Eliminator Week 11: Auburn's upset costly even in a wild week
— --
Previously unbeaten Clemson, Michigan and Washington weren't the only ranked teams that fell this past weekend.
Four top-25 teams -- No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 9 Auburn, No. 14 Virginia Tech and No. 17 North Carolina -- also fell to unranked opponents, though those outcomes will have less impact on the College Football Playoff race than three of the top four losing.
Auburn's 13-7 loss at Georgia, its ninth loss in its past 11 games against the Bulldogs, was perhaps the most damaging. The Tigers could have won the SEC West and played in the SEC championship game by beating Georgia and then Alabama in the Iron Bowl. But the Tigers managed only 34 yards of offense and zero first downs after halftime, and the Bulldogs' only touchdown came on safety Maurice Smith's 34-yard interception return early in the third quarter.
As a result, Auburn, North Carolina, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech were eliminated from consideration for the College Football Playoff by the Eliminator this week. Through 11 weeks, 116 of the 128 teams in the FBS have been eliminated, and Penn State was brought back from the dead, which leaves 12 teams in contention for the four spots in the playoff. Here's where the FBS stands after Week 11:
Jump to sections: Who's in? | Still in contention | On the fence | Better luck next season | Previously eliminated
Who's in?
To be honest, your guess is as good as mine at this point. The only certainty about the College Football Playoff with three weeks to play in the regular season is that defending national champion Alabama is No. 1, and it's not close. The Crimson Tide rolled past Mississippi State 51-3 on Saturday and will be heavy favorites in their remaining home games against FCS foe Chattanooga and rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl. Ohio State, which beat then-No. 10 Nebraska and Maryland by identical 62-3 scores the past two weeks, will probably move into the No. 2 spot when the new selection committee rankings are released Tuesday night. But the Buckeyes can't win the Big Ten East unless Penn State loses one of its two remaining games. After that, previously unbeaten Clemson, Michigan and Washington, which each lost Saturday, will probably fall in the rankings in some order, along with Louisville and Wisconsin.
Still in contention
Trending: UP
I wonder if Nick Saban will send Georgia safety Maurice Smith an SEC championship ring.
Trending: DOWN
Let me get this straight: Louisville should be ranked ahead of Clemson because the Cardinals have a more quality loss? Uh, Louisville lost to Clemson.
Trending: UP
Bobby Petrino runs up the score in practice.
Trending: DOWN
Bottom line: You don't mess with Iowa's pink visitors' locker room. That's arrogant.
Trending: UP
The Buckeyes can't possibly go to the College Football Playoff if they don't win their division. Right, Alabama?
Trending: DOWN
You sure you want Bama? I'm not sure you even want Washington State.
Trending: UP
Don't sleep on the Badgers. According to ESPN's FiveThirtyEight, Wisconsin has an 84 percent chance of making the playoff if it wins its last two regular-season games against Purdue (road) and Minnesota (home) and then beats the East winner in the Big Ten championship game.
On the fence
Trending: UP
Since losing to Ohio State 45-24 on Sept. 17, Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield has an FBS-high 93.6 Total QBR and has posted a rating of 90 or higher in six of seven games. He even surpassed Louisville's Lamar Jackson for top Total QBR in the FBS.
Trending: UP
Talk about feeling like an uninvited guest. ESPN's Football Power Index gives Penn State a 46 percent chance to win the Big Ten East, which would knock Michigan and Ohio State out of the Big Ten championship game. The Nittany Lions will play in Indianapolis if they win their last two games against Rutgers (road) and Michigan State (home) and the Buckeyes beat the Wolverines on Nov. 26.
Trending: UP
Utah's Hunter Dimick had five sacks and 6½ tackles for loss in the Utes' 49-26 win over Arizona State. His five sacks are third-most in a game in NCAA history -- and only one fewer than New Mexico State's entire defense has in nine games this season. Dimick's 6½ tackles for loss were sixth-most in NCAA history and a school record.
Trending: UP
I'm guessing West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen won't be wearing a microphone on the sideline anytime soon.
Trending: UP
College GameDay won't be the only thing to watch in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Saturday. Broncos quarterback Zach Terrell and receiver Corey Davis have connected on 46 touchdown passes in their careers, second-most by a QB/receiver tandem in FBS history.
Better luck next season
Trending: DOWN
It's Monday, and Auburn still hasn't picked up a first down since halftime at Georgia.
Trending: DOWN
North Carolina lost to Duke -- and they haven't even played each other in basketball yet.
Trending: DOWN
Was Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin getting worried about Charlie Strong being lonely?
Trending: DOWN
Georgia Tech completed two passes and still beat Virginia Tech 30-20 on the road. Thank goodness it wasn't three.
Previously eliminated
Eliminated in Week 10: Baylor Bears, Florida Gators, LSU Tigers, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Eliminated in Week 9: Boise State Broncos, Pittsburgh Panthers, Tennessee Volunteers
Eliminated in Week 8: Houston Cougars, Miami Hurricanes
Eliminated in Week 7: Arizona State Sun Devils, Maryland Terrapins, Ole Miss Rebels, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Eliminated in Week 6: Air Force Falcons, Arkansas Razorbacks, Colorado Buffaloes, Indiana Hoosiers, Minnesota Gophers, Stanford Cardinal, Texas Tech Red Raiders, UCLA Bruins
Eliminated in Week 5: Arizona Wildcats, Cincinnati Bearcats, Florida State Seminoles, Georgia Bulldogs, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Iowa Hawkeyes, Kansas State Wildcats, Memphis Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Navy Midshipmen, Oregon Ducks, San Diego State Aztecs, TCU Horned Frogs, Texas Longhorns, Toledo Rockets
Eliminated in Week 4: Army Black Knights, Central Michigan Chippewas, East Carolina Pirates, Georgia Southern Eagles, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Oregon State Beavers, Penn State Nittany Lions, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, South Carolina Gamecocks, South Florida Bulls, USC Trojans
Eliminated in Week 3: Boston College Eagles, Duke Blue Devils, Illinois Fighting Illini, Marshall Thundering Herd, Missouri Tigers, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles, Syracuse Orange, Texas State Bobcats, Vanderbilt Commodores
Eliminated in Week 2: Akron Zips, Ball State Cardinals, BYU Cougars, California Bears, Connecticut Huskies, Eastern Michigan Eagles, Florida Atlantic Owls, Idaho Vandals, Kansas Jayhawks, Louisiana Monroe Warhawks, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, Nevada Wolf Pack, New Mexico Lobos, NC State Wolfpack, Old Dominion Monarchs, Purdue Boilermakers, SMU Mustangs, South Alabama Jaguars, Texas San Antonio Roadrunners, Troy Trojans, Tulsa Golden Hurricane, UCF Knights, UNLV Rebels, Utah State Aggies, UTEP Miners, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Wyoming Cowboys
Eliminated in Week 1: Appalachian State Mountaineers, Arkansas State Red Wolves, Bowling Green Falcons, Buffalo Bulls, Charlotte 49ers, Colorado State Rams, Florida International Golden Panthers, Fresno State Bulldogs, Georgia State Panthers, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, Iowa State Cyclones, Kent State Golden Flashes, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisiana Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns, Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, Massachusetts Minutemen, Miami (Ohio) RedHawks, Mississippi State Bulldogs, New Mexico State Aggies, North Texas Mean Green, Northern Illinois Huskies, Northwestern Wildcats, Ohio Bobcats, Rice Owls, San Jose State Spartans, Temple Owls, Tulane Green Wave, Virginia Cavaliers, Washington State Cougars
