Week 11 of the college football season is the biggest yet, with several games featuring ranked teams headlining a stacked slate. We're here to get you up to speed in advance of a long day on your couch tomorrow with our College Football Weekend Preview: Everything You Need To Know In Week 11.
Saturday's Biggest Games
#12 Oklahoma Sooners (8-1, 5-1) @ #6 Baylor Bears (8-0, 5-0), 8 p.m. ET on ABC
This is the premire game this weekend. This game has massive implications on the Big 12 title race. It also serves a College Football Playoff elimination game, as the loser's chances for a Playoff bid are all but eliminated. It should be a great game, as both offenses have been great this season. Baylor is a field goal favorite.
#2 Alabama Crimson Tide (8-1, 5-1) @ #17 Mississippi State Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2), 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
The top SEC game this weekend doesn't quite have the same impact on the national scale that LSU-Alabama did last week. The Bulldogs might be a bit overrated; their best win this season came against Auburn. However, the Bulldogs can prove the doubters wrong by beating Alabama. The Crimson Tide are fresh off a massive win over LSU and are favored by more than a touchdown.
#21 Memphis Tigers (8-1, 4-1) @ #24 Houston Cougars (9-0, 5-0), 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
It's unfortunate that Memphis is no longer undefeated, but this is still a great game. For those who love the small schools, this is the game to watch this week. It's critical for the American Athletic Conference title race. The loser is also highly unlikely to pick up the Group 5 New Year's Bowl.
Heisman Candidates To Watch
RB Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Tigers: Fournette has been virtually untouchable as the prohibitive Heisman favorite all year long, but that changed after a rough game against Alabama. Fournette hadn't been held below 150 yards on the ground all season, but the Crimson Tide limited to just 31 yards. Fournette needs to bounce back against a solid Arkansas run defense.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford Cardinal: McCaffrey is still in the midst of the Heisman race thanks to 147 yards against Colorado. However, he hasn't scored in scored in two games. That needs to change, especially since Heisman voters love touchdowns.
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor Bears: Coleman has a chance to set the NCAA single season receiving touchdown record, and is deserving of Heisman consideration. He's in the midst of an impressive two-TD, but he'll face his toughest matchup this season against a very good Oklahoma secondary.
Coaches Who Need A Win
Mike Riley, Nebraska Cornhuskers: A win over Michigan State should do wonders for Riley, but Nebraska needs to keep that winning going this week against Rutgers. It's a game Nebraska should win. The Cornhuskers need to win out to make a bowl game and that starts with beat Rutgers.
Charlie Strong, Texas Longhorns: All the good will from Texas' wins over Oklahoma and Kansas State appear to be gone the toilet after a deflating 24-0 loss to a bad Iowa State team two weeks ago. Beating Kansas doesn't garner much good will. A loss to West Virginia would be disastrous for Strong and it might cost Texas a bowl game.
Mike London, Virginia Cavaliers: It appears to be bowl-or-bust for London's tenure with the Cavaliers, and at 3-6 it's looking unlikely. There's no guarantee that a bowl will save London, but a loss this week to Louisville would all but assure Virginia finding a new coach for next season.
Other Huge Conference Games
Washington State Cougars (6-3, 4-2) @ #19 UCLA Bruins (7-2, 4-2), 10:45 p.m. ET on ESPN
The Cougars have won four of their last five games, with the lone loss coming in a nail-biter to Stanford. UCLA is still fighting for a Pac-12 South crown and the Bruins need to win this one to keep their hopes alive.
#7 Stanford Cardinal (8-1, 7-0) @ Oregon Ducks (6-3, 4-2), 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX
This game has massive implications for the Pac-12 North and features teams that don't get along well. Oregon hit a mid-season slump, but have played much better with Vernon Adams at QB. Stanford lost its season opener, but is back in the College Football Playoff race after eight straight wins.
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