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Note: CollegeFootballPoll.com's Dave Congrove is a member of the Maxwell Football Cub and a voter for the Maxwell and Bednarik Awards.
Top individual player performances last week include that of East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers who threw for 498 yards, six TD's and no interceptions in a high-scoring loss to SMU. This week's top games are undeniably Georgia at Auburn, and Oklahoma at Baylor, but we have a couple more on the list, as well.
QB Holton Ahlers, East Carolina - If first-year head coach Mike Houston makes any defensive progress this offseason, ECU will be a dangerous team in 2020. He's got a quarterback to build around in Ahlers. The local lefty absolutely dissected the SMU defense Saturday in Dallas, yet it still wasn't enough in a 59-51 loss. Ahlers went toe-to-toe with the more heralded Shane Buechele, completing 32-of-42 for 498 yards, six TDs and no interceptions.
RB LeVante Bellamy, Western Michigan - Bellamy got a rare national showcase last week in Kalamazoo and did not disappoint. The MAC's leading rusher spearheaded an exciting win over Ball State with 157 yards on the ground and three touchdowns, capped by the game-winner with just over a minute left. The Broncos are now bowl-bound for the fifth time in the last six years.
QB Joe Burrow, LSU - It's been a long time since an opposing quarterback played as well in Tuscaloosa as Burrow did Saturday afternoon... a very long time. LSU snapped Alabama's 31-game home winning streak behind the offensive brilliance of Burrow and RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who scored four times. Burrow was unflappable under pressure, while almost rushing for 100 pre-sack yards. Meanwhile, he threw for 393 yards and three scores on 31-of-39 passing.
QB Tanner Morgan, Minnesota - That wasn't just any Penn State D Morgan picked apart Saturday in Minneapolis. Entering Week 11, it was one of the country's top-rated units. Morgan was on target throughout the Gophers' pivotal upset, completing 18-of-20 for 339 yards and three touchdowns to earn Pro Football Focus' highest passing grade. Morgan also became the first QB in two decades to complete 90% of his passes versus a top 5 opponent.
QB Brock Purdy, Iowa State - Down 35-14 at half, the Cyclones were toast, right? Uh-uh. That's not the way Matt Campbell prepares his team. Iowa State rallied in Norman with 20 unanswered fourth quarter points to come within a converted two-point conversion of stunning Oklahoma. Purdy, as usual, was Campbell's sparkplug, accounting for 337 total yards and all six of his team's touchdowns in a gut-wrenching 42-41 loss.
QB Kedon Slovis, USC - Troy got off the mat following last week's crushing loss to Oregon to win at Arizona State and clinch bowl-eligibility. Slovis was slinging it from the outset against a pretty solid Sun Devil, and continues to build on his table-setting rookie season. He went 29-of-39 for 432 yards, four touchdowns and an interception, showing off rare arm talent and ball placement for such a young player.
RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin - Need to get back on track? Just feed Taylor... liberally. The Badgers began the weekend on a two-game losing streak, but ended it still in contention in the Big Ten West division. They held off rival Iowa with defense and the ground-and-pound offense. Pro Football Focus' highest-graded Week 11 back wore out the Hawkeyes, especially down the stretch, motoring for a season-best 250 yards on 31 carries.
QB Jarren Williams, Miami - Alright, so maybe the Canes have a quarterback of the future after all. A season of inconsistency for the Miami offense took a sudden turn for the improbable on Saturday when Williams set a new single-game school record for touchdown passes. The redshirt freshman completed 15-of-22 for 253 yards, six scoring strikes and no interceptions as the Canes annihilated Louisville, 52-27.
MLB Terrel Bernard, Baylor - The Bears needed someone to step up after leading tackler Clay Johnston was lost for the year... and, boy, has Bernard helped fill the void. He was everywhere in Saturday's thrilling triple-overtime win at TCU, excelling in coverage and against the run. Bernard racked up a career-high 19 tackles, including three behind the line, a sack and a pick to help keep the Frogs out of the end zone during regulation.
MLB Daniel Bituli, Tennessee - The Volunteers are surging. Tennessee held off Kentucky to win its third straight and pull to within another victory of qualifying for the postseason. Jeremy Pruitt's D has been outstanding since suffering a lopsided loss to Georgia on Oct. 5. Bituli was the star Saturday in Lexington, as he made a season-high 19 tackles, while helping stuff Wildcat QB Lynn Bowden at the goal line late in the fourth to preserve the win.
DT Dashawn Crawford, Virginia Tech - On a day when legendary coordinator Bud Foster was honored, it figures the D would lead the Hokies to an important win. Tech silenced high-powered Wake Forest, 36-17, consistently winning the line of scrimmage. Crawford set the tone at the point of attack, making four tackles and a pick, while ranking fourth among Week 11 interior linemen, according to Pro Football Focus.
MLB Noah Harvey, Michigan State - Tasked with replacing star LB Joe Bachie, Harvey proved up to the challenge. In fact, he showed early signs of becoming the next big thing at linebacker in East Lansing. In just his first start, the sophomore performed like a seasoned veteran in all phases. Harvey had nine tackles, 2.5 stops for loss, 1.5 sacks and a couple of pass breakups, and could be a bedrock player in 2020.
S Xavier McKinney, Alabama - Sure, it's tough for a defender to stand out when the offenses produce 87 points and well over 1,000 yards. But that's exactly what McKinney did in Saturday's loss to LSU. The leader of the Crimson Tide D, and Bednarik Award semifinalist, produced a game-high 13 stops, including 2.5 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, a forced fumble, a blocked kick and another hurry of QB Joe Burrow.
DE Quincy Roche, Temple - The Owl D was well-rested last Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium, which spelled big problems for South Florida. The Bulls managed just seven points and 1.6 yards per carry, as Temple ruled the line of scrimmage with nine sacks of QB Jordan McCloud. Roche led the brigade with six tackles and a career-high 3.5 sacks in the 17-7 victory.
OLB Joe Tryon, Washington - It was not a Picasso, no. But the Huskies can rest easy bow that they're bowl-eligible entering this week's bye. On a night when the offenses went AWOL, RB Salvon Ahmed aside, the U-Dub D carried the team to a win in Corvallis. CB Elijah Molden helped shut down Oregon State's star WR Isaiah Hodgins, while Tryon harassed QB Jake Luton to the tune of seven stops, 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
S Antoine Winfield, Minnesota - Winfield is one of the nation's premier defensive backs, even though he's not yet a household name. The fourth-year sophomore was to the D what QB Tanner Morgan was to the offense, as the Gophers upset Penn State to remain undefeated. Winfield, who's having an All-American type season, flashed his versatility with a team-high 11 tackles and two of Sean Clifford's three interceptions.
Navy (7-1) at Notre Dame (7-2) - Saturday, 2:30 p.m. ET (NBC): One of the great non-conference rivalries adds another chapter this weekend, with an exciting twist... both the Irish and the Mids are ranked. Navy and SMU are deadlocked atop the AAC West Division, meaning the Midshipmen remain in contention for a New Year's Six bowl invitation. Ditto the Fighting Irish. After disposing of Duke in Durham Saturday evening, ND can also cop a marquee bowl berth by winning this weekend and the final two over Boston College and Stanford.
Georgia (8-1) at Auburn (7-2) - Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS): Plenty will be at stake when Georgia travels to the Plains for the 124th edition of the Deep South's Oldest Rivalry. The Dawgs, behind a nasty defense that's yet to allow more than 20 points in a game, can clinch a spot in the Dec. 7 SEC Championship Game with a win at Jordan-Hare Stadium. But Auburn is stout on defense as well. The Tigers, led by Bednarik Award semifinalist Derrick Brown, are the only team this season to hold unbeaten LSU under 30 points.
Minnesota (9-0) at Iowa (6-3) - Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET (FOX): Five unbeaten teams left in the FBS. Minnesota, rather unexpectedly, is one of them. The Golden Gophers, overlooked for their early season slate, added a whole bunch of believers by upsetting then-No. 5 Penn State, 31-26. But how will P.J. Fleck's team handle prosperity and a big fat target on their chests? And can they finally recapture Floyd of Rosedale? Iowa has won four straight in the series and would love nothing more than to derail their border rival.
Oklahoma (8-1) at Baylor (9-0) - Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC): The first of two meetings over the next few weeks, perhaps? The Sooners and the Bears both survived Week 11 scares Saturday to set the stage for this primetime showdown in Waco. Baylor has lived dangerously of late, winning three of its last four by less than a touchdown. But Oklahoma has been tested as well. The Sooners were stunned by Kansas State two weeks ago, and needed a late two-point stop Saturday night to fend off Iowa State.