College Football Scores 2015: Key Players from Top 25 Teams' Week 11 Results
The Ohio State Buckeyes have advanced to the climactic part of their regular season with a perfect 10-0 record.
Ohio State took care of business on the road at Illinois and secured a 28-3 victory Saturday. Starting quarterback J.T. Barrett returned to the starting lineup, and he completed 15-of-23 passes for 150 yards with one TD and an interception. Barrett also ran for 74 yards and a score, and the Ohio State offense appeared to improve as the game went along.
Barrett had been suspended for one game after he was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated last month.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
The third-ranked Buckeyes host Michigan State next Saturday and then close out the regular season with Michigan. Victories in both of those games will put them in the Big Ten Championship Game and give them a good chance to defend the national championship they won last year.
Ohio State outgained Illinois 440-261 and held on to the ball for 33:04. Urban Meyer's team was dominant on the ground, as the Buckeyes rushed for 283 yards on 50 carries for an average of 5.6 yards per carry. The Illini was completely stifled on the ground, gaining 20 yards on 25 carries.
Head coach Urban Meyer said that he thought the area that needed the most improvement prior to facing Michigan State and Michigan is pass blocking.
"We want to take some shots," Meyer told ESPN after the win over the Illini. "We have some skilled guys, and we need to block the down guys on the outside."
| Clemson (1) | 37-27 | Syracuse | Clemson: 360-80 edge in passing yards |
| Alabama (2) | 31-6 | Ole Miss (17) | Derrick Henry, Alabama, 204 rushing yards, two TDs |
| Ohio State (3) | 28-3 | Illinois | Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State, 181 rushing yards |
| Notre Dame (4) | 28-7 | Wake Forest | Wake Forest: 340-282 edge in total yards |
| Oklahoma State (8) | 35-31 | Iowa State | Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State, 327 passing yards |
| Florida (11) | 24-14 | South Carolina | Florida: 404-201 edge in total yards |
| Michigan State (13) | 24-7 | Maryland | Michigan State: Five takeaways |
| Michigan (14) | 48-41 (2 OT) | Indiana | Jake Rudock, 440 yards, 6 TDs |
| TCU (15) | 23-17 | Kansas | Aaron Green, TCU, 177 rushing yards |
| Florida State (16) | 34-17 | North Carolina State | Florida State: 196-79 edge in rushing yards |
| Northwestern (18) | 21-14 | Purdue | Northwestern: 250-73 edge in rushing yards |
| Navy (20) | 55-14 | SMU | Navy: 403 rushing yards |
| North Carolina (23) | 59-21 | Miami (Fla.) | North Carolina outscored Miami 24-0 in the second quarter |
Stars of the Week
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
Once again, Ezekiel Elliott was at the forefront of another Ohio State victory. While Barrett got quite a bit of attention as he returned from a one-game suspension, Elliott provided the offense with the majority of its production.
Elliott gained 181 yards on 27 carries and ran for two touchdowns. It marked the 15th consecutive game Elliott has rushed for 100 yards or more.
Elliott has gained 3,565 rushing yards in his career, moving him to third on the Buckeyes' all-time rushing list. He passed Tim Spencer and sits behind leaders Archie Griffin and Eddie George.
WR Kermit Whitfield, Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles fell behind early, but they fought off a stubborn North Carolina State team to record a 34-17 victory. They owe much of that comeback to speedy wide receiver Kermit Whitfield.
Whitfield caught six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and he broke the game open in the second half.
Whitfield caught a 27-yard TD pass from quarterback Sean Maguire midway through the third quarter, and that helped the Seminoles stretch a three-point lead, 20-17, to 10 points, thus leading 27-17. Whitfield then added a 45-yard TD in the fourth quarter to help give Florida State a comfortable 17-point margin.
QB DeShaun Watson, Clemson
The top-rated Clemson Tigers got quite a fight from Syracuse, but they emerged from the trip to upstate New York with their perfect record intact as they picked up a 37-27 victory.
Quarterback DeShaun Watson completed 34 of 47 passes for 360 yards, and he also threw two TD passes.
Watson was not content just to torment the Orange with his passing. He also carried 14 times for 105 yards and scored one rushing TD.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
