College Football Week 11: Potential game of the year highlights the schedule

Good morning New York Giants fans, and welcome to Week 11 of the 2019 college football season!

We have a trio of big games this weekend, with none more anticipated than the showdown between Alabama and LSU. This is the matchup everyone will have circled on their calendar and it will have implications for the SEC, the College Football Playoffs, and the 2020 NFL draft.

Of course, there are other games happening this weekend as well, so let’s quit wasting time and get to it!

Maryland at Ohio State (3)

ABC - noon

I wouldn’t blame anyone who opts to watch the game between fifth-ranked Penn State and 13th-ranked Minnesota. That should be a good game and there are plenty of prospects who should interest the Giants. But I wanted to take the time to circle back and look at Ohio State before the Buckeyes big game against Penn State in two weeks.

This game suddenly took on an extra layer (or two, or three) of meaning Friday when it was announced that star EDGE Chase Young would not be playing. Young is being investigated for receiving an improper benefit.

If the investigation is not resolved favorably, Young might have played his last snap of college football, which would put an end to a potentially Heisman-worthy season. From a draft perspective, that might be a blessing in disguise, as he has already put dominant play on tape and the NFL has likely seen enough to make him a lock to be a top 5 selection. If his season is over, he would be able to concentrate on draft prep, similar to Nick Bosa a year ago.

Of course, one player doesn’t make or break Ohio State and there will be plenty of other NFL caliber players on the field, including a couple from Maryland.

Players to watch

Maryland

• Antoine Brooks (S)
• Anthony McFarland (RB)

Ohio State

• Jeffery Okudah (CB)
• Shaun Wade (CB) *Red-shirt Sophomore
• Damon Arnette (CB)
• Malik Harrison (LB)
• J.K. Dobbins (RB)
• K.J. Hill (WR)

LSU (1) at Alabama (2)

CBS - 3:30 p.m.

This is the game everyone wants to see.

This game gets circled on calendars every year, as the rivalry between LSU and Alabama has produced some truly great games.

But this year is special.

Not only do we have a matchup between the top ranked teams in the country, but the SEC and College Football Playoffs could be on the line.

Oh, and there are also the draft implications as the two best quarterbacks in the nation (and upcoming draft) will be playing against each other ... And against two of the best defenses in the nation. These two teams are absolutely loaded and there will be future NFL players lining up at just about every position. There is a reason for just about everybody to watch this game. Love college football? This should be a great one. Interested in the draft? This game has players who should set draft boards around the league.

Players to watch

All of them ... These teams are just stupidly loaded.

LSU

• Joe Burrow (QB)
• Grant Delpit (S)
• Kristian Fulton (CB)
• K’Lavon Chaisson (EDGE)
• Rashard Lawrence (DT)
• Jacob Phillips (LB)
• Lloyd Cushenberry III (iOL)
• Justin Jefferson (WR)

Alabama

• Tua Tagovailoa (QB)
• Jerry Jeudy (WR), Henry Ruggs III (WR), DaVonta Smith (WR)
• Jedrick Willis (OT)
• Alex Leatherwood (OT)
• Raekwon Davis (iDL)
• Dylan Moses (ILB)
• Terrell Lewis (EDGE)
• Anfernee Jennings (EDGE)
• Trevon Diggs (CB)
• Xavier McKinney (S)
• Shyheim Carter (S)

I would ordinarily include a third game for the evening slot, but everything after the afternoon game (games, as Iowa vs. Wisconsin should be an excellent game as well), feels a bit anticlimactic.

So then, I’ll put it to the Big Blue View community, which games and players are you looking forward to watching this evening? Is it Georgia vs. Missouri? What about Oklahoma vs. Iowa State?