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...
Oklahoma State Heads Into Texas Tech With Another Defensive Concern
Oklahoma States trip to Texas Tech comes with another defensive wrinkle, as linebacker Tate Romney will miss a second straight week because of injury. He is one of five Cowboys listed out for the matchup, adding to a short-handed situation the staff has had to manage as the conference slate keeps moving.
The absence leaves Oklahoma State looking for answers at linebacker while the Big 12 also keeps an eye on travel complications tied to a Federal Aviation Administration ground stop. Texas Tech enters with three players listed as probable, but the bigger concern for the Cowboys is how they patch together the defense if the game plan has to be adjusted on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma States Biggest Texas Tech Threat Starts Right Up The Middle
The biggest pressure point in Oklahoma States matchup with Texas Tech may not come off the edge at all. It starts in the middle, where center Tyler Mercer will spend plenty of time trying to keep the pocket clean for quarterback Drew Mestemaker against a Red Raiders front that can turn an ordinary passing down into a scramble in a hurry. For the Cowboys, that interior battle is more than just a trench subplot. It is the kind of matchup that can shape how comfortable the offense feels from the opening series.
A.J. Holmes Jr. is the name Oklahoma State has to account for first, because his inside rush can collapse plays before they develop and force Mestemaker off his spot. Mercers job is to absorb that pressure and keep the middle from caving in, which makes this one of the games most important one-on-one duels. If Oklahoma State can hold up there, it gives the offense a chance to function on schedule. If not, the Red Raiders could spend the afternoon living in the backfield. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Saban Just Added To The Buzz Around Oklahoma State's QB
With Oklahoma State gearing up for a Top 25 College Football Playoff matchup against Texas Tech on Saturday night, Drew Mestemaker found himself in the national spotlight again during ESPNs College GameDay preview. Nick Saban, never one to hand out praise lightly, singled out the Cowboys quarterback for the way he has handled the season, pointing to the traits that have helped fuel one of the most productive passing runs in the country.
Mestemaker has already rewritten parts of the Oklahoma State and FBS record book this year, and his rise has made him one of the more intriguing players in the playoff conversation. He has also earned recognition as a Maxwell Award semifinalist, which only adds to the attention heading into an 8:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN, where the Cowboys will have a chance to show whether the buzz around their quarterback matches the stage. [Read more 🡒]