College football Week 11 burning questions: Is Ohio State on upset alert?

5 burning questions for Week 11, including which Top-10 team is on upset alert and who can impress the playoff committee the most this weekend.

Week 11 of the college football season showcases some high-profile games between top 25 teams. Michigan State travels to play Ohio State in Columbus, and Auburn goes up against Georgia with the hope of proving they deserve to be back in the rankings. Mississippi State faces off against no. 1 ranked Alabama, and Clemson goes to Boston College to try and take down another divisional opponent.

Which top 10 team is on upset alert?

Ohio State.

With Alabama and Clemson both at least 20-point favorites against their ranked opponents, and Washington State being matched against a Colorado team on a four-game losing streak, No. 10 Ohio State is the one on upset alert. After losing badly to Purdue and narrowly escaping a two-win Nebraska team, Ohio State is no sure thing to beat No. 18 Michigan State. The Spartans have struggled on offense, but going up against a Buckeyes defense that is susceptible to giving up big plays, could be what gets them right.

Which team can help their Playoff stock the most with a win?

Georgia.

Georgia is No. 5 in the latest playoff rankings, but if they can beat rival Auburn, then the Bulldogs might be able to close the gap between them and No. 4 Michigan. The Wolverines play Rutgers on Saturday and could win by 100 and it wouldn’t help their case because Rutgers is that bad. But a Georgia win would at least be a stronger win and even if it’s not reflected immediately in next week’s rankings, it’s what Georgia needs to keep pace until the SEC Championship Game.

Can Fresno State surpass UCF as the top Group of Five team?

No, not this week.

Fresno State has put together an impressive 8-1 record so far, which has earned them the No. 23 ranking in both weeks of the CFP Top 25. They face their toughest test of the season against Brett Rypien and the Boise State Broncos and a win on Friday would give the Bulldogs a big resume boost. A win should move them closer to the teens, but with UCF at No. 12, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to make that big of a jump without the Knights losing first. If both teams keep winning, Fresno State may not be able to pass them no matter what.

What teams have the best chance to fall out of the rankings this week?

Texas, Penn State, and Auburn.

Both Texas and Penn State have struggled recently so adding on another loss this week against formidable conference opponents would be a killing blow. Penn State goes up against a 6-3 Wisconsin and Texas plays Texas Tech, who nearly upset Oklahoma last week. Auburn is the most obvious choice because, as the no. 24 team, any sort of loss would push them out. It also does not help their case when they have to go up against a top-five team (Georgia) in the country.

Should Utah State be in the CFP top 25?

No, at least not after this week.

The Utah State Aggies are 8-1 and ranked no. 14 in the AP Poll. This has not translated to the College Football Playoff rankings as of yet and it does not look like the Aggies will be there next week. Utah State plays a one-win San Jose State in Week 11 where a win will not make them look better in the eyes of the committee. Expect to see more three-loss teams from the Power 5 ranked ahead of them.