What to Watch, Week 11: The spotlight’s on you, Big 12 
The final fourth of the regular season is upon us and there’s still much that has yet to be decided.
The conference with the biggest gripe is the Big 12, but it’s time in the spotlight is coming and its teams have a chance to work their way into the playoff conversation.
Similarly, the SEC West is a bit muddy, the Pac-12 still has intrigue and the contest for the New Years Six Bowl among the Group of Five programs will come down to the wire.
It’s week’s like this that make college football fun.
Here’s what to watch in Week 11:
Game of the week:
No. 2 Alabama at No. 17 Mississippi State, 3:30 p.m. ET
Alabama is coming off an emotional win against LSU — a win that moved the Tide from No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings to No. 2 — and now it has to figure out a way to keep that momentum going this week against a deceptively good Mississippi State team.
“Any time you have an emotional win, you’ve got to get your team to respond the right way and make sure that they’re focused on what they need to do to play just as well the next week or better,” coach Nick Saban said.
A week after the Alabama defense successfully stopped running back Leonard Fournette, it now has the unenviable task of limiting Bulldogs’ quarterback Dak Prescott, who has come on of late. He’s thrown for more than 300 yards in each of his last three games and 10 touchdown passes. He’s also added 198 yards and four scores on the ground. Prescott has only thrown one interception this season, which should present a formidable challenge for an Alabama defense that picked him off three times last season.
A year ago, Alabama ruined Mississippi State’s chance at a spot in the College Football Playoff. Now, it’s an opportunity for the Bulldogs to exact some payback.
Game to Watch:
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 6 Baylor, 8 p.m. ET
The Big 12’s unintentionally backloaded schedule provides us another gem this weekend with two teams that are still fighting for a spot in the Top 4.
No. 6 Baylor is undefeated but continues to get leapfrogged for a potential playoff spot by other teams with better schedules. However, No. 12 Oklahoma marks the Bears’ first ranked team this season and it’s an opportunity to crack that Top 4.
Baylor showed that it’s passing offense doesn’t slow with fresh-faced starter Jarrett Stidham, but the rushing offense that had been so integral to Baylor’s success earlier in the season was not as prolific as it was with Seth Russell under center.
On the other side, Oklahoma has a long shot of making the CFP, but it does have a shot. It’s loss to Texas is probably the worst loss among the teams vying for playoff contention, but the Sooners do play three ranked teams in consecutive weeks.
Oklahoma has been on an offensive tear, scoring at least 50 points in each of its last four contests. However, in its last two games against Baylor, the Bears have outscored the Sooners 89-26.
“The way we’ve been playing, you have to feel confident — the way we’ve been executing, really, in all parts of the game,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “As much as anything, we’re playing together as a team. The offense has been moving the ball and putting pressure on the other team, the way they’re scoring and moving the ball, and defensively, coming up with pressure and turnovers and a lot of good stops. We’ve got to play that way Saturday.”
Also check out…
No. 21 Memphis at No. 24 Houston, 7 p.m. ET
Houston is the only remaining undefeated team in the American Athletic Conference and its final stretch of games, which begins with Saturday’s contest against Memphis, will test whether it deserves the Group of Five spot in a New Years Six Bowl.
“We understand that this is the meat of our schedule, and most of the games down the stretch here are going to be like this,” Houston coach Tom Herman said. “For us to take the first step here was important for us.”
This should be a fun contest between two AAC teams that rank in the top 10 in the FBS in scoring and total yards. Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr., averages 92.1 rushing yards per game, which is second only to Navy’s Keenan Reynolds for quarterbacks. Ward’s rushing ability, coupled with running back Kenneth Farrow, might be able to take advantage of a Memphis defense that allowed 374 yards and five touchdowns on the ground in the loss to Navy last weekend.
The Houston defense will have to contend with Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, who is averaging 352.1 passing yards a game. Houston allowed Cincinnati to pass for 523 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s win.
Channel surf through…
SMU at No. 20 Navy, 3:30 ET: On paper, this game looks like Navy should skate to a win, but this is a now Navy team with the added pressure of being the Group of Five leader for a New Year’s Six Bowl. Navy’s option should give SMU fits, but don’t discount the Mustangs’ ability to make this a game. Remember, both Houston and Temple struggled against the Mustangs.
Oregon at No. 7 Stanford, 7:30 ET: This game is always a fun one to watch and the fact that the Ducks have a chance to spoil Stanford’s season makes this game even more intriguing. Oregon quarterback Vernon Adams seems to get better weekly as his finger heals, but this Stanford defense will give him fits. This might be the most entertaining game of the evening.
Minnesota at No. 5 Iowa, 8 p.m. ET: Iowa is undefeated and a game away from the College Football Playoff. Is this the game the Hawkeyes choke? Come on, all season people have been waiting for Iowa to fail and it hasn’t yet happened. Minnesota is 4-5, but it’s had close losses to Michigan and Ohio State in the last couple weeks. Is this the game the Gophers get over the hump with Tracy Claeys as head coach?
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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday
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