Week 11 brings a full slate of pressure points for the top 25, and a few of the biggest names are walking into games where the margin for error is thin.
Alabama is one of the teams worth watching closely because of the quarterback situation. Austin Mack is set to start for the Crimson Tide in place of injured Keelon Russell, who hurt his ankle in last weekend’s win at LSU and will get some rest this weekend. Vanderbilt may be a likely overmatched opponent, but Alabama’s offense without its regular starter is still something to monitor, especially with the committee’s view in play if the Tide doesn’t look as dominant as expected.
Tennessee also has a lot riding on the day after climbing to No. 8 in the playoff rankings following last week’s blowout of Kentucky. The Volunteers are facing an Aggies team that isn’t widely expected to land the upset, but one that has nothing to lose and can throw everything at a Tennessee squad with a real playoff future. UT also has to avoid drifting toward next week’s game against LSU.
Miami enters another tricky spot without star wide receiver Malachi Toney, who will again be unavailable. His absence was part of the story in last week’s first loss of the season at Notre Dame, a defeat that knocked the Hurricanes off the No. 1 spot.
Now they turn right around for a matchup with a credible ACC challenger in Duke, which comes in at 7-2. The Blue Devils are only a touchdown away from being defeated, bring a strong rushing attack, and have the kind of receivers who can create space - a potential problem for a Miami secondary that has had issues at times this year.
Texas also finds itself in a game with plenty on the line. Lane Kiffin’s team is well outside the playoff bubble and trying to stack late-season statements while hoping for outside chaos to help push it into the top 12.
The concern is that the Rebels could slip under .500 in SEC play if things go badly against the Longhorns, who are No. 6 in the playoff poll and 4-0 against ranked teams. LSU’s front line defense could have a major edge against a Texas protection unit that has allowed the eighth-most sacks in the country.
Arch Manning has looked better lately, but the Longhorn ground game has not done much, ranking 108th in FBS in total output.
Later in the day, Texas Tech gets one of the more important tests on the board. The Red Raiders moved into second place in the Big 12 after BYU lost at Utah, and now they have to hold that spot on the road.
That means dealing with a Cowboy offense that ranks third nationally in passing and scoring, while also showing more on defense. Texas Tech is still outside the playoff bracket this week and remains behind two-loss BYU, so a statement game would go a long way toward earning the committee’s trust.
In Other News...
Miami Quarterback Plans May Be Changing In A Big Way
Miamis quarterback approach may be entering a different phase after years of leaning on the transfer portal to stabilize the position. Mario Cristobal has indicated the Hurricanes are looking more toward quarterbacks they have recruited and developed themselves, a pivot that fits a broader push to build the offense with long-term continuity rather than year-to-year fixes.
The current depth chart already reflects that direction, with redshirt freshman Luke Nickel and freshman Dereon Coleman in the mix behind the starter. Add in five-star recruit Israel Abrams expected to arrive in the upcoming signing period, and the Hurricanes suddenly have a path that looks less dependent on the transfer market, especially with the elite veteran options there not looking as appealing as they once did. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Win Exposed A Problem Hurricanes Fans Can't Ignore
Miami kept rolling with a 36-25 win over Duke at Hard Rock Stadium, moving to 9-1 overall and staying unbeaten in ACC play. Javian Mallory powered the offense with 71 rushing yards and three touchdowns, Cooper Barkate added 134 receiving yards, and Darian Mensah was sharp through the air, throwing for 382 yards without an interception.
Even with the result in hand, the game exposed an issue Hurricanes fans have seen too often: the defense had trouble creating pressure and never really solved Duke's Nate Sheppard, who piled up 240 yards of total offense. Miami also hurt itself with 10 penalties, the kind of sloppiness that can be brushed aside in November if the wins keep coming, but becomes a much bigger concern once the competition tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Miami May Have Found A Dangerous New Offensive Gear
Miamis offense kept humming at the Watsco Center, where the Hurricanes rolled past North Alabama 94-52 for their third straight win and flashed a perimeter attack that looked more dangerous by the minute. The headline was the shooting: Miami set a program record with 20 made three-pointers, with Brent Bland pouring in 26 points and Nick Dorn adding 18 as the Hurricanes buried the Lions early and never let up.
What stood out beyond the scoring binge was how complete the performance looked. Miami shot 34-of-70 from the field, piled up 27 assists and forced 10 steals, all while controlling the glass and turning the game into a showcase for pace and ball movement. For a team ranked No. 17, it was the kind of night that suggests this offense may have found a gear that can travel well once the competition gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]