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Only Oregon, Indiana and Army remain undefeated as we enter the penultimate week of the FBS season. It's a busy week with all but 7 teams seeing action, and Oregon is one of those with a bye week before the Ducks host Washington.
Oregon has already clinched a spot in the Big Ten title game, and the Indiana-Ohio State game would cement Indiana as the opponent if the 13.5-point underdog Hoosiers pull off the upset.
SEE: Complete schedule and picks
Who will advance to the conference title games?
Tulane and Army will play in the American Conference Championship game, but we don't know which team will host. Tulane is on that list of 7 teams with this week off, while Army faces Notre Dame in The Bronx as the Black Knights try to stay unbeaten. While the game against the Irish is not a conference game, an upset would help Army potentially host the conference championship if it came down to a tie-breaker of which is ranked higher in a composite set of computer rankings. In the final week, Tulane hosts Memphis while Army hosts UTSA.
Boise State, which is currently the 4th-highest ranked potential conference champion in the playoff committee rankings, visits Wyoming as a huge favorite and would clinch the MWC berth with the win. Colorado State needs a win at Fresno State to stay alive as the second team in the conference title game. And if both Boise and CSU win this week, and UNLV loses at San Jose State, the MWC Championship only lacks a determination of who would host - most likely Boise State.
In the ACC, Clemson (7-1) has finished its conference slate and only has games left against The Citadel (FCS) this week, and South Carolina next week - both at home. SMU is still unbeaten in league play (6-0) and will be favored in each of the two remaining games - at Virginia this week, and at home vs. Cal next week. Miami is 5-1 with a slightly tougher row to hoe as the 'Canes host Wake Forest this week as a heavy favorite, but close out the year with a trip to the 'Cuse.
Unbelievably, nine teams are still mathematically in the hunt for the Big 12 Championship game, though BYU and Colorado have the upper hand as each is 6-1 with 2 conference games to go and they don't play each other. Arizona State is firmly in the mix at 5-2 because the Sun Devils host BYU this Saturday as a 3.5-point favorite at the Sportsbooks, but BYU gets the nod by 5.11 points in the Weekly Picks, based on the Congrove Computer Rankings at CollegeFootballPoll.com.
Jax State and Western Kentucky both clinch berths in the CUSA Championship with wins on Saturday, and then they'll play each other in back-to-back weeks since they face each other at WKU next week for their regular season finale. The Hilltoppers lost 12-7 at home to Louisiana Tech last week to fall out of a tie for first with the Gamecocks. Liberty and Sam Houston stay alive if the Flames beat WKU this week, and the Bearkats win at Jax State. Liberty and Sam Houston face each other next week in Huntsville, Texas.
The MAC is quite jumbled, too, but the three teams with one conference loss - Miami, Ohio and BGSU - clearly have the best path. The RedHawks beat NIU last night while Ohio took down Toledo. Bowling Green plays at Ball State on Saturday, and finishes at home against Miami in a game that could repeat itself the following week..
We can't lie and say that realignment of teams hasn't made the SEC fun to watch. Same for the Big Ten, and even the Big 12 and ACC, for that matter. After all, there's a newbie in the mix in each one of those conferences with SMU in the ACC, Oregon in the Big 10, BYU and Colorado in the Big 12, and Texas in the SEC. Texas and Texas A&M lead the way right now as the only teams with just 1 conference loss, but they finish the season against each other at College Station.
As it stands, due to tie-breaker scenarios, the winner of the 'Horns and Aggies would face 'Bama if the Tide win at Oklahoma this week, and avoid an upset loss at home to Auburn next week. Georgia, Ole Miss and Tennessee need some help, but are not eliminated.
This week, Texas hosts Kentucky, A&M visits Auburn, and Ole Miss visits Florida. Georgia and Tennessee have non-conference games with the 'Dawgs hosting UMass and the Vols welcoming UTEP.
In the Sun Belt, Marshall is the only team with 1 loss in the conference so the Herd control the East, while Louisiana is in the same position in the West.
Buckle up, and keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times - this could get bumpy on the way to the finish line.
Indiana at Ohio State, and it’s the Hoosiers who are undefeated. It’s been that kind of a year in college football.
The game of the week features two programs with very different histories and expectations when the season began. The Buckeyes are supposed to be here. They have the pedigree, the roster littered with next-level talent, and the swagger that comes with being a blueblood. They’ve also won 28 consecutive meetings with the Hoosiers. For IU, this is uncharted territory, at least in the last six decades. Indiana has been this season’s biggest surprise, a basketball school with a first-year coach and a transfer-laden roster that has steamrolled through the first 10 games. A win Saturday at the Horseshoe would arguably be the biggest in program history.
This trip to Gainesville is a whole lot tougher than it appeared just a few weeks ago.
Ole Miss is trending north and rested after sitting out last weekend. The Rebels have won three straight, none bigger than the 28-10 handling of Georgia on Nov. 9. Lane Kiffin’s kids are poised to make a huge push into the postseason. But Florida is a bigger hurdle than its 5-5 record indicates. Billy Napier is secure for 2025, QB DJ Lagway is healthy, and the Gators just knocked LSU out of the Top 25. If Florida can somehow pull this off, it could be just the springboard Napier needs for December and into the offseason.
BYU has been the Big 12’s biggest surprise n 2024, a distinction Arizona State hopes to swipe Saturday in Tempe.
The Sun Devils have heated up. Like, still in the Big 12 title chase hot. Second-year coach Kenny Dillingham is doing a remarkable job this season, headlined by last weekend’s upset of Kansas State in Manhattan. ASU is just a game out of first place but can erase that deficit with a win Saturday. After playing with fire all year, BYU finally got burned, bowing to Kansas for its first loss of the year. Still, the Cougars control their own destiny in the conference, provided they win the next two games over Arizona State and Houston a week from now.
Boise State is still the heavy favorite to represent the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff. Army is eager to show why it belongs in the discussion.
The Black Knights face red-hot Notre Dame Saturday night at Yankee Stadium. They’ve already booked a spot in the AAC title game in their first year in the league and are rolling behind the play of their D and Bryson Daily led ground attack. Army has lost 15 straight games to Notre Dame dating back to 1958. The Fighting Irish have quietly reeled off eight straight wins, all but one in lopsided fashion. If they win the next two over Army and USC, they’ll have a good shot to host a first-round playoff game.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best player with the Maxwell Award. CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel.
Here’s a look at some of last week’s standout performances on offense.
The Lobos are making strides under Bronco Mendenhall, highlighted by a stirring upset of No. 19 Washington State Saturday in Albuquerque. Dampier is one of the more exciting young quarterbacks in the country. And when his passing catches up to his running, look out. In the Wazzu upset, he sprinted for 193 yards and three touchdowns, adding 174 yards and another score through the air.
The 3-7 Aggies won’t be bowling next month, but that hasn’t stopped the program from going hard to the finish line in November. Utah State played its best game of the year, racing past Hawaii, 55-10, in Logan Saturday afternoon. Faison was the MVP of the rout, rushing for a career-high 191 yards and a pair of touchdowns on just 20 carries.
A week ago, Hampton was named a Maxwell Award semifinalist. On Saturday night, he backed it up by carrying the Tar Heels to a win over Wake Forest and a spot in a bowl game. The junior ran a career-high 35 times for a personal-best 244 yards and a touchdown. Hampton has now rushed for at least 100 yards in nine of 10 games and is behind only Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty in FBS rushing yards.
Where has this Stanford team been all year? The 2-7 Cardinal, losers of six straight entering the weekend, rose up to shock No. 22 Louisville on the Farm. Mosley delivered the first of what’s likely to be many huge performances as a collegian. The true freshman from Chicago caught 13 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns, highlighted by two in the fourth quarter that erased a two-touchdown Louisville lead.
South Carolina is one of the nation’s hottest teams. The Gamecocks moved to 7-3 Saturday evening, defeating Missouri for their fourth straight win and third in a row over a ranked opponent. Sellers weaved the game of his debut season, leading his team to a thrilling 34-30 home win. The redshirt freshman threw for 353 yards and a career-high five TD passes, capped by the game-winning shovel pass to Rocket Sanders with just 15 seconds left in regulation.
Sure, the opponent was a mid-level Sun Belt visitor, Louisiana-Monroe. But Auburn hung up 48 points, its highest scoring output in over a year. Thorne was very sharp as the triggerman of the attack. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 286 yards and five TD passes, three to rookie star receiver Cam Coleman. The Tigers moved to 4-6 with remaining games left with Texas A&M and Alabama.
College football has seen plenty of dual threats over the years. But a dual threat tight end is what makes Warren one of this season’s most unique and exciting weapons. The 6-6, 261-pound do-everything playmaker was at his multidimensional best Saturday versus Purdue. Warren’s 190 yards from scrimmage and two scores consisted of three rushes for 63 yards and 8 receptions for another 127 yards.
The Bears are riding a hot streak that has carried them into bowl eligibility for the 12th time in the last 15 years. Baylor won a fourth straight game, beating West Virginia for the first time in Morgantown. Washington was the hero, totaling four touchdowns for the second consecutive game. The redshirt freshman rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns, adding five receptions for 59 yards and another score.
The Maxwell Football Club honors the nation’s best defensive player with the Chuck Bednarik Award. CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the voting panel.
Here’s a look at some of last week’s standout defenders.
Davis wasn’t just impactful in Friday night’s win over UCLA that secured bowl-eligibility for the Huskies. He was efficient at a level that few players have produced this season. In just 14 snaps, the explosive 6-3, 217-pounder had three sacks, six total pressures, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Even better, two of his sacks led to Washington touchdowns.
The Gators upset No. 21 LSU in Week 12 to pull within a victory of bowl eligibility, testament to the great work being done by Billy Napier and the staff. Florida allowed just a single touchdown, led by the play of James and ED Tyreak Sapp in the front seven. James paced the Gators with a game-best 11 tackles, while adding a pair of sacks and pass breakups in the crucial 27-16 win.
The Owls got a huge effort for the defense Saturday to hold off Florida Atlantic, 18-15, in overtime. Temple allowed just one touchdown and 3-of-14 third down conversions. King led the charge with six tackles, two stops for loss, a sack, and five hurries that harassed FAU quarterbacks all day. King’s eight total pressures topped all Week 12 linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus.
For the first time in a decade, the Scarlet Knights are bowl eligible in back-to-back years. The defense pitched a shutout over the critical final 26 minutes while holding Maryland below its season scoring average. Loyal stood out with one of the best games of his four-year career in Piscataway. He notched a personal-best 13 tackles, with one coming behind the line of scrimmage.
QB Cade Klubnik and WR Antonio Williams were heroic in Clemson’s comeback win over Pitt, but Parker’s effort on defense cannot be overlooked. The 6-3, 265-pound sophomore took his game to an entirely new level as the Tigers rallied to remain in the ACC title hunt. Parker set the tone up front with seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, a forced fumble, a pass breakup, and two QB hurries. The four sacks set a Clemson single-game school record.
For the first time since Sept. 28, Arizona won a game, beating Houston, 27-3, behind the stout play of the defense. Smith, a rising star in his sophomore season, was the defensive standout of the win. The versatile 6-2, 203-pounder’s seven tackles from his STAR position included six solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery, an interception, and a pass breakup.
Troy clawed its way back to .500 with a hard-fought win over Nebraska, and now has two shots to become bowl-eligible. The defense played well in the Coliseum, keeping the Huskers out of the end zone over the final 39:21. Smith was instrumental in preventing big plays in the passing game from QB Dylan Raiola. He had six tackles and a pick while earning Pro Football Focus’ top Week 12 cover grade among Power 4 cornerbacks.
The Mustangs held off visiting Boston College Saturday to move one big step closer to a berth in the ACC Championship Game. SMU bended but rarely broke in the 38-28 victory that was close throughout. Wilson was a standout on defense, especially against the run. The senior collected a game-high and personal-best 16 tackles, including a sack and one pass breakup.
The Maxwell Football Club supports former Alabama and Seattle Seahawks star RB Shaun Alexander in annually naming the top college freshman.
The 8-2 Sun Devils upset Kansas State in Manhattan Saturday night to remain in the Big 12 title hunt. Leavitt was the offensive MVP, staking Arizona State to a big lead that it never relinquished. The redshirt freshman transfer from Michigan State completed 21-of-34 for 275 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for 42 yards while earning the sixth highest Week 12 passing grade from Pro Football Focus.
The final three games between FCS and FBS schools take place this week with Charleston Southern at Florida State, The Citadel at Clemson and Wofford at Soyuth Carolina.
FBS schools are 112-6 in FBS-FCS games this season. They are a cumulative 1,912-158 (.924) since we began tracking this in 2003.
In 2024, there were 121 scheduled matchups between FBS and FCS schools with 119 schools playing one such game, while Hawaii and UMass each play two.
This year, 15 schools do not play a FCS opponent and 5 are in the B1G (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, USC and UCLA). Texas is the only school in the SEC that will not play a FCS program. The same is true for Virginia Tech in the ACC. In fact, Texas and Virginia Tech, along with Michigan and Houston, are repeats from last year's list of schools that played all FBS programs.
2024 FCS wins vs. FBS:
August 24: Montana State 35, New Mexico 31
September 7: St. Francis (PA) 23, Kent State 17
September 7: Idaho 17, Wyoming 13
September 7: Southern Utah 27, UTEP 24 (OT)
September 21: Monmouth 45, FIU 42
September 28: UT-Martin 24, Kennesaw 13
In 2023, FBS schools were 114-4. These were the FCS wins last year:
September 9: Idaho 33, Nevada 6
September 9: Southern Illinois 14, Northern Illinois 12
September 9: Fordham 40, Buffalo 37
September 16: Sacramento State 30, Stanford 23
ARMY - Won 13 straight overall.
Last: Won 14-3 at North Texas on Saturday, November 9.
Next: After a bye week, Army faces Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx on Saturday, November 23.
OREGON - Won 17 straight regular season games
Last: Won 16-13 at Wisconsin on Saturday, November 16.
Next: After a bye week, the Ducks host Washington on Saturday, November 30.
GEORGIA - Won 29 straight home games.
Last: Won 31-17 at home over Tennessee on Saturday, November 16.
Next: Hosts UMass on Saturday, November 23.
TULANE - Won 19 straight conference games.
Last: Won 35-0 at Navy on Saturday, November 16.
Next: After a bye week, hosts Memphis on Thursday, November 28.
TEXAS - Won 10 straight true road games (at opposition venue) - tied with SMU.
Last: Won 20-10 at Arkansas on Saturday, November 16.
Next: Hosts Kentucky on Saturday, November 23.
SMU - Won 9 straight true road games (at opposition venue) - second to Texas.
Last - Won 31-21 at home over Boston College on Saturday, November 16.
Next: Visits Virginia on Saturday, November 23.
KENT STATE - Lost 19 straight over-all. Lost 14 straight conference games. Lost 8 straight home games.
Last: Lost 34-7 at Miami (O) on Wednesday, November 13.
Next: Hosts Akron on Tuesday, November 19.
STANFORD - Had lost 13 straight home games to FBS foes.
Last: Won 38-35 at home over Louisville on Saturday, November 16.
Next: Visits California for "The Big Game" on Saturday, November 23.
TEMPLE - Lost 19 straight true road games.
Last: Won 18-15 in OT at home over FAU on Saturday, November 16.
Next: Visits UTSA on Friday, November 22.
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Rich Cirminiello is the VP of College Awards at Maxwell Football Club. He can be followed on Twitter at @Rich Cirminiello
CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is member of the Maxwell Football Club.