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Manning Match Up Week 11 - November 14

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Five games this week feature Manning Award Watch Listers facing each other, but the selection for this week's Manning Match-Up is Notre Dame at No. 12 Pittsburgh (7 p.m. CT, ABC, ESPN-GP).  The Fighting Irish are 4-3 against Pittsburgh in the seven games since 1999, but the Panthers won the last meeting in four overtimes, 36-33, in Notre Dame Stadium last year. Notre Dame is 6-3 on the season; Pittsburgh is 8-1, including a 5-0 record at home.

Both teams have turned the ball over just nine times this season, which is tied for seventh nationally.

Notre Dame is led by junior quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who has thrown for over 300 yards five times this season, helping him average 307.8 yards per game this year, fifth-best in the FBS. On the season, he has completed 209-of-308 passes for 2,770 yards with 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Pittsburgh is led by senior quarterback Bill Stull who has completed 148-of-219 passes for 1,879 yards with 17 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

The match up at quarterback for this game is evenly matched based on the numbers. Because the Panthers have run the ball so well, Stull has not had to pass as much; Clausen has 909 more yards through the air than Stull does, but their completion percentages (Stull 67.6, Clausen 67.9), interceptions (Stull four, Clausen three), pass efficiency (Stull 161.61, Clausen 162.88) and touchdown passes (Stull 17, Clausen 20) are nearly identical.

Other Week 11 Manning Match-Ups

November 11, 2009 (Wednesday)
Toledo (Aaron Opelt) at Cebtral Michigan (Dan LeFevour), 7 p.m. CT, ESPN2

November 14, 2009 (Saturday)
No. 14 Miami (Jacory Harris) at North Carolina (T.J. Yates), 2:30 p.m. CT, ABC
Arkansas State (Corey Leonard) at Florida Atlantic (Rusty Smith), 3 p.m. CT
Troy (Levi Brown) at Arkansas (Ryan Mallett), 6:30 p.m. CT, ESPN-GP

Manning Award Stars of the Week

From the players currently on the Watch List for the Manning Award, here are some of the standout stars from week 10:

Case Keenum, Houston (40-of-60, 522 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT)
Huge numbers, including driving Cougars for TD with 21 seconds left and then into range for winning FG after Cougs recover on-sides kick.

Ryan Mallet, Arkansas (23-of-27, 329 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT)
Mallett goes 12-of-13 in second half as Razorbacks score 23 unanswered points to top Gamecocks.

Colt McCoy, Texas (33-of-42, 470 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
Career-high yards for McCoy, including 273 to roommate Jordan Shipley, in blowout of UCF.

Kellen Moore, Boise State (28-of-41, 354 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT)
Nation's leader in pass efficiency continues strong play and keeps Broncos undefeated with win over Louisiana Tech.

Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green (22-of-40, 313 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
Down 13, Sheehan runs for a fourth quarter TD, then throws for game-winner with 39 clicks to go.

Manning Award Players to Watch

While the final additions have been made to the Manning Award Watch List, all quarterbacks remain eligible to win the award. Here's a look at 10th-week numbers from quarterbacks who are not on the Watch List:

Sean Canfield, Oregon State (29-of-39, 342 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
Cal shuts down Jacquizz Rodgers, but Canfield steps up as Beavers likely to jump back into Top-25.

Zach Collaros, Cincinnati (29-of-37, 480 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT)
Backup continues amazing efforts, keeping Bearcats undefeated and sending UConn to another near-miss.

Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee (21-of-27, 331 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT)
Big day for Crompton as Volunteers cruise to 56-28 victory over Memphis.

Joey Elliott, Purdue (28-of-39, 367 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INT)
Elliott tallies career-high for passing yards as he rallies Boilermakers from 13-point second-half deficit.

Nick Florence, Baylor (32-of-43, 427 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT)
Freshman sets school record for passing yards as Baylor shocks Missouri.