College Football Week 11 Highlights: Key Wins and Dramatic Finishes

The push for the College Football Playoff is here, and Week 11 didn’t disappoint. From wild last-minute drives to jaw-dropping upsets, fans were treated to nonstop action.

Let’s look at some of the highlights and moments that’ll shape the postseason. There’s a lot to unpack from this week in college football.

Week 11 Highlights: A Rollercoaster of Emotions

Week 11 started off with Penn State pushing No. 2 Indiana to the brink. The Hoosiers barely survived a late Hail Mary, thanks to some magic from QB Fernando Mendoza, escaping with a 27-24 win.

That wild finish set the mood for a weekend full of intensity and surprises. If you missed it, you missed out.

Top Performances and Key Games

No. 8 Texas Tech made a statement, steamrolling No. 7 BYU in a lopsided game. Their playoff hopes are definitely alive after that one.

No. 20 Iowa grabbed a late lead on No. 9 Oregon, but Ducks QB Dante Moore pulled off a clutch, game-winning drive in the final seconds. Moore’s calm under pressure really stood out.

• No. 3 Texas A&M took care of business against No. 22 Missouri, cruising to a blowout win.
• No. 16 Vanderbilt needed overtime to edge Auburn, not long after the Tigers parted ways with Hugh Freeze.
• Wisconsin finally gave its fans a reason to smile, grinding out a 13-10 win over No. 23 Washington.

Later, No. 4 Alabama handled LSU in their first game post-Brian Kelly. LSU’s star QB Garrett Nussmeier was benched, which just added to the drama.

Game of the Week: Alabama vs. LSU

The spotlight was on Alabama vs. LSU. The Tide were in control, but LSU didn’t just fade away.

One huge play: LSU’s Michael Van Buren Jr. got strip-sacked by Yhonzae Pierre, and London Simmons jumped on the ball to all but seal it for Alabama.

Key Plays and Turning Points

Conor Talty drilled a 44-yarder to put Alabama up by two scores late. Then LSU’s Trey’Dez Green dropped a wide-open pass—could’ve been a game-changer—forcing the Tigers to punt with just over 7 minutes left.

• Cooper Ranvier hit a 49-yard field goal to push Louisville ahead, but Cal gambled on 4th and goal from the 3. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele found Jacob DeJesus for a walk-off touchdown.
• Wake Forest pulled off a stunner, beating No. 14 Virginia and handing the Cavaliers their first ACC loss.

LSU’s interim coach Frank Wilson benched their NFL prospect QB for Michael Van Buren Jr., hoping his mobility would spark the offense. It didn’t quite work out.

Other Notable Games

No. 14 Virginia drove to the Wake Forest 5-yard line in the final seconds but failed to convert on 4th-and-3. That sealed the upset, and now Virginia’s tangled in a four-way tie atop the ACC at 5-1.

Upsets and Close Calls

Wisconsin’s 13-10 win over No. 23 Washington was a defensive slugfest. For Badgers fans, it was a much-needed bright spot in a tough year.

Meanwhile, snow started falling in South Bend as Navy faced Notre Dame. The Irish led 28-10 at halftime, making it look easy.

• Jeremiyah Love broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run, stealing the show in the Navy vs. Notre Dame game.
• Alabama’s Ty Simpson hit Lotzeir Brooks for a 54-yard bomb, then found Ryan Williams for a 13-yard TD right before halftime. That doubled the Tide’s lead.

Both teams’ kickers missed chip shots, just to keep everyone’s nerves on edge. Alabama’s Conor Talty missed a 26-yarder wide left, so it stayed a one-possession game at the two-minute warning.

Looking Ahead

We’re heading into the thick of the season now. The College Football Playoff race? It’s heating up fast.

Teams like Alabama, Texas A&M, and Oregon are still hanging on to their spots near the top. But then you get those wild upsets and nail-biter games—just goes to show, nothing’s really guaranteed in college football.

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