In Week 11 of the college football season, key outcomes will impact conference standings and playoff scenarios. Matt Hayes delves into four significant developments from Saturday’s action.

1. First Down: Lane Kiffin Steps Up

Avoid getting distracted by Georgia’s decline and instead recognize Lane Kiffin’s ascent as a leading coach.

It’s now clear that Kiffin is a truly capable coach.

“We’ve been preparing for this game all year,” Kiffin remarked as Ole Miss fans celebrated in the aftermath of their impressive 28-10 victory over Georgia.

This triumph marks Ole Miss as the first team in 53 contests, excluding Alabama, to defeat Georgia, also positioning the Rebels favorably for the College Football Playoff.

However, it’s not just about the win. Kiffin, who had often been seen as an underdog coach due to his tumultuous career start, has now achieved his first significant win in the competitive SEC. This victory is different from the top-five win against Oregon in 2011 during his time at USC.

This success highlights Kiffin’s five-year development journey, which until Saturday was a mix of a school-record season with 11 wins in 2023 and several tough losses against powerhouse teams like Alabama, LSU, and Georgia. In fact, last season’s humiliating 35-point defeat to Georgia was pivotal in leading to this transformative season.

The 52-17 loss to Georgia stands as Kiffin’s lowest moment, unfairly reinforcing his reputation as someone who struggles in big games. Despite focused progress at Ole Miss, a school often underestimated in the challenging SEC.

In the SEC, results matter more than attention-grabbing statements or social media posts, and Kiffin hadn’t yet shown he was worthy.

This offseason, Kiffin went all-in, viewing the Georgia match as a critical opportunity. He engaged with Ole Miss NIL collectives to secure funding necessary for competition.

He constructed the team methodically, prioritizing strong offensive and defensive lines and acquiring essential players via the transfer portal. The strategy was straightforward: emphasize a strong running game on offense while pressuring the quarterback on defense.

He successfully persuaded offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis Jr. to remain in Oxford rather than accept a lucrative offer from Florida’s coach Billy Napier.

Now, the Rebels are leading the nation with 46 sacks and are ranked second in total offense. They are only two key fourth-down completions away from an unbeaten record this season, narrowly losing to Kentucky and LSU.

Last year’s game saw Ole Miss concede 611 yards to Georgia, but this time, they allowed only 245 yards. They also managed five sacks compared to none last year and caused three turnovers.

Ole Miss now stands just two wins away from potentially qualifying for the CFP as an at-large team, needing victories against Florida and arch-rival Mississippi State (keep an eye on their rise in this week’s CFP rankings), with a chance to play in the SEC championship game if things align favorably.

There’s no doubt anymore: Kiffin is a genuine ball coach.

2. Second Down: Deion Sanders and the CFP

It’s clear to everyone that Deion Sanders is headed toward the CFP; his presence is a perfect fit for the sport’s new 12-team playoff format.

This pairing is an ideal match for television audiences.

The Big 12 has been a whirlwind this season, and it appears Colorado’s coach Deion Sanders could lead his team to the Big 12 championship game, putting them just one game away from a playoff berth.

This isn’t just any opportunity; it’s an automatic qualifier position that comes with a much sought-after first-round bye, leading to even more media spotlight on Sanders.

After finishing last season with just one win from their last nine games, Colorado now has its fate in its own hands in the Big 12, needing victories against Utah, Kansas, and Oklahoma State—all games they are favored to win—to cap off an incredible turnaround.

This remarkable transformation comes from a team that struggled to protect star quarterback Shedeur Sanders in September and couldn’t stop opponents on defense in the early weeks of the season.

However, after their recent 41-27 victory against Texas Tech, it’s evident that the Buffs have found their rhythm. They tackled one of the most intimidating venues in the Big 12, forcing three turnovers while protecting the ball themselves, and recording six sacks.

They achieved this win despite rushing for only 60 yards and committing 14 penalties for a total of 106 yards, demonstrating their ability to make critical offensive plays and get defensive stops against a formidable Texas Tech attack that had previously dominated Iowa State’s defense.

This indicates one thing: we can expect more of Sanders in the spotlight.

3. Third Down: Kurtis Rourke, Heisman Hopeful

While he may not boast the same statistics as Cam Ward or Ashton Jeanty, and doesn’t have Dillon Gabriel’s efficiency or the explosive plays that Travis Hunter is known for, there’s another player deserving attention in the College Football Playoff (CFP) race: Indiana’s quarterback Kurtis Rourke.

A sixth-year senior who transferred from Ohio, Rourke made crucial plays once again on Saturday, leading Indiana to a 20-15 victory over Michigan and securing the program’s first-ever 10-win season. History made.

Rourke recorded 206 passing yards and two touchdowns, bringing his touchdown to interception ratio to an impressive 21/4 over nine games. Strong performances against Michigan, Michigan State, and UCLA are noteworthy, but the true test will come when he faces Ohio State in two weeks.

Should Rourke deliver a standout performance and propel Indiana to an upset against the Buckeyes, he could quickly ascend in the Heisman rankings, transitioning from an intriguing story to a serious contender with arguably the best victory among CFP hopefuls.

4. Fourth Down: Miami’s Meltdown Affects ACC’s CFP Aspirations

Looking beyond Miami’s disappointing defeat to Georgia Tech, we must focus on its implications for the ACC’s chances in the CFP.

The Hurricanes’ 28-23 loss on Saturday severely diminishes the ACC’s hopes of placing a second team in the 12-team playoff. Unless there are significant upsets throughout November, it appears that only one ACC team will be in the running.

The conference lacks star power beyond Miami, and the potential playoff contenders’ resumes are regarding wins over weak teams from the Power Four conferences. The ACC’s best shot at securing multiple playoff spots hinged on SMU defeating an undefeated Miami in the ACC Championship.

To put it simply, the strongest wins for these teams will likely be marquee matchups during the ACC championship. The same goes for SMU, Pitt, and Clemson.

Notice the pattern?

“We can’t dress it up,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal stated after the game. “We didn’t perform well enough.”

This loss leaves the Hurricanes (9-1 overall, 5-1 ACC) with little to no margin for error regarding the CFP. They could plummet from being projected as the ACC champion to potentially trailing two-loss SEC teams and dropping out of the top ten in this week’s poll.

Miami has one of the softest schedules among the Power Four, with SMU not far behind—though the Mustangs do have a more respectable resume due to a narrow loss at home to Big 12 leader Brigham Young. This illustrates how rapidly a team’s CFP prospects can change.

The Hurricanes have shifted from being an exhilarating team with the Heisman frontrunner (Ward) leading thrilling comebacks to one that allows over 31 points on average in six ACC games, with no room for missteps for the remainder of the season.