We've reached the homestretch of the college football season. Just three weeks remain in conference races that will decide who plays in the respective title games and who moves into and out of the College Football Playoff picture.
The schedule for Week 11 doesn't scream chaos, but that's never stopped contenders from crashing out in November with Selection Sunday on the horizon. And there's plenty of tricky matchups that could be worth attention.
Defending champion Indiana faces its last major hurdle in the Big Ten race when No. 14 Southern California visits Bloomington. In the SEC, Texas travels to LSU and Tennessee needs to wary of its trip to Texas A&M. Wake Forest heads to SMU against the dangerous Mustangs. Utah hits the road fresh off its big
win against Brigham Young and will face a challenge at No. 21 Arizona. Also in the Big 12, No. 10 Texas Tech hits the road and will need to slow down explosive Oklahoma State.
So where could upsets come from this weekend? Our experts weigh in with their bold predictions.
College football bold predictions for Week 11
Oklahoma State makes Texas Tech's playoff dreams go poof
Texas Tech, impressively, surprisingly, remained well within striking distance of a return trip to the College Football Playoff with the Nov. 10 rankings reveal. Sitting at No. 12, third-best among its Big 12 brethren, Tech has a path to the B12 title game, a win in which would deliver an automatic bid. Sorry, Red Raiders. Your 136th-ranked passing defense - 287 yards per game - is about to face conference-best, national No. 3 passing offense Oklahoma State. On the road. The Pokes poke all the holes in the secondary-- and in Tech's CFP dreams. -- John Brice
Big Game Lincoln Riley finds way against Indiana
I'm not convinced Indiana has enough at quarterback, and haven't been convinced all season. Doesn't matter who plays, this isn't the same Indiana team, offensively, of 2024 or 2025. I have lost so much faith in what IU can do offensively — despite its terrific defense -- I'm going with USC and Lincoln Riley in a big game. -- Matt Hayes
USC affirms CFP status in Lincoln Riley’s most impressive win
Once again, Lincoln Riley faces another critical test, this time with a road trip to visit the defending champions. Typically, this is a game USC would not just lose, but look really bad doing so. However, the Trojans have their offensive weapons at full strength, and that paves the way to get past even a strong defensive unit like Indiana. Mix that with the troubles the Hoosiers have with moving the ball, and the Trojans pull off a major upset in Indiana that throws a wrench in the Big Ten playoff picture, with USC looking like it can finally break into the field. -- Jordan Mendoza
Oklahoma keeps momentum going with Ole Miss upset
Oklahoma's offense establishes its running game and scores an upset against Ole Miss and eliminates the Rebels from playoff contention. A week ago, the Sooners ran for at least 140 yards and threw for at least 200 yards against an SEC opponent (Florida) for just the second time since joining the conference in 2024. Getting things going on the ground will make things much easier for a Mississippi defense that has allowed 5.7 yards per play in conference action. -- Paul Myerberg
LSU takes down Texas to salvage CFP hopes
You know what they say about someone cornered with its back against the wall? They come out fighting. Expect that from LSU which gets its desired evening timeslot when Texas pays a visit. The Tigers have lost three games and are without a lifeline in the playoff race with its humbling home loss to Alabama. The Longhorns and Arch Manning, meanwhile, are off a solid road showing against Missouri. The bet here is Texas can't produce another big effort in a hostile environment and the home crowd urges Lane Kiffin's team to a huge upset. -- Erick Smith
Indiana offense breaks out in CFP-boosting win
There’s nothing like a little disrespect from the committee – not to mention an encounter with the Southern California defense – to fix what’s ailing the Indiana offense. The Hoosiers have managed no more than 23 points in their last four games, and even that one required an overtime session. But IU is about to break out of its slump with at least a 31 on the board. Yes, we don’t know for sure who will be quarterbacking the Hoosiers. But we do know the Trojans don’t travel well, and they don’t have the shut-down defense that other Big Ten teams have, including Indiana. IU wins this one, and wins it big. -- Eddie Timanus
Texas A&M pulls off stunner against Tennessee
Any flop-of-the-year rankings is incomplete without inclusion of Texas A&M. The Aggies went from the playoff to the burn pit at the speed of Usain Bolt, and it's never been more obvious that Texas A&M's yearslong quarterback woes persist. Still, I can't help but think there's enough talent in Aggieland to spring one SEC upset. Insert Tennessee rolling into town this weekend. The Vols boast an elite defense but an inconsitent offense. Vols fans are all worked up about Tennessee being five spots behind Alabama in the CFP rankings, and that'll be a worthy debate on Selection Sunday if Tennessee keeps winning. But, Josh Heupel is good for a head-scratching road loss every now and again. Texas A&M's entire season has been a head-scratcher, but I still can't shake that the Aggies are more dangerous than your standard 4-5 team, and Tennessee is on upset alert. -- Blake Toppmeyer
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas, Indiana on upset alert? College football bold predictions for Week 11
