Editor's note: This story will be updated throughout Saturday night's late matchups.
Left for dead after an upset loss to South Carolina and less-than-stellar win over Kentucky, two-time defending SEC East champion Georgia proved Saturday the division still runs through Athens.
The Bulldogs beat arch rival Florida for the third consecutive season, holding off the Gators, 24-17, in Jacksonville behind a complete effort defensively against the sixth-ranked Gators. Saturday's only matchup featuring Top 10 teams, Georgia got two touchdown passes from junior quarterback Jake Fromm, who talked all week about rebounding from his previous two starts and rallying the Bulldogs to victory.
The win puts Georgia squarely back in the College Football Playoff picture, one step closer to a league title game berth vs. likely the LSU-Alabama winner in December.
With four of the nation's Top 5 open and Clemson moving past Wofford without trouble, Sunday's Top 5 could remain unchanged.
Other important games during Week 11 included include SMU's prime-time showdown at Memphis, Oregon's battle at USC and Utah's momentum-building win on the road vs. Washington. With the victory, the Utes kept pace with the Ducks in the Pac-12 race.
Here's our best guess at Sunday's Week 11 AP Top 25 featuring a few changes after Saturday's results, including the Florida-Georgia result inside the Top 10:
25. Texas (5-3, open)
24. San Diego State (7-1, open)
23. Memphis (7-1, vs. SMU, late)
22. Wake Forest (7-1, beat N.C. State)
21. Kansas State (6-2, beat Kansas)
20. Boise State (6-1, vs. San Jose State, late)
19. Wisconsin (6-2, open)
18. Iowa (6-2, open)
The word: Following an unexpected loss to Georgia Southern at home, Appalachian State fell from the ranks of the unbeaten this week and in the process, likely squandered its opportunity at a New Year's Six bowl. The Mountaineers should fall out of the Week 11 Top 25, giving teams like Texas — who was off this week — and UCF — a winner over Houston — a chance to jump back in the Top 25. Wisconsin-Iowa were open prior to next weekend's Big Ten showdown. Wake Forest grabbed its seventh win with a beatdown of in-state rival N.C. State.
17. Cincinnati (6-1 vs. East Carolina, late)
16. Notre Dame (6-2, beat Virginia Tech)
15. SMU (8-0, vs. Memphis, late)
The word: Virginia Tech gave the Fighting Irish a scare they weren't expecting in South Bend thanks to three catastrophic turnovers from Notre Dame deep inside Hokies territory. In the end, Ian Book's 7-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds to play capped an 18-play, 87-yard drive to win the game and avoid the upset. Virginia Tech kicked a field goal and couldn't cash in a touchdown late, leaving Notre Dame with a six-point deficit with 3:19 remaining and the ball at its 13. With the win, Brian Kelly's team kept their faint New Year's Six hopes alive.
14. Michigan (7-2, beat Maryland)
13. Minnesota (8-0, open)
The word: After a few early hiccups offensively, Michigan used a fake punt in the second quarter to ignite Saturday's 38-7 win on the road. Staring down the barrel of their third consecutive 3-and-out, the Wolverines called the fake near midfield and scored two plays later to lead 21-0 before intermission.
We thought we could get it. We’ve practiced it now for several weeks. We were waiting for a fourth and one, fourth and two type of situation on our own side, and it was there so we took advantage of the work we had put in. I thought it was a good time to call it and it helped us win this game.”
One of three unbeatens remaining in the Big Ten, Minnesota used its open week to prepare for next weekend's showdown vs. Penn State, who will be likely ranked No. 5 coming to Minneapolis.
12. Auburn (6-2, vs. Ole Miss late)
11. Baylor (8-0, beat West Virginia on Friday)
The word: Unbeaten Baylor dodged a major bullet on Halloween night with a narrow win over West Virginia. The 17-14 decision marked the Bears' first victory scoring less than 20 points since 2006 and kept Baylor in the national title hunt as the schedule increases in difficulty from here. Entering Saturday's slate, Baylor was one of only eight unbeatens remaining at the FBS level.
"Don't apologize for going 8-0, for winning this game," Baylor coach Matt Rhule said. "Just have to continue to improve as we try to move forward."
10. Florida (7-2, loss to Georgia)
9. Oklahoma (7-1, open)
8. Utah (8-1, vs. Washington)
7. Oregon (7-1, at USC late)
6. Georgia (7-1, beat Florida)
The word: In two of Saturday's biggest games with regards to conference championship races, Georgia held off Florida in Jacksonville, 24-17, behind 279 yards passing and two touchdowns from Jake Fromm, who bounced back from two forgettable outings over two previous starts. Utah came from behind to keep its Pac-12 title and Playoff hopes alive at Washington, beating the Huskies, 33-28. Ranked No. 8 to begin the day, the Bulldogs should leap at least two spots in Sunday's rankings to be the nation's highest-ranked one-loss team. Don't expect Florida to fall out of the Top 10.
Week 10 result: Open
The word: Why not Penn State? College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit asked the question during Saturday's show, saying the Nittany Lions are rarely mentioned among the current elite group of national championship contenders despite being unbeaten.
“There’s been too much talk of the loser of LSU-Alabama having a debate to get in (the Playoff),” College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit said during Saturday's show. “Why aren’t people talking about Penn State? If Penn State goes 11-1 and their only loss is in Columbus in competitive game, why wouldn’t Penn State have a very valid and strong case at making the Playoff at 11-1?
Week 10 result: beat Wofford
The word: Clemson has hit its stride since the close win at North Carolina last month and is beginning to look the part this season as the defending national champions. The Tigers are double-digit favorites the rest of the way and have a chance at a win over a Top 25 team in a couple weeks vs. Wake Forest in Death Valley. Beat the Deacons, then Dabo Swinney's team is wins over South Carolina and the ACC Coastal champ away from another final four appearance. It'll be interesting to see where the Tigers land in Tuesday's first Playoff rankings ahead of their Week 11 game at N.C. State.
Week 10 result: Open
The word: To everyone's surprise, we might not see No. 1 vs. 2 as expected next weekend from Tuscaloosa in the Week 10 AP Poll. With as much hype as Ohio State's Chase Young has received in the past week and Tua Tagovailoa's status uncertain, voters may slide the Buckeyes in at No. 2 ahead of the Crimson Tide. Only eight total points separated the Top 3 teams in last week's rankings, so all it takes is a couple voters changing their ballots as the top. Alabama is trending in the wrong direction heading into the game based on national perception, so that could play into Sunday's new poll.
Week 10 result: Open
The word: Could the Buckeyes surge two spots to No. 1 without playing this week? It helps when Alabama and LSU are off, too. No team has arguably garnered more respect nationally than Ohio State over the past three games, continuing its dominance this season no matter the opponent. The Buckeyes dismantled Wisconsin by 31 points and did so with an effective ground game and Heisman-like performance out of their top defensive player, Chase Young. The Big Ten favorite has big games ahead but looks the part as a potential College Football Playoff top seed if they keep it up.
Week 10 result: Open
The word: The game LSU has been waiting to play all year comes next weekend vs. Alabama and credit the Tigers for not stubbing their toe looking ahead to the Crimson Tide. They've been nationally-ranked Florida and Auburn over the past month, two wins better than any victories on the Crimson Tide's schedule. Add Texas to that mix and LSU should be No. 1 in Tuesday's Playoff rankings as well. No one can argue this team's resume' as the nation's best and that's only going to improve if LSU goes into Tuscaloosa and snaps an eight-game skid to the defending SEC champs.