrown a TD pass in all 35 games he's started in college.
Thomas Tyner added two rushing TDs, and Royce Freeman ran for 98 yards as the Ducks racked up 525 yards against a defense that came in allowing an FBS-leading 250.6 yards per game.
Since losing 31-24 at home in early October, Oregon has averaged 47.8 points during its four-game win streak.
3. Auburn Tigers
24 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 35-31 at Ole Miss
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Texas A&M
Poll points: 429
Last week's ranking: 5th
Auburn (7-1, 4-1 SEC) recovered a fumble in the end zone with 90 seconds left on what was almost a go-ahead touchdown for Ole Miss, a play that typified how nip-and-tuck the Tigers' road victory was.
Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell lost control of the ball just before crossing the goal line, and Cassanova McKinzy fell on it to preserve a huge victory that kept Auburn in the playoff hunt and marked one of the few defensive stops in an otherwise offense-driven game. Auburn scored five touchdowns against an Ole Miss defense that had only allowed eight TDs all season.
"Auburn was sloppy and undisciplined," wrote Dan Wolken of USA Today. "Auburn couldn't tackle or defend the middle of the field. Auburn couldn't stop committing dumb penalties. And yet somehow Auburn came into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, rolled up 502 yards against one of the nation's top defenses and came out with a victory."
Nick Marshall had 304 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns, two each through the air and on the ground, but it was Cameron Artis-Payne's six-yard TD run with 10:23 left that proved to be the game-winner. Artis-Payne ran for 143 yards on 27 carries.
Auburn recovered two fumbles in the red zone but allowed 341 passing yards to Bo Wallace and somehow overcame 13 penalties for 145 yards after entering the game averaging 5.7 flags for 57.4 yards per game.
2. Florida State Seminoles
25 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 42-31 at Louisville
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. Virginia
Poll points: 470 (nine first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 2nd
Florida State (8-0, 5-0 ACC) pulled off another comeback, this one even more improbable than the others this season, rallying from a 21-0 deficit late in the first half to win its 24th straight game in what could be the Seminoles' final regular-season hurdle.
Jameis Winston shook off one of the worst starts of his career to finish with 401 passing yards and three touchdowns, each going for at least 35 yards. Winston was intercepted three times, including on back-to-back throws in the first half, but his hustle after the third pick forced a fumble that FSU recovered. FSU had several of those lucky bounces, such as when Winston fumbled the exchange with running back Karlos Williams yet Nick O'Leary fell on the loose ball in the end zone for a TD with 33 seconds left in the first half.
Winston threw TD passes of 68 yards to Travis Rudolph, 47 to Ermon Lane and 35 to Freddie Stevenson, the last on a third-down play with 2:11 left that iced the game.
FSU also got a breakout performance from freshman running back Dalvin Cook, who had 150 yards of total offense, including 110 rushing yards on nine carries with a 40-yard TD run.
Against a team that had allowed 245.8 yards per game coming in, FSU racked up 574 yards.
1. Mississippi State Bulldogs
26 of 26
Week 10 result: Won 17-10 vs. Arkansas
Week 11 matchup: Nov. 8 vs. UT-Martin
Poll points: 476 (10 first-place votes)
Last week's ranking: 1st
Mississippi State (8-0, 5-0) needed a long touchdown pass on a busted coverage and then a pair of late defensive stops to avoid the home upset and remain unbeaten.
Fred Ross caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from Dak Prescott with 13:21 left. The Bulldogs then stuffed Arkansas on 4th-and-goal on one possession and got an interception from Will Redmond in the end zone with 15 seconds left to preserve the victory.
Prescott had 392 yards of total offense, including 331 passing yards, but he was intercepted twice. The Bulldogs turned it over three times and trailed 10-0 after the first 19 minutes of play. Josh Robinson scored on a short TD run midway through the second quarter to start the comeback, part of 174 yards of total offense for the running back, including 110 receiving yards on six receptions.
MSU extended its winning streak to 11 games since starting 4-6 last season.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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