College football Week 11 highlights: Oregon outlasts USC; Ohio State, Georgia win

Week 11 of the 2023 college football season featured plenty of fireworks!

Kicking things off, No. 3 Michigan took on No. 10 Penn State on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” and came away with a win, 24-15. Check out a recap of all the action here. 

Also in the early window, No. 8 Alabama defeated SEC foe Kentucky on the road, 49-21, clinching its 15th-straight SEC West title. 

In the middle of the day, No. 5 Washington outlasted No. 18 Utah at home, winning 35-28 to remain undefeated. No. 14 Missouri took care of business in the second half of its game against No. 13 Tennessee, winning 36-7. Finally, No. 4 Florida State survived an upset bid from one of its top rivals, beating Miami 27-20 to stay unbeaten. 

Later on, No. 2 Georgia, which won the SEC East earlier Saturday with Missouri’s win over Tennessee, remained undefeated and dispatched No. 9 Ole Miss, 52-17. No. 1 Ohio State also remained undefeated, easily beating Michigan State, 38-3. No. 17 Oklahoma ended its two-game losing skid, dominating West Virginia, 59-20. No. 7 Texas held on and beat TCU, 29-26, keeping its national title hopes alive in Quinn Ewers’ return. 

Closing out the night, No. 6 Oregon took care of USC in a Pac-12 showdown, 36-27.

Here are the top moments!

No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 27

Johnson hits the jets for six

USC’s defense continued its struggles right away in Saturday’s game, letting Bo Nix’s first pass turn into a touchdown. Tez Johnson adjusted to Nix’s pass mid-air, fighting to get the ball before shifting by a USC defender to score a 77-yard touchdown to give Oregon an early 7-0 lead.

Lloyd gets loose

USC responded to Oregon’s early score with a touchdown of its own. The Trojans took their time moving the ball down the field, capping off their 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run by MarShawn Lloyd.

Two passes, two TDs

Nix’s second pass of the game had the same result as the first one: a touchdown. This time, Troy Franklin took Nix’s pass 84 yards for a touchdown, giving the Ducks a 13-7 lead as they didn’t convert on the two-point attempt.

Finding Ferguson

Nix completed a hat trick of touchdown passes in the second quarter, finding Terrance Ferguson over the middle for a 15-yard score that made it 19-7. 

Williams waltzes into the end zone

After holding Oregon to a field goal, USC was able to get back within a score prior to halftime. The Trojans quickly got the ball down the field, setting Caleb Williams up for a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 22-14. 

Going back to Tez

Nix and the Ducks began the second half just like they opened the game. Oregon’s QB found Johnson open in the end zone after a scramble in the pocket to extend their lead to 29-14.

Oregon on top of it

USC had a chance to cut into Oregon’s lead again late in the third quarter, but it botched a handoff right as it was gaining some momentum, giving the Ducks the ball back.

Bucky adds to the Ducks’ lead

Oregon capitalized off USC’s turnover in a big way. A few plays after Oregon regained possession, Bucky Irving found the end zone for the first time in the game, giving Oregon a 36-14 lead, its largest of the day.

Right to Rice

USC hung in there at the start of the fourth quarter, answering Oregon’s previous touchdown drive with one of its own. Williams found Brenden Rice in the front corner of the end zone on fourth-and-goal to make it 36-21.

USC cuts into the lead, but isn’t able to make it a one-score game

The Trojans had a chance to make it really interesting with under four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Austin Jones ran right up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown that made it a 36-27 game with 3: 44 remaining. 

The Trojans opted to go for two after the touchdown. Williams made a pretty dazzling play as he threw the ball from the sideline back to the middle of the field for a completion, but the two-point conversation was no good.

No. 2 Georgia 52, No. 9 Ole Miss 17

Judkins just does it

Ole Miss had its initial touchdown wiped off the board due to a penalty, but that was no problem for Quinshon Judkins. The star running back ran right up the gut for a 15-yard score to give Ole Miss an early 7-0 lead.

Money McConkey

After scoring on its opening drive to make it 7-7, Georgia found its way into the end zone again on its next possession. Carson Beck hit Ladd McConkey right down the seam in a tight window for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.

Just can’t stop Judkins

Judkins helped Ole Miss even things up, finding the end zone on a 4-yard touchdown run.

McConkey making moves

The Georgia wideout made Ole Miss’ secondary look silly in the second quarter, faking out the corner that was covering him before juking out of multiple tackles to set the Bulldogs up at the 1-yard line. Georgia took advantage right after to take a 21-14 lead.

Milton makes them miss

Kendall Milton did some dirty work to help extend Georgia’s lead, barreling through Ole Miss’ front on a 7-yard touchdown run to make it 28-14 late in the first half.

Can’t keep up with Kendall

Georgia’s top running back found his way into the end zone again at the start of the second half. Milton ran right by Ole Miss’ defense, going untouched for the 33-yard score that put the Bulldogs up, 35-14.

Brock is back

Brock Bowers had a quiet game, at least for his standards, through the first three quarters in his return. But the star tight end eventually found the end zone, making an 8-yard touchdown grab to put the Bulldogs up 45-14 in the fourth quarter.

No. 17 Oklahoma 59, West Virginia 20

Looking to mount an upset

The Mountaineers got off to a good start as they looked to make an upset bid. CJ Donaldson Jr. opened up the scoring by running for a 13-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. 

Dillon does it twice

Dillon Gabriel ran for two touchdowns in the first quarter, scoring both in similar ways. First, he ran one in on a keeper on third-and-goal from the 2-yard line to make it 7-7.

On Oklahoma’s next drive, Gabriel rushed for another touchdown on a QB keeper on third-and-goal, this time though it was a yard further back. The score gave the Sooners a 14-7 lead late in the quarter.

Dillon keeps doing it at the goal line

Gabriel played a hand in his third touchdown of the game in the middle of the second quarter when he found Austin Stogner in the back of the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-7.

Dillon dimes

Oklahoma kept adding points in the second quarter and Gabriel remained the reason why. He threw a 32-yard pass on the money to Jayden Gibson for a touchdown that gave the Sooners a 31-7 lead as they looked to get back in the win column.

Stoops straight to the end zone

Gabriel continued to score touchdowns in the second half, hitting Drake Stoops in stride before the receiver took off for a 60-yard touchdown to make it a 38-20 just minutes into the third.

Stoops and Gabriel not stopping

Stoops wanted a second touchdown and got one late in the third, hauling in a 9-yard grab from Gabriel that made it 45-20, Oklahoma. It also gave Gabriel his sixth total touchdown of the day. 

Stoops scores again, but a scuffle breaks out

Gabriel and Stoops connected for their third touchdown of the half just minutes into the third quarter, but it came with a price. Stoops took a hard hit from West Virginia’s Anthony Wilson, which players on Oklahoma took exception to, causing a skirmish. Wilson was eventually ejected for his hit and after tensions cooled, Oklahoma converted on the PAT to go up, 52-20.

No. 1 Ohio State 38, Michigan State 3

You can’t stop Marvin on the ground, either

Ohio State decided to use Marvin Harrison Jr. in the run game, handing the ball off to him on a sweep during its opening drive. As with many things Harrison does, the play worked and he ran for a 19-yard score to give the Buckeyes an early 7-0 lead.

Marvelous Marvin

Of course, Harrison made plays in the receiving game, too. He scored his second touchdown in the first quarter when he made a tough, leaping grab to give Ohio State a 14-0 lead.

Three drives, three TDs for Marvin

Ohio State had a simple game plan on its first three drives: give the ball to Harrison. The superstar wide receiver scored his third touchdown of the game on the Buckeyes’ third drive, catching a pass over the middle from Kyle McCord that up Ohio State up, 21-0. 

TreVeyon TD

Ohio State let one of its other stars get into the end zone in the first half. TreVeyon Henderson added to Ohio State’s lead when he ran in for a 9-yard score to make it 28-3 Buckeyes with just over three minutes left in the half. 

No. 7 Texas 29, TCU 26

Just Jonathon

Jonathon Brooks needed only two plays to help Texas get on the board after it went down 3-0. First, he took a dump-off pass from Ewers 73 yards before running in for a 2-yard touchdown on the next play, making it 7-3.

On the mark to Mitchell

Ewers threw his first touchdown pass in his return in the final minutes of the first half, hitting Adonai Mitchell on a 6-yard fade that extended the Longhorns’ lead to 19-6.

Brooks brings it into the end zone again

Texas intercepted TCU QB Josh Hoover on the first play after it took a 19-6 lead, giving it great field position to add to its lead prior to halftime. It did just that, with Brooks rushing for a 22-yard touchdown with 12 seconds remaining in the half, giving the Longhorns a 26-6 lead.

Adonai saves the day

After winning by as many as 20 points, Texas found itself in danger late. TCU climbed back in to make it a 29-26 game. Facing third-and-12 from its own 13-yard line with just over two minutes left, it looked like Texas was going to give TCU the ball back for one last chance to either tie or win the game. Mitchell perfectly tracked Ewers’ deep ball, hauling in a 35-yard reception to give the Longhorns a first down to seal the win. 

No. 5 Washington 35, No. 18 Utah 28

Penix on the move

Known for scoring touchdowns through the air this season, Michael Penix got the first score of the game on the ground. The Washington QB ran for a 3-yard score to put the Huskies up, 7-0, in the first quarter. 

Punching back

Utah found its way on the scoreboard right after Washington took the early lead. The Utes called on Ja’Quinden Jackson to finish off a six-play, 75-yard drive.

Miki makes his way into the end zone

Junior tight end Miki Suguturaga scored his first collegiate touchdown early in the second quarter to help give Utah the lead right back, hauling in a 6-yard grab from Bryson Barnes to make it 14-10. 

Over the top to Odunze

Penix settled in after Utah scored to take the lead early in the second quarter. On Washington’s ninth straight passing play, Penix found his top target, Rome Odunze, in the back of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown pass to give the Huskies a 17-14 lead. 

See ya, Sione

Sione Vaki, who doubles as a safety and a running back, took a screen pass from Barnes and turned it into a 53-yard touchdown to give Utah the lead right back in the second quarter, making it 21-17.

Don’t stop, Dillon!

Fresh off his four-touchdown, 256-yard performance, Dillon Johnson needed some help to get into the end zone in the first half. On a third-and-2 for Washington at Utah’s 5-yard line, Johnson took the carry and picked up enough yardage for the first down. He couldn’t get into the end zone though until his offensive linemen came in, giving him the extra push needed for the score to give the Huskies a 24-21 lead. 

Vele with the velocity

Devaughn Vele almost gave Utah the lead right back late in the first half, coming up with a grab on a deep pass from Barnes. Vele was eventually chased down, but not before he reached Washington’s 7-yard line for a 68-yard reception. Utah scored two plays later to go up, 28-24, with just under a minute left in the first half. 

On the dot to Odunze again

Penix found his groove again in the third quarter, finding his top receiver once again for six. The Heisman candidate threw a strike down the field to Odunze for a 33-yard touchdown pass that gave Washington a 33-28 lead with just over four minutes left in the third.

What’s going on!?!?

Washington’s defense finally stepped up in the second half. After getting a pair of three-and-outs, Alphonzo Tuputala picked off Barnes’ pass at Washington’s 23-yard line and had room to run, getting down the field and appearing like he was going to have six. But the defensive back celebrated too soon, dropping the ball at the 1-yard line, which allowed a Utah offensive lineman to hop on the ball and give the Utes the ball back.

Luckily for Washington and Tuputala, the Huskies’ defense swarmed the Utes on the next play, getting a safety to make it a 35-28 game in the final minute of the third quarter. 

No. 14 Missouri 36, No. 13 Tennessee 7

Milton on the money

Joe Milton helped Tennessee get the game’s first touchdown in the opening minutes of the second quarter when he uncorked a deep 46-yard touchdown pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr.

Cody can’t stop scoring

Cody Schrader helped Missouri respond to Tennessee’s touchdown with one of its own. He capped off a five-play, 75-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run that gave the Tigers a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Cooking up a fake

Missouri opened up the second half with an impressive drive, marching down the field before facing a third-and-1 from Tennessee’s 3-yard line. The Tigers dialed up a fake, with Brady Cook faking a pitch to the man in motion before running up the gut for six. The Tigers weren’t able to convert on the two-point conversion, making it a 19-7 game.

The knockout punch

Missouri sealed the deal in the fourth quarter when Luther Burden took Cook’s pass 21 yards before running into the end zone for six to make it 29-7.

No. 4 Florida State 27, Miami (Fla) 20

TOUCHDOWN!

An opening 55-yard drive gave the Seminoles their first lead of the game, ending it with a Trey Benson 5-yard rushing TD.

The freshman flings one for six

Emory Williams had something to say as he made his second career start on Saturday. After FSU took a 10-0 lead in the first half, the true freshman led Miami on an 11-play drive late in the first half that ended with him tossing up a touchdown to Jacolby George on a 3-yard fade, making it 10-7. 

Benson brings it in

Trey Benson gave Florida State the lead back in the middle of the third quarter, taking off for a 38-yard touchdown run to give the Seminoles a 20-13 lead.

Going back to George

Right after FSU went up 27-13 in the fourth quarter, Miami and Williams responded. The freshman unloaded a pass to George again with the receiver able to come up with the contested catch before freely taking off as Florida State’s safety gambled on the play. George ran 85 yards into the end zone to make it a 27-20 game in the fourth quarter!

Jones called game

Jarrian Jones decided to end it for Florida State. With Tyler Van Dyke replacing an injured Williams in the final minutes, the defensive back intercepted Van Dyke’s fourth-down pass at Florida State’s 36-yard line to seal the win.

No. 8 Alabama 49, Kentucky 21

First on the board

The Crimson Tide got things started early, scoring on their first drive, with a Jalen Milroe pass to TE Amari Niblack for a 26-yard touchdown. 

Milroe had a scare early in the drive, after taking a hit to the left thigh, that took him out for one play. The QB spent the Kentucky drive in the medical tent, but was back on the field for Alabama to start the second drive. 

Wide Open Wideout!

Milroe took the Crimson Tide down the field in just four plays, which ended with a connection to wide-open WR Kobe Prentice in the end zone, and a 40-yard TD to give Bama a 14-0 lead. 

FUMBLE!

The Alabama defense came up big, forcing a fumble in the first quarter that led to the third score of the day. 

Terrion Arnold was responsible for the turnover, and teammate Caleb Downs for the recovery, which put the Crimson Tide in the red zone.

Muffed punt!

The Wildcats special teams recovered a muffed punt which put Kentucky in great field position at the Bama 32-yard line. 

Kentucky capitalized on the fumble, and got their first score of the day, with a Tayvion Robinson 6-yard TD to make it 21-7 heading into the second quarter.

Interceptions!

Kentucky’s Jordan Lovett snagged a pass from Milroe at the Bama 50-yard line midway through the second quarter.

Not to be out done … Alabama DB Terrion Arnold returned the turnover favor and picked off Wildcats QB Devin Leary to give the Crimson Tide the ball back. 

Fighting Back!

The Wildcats came out of the halftime break with some energy, scoring on their first trip down the field on a 2-yard TD from RB Ray Davis.

A Keeper!

Milroe has done a little bit of everything today – so, why not a TD? The sophomore QB made it a 3-score game with a 3-yard rushing TD to push the Crimson Tide up by 21 points in the third quarter.

To start the fourth quarter, Milroe got a second TD which gave Bama a comfortable 42-14 lead.

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