Week 11 Big Ten & SEC Recap: LSU Upset, Michigan Survives
#2 Alabama 31, #17 Mississippi State 6
The Crimson Tide (9-1, 6-1 SEC) defeated the Bulldogs (7-3, 3-3 SEC) handily despite being outgained 393 yards to 379. Both teams were scoreless through the first 19 minutes of game time, until Cyrus Jones broke free on a 69-yard punt return to put the Tide on the board. Ranked second in the country in rushing yards, RB Derrick Henry inched closer to the number one spot after posting 204 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Henry is now just 16 yards behind LSU’s Leonard Fournette. Alabama also had a strong defensive performance highlighted by nine sacks, including three from junior DL Jonathan Allen. Bulldogs QB Dak Prescott, second in the SEC in passing yards, had his fifth 300-yard game of the season but couldn’t get into the end zone. Prescott had scored at least one touchdown rushing or passing in every game so far this year.
Arkansas 31, #9 LSU 14
The Razorbacks (6-4, 4-2 SEC) won their fourth-straight contest, upending the Tigers (7-2, 4-2 SEC), 31-14. The loss eliminated LSU from the SEC West race. Fournette, the nation’s leading running back, was held to under 100 yards for the second consecutive week, but did find his way into the end zone after being shut out by Alabama last week. Tigers QB Brandon Harris threw for 271 yards and one touchdown, but was sacked five times by the Arkansas defense. His counterpart, Arkansas QB Brandon Allen, passed for 141 yards, including a 52-yard TD to junior Dominique Reed. Arkansas also rushed for 299 yards, led by junior Alex Colling with 141 and two scores on the ground.
#14 Michigan 48, Indiana 41 (2OT)
The Wolverines (8-2, 5-1 Big Ten) held on to their conference title hopes as they outlasted the Hoosiers (4-6, 0-6 Big Ten) through two overtimes. Fifth-year senior QB Jake Rudock threw for an impressive 440 yards and six touchdowns for Michigan, setting the school record for touchdowns in a single game. Wolverines senior WR Jehu Chesson finished with a career-best 207 yards for four touchdowns, tying the school record for single-game TD receptions. Indiana RB Jordan Howard became the 11th player in Hoosier history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season after finishing with 238 yards, two scores on the ground, and one receiving touchdown.
Other games from the weekend:
#3 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) defeated Illinois (5-5, 2-4 Big Ten), 28-3.
#5 Iowa (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) defeated Minnesota (4-6, 1-5 Big Ten), 40-35.
#11 Florida (9-1, 7-1 SEC) defeated South Carolina (3-7, 1-7 SEC), 24-14.
#13 Michigan State (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) defeated Maryland (2-8, 0-6 Big Ten), 24-7.
#18 Northwestern (8-2, 4-2 Big Ten) defeated Purdue (2-8, 1-5 Big Ten), 21-14.
Georgia (7-3, 5-3 SEC) defeated Auburn (5-5, 2-5 SEC), 20-13.
Vanderbilt (4-6, 2-4 SEC) defeated Kentucky (4-6, 2-6 SEC), 21-17.
Nebraska (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten) defeated Rutgers (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten), 31-14.
Texas A&M (7-3, 3-3 SEC) defeated Western Carolina, 41-17.
Tennessee (6-4, 3-3 SEC) defeated North Texas, 24-0.
Missouri (5-5, 1-5 SEC) defeated BYU, 20-16.