SPEEDYLEE COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

(Week 11)

Minnesota’s loss to Iowa probably ends the Golden Gophers’ dream of reaching the Final Four but it emphasizes the value of playing in a strong conference. Iowa was ranked in the top 15 by some polls. Iowa’s win had deeper impact on the rankings than just knocking Minnesota down. Alabama, which won handily over Mississippi despite losing its QB again, remained in contention for a berth in the Final Four because the teams ranked behind the Tide, like Minnesota, keep losing. As the regular-season games get fewer, the plots get thicker.

1.      LSU hammered Ole Miss, 58-37.

2.      Ohio State beat Rutgers.

3.      Clemson beat Wake Forest.

4.      Georgia beat a stubborn Auburn team 21-14 at Auburn.

5.      Oklahoma edged Baylor, 34-31.

6.      Alabama (9-1) defeated Mississippi State but lost QB Tua Tagovailoa for the season.

7.      Oregon defeated Arizona 34-6.

8.      Utah defeated UCLA 49-3.

9.      Florida defeated Missouri 23-6.

10.  Minnesota suffered first loss, 23-19, to Iowa.

INELIGIBLE: Penn State

WATCHLIST: Michigan, Baylor, Iowa.

NOTES: Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa is out for the season with a hip injury. He started the season among those to watch for the Heisman Trophy and has posted some great numbers, but he has been injured twice. He might be this generation’s Joe Namath. … Auburn (8-3) has gone from being a contender for the Final Four early in the season to a top 10 team at mid-season and finally to a tough out at the end of the season. … Slippery Rock (11-0) advanced to the NCAA D-II playoffs after defeating Kutztown 37-35 to win the PSAC championship game. The Rock did not lead until Charles Snorweah scored a touchdown with 25 seconds remaining in the game. The Rock scored 16 unanswered points in the final quarter. Kutztown was also undefeated going into the game. Slippery Rock was ranked #8 going into the title game.