Week 11 College Football Power Rankings: Texas A&M Rises, Indiana Falls

It’s mid-November, and college football is getting wild. Every game feels like it matters more than the last. Teams in the top 25 are clawing for playoff spots, and honestly, every squad has something they need to fix if they want to keep climbing.

This rundown looks at the current power rankings and the big issues top teams should probably focus on as the season barrels toward its end. From Alabama’s ongoing deep-ball headaches to Oregon’s injury list, there’s a lot to chew on. Let’s jump in and see who’s got what left in the tank as the final weeks approach.

Ohio State: The Undefeated Giants

Ohio State is still undefeated and sitting at the top. That win over Texas? Huge.

But the real test is coming up against Michigan. That game could pretty much lock in a first-round playoff bye if they pull it off.

Maintaining Undefeated Status: They’ve absolutely got to beat Michigan and then handle business in the Big Ten championship.
Securing the No. 1 Seed: A first-round bye is on the line, so every snap counts.

Texas A&M: Ground Game Dominance

The Aggies are sitting at No. 3 and pounding the rock—243 rushing yards last game, which is nothing to sneeze at. Still, the passing game isn’t quite clicking, and their run defense got gashed for 207 yards by Missouri.

Improving Passing Game: Marcel Reed needs more in the playbook, and the receivers have to step up.
Strengthening Run Defense: They’re giving up too many yards on the ground. That’s got to tighten up.

Indiana: Overcoming Injuries

Indiana’s on track for its first Big Ten championship game, but the offensive line is banged up. Protecting Fernando Mendoza is suddenly a big concern.

Defensively, they gave up some big plays and too many third-down conversions in their last win. Not ideal.

Offensive Line Health: Keeping Drew Evans, Kahlil Benson, and the rest of the line on the field is huge.
Defensive Adjustments: Third-down stops and limiting explosive plays are the priorities.

Alabama: Rushing Game Woes

Alabama beat LSU 20-9, but it wasn’t pretty. The running game is sputtering—they’re 14th in the SEC in rushing yards per game, which feels weird to say.

That means Ty Simpson is under a ton of pressure every play, and that’s not sustainable.

Enhancing the Running Game: They need more from the backs, plain and simple.
Quarterback Support: Simpson can’t do it all himself.

Georgia: Defensive Improvements

Georgia’s defense looked sharp in a 41-21 win over Mississippi State. With Texas and Georgia Tech coming up, they’ll need to keep that edge—especially when it comes to generating pressure and forcing third-and-longs.

Maintaining Defensive Pressure: More sacks and tough third-down situations for opponents would go a long way.
Containing Star Quarterbacks: Arch Manning and Haynes King aren’t slouches, so the Bulldogs better be ready.

Texas Tech: Red Zone Efficiency

Texas Tech’s defense was on point in their 29-7 win over BYU. The offense, though, kept stalling in the red zone—just two touchdowns on seven trips.

Red Zone Efficiency: They’ve got to cash in more often.
Quarterback Rhythm: Behren Morton is still finding his groove post-injury.

Ole Miss: Eliminating Distractions

Ole Miss crushed The Citadel 49-0, but rumors about Lane Kiffin possibly leaving are swirling. Distraction city.

With a playoff spot and SEC title hopes alive, they need to keep their heads down and stay focused.

Staying Focused: It’s all about ignoring the noise around Kiffin.
Maintaining Offensive Momentum: Just keep doing what’s working on offense.

Oregon: Injury Concerns

Oregon’s still in the top 10 after beating Iowa, but things are getting dicey. USC and Washington are up next, and the Ducks have injuries at receiver.

Fourth-down defense has also been sketchy lately.

Developing Pass Catchers: Someone’s got to step up if the starters can’t go.
Improving Fourth-Down Defense: They can’t keep giving up conversions on money downs.

Notre Dame: Protecting the Quarterback

Notre Dame’s rolling—just smoked Navy 49-10. Next up is a ranked Pitt squad, and protecting CJ Carr is going to be key.

The O-line has to keep holding up, especially against aggressive fronts.

Quarterback Protection: Carr needs time to work.
Maintaining Offensive Efficiency: Keep up the strong yardage and ground game.

BYU: Offensive Limitations

BYU finally lost, and Texas Tech exposed some real issues on offense. The passing game isn’t where it needs to be.

Bear Bachmeier, a true freshman, has to step up if they want to stay in the playoff conversation.

Enhancing the Passing Game: They need more firepower through the air.
Playing from Behind: Scoring quickly is something they still struggle with.

Texas: Peaking at the Right Time

Texas is heating up, and Arch Manning’s growth is obvious. They’ve got to keep the offense humming and the defense trending up, especially with the SEC gauntlet ahead.

A win over Georgia would be massive for their playoff case.

Offensive Consistency: Manning and the offense need to stay sharp.
Defensive Improvements: Every little bit helps in big games.

Oklahoma: Quarterback Accuracy

Oklahoma’s playoff hopes are riding on John Mateer, who hasn’t looked the same since his hand surgery. They need to finish strong—Alabama, Missouri, and LSU are all still on the slate.

Improving Quarterback Accuracy: Mateer has to get back to his old self.
Finishing Strong: Can’t afford to stumble with those games left.

Utah: Playoff Positioning

Utah could actually miss the Big 12 title game but still sneak into the playoffs at 10-2. They have to win out and hope losses to Texas Tech and BYU don’t haunt them.

Winning Out: No room for error now.
Playoff Evaluation: The committee will look at the whole picture, so Utah needs to make it a good one.

Vanderbilt: Defensive Struggles

Vanderbilt’s defense is all over the place—too many points and yards allowed lately. With Kentucky and Tennessee coming up, they’ve got to get it together fast.

Defensive Improvements: Less leaking, more stopping.
Offensive Consistency: Diego Pavia and the offense have to keep up if games turn into shootouts.

Miami: Offensive Creativity

Miami’s 38-10 win over Syracuse was a showcase for some new wrinkles in the playbook. They’re missing playmakers, so keeping defenses guessing is a must.

Maintaining Offensive Creativity: Keep mixing it up to stay unpredictable.
Overcoming Injuries: Somebody’s got to step up with key guys out.

Georgia Tech: Capitalizing on Opportunities

Georgia Tech’s got a real shot at the ACC title, thanks to a soft schedule down the stretch. They need to take care of business and maybe punch a playoff ticket.

Winning Key Games: Boston College, Pitt, and Georgia—can’t slip up.
Strengthening Playoff Profile: Impressive wins would make a statement.

USC: Relying on the Run

USC’s offense is all about the run these days, with King Miller leading the way. The defense is trending up, but they’ll need both sides to keep pushing for a playoff spot.

Maintaining Ground Game Dominance: Just keep pounding the rock.
Defensive Improvements: No letdowns allowed in the big games.

Michigan: Stealth Playoff Contenders

Michigan’s kind of flying under the radar, but they’ve got a shot. The showdown with Ohio State is looming, and that’s the one that could change everything.

Winning Remaining Games: Northwestern and Maryland first, then the big one.
Defeating Ohio State: That’s the ticket to the playoff conversation.

Pitt: Tough Road Ahead

Pitt’s got a brutal stretch with Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, and Miami. They’ve been sloppy in key moments and need to cut down on turnovers if they want a shot at the ACC title game.

Improving Situational Football: Better decision-making under pressure.
Reducing Turnovers: Can’t keep shooting themselves in the foot.

Stanford: Balancing the Attack

Stanford’s loss to Cal made it clear—they’re too one-dimensional. With Isaac Brown sidelined, they’ve got to find a way to keep the offense moving and avoid a late-season collapse.

Balancing the Offense: More variety in playcalling, please.
Maintaining Offensive Production: Next man up if stars are out.

Virginia: Offensive Control

Virginia’s offense has hit a rough patch—turnovers, injuries, you name it. They need to get a grip on ball security and make sure Chandler Morris is ready if they want to stay competitive.

Key Focus Areas for Virginia

Regaining Offensive Control: Reducing turnovers and holding onto the ball.
Quarterback Health: Making sure Chandler Morris is healthy enough to get back on the field.

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