College Football Rankings 2015: Reviewing NCAA Week 11 Standings Before Saturday
In the first weekend after the College Football Playoff rankings were released, three Top 10 teams suffered their first defeats of the season.
So, what could Week 11 have in store to top that?
Based on the high-profile matchups on the schedule, it's possible Week 11 could create just as much chaos in the rankings.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Two of the top six teams in the CFP rankings face ranked opponents, and a number of others have tough conference battles that could lead to even more shake-up in the polls.
Matchups with Playoff Implications
No. 2 Alabama at No. 17 Mississippi State
After knocking off LSU, Alabama gained full control of the SEC East and will represent the division in the SEC title game if it wins out. However, the Mississippi State Bulldogs should not be taken lightly.
Mississippi State gave Alabama all it could handle a season ago in Tuscaloosa before falling 25-20.
Over the past two seasons, Dak Prescott has led the Bulldogs to an impressive 11-1 record at home, with the lone loss coming in September in a 21-19 battle against LSU. Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee noted Prescott's improvement from a year ago:
"Writing on Bama/Mississippi State today. Bulldog QB Dak Prescott is having a better season in 2015 than 2014—when he was in the Heisman talk
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) November 11, 2015"
Prescott is quietly playing as well as any quarterback in the country, tossing 18 touchdowns and just one interception this season.
Despite entering the game as an eight-point underdog, according to Odds Shark, Prescott poses a viable threat to the Crimson Tide's playoff hopes.
Prediction: Alabama 21, Mississippi State 17
Oregon at No. 7 Stanford
Despite its position at No. 7, Stanford has an excellent chance to sneak into the playoff if the Cardinal can run the table.
With a regular-season finale against Notre Dame followed by the Pac-12 title game, Stanford has an opportunity to boost its strength of schedule with some impressive late-season victories.
But first, the Cardinal will need to avoid an upset at the hands of the Ducks, who will be seeking revenge on Saturday night.
In 2012 and 2013, Stanford ended Oregon's undefeated seasons with November upsets, and now Mark Helfrich's crew has the opportunity to reverse the script.
After its early-season struggles, Oregon appears to be back on track with a healthy Vernon Adams. Over the past two weeks, Adams has led the Ducks to a combined 105 points against Arizona State and California. It's crucial for the quarterback to remain healthy, as noted by SB Nation's Jason Kirk:
"Actually, Oregon is good https://t.co/5LbSycwS2V pic.twitter.com/fufUCR8Rqi
— Earl (@JasonKirkSBN) November 12, 2015"
Despite its success overall, Stanford's defense hasn't been quite as dominant as in years past. The Cardinal defense has allowed over 300 passing yards twice in the past month—to UCLA and Washington State.
If Adams can keep the Ducks offense rolling, this could be an entertaining Pac-12 battle.
Prediction: Oregon 41, Stanford 38
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 6 Baylor
Art Briles has owned Bob Stoops in recent years, as Baylor has outscored Oklahoma 89-26 over the past two seasons.
But this year, Baylor takes the field with a relatively untested freshman quarterback against arguably the Big 12's toughest defense.
With just one start under his belt, not much is known about Jarrett Stidham. According to CFB Film Room, Stidham was pressured just four times against Kansas State, resulting in three sacks and a scramble.
It's safe to assume the Oklahoma defense will generate some pressure, and how Stidham responds could determine the outcome of the game.
On the defensive side of the ball, Baylor will need to find a way to slow down running back Samaje Perine. The Bears' run defense has looked vulnerable in recent weeks, allowing 490 combined yards on the ground to Kansas State and Iowa State.
Prediction: Baylor 35, Oklahoma 31
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