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...
Texas Tech Still Has A JT Toppin Problem It Can't Solve
Grant McCaslands latest update on JT Toppin was another reminder that Texas Tech is still waiting on one of the biggest pieces of its frontcourt puzzle. The Red Raiders forward is not yet ready to begin practicing after the torn ACL injury, and a return before conference play looks unlikely, leaving the staff to keep planning without a clear timetable for one of its key players.
Meanwhile, the roster picture remains unsettled in another way, with Texas Tech still awaiting eligibility decisions for three fifth-year players. Jamichael Stillwell is already in the mix under a temporary injunction and has helped fill the void in Toppins absence, but the Red Raiders still do not know exactly how the frontcourt will look once everything is sorted out. For a team trying to build continuity, the uncertainty around both health and eligibility is making the early part of the season harder to map out than it should be. [Read more 🡒]
Cam Dickeys Status Looms Over Texas Techs Biggest Road Test
Cam Dickeys status is the biggest injury note hanging over Texas Tech as it heads into Saturday nights road game at Oklahoma State. The running back is listed as probable despite working back from an ankle sprain, giving the Red Raiders at least some optimism as they prepare for one of their toughest tests away from home.
Quinten Joyner has already been ruled out with an ankle injury, which only sharpens the focus on Dickeys availability and how much of the backfield Texas Tech can count on. Against a strong opponent, the Red Raiders need every bit of stability they can get on offense, and Dickeys presence could shape how they approach the game from the opening series. [Read more 🡒]
Lady Raiders Keep Finding Ways To Win Tight Games
Texas Tech keeps finding itself in the kind of games that can swing a season either way, and so far the Lady Raiders have handled the pressure. They erased a 13-point deficit to beat Auburn 73-71, moving to 3-0 and showing the sort of resilience that has made these early wins feel different from routine nonconference results.
Jalynn Bristow was at the center of it again, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds and knocking down two crucial 3-pointers in the final minutes. Texas Tech also got double-digit scoring from Destinee Hooks, Ambrosia Cole and Martina Anyango, another sign that this group is finding ways to spread the load when the game tightens up late. [Read more 🡒]