College Football Rankings: Projected top 25 after Week 11

Here’s how the college football top 25 is projected to shake out following an eventful week 11 around college football.

A loaded Week 11 slate in college football didn’t disappoint with a number of huge results that will impact the playoff picture and shake up the top 25.

In Saturday’s biggest result, the No. 10 Auburn Tigers handed the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs their first loss in a 40-17 romp at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish were also dominated by the No. 7 Miami Hurricanes in a 41-8 loss, effectively eliminating Brian Kelly’s team from playoff contention.

The top three teams in the nation nearly all lost on the same day for the first time since 1966, but the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide survived a trip to Starkville on a late Devonta Smith touchdown to remain undefeated. Oklahoma prevailed over TCU, 38-20, and Ohio State eviscerated Michigan State, 48-3, in other top-13 matchups, leading to huge changes across the rankings.

Here’s the projected top 25 in college football following the wild action in Week 11.

25. LSU Tigers

Arkansas isn’t exactly a quality win at this point, but LSU will jump back into the top 25 after its 33-10 romp in Baton Rouge. The game was tied at the half before LSU reeled off four straight touchdowns in the second to pull away for an easy victory. Derrius Guice had one of his best games of the year with 21 carries for 147 yards and three touchdowns.

24. West Virginia Mountaineers

West Virginia has been hanging around the 20-25 range all year and will stay right there with a solid 28-23 road win at Kansas State. Will Grier continued his terrific campaign with four touchdown passes, two of which went to Ka’Raun White in a 168-yard performance. Now at 7-3 on the season, Dana Holgorsen’s Mountaineers could challenge Oklahoma at home in the season finale.

23. South Florida Bulls 

The 8-1 Bulls enjoyed the week off and should only drop a spot in the poll due to Stanford’s rise. South Florida is right in the New Year’s Six race, and the rivalry showdown with UCF to close out the year should be a classic.

22. Virginia Tech Hokies

While losing 28-22 at Georgia Tech might not qualify as a particularly bad defeat, Virginia Tech will plummet in the midst of a two-game slide. Virginia Tech’s offense has struggled in back-to-back contests against the Yellow Jackets and Miami, and the defense a pair of long touchdown passes to TaQuon Marshall. A 7-3 mark is still worthy of top 25 inclusion, but the Hokies have just one decent win over West Virginia to open the season on their resume.

21. Michigan State Spartans 

While losing at Ohio State normally wouldn’t drop a team six spots, a 48-3 scoreline is going to raise some major red flags with the voters. Michigan State never looked competitive on Saturday and was outgained by nearly 350 yards. Wins over Penn State and Michigan keep the Spartans in the top 25, but they now need some major help to win the Big Ten East.