Top Performers from College Football's Week 11

Week 11 has brought new uniforms and numerous surprises. TCU brought the house against Boise State and knocked off the Broncos in Boise. There has also been a twist to tradition as the Notre Dame Fighting Irish unveiled their second set of new uniform combinations this Saturday.

There were also numerous big-time games by players all across the country. Casey Pachall had an All-American type day for the Horned Frogs, and Brandon Weeden also had a big day from the quarterback position for the Oklahoma State Cowboys as he made the Texas Tech defense look like a high school team.

Early week wins by Virginia Tech and Houston also brought big performances. As the season draws closer to the end, here is a look back at the week and its biggest performers.

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon Ducks

James has been known to be a game changer for the Ducks and is a player that must be keyed on in every contest. Against Stanford he proved why he is so special, plowing down the Cardinal's title hopes. James took 20 carries and churned up 146 rushing yards and three touchdowns. His performance alone paved the way for a victory and the first loss for Stanford this season.

The Ducks now find themselves in position to be in the one-loss title talk. 

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State Cowboys

Brandon Weeden has put together two huge games in a row in the past two weeks. This week Weeden threw for 423 yards and five touchdowns. He was also 31-37 on the day while guiding his team to victory.

There have been a lot of questions about whether the Cowboys would be able to maintain the level of play that comes along with a No. 2 ranking in the BCS, and all of those questions were answered this week. Weeden led the charge for Cowboys early and solidified their position at No. 2.

If Weeden continues to play at this level to close the season, the last two weeks could come out better than the Cowboys ever could have imagined coming into the season. The Cowboys are in the driver’s seat to the title in large part because of the efforts of Weeden.

Connor Halliday, QB, Washington State Cougars

In a big win for the Cougars, Connor Halliday looked every bit the veteran, completing 75 percent of his passes and gaining 494 yards through the air against Sun Devils of Arizona State. He also added four touchdowns without a single interception.

Halliday had seen some time previously this season in mop-up duty against Idaho State and UNLV, but this was the first start of his career. If this game was any indication of his future, it looks very bright for the Cougars.

Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State Cougars

Wilson had a huge day for the Cougars on the outside, accumulating 223 yards through the air on only eight catches. He also added three touchdowns to his stat line. Assisting his freshman quarterback Connor Halliday to victory, Wilson had his second 200-yard game this season.

Alex Carder, QB, Western Michigan Broncos

Carder and the Broncos faced off against Toledo this past Tuesday night, and fireworks were exploding all over the field. Carder was on the losing end of the 66-63 shootout, but he still managed to give his team the best chance to win the game.

Carder threw for 548 yards, completed 64.4 percent of his passes and tossed seven touchdowns. To top off the performance, he didn’t have a single interception. He also added another 16 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown in the loss.

Jyruss Edwards, RB, Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

Edwards, a sophomore rusher for the Warhawks, had only one game this season in which he was close to topping 100 yards when he rushed for 90 against Grambling State in Week 2. Against Middle Tennessee State, however, he plowed away for 191 yards on 27 carries. He also added three touchdowns to top off the stellar showing against the Blue Raiders.

Casey Pachall, QB, TCU Horned Frogs

TCU traveled to Boise, Idaho this week looking to knock off the No. 5 Boise State Broncos. The Horned Frogs were very effective through the air against the Broncos, pulling off the unexpected victory over the Broncos on the blue turf.

Pachall had a career day, throwing for 473 yards and five touchdowns. He also completed 64.9 percent of his passes. Stunning the Broncos is no easy task, as they have the winningest quarterback in college football guiding the team in Kellen Moore.

Pachall is only a sophomore this season but has played extremely well helping guide the Horned Frogs to an 8-2 (5-0) record.

Josh Boyce, WR, TCU Horned Frogs

Boyce has been a steady performer for the Horned Frogs all season but had only broken the 100-yard barrier once this season prior to their game against Boise State. On Saturday he hauled in five catches for 163 yards, averaging 32.6 yards a catch. He also added three touchdowns to his stat line.

Boyce was a big reason that the Horned Frogs were able to pull off the victory over the Broncos in Boise. His biggest impact was felt on the two-point conversion attempt by TCU to take the lead instead of tying the game and forcing overtime. Boyce came down with the pass to convert the two-point conversion, giving TCU the lead.

Boyce is just a sophomore so expect the great performances to continue well into the future.

Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, Michigan Wolverines

Toussaint had a great a game on the ground against the Illinois Fighting Illini. He was able to churn out 27 carries for 192 yards and one touchdown against the Illini defense. Toussaint has been less than consistent in his short career thus far, but if he can continue to replicate the success he had on Saturday he will be a force as an upperclassman.

The Wolverines are in need of multiple big-play threats and Toussaint may be the player that the Wolverines need to build around for the future.

Russell Wilson, QB, Wisconsin Badgers

Russell Wilson has had quite the senior season this year for Wisconsin. There have only been two losses for the Badgers this season, and both have come after Hail Mary throws that finished the game.

Wilson faced off against Minnesota Saturday, having a near perfect day through the air for the Badgers. He finished the game with only 178 yards through the air, but he completed 94.1 percent of his passes and threw four touchdowns. Wilson continues to keep himself in the Heisman discussion with his stellar play and leadership.

Collin Klein, QB, Kansas State Wildcats

Collin Klein led the Wildcats to a quadruple-overtime victory over the Texas A&M Aggies this Saturday. He has become one of the best running quarterbacks in the country, accumulating five rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown this weekend.

Klein piled up 384 yards between his passing and rushing totals. He looked strong in his efforts and led his Wildcats to their eighth win of the season.

Cyrus Gray, RB, Texas A&M Aggies

Cyrus Gray had a huge game for the Aggies in their quadruple-overtime loss to Kansas State. Texas A&M played the Wildcats to the wire and Gray had a lot to do with the Aggies' success.

Gray is only the Aggies second leading rusher this season, but he took hold of the wheel this week, carrying the ball 31 times for a total of 221 yards and two touchdowns. His efforts were stellar, but not quite good enough to pull out the victory.

Charles Sims, RB, Houston Cougars

Sims has been anything but consistent from the backfield for Houston this season, as the majority of their offensive prowess has come through the air via the arm of Case Keenum. This week Keenum played well, but Sims outshined his star quarterback.

He changed the perception of his skills against Tulane as he carried the ball only 10 times but racked up 207 yards and two touchdowns. Sims also added five receptions for 45 yards. He is just a sophomore, so there are surely more big games to come. 

David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech Hokies

Wilson had a big game against Georgia Tech this past Thursday, rushing 23 times for 175 yards. He wasn’t able to make it to the end zone, but the way he was able to churn out yards helped keep the Hokies ahead of the sticks all game.

Wilson continues to impress, as he is one of the premier rushers in the country with 1,360 yards on the season. 

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor Bears

Robert Griffin III has been one of the best showcases of talent in the country this season. This week against Kansas, he didn’t cease to impress. Griffin tossed 22 completions for 312 yards and three touchdowns while adding another 103 yards on the ground.

Griffin totaled four touchdowns in the game, leading the Bears just past the Kansas Jayhawks in overtime.