There were several must-watch games on the Week 11 schedule, but this is college football — every game is must-watch TV. The Georgia Yellow Jackets shocked the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes. The Kansas Jayhawks knocked off the No. 17 Iowa State Cyclones. And naturally, there was no shortage of eye-popping performances.
Without further ado, the Week 11 College Football Players of the Week.
College Football Players of the Week | Week 11
Quarterback of the Week: Quinn Ewers, Texas
It’s been a while since Quinn Ewers looked like an unstoppable force under center, but he returned to form against the Florida Gators in Week 11. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 333 yards (12.3 per attempt), five touchdowns, and no turnovers.
Ewers’ five TDs were a career-high and one shy of the program record. His day could’ve been even more prolific were it not for a couple of dropped bombs downfield. Plus, he was replaced by Arch Manning in the third quarter, leaving even further production on the field.
“Who wouldn’t be confident after that performance by the whole offense?” Ewers said after the game. “I’m just trying to get the ball in the playmakers’ hands, and they make all the plays.”
While that’s the right thing to say, Ewers knows he was on a heater against the Gators, and he’ll hope to maintain momentum on the road against the Arkansas Razorbacks next week.
Honorable mentions: Devon Dampier, New Mexico; Will Howard, Ohio State; Quinn Ewers, Texas; Kaidon Salter, Liberty; Alonza Barnett III, James Madison; Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss; Jalon Daniels, Kansas; Maalik Murphy, Duke; Skyler Locklear, UTEP; Bryson Dailey, Army; Shedeur Sanders, Colorado; Katin Houser, East Carolina; Riley Leonard, Notre Dame; Jalen Milroe, Alabama; John Mateer, Washington State.
Offensive Player of the Week: Boston College’s RBs
In a 37-31 shootout with the Syracuse Orange, you’d expect to see some gaudy passing numbers for the Boston College Eagles.
Instead, the running game went ballistic, with Kye Robichaux (28-198-2 rushing line) and Jordan McDonald (15-133-1) combining for 331 yards on the ground.
That’s the most rushing yardage Syracuse has allowed in a game this season and powered the Eagles to just one win away from bowl eligibility in head coach Bill O’Brien’s inaugural season.
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“I think that’s what we have to be, right?” O’Brien said about his team’s style following the contest. “We’re in Boston. We’re in a city that’s built on toughness, determination, and grittiness — overcome adversity. That’s what we are.”
Leading rusher Treshaun Ward didn’t receive a touch in the game, and it’s unclear if he is dealing with an injury or is in the coach’s doghouse. Nevertheless, RB2 Robichaux and RB3 McDonald can clearly carry the load with Ward out.
Honorable mentions: Justin Bowik, WR, Ball State; Braydon Bennett, RB, Coastal Carolina; Demond Claiborne, RB, Wake Forest; Mario Anderson Jr., RB, Memphis; Eli Sanders, RB, New Mexico; Ahmani Marshall, RB, App State; Makhi Hughes, RB, Tulane; Nick Nash, WR, SJSU; Kenny Odom, WR, UTEP; Tre Stewart, RB, JSU; Tru Edwards, WR, LA Tech; Cam Vaughn, WR, JSU; Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina; Mike Washington, RB, NMSU; Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State; RJ Harvey, RB, UCF.
Defensive Players of the Week: Ole Miss’ EDGE Rushers
The Ole Miss Rebels made quick work of the Georgia Bulldogs’ offense in Week 11, holding them to just 10 points — their fewest since Week 1 of the 2021 season. After the opening drive, the defense generated five sacks, nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and an interception.
While it took the whole unit to do so, two players stood above the rest: edge rushers Jared Ivey and Princely Umanmielen.
Ivey finished the day with seven tackles, two TFLs, two sacks, two pass deflections, and one forced fumble, while Umanmielen produced five tackles, two TFLs, and two strip sacks.
Not only did the dynamic duo have Georgia QB Carson Beck seeing ghosts in the backfield, but they contributed to the Bulldogs averaging just 3.3 yards per carry. Ivey and Umanmielen didn’t just disrupt Georgia’s offense — they dismantled it, setting the tone for a relentless Rebels defense.
Honorable mentions: Da’Raun McKinney, DB, CMU; Miles Williams, DB, Cal; Carson Schwesinger and Oluwafemi Oladejo, LBs, UCLA; Donovan Ezeiruaku, DL, BC; Anthony Wilson Jr., DB, WVU; Keonta Jenkins, LB, VA Tech; DJ Harvey, DB, SJSU; Zeke Berry, DB, Michigan; Aiden Fisher, LB, Indiana; Amari McNeill, DT, Colorado; Kory Chapman, DB, UTEP; Shilo Sanders, DB, Colorado; Clev Lubin, LB, Coastal Carolina; Rylie Mills, DL, Notre Dame; Abdul Carter, DL, Penn State; Jihaad Campbell and Deonte Lawson, LBs, Alabama.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Caden Davis, K, Ole Miss
Jaxson Dart threw with anticipation. The defensive line made Georgia’s life hell. But the real standout from Ole Miss’ upset win in Week 11? Kicker Caden Davis.
He nailed a career-high 5 of 5 field goals, as well as his lone extra point. While two of his kicks were from under 30 yards out (23 and 24), he proceeded to connect on attempts from 32, 43, and 53.
Honorable mentions: John Henderson, P, Bowling Green; Cam Thompson, KR, NIU; Tyler Pastul, P, SDSU; Jeremy Crawshaw, P, Florida; Riley Riethman, P, Navy; Kade Reynoldson, P, Duke; Peter Moore, P, VA Tech; Eamonn Dennis, KR, Ohio; Coleman Owen, PR, Ohio; Cal’s kickers; Jesse Mirco, P, Vanderbilt; Qua Ashley, KR, Kennesaw; Jacob Ulrich, P, Kennesaw; Ricky White, WR, UNLV; Nicholas Singleton, KR, Penn State; Max Gilbert, K, Tennessee; Zach Schmit, K, Oklahoma; Keelan Marion, KR, BYU.
Freshman Player of the Week: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Jeremiah. Smith.
The true freshman phenom has snagged at least three catches for 55 yards in every game this season, finding the end zone in all but one.
He hauled in another six receptions for 87 yards and a 17-yard score in Week 11 against the Purdue Boilermakers, setting Ohio State’s freshman receiving TD record (9).
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“He’s getting stronger,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said in the postgame conference. “He’s getting more experience. He’s understanding of coverages and different things. Great to see him break a record.”
Smith now owns all three major freshman school records for pass catchers, also leading in receptions (45) and receiving yards (765) with three games remaining.
Honorable mentions: Ja’Marley Riddle, DB, ECU; Zach Lutmer, DB, Iowa; Brad Jackson, QB, Texas State; Ahmad Hardy, RB, ULM; Ethan Crips, LB, Liberty; Telly Johnson Jr., RB, NIU; Evan Bullock, QB, LA Tech; Bill Davis, RB, Louisiana; Wayshawn Parker, RB, WSU.
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