Welcome to Glass Slipper! Neither JJ McCarthy nor his alter ego are the answer; please enjoy the show.

- Jacob Rhee

Here are my 10 biggest takeaways from Week 11 of the college football season.

1. Welcome to New York.

Fernando Mendoza is a Jet. We might as well pencil it in now. All of the front-office bigwigs made the trip over to Happy Valley, and No. 15 delivered the most impressive drive of the college football season to keep his team’s perfect campaign intact.

Sam Darnold was far too laid-back to survive in the Big Apple, and Zach Wilson’s obnoxious selfishness didn’t work either. Though I’m not head-over-heels about Fernando as a prospect, I think his straightforward communication style will make him extremely popular in NYC. Perhaps he’ll head up to the Heisman ceremony early to do some apartment-hunting.

2. 20/20 vision.

Look, I get it. The 16 programs in the Big 12 have combined for exactly one playoff win since the format’s creation. Thus, there’s a temptation to write off the conference in its entirety.

Sometimes you just have to trust your eyes. Mine tell me that Texas Tech is real.

That’s the nastiest front seven in America, and it’s awfully difficult to find a running back tandem more bankable than true sophomores Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams. Both of the Red Raiders’ elite strengths are going to become even more valuable in December and January; this is the kind of squad that can single-handedly alter the reputation of its league.

3. Hollywood Walk of Fame.

It’s been over two decades since a school produced six first-round picks in a single draft.

Well, I’m taking a look at this Ohio State roster. Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese, and Carnell Tate are stone-cold locks. Sonny Styles and Kayden McDonald both have a good shot. Could… could Austin Siereveld sneak into the picture?

Nothing boosts an individual’s stock quite like a national championship. We’ll see where this discussion stands if my beloved Buckeyes manage to claim another ring.

4. All grown up.

A few hours after Fernando Mendoza enjoyed a signature moment, Dante Moore followed suit. 30 seconds left, down by a point on the road, with cold rain falling. Oregon’s star signal-caller puts a go-ball in a shoebox, and gets the Ducks into field-goal range. I haven’t seen a better throw at any level this year.

I’ll never be one of those grumpy dudes that shakes their fist at the transfer portal. A good-hearted kid like Moore can look overwhelmed as a freshman, and have the opportunity to handpick a coaching staff that will maximize his talents. He ultimately blossoms into an elite quarterback, and soon should be able to take care of his family forever. That’s an awesome success story; Dante deserves every bit of this.

5. Please stop.

Texas A&M was up 31-10 on Missouri, with seven minutes remaining. Ahmad Hardy rumbled for a long touchdown run, and the folks operating the Tigers’ stadium seriously hit the strobe lights and fireworks. What on Earth are we doing?

This is hardly a problem that is unique to Mizzou, by the way. “Save Your Tears” rings through Citizens Bank Park when Philadelphia loses. The Yankees blasted Frank Sinatra after choking away a World Series elimination game on their home turf in 2024, then managed to come up with a half-resolution.

We need to end this. Not even the elementary schoolers are in a peppy mood when experiencing sports heartbreak. Silence is alright sometimes.

6. Joyride.

On Thursday, Wisconsin announced that Luke Fickell’s job is safe until next fall. Just over 48 hours later, he finally earned his first ranked win as the Badgers’ head coach. That man is floating on air, and I’m incredibly happy for him.

7. Tiptoe.

The Virginia Cavaliers - who just scored zero touchdowns in a home loss to Wake Forest - have a serious chance to play for a CFP berth next month. I figured I’d let you know ahead of time, so you’re not caught off guard. It may be a logical time to start checking out their depth chart, so you can sound like you’ve been dialed in this whole time. I’ll certainly be partaking in that activity myself.

8. Flashbacks.

In 2014, Ohio State suffered that infamous early-season loss to Frank Beamer and company. Virginia Tech finished the campaign at 7-6, while the Bucks never fell again. JT Barrett recovered from that nightmare in the Shoe, and finished top-five in Heisman voting. Does any of that sound familiar?

Alabama is essentially writing the same story here. Four more wins, and the Tide effectively secures the No. 2 seed in the bracket; it’ll be quite the miraculous climb, for a group that very nearly tumbled out of the AP poll after Week 1. I’m sure there are Bama content creators brainstorming documentary titles as we speak.

9. My updated Heisman ladder.

1) Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech LB

2) Fernando Mendoza, Indiana QB

3) Julian Sayin, Ohio State QB

4) Cashius Howell, Texas A&M EDGE

5) Ty Simpson, Alabama QB

6) CJ Allen, Georgia LB

7) Haynes King, Georgia Tech QB

8) Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame RB

9) Drew Mestemaker, North Texas QB

10) Emmett Johnson, Nebraska RB

10. Time to peek ahead.

A fantastic Saturday is around the corner. Notre Dame and Pitt at noon. Oklahoma and Alabama after that. Then, it’s Texas and Georgia under the lights. This blurry playoff chase is about to clear up significantly.

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