The Touchdown CFB Top 25

College Football Week 11 was the week that COVID finally took hold of the schedule in dramatic fashion. 15 games were cancelled, taking College Football Playoff contenders Alabama and Ohio State out of action. With postponements, cancellations, and bye weeks, a whopping 10 teams out of last week’s College Football Top 25 didn’t take to the field in Week 11.

Despite this, there was plenty of College Football action to talk about, with several teams making huge moves up the order.

Indiana, Wisconsin, and Northwestern march the B1G Ten up the College Football Top 25

The B1G Ten conference continues to confound pre-season expectations in it’s return to the College Football calendar.

Although Ohio State lead the way in the conference, the contenders that have emerged over the first four weeks have certainly exceeded their expectations.

Indiana, under head coach Tom Allen, move up to ninth in the College Football Top 25 after a shutout win over Michigan State. Senior wide receiver Ty Fryfogle snagged two touchdown scores as he continues to improve his 2021 NFL Draft stock. Fryfogle is averaging over 100 yards and a touchdown per game. 

After a two week lay off due to COVID, Wisconsin returned to winning ways with an impressive and dominating win over a poor Michigan side. Although redshirt freshman phenom Graham Mertz threw for two touchdowns, it was the ground game that helped rack up the score as the Wolverines allowed 341 yards and five rushing touchdowns. The Badgers defense made it a night to forget for Michigan quarterback Joe Milton. The junior QB threw two interceptions and just 98 yards as the temperature on Jim Harbaugh’s hot seat intensifies. 

In the clash of unbeaten teams, Northwestern continued their impressive and totally unexpected start to the season with a 27-20 win over a Rondale Moore-less Purdue. Receiver Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman has stepped up to replace the lost production of graduate transfer Ben Skowronek and secured all three Wildcats touchdowns.

The conference is about to adopt a PAC12/BIG12 style “eat yourself alive” philosophy as Indiana travel to face Ohio State, and Northwestern welcome Wisconsin in Week 12.

SMU out, Tulsa in as All-AAC affair has huge ramifications for the College Football Top 25

Tulsa recovered from a 24-7 half time deficit to shock SMU and plummet the Mustangs out of the College Football Top 25.

SMU were ranked ninth in our College Football Top 25 heading into Chapman Stadium but with two defeats on their resume, it’s difficult to make an argument for their inclusion over a one loss team like Appalachian State or even a two win Power Five program like Georgia or North Carolina.

Tulsa – who move to 4-1 with the upset win – have been consistently defensively excellent and Saturday night was no different. SMU quarterback Shane Buechele leads the nation in passing yards but was held to just 200 yards and one touchdown. Zaven Collins intercepted Buechele inside the last minute to secure the win.

The Tulsa defense has been outstanding this season and QB Zach Smith has the offense averaging over 410 yards per game.

It is the second time Tulsa have featured in our College Football Top 25 this year. They have the opportunity to solidify their place when they face Tulane on Friday night.

Win, lose, and a bye for the FBS independents inhabiting the College Football Top 25

The disrupted nature of the 2020 College Football season has allowed the FBS independents to bring themselves into the national conscience.

BYU had a bye week and remain just on the outside looking in at the College Football Playoff in sixth place in our College Football Top 25. They have another two vacant games down the stretch, and there is a clamour for them to schedule a Power Five opponent to bolster their resume and make a play for a place in the final four.

Army came into Week 11 with a 6-1 record, and a 22nd placed ranking in our College Football Top 25 but their 38-12 defeat to Tulane sees them drop out of the rankings. Their defeat contained quite possibly on of the worst kick returns of all time as a failed lateral pass was easily intercepted by Tulane for a touchdown.

Liberty continue their fairy tale journey through the 2020 College Football season. In the week that head coach Hugh Freeze signed a contract extension through 2026, the Flames easily took care of business against Western Carolina at Williams Stadium. QB Malik Willis accounted for five touchdowns and 403 yards in the 58-14 win over a Catamounts team that were playing their first game of the year.

BYU face North Alabama in Week 12 and Liberty travel to take on North Carolina State looking to secure their third win over an ACC opponent in 2020.

So, with the headlines from Week 11 chewed over, here’s how the full College Football Top 25 looks…

1. Alabama

UK TV Week 3
SEC

2. Ohio State

Big 10
CFB REVIEW

3. Notre Dame

Preseason Rankings

4. Clemson

CFB UK TV Week 5

5. Cincinnati

6. BYU

7. Texas A & M

Preseason Rankings
SEC

8. Florida

Preseason Rankings
SEC

9. Indiana

Big 10
CFB REVIEW

10. Miami

Game Preview

11. Oregon

Oregon Auburn
CFB REVIEW

12. USC

PAC 12
CFB REVIEW

13. Oklahoma State

Big 12
CFB REVIEW

14. Liberty

15. Wisconsin

CFB UK TV Week 5
CFB REVIEW

16. Coastal Carolina

17. Marshall

18. Northwestern

CFB UK TV Week 5
CFB REVIEW

19. Georgia

College Football Playoffs
SEC

20. North Carolina

UK TV Week 3

21. Iowa State

Big 12
CFB REVIEW

22. Tulsa

23. Louisiana

24. Oklahoma

CFB UK TV Games Week 6
CFB REVIEW

25. Appalachian State

Mock Draft

OLIVER HODGKINSON

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER

OLIVER HODGKINSON IS A COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. HE ALSO WRITES ON THE NFL FOR THE PRO FOOTBALL NETWORK. YOU CAN HEAR HIS OPINIONS ON ALL THINGS COLLEGE FOOTBALL AS ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST.