Week 11 in College Football: Stirring Tributes and Even More Upsets

Published: Monday, November 11, 2024

by Kyle Ferreira

It’s another week in college sports, bringing more thrilling and heartbreaking finishes across the country. College basketball saw some wild upsets, especially in the BIG EAST, where fans were shocked by their teams’ losses to mid-major programs. Meanwhile, the college football world was rocked by the loss of a dear friend and more surprising defeats.

No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Miami (FL), and No. 17 Iowa State all hit the road this week, and unsurprisingly, each team came up short. This has been the story nearly every week in this unpredictable season. So, how did Kirby Smart, Mario Cristobal, and Matt Campbell’s teams meet their defeats this past Saturday? 

The Bulldogs headed west to Oxford, Mississippi, to face No. 16 Ole Miss, a team eager to keep its playoff hopes alive. Led by head coach and social media personality Lane Kiffin, the Rebels outperformed and dominated one of the nation’s top programs. Despite soggy conditions from Tropical Storm Rafael in the Gulf, Kiffin and his team delivered a decisive performance. 

Defensively, the Rebels overwhelmed Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, sacking him five times and intercepting him once. Beck, once viewed as a top prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft, has struggled in several games this season. Following the upset—like many SEC shockers this year—fans stormed the field, though a bit prematurely, with 16 seconds still left in the 4th quarter. 

While the Bulldogs fell, their rivals Georgia Tech pulled off another massive upset—this time on American soil. Fans remember back in Week Zero, when the Yellow Jackets stunned Florida State in Ireland, a loss from which FSU has struggled to recover. This weekend, Georgia Tech repeated the feat at home, toppling another Florida powerhouse, the Miami Hurricanes. 

The Hurricanes arrived in Atlanta undefeated at 9-0, seeking revenge after last season’s clock management mishap against the Yellow Jackets. Despite having Heisman hopeful Cam Ward at quarterback, Miami’s final drive ended with Ward getting sacked and fumbling the ball away. Georgia Tech secured another win over a Top 10 opponent, and with Miami’s loss, SMU might just be the top team in the ACC. 

Heading to Arrowhead Stadium, the Kansas Jayhawks secured a quality win after entering the season with high expectations. Meanwhile, the Iowa State Cyclones fell to the upset bug for the second consecutive week, this time losing to Texas Tech. Offensively, the Jayhawks showcased some of their best performance this season.

Quarterback Jalon Daniels proved unstoppable both in the air and on the ground, racking up four total touchdowns and 411 yards. Running back Devin Neal also turned in one of his best performances this season, rushing for 116 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Neal’s impressive day marked a historic achievement, as he became the program’s all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns, surpassing Jayhawk legend June Henley in both categories. 

Iowa State’s chances of reaching the Big 12 Championship are slipping away. With BYU and Colorado facing relatively easy season finales, the Cyclones need to regain momentum. Only three games remain for Iowa State: a matchup with Cincinnati, a road trip to Utah, and their “Farmageddon” rivalry game against Kansas State. 

With so much action across the sport this weekend, two topics stood out in fans’ minds. First, officiating continues to draw heavy criticism from fans and media experts alike, with complaints of inconsistent calls mounting each week. Frustration reached a peak at games like No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 16 LSU, where angry fans even resorted to throwing trash on the field. 

However, the college football community came together to honor ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and his beloved golden retriever, Ben. Known for bringing joy to Herbstreit and fans alike, Ben often accompanied him to games he was announcing. Sadly, Ben passed away at the age of 10 after being diagnosed with cancer in March. 

Despite a week marked by tension and rivalries, people put aside their differences to pay tribute to Herbstreit’s loyal companion. On social media, Herbstreit expressed his gratitude to family, friends, and fans for the unwavering support and love they showed for Ben. 

Kyle Ferreira can be reached at kyle.ferreira@student.shu.edu. 

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