HOUSTON – Week 11 of the 2024 college football season is upon us, with 22 games scheduled featuring coaches named to the American Heart Association Paul “Bear” Bryant Awards Watch List. Of these games, just one – the “First Saturday in November” matchup between Southeastern Conference powerhouses Alabama and LSU – features teams coached by watch list selections.
Illinois, Kansas State, SMU, and Texas A&M are idle this week.
Last Week’s Results (WATCH LIST TEAMS IN BOLD)
Jacksonville State 31, Liberty 21
No. 15 Boise State 56, San Diego State 24
No. 1 Oregon 38, Michigan 17
No. 2 Georgia 34, Florida 20
No. 4 Ohio State 20, No. 3 Penn State 13
No. 5 Miami 53, Duke 31
No. 7 Tennessee 28, Kentucky 18
South Carolina 44, No. 10 Texas A&M 20
Texas Tech 23, No. 11 Iowa State 22
Louisville 33, No. 11 Clemson 21
No. 13 Indiana 47, Michigan State 10
Houston 24, No. 17 Kansas State 19
No. 20 SMU 48, No. 18 Pittsburgh 25
No. 21 Army 21, Air Force 3
Minnesota 25, No. 24 Illinois 17
Vanderbilt 17, Auburn 7
Arizona State 42, Oklahoma State 21
Marshall 28, Louisiana-Monroe 23
Rice 24, Navy 10
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9
Purdue (1-7, 0-5 Big Ten) at No. 2 Ohio State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) [FOX]
A huge win last week for coach Ryan Day and his Buckeyes over Penn State moves OSU into a tie with the Nittany Lions for third in the B1G standings. Saturday, the Buckeyes square off with the Boilermakers in their final regular-season home contest. Day is 2-0 all-time against Purdue, and his Buckeyes have scored over 40 points in both meetings – but Purdue has history playing a spoiler for Ohio State. The last unranked team to down the Buckeyes? You guessed it – the Boilermakers, who beat the then-No. 2 Buckeyes 49-20 back in the 2018 season.
No. 4 Miami (9-0, 5-0 ACC) at Georgia Tech (5-4, 3-3 ACC) [ESPN]
Hurricane season has extended into November this year, as Miami is off to a 9-0 start for the first time under head coach Mario Cristobal. A win Saturday would give the Hurricanes their first 10-0 start, with a 6-0 mark in ACC play since the 2017 season. The all-time series between the two teams is tied at 14-14, with Georgia Tech winning last year’s matchup 23-20. The Hurricanes’ high-powered offense has posted the nation’s top scoring average (47.4 points per game), the most first downs (252), total offense (556.9 yards per game) and the nation’s best third-down conversion percentage (58.8%).
Florida (4-4, 2-3 SEC) at No. 5 Texas (7-1, 3-1 SEC) [ABC/ESPN+]
The 7-1 Longhorns return home to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for a SEC matchup against Florida, the first matchup in the series since 1940. It is the first time that a Steve Sarkisian-coached squad will face off against the Gators. The Longhorns are coming off a streak of three straight contests against nationally-ranked opposition, beating then-No. 25 Vanderbilt 27-24 in their last contest. Texas has outscored its opponents 301-92 this year, averaging 37.63 points scored and 11.50 points allowed. That dominance has been established in a large way in the opening quarter – Texas has outscored opponents 70-17 in the opening quarter this season.
Texas State (4-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) at Louisiana Monroe (5-3, 3-2 Sun Belt) [ESPNU]
After opening the season 5-1, coach Bryant Vincent’s squad has dropped two straight and is entering Saturday’s matinee with Texas State in need of a victory. Coming off the losses to South Alabama and Marshall, the Warhawks will face no easy task in the Bobcats, who need just one win to become bowl-eligible for the second consecutive season. Texas State is also looking to right a two-game skid in Saturday’s game, having dropped their last two contests against Old Dominion and Louisiana.
Navy (6-2, 4-1 American) at South Florida (4-4, 2-2 American) [ESPN2]
After a 6-0 start, Navy has dropped back-to-back contests entering Saturday’s tilt with USF. Coach Brian Newberry will be looking for his first-ever win against a South Florida that has lost two of its four games to top-ten teams. Saturday’s homecoming game will be especially emotionally-charged for USF, who will honor the memory of late men’s basketball coach Amir Abdur-Rahim by wearing “AAR” helmet stickers and patches.
Liberty (5-2, 3-2 CUSA) at Middle Tennessee (3-6, 2-3 CUSA) [CBSSN]
The Flames are looking to stop a two-game skid on Saturday as coach Jamey Chadwell leads Liberty into a Conference USA matchup with Middle Tennessee. The Flames remain just one win away from bowl eligibility for the sixth consecutive season, and their 19th consecutive six-win campaign. Saturday has been kind to Chadwell during his tenure in Lynchburg, as the Flames are 13-0 on Saturdays during his time at Liberty.
No. 3 Georgia (7-1, 5-1 SEC) at No. 16 Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 SEC) [ABC/ESPN+]
Saturday’s game will be the penultimate conference matchup of the season for coach Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs, as they square off against an ascendent Ole Miss squad. Georgia has won four straight games, with the lone loss of the season being a 41-34 setback at then-No. 4 Alabama on September 28. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin has Ole Miss on a roll, coming off last week’s 63-31 win at Arkansas. The Rebels are 6-2 – with two losses to LSU and Kentucky coming by a combined six points. Saturday’s matchup will be the 48th meeting all-time between the two schools, with the Bulldogs holding an all-time 33-12-1 advantage.
Michigan (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) at No. 8 Indiana (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) [CBS]
The tenure of Curt Cignetti has gotten off to a perfect start in Bloomington, and has marked the first time in Indiana history that the Hoosiers have started 9-0. The series has been lopsided in favor of Michigan, who hold an all-time 62-10 advantage. The 2024 campaign has not been sunshine and roses for the defending national champions, however, who face one of their toughest challenges of the campaign to date in an Indiana team whose smallest margin of victory has been 14 points – a 42-28 win over Northwestern and a 31-17 win over 2023 national runner-up Washington.
No. 17 Iowa State (7-1, 4-1 Big 12) at Kansas (2-6, 1-4 Big 12) [FS1]
The Cyclones suffered a defeat for the first time this season in last weekend’s homecoming tilt with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ come-from-behind victory was cemented with a touchdown pass in the closing seconds of a contest that saw five lead changes. Iowa State brings the nation’s fourth-longest conference road winning streak into Saturday’s game, having won seven consecutive.
No. 23 Clemson (6-2, 5-1 ACC) at Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2 ACC) [ESPN]
Coach Dabo Swinney will lead Clemson into a pair of back-to-back road games to close the Tigers’ ACC slate, starting with Saturday’s matchup in Blacksburg. Swinney is a perfect 6-0 in his career against Virginia Tech, and the number six plays a key role in the game – Clemson is six games over .500 all-time at Lane Stadium (8-2), and with a win Saturday, Clemson would pick up its sixth conference win. That plateau would mark the 14th time in the Swinney era that Clemson has picked up six conference wins, tying it Alabama for the most in the nation since 2009. The mark would also be the 27th time since the formation of the ACC in 1953 that Clemson has reached the six conference win mark – seven more than second-place Florida State (19).
No. 25 Army (8-0, 6-0 American) at North Texas (5-3, 2-2 American) [ESPN2]
Saturday’s matchup between Army and UNT will feature – to quote the late, great Gorilla Monsoon – the irresistible force meeting the immovable object. North Texas’ offense – the top unit in the AAC – has rolled up an incredible 527.6 yards (third nationally) and 40.75 points per game (sixth nationally), bolstered by the nation’s second-ranked passing offense, which averages 371.6 yards per contest. UNT is one of only three teams nationally averaging 500+ yards per contest. Meanwhile, the West Point defensive unit sits atop the AAC averaging 272.8 yards allowed per game (5th nationally) and an anemic 11.3 points per game – giving Army the nation’s best scoring defense.
No. 20 Colorado (6-2, 4-1 Big 12) at Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2 Big 12) [FOX]
Coach Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders are coming off a big win against previously undefeated Iowa State last Saturday and will return home for its second game against nationally-ranked opposition in as many weeks. Across the field will be 20th-ranked Colorado, who enters Saturday as winners of back-to-back contests. The win by Texas Tech elevated the Red Raiders to bowl eligibility for the 42nd time in program history, leading all Big 12 programs. The month of November has been historically very good to McGuire – the Red Raiders moved to 7-2 in November under McGuire with last week’s win.
South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC) at Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC) [SEC Network]
The Commodores return home having won four of their last five contests to face off against a South Carolina team that is coming off a 44-20 win against then-No. 20 Texas A&M last weekend. It will be a tough contest for coach Clark Lea and the Dores, as coach Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks have dropped three games to nationally-ranked opposition, with two of those losses coming by three points or less. Vanderbilt, bowl eligible for the first time since 2018, will look to improve its fortunes in a series that South Carolina has dominated, with the Gamecocks holding a 29-4 advantage. A win would be Vandy’s first over South Carolina since 2008.
Maryland (4-4, 1-4 Big Ten) at No. 1 Oregon (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) [BTN]
Saturday’s 38-17 win in Ann Arbor made it nine straight for coach Dan Lanning and the top-ranked Ducks, who have scored 30 or more points in eight consecutive contests. Oregon is 9-0 for the third time in program history, and both times that the Ducks have started 9-0, they have improved to 10-0. Saturday’s contest will be the first-ever meeting between Oregon and Maryland, a team whose lone Big Ten win this season was a homecoming win over USC.
Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5 SEC) at No. 7 Tennessee (7-1, 4-1 SEC) [ESPN]
For the fourth consecutive week, the Volunteers seek to defend the home field at Neyland Stadium as the Volunteers welcome Mississippi State. Coach Josh Heupel’s squads have supplied plenty of dramatics over the home stand, winning each of the three games thus far in come-from-behind fashion. The Vols are 5-0 at home this season, and look to push that mark to 6-0 against a Mississippi State team that has not won a game in SEC play this year.
UCF (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) at Arizona State (6-2, 3-2 Big 12) [ESPN2]
Arizona State doubled up Oklahoma State last week with a 42-21 win, and plays its final home game Saturday against UCF. The two teams have squared off only once – with ASU taking a 46-13 win back in 2002. While the teams have not played in over 20 years, the coaching staffs bring tremendous familiarity with one another into Saturday’s matchup. Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham served as offensive coordinator under UCF head coach Gus Malzahn on Malzahn’s 2019 staff
Florida State (1-8) at No. 10 Notre Dame (7-1) [NBC]
Coach Marcus Freeman and his Fighting Irish will look to move to 6-6 all-time against a Florida State team that has faced an uncharacteristic share of difficulties this season. While the Seminoles hold a 6-5 advantage in the all-time series, the two teams’ fortunes have gone in different directions this season. Notre Dame enters play Saturday with three wins over top-25 opposition, and are coming off a dominant performance against then-No. 24 Navy. The lone loss this season for the Fighting Irish – a 16-14 setback to Northern Illinois in week two – was the lone bump in the road for a Notre Dame squad that has won six straight, with only one of those games won by less than a ten-point margin.
No. 11 Alabama (6-2, 3-2 SEC) at No. 15 LSU (6-2, 3-1 SEC) [ABC/ESPN+]
The lone meeting of the week between teams coached by watch list selections will take place under the lights at Death Valley, as Kalen DeBoer leads the Alabama Crimson Tide into Baton Rouge to square off against Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers. Both teams are coming off an open date last week. The Tigers have won 14 straight at Tiger Stadium, with a 13-0 mark in night games at home under Kelly. Meanwhile, Alabama pitched a shutout its last time out against then-No. 21 Missouri, winning 34-0. The meeting will be the 89th in series history, which Alabama leads 59-27-5.
Washington (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) at No. 6 Penn State (7-1, 4-1 Big Ten) [Peacock]
Saturday’s clash between the Nittany Lions and Huskies will be the first time in over 100 years that these two teams have met on the gridiron during the regular season. Coach James Franklin and Penn State are coming off their first loss of the season – a 20-13 setback at the hands of then-No. 4 Ohio State last week – while the Huskies have had an up-and-down campaign, winning a narrow decision over USC last week. Penn State has won all three meetings in the series between the two schools – the aforementioned regular-season matchup in 1921, as well as two postseason meetings – the 1983 Aloha Bowl and the 2017 Fiesta Bowl.
Nevada (3-7, 0-4 Mountain West) at No. 12 Boise State (7-1, 4-0 Mountain West) [FOX]
Coach Spencer Danielson and his Broncos look to remain perfect in Mountain West play in Saturday’s matchup. This contest is the 46th meeting all-time between the two schools in a series that the Broncos lead 31-14. Nevada has won two straight in Boise, but the Broncos enter the game on a six-game win streak that has been largely powered by Boise State’s best-in-the-nation rushing attack – averaging 267.9 yards per game, led by Heisman frontrunner Ashton Jeanty and his 190.6 yards per contest. The Broncos’ one loss came at the hands of then-No. 2 and current No. 1 Oregon, a three-point setback in Eugene.
Virginia (4-4, 2-3 ACC) at No. 18 Pittsburgh (7-1, 3-1 ACC) [ACC Network]
Despite last week’s setback, coach Pat Narduzzi has Pitt off to its best start since 2009 at 7-1. The Panthers remain nationally ranked for the fifth consecutive week, and enters play Saturday against a Virginia squad that has dropped three straight. Pitt leads the overall series between the two teams 10-4 – with a 6-1 advantage in Pittsburgh – and has won two straight meetings. One particular strength for Pitt this year has been its opportunistic defense – the Panthers rank second nationally in defensive touchdowns (four) and pick sixes (four).
No. 9 BYU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) at Utah (4-4, 1-4 Big 12) [ESPN]
The Cougars are perfect this year, and head coach Kalani Sitake aims for his 70th career win on Saturday against in-state rival Utah. The meeting is the 96th all-time between the two schools, a series Utah leads 59-32-4. Sitake is 1-4 in five meetings against the Utes, winning the last meeting in the series – a 26-17 win in Provo in 2021. With the close proximity of the schools – they are separated by about 40 miles – both head coaches have experience on both sidelines of the rivalry. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham was a BYU linebacker from 1978-81 and was WAC Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, while Sitake was an assistant coach for ten years under Whittingham. Four BYU assistants coached under Whittingham – and two played under Whittingham during his tenure as the Utes’ defensive coordinator.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH
- ROAD ADJUSTMENTS – Saturday’s game between Liberty and Middle Tennessee will be just the third road game of the season for the Flames, marking the latest point in a season that Liberty has played its third road game. Liberty will play three of its final four contests on the road. Saturday will also be just the third true road game of the season for Clemson.
- CFP RANKINGS RELEASED – The College Football Playoff has released its first rankings of the 2024 campaign, with the top 15 teams – and 18 of the top 20 – coached by watch list selections.
- LAST FIVE STANDING – Five FBS teams remain undefeated entering this week’s games, all coached by watch list selections. Army, BYU, Indiana, Miami, and Oregon remain perfect.
- ALWAYS RANKED – Florida State and Notre Dame square off Saturday in the 13th installment of a series in which one or both teams have been ranked in every meeting.
- I COULDA BEEN A CONTENDER – and regardless of which side of the ball you may be on during the recent LSU/Alabama matchups, you probably were. This is the third straight meeting where both teams entered the game ranked in the top-15 nationally, and the 19th time since 2002 that both teams are ranked in the top 25.
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