Week 11 college football games to watch include SEC matchups

by Junna Base November 8, 2024

With the start of the second Saturday in November, the college football season officially enters the home stretch. The committee will now weigh the rest of the way each week, but the truth is that all the teams still involved know what they need to do. But that won’t stop us from having fun watching some other teams that may not have a realistic chance of making the field of 12 but still enjoy the game.

The Week 11 schedule only includes a few ranked matches, but there are plenty of other enticing contests on the schedule to keep you entertained all day long Saturday. Here are our seven best options.

No. 11 Alabama at No. 13 LSU

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: With all resumes taken into account, a team with three losses could still be in the top 12 of the final playoff rankings. But for practical reasons, both teams must treat this contest like an eliminator. So expect a high level of intensity and a full nighttime atmosphere in Baton Rouge. This will be LSU’s first action since being overrun by Texas A&M in the second half two weeks ago. So the Tigers want to do something good early to erase any bad memories. Alabama’s most recent game, a 34-0 win over Missouri, was a much more positive experience. LB Jihaad Campbell and the Crimson Tide should face a stronger challenge from LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, who will likely be more comfortable in a friendly environment. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe has struggled with accuracy since his masterpiece in the win over Georgia and has to make some throws quickly to calm the crowd. LB Whit Weeks, the centerpiece of the Tigers defense, will lead the effort to keep him in check.

Why it might disappoint: It could be impossible, right? Given that neither team was completely secure with the lead, we fully expect a lot of wild swings in momentum and a lot of drama in the fourth quarter.

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No. 2 Georgia at No. 12 Mississippi

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: Only two SEC contests remain for the Bulldogs, but neither will be a walk in the park. First up is the trip to Oxford, where the Rebels deliver their most dominant offensive performance of the year in a game at Arkansas. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart prevailed for the Razorbacks despite missing his best weapon, WR Tre Harris. He remains questionable, but Jordan Watkins is also a reliable big-time threat. Georgia DB Malaki Starks is typically difficult to get behind, and the Bulldogs can generate plenty of heat up front, too. Georgia QB Carson Beck has been worryingly vulnerable to picks lately. He has now been intercepted 11 times this season, and Rebels CB Trey Amos could increase that number if his laxity continues.

Why it might disappoint: We’ve seen Ole Miss struggle with physical defense – think Kentucky – so that may not bode well against the Bulldogs. In contrast, Georgia kept many opponents waiting due to inconsistent execution in various aspects of the game. It probably won’t be lost on either side, but it may not always be pretty.

No. 24 Colorado at Texas Tech

Time/TV: 4 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: With bowl eligibility already off the to-do list, the Buffaloes are now focused on getting right in the thick of the Big 12 race. The Red Raiders, on the other hand, return to Lubbock after Iowa State’s first loss and could still be in the game themselves. Texas Tech had a much better defensive performance in its surprise win over Iowa State last week. But LB Jacob Rodriguez and Co. might have a harder time competing with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders and his playmakers, including WR LaJohntay Wester and two-way star Travis Hunter. The Red Raiders are well-equipped to compete in an athletics meet, with QB Behren Morton and RB Tahj Brooks providing a one-two punch out of the backfield. The Buffs have a hard time building pressure from the front, but LB Nikhai Hill-Green and DB Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig are good tacklers who can also be used in blitz attacks.

Why it might disappoint: Both teams were involved in several games that ultimately resulted in possession of the ball. Given the explosive potential of both attacks, this attack is expected to stay on par throughout, but a series of mistakes could leave one or the other faltering.

South Carolina at No. 25 Vanderbilt

Time/TV: 4:15 p.m. ET, SEC.

Why watch: There’s no SEC title on the line here (Vandy is mathematically still alive, but needs a whole lot of positive results to get into the title game), but these two programs have already exceeded their expectations this season and should provide an entertaining contest organize. The Gamecocks need one more win to be able to bowl. The Commodores reached the six-win mark last week and will be hoping for more in their best campaign in recent memory. The headliner for Vanderbilt is of course QB Diego Pavia, who makes excellent use of TE Eli Stowers and RB Sedrick Alexander to control the clock with long drives. It’s up to DE Kyle Kennard and the Gamecocks’ front line to get the third-down stops. South Carolina will counter with QB LaNorris Sellers and RB Raheim Sanders, whose big performances in the ground game fueled last week’s victory over Texas A&M. Vandy LBs Bryan Longwell and Langston Patterson have to stick with their tackles.

Why it might disappoint: Vandy games can be a nail-biting affair by nature. The Gamecocks also do a lot of their damage on the ground. So if you like aerial fireworks, this might not be the game for you. However, a tight finish is to be expected, so check back early.

No. 19 Army in North Texas

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2.

Why watch: Army’s first season as a member of the American Athletic Conference has already been a success. With only two league games remaining, a place in the championship game could be in sight. First up is that long road trip to Denton, where the Mean Green will try to snap a two-game losing streak to stay in the league. The Black Knights survived Air Force without starting QB Bryson Daily. RB Kanye Udoh was eventually able to take over the game, but Army will likely need more air attack, possibly from backup Dewayne Coleman, if Daily remains sidelined to keep up with the Mean Green’s more savvy offense. It wasn’t about scoring points for North Texas as they scored over 40 points per game with QB Chandler Morris at the helm. But the defense gave up a combined 97 points in high-scoring setbacks against Memphis and Tulane.

Why it might disappoint: As impressive as the Black Knights have been, none of the FBS opponents they have defeated so far have a winning record. We’ve yet to see how Army responds in comeback mode, although the Mean Green haven’t fared well in close matchups lately.

No. 9 Brigham Young in Utah

Time/TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN.

Why watch: A few weeks ago, this revival of the interrupted “Holy War” rivalry seemed to have top-10 potential. Unfortunately, the Utes’ offense was derailed by QB Cam Rising’s season-ending injury, but a Cougars upset would go a long way toward salvaging a lost year in Salt Lake City. We probably won’t know until the game whether Isaac Wilson, who is coming off an injury himself, or Brandon Rose will be at the helm for the Utes. We know that RB Micah Bernard gives the Utes the best chance to generate yardage, but LB Harrison Taggart and the BYU run stoppers are equally aware of this. Cougars QB Jake Retzlaff can be hot and cold with his passes, but when he needs a big play, he usually looks to WR Darius Lassiter. Utah’s defense can still be formidable, with DL Van Fillinger leading the charge into the opposing backfield.

Why it could disappoint: Utah’s best hope of staying competitive is to make it a defensive game, and a battle of punts could test the #Big12AfterDark crowd’s stamina. A few quick hits from the Cougars could mean it’s time for bed.

Michigan at No. 10 Indiana

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Why watch: One team on this Big Ten team enters the game with a perfect record and is gunning for a possible championship and a playoff spot – and the other is Michigan. If you haven’t seen this Indiana team in action, this might be worth a look just to marvel at how the conference landscape has changed in less than a year. The Hoosiers are looking to continue what can only be described as a historic season in Bloomington, while the Wolverines are currently just trying to reach the finish line of a disappointing sequel to a championship campaign. Michigan’s defense is good enough to cause problems, with young talent like DL Josaiah Stewart. But the Hoosiers have QB Kurtis Rourke back after a one-game absence, and his injured thumb didn’t seem to bother him in last week’s win over Michigan State. The Hoosiers’ defense was somewhat overshadowed by Rourke’s big year, but was just as impressive, with DL Mikail Kamara leading the charge. That’s not good news for the Wolverines’ beleaguered QB tandem of Davis Warren and Alex Orji, who will need a lot of help from RB Kalel Mullings to keep drives alive.

Why it might disappoint: Like Utah, Michigan will need to keep the score down to have any chance of shaking up the league lead. Still, it will be interesting to see how the Hoosiers fare against the Wolverines compared to Michigan’s last opponent, top-ranked Oregon.

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