College football week 11 is in the books. After every week fans can take away things from what happened on the field. Here are 5 things learned from college football week 11.
1. Oklahoma’s Offense is a Problem
After several close calls this season, Oklahoma lost their first game of the season on Saturday to Baylor. Their offense ended up being the biggest problem, as they managed to score just 14 total points. While the quarterbacks keep on getting changed, that isn’t the main issue. Lincoln Riley has a lot to figure out to get Oklahoma back on track.
Baylor was the best team that Oklahoma has played this season, but the inability to run the football has happened against different teams this year. They rushed for just 78 yards against Baylor. Initially, putting Caleb Williams into the lineup helped to jump-start the running game, because of his own ability to run the ball. Baylor found a way to stop Williams and the running offense as a whole. The Sooners can continue to change quarterbacks, but the offense won’t get going again like it did in past years until they can run the ball more consistently.
2. Ohio State’s Offense vs. Georgia’s Defense Would be an Elite Matchup
All season long, Georgia’s defense has been getting big headlines. It is deserved after they have allowed just 7.6 points per game and have plenty of NFL Draft talent on the team. They allowed a season-high in points this weekend to Tennessee, who scored 17. The Bulldogs have one of the most elite college defenses that has been seen in a while.
One offense has emerged that would present a good matchup to see. Ohio State just hung 59 points on Purdue. They have so many weapons to use in a hypothetical matchup with Georgia. With C.J. Stroud really improving as the season goes on at quarterback, three star receivers (with plenty of depth behind them) and a star running back in TreVeyon Henderson, the Buckeyes pose so many threats to the defense. Add to that a lot of talented offensive linemen who will be playing football on Sundays soon and the offense is great. A quarterback run game would be nice, but the Buckeyes may not need it. If there is one college football matchup that would be amazing to see this season, it would be Ohio State’s offense against Georgia’s defense.
3. Wake Forest is the ACC’s Best Team
After dropping a game to UNC to give the team the first loss of the season, Wake Forest bounced back in a big fashion to beat a ranked NC State team. That puts Wake at 9-1 with no conference losses (their game against UNC was a scheduled nonconference game). That win has helped Wake Forest’s probability of having a 10-win season and making the ACC Championship Game.
They will have tough games left against Clemson and Boston College, but Wake will put up a fight with their high-powered offense. Even if they lose one of the next two games, they will be in the ACC Championship. Dave Clawson has done a great job turning around the program and taking advantage of the down ACC. If they finish strong, a New Year’s Six Bowl is within sight.
4. Michigan Will Likely have First 10-win Season Since 2018
Michigan won a tough game against Penn State on Saturday. They trailed late, but had a big play for a touchdown by tight end Erick All. While the win could have been done in a more convincing fashion, these types of games are ones that Jim Harbaugh has routinely lost during his tenure in Ann Arbor.
While the season still has a couple of games left, the game sets up a massive rivalry game with Ohio State to end the season. Michigan is likely to notch their 10th win in week 12. The last time they did that was 2018, but is that all this team can do? The Wolverines have been waiting for a chance to do even more than 10 wins under Harbaugh and it will take a bowl win or a win over the Buckeyes for them to achieve that.
5. Give Matt Araiza the Ray Guy Award Already
It is not often that a punter makes national headlines, but Matt Araiza has this season. He has also deserved it. The San Diego State punter proved it once again this weekend against Nevada. Araiza finished the game with five punts for an average of 55.6 yards. His long on the day was 62 yards.
This just adds to the impressive season that Araiza has had. He is breaking records for punter and is a legitimate weapon for the Aztecs. Araiza has an average of 52.2 yards per punt and has had two over 80 yards. With such an impactful leg the man, who is affectionately known as “Punt God”, is going to win the Ray Guy Award and could be drafted earlier than most people think with his ability to flip the field so well.
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