2024 Biletnikoff Award Finalists

The Biletnikoff Award’s 2024 Finalists were announced this week. The Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee’s Voting Commences December 1 and Ends December 7 to determine the winner of the Biletnikoff Award, which recognizes the College Football season’s Outstanding FBS receiver.

Finalists – all receivers

Travis Hunter – Colorado
Tetairoa  McMillan – Arizona
Nick Nash – San Jose State

2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List

The Biletnikoff Award recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver, regardless of position. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, split end, inside receiver, slot back or running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes the outstanding receiver, not merely the outstanding wide receiver. The award recipient is selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, and former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted. BiletnikoffAward.com/voters

Receivers were periodically added to the watch list as their season performances dictate. Actual, not potential, performance is the basis for inclusion on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. The transparently detailed and explicit criteria for candidate eligibility, watch list inclusion, and voting appear at: BiletnikoffAward.com/criteria
+ Player removed from consideration due to season-ending injury without playing in the required
minimum number of games.
* Player added October 2, 2024
**Player added October 9, 2024
***Player added October 16, 2024

2024 Biletnikoff Award Watch List

Player                           School                         Position
Kelly Akharaiyi               Mississippi State           WR
Nic Anderson                Oklahoma                     WR
Andrew Armstrong         Arkansas                      WR
Lawrence Arnold           Kansas                         WR
Pofele Ashlock             Hawaii                         WR
Sean Atkins                   USF                              WR
Elic Ayomanor               Stanford                        WR
Jack Bech*                    TCU                             WR
Demeer Blankumsee     Washington                   WR
Denzel Boston***           Memphis                       WR
Ja’Corey Brooks***        Louisville                       WR
Samuel Brown               Miami                           WR
Luther Burden III           Missouri                        WR
Kevin Concepcion         North Carolina State      WR
CJ Daniels                    LSU                              WR
Emeka Egbuka             Ohio State                    WR
Mitchell Evans               Notre Dame                  TE
Harold Fannin Jr.*          Bowling Green             TE
Tai Felton*                    Maryland                      WR
Malachi Fields               Virginia                         WR
Jacolby George             Miami                           WR
Tre Harris                     Ole Miss                       WR
Ashtyn Hawkins             Baylor                           WR
Jayden Higgins             Iowa State                    WR
Joey Hobert                  Texas State                   WR
Tory Horton                   Colorado State             WR
Kobe Hudson                UCF                             WR
Travis Hunter                Colorado                       CB
Daniel Jackson             Minnesota                     WR
Ashton Jeanty               Boise State                   RB
Tez Johnson                 Oregon                         WR
Omari Kelly***               Middle Tennessee         WR
Josh Kelly                     Texas Tech                    WR
Caullin Lacy+                Louisville                       WR
KeAndre Lambert-Smith**    Auburn                    WR
Robert Lewis                 Auburn                         WR
Colston Loveland          Michigan                       TE
Ja’Mori Maclin               Kentucky                      WR
Eric McAlister                TCU                             WR
Tetairoa McMillan          Arizona                         WR
Kris Mitchell                  Notre Dame                  WR
Jordan Moore                Duke                            WR
Nick Nash*                    San Jose State             WR
Jaylin Noel                    Iowa State                    WR
Rashod Owens             Oklahoma State            WR
Will Pauling                   Wisconsin                     WR
Brennan Presley            Oklahoma State            WR
Jamaal Pritchett            South Alabama             WR
Xavier Restrepo            Miami                           WR
Kaedin Robinson           App State                      WR
Devonte Ross*             Troy                              WR
Jalen Royals                 Utah State                    WR
Elijah Sarratt                 Indiana                         WR
Jeremiah Smith***         Ohio State                    WR
Eli Stowers**                 Vanderbilt                     TE
De’Zhaun Stribling**      Oklahoma State            WR
Roc Taylor                     Memphis                       WR
LaJohntay Wester         Colorado                       WR
Squirrel White               Tennessee                    WR
Ricky White                   UNLV                            WR
Kyle Williams                Washington State          WR
Ryan Williams**             Alabama                       WR

College Football Playoff – Week 4

 Selection Committee Rankings

 College Football Playoff Rankings – Nov. 27
   Games Played through Saturday, November 23

College Football Rankings

Rank / Team / Overall Record
 1          Oregon               11-0     

2          Ohio State         10-1     

3          Texas                   10-1      

4          Penn State         10-1     

5          Notre Dame      10-1     

6          Miami                 10-1     

7          Georgia               9-2       

8          Tennessee         9-2       

9          SMU                   10-1     

10         Indiana            10-1     

11         Boise State      10-1     

12         Clemson            9-2       

13         Alabama           8-3       

14         Ole Miss             8-3       

15         South Carolina   8-3       

16         Arizona State      9-2       

17         Tulane                   9-2       

18         Iowa State           9-2       

19         BYU                      9-2       

20         Texas A&M        8-3       

21         Missouri             8-3       

22         UNLV                  9-2       

23         Illinois                8-3       

24         Kansas State    8-3       

25         Colorado          8-3       
 

About the College Football Playoff

 The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP Selection Committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the season. The 12 playoff participants consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The schools seeded five through eight will host those seeded nine through 12 in first-round games. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on December 31, 2024 and January 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be January 9-10, 2025. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.

Eli Manning Named Semifinalist for 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

Manning Tops the List of HOF Nominees
Veterans, Jared Allen & Antonio Gates Head Class
Luke Kuechly & Terrell Suggs First Time Defenders

Legendary New York Giants QB Eli Manning was one of 25 players named semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2025 this week.

List of modern-era Semifinalists
Eric Allen, CB
Jared Allen, DE
Willie Anderson, OT
Anquan Boldin, WR
Jahri Evans, OG
Antonio Gates, TE
James Harrison, Edge
Rodney Harrison, S
Torry Holt, WR
Luke Kuechly, LB
Eli Manning, QB
Robert Mathis, Edge
Steve Smith Sr., WR
Terrell Suggs, Edge
Fred Taylor, RB
Earl Thomas, S
Adam Vinatieri, PK
Hines Ward, WR
Ricky Watters, RB
Reggie Wayne, WR
Richmond Webb, OT
Vince Wilfork, DT
Steve Wisniewski, OG
Darren Woodson, S
Marshal Yanda, OG

This list will be a cut to 15 Finalists in December

Manning is the only QB among the semifinalists and one of just six first year nominees. He hopes to join his brother Peyton in the Hall with a first year selection. He spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the New York Giants, as one of the greatest Ironman and clutch performers at the position in league history.

He is the son of longtime New Orleans Saints star QB Archie Manning and was selected the 1st overall in the 2004 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He was traded to the Giants on draft day by NY GM Ernie Accorsi.

He went on to become their best QB in franchise history and won a pair of Super Bowls, beating Tom Brady and the New England Patriots twice. He earned Super Bowl MVP honors in each game. He made some of the greatest clutch throws in the annals of the Super Bowl which were pivotal on the Giants SB titles. He ranks 11th in NFL history in passing yardage (57,023), passing TDs (366) and completions (4,895).

This HOF group was reduced from an initial group of 167 nominees who were announced back in September. The Selection Committee will reduce this group again to 15 finalists, who will be announced in December. In all, 20 finalists (15 modern-era players, three seniors, one coach, and one contributor) will be presented to the committee in the lead-up to Super Bowl LIX.

Draft Insiders’ NFL Power Poll – 2024

Frank Coyle / Head scout
www.draftinsiders.com

Chiefs Fall to the Bills
Lions Blast Jaguars

Teams of the Week 
Bills Outlasts Chiefs – 30-23
Steelers Edge Ravens – 18-16
 
Players of the Week
  Offense – QB Josh Allen – Bills     
  Defense – Edge Kwity Paye – Colts  
 
Rookies of Week
    Offense – QB Bo Nix – Broncos
    Defense – DT Braden Fiske – Rams
 
Games of Week 12    
Sunday
San Franciso 49ers (5-5) @ Green Bay Packers (7-3) – 4:25 pm
Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) @ Los Angels Rams (5-5) – 8:20 pm
 
Monday night
Baltimore Ravens (7-4) @ Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) – 8:15 pm
 
Team Byes this Week – Bills, Bengals, Jets, Jaguars, Falcons & Saints

Draft Insiders’ – NFL Power Poll – Week 12

Frank Coyle

NFL Team Poll

Ranking /Record /Team

#1 – 9-1 Chiefs
Chiefs lost to the Bills in another great Mahomes/Allen shootout. Hold the #1 ranking and travel to Carolina looking to get back on the beam and atop AFC supremacy.

#2 – 9-1 Lions
Lions are peaking and blasted the faltering Jaguars. Travel to Indy in a tough game which could press them to the limit.

#3 – 9-2 Bills
Bills beat the Chiefs in a classic AFC battle vs Patrick Mahomes. Get their bye week to prepare for the stretch run. QB Josh Allen can be the difference maker here in any matchup.

#4 – 8-2 Steelers
Steelers edged the Ravens in another AFC North battle. Their defense stoned QB Lamar Jackson and their attack runs well along with a revised Russell Wilson to manage the game. Face a tough Thursday night test this week traveling to Cleveland.

#5 – 8-2 Eagles
The Eagles came up big vs the Commanders. Well rested for their road game in LA vs the tough Rams. Key NFC matchup with playoff ramifications.

#6 – 7-4 Ravens
Ravens fell again vs the Steelers. Travel to LA to face the hot Chargers on Monday night in a pivotal AFC matchup which will affect both divisions.

#7 – 7-3 Chargers
Chargers made a terrific comeback vs the Bengals in a wild shootout. Host the Ravenls this week in a great matchup between Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson.

#8 – 7-4 Commanders
The Commanders have lost two in a row after falling to the Eagles. Host the collapsing Cowboys this week and need a victory to stay within reach for the divisional race.

#9 – 8-2 Vikings
Vikings won another game with a late rally vs a struggling team, the Titans. The Vikings offense struggled again, though the defense continues to dig in in big situations. Travel to Chicago in key NFC North game.

#10 – 7-4 Texans
Texans made a statement vs the faltering Cowboys. They hold a solid lead in the AFC South and host the Titans this Sunday to maintain that leadership.

#11 – 7-3 Packers
The Packers won another close game with good basics on all phases of the game. Host the 49ers in a pivotal NFC matchup with playoff implications.

#12 – 6-4 Cardinals
The first place Cardinals are coming off their bye week. They travel to Seattle for a critical NFC West matchup with leadership in the balance. QB Kyler Murray has been impressive and difference maker weekly.

#13 – 6-5 Broncos
The aggressive Broncos slammed the Falcons with a strong performance by rookie QB Bo Nix and solid defense. Travel to Las Vegas looking to press for playoff contention in the tough AFC West division.

#14 – 6-5 Falcons
Falcons continue to fall with a struggling offense a disturbing development. They get their bye week to regroup and get healthy for a key stretch run to win the competitive NFC South race.

#15 – 5-5 Rams
Rams have reached the .500 mark after a slow start. They edged the Patriots on the road and look to host the Eagles this week in a vital matchup for them to press for NFC  West leadership.

#16 – 5-5 Seahawks
Seahawks came back vs the 49ers to make the .500 mark. Host the first place Cardinals this week in the most important matchup of the season in the NFC West.

#17 – 5-5 49ers
The 49ers lost to the Seahawks and came up short late in the game. They have a few key offensive injuries which have limited their attack. Travel to Green Bay in a pivotal game for any postseason aspirations.

#18 – 4-6 Dolphins
Dolphins won the second time since the return of QB Tua and beat the Raiders. They host the Patriots this week and hope to continue their streak and get into the playoff race.

#19 – 4-7 Bengals
The Bengals lost another wild game, this time to the Chargers which puts them into in a longshot position for the playoffs. QB Joe Burrow has been amazing though unable to overcome a suspect defense. They get this bye week hoping to regroup for a late stretch run.

#20 – 4-6 Bucs
Bucs are coming off their bye week with a three game losing streak. Their defense has failed in big spots and injuries on offense have limited Baker Mayfield in the passing game. Travel to face the falling GMen.

#21 – 5-6 Colts
The Colts beat the Jets with a clutch performance to keep their playoff hopes alive. Host the powerful Lions this Sunday.

#22 – 4-7 Saints
Saints beat the Browns for their second win under new HC Darren Rizzi. Get their bye week to prepare for stretch run where they are only two games bac in the balanced NFC South.

#23 – 4-6 Bears
The Bears lost to the Packers for the 11^th time in a row. Rookie QB Caleb Williams is paying his dues behind a weak line. Host the high flying Vikings looking to be a spoiler through the stretch.

#24 – 3-7 Cowboys
The Cowboys lost their fifth straight game in a poor performance vs the Texans on Monday night. Travel to DC looking to generate an offense which has become among the leagues’ worse with starting QB Dak Prescott.

#25 – 3-8 Patriots
The young lost a close game vs the Rams with only an average defensive effort. Rookie QB Derek Maye continues to impress. Travel to Miami in an old rivalry which never gets dull.

#26 – 3-8 Jets
Jets lost to the Colts in another game where their mistakes spelled the difference. They first GM Joe Douglas who had a horrible 30-64 record with no playoff appearances or even a .500 record over his six years.

#27 – 3-7 Panthers
Panthers come off their bye week and look to young QB Bryce Young to continue to progress. Host the Chiefs in a major test for a young club looking for direction.

#28 – 2-9 Jaguars
Jaguars were trashed by the Lions last week for their 4th straight loss. Get their bye week with many major questions related to their roster and coaching staff.

#29 – 2-8 Giants
The Giants made a major decision during their bye week and benched QB Daniel Jones. His career with the GMen is probably over. He deserved a better fate operating behind a poor line annually. Tommy DeVito gets the call vs the Bucs to claim the starting job.

#30 – 2-8 Titans
The Titans came up short vs the Vikings. Their weak offense puts their defense in a difficult position weekly. Travel to Houston in a divisional matchup where they are only playing for pride.

#31 – 2-8 Raiders
The Raiders lost their 6th straight game vs the Dolphins. Host long time rival, the Broncos this week looking to salvage something from another terrible performance.

#32 – 2-8 Browns
Browns were bashed by the Saints last week. They are the lowest scoring offense in the AFC and are expected to make major changes this offseason, starting with injury QB Deshaun Watson. Host the Steelers on Thursday night which become their Super Bowl in a horrible season.

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 30+ years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for CBS, ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, USA Today, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

College Football Playoff – Week 3

 Selection Committee Rankings

 College Football Playoff Rankings – Nov. 12
   Week Three Rankings
Games Played through Saturday, November 16

Games of Week – Nov. 23rd
   #5 Indiana (10-0) at #2 Ohio State (9-1) – 12:00 pm
  #17 Army (9-0) vs #4 Notre Dame (9-1) @ Yankee Stadium – 7 pm

 Rank / Team / Overall Record

 1 Oregon 11-0

2 Ohio State 9-1

3 Texas 9-1

4 Penn State 9-1

5 Indiana 10-0

6 Notre Dame 9-1

7 Alabama 8-2

8 Miami 9-1

9 Mississippi 8-2

10 Georgia   8-2

11 Tennessee 8-2

12 Boise State 9-1

13  SMU   9-1

14 BYU   9-1

15 Texas A&M   8-2

16 Colorado   8-2

17 Clemson   8-2

18 South Carolina   7-3

19 Army   9-0

20 Tulane 9-2

21 Arizona State 8-2

22 Iowa State 8-2

23 Missouri 7-3

24 UNLV 8-2

25 Illinois 7-3

 About the College Football Playoff
 
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP Selection Committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the season. The 12 playoff participants consist of the five highest-ranked conference champions, plus the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The schools seeded five through eight will host those seeded nine through 12 in first-round games. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on December 31, 2024 and January 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be January 9-10, 2025. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be Monday, January 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.

2024–25 College Football Playoff

Season     2024 – Nov. 19, 2024

Frank Coyle’ Publisher

Tonight, the CFP committee will unveil their newest Top 25 football standings. It is the third weekly CFP standings which will continue through the end of the regular season. The CFP system made major changes this year, extending to 12 teams with the top four clubs receiving byes in the first round of the playoffs. It provides some interesting debates with many teams in contention with only the final month of the regular season still remaining. The top five conference winners are guaranteed a seed. Currently, six SEC teams are still alive.

CFP Rankings Show – Tonight  7 pm – ESPN

CFP Playoff System

The 2024–25 College Football Playoff is an upcoming single-elimination bracket invitational tournament to determine the national champion of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It will be the 11th edition of the College Football Playoff (CFP) and will involve twelve teams as ranked by the College Football Playoff poll.

The 2024–25 playoff will be the first to use a twelve-team bracket. The previous 10 annual playoffs of the College Football Playoff contained only four teams. The five highest-ranked conference champions including one from the Group of Five conferences will be selected to compete, along with the top seven at-large teams. Furthermore, the top four conference champions will receive a first-round bye in the playoff.

The playoff bracket’s first round games will be held on December 20 and 21 at respective campus sites. In the quarterfinals, scheduled for December 31 and January 1, 2025, at the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Sugar Bowl, the top four seeds will play the lowest remaining seeds in the bracket. The winners of those games will advance to the Playoff semifinals, held at the Cotton Bowl Classic and Orange Bowl, scheduled for January 9 and 10. The winners of those games will play in the College Football Playoff National Championship on January 20, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

The first round will feature the fifth highest ranked conference champion and seven at large bids seeded based on their CFP ranking at the end of the regular season. The winners advance to face the four highest ranked conference champions in the quarterfinals.

Playoff Schedule

All times are Eastern Time • Schedule source[4]

Round Date  /   Time  /   Matchup   /        Bowl game   / Location  /  TV

First round
December 20
8:00 p.m.          —         Campus site to be determined    ABC/ESPN

December 21
12:00 p.m.                    Campus site to be determined    TNT
4:00 p.m.                      Campus site to be determined
8:00 p.m.                      Campus site to be determined    ABC/ESPN

Quarterfinals
December 31
7:30 p.m.                      Fiesta Bowl       State Farm Stadium • Glendale, Arizona             ESPN

January 1
1:00 p.m.                      Peach Bowl       Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia
5:00 p.m.                      Rose Bowl        Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California
8:45 p.m.                      Sugar Bowl       Caesars Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana

Semifinals

January 9 –        7:30 p.m.
Orange Bowl     Hard Rock Stadium • Miami Gardens, Florida

January 10 –      7:30 p.m.
Cotton Bowl Classic       AT&T Stadium • Arlington, Texas

Championship   January 20 –      7:30 p.m.
National Championship Mercedes-Benz Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia
 

Draft Insiders’ & Coaches Top 25 Teams – Nov. 18th

Oregon Edges Wisconsin
Indiana & Army Remain Unbeaten
Georgia Rallies vs Tennessee

Players of Week
Offense – QB Lanorris Sellers – South Carolina
Defense – LB Matayo Uiagalelei – Oregon

Teams of the Week 
  Oregon Edges Wisconsin – 16-13
  Georgia Rallies to beat Tennessee – 31-17

Upsets of the Week
    Kansas Edges BYU – 17-13
    Arizona State Beats Kansas State – 24-14
 
Game of Week – Nov. 23rd
   #5 Indiana (10-0) at #2 Ohio State (9-1) – 12:00 pm
  #17 Army (9-0) vs #4 Notre Dame (9-1) @ Yankee Stadium – 7 pm
 

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Teams
 Frank Coyle

Rank/ Team/       Record
1 Oregon                      11-0
2 Ohio State                 9-1
3 Texas                         9-1
4 Notre Dame              9-1
5 Indiana                     10-0
6 Penn State                9-1
7 Alabama                   8-2
8 Ole Miss                   8-2
9 Georgia                     8-2
10 Miami                      9-1
11 Boise State               9-1
12 SMU                         9-1
13 Tennessee               8-2
14 BYU                          9-1
15 Texas A&M              8-2
16 Clemson                   8-2
17 Army                         9-0
18 Arizona State           8-2
19 Tulane                       9-2
20 Colorado                  8-2
21 South Carolina          7-3
22 Washington State     8-2
23 Memphis                   9-2
24 Kansas State             7-3
25 Iowa State                 8-2

Coaches Top 25 Poll

Rank/    Team    /    Record / Points
1          Oregon  (55)      11-0      1375
2          Ohio State         9-1        1316
3          Texas                 9-1        1263
4          Penn State        9-1        1158
5          Indiana              10-0      1109
6          Notre Dame      9-1        1096
7          Alabama           8-2        996
8          Georgia             8-2        993
9          Ole Miss           8-2        984
10         Miami               9-1        847
11         Tennessee        8-2        823
12         SMU                 9-1        744
13         Boise State       9-1        714
14         Texas A&M       8-2        646
15         BYU                 9-1        633
16         Clemson           8-2        569
17         Army                9-0        509
18         Colorado          8-2        464
19         South Carolina  7-3        379
20         Tulane               9-2        280
21         Iowa State        8-2        268
22         Arizona State    8-2        251
23         UNLV                8-2        93
24         Memphis           9-2        77
25         Kansas State    7-3        67          

Others receiving votes: Washington State 65, Illinois 56, Missouri 44, Syracuse 18, James Madison 11, Duke 9, Pittsburgh 7, Louisiana 5, Louisville 2, Sam Houston 1, Vanderbilt 1, LSU 1, Colorado State 1

Dropped from rankings: Washington State 18, Missouri 21, LSU 22, Louisville 24

Frank Coyle is a longtime member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy, Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, Fred Biletnikoff and Eddie Robinson awards annually for 33 years.

Draft Insiders’ NFL Power Poll – 2024

Frank Coyle / Head scout
www.draftinsiders.com

Chiefs Remain Unbeaten
Lions Head NFC Contenders

Teams of the Week 
Ravens Edge Bengals – 35-34
Lions Outlast Texans – 26-23
 
Upset of the Week
  Saints Shock Falcons, 20-17
 
Players of the Week
  Offense – QB Joe Burrow – Bengals     
  Defense – CB Taron Johnson – Bills  
 
Rookies of Week
    Offense – TE Brock Bowers – Raiders
    Defense – CB Andru Phillips – Giants
 
Games of Week Eleven    
Thursday Night
Washington Commanders (7-3) @ Philadelphia Eagles (7-2) – 8:15 pm

Sunday
Baltimore Ravens (7-3) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2) – 1 pm
Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) @ Buffalo Bills (8-2) – Sunday – 4:25 pm
 
Team Byes this Week – Giants, Bucs, Panthers and Cardinals

Draft Insiders’ – NFL Power Poll – Week 11

Frank Coyle
Draft Insiders’ NFL Team Poll

Ranking /Record /Team

#1 – 9-0 Chiefs
Chiefs know how to win behind Patrick Mahomes. Spags defense can win a game and make this club dangerous to three-peat. Travel to Buffalo for huge matchup for AFC supremacy.

#2 – 8-1 Lions
Lions won a thriller over the Texans despite QB Jared Goff’s five interceptions. Host the falling Jaguars  this week.

#3 – 7-3 Ravens
Ravens held on vs the Joe Burrow arsenal to win key AFC North contest. QB Lamar Jackson is playing well. Prepared for major North matchup in Pittsburgh for division leadership.

#4 – 8-2 Bills
Bills beat the Colts off a strong overall performance. Host the Chiefs Sunday afternoon in a potential classic matchup between Mahomes and Allen for AFC leadership.

#5 – 7-2 Steelers
Steelers edged the Commanders off another strong performance by QB Russell Wilson. He faces a huge test this week hosting the Ravens. Their highly regarded  defense gets it done weekly.

#6 – 7-2 Eagles
The Eagles bashed the Cowboys in last one. Host the Commanders on Thursday night with NFC East leadership in the balance.

#7 – 7-3 Commanders
The Commanders lost a heartbreaker to the Steelers. Travel to Philly this week in another acid test for this emerging club. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels has been a huge difference maker here.

#8 – 7-3 Vikings
Vikings edged the struggling Jaguars relying on their aggressive defense to finish. The Vikings offense has struggled recently and QB Sam Darnold needs to come up big in road game to Tennessee.

#9 – 6-4 Texans
Young Texans fell to an opportunistic Lions club. Travel to Dallas on Monday night in a key game to maintain their AFC South leadership.

#10- 6-3 Chargers
Chargers are taking care of business and buying into the Jim Harbaugh system. Beat the Titans on Sunday with a nice defensive effort. Host the explosive Bengals this week in a great matchup between Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow.

#11 – 6-3 Packers
The Packers are coming off their bye week and ready to face the Bears in Chicago. They need to step up and close the gap with the top two NFC North clubs.

#12 – 6-4 Cardinals
The Cardinals are hot and on a three game winning streak after bashing the Jets. QB Kyler Murray has taken a step up in performance which gives them a chance to win the NFC West. They get their bye week to prepare for a second half run.

#13 – 6-4 Falcons
Falcons got ambushed in New Orleans again. Travel to Denver hoping to get back on the winning side in a close NFC South race.

#14 – 5-4 49ers
The 49ers edged the Bucs in a battle of contenders. Host the Seahawks in a NFC West battle where only  one game separates top to bottom.

#15 – 5-5 Broncos
The aggressive Broncos are competitive weekly, though lost a heartbreaker to the Chiefs on a late blocked FG. Host the Falcons this Sunday in a key matchup for both clubs to stay pace in playoff chase.

#16 – 4-6 Bengals
The Bengals lost a wild game to the Ravens which puts them into a must win situation weekly. They travel to LA to face the tough Chargers on Sunday night which may determine their season.

#17 – 4-5 Rams
Rams came up flat vs the Dolphins on Monday night. They remain within one game of NFC West leadership and travel to New England this week in a must win spot to get to the .500 mark.

#18 – 3-6 Dolphins
Dolphins welcomed the return of QB Tua and beat the Rams. They host the Raiders this week and hope to put a streak here to get into the playoff hunt.

#19 – 4-6 Bucs
Bucs lost their third straight vs the 49ers. Their defense has failed in big spots and injuries on offense have limited Baker Mayfield in the passing game. Good time for their bye week.

#20 – 4-5 Seahawks
Seahawks are rested coming off their bye week. Travel to San Fran for a critical NFC West matchup in a division which it is difficult to separate the four contenders.

#21 – 4-6 Colts
The Colts have lost three in a row and return former starter QB Anthony Richardson. Their lack consistency and firepower and look to Richardson to become the catalyst for a late playoff run.

#22 – 4-5 Bears
The Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams has struggled over the past month and as the offense lacks the scoring punch to stay with contenders. They host the Packers in a must win situation to stay in contention.

#23 – 3-6 Cowboys
The Cowboys lost their third straight game in addition to starting QB Dak Prescott for the season. They host the Texans on Monday night with major turnover coming this offseason.

#24 – 3-7 Saints
Saints beat the Bucs at home under new HC Darren Rizzi. Host the Browns this week looking to put back-to-back victories together.

#25 – 3-7 Patriots
The young Pats beat the Bears with a strong defensive effort and a sound performance by rookie QB Derek Maye. They host the Rams this Sunday hoping to finish strong in a developmental season.

#26 – 3-7 Jets
Jets were trashed by the Cardinals last week off another terrible performance. They have been awful all season with a struggling Aaron Rodgers and a poor supporting cast. They host the Colts in a huge must win situation for both clubs to get into the AFC playoff race.

#27 – 2-8 Jaguars
Jaguars fell to the Vikings last week for their third straight lost. Travel to Detroit with only a long shot to get back into the AFC playoff race.

#28 – 3-7 Panthers
Panthers beat the inept GMen last week. Young QB Bryce Young had a decent performance and gets the call the rest of the way to determine if he is the leader of this club for 2025.

#29 – 2-8 Giants
The Giants merciful get their bye week after their third straight loss. They offense has been inept and the lowest scoring unit in the NFC. QB change could be in the works, though only marginal backup talent on roster.

#30 – 2-7 Titans
The Titans were handled by the Chargers with another weak offensive performance. Host the Vikings looking to play out the schedule and get looks at their younger players.

#31 – 2-7 Raiders
The Raiders are coming off their bye week after a horrible first half. They travel to Miami in a battle of disappointing clubs with key questions on the table related to next season.

#32 – 2-7 Browns
Browns are coming off their bye week. They are the lowest scoring offense in the league and paying for the major mistake of trading for QB Deshaun Watson. They will most likely will have a huge turnover in personnel and front office this offseason.

Frank Coyle is a long-time scout with nationwide ties with NFL and college coaches, scouts and player agents. He is a member of the FWAA and voter in College player awards – Heisman, Outland, Nagurski, Lombardi, Thorpe, Biletnikoff etc for the past 30+ years. He writes College Football Mondays weekly during the season. He was a longtime scouting consultant for the Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier postseason All-star game. He does sports radio shows for CBS, ESPN, Fox Sports and Sporting News on a year-round basis related to NFL and College Football especially during the postseason team and All-star Bowl time. He has worked for CBS Sports, USA Today, NBC Sports, Yahoo and Rivals sports publications and web sites.

College Football Playoff Rankings – Nov. 12

   Week Two Rankings

 This will be updated as rankings are revealed weekly on Tuesday nights.
 Both the SEC and Big Ten placed four teams in the projected Week 2 bracket.

Three teams ranked in the top 13 lost over the weekend. Miami to Georgia Tech, LSU to Alabama and Georgia to Ole Miss all lost and would be out of the Playoffs if the season was completed. Georgia would be excluded from the playoffs despite being in the top 12 to a conference champion, Boise State because of the tie breaker rule.

 CFP Rankings – Week Two

    1 Oregon (10-0)
    2 Ohio State (8-1)
    3 Texas (8-1)
    4 Penn State (8-1)
    5 Indiana (10-0)
    6 BYU (9-0)
    7 Tennessee (8-1)
    8 Notre Dame (8-1)
    9 Miami (9-1)
    10 Alabama (7-2)
    11 Ole Miss (8-2)
    12 Georgia Bulldogs * (7-2)
    13 Boise State * (8-1)
    14 SMU (8-1)
    15 Texas A&M (7-2)
    16 Kansas State (7-2)
    17 Colorado (7-2)
    18 Washington State (8-1)
    19 Louisville (6-3)
    20 Clemson (7-2)
    21 South Carolina (6-3)
    22 LSU (6-3)
    23 Missouri (7-2)
    24 Army (9-0)
    25 Tulane (8-2)
 
*Boise State is ranked 13th, but would make the playoff as a projected conference champion. As a consequence, Georgia would be knocked out of the tournament despite being ranked top-12.
 
College Football Playoff Projected Bracket on Nov. 12
 
    Boise State vs Ohio State (winner moves on to play Miami)
    Tennessee vs Notre Dame (winner moves on to play Oregon)
    Ole Miss vs Penn State (winner moves on to play BYU)
    Alabama vs Indiana (winner moves on to play Texas)

Frank Coyle is a longtime member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy, Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, Fred Biletnikoff and Eddie Robinson awards annually for 33 years.
 

Draft Insiders’ & Coaches Top 25 Teams – Nov. 11th

Oregon, Indiana, BYU & Army Remain Unbeaten
Ole Miss Blasts Georgia, Alabama Drills LSU

Players of Week
Offense – QB Jalen Milroe – Alabama
Defense – LB Jihaad Campbell – Alabama

Teams of the Week 
Ole Miss Blasts Georgia – 28-10
Indiana Beats Michigan – 20-15
 
Upset of the Week
    Georgia Tech Beats Miami – 28-23
 
Game of Week – Nov. 16th
   #5 Tennessee (8-1) at #11 Georgia (7-2) – 7:30 pm 

Draft Insiders’ – Top 25 Teams
 Frank Coyle

Rank/ Team/       Record
1 Oregon                     10-0
2 Ohio State                8-1
3 Texas                         8-1
4 Notre Dame             8-1
5 Tennessee                8-1
6 BYU                          9-0
7 Indiana                     10-0
8 Penn State               8-1
9 Alabama                   7-2
10 Ole Miss                  8-2
11 Georgia                    7-2
12 Miami                       9-1
13 Boise State              8-1
14 SMU                         8-1
15 Texas A&M             7-2
16 Clemson                  7-2
17 Army                         9-0
18 Washington State     8-1
19 Kansas State             7-2
20 Colorado                   7-2
21 Missouri                    7-2
22 LSU                            6-3
23 Louisville                  6-3
24 South Carolina         6-3
25 Iowa State                 6-3

Coaches Top 25 Poll

Rank/    Team    /     Record / Points
1          Oregon (55)      10-0      1375
2          Ohio State        8-1        1314
3          Texas               8-1        1262
4          Tennessee        8-1        1138
5          Penn State        8-1        1113
6          Indiana              10-0      1057
7          Notre Dame      8-1        1038
8          BYU                 9-0        994
9          Alabama           7-2        899
10         Georgia             7-2        887
11         Ole Miss           8-2        877
12         Miami               9-1        820
13         Boise State       8-1        691
13         SMU                 8-1        691
15         Texas A&M       7-2        597
16         Clemson           7-2        536
17         Army                9-0        466
18         Washington St  8-1        385
19         Kansas State    7-2        332
20         Colorado          7-2        329
21         Missouri            7-2        277
22         LSU                  6-3        257
23         South Carolina  6-3        118
24         Louisville          6-3        109
25         Iowa State        7-2        92

Others receiving votes:  Tulane 85, Louisiana 42, Arizona State 30, Pittsburgh 28, UNLV 17, Memphis 11, Navy 3, Illinois 2, James Madison 2, Duke 1

Dropped from rankings: Pittsburgh 23, Vanderbilt 25

Frank Coyle is a longtime member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy, Outland Trophy, Bronko Nagurski, Jim Thorpe, Fred Biletnikoff and Eddie Robinson awards annually for 33 years.