2025 Week 11 College Football Recap And Top Performers

It’s hard to believe we’re just a few weeks away from the end of the 2025 college football regular season.

While the committee has unveiled its initial list of 12 playoff teams, those rankings are anything but set in stone. With pivotal matchups looming in the coming week, the playoff picture could shift dramatically.

Week 11 featured a lighter-than-usual slate, but it still delivered some thrilling moments—including one team nearly pulling off one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

With that in mind, here’s a look at what we learned from Week 11.

What Did We Learn After Week 11?

Feature Matchup: Indiana vs. Penn State -

Many of us—including ourselves—expected the Indiana Hoosiers to cruise past the Penn State Nittany Lions. But we should’ve remembered: some of the toughest teams to face are the ones with nothing to lose. Despite a rough first half, the Nittany Lions clawed their way back and even held the lead with seconds remaining. That was until Fernando Mendoza took over and snatched it back for the Hoosiers - that catch by Omar Cooper Jr. in the end zone was EPIC!

While the result didn’t go their way, Penn State showed resilience. If they build on this performance, it could help elevate a program that’s endured a challenging season.

• One game that wasn’t nearly as competitive as expected was Texas Tech’s dominant win over the previously undefeated BYU Cougars. As the saying goes, there are levels to this—and the Red Raiders proved they’re operating on a different one entirely.

  
  

• Speaking of different levels, no one was surprised by Purdue’s fate against Ohio State. The Buckeyes are the gold standard in college football and look primed to repeat as national champions.

  
  

• If it's any consolation for Auburn, their performance was better than anything showed during the Hugh Freeze era. That said, Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia absolutely deserves to be a Heisman finalist. Not just for this performance, but for the way he’s elevated the Commodores program throughout the season. This was a statement win—and one that keep them in the College Football Playoff race.

  
  

• You know who’s still undefeated? That’s right—the Texas A&M Aggies. Frankly, they’re the kind of team Ohio State would prefer to avoid in the playoffs. The Aggies keep proving they can win in a variety of ways, and that versatility makes them dangerous.

  
  

• Speaking of the playoff race, the Miami Hurricanes’ win this week might ultimately prove fruitless, given the number of teams ahead of them with stronger records. For head coach Mario Cristobal, this was supposed to be the breakthrough season. Instead, that upset loss to Louisville a few weeks ago dealt a major setback to their postseason hopes.

  
  

• Unfortunately for Louisville, their upset loss to California has all but guaranteed they’ll miss out on this year’s College Football Playoff.

  
  

• The Memphis Tigers are a playoff-caliber team in every sense. Their elite defensive backfield, led by Kamari Wilson and Chris Bracy, makes it clear—they’re not your typical Group of Five program.

  
  

• When Navy appears on the schedule, you can expect a game dominated by read and zone option runs, with very few passing attempts. Notre Dame adapted impressively to Navy’s unique offensive style and secured a decisive victory. With a dynamic playmaker like Jeremiyah Love in the backfield, anything is possible.

  
  

• James Madison sits at 8–1, yet due to a perceived lack of strength in their schedule, they’re unlikely to crack the top 25—let alone earn serious consideration for the College Football Playoff. For us, this underscores a persistent flaw in the system: performance on the field should matter more than pedigree or conference affiliation.

  
  

• USC’s win over Northwestern was a crucial step, especially with the Trojans currently sitting outside the playoff picture. That said, there’s no better wide receiver in college football right now than Makai Lemon. With any luck, we’ll get to see him shine on the postseason stage.

  
  

• Ole Miss vs. Citadel? That matchup was never going to be close. Frankly, the Bulldogs would’ve been fortunate to score a single touchdown against the Rebels. It was a complete mismatch from the start.

  
  

• We expected more of a fight from Mississippi State, but Georgia had other plans. And maybe it’s just us, but Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton seems to be growing more confident and efficient with every snap.

  
  

• Iowa may not boast the flashiest offense, but their defense is as stingy as it gets—and that was on full display as they held Oregon to just 18 points in a tough loss. If the Hawkeyes ever land a true difference-maker at quarterback, their program could reach new heights. For now, they’re solid enough to consistently earn bowl bids.

Week 11 Top Performers

Offense -

QB Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss

QB Diego Pavia - Vanderbilt

RB Nicholas Singleton - Penn State

QB JC French IV - Georgia Southern

WR Cam Coleman - Auburn

QB AJ Swann - App State

QB Ashton Daniels - Auburn

QB Julian Sayin - Ohio State

QB Gunner Stockton - Georgia

WR Makai Lemon - USC

RB Nate Frazier - Georgia

TE Eli Stowers - Vanderbilt

QB Tucker Gleason - Toledo

QB Alonza Barnett III - James Madison

WR Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State

QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele - California

WR Tre Richardson - Vanderbilt

RB King Miller - USC

WR Jaden Barnes - App State

WR Jacob De Jesus - California

RB Jordan Gant - Akron

WR Omarion Miller - Colorado

WR Trayvon Rudolph - Toledo

WR Charlie Becker - Indiana

Defense -

DL Akheem Mesidor - Miami

DB CJ Young - Toledo

LB Jarvis Lee - USF

DE Nathan Voorhis - Ball State

DB Kamari Wilson - Memphis

DB Chris Bracy - Memphis

LB Jack Kelly - BYU

EDGE Talib Graham - Ole Miss

LB Ben Bogle - West Virginia

S CJ Heard - Vanderbilt

LB Jacob Rodriguez - Texas Tech

LB Raylen Wilson - Georgia

LB Jaiden Ausberry - Notre Dame

LB Yhonzae Pierre - Alabama

DB Michael Coats Jr. - West Virginia

DL Julien Laventure - Akron

LB Cooper Catalano - Wisconsin

LB Mason Posa - Wisconsin

DL Jamond Mathis - Toledo

LB Isaiah Glasker - BYU

LB Corban Hondru - Miami (OH)

LB Randon Fontenette - Vanderbilt

LB Charlie Christopher - Ohio

CB DeCarlos Nicholson - USC

DL MJ Stroud - Georgia Southern