CFB Week 11 winners, losers: Texas's dream stays alive, Wake Forest powerhouse and controversial Oklahoma-Ole Miss decision

It was the type of gritty effort Texas has shown all season, from a comeback win over Ohio State to responding to back-to-back three-point losses with four consecutive wins, including three against ranked opponents.

Saturday may have been the Longhorns' ugliest win of the season, but that's what makes it arguably the sweetest.

Loser: LSU Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt in the red zone

Leavitt's turnover woes were LSU's undoing in the one-point loss. Two Tigers drives ended in Leavitt interceptions, giving him five red-zone interceptions this season.

On the first, his intended target, tight end Trey'Dez Green, slipped on his route and Leavitt got hit as he threw, leading to an easy pick.

On the second, he tossed the ball into double coverage, forcing head coach Lane Kiffin to his knees.

With better decision-making from Leavitt, LSU would still have a pulse in the CFP race. But his shortcomings in the red zone are among the biggest reasons why the Tigers have been the season's biggest disappointment.

Winner: Wake Forest's first halves

Whoever first said, "It isn't how you start but how you finish" clearly didn't have No. 13 Wake Forest (9-1, 6-1 in ACC) in mind.

The Demon Deacons steamrolled past SMU (7-3, 5-3 in ACC), 49-7, behind another dominant first half. Over the last four games, they've outscored their opponents by a combined score of 145-0 entering halftime and out-gained them by 1,003 yards, 1,479-476.

Wake isn't just winning games; it's demolishing the competition. And it's wasting no time doing it.

Loser: USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley

USC (7-3, 4-3 in Big Ten) could have entered the CFP conversation with a road win at No. 9 Indiana (9-1, 6-1 in Big Ten) but instead saw its hopes dashed in the 27-13 loss, dropping Riley to 6-15 against ranked opponents since becoming Trojans head coach.

Quarterback Jayden Maiava threw three interceptions, the offense went 2-of-11 on third downs and kickers Caden Chittenden and Ryon Sayeri both missed field-goal attempts. With a chance to prove his team was legit against the defending champs, Riley instead lived up to his reputation.

Winner: Tennessee's second halves

Whereas Wake Forest is winning games with an overwhelming offense in the first half, the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers (8-2, 5-2 in SEC) have used a suffocating second-half defense in recent weeks to firm up their playoff position.

Following a 22-7 road win at the Texas A&M Aggies (4-6, 1-6 in SEC), the Volunteers have gone three consecutive wins without allowing a second-half point. Over their last four games, they've only allowed one touchdown in the third and fourth quarters.

On Saturday, Tennessee forced three-and-outs on each of Texas A&M's first four second-half possessions. Six of the Aggies' seven possessions over the final 30 minutes gained 10 yards or less, and they finished with just 62 yards after halftime.

Even with a limited offense because of poor quarterback production, Tennessee can be a threat in the playoff because of its defense.

Loser: Michigan's quarterbacks

Firing offensive coordinator Jason Beck wasn't the answer. In Michigan's 31-7 loss to No. 16 Oregon (7-3, 5-2 in Big Ten), quarterback Tommy Carr and Bryce Underwood revealed the Wolverines' problems run quarterback deep.

Carr started and was 4-of-12 for 45 yards. Underwood also received playing time but was even worse, going 2-of-8 for 26 yards.

Without any semblance of a passing game, it doesn't matter who's calling plays. The next change Michigan (5-5, 2-5 in Big Ten) makes on offense needs to be at quarterback in the transfer portal.

Winner: Iowa State Cyclones running back Aiden Flora

What can't Flora do?

The sophomore for Iowa State (5-5, 3-4 in Big 12) is becoming a sensation in Ames, and deservedly so. In a 41-13 blowout win over Cincinnati (5-5, 2-5 in Big 12), Flora built upon his dark-horse Heisman candidacy with perhaps his best game of the season. The former walk-on had 28 carries for 216 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first quarter, while also completing his one pass attempt for 37 yards.

He turned on the jets on his 77-yard score, then struck the Heisman pose after his third touchdown.

Saturday's game marked the third time this season Flora has rushed for 200 yards and his second with 200 yards and three touchdowns. He's fast become appointment viewing, as long as you don't blink and miss him.

Loser: SEC commissioner Greg Sankey

Week 11 was thrown into chaos when flights were grounded nationwide on Friday afternoon, but almost all teams managed to make arrangements that kept the Saturday slate intact. Well, all except No. 19 Ole Miss (6-3, 4-3 in SEC), which couldn't be inconvenienced by a long bus trip to Norman for its game at Oklahoma (5-4, 3-3 in SEC).

Instead, the game got pushed to Sunday, with Sankey threatening the Sooners, who objected to the move, with a forfeiture if they didn't oblige.

How is that even remotely fair? Ole Miss had the issue traveling, not Oklahoma, which has one less day to prep for Texas A&M because of the snafu. If any team needed to be at risk of forfeiting the game, it should have been the Rebels.