Undefeated After Week 11

Apologies for not posting a Tuesday Top Ten yesterday.  I was still mourning the Hoosiers' 48-41 2OT loss to Michigan on Saturday.  They were one defensive stop away from beating the Wolverines for the first time since 1987.  That's now three Top 15 teams (OSU, Iowa, and Michigan) to which IU has lost by a touchdown and another one (MSU) that we should have been leading in the fourth quarter had our normally automatic kicker not missed a field goal.  Some people think that might be a step in the right direction (and it is), but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.  Onto Maryland and Purdue for the Hoosiers.  They need to win both games to go bowling.

There were also some games that other people cared about this past weekend.  We are now down to five undefeated teams, as #6 Baylor lost 44-34 to #12 Oklahoma in Waco.  Other than that, #1 Clemson beat Syracuse 37-27, #3 Ohio State handled Illinois 28-3, #5 Iowa held off Minnesota 40-35 to keep Floyd of Rosedale, #8 Oklahoma State escaped Ames with a 35-31 win over Iowa State, and #24 Houston topped #21 Memphis 35-34.

The top four in the College Football Playoff rankings remain unchanged.  Here they are (along with each team's best win and worst loss, where applicable):

1.  Clemson (10-0)

Best win:  #4 Notre Dame (10/3; 24-22)

Worst loss:  N/A

2.  Alabama (9-1)

Best win:  #15 LSU (11/7; 30-16)

Worst loss:  #22 Ole Miss (9/19; 43-37)

3.  Ohio State (10-0)

Best win:  Penn State (10/17; 38-10)

Worst loss: N/A

4.  Notre Dame (9-1)

Best win:  #16 Navy (10/10; 41-24)

Worst loss:  at #1 Clemson (10/3; 24-22)

Go Michigan State, Charleston Southern, and Boston College.

Here is a breakdown of the undefeated teams and each team's remaining games and best win (rankings are CFB Playoff Committee rankings):

#1 Clemson 10-0

11/21 – Wake Forest (3-7)

11/28 – at South Carolina (3-7)

12/5 – ACC championship game (Charlotte) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  6-14 (.300)

Best win:  #4 Notre Dame (10/3; 24-22)

#3 Ohio St. 10-0

11/21 - #9 Michigan State (9-1)

11/28 – at #12 Michigan (8-2)

12/5 – Big Ten championship game (Indianapolis) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  17-3 (.850)

Best win:  Penn State (10/17; 38-10)

#5 Iowa 10-0

11/21 – at Purdue (2-8)

11/27 – at Nebraska (5-6)

12/5 – Big Ten championship game (Indianapolis) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  7-14 (.333)

Best win:  at #20 Northwestern (10/17; 40-10)

#6 Oklahoma St. 10-0

11/21 - #10 Baylor (9-0)

11/28 - #7 Oklahoma (8-1)

Remaining opponents' combined record:  17-1 (.944)

Best win:  #18 TCU (11/7; 49-29)

#19 Houston 10-0

11/21 – at Connecticut (5-5)

11/27 – #16 Navy (8-1)

12/5 – Conference USA championship game (hosted by divisional champion with best record) - TBD

Remaining opponents' combined record:  20-7 (.741)

Best win:  #21 Memphis (11/14; 35-34)