WEEK 11: WHAT TO WATCH
BEST GAME No. 3 Notre Dame at No. 7 Miami:
The game is dripping with nostalgia and soaked in College Football Playoff implications. The last time the Fighting Irish and Hurricanes played when both were ranked in the top-10 was 1990. Notre Dame comes in higher ranked, but it is the Fighting Irish (8-1) who probably have more to lose. Another lose could all but eliminate them from playoff contention. A loss would be crushing to unbeaten Miami’s playoff hopes, but the Hurricanes could still win the ACC, finish 11-1 and likely be in the final four conversation. Miami has the nation’s longest winning streak at 13 games, and has not lost since falling to Notre Dame last season.
HEISMAN WATCH
This is the weekend Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield can put the Heisman Trophy in a headlock or open the door for another contender. Mayfield left last weekend as the clear front-runner, with the help of some less-than-stellar performances by top candidates like Penn State’s Saquon Barkley and Stanford’s Bryce Love. So now it looks like the Heisman is Mayfield’s to lose when he and the Sooners face TCU and the fifthbest defense in the country.
NUMBERS TO KNOW 2:
Ohio State has yet to lose two straight games in five-plus seasons under coach Urban Meyer.
Love leads the country with 10 runs of at least 50 yards. Washington’s defense has not allowed a run of 50 yards.
Combined average yards rushing per game for Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi State and Auburn. The top four rushing teams in the SEC pair off Saturday.
Yards passing allowed per game by UConn, worst in the nation. The Huskies face No. 14 UCF, the No. 1 scoring team in the country (48.5 points per game) and averaging 325.5 yards passing per game.
50: 263: 378: UNDER RADAR Tennessee at Missouri:
The Tigers (4-5) have won three straight after a five-game losing streak and have a good chance to get to bowl eligibility with games at Vanderbilt and Arkansas after facing the struggling Volunteers. Missouri quarterback Drew Lock leads the nation in touchdown passes. Tennessee has only allowed seven TDs through the air, but a terrible run defense is at least part of the reason for that.
HOT SEAT WATCH Arizona State at UCLA:
Bruins coach Jim Mora could be in big trouble. UCLA (4-5) is coming off a blowout loss to Utah and in danger of missing the postseason for a second straight season. Arizona State (5-4) has already matched last season’s win total under coach Todd Graham, but a strong finish is probably necessary to secure him another season.