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We’ve gotten to week 11 of the CFB season and it feels like it just started. But, last week separated the haves and the have nots, for the most part. Then, Notre Dame knocked off #1, making it four weekends in a row that the #1 or #2 team in the nation got beat (#2 Notre Dame in week seven, #2 BYU in week eight, #2 Ohio State in week nine and #1 Miami, FL in week ten). So, let’s look back at last week’s super statements and then look ahead to week 11 in the world of college football.
Week 10 Look Back
Team that made the biggest statement - Georgia - My goodness, what a shellacking the Bulldogs put on Ole Miss on the road. In the time that it took for me/us to get to the hotel in LA for the game against the Chargers, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 28-0 lead…on the road, leading to a 42-7 statement win over formerly #10 Ole Miss in Oxford.
Honorable Mention
Alabama dominated LSU, Tennessee crushed Kentucky and Oregon rolled over Ohio State - those three should all get credit for making statements last Saturday.
Player that showed out…
Notre Dame QB C.J. Carr - Like a locked in musician, Carr hit every right note on a night when he could ill afford to miss one. He lit up the Miami secondary for 319 yards on 29 of 40 passing, including three TDs in Notre Dame’s win over Miami in South Bend. Wake up the Echoes? Carr shook the darn house against Miami, FL.
….and other players on THE list
Notre Dame WR Micah Gilbert - nine receptions for 98 yards and two TD in win over Miami, FL
UCLA QB Ty Dieffenbach - TWO consecutive 75-yard TD bombs to Aidan Mizell in win over MInnesota
Texas QB Arch Manning - Best game of the season at Mizzou when the Longhorns needed it - 28 of 38 for 297 yards and three TDs.
Auburn LB Shadarius Toodle - 11 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and three sacks in win over Arkansas
Texas Tech QB Tommy Castellanos - 18 of 27 for 362 yards and FIVE TD in crazy win over West Virginia
Best Game of the Weekend - Texas Tech - 53 v. West Virginia - 48
I mean, holy 2015 Big 12, Batman! The old Big 12 showed up when these two met in Lubbock. The score was 41 to 27 at half with Texas Tech leading, then West Virginia took a 48-41 lead in the third quarter. But, Castellanos and Tech roared back to win by five in a game that’ll probably outscore a handful of Big 12 hoops contests in 2026-2027.
“John’s Crush Roster” Member i.e Player I’m still crushing on - Notre Dame OG Anthonie Knapp - The Irish star moved over to guard after playing two years at LT and it fit him hand in glove. He’s the rock in the middle of the Notre Dame line, setting the tone with physicality and athleticism. He played well against the stars on the other side of the line for the Hurricanes.
Week 11 Look Ahead
Team that can make the biggest statement - Wake Forest - The best team no one is talking about in college football is 8-1 and its only loss is to Miami, FL. This is a big weekend to prove HOW good it really is and whether an ACC Championship game bid and potential CFP berth is realistic. The Demon Deacons just have to go down and beat SMU in Dallas, tough though it may be. GREAT game and a statement making one for Jake Dickert and Wake Forest.
Player(s) to Watch - Wake Forest edge rusher Langston Hardy - The son of a former #2 overall pick in the NFL Draft, Hardy emulates Pops with his relentless edge ability. He starred at the high school where I used to be the head coach, so I’m cheering for him. But, he plays hard and is football violent, in addition to having smooth and effective edge rushing skills.
Best Game of the Weekend - Utah at Arizona - The Wildcats couldn’t finish against Texas Tech in a loss on the road two weeks ago, but they found a way to pull a victory out of the jaws of defeat against TCU at home last weekend. Led by QB Noah Fifita, the Cats are still alive in the Big 12 and for a playoff berth, but they need a massive statement win at home against the undefeated Utes. Utah had a HUGE rivalry win last week and now have to go to a tough spot to play in Tucson. I love this game, even though it’s flying under the radar a bit.
John’s Top 3 - Top three Playoff Dreams ending games - Each week I’ll give a quick top 3 on any topic. Last week, it was the three best Miami, FL v. Notre Dame battles in history (add last week’s to the list now too). This week it’s this weekend’s Playoff Dream ending games (in other words, lose and the CFP dream is over, while a win keeps that dream alive.
3. (7-2) Duke v. (8-1) Miami - quick…who won the ACC Championship last year? Yes, that’s right…DUKE! To get another shot, the last shot, Duke must upset Miami, FL on the road. A Miami, FL loss and the playoff dreams start to dwindle.
2. (8-1) Wake Forest at (7-2) SMU - I don’t know that SMU can make a late run at the playoff with a 3-0 finish to 10-2, but Wake Forest can certainly make it in with an 11-1 record, winning out to make the ACC Championship game. That means, SMU is desperate, but Wake won’t get any sympathy from the CFP with a loss.
1. (7-2) Texas at (6-3) LSU - If a three loss team COULD make the playoff, it could be either one of these teams. But, a fourth loss for LSU and Lane Kiffin and the Tiger faithful won’t like their December plans. So, back to the point about a three loss team making the playoff…will Texas be the first? They don’t want to find out, so they need to win badly.
The Big 12 Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
The Utes keep rolling in the Big 12 and the Holy War win over BYU was a statement to the nation. They’re undefeated, could afford one slip up, more than likely, and still make the Big 12 Championship game/CFP. However, Arizona will be a tough out in Tucson, but Morgan Scalley has done a whale of a job taking Utah to a different level in 2026. He should be the Big 12 Coach of the Year if Utah finishes this thing out at 12-0 or 11-1.
The SEC Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
This is no hot take, but Tennessee’s defense might be the best one that no one is really paying attention to in college football. The Vols are strong on all three levels and have arguably the best defensive line anywhere in the country. The QB situation isn’t always great but the defense takes the pressure off the offense and it makes Tennessee as tough an out as there is in the nation. They say that a run game and defense will travel and Tennessee is proving that to be 100% true.
Top 5 to Watch - This will give you an idea of where my eyes will be this weekend
5. 1993 all over again? - In 1993, Notre Dame beat #1 Florida State in the Game of the Century, only to get upset by Boston College the following week in South Bend. Can history repeat…Nah, I’m kidding, Boston College isn’t beating Notre Dame this week.
4. What is up with Ohio State? - Is Julian Sayin the most valuable player in the nation? Because the Ohio State offense has gone nowhere with him out and the Buckeyes lost two in a row to USC and Oregon. Now, they get Northwestern in the Shoe and if it starts badly offensively for Ohio State, it could get ugly again.
3. Oregon is back! - Beating Ohio State-Michigan back-to-back could give the Ducks hope that they could finish strong at 9-3 and a minute shot at the CFP.
2. A weird one awaits - I feel like a Florida-Kentucky matchup always has a little weird involved and both teams are hella-desperate. So, it’s going to get crazy in Lexington as usual.
1. THE one for Arch - Last week was the best Arch Manning performance of the season, but he needs an even bigger one in a more difficult place to play - he’ll go back to his home state to face LSU…at night…in Death Valley. Win this one and Arch and Texas will be all the way back.