What a wild ride college football took us on during Week 11, where underdogs flipped the script on powerhouses, and champions refused to crumble—leaving fans buzzing about who's really untouchable in this sport. But here's where it gets controversial: Is this the year the unexpected becomes the norm, or are we witnessing the last gasp of tradition? Buckle up as we dive into 20 key takeaways that might just change how you see the season unfold.
For decades, Indiana seemed cursed with heart-breaking defeats, but in 2025, they've turned the tables—now, losing feels like an impossibility. Imagine being the Hoosiers: trailing on the road, shorthanded, with just over a minute left, down by four points, no timeouts, and facing a daunting second-and-17 from their own 13-yard line after their star quarterback took a brutal sack. A battered Penn State squad looked poised to end Indiana's perfect record. And this is the part most people miss: In this new era, it's Indiana dealing the heartache, stomping out the Nittany Lions in a thrilling 27-24 upset.
That very QB, Fernando Mendoza, bounced back from the sack to orchestrate an 87-yard drive solely through the air, aided by tight end Charlie Becker's acrobatic catch along the sideline and, most spectacularly, receiver Omar Cooper Jr.'s toe-tapping miracle in the back of the end zone for the winning touchdown. Take a moment to appreciate this epic play—here's the video link if you need a reminder [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6790147/2025/11/08/penn-state-indiana-football-upset-game-analysis/]. It was the kind of catch that'll have you rewinding all season. As for the Heisman? Mendoza just vaulted to the top contender after his clutch road performance (remember his earlier 49-yard TD pass to Elijah Sarratt against Iowa, who sat this one out). With the Hoosiers now sitting at 10-0 and ranked No. 2 in the College Football Playoff, they're just two wins away from clinching a conference title showdown against the 9-0, No. 1 Ohio State—potentially the Big Ten's first 1-vs-2 matchup since that legendary 2006 Ohio State-Michigan clash. Who would've bet on Indiana back then?
Similarly, Dante Moore and the No. 9 Oregon Ducks weathered a downpour and Iowa's notorious knack for top-10 upsets at Kinnick Stadium. After the Hawkeyes marched 93 yards to take a 16-15 lead with under two minutes to play, Moore fired a precise 24-yard strike to Malik Benson, setting up Atticus Sappington's game-saving 39-yard field goal. Oregon's always been about flashy speed, but under Dan Lanning, they've proven versatile—going 14-1 in Big Ten play over the last two seasons. Now 8-1, they've got grueling matchups ahead against 7-2 USC and 6-3 Washington. A return to the CFP might be tough, but their chances improved dramatically from that tense Saturday finish.
No. 8 Texas Tech isn't just dominating the Big 12—they're showcasing elite potential for a deep Playoff run, backed by a $25 million roster. Joey McGuire's squad dismantled undefeated BYU 29-7, mirroring their 34-10 victory over current No. 13 Utah. Stars like All-American linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and sack leader David Bailey kept BYU's Bear Bachmeier pinned down, forcing third-and-long repeatedly. Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams rushed for a combined 198 yards. While the Big 12 might seem destined for one bid, how could the committee overlook Texas Tech's 9-1 record and two top-15 wins, plus that narrow 26-22 loss at Arizona State without QB Behren Morton?
Mendoza and Ohio State's Julian Sayin are surging in Heisman odds, and deservedly so, but let's not overlook Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia. The Commodores, ranked 16th at 8-2, battled Auburn—under interim coach D.J. Durkin—in a high-scoring thriller, escaping with a 45-38 overtime win. Pavia racked up 377 passing yards, 112 rushing, and four TDs for a career-high 489 total yards (and he's been at this for 37 years!). Even after a setback at Texas with 408 yards and four TDs, Pavia has Vanderbilt firmly in CFP contention.
It feels like bad timing that Louisiana's governor shook up LSU's program just two weeks ago—it led to a surprisingly tame matchup against Alabama. The Tide's defense dominated a low-scoring affair, securing a 20-9 victory, with interim coach Frank Wilson pulling QB Garrett Nussmeier. Kalen DeBoer's 6-0 SEC team struggled on the ground but never felt threatened against the 8-1 Tigers. Freshman receiver Lotzeir Brooks emerged as a key target for Ty Simpson, whose 53-yard throw to Brooks paved the way for a vital Ryan Williams touchdown, extending the lead to 17-3 before halftime.
No. 22 Missouri suffered a rough season, losing top QBs Sam Horn and Beau Pribula to injuries, leaving freshman Matt Zollers overwhelmed by No. 3 Texas A&M's defense in a 38-17 rout. Mike Elko's Aggies, now 9-0 since 1992 and 6-0 in conference since 1998, have dominated on the road, defeating Notre Dame and thrashing LSU so badly it cost them their coach.
After a string of narrow escapes and one defeat, No. 5 Georgia unleashed a classic Kirby Smart-style pounding on Mississippi State, rushing for 303 yards and Gunner Stockton's three TD passes in a 41-21 triumph. The 8-1 Dawgs (6-1 SEC) have won five in a row since their Alabama loss on Sept. 27. Repeating as SEC champs looks unlikely with Alabama and Texas A&M both 6-0 in league play, but a win over No. 11 Texas next week could clinch a CFP spot. Jeremiah Smith caught 10 balls for 137 yards, building a strong non-QB Heisman case.
No. 1 Ohio State's 34-10 blowout over 2-8 Purdue highlighted Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith, but the 9-0 Buckeyes may need to lean on the run eventually. Freshman Isaiah West, with nine carries for 60 yards at 6.7 per carry, is seeing more action. Bo Jackson remains the lead rusher, and coaches Ryan Day and Brian Hartline are experimenting amid an easy schedule. Next up: 3-6 UCLA.
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love was my preseason Heisman pick, and despite a 0-2 start, the Irish's seven straight wins have him shining. In their 49-10 rout of Navy, Love spun out of a tackle, got planted on a defender's chest, and dashed 48 yards for a score—now tied with 16 TDs (13 rushing). The 7-2 Irish face No. 24 Pitt next, a key test before easier games.
The ACC standings post a chaotic week resemble a blender's random mix—hard to predict the final flavor. No. 14 Virginia, 8-2, suffered its first conference loss, 16-9 to Wake Forest, losing QB Chandler Morris early. Wake's Carlos Hernandez returned a punt for their TD. But Virginia's playoff hopes linger...
Meanwhile, Cal shocked 18.5-point underdog No. 15 Louisville in overtime, with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele's fourth-down TD pass to Jacob De Jesus sealing a 29-26 upset. Justin Wilcox's 6-4 Bears are bowl-bound for the third year. Louisville's 7-2 record (4-2 ACC) trails five teams with one loss, despite upsets like over Miami. Imagine "College GameDay" at Pitt-Georgia Tech next week!
Jim Mora deserves more praise for UConn's revival—10-50 over five years before 2022, now heading to their third bowl in four after a 37-34 win over Duke. The 7-3 Huskies have three ACC wins since last year's Fenway Bowl. Mora, 46-30 at UCLA before 2017, might attract Power 4 interest.
Mind-blowing fact: Since 2024, UConn has more ACC wins (three) than Florida State (two). Not a good look, Mike Norvell. In a lethargic FSU-Clemson game, the Tigers led 18-0 en route to a 24-10 win, dropping FSU to 1-5 ACC. Clemson at 4-5 (3-4 conference) isn't excusable. AD Michael Alford backed Norvell after Stanford's loss, eyeing a $53 million buyout. Winning two of three—including at 3-6 Florida—could help.
Wisconsin AD Chris McIntosh retained Luke Fickell despite a 2-6 record and seven points in three games. Fans stormed the field after a 13-10 win over No. 23 Washington, ending a 10-game conference skid. Passing for just 48 yards, including a fake punt, the Badgers downed rivals like Alabama. Next: Indiana.
The CFP committee initially excluded Group of 5 teams, but Memphis (then 8-1) was their hypothetical qualifier. Tulane's Jake Retzlaff's first-half assault led to a 38-32 upset, dropping Memphis out after a UAB loss. Coach Ryan Silverfield (50-22 in six years) stays popular but hasn't cracked the top three.
Memphis's stumble boosts USF, who avenged their sole loss with a 55-23 thrashing of UTSA. QB Byrum Brown excelled in a game featuring defensive TDs. Despite schedule concerns, USF's wins over Boise State and Florida warrant ranking—they lost narrowly to Miami and Memphis.
No. 19 USC, 7-2, edges closer to CFP with a 38-17 win over Northwestern, thanks to Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon, plus a questionable fake punt. Lincoln Riley's Trojans haven't stayed ranked this late since 2022, but the 67,179 fans seemed lukewarm. Next: Iowa and Oregon.
Deion Sanders demoted OC Pat Shurmur and started freshman QB Julian Lewis after back-to-back blowouts (53-7, 52-17). Lewis performed but took seven sacks in a 29-22 loss to West Virginia, leaving CU 3-7. Sanders, battling health issues, might exit after this season. An upset against Arizona State or Kansas State could spark hope.
For those over 45, remember Oregon State's Pac-8/10 struggles before their '90s rise? Now, they're back as everyone's doormat. A 21-17 home loss to 0-8 Sam Houston State (from C-USA) feels like rock bottom, worse than the 1983 Toilet Bowl tie. But hats off to Sam Houston's Phil Longo, fired from a Big Ten job last year, for turning his season around after a 55-14 loss to Louisiana Tech.
What do you think—will Indiana's hot streak last, or is this just luck in a sport where anything can happen? Do coaches like Luke Fickell deserve second chances, or should failing programs demand fresh blood? Share your takes in the comments; I'd love to hear if you agree or disagree with these twists and turns!
