The FWAA-NFF Super 16 Poll for Week 12 (Nov. 16) has been released, with panelist Ayokunle Spencer submitting his latest ballot. This week’s rankings highlight Oregon’s strong road performance, while Alabama falls. Meanwhile, Utah and USC make their return to the Super 16.
POLL
1 Ohio State
2 Texas A&M
3 Indiana
4 Georgia
5 Oregon
6 Ole Miss
7 Texas Tech
8 Notre Dame
9 Oklahoma
1 0 Georgia Tech
1 1 Alabama
1 2 Vanderbilt
1 3 BYU
1 4 USC
1 5 Utah
1 6 Miami (FL)
NEW YORK –– Nov. 16, 2025 –– A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 9:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, November 16, the 11th week of the 2025 season.
With two games remaining this week, there have been seven teams who won after trailing in the fourth quarter – Baltimore, Buffalo, Carolina, Denver, Chicago, Green Bay, and Miami – the most in a week since Week 12, 2022.
Chicago defeated Minnesota, 19-17, and became the third team in the last five seasons to record a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime in three consecutive weeks (Washington, 2024 and Tampa Bay, 2025).
Carolina overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat Atlanta, 30-27, in overtime as Bryce Young recorded a franchise-record 448 passing yards in the win.
Denver defeated Kansas City, 22-19, and recorded three sacks in the win. The Broncos lead the NFL with 49 sacks this season, the most by a team in the first 11 weeks of a season since 1989 (Minnesota, 53 sacks).
Miami defeated Washington, 16-13, in overtime in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Madrid to close out the 2025 international slate. It marked the second-consecutive week with an overtime international game, after Indianapolis defeated Atlanta, 31-25, in Berlin in Week 10.
In Week 11, Arizona quarterback Jacoby Brissett completed 47 of 57 pass attempts (82.5 percent) for 452 yards and two touchdowns, the most completions ever in a regular-season game and tied with Ben Roethliserger (2020 AFC Wild Card) for the most completions in a game, including the postseason, all-time.
Andrews, who had 32 receiving yards and the go-ahead 35-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ 23-16 win at Cleveland, has 5,806 career receiving yards and surpassed Derrick Mason (5,777 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards in Ravens franchise history. He joins Jason Witten (Dallas), Travis Kelce (Kansas City), and Pro Football Hall of Famers Antonio Gates (Los Angeles Chargers) and Ozzie Newsome (Cleveland) as the only tight ends to lead a franchise in career receiving yards.
Kelce finished with nine receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown against Denver and has 84 career touchdowns, surpassing Priest Holmes (83 touchdowns) for the most touchdowns (81) in Chiefs franchise history.
Kittle finished with six receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the 49ers’ 41-22 victory over Arizona and has 7,631 receiving yards and 50 touchdown receptions since entering the NFL in 2017.
Kittle is the fifth tight end in NFL history with at least 7,500 receiving yards and 50 touchdown receptions in their first nine seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez as well as Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce.
McBride recorded 10 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown against San Francisco and became the third tight end in NFL history with at least five receptions in at least 12 consecutive games, joining Travis Kelce (15 consecutive games in 2018) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez (13 in 2008-09).
McBride is the second tight end ever with at least five receptions, 50 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in five consecutive games in a single season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates (2010).
Allen has 75 career regular-season rushing touchdowns, tied with Cam Newton (75 rushing touchdowns) for the most regular-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history.
Allen has 213 career regular-season touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (213 touchdowns) for the fifth-most touchdown passes by a player in his first eight seasons in NFL history. Only Patrick Mahomes (245 touchdown passes), Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (244) and Dan Marino (241), and Russell Wilson (227) have more.
Garrett is the first player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 12 sacks in six consecutive seasons, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor (five consecutive seasons).
Garrett has 117.5 sacks since entering the NFL in 2017 and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famers Jared Allen (117 sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (117) for the second-most sacks by a player in his first nine seasons since 1982, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (137).
Garrett, who had a career-high five sacks in Week 8 and four sacks in Week 11, is the fourth player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least four sacks in two games within a season, joining Chandler Jones (2019 with Arizona), Karl Mecklenburg (1985 with Denver) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White (1986 with Philadelphia).
Garrett is the fifth player since 1982 with at least four sacks in three career games, joining Leslie O’Neal (four games), Pro Football Hall of Famers Derrick Thomas (four) and Reggie White (three) as well as Chandler Jones (three).
Garrett – with five sacks in Week 8, one sack in Week 10 and four sacks in Week 11 – is the second player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with 10 sacks in a three-game span in a single season, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Richard Dent (Oct. 21 to Nov. 4, 1984, with Chicago).
Garrett has at least one sack in 74 career games, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jared Allen (74 games) for the fourth-most games with a sack by a player in his first nine seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White (79 games) and DeMarcus Ware (79) along with Von Miller (77).
Adams is the fifth wide receiver in NFL history with at least 1,000 receptions in their first 12 seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (1,050 receptions), Marvin Harrison (1,042) and Andre Johnson (1,012) as well as Larry Fitzgerald (1,018).
Adams is the fifth player in NFL history with at least 10 touchdown receptions in seven career seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (nine seasons), Jerry Rice (nine), Marvin Harrison (eight) and Terrell Owens (eight).
Adams – who has had at least 10 touchdown receptions in a season with Green Bay, Las Vegas and the Los Angeles Rams – joined Brandon Marshall and Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens as the only players in NFL history with at least 10 touchdown receptions in a season with three different teams.
Purdy has 12 career games with a passer rating of 125-or-higher, surpassing Patrick Mahomes (11 games) and Deshaun Watson (11) for the second-most games with a passer rating of 125-or-higher (minimum 15 attempts in each game) by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history, trailing only Russell Wilson (15).
McCaffrey, who has six rushing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns this season, has his fourth career season with at least five rushing touchdowns and five receiving touchdowns, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (three seasons) for the most such seasons in NFL history.
McCaffrey is the fifth player since 2000 with at least two rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown in four career games, joining pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk (five games), Shaun Alexander (four), Alvin Kamara (four) and Brian Westbrook (four).
Wagner is the second player since 2000 with at least 100 tackles in 14 consecutive seasons, joining London Fletcher.
Parsons, who is 26 years old, has 60.5 career sacks, tied with Danielle Hunter (60.5 sacks) for the fifth-most sacks by a player under the age of 27 since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Only J.J. Watt (74.5 sacks) and Myles Garrett (72) as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White (70) and Derrick Thomas (66) have more.
Burns is the first player since 2000 with a tackle for loss in each of his team’s first 11 games of a season, surpassing Everson Griffen (first 10 games in 2017 with Minnesota) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Demarcus Ware (first 10 games in 2011 with Dallas).
Henry has a rushing touchdown in 83 career games, including the playoffs, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer John Riggins (83 games) for the fifth-most games with a rushing touchdown, including the postseason, in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith (130 games), Marcus Allen (100) and LaDainian Tomlinson (96), as well as Adrian Peterson (89) have more.
Smith-Njigba is the first player in NFL history to record at least 75 receiving yards in each of their first 10 games of a season, surpassing Antonio Brown (first nine games in 2014) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (first nine in 1995).
McMillan is the sixth rookie since 2000 with at least eight receptions, 130 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in a game, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (three times), Anquan Boldin, Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Roy Williams.
Per Next Gen Stats, McMillan recorded an identical four receptions for 65 yards and a touchdown both inside the numbers and outside the numbers.
For more information on Next Gen Stats, check out NFL Pro, available within NFL+ Premium. With NFL+ Premium, get access to NFL Pro and track advanced analytics powered by Next Gen Stats and watch All-22 film. Available on desktop and mobile web, visit pro.nfl.com for more information.
Jefferson has 8,179 receiving yards since entering the NFL in 2020 and surpassed Torry Holt (8,156 receiving yards) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his first six seasons in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss (8,375).
On Thursday Night Football, the New England Patriots defeated the New York Jets to improve to 9-2 on the season. Although the Patriots have faced the easiest schedule in the NFL this year, they have far exceeded expectations. Coming off a disastrous 4-13 season last year in the midst of a rebuild, they entered this season with some hope for improvement thanks to a new coaching staff and minor roster upgrades. While they still lack top-tier talent along the offensive line and in their receiving corps.
Photo Cred: Boston.com
Their offense ranks in the top 10 thanks to second-year quarterback Drake Maye and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. Maye showed flashes of potential as a rookie despite a weak supporting cast, but few could have predicted he would be the MVP favorite 11 games into this season. New England appears poised to keep improving as the year goes on, especially now that rookie second-round running back TreVeyon Henderson is beginning to receive more touches. He has responded with five touchdowns in the last two weeks, showcasing his explosiveness with long runs that have opened up the offense even further.
New head coach Mike Vrabel spoke highly of the rookie after the game: “I would say the best couple of runs he had were there late in the game when it was tough sledding, and we’re in five-minute, and they know we’re going to run, and they’re blitzing and everything else. Looked like we were going to be short, and he’s able to knife through there and keep his pads down and pick up a huge first down. He’s executed, whether that’s a checkdown or a touchdown in the back of the end zone.”
With the coaching staff now giving Henderson the lead role at running back, the Patriots’ ground game will make their offense even more dangerous down the stretch this season. The optimism surrounding the team is even greater when looking to the future. The Patriots have quickly exited what was expected to be a multi-year rebuild and have emerged as contenders for the AFC’s top seed.
With Maye in his second season, an improved defense under Vrabel, and McDaniels as the long-term offensive play caller, this is likely the weakest the Patriots’ roster will be for the foreseeable future. Hitting on just a few draft picks along the offensive line and at receiver could turn them into an annual powerhouse. They also do not face overwhelming competition within their own division, as the Jets and Dolphins seem destined to remain bottom feeders, and the Bills appear to have a limited ceiling due to poor coaching and defensive issues.
Photo Cred: MassLive.com
While New England may max out this season in the divisional round or AFC Championship Game, they are positioned to overtake top AFC contenders such as the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills over the next few seasons, with ample cap space to pursue major free agents while Maye is still on his rookie deal. The AFC is on notice the Pats are back!
The No. 1 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes traveled to West Lafayette to take on the Purdue Boilermakers in a Big Ten clash. The Buckeyes entered as heavy favorites, needing a clean performance as the regular season winds down with Michigan and the postseason looming. Julian Sayin continued his stellar season, completing 27 of 33 passes for 303 yards and a touchdown.
He has led the offense all year with poise, avoiding mistakes and throwing with remarkable accuracy. Sayin now holds an 80.9% completion rate — the best in the country. Ten of those completions went to Jeremiah Smith, who led the Buckeye receiving corps with 137 yards and a touchdown. With Carnell Tate a late scratch from the lineup, Smith drew plenty of defensive attention, but Purdue’s defense still had no answer for the sophomore star.
The ground game was paced by Bo Jackson, who carried 14 times for 75 yards. Ohio State used a committee approach in the backfield, as four different players recorded at least five carries, keeping the offense balanced and efficient. Defensively, the Buckeyes once again flexed their dominance, holding Purdue to just 186 total yards and 10 points. The Boilermakers’ offense struggled to find any rhythm against a defense that remains the nation’s best in scoring.
The Buckeye defense continues to impose its will week after week, showing no signs of slowing down. With the 34–10 victory, Ohio State improved to 9–0 and moved one step closer to the Big Ten Championship Game. However, the Buckeyes can’t afford to look too far ahead — home games against UCLA and Rutgers await before their much-anticipated showdown in Ann Arbor. For now, their focus turns to hosting the Bruins in Columbus next week.
The Heisman Memorial Trophy is awarded annually since 1935 to the top player in college football. It is considered the most prestigious award in the sport and is presented by the Heisman Trophy Trust following the regular season in December. Let’s see who the top 5 Heisman candidates are.
5. Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State
Photo Cred: SI
It’s not a surprise Ohio State has yet another great wide receiver, but this time, Jeremiah Smith is beyond the expectation. He is an NFL ready receiver in year two. Looking like one of the best college prospects of all time, he doesn’t have a flaw. His size, body control, route running, speed, and everything else is exactly what NFL scouts rave about. He can go deep and catch contested jump balls, he is dangerous in open space, and his route running can get him open anywhere. He is an NFL receiver that has to play another year of college.
4. Marcel Reed
Texas A&M had high hopes for this season but not many people predicted their perfect start. The last time the Aggies were 9-0 was in 1992 and that’s largely due to their playmaker quarterback Marcel Reed. His ability to extend plays and turn nothing into a big gain makes him so exciting to watch. With an SEC Championship title in sight, the Aggies are looking to win it all and establish themselves as one of the top teams in the country for years to come.
3. Ty Simpson
Photo Cred: Alabama
After losing its season opener against Florida State, many people thought it was the downfall of the once great Alabama dynasty. But Ty Simpson took control of the offense and has led Alabama to eight straight wins and three wins over current ranked opponents. He is a great pocket passer and keeps the ball out of harm’s way while delivering accurate, on time throws that extend drives. While he is not known for being a runner, he can do it when he needs to and it’s won games for the Crimson Tide.
2. Julian Sayin
Ohio State sits at the top of the throne once again after a clean 9-0 start. Quarterback Julian Sayin is doing exactly what he needs to do to win games. Nothing about him is flashy apart from making the right reads and keeping the offense ahead of the chains. He leads the country in completion percentage because he finds the right throws to make and protects the ball. It’s sound, clean football that wins games by doing the ordinary things to perfection.
1. Fernando Mendoza
Photo Cred: Bleacher Report
Last year, Indiana had a special season reaching the playoffs and going toe to toe with the best teams in the country. After losing key pieces, including quarterback Kurtis Rourke to the NFL, Fernando Mendoza stepped in as a transfer from Cal. He made an immediate impact on the field and is the reason why Indiana is not only ranked second in the country, but a national championship contender. What shines most is his leadership and ability to deliver in the biggest moments.
| NEW YORK — Nov. 12, 2025 — Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, Seattle Seahawks linebacker DeMarcus Lawrence and New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd are the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played in Week 10 (November 6, November 9-10).
OFFENSE: RB JAHMYR GIBBS, DETROIT LIONS
DEFENSE: LB DEMARCUS LAWRENCE, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
SPECIAL TEAMS: DT NATHAN SHEPHERD, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
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Going into the 2025–2026 college basketball season, all 364 Division I basketball teams have specially handcrafted their schedules in hopes of having a successful season and making it to the Big Dance. Teams will arrange their schedules in any way possible to put themselves in the best possible position. Out of those, 265 of 364 teams scheduled at least one opponent from a different division. Within this, over 70 Division II programs and 140 Division III programs have been scheduled.
One would think that a Division I program—usually with more students, higher athletic budgets, and a more prestigious conference—would easily dominate. But just like in all sports, not everything is guaranteed. Last season, Michigan Tech defeated University of Wisconsin–Green Bay 72–70 following Green Bay coach Doug Gottlieb’s pregame comments calling them “Nobody U.” Nobody is ever safe. Great basketball talent exists at every level. Sometimes all a team needs is one chance to make history, and so far, Division II is proving its worth.
Photo Cred: Bleacher Report
To start the college basketball season, Hawaii Pacific sent shockwaves throughout the college basketball world. After entering the game as 20+ point underdogs, the Sharks were not intimidated. Hawaii Pacific went 15–14 last year and lost its only opportunity against a Division I program, falling to Hawaii 63–67 — and that wasn’t going to happen again.
The first half was a shootout, with Josh Niusulu hitting a three-pointer to give the Sharks a 38–37 lead at halftime. The second half’s pace quickened even more, with both sides increasing their shot attempts. A Quentin Meza and-one layup with 3:02 left to put the Sharks up 77–70 proved to be the final blow. Boise State couldn’t score fast enough and ultimately became the first Division I team to lose to a non–Division I opponent during the 2025–2026 season.
Key Stats:
HPAC – Joshua West: 23 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals
HPAC – Quentin Meza: 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals
BOIS – Dylan Andrews: 15 points, 9 assists, 2 rebounds
BOIS – Drew Fielder: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
Only three days after Boise State’s loss to Hawaii Pacific, the Western Michigan Broncos hosted the Northwood Timberwolves at home for their second game of the season. Western Michigan head coach Dwyane Stephens returned after a disappointing 12–20 season, where the team went an even 9–9 in conference play. Northwood, however, wasn’t much better. Head coach Tom Church went 9–19 in his first season leading Northwood after previously coaching at Tiffin University.
Coming into the game, Western Michigan had already made its home debut, defeating Coastal Carolina 76–71 the prior week. They were expected to notch their second win — and second home win — of the year. But at one point during the first half, Northwood was up by fifteen, leaving the crowd silent. At halftime, Northwood led 44–39, and the Broncos couldn’t get a stop.
In the second half, it was more of the same. Northwood forced more turnovers, resulting in eleven more shot attempts during the game. It’s hard to win a basketball game when you’re not controlling the tempo, and Northwood dominated in that aspect, holding onto the lead and winning 85–81 once the buzzer sounded.
Photo Cred: ESPN
Key Stats:
NW – Parker Day: 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals
NW – Will Young II: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks
WM – Jalen Griffith: 23 points, 2 assists, 4 steals
WM – Jayden Brewer: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks
The day after Western Michigan’s shocking home loss, the University of Delaware Blue Hens hosted the Wilmington University Wildcats in a local in-state contest. Delaware went 16–20 the previous season and was hoping for a strong home start to the year. The Wildcats had only nine wins last season in Division II, and going into this game, nobody expected it to be close.
If the Wildcats could barely beat teams in their own division, how could they beat a Division I opponent? But after the first ten minutes, it was Wilmington who led 19–15 — to everyone’s surprise. And they never let up.
With eight minutes left, Wilmington extended their lead to eight, going up 60–52. Delaware couldn’t hit a three-pointer to save their lives, shooting just 12.5% from deep, and the deficit proved too much to overcome. Delaware fell at home, 62–71, to the Wilmington Wildcats. Wilmington forced 16 turnovers to Delaware’s seven, resulting in a 19–5 advantage in points off turnovers — the exact margin that decided the game.
Key Stats:
WILM – Tre Hawkins: 21 points, 10 rebounds
WILM – Jaiden Guy: 18 points, 11 rebounds
DEL – Macon Emory: 11 points, 14 rebounds
DEL – Christian Bliss: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists
It didn’t even take another week for another Division I school to get upset by a lower-division opponent. After two blowout losses to Power Five schools to open the season, the Gardner–Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs held their home opener on November 10th against the North Greenville Crusaders.
Gardner–Webb head coach Jeremy Luther led the Bulldogs to an 11–20 record in his first season and was looking to improve. But in the first half of their home opener, his team was already trailing 51–40 — and at one point, the lead ballooned to 15.
Although Gardner–Webb forced 18 turnovers compared to their own eight, a lack of rebounding and North Greenville’s red-hot three-point shooting made the difference. The Crusaders went 15-for-30 from beyond the arc and cruised to a 92–81 victory. Gardner–Webb fell to 0–3 on the season with a difficult non-conference stretch still ahead.
Key Stats:
NGC – Savion Brown: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks
NGC – Carter Bobbit: 18 points, 2 rebounds
NGC – Zayden Edwards: 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
GW – Jacob Hudson: 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
GW – Jacob Hogarth: 15 points, 5 rebounds
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ESPN has been the most popular and beloved network in sports-related content since its inception in 1979. But as tensions rise, that reputation may now be in jeopardy. The network reached its peak throughout the 2000s as it acquired exclusive rights to nearly all major leagues. It included the NFL, NBA, MLB, and collegiate sports. This solidified its dominance in the sports world. Since then, cable television has experienced a rapid decline with the introduction of streaming services. The pandemic nearly caused the traditional model to collapse.
As a result of the changing market, Disney, ESPN’s parent company, sought to capitalize by launching ESPN+ in 2018. Still, ESPN remained available through cable and streaming services that mirrored cable bundles, such as YouTube TV. To break down the situation, ESPN has essentially been renting viewership through YouTube TV since its launch in 2017. The network built its empire on live sports and doesn’t want to continue “renting” its audience indefinitely, as YouTube TV has dictated how people actually watch ESPN content.
Photo Cred: CNBC
That tension came to a head on October 30th. YouTube TV lost all Disney-owned programs due to a carriage dispute, eliminating access to both ESPN and ABC. The fallout has sent the sports world into a frenzy. Disney plans to introduce a new subscription service — ESPN Unlimited — which it expects fans to adopt. The issue isn’t the new subscription itself. But the fact that it isn’t replacing an existing one — it’s simply creating another layer for fans to pay to enjoy sports, particularly the NFL.
Before this proposed addition, it could already cost fans more than $900 across various streaming apps just to follow the season. This doesn’t count bundles or promotions. As expected, fans and the media are furious with this news. They accused ESPN and Disney of prioritizing profits over the loyal supporters who fueled the network’s rise.
Former NFL star and current sportscaster J.J. Watt spoke out about the situation on X, stating, “So we’re just not watching Monday Night Football, huh? I’m not buying another streaming subscription…” His message resonated deeply with fans who are tired of corporate battles impacting their viewing experience. He wasn’t the only media figure to express frustration — Pat McAfee took subtle shots on his own show, which ironically airs on ESPN, for toeing the company line. For the first time in its long history, ESPN finds itself on the defensive — accused of sacrificing its fan base for financial gain.
It’s evident from recent events that ESPN is testing boundaries, not only regarding how much fans will pay to watch their favorite programs but also by gauging the power that sports entertainment holds over the average viewer. As this dispute drags on, fans are left in a losing position with no clear resolution in sight. Unfortunately for ESPN, the longer its channels remain off YouTube TV, the more people adapt to life without them.
That adaptation has led many viewers to explore alternative ways to consume sports content. A growing sentiment among fans is to resist ESPN’s demands by relying on free, condensed highlights available on YouTube — even if it means sacrificing the traditional viewing experience. One major challenge ESPN may face during this standoff is the increased use of pirating websites and VPNs to watch games that would otherwise air on ESPN.
Photo Cred: Fox
The outcome of this dispute will likely dictate how sports are perceived and consumed. It will reshape the entertainment landscape for years to come. It’s disappointing to see a company that once prided itself on connecting with fans now pushing toward monopolistic control and limiting access for ordinary people. What will the future look like?
DALLAS (FWAA) – The Texas Tech Red Raiders took over first place in the Big 12 Conference with an emphatic 29-7 win over No. 7 BYU that was a dominating defensive show. For its rise to the moment playing in its first top-10 matchup since 2008 and in front of a national audience, Texas Tech earned the Pop-Tarts Crazy Good Team of the Week for games the weekend of Nov. 8, as selected by the All-America Committee of the Football Writers Association of America.
This is the sixth time for Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1 in the Big 12) to receive the honor from the FWAA. The Red Raiders earned it once last season as well, almost in the same week, winning 23-22 at No. 10 Iowa State during the Week 10 weekend of Nov. 2, 2024. Its previous honor to that came in 2012.
Stone Harrington kicked a school-record five field goals and Jacob Rodriguez led the defense with two takeaways and 14 overall tackles as the Red Raiders held the previously-undefeated Cougars to a season-low 255 total yards.
Texas Tech’s ninth win marks its first nine-win season since 2009. The Red Raiders, ranked No. 8 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, now lead the Big 12 with a 6-1 record. BYU and Cincinnati are just behind at 5-1.
All nine of Texas Tech’s wins have been by wins of 22 points or more this season.
The Red Raiders’ fortunes have turned with their defense. They have gone from 121st in the FBS last season, allowing 34.8 points per game, to fifth at 13.2 going heading into the BYU game and then lowering that to 12.6 following the win. Tech is ninth in the FBS in total defense currently at 269.7 yards per game. BYU gained 255 yards.
Rodriguez’s 14 tackles against BYU mark the second-highest total of his career and his second 14-tackle game of the season. His interception and fumble recovery were keys as Tech’s defense and special teams came up with three takeaways against a BYU team that entered the game third in the FBS in turnover margin at plus-1.25. The Cougars had only six first downs in a scoreless first half and only three of their 12 drives on the day crossed midfield, the last one with under two minutes left and the game decided.
The Red Raiders continued the shutout into the fourth quarter, marking the fifth time they have blanked an opponent through three quarters. Texas Tech’s scoring margin through three quarters this season is 317-61. The seven points allowed were Texas Tech’s fewest against an AP Top-10 opponent since it beat No. 8 Texas A&M, 14-7, 1995, in what was then a Big 12 game.
Tech quarterback Behren Morton passed for 216 yards and had a 9-yard touchdown toss to Caleb Douglas while Cameron Dickey kept the offense moving with 121 rushing yards and a 1-yard score. Harrington kicked field goals of 47, 39, 34, 29 and 27 yards.
Texas Tech hosts UCF (4-5, 1-5) on Saturday in another Big 12 matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Since 2002, the FWAA has named a National Team of the Week. Coming into the 2025 season, 284 teams have been honored, including 101 different Division I programs. Each honored team will receive a custom Pop-Tarts “care package” along with a hand-crafted game ball made in America by Dallas-based Big Game USA, the nation’s leading manufacturer of custom footballs.
The other National Team of the Week nominee for the weekend of Nov. 8 were:
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Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,100 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.
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