Week 11 Selection Committee Recap
The Florida Citrus Sports Team Selection Committee witnessed another eventful Saturday in college football.
ACC had a quiet weekend compared to other conferences. Florida State defeated Virginia for its 25th straight victory and are still in contention for a spot in the College Football Playoff despite a few close wins.
The Big 12 had a number of impressive victories. TCU defeated Kansas State behind an impressive performance from quarterback Trevone Boykin – he rushed for a career-high 127 yards and as well as three touchdowns. Kansas landed its first Big 12 win of the season, beating Iowa State 34-14. Baylor’s win over Oklahoma helps build a strong case for the Bears who remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.
The SEC and Big Ten also saw important games matching ranked opponents. Ohio State and Michigan State faced off at Spartan Stadium on Saturday for pole position in the Big Ten East division. Although the Buckeyes’ defense gave up 37 points, J.T. Barrett and the offense outplayed the Spartans, scoring touchdowns on six straight drives. Ohio State’s 568 total yards were the most allowed by Michigan State since the 2010 Alamo Bowl.
The SEC West saw a major upset and an overtime thriller in Week 11. Texas A&M upset Auburn 41-38 on the road, sealing its win by recovering two fumbles late in the fourth quarter. Alabama kicked a game-tying field goal with three seconds remaining in regulation to send the game into overtime. Blake Sims threw the go-ahead touchdown to earn a 20-13 win. Alabama managed to keep their College Football Playoff chances alive while breaking the hearts of a sellout crowd in Death Valley.
Just less than 48 hours ago, the Electric Daisy Carnival was held on stadium grounds, holding more than 30,000 enthusiastic music fans. Despite the weekend’s chaos, the construction crew continued to work through the music and the sea of fans on Tinker Field. All of the turf has been laid on the field and the lockers are in the process of being installed. The new stadium is coming together with just under two weeks until the Florida Blue Florida Classic.
Representatives will be out in full force this weekend at a number of notable Week 12 games. You can read weekend previews for the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl and the Russell Athletic Bowl on their respective websites.