November 13, 2024
CFB InsiderNot So Pretty Slate for Week 12
Lone Star Player of the Week Candidates
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe - LSU is still trying to tackle him after an incredible performance, Milroe’s first in Baton Rouge. Suffice to say, it was not HIS Death Valley. He ran for 185 yards on just 12 carries, a whopping 15.4 yards per carry, which put him top four in team single-game history. He also threw for 109 yards on 12 of 18 passing. Milroe accounted for four rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career, leading the Tide to a 42-13 win over LSU on the road.
Ole Miss DE Princely Umanmielen - The Rebels star pass rusher was all over Georgia QB Carson Beck. He finished with two sacks, one of them a strip sack, five tackles and now has six sacks in his last three games. He slipped past blockers, ran under them, ran past them, powered through them and had one the best games of his career in the rain in Oxford
Ole Miss DE Jared Ivey - He and Umanmielen were flat out unblockable in the big upset over Georgia. Ivey registered seven tackles, two sacks, one strip sack, two PBU, one of which ended up in an interception. He’s now ninth all-time on the Ole Miss career listing for sacks with 16. The two Ole Miss stars combined for four sacks, two strip sacks, 12 tackles, two PBUs and held Georgia to 10 points, three over the last 50 minutes or so of game action.
Alabama LB Jihaad Campbell - Campbell is another in a long line of stud linebackers in Tuscaloosa and he took his game to an even higher level on Saturday in Baton Rouge. He finished the game with 12 tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks, one strip sack, a PBU and a QB hurry in the Tide’s 42-13 win.
Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson - the talented Sun Devils pass catcher had himself a night in a key spot in a tremendous back and forth game against UCF. Tyson caught a nine yard pass to give the Sun Devils a 28-24 lead late in the third quarter. Then, he snatched one from 13 yards out for the game winner. He finished with seven catches for 99 yards and those two REAL MAN tuddies.
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The SEC had the spotlight on Saturday with GameDay in Baton Rouge and a top 16 matchup in Oxford, but those two games didn’t really deliver the way that we’ve grown accustomed to this season.
But, the ACC? Upset city. Top notch games all day long. Georgia Tech ended Miami’s undefeated season and if the Yellow Jackets can beat Florida in a bowl game, it’ll be the State of Florida champions in 2024. Virginia upset Pitt. Boston College came from behind to snap its losing streak in a win over Syracuse.
So, let’s break down what we saw in week 11 and preview what may not be the prettiest slate in week 12 on paper. But, we know that those are the weeks that deliver some of the classic games we always remember. Who’s on UPSET alert this Saturday? Shoot, everyone SHOULD BE; it’s that time of year!
Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Alabama - Whenever LSU and Alabama collide, it’s typically one of the five most compelling games of the entire season. But, Saturday’s night classic got sidetracked by a Crimson wave that rolled right through Baton Rouge, perhaps on its way back to the SEC Championship game. Kalen DeBoer’s Crimson Tide put together its best 60 minute, three dominant phase performance all season long, at the exact right time. QB Jalen Milroe was more Derrick Henry than Tua Tagovailoa in this one and he led the Tide to a win over the seemingly hapless Tigers in Death Valley.
Texas Bowl Honorable mention Team of the Week - Ole Miss - The discussion surrounding the Ole Miss program usually starts with QB Jaxson Dart and the dynamic, explosive offensive unit. But, the true star in Oxford is the Rebels’ Land Shark defense, especially a dominating, DOMINATING defensive line. Two weeks after posting nine sacks against Oklahoma in Oxford and eight against Arkansas, the Rebels posted five against Georgia, the number three team in the country at the time. Jared Ivey, Princely Umanmielen and Suntarine Perkins are as scary a trio rushing the QB as there is and their efforts led to a resounding 28-10 win over Georgia, the first over Georgia since 2016 and just the second in 28 years.
Texas Bowl Player of the Week - Alabama QB Jalen Milroe - LSU is still trying to tackle him after an incredible performance, Milroe’s first in Baton Rouge. He ran for 185 yards on just 12 carries, a whopping 15.4 yards per carry, which put him top four in team single-game history. He also threw for 109 yards on 12 of 18 passing. Milroe accounted for four rushing touchdowns for the second time in his career, leading the Tide to a 42-13 win over LSU on the road.
Texas Bowl Honorable mention Player of the Week (tie) - Ole Miss DE Princely Umanmielen - The Rebels star pass rusher was all over Georgia QB Carson Beck. He finished with two sacks, one of them a strip sack, five tackles and now has six sacks in his last three games. He slipped past blockers, ran under them, ran past them, powered through them and had one the best games of his career in the rain in Oxford
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Ole Miss DE Jared Ivey - He and Umanmielen were flat out unblockable in the big upset over Georgia. Ivey registered seven tackles, two sacks, one strip sack, two PBU, one of which ended up in an interception. He’s now ninth all-time on the Ole Miss career listing for sacks with 16. The two Ole Miss stars combined for four sacks, two strip sacks, 12 tackles, two PBUs and held Georgia to 10 points, three over the last 50 minutes or so of game action.
National Team of the Week - Georgia Tech - The Ramblin’ Wreck has had some high moments in 2024, but perhaps nothing quite like the high from beating #4 ranked Miami and ruining the Hurricanes regular season on Saturday. QB Haynes King returned to play and rotated with fellow QB Aaron Philo throughout the game. Both QBs threw TDs and King ran 20 times for 93 yards and a touchdown in the 28-23 win. The Tech defense generated big plays late in the game to help hold the powerful Miami offense to just 23 points.
Honorable Mention National Team of the Week - U Conn - It’s not so much the win over UAB, although that was incredibly impressive, but Jim Mora’s Huskies are 7-3, their best record in years. After a tough 2023, the Huskies have rebounded with a strong season and an upcoming bowl…and a potential nine win campaign.
National Player of the Week (tie) - Penn State DE Abdul Carter - The most talented player in the B1G turned up the heat on new B1G member Washington. Carter sacked Washington QBs twice, registered four TFLs and had six total tackles in the runaway win over the Huskies.
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Penn State TE Tyler Warren - Nittany Lions offensive coaches love to find ways for Warren to impact the game. He threw the ball twice. He ran the ball three times, scoring two TDs and he caught eight passes (led the Nittany Lions) for 75 yards as well. Warren and Carter make Penn State must see football for certain.
Honorable mention National Player of the Week - Cal QB Fernando Mendoza - In a 46-36 win over Wake Forest, Mendoza threw for 385 yards and accounted for three touchdowns in Cal’s first ever ACC win. He accounted for 436 yards in the ten point win on the east coast and the Bears’ fifth win.
Quick Kudos
…to UCLA for another B1G win, this time over 6-3 Iowa in the Rose Bowl.
…to Ohio State true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith for his ninth TD, breaking an Ohio State school record.
…to Texas QB Quinn Ewers for a five TD day against undermanned Florida in Austin.
…to Indiana for TEN wins in a row and 10-0 for the first time in school history. Head coach Curt Cignetti and crew get the weekend off before a massive, MASSIVE game at Ohio State in two weeks.
…to BYU for winning the Holy War in Salt Lake City and staying undefeated in the Big 12.
…to Notre Dame for scoring 52 against Florida State…I mean, what’s happened to the Noles?
…to Boise State star Ashton Jeanty for another 200 yard game in 2024. His 209 yard rushing performance against Nevada was his FOURTH 200-yard game of the season. WOW!
…to Kansas for its most complete game of the year and a HUGE win over Iowa State 45-36
…to Coach Prime and Colorado for their seventh win on the year and a big one on the road against Texas Tech
…to Missouri for a huge comeback, 20 points in the fourth quarter to beat Oklahoma.
…to Tulane for a DOMINANT win over Temple - WOW, the Green Wave just continue to roll under first year head coach Jon Sumrall.
…to Jacksonville State for completing a Hail Mary to tie the game against La. Tech, missing the extra point to send to OT, then surviving OT to stay undefeated in CUSA.
Week 12’s Big games
#7 (8-1) Tennessee at #2 (7-2) Georgia - The Dawgs are coming off of a crushing defeat in Oxford, MS, getting manhandled for the first time in YEARS. Tennessee has started to find its groove, relying on RB Dylan Sampson, but the status of QB Nico Iamaleava will be a storyline to watch leading up to this massive game with HUGE SEC/College football playoff implications.