Winner: Alabama
The Tide kept their playoff hopes alive with a dominant 42-13 road win against LSU. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe was outstanding, finishing the game 12-of-18 for 109 yards while doing most of his damage on the ground, rushing for 185 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries.
The defense had one of its best games, allowing 343 total yards and intercepting LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier twice.
Alabama’s losses to Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3 in SEC) and No. 7 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 in SEC) showed that it can lose any given Saturday, but its performance against LSU showed why it’s a team no one should want to play in the postseason.
Loser: Iowa State
The Cyclones’ season went from a dream to a nightmare in a hurry. After beginning the year 7-0, No. 17 Iowa State (7-2, 4-2 in Big 12) has lost two in a row. Its most recent loss was an ugly 45-36 defeat at the hands of Kansas (3-6, 2-4 in Big 12).
Iowa State allowed a season-high 532 yards as it went from controlling its destiny for a Big 12 title game berth to needing help to make the championship game.
Winner: Indiana
At 10-0 for the first time in program history, No. 8 Indiana is closing in on a CFP berth. The Hoosiers defense was the biggest revelation in their 20-15 win over defending national champion Michigan (5-5, 3-4 in Big Ten).
Indiana held Michigan, which entered Week 11 averaging 165.1 rush yards per game, to 69 yards on the ground on 34 attempts.
Indiana’s offense led the way in the Hoosiers’ first nine games, but the defense carried the weight to show the CFP committee it’s a complete team.
Loser: Oklahoma State
The Mike Gundy era may have run its course. Oklahoma State’s season sunk even further after it lost to TCU 38-13. The loss dropped the Cowboys to 0-7 in the Big 12. It’s their most losses in conference play since 2005, Gundy’s first season as head coach.
With Oklahoma and Texas in the SEC, Oklahoma State had an opportunity to assert itself as the top team in the Big 12. In the preseason, Big 12 media members picked the Cowboys to finish third, receiving 14 first-place votes.
Instead, Oklahoma State has been one of 2024’s most disappointing teams.
Winner: Colorado
Meanwhile, No. 20 Colorado (7-2, 5-1 in Big 12) has been one of the Big 12’s biggest surprises.
The Buffaloes remained in contention for the Big 12 championship with a 41-27 road win at Texas Tech (6-4, 4-3 in Big 12).
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter could become the first teammates since Alabama quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith (2020) to be Heisman finalists in the same season based on how they’re playing.
Sanders was 30-of-43 for 291 yards and four total touchdowns, while Hunter had nine receptions, 99 yards and a touchdown.
Head coach Deion Sanders received criticism for Colorado’s rough 2023 season when it went 4-8, but he deserves praise for the team’s 2024 turnaround.
Loser: Florida
We’ll give Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin credit. Had he not released a statement earlier this week that head coach Billy Napier isn’t getting fired so please stop asking, the third-year Gators head coach’s future would dominate the airwaves in Gainesville this week.
Florida flopped on the road at No. 5 Texas (8-1, 4-1 in SEC), losing 49-17 in a game that wasn’t even that close.
Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers had 333 passing yards, four more than Florida gained total, as Texas jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead.
Winner: Tulane, Louisiana-Lafayette
Don’t let LSU’s loss distract from the fact the state of Louisiana has two dark horse CFP contenders.
Tulane (8-2, 6-0 in AAC) defeated Temple (2-7, 1-4 in AAC) 52-6, to solidify itself as Army’s main competition for the AAC championship.
Louisiana-Lafayette (8-1, 5-0 in Sun Belt) beat Arkansas State (5-4, 3-2 in Sun Belt) 55-19 to remain atop the Sun Belt.
If both teams win their respective conferences and No. 12 Boise State (8-1, 5-0 in MWC) slips up in the Mountain West, they could jockey for positioning as the fifth-ranked conference champion.
Loser: UAB
Trent Dilfer hasn’t worked as UAB head coach. On Saturday, the Blazers blew a 17-point halftime lead in a 31-23 home loss to UConn (7-3).
UAB fell apart over its final seven drives, punting twice, turning over the ball three times and ending the game with two turnovers on downs.
Dilfer was hired in November 2022 after former coach Bryant Vincent went 7-6 and has six wins in his first 20 games in Birmingham.
