Alabama lost this past week to Oklahoma and dropped down to No. 10 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings. The Tide are one spot behind Notre Dame, which is ranked No. 9. There has been a lot of talk this week about Alabama’s resume versus Notre Dame’s and their respective rankings. Pate responded to these new rankings, saying he was “pretty surprised if we’re just going on protocol.”

“Anyone can find a group of stats to throw in your face out there. Like, I got a group of my Notre Dame buddies right now, who I respect, who are making an argument for this, who I know would be on the other side if the logos were flipped,” Pate said. “So, really, if we’re just sticking to principle here, it didn’t make that much sense to me that Alabama dropped that far.”

Pate goes on to theorize that the committee only placed Notre Dame as high as they did so that they could avoid the comparisons between Miami and Notre Dame, two teams that faced each other earlier this year. Much of the talk surrounding the latest CFP rankings was about how much the committee valued head-to-head matchups and outcomes.

The post Josh Pate reacts to new CFP rankings for Alabama, Notre Dame appeared first on Saturday Down South.

In the latest College Football Playoff rankings, the Georgia Bulldogs came in at No. 4. What this means is that Georgia would be slated for a first-round bye when the postseason starts. However, Georgia is not guaranteed to play in the SEC Championship game, so the Bulldogs could get two weeks off and the “double-bye” that Neuheisel is pointing out.

It all comes down to Week 14. There will be plenty of scoreboard watching. An Alabama loss to Auburn would put UGA ahead of the Tide. A Texas A&M loss to Texas could create a 4-way tie scenario that puts Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. The Bulldogs may get in based on strength of schedule in a tiebreaker scenario.

If you are Georgia, the idea of having a double bye sounds nice. After losing Carson Beck last year in the SEC Championship Game, the Bulldogs don’t need to run a similar risk for a game that ultimately means nothing in the CFP.

There isn’t a team in the country that wants to face Kirby Smart with two weeks to prepare.

The post Rick Neuheisel suggests potential ‘double-bye’ for Georgia in postseason appeared first on Saturday Down South.

“The junior is sideline to sideline, and in this game he was blitzing like a wild man…,” Dvoracek said. “He was fabulous against Alabama.”

He went on to describe the play in which Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson threw a pick-six and credited Lewis for causing the interception with his pressure. Claiming he followed the motion and timed it up perfectly, allowing him to get home.

Lewis finished the game with 7 total tackles and 2 sacks. He helped lead Oklahoma to a 23-21 win over the Crimson Tide.

Lewis has had a great season for the Sooners so far. He’s totaled 60 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 passes defended. He’s on track to record his highest number of tackles ever in a season, passing his 2023 season, where he totaled 66 tackles.

Oklahoma will finish its season with two home games against No. 22 Missouri and LSU. After their win against Alabama, the Sooners have solidified themselves as a College Football Playoff team. Winning out is a must, though, if the Sooners want to remain in the bracket.

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Since the LSU and Florida jobs became available, there has been much talk about whether Kiffin would leave to become the head coach of one of those programs. Well, it seems that Aaron Taylor and Rick Nehueisel believe it is more than speculation, as both of them believe he will be the head coach at the University of Florida next year.

Brian Jones wasn’t sure which spot Kiffin would land at, but he’s sure it is “not Ole Miss.” Randy Cross stands alone as the lone CBS Sports analyst who believes he will return to the Rebels as their head coach in 2026.

Kiffin has been the head coach at Ole Miss since 2020. In 6 years, Kiffin has led the Rebels to a 54-19 record and consecutive bowl wins in their last two seasons. Ole Miss reached their highest AP ranking under Kiffin this year at No. 4.

Ole Miss has been a great home for Kiffin, but will it be enough to keep him in Oxford?

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Georgia took down the Texas Longhorns this past weekend by a score of 35-10. The Bulldogs ran away with this game in the second half and won their 6th game in a row since dropping to Alabama on Sept. 27. Quarterback Gunnar Stockton was spectacular with 5 total touchdowns and 258 total yards.

Here’s what McElroy had to say about Stockton and the Bulldogs:

“Gunnar Stockton was again outstanding. Counts for five touchdowns. He’s one of the most efficient I’ve seen in quite some time,” McElroy said. “With what he does with his arm, with what he does with his legs, with how smart he is when delivering the football, where he’s throwing it, the windows that he hits, the guy just doesn’t miss throws.

“As far as their defense is concerned, they really squeezed things down there in the second half. They really did a good job there, especially in the fourth quarter. Just bottling up the run, squeezing the pocket, making Arch Manning uncomfortable.”

Georgia will finish its season up with a game at home against Charlotte this weekend, and then next weekend, go and face Georgia Tech in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

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“They [Notre Dame] have the best player in college football. I’m going to say that right now. Jeremiyah Love, their star running back. He’s the most versatile player in college football,” Tessitore said. “Every down and distance, everything you need. The game-breaking plays, the short-yardage gritty plays.”

Tessitore went on to say that Notre Dame is playing better each and every week as they head toward the CFP.

.@JoeTessESPN says Notre Dame has the best player in CFB in Jeremiyah Love pic.twitter.com/xpiuKwX7dd

— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 18, 2025

Love has had quite the season so far. He totals 1,135 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. He’s also added 274 yards receiving and 3 touchdowns through the air. This brings his totals to 1,409 yards and 17 total touchdowns so far this season.

In 10 games so far, Love has rushed for over 100 yards in 5 of those. In the game against USC on Oct. 18, Love rushed the ball 24 times for 228 yards and a touchdown. He absolutely dominated the game for Notre Dame and helped lead them to a 34-24 victory.

Another important note about Love is that he’s yet to lose a fumble so far this season. He’s only had 1 fumble, and it was recovered by Notre Dame, highlighting Love’s ability to take care of the ball even when his team is leaning on him throughout the game.

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In this scenario, ESPN has deemed that Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina, and Tennessee are all out of the CFP. That leaves us with Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Texas A&M.

ESPN believes the first team out is the Texas Longhorns.

The Longhorns still have one of best remaining opportunities in the country to impress the selection committee when they face Texas A&M in the regular-season finale. If the committee drops Texas to the No. 13 spot Tuesday night just ahead of No. 14 Vandy, a playoff spot becomes a more realistic scenario. But if the committee drops the Longhorns out of the top 13, it could need more than a win against the Aggies to secure an at-large bid.

The last team in according to ESPN, is the Alabama Crimson Tide.

The loss to Oklahoma didn’t knock the Tide out in the latest projection, but it put Alabama in must-win mode and will keep them ranked behind the Sooners. The Tide have only one SEC loss and still have the best chance of any team to reach the conference championship game (71.9%), according to ESPN Analytics.

This means that Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M would all make it to the CFP in this scenario. The SEC would make up 5 of the 12 total teams in the CFP.

ESPN also has another title, “Still in the mix.” ESPN believes this team still has a shot but will need help from other SEC teams. This team is the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Vandy could still be stuck behind Texas because of its loss to the Longhorns, so the Commodores will need to beat both Kentucky and Tennessee and get some help to have a shot.

The new CFP Top 25 will be revealed Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The post ESPN names SEC’s ‘last team in’ and ‘first team out’ of College Football Playoff appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The bowl game gained its popularity in 2023 when it included a live ritual where the winning team ate a giant, edible Pop-Tarts mascot that had been lowered into a toaster. The Pop-Tart held a sign that read, “Dreams Really Do Come True.” Kansas State won the game over NC State in 2023, and they were the team that enjoyed the Pop-Tarts.

Now in 2025, we will see six mascots at the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It makes you wonder what flavors will be at the bowl game this year.

The birth of the Pop-Tarts Bowl is an interesting story. After being named the Cheez-It Bowl, the name changed to the Pop-Tarts Bowl in 2023 after Kellogg’s had acquired the naming rights to the Citrus Bowl and moved the Cheez-It sponsorship to that game.

The new trophy for the Pop-Tarts Bowl was unveiled in December 2023, and it featured a football with two slots for Pop-Tarts. As mentioned earlier, the mascot “Strawberry” was lowered into a toaster and replaced with an edible replica for the winning team to eat.

In 2024, the Pop-Tarts Bowl left it up to fans to decide on the flavor that would serve as the mascot. The fans chose Cinnamon Roll, but Strawberry once again stole the show as he was resurrected following a tribute during the first half.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl has been a fan favorite for a couple of years now, and it appears that in 2025, they will bring the laughs to fans again.

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It’s finally a week where you can smile if you’re an LSU football fan. The Tigers beat the Razorbacks 23-22 over the weekend, and backup quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. played a solid game with 221 passing yards and 1 touchdown. With this being his first win as a starting quarterback for LSU, it was only right that he got the game ball.

However, Van Buren Jr. wasn’t the only Tiger to get their first win. Interim head coach Frank Wilson was also given a game ball from the players, as it was his first win as the interim head coach of the Tigers.

Much of this season has been one to forget, and with quarterback Garrett Nussmeier sidelined with an abdominal injury, it couldn’t end any faster for Tigers fans. However, this moment is one that Tigers fans all around can smile about.

LSU will finish its season with a home game versus Western Kentucky this weekend and then a road game versus Oklahoma on the following weekend. Things have not been pretty for LSU this season, but they still have a chance to ruin one team’s season.

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The Sooners knocked off the Crimson Tide this weekend by a score of 23-21. While Alabama outgained Oklahoma in both passing yards and rushing yards, it was the turnovers that were key to an Oklahoma win. Alabama lost 2 fumbles, and quarterback Ty Simpson threw 1 interception, while Oklahoma played clean football and did not turn the ball over.

This performance was enough for the Sooners to climb 4 spots and land at No. 8 in ESPN’s updated power rankings. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg had this to say about the Oklahoma Sooners:

Who expected Oklahoma’s biggest win in years to come in a game in which it had its lowest yardage total (212) in years? The Sooners shined on special teams and defense against Alabama and avoided the big mistakes on offense that normally doom teams on the road. The key now is to get John Mateer and the offense on a similar trajectory for home games against Missouri and LSU that could propel OU into the CFP. Mateer has only two touchdown passes in his past five starts and has eclipsed 200 passing yards only once in the past four games. Although Mateer had a magical 20-yard touchdown run at Alabama, Oklahoma averaged just 2.6 yards per carry. A stronger offensive performance is needed to finish off a 10-2 regular season.

Rittenberg is right about Oklahoma’s offense needing to click down the stretch. If the Sooners want any chance at a College Football Playoff berth, winning out against LSU and Missouri is a must.

The post Oklahoma moves into top 10 of ESPN’s power rankings after win at Alabama appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Aggies found themselves down 30-3 entering halftime. Reed played his worst half of football so far this season. He had 141 passing yards, 2 interceptions, and a fumble that was returned for a touchdown in the first half. The second half was a completely different story for Reed and the Aggies.

McElroy commented on Reed’s mental toughness on his Always College Football show, stating, “I thought Reed really bounced back. Showed a lot of mental toughness in this game, by the way… His bad is bad. No doubt about it. But his good is like, ‘Woo. This guy’s ridiculous.'”

Texas A&M came out in the third quarter and outscored South Carolina 21-0. Reed led the Aggies on an 8-play drive, a 7-play drive, and a 2-play drive, all of which resulted in touchdowns. The Aggies scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 10-play drive to start the fourth and took the lead 31-30. South Carolina could not score in the second half, and the Aggies won 31-30.

The Aggies have two games left in their quest to be undefeated. They will host Samford this Saturday, on Nov. 22, and then will turn their attention towards Texas whom they will play on the road on Nov. 28.

The post Greg McElroy praises Marcel Reed’s mental toughness in Texas A&M’s comeback win over South Carolina appeared first on Saturday Down South.

It took 6 minutes and only one catch for 11 yards this Sunday for Andrews to become the Ravens’ all-time leader in receiving yards with 5,784 yards. Andrews passed former Michigan State wide receiver Derrick Mason as the all-time leader.

However, this was not the end of the day for Andrews, who later rushed in a touchdown that gave the Ravens a 23-16 lead over the Cleveland Browns.

Andrews took a 4th and 1 run 35 yards to the house to break the tie between the Ravens and the Browns with just a little over 2:30 left in the game.

Andrews would finish the day with 3 receptions for 32 yards and 1 rush for 35 yards and a touchdown. Andrews’ rushing touchdown would give the Ravens the lead, and they would not lose it as they beat the Browns 23-16.

Andrews was a tight end for Oklahoma from 2014 to 2017. In his 2017 season, Andrews totaled 62 receptions for 958 yards and 8 touchdowns. He was a consensus All-American and was a big reason why Baker Mayfield was able to win the Heisman.

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The 11th-ranked Sooners travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday to take on the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide. With a win over Alabama, Oklahoma would climb in the CFP rankings and move much closer to safety in the chase for an at-large bid.

“So, I think if that were to go down, Notre Dame would be jumped immediately by Texas and Oklahoma, and I could also see a scenario where they jump Oregon as well,” McElroy said on his show, Always College Football, on Wednesday.

Notre Dame is currently ranked No. 9 in the CFP rankings, and Oregon is ranked No. 8. This means that McElroy believes a win this weekend would jump Oklahoma into the top 8 and give the Sooners a chance to host a home playoff game.

But what would such a result mean for Alabama?

“They [the selection committee] are not all in on head-to-head,” McElroy said. “It’s not the end-all, be-all. In this scenario where Oklahoma beats Alabama, does it mean that Oklahoma, absolutely with 100% certainty has to be in front of Alabama? Perhaps in previous committees that would have been the No. 1 differentiator.

“This committee, with what we’ve been shown, it’s not necessarily a guarantee that that’s the case.”

McElroy said Alabama is still “comfortably” in the field if it loses, but a win would put the Tide in a great spot to host a first-round game or bypass the first round entirely.

The post Greg McElroy breaks down how a loss to Oklahoma would impact Alabama in CFP race appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Notre Dame checked in at No. 9 on Tuesday night in the second Top 25 released by the CFP selection committee. Texas and Oklahoma sat right behind the Irish in order. Notre Dame is the highest-ranked 2-loss team in the CFP and, according to McElroy, will need the SEC to have very few upsets over the final weeks of the regular season to remain in the field.

McElroy, on his Always College Football show, highlighted how Notre Dame’s biggest problem is their lack of big opponents down the stretch in its schedule.

“But here’s the problem with Notre Dame. Their strength of schedule down the stretch,” McElroy said.

McElroy noted how teams like Texas and Oklahoma have chances to pick up wins over opponents ranked ahead of them. Texas will go on the road this weekend to face No. 5 Georgia, and Oklahoma goes on the road to face No. 4 Alabama. Wins over these teams will more than likely launch Texas and Oklahoma ahead of Notre Dame and into the CFP.

“I think they [Notre Dame] are appropriately ranked right now,” McElroy said. “But if I’m Notre Dame, I’m concerned. I need to be rooting for chalk to fly in the SEC.”

Notre Dame’s only ranked opponent left on its schedule is No. 23 Pitt, which they will face this Saturday.

As McElroy pointed out, Notre Dame will be hoping for it to be chalk in the final couple of weeks of the regular season in the SEC.

The post Greg McElroy reacts to CFP rankings for Notre Dame, Texas, and Oklahoma appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The Aggies’ star passer has only been sacked 7 times this year and has only one game with negative rushing yards. As Texas A&M has roared to a perfect 9-0 record, Reed has thrown for over 2,193 yards and run for 378 yards on the ground. Reed is the third-leading rusher for the Aggies and is tied for first with 6 rushing touchdowns.

He has helped place the Aggies at the top of the SEC and led to a pretty sweet nickname: The Gingerbread Man.

On an appearance on ESPN’s SportsCenter this week, Reed explained the origin of the nickname.

“Ever since I’ve been a kid, I was always shifty, and you know the tale of the Gingerbread Man is you can’t catch him, so kind of just gave myself that name,” Reed said. “Taurean York was doing his little media today after practice, and they had asked him what he would do as a linebacker to stop me, and he said hit me in the mouth, and I was like, ‘Nah.’ I told him I was the Gingerbread Man cause I was just sitting behind watching, and then somebody asked me when I got up and was like, ‘What does the Gingerbread Man mean?’ and I went, ‘You can’t catch me.’

So far this season, nobody has been able to catch Reed. He’ll hope that stays true when the Aggies host South Carolina on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on ESPN.

The post Marcel Reed shares origin for ‘Gingerbread Man’ nickname appeared first on Saturday Down South.

The ninth-ranked Wildcats were down by as many as 20 points in the second half, yet they continued to battle. With 12:24 left to play, the 12th-ranked Cardinals led 78-58. Kentucky would go on a run over the next 8 minutes, and a Collin Chandler 3-pointer brought the game within 4 for the Wildcats with just over 4 minutes left to play. Louisville finished the final 4 minutes on an 8-4 run and got the win.

Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. led the way for the Cardinals with 29 points and 5 assists on 50% shooting. Cardinals guard Ryan Conwell also added 24 points.

The Wildcats were led by Florida transfer Denzel Aberdeen, who scored 26 points to go with 7 rebounds and 3 assists. He shot 50% from the field and 40% from behind the 3-point line. Chandler and Otega Oweh also added 12 points each to the Wildcats’ totals.

The Wildcats are now 2-1 on the season and will be looking to bounce back against Eastern Illinois when they host them on Friday, Nov. 14, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

Louisville remains perfect on the season at 3-0 and will look to stay undefeated when it hosts the Ohio Bobcats this Saturday, Nov. 15, at 12 p.m. ET.

The post Kentucky comeback bid falls short in loss to Louisville appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Pavia was special against Auburn. He led Vanderbilt to a 45-38 overtime win over the Tigers and did so with outstanding numbers. Pavia was 25-of-33 passing for 377 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. He was also the Commodores’ leading rusher, with 112 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Pavia’s performance was much needed, as the Commodores were coming off a 34-31 loss to Texas, and another loss might’ve put Vandy out of CFP contention.

The Vanderbilt QB has been on a tear this season. So far, Pavia has totaled 2,440 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He’s also added 613 yards on the ground and 7 touchdowns. This brings Pavia’s totals to 3,053 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Pavia’s passing total ranks 18th in the country, and his rushing total has him at 62nd in the country. The 8th highest of any quarterback in the country.

He will need to be on his game as Vanderbilt tries to finish its season on a high note. The Commodores are set to conclude the season with a home game against Kentucky and then a road game at Tennessee.

The post Diego Pavia recognized by Senior Bowl for outstanding performance against Auburn appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Anderson sustained a right knee injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s contest against Alabama. He exited the game and headed straight to the injury tent before he eventually left the field on an injury cart. Anderson would return to the sidelines, this time in street clothes and on crutches.

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There was an initial fear that Anderson would miss the rest of the season; however, Anderson’s MRI came back with encouraging news for the wide receiver and the Tigers. There is some hope that Anderson will be able to return this season.

The junior receiver has hauled in 12 receptions for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns on the year. His best game came against Ole Miss when he caught 2 receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown.

LSU would go on to lose 20-9 to Alabama and bring its record to 5-4 overall. The Tigers finish off the year with games against Arkansas, Western Kentucky, and No. 11 Oklahoma.

The 2025-26 season has been one to forget for LSU fans, but hopefully, with some encouraging news, Anderson and the Tigers can finish the year on a strong note.

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The former first-round pick, Payne, has been suspended 1 game for an act of unsportsmanlike conduct, according to Ian Rapoport. Payne has 30 total tackles on the year, with 12 of them being solo tackles. He also has 1 sack and 3.5 stuffs.

The Lions would go on to win the game 44-22, and St. Brown got the last laugh as he hauled in 5 receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Payne will be suspended for the Commanders’ game versus the Dolphins in Madrid on Nov. 16. He can appeal the NFL’s ruling; however, it is unlikely that Payne will see his suspension lifted.

The Commanders, who are already without their star quarterback Jayden Daniels, will likely be without their starting defensive lineman as they take on the Dolphins, who will be riding high coming off a 30-13 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Both teams are 3-7 and will be looking to turn their season around with a win overseas.

Kickoff between the Commanders and Dolphins is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday.

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Texas A&M beat Mizzou 38-17 to remain undefeated. Quarterback Marcel Reed was 20 of 29 for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Rueben Owens II added 102 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

A dominant win for the Aggies slid them up to No. 2 in ESPN’s power rankings, and here’s what Dave Wilson had to say about them:

The Aggies didn’t play incredibly well, but the result was another double-digit win on the road against a ranked opponent, something in which they take solace. Mike Elko said Marcel Reed didn’t have the full playbook at his disposal, and they stuck with a short passing game, with only two of Reed’s throws traveling more than 10 yards. Then they followed a similar plan: line up, run the ball, and dominate up front down the stretch, finishing with 243 rushing yards on 6.3 yards per carry. Elko was frustrated that they also gave up 207 yards on the ground, but the Aggies never relented and allowed Missouri back in the game. A&M has to keep its feet in front of it at 9-0 and No. 3 in the CFP; it has 3-6 South Carolina and 1-9 Samford at home before a trip to Austin to face Texas. The Aggies have scored 30 points or more in eight of their nine games this season, including 49, 45 and 38 the past three weeks, but still can keep growing in the passing game.

Mike Elko‘s squad has 3 games left on its schedule. The Aggies will host South Carolina, followed by hosting Samford, and then will travel on the road to face the Texas Longhorns. They have a legitimate chance to finish as the only unbeaten SEC team.

Texas A&M and South Carolina will kick off at noon ET on Saturday.

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The longtime ESPN analyst highlighted how the coaches poll, the AP Poll, and the CFP rankings all regularly have SEC teams slotted higher than other conferences. He also noted that he was a captain at Ohio State and would love to promote the Big 10 over the SEC.

“They all must be guilty of SEC bias,” Herbstreit said. “You don’t think I want to promote the Big Ten? You think it makes me happy to sit there and promote good teams? I’d love the SEC to have 3 teams in the Top 25 and the Big Ten to have 8. That would make me happy. But you go by what you watch.”

Added Herbstreit: “It’s such bullshit.”

The AP Poll, CFB rankings, and coaches poll all have 9 SEC teams ranked in the top 25 this week, and each poll has the same 9 teams. There seems to be a consensus that these are 9 of the top 25 teams in college football, yet some college football fans would tell you this was due to the SEC bias.

As Herbstreit noted, the coaches competing on the field believe the SEC has 9 of the top 25 teams in the country, and so does the NFL in April when it comes time for teams to draft new players onto their teams.

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“It’s like you’re driving in the fog, and you can’t really see but about 100-200 feet in front of you, and you’re grasping for what’s real, what you can do, what you can’t do,” Vitello said.

Vitello went on to say that it can be frustrating not knowing the rules of the game, and that because of this, head-to-head competition is being lost.

“Overall, it’s very frustrating when you don’t know the rules to the game…But when you really don’t know what the rules of the game are, or they’re so lopsided in favor of Tennessee over Middle Tennessee State, it’s kind of hard to have that nose-to-nose competition,” Vitello said.

Vitello discussed boxing and the UFC, explaining that he was a fan of both because it’s 2 people, locked in one place, determined to find out who’s better. He believes that college baseball is losing that with NIL, as it’s harder to determine who is actually better on the diamond.

Fortunately for Vitello, he won’t have to worry about NIL-related issues anymore now that he’s off to the MLB.

The post Tony Vitello says NIL is ‘a disaster’ for college baseball appeared first on Saturday Down South.

CFP committee chair Mack Rhoades, who is also the Baylor Athletic Director, had this to say when he was asked about Alabama’s No. 4 ranking/

“I’m not sure, when you look at résumé, anybody had a better stretch of 4 games,” Rhoades said. “When you think about Alabama, really, really impressive, two of those wins on the road.”

The 4-game stretch that Rhoades is referring to is when Alabama went 4-0 against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee, all in a row. The games on the road came against Georgia and Mizzou. Without a bye anywhere during the stretch, Alabama became the first team in SEC history to win 4 straight against ranked competition.

“There was certainly discussion about the Florida State loss early on, but just felt like that 4-game stretch–which by the way, historical in the SEC,” Rhoades said. “Nobody has beaten four straight ranked teams without a bye. Then they also finish that out with a good win against South Carolina.”

Rhoades continued and commented specifically on the win versus Georgia.

“Going into Athens, one of the hardest, toughest environments to be able to get out of there with a win,” Rhoades said.

Rhoades went on to comment on quarterback Ty Simpson and how well he is playing. Simpson currently has over 2,100 yards through the air, 20 touchdowns, and just 1 interception.

“That was the discussion,” Rhoades said. “I think they’re getting elite quarterback play right now from Simpson, so a really, really good football team.”

The post CFP chair explains how selection committee evaluated Alabama appeared first on Saturday Down South.

After an emotional introduction for Vitale, a college basketball legend who returned to ESPN after a long battle with cancer, the action tipped off. Freshman phenom Cam Boozer, son of former NBA star Carlos Boozer, also made his official college basketball debut with a bang.

The first half started slowly for both teams as defense was the star. Duke struggled the entire first half to get looks from inside the 3-point line. Duke ended the half making 11 of 29 shots, and 6 of those were from behind the 3-point arc. Evans connected on 4 triples in the first half, giving him 15 points going into halftime.

On the other end, Texas struggled to make an outside shot in the first half. The Longhorns were 2 of 8 from the 3-point line.

Boozer was not quite the star many expected in the first half. The freshman struggled to get any open looks and finished the half with 0 points on 0-7 shooting.

At the half, Texas led 33-32 over the Blue Devils.

The second half was dominated by the Blue Devils as Boozer got rolling. Duke outscored Texas 43-27 in the second half and did most of its work from the free throw line. Duke was 18-of-22 from the free-throw line in the second half alone.

Boozer had a much different second half and finished with 15 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Texas was led by 16 points from Dailyn Swain, and 15 each from Jordan Pope and Matas Vokietaitis. After 3 successful seasons at Xavier, Sean Miller made his Texas debut in a defeat.

Duke plays Western Carolina on Saturday.

Texas faces Lafayette at home the same day.

The post Duke takes down Texas to open 2025-26 season with win appeared first on Saturday Down South.

Neither Lowe nor Aberdeen played in Kentucky‘s exhibition game last week against Georgetown. Lowe has been dealing with a shoulder injury, while Aberdeen is recovering from a leg injury. Sophomore Jayden Quiantance also did not play in the exhibition game last week as he continues rehab for a knee injury.

Starting the year with key players out is not how Kentucky envisioned the start of the year going.

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Kentucky comes into the year ranked as the No. 9 team in the country. While a team of this level should still be able to handle Nicholls without some of its key players, it’s not about the wins and losses for Kentucky. With a team full of new players, getting the team reps and minutes playing together is the name of the game early into the season.

Lowe, Aberdeen, and Quaintance were not on Kentucky’s team last year and transferred in from other programs. It’s hard to learn the system and gel with other players when you are not on the court with them.

Kentucky’s season will start on Tuesday against Nicholls, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

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The Sooners went on the road this past week to Neyland Stadium to take on the Tennessee Volunteers. Oklahoma was coming off a loss to Ole Miss in the past week and needed a win to rebound. While quarterback John Mateer did not have his best game, completing 19 of his 29 passes for 159 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 1 interception, the Sooners were able to dominate the game on the ground.

Running back Xavier Robinson took 16 carries for 115 yards and 1 touchdown, while Mateer added 80 yards and 1 touchdown on the ground as well. The Sooners forced 3 turnovers and won the game 33-27.

Here’s what Eli Lederman of ESPN had to say in regard to Oklahoma climbing 8 spots to No. 11 in the latest power rankings:

The most productive scorer in the Sooners’ first road win over a ranked opponent since 2019? Kicker Tate Sandell. The big-legged redshirt junior knocked in four field goals, including three over 50 yards, in Oklahoma’s 33-27 win at Tennessee. As important, Oklahoma got its running game going at Neyland Stadium. Xavier Robinson’s 115 yards marked the most by a Sooners running back in 2025. And with another 80 yards on the ground from quarterback John Mateer, Oklahoma turned in its best rushing performance against a power conference defense this fall. The Sooners were still outgained 456-351 in Week 10. But even base-level production on the ground at Tennessee made a game-changing impact for an offense that struggled mightily across much of October. It was enough to help keep Oklahoma’s playoff hopes alive. The Sooners will need to keep that same rushing attack cranking when they visit Alabama on Nov. 15.

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The Sooners are off this upcoming weekend but will travel to Tuscaloosa in their next game to face off against the Crimson Tide on Nov. 15.

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The Bulldogs struggled against Florida as they went into the half tied 10-10. The Bulldogs would then go on to outscore the Gators 14-10 in the second half to escape with the victory, but it wasn’t always pretty. Quarterback Gunner Stockton was 20 of 29 for 223 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception through the air. Zachariah Branch was Stockton’s favorite target this week, hauling in 10 receptions for 112 yards.

Here’s what Mark Schlabach of ESPN had to say in regard to the Bulldogs dropping 3 spots in the updated power rankings:

The Bulldogs didn’t have their finest effort on offense in a 24-20 victory against rival Florida in Jacksonville on Saturday. But once again, Georgia’s offense made big plays when it needed it most in the fourth quarter. After running for 221 yards in a 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18, the Bulldogs didn’t have as much success on the ground against the Gators. Georgia ran 39 times for 138 yards, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. Florida’s defense did a good job of containing quarterback Gunner Stockton, who has hurt many opponents with designed keepers this season. Running the ball was a point of emphasis for coach Kirby Smart this past offseason, after his Bulldogs ranked next to last in the SEC with 124.4 yards per game, the lowest average in his tenure. Georgia has been better this season; it ranks sixth in the league with 184 yards per game. But Smart wants even more out of his ground game in the final month of the season.

Georgia still has a tough schedule of remaining games, including matchups against Texas and Georgia Tech.

The Bulldogs will be looking to make a statement next week as they travel on the road to take on Mississippi State. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 8.

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Midway through the fourth quarter, the Commanders were driving and had a 2nd and Goal to cut the deficit to 38-7. Daniels escaped the pocket and was running for the end zone when Seahawks defender Drake Thomas wrapped Daniels up and spun him to the ground. Daniels braced himself with his left arm when falling and injured his elbow in the process.

This is the third injury Daniels has suffered so far this season, but it’s the first that threatens to keep him out long-term.

Here’s a clip of the graphic injury:

Daniels previously suffered a sprained knee in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. This injury sidelined Daniels for the next two weeks, and he returned in Week 5. Two weeks later, Daniels suffered a hamstring injury in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He missed the next week against the Chiefs but returned the week after for the Commanders’ Sunday Night Game against the Seahawks.

Daniels is set to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the full extent of the damage, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It’s been a tough season for the Commanders, who are now 3-6 on the year and have lost 4 in a row.

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LSU parted ways with AD Scott Woodward Thursday night following the firing of head coach Brian Kelly. The Tigers have named Ausberry as the interim AD, and in his press conference held Friday morning, he said he will lead the search for the next football coach. Ausberry also added that the Tigers must make the CFP every year and be one of the teams talked about on every network each week.

“LSU has to be in the playoffs every year in football,” Ausberry said. “We have to be talked about on ESPN, every channel. When you’re talking about LSU football, that is the way. This big building here has to be successful if we are going to be successful as an athletic department. It’s the measuring stick we have here.”

Ausberry is in his 24th year of employment with the LSU Athletic Department. He has served as the department’s Executive Deputy Director of Athletics and Executive Director of External Relations since July 2019.

He is also a former middle linebacker for the Tigers. He was a four-year letterwinner and a leading tackler on the defense for 2 years.

The Tigers haven’t made the CFP since winning it in 2019. Following an overhaul of the team this offseason, LSU was expected to contend for the SEC title and a spot in the 12-team CFP this fall. It opened the season as the No. 9 team in the AP poll. Following last Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M, LSU sits at 5-3 on the year.

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Google and Disney had a deadline of midnight on Thursday to reach an agreement to avoid blackouts on ABC and ESPN’s family of networks. The two parties were unable to reach an agreement, causing Disney’s channels to no longer be available on YouTube TV. This means that games like Vanderbilt at Texas, Georgia vs. Florida, South Carolina at Ole Miss, and Oklahoma at Tennessee won’t be available on YouTube TV this weekend.

He contract dispute has caused outrage from college football fans who rely on YouTube TV to view these networks. Many have taken to X to voice their disappointment with Google and Disney.

YouTube TV issued a statement claiming they couldn’t reach a “fair deal” with ESPN, while ESPN is claiming that Google is “refusing to pay fair rates” for ESPN’s channels.

The two parties will continue to try and make a deal going forward. However, for the time being, CFB fans will not be able to watch the SEC on YouTube TV and will have to turn elsewhere.

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Disney and Google failed to reach an agreement on a renewed distribution deal at midnight on Thursday, meaning that ABC and ESPN networks will no longer be available on YouTube TV. The dispute leaves college football fans wondering how they will be able to watch Week 10 in the SEC.

Here’s YouTube TV’s statement on the situation:

Members, when we renew our contracts with network partners, we advocate for fair pricing to offer you the best TV experience. Our contract with Disney has reached its renewal date, and we’ll not agree to terms that disadvantage our members while benefiting Disney’s TV products. Despite our best efforts, we have not been able to reach a fair deal, and starting today, Disney programming will not be available on YouTube TV. This means you will no longer be able to watch channels like ABC and ESPN or access recordings from these networks in your Library. We know how disruptive it is to lose channels you enjoy, and we’re committed to continuing to work with Disney to reach an agreement. If their content is unavailable for an extended period of time, we’ll offer our members a $20 credit.

In its own statement, ESPN blamed Google for “refusing to pay fair rates” for its content and said the streaming service was attempting to “undercut the industry-standard terms” ESPN had negotiated with other distributors.

For YouTube TV subscribers who need an alternative, Sling TV offers day and weekend passes to test the service.

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Watch every Week 10 SEC game with Sling TV by clicking here. Plans start at $4.99 for a day pass.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Google and Disney were working on a renewed distribution deal. The current deal was set to expire at midnight on Thursday. If the 2 sides could not reach an agreement, ABC and the ESPN family of networks would go dark on YouTube TV, leaving college football fans wondering how they would watch Week 10 in the SEC.

Unfortunately for college football fans, no deal or extension was reached.

Late Thursday night, ESPN released a statement regarding the talks:

Unfortunately, Google’s YouTube TV has chosen to deny their subscribers the content they value the most by refusing to pay fair rates for our channels, including ESPN and ABC. Without a new agreement in place, their subscribers will not have access to our programming, which includes the best lineup in live sports—anchored by the NFL, NBA, and college football, with 13 of the top 25 college teams playing this weekend. With a $3 trillion market cap, Google is using its market dominance to eliminate competition and undercut the industry-standard terms we’ve successfully negotiated with every other distributor. We know how frustrating this is for YouTube TV subscribers and remain committed to working toward a resolution as quickly as possible.

As of now, ABC and the ESPN family of networks will be unavailable on YouTube TV. The two parties will continue to work towards a deal in the near future.

For SEC fans who need an alternative, our friends at Sling TV are offering day and weekend passes starting at $4.99.

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It was announced Sunday night that Brian Kelly would no longer be the head coach of the LSU Tigers moving forward, bringing his tenure at LSU to an end before his fourth season concluded.

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan was on Monday morning. Alex Atkins will now take over as the OC and will still be coaching the tight end group.

In the wake of this news, many LSU staffers have moved into new roles. LSU has already announced tight ends coach Alex Atkins will take over as offensive play-caller for Sloan.

According to Wilson Alexander, analyst Tim Rattay has taken over as the QB coach. In addition to being the OC, Sloan also coached quarterbacks prior to his dismissal.

Frank Wilson, who was previously the running backs coach, has been named as the interim head coach. Per Alexander, analyst Cordae Hankton will step up to work with the running backs on game day to help free up Wilson in his interim head coach role.

Additionally, Alexander reports that co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator Cortez Hankton will remain in his current role.

The LSU coaching staff will look a lot different than it did against Texas A&M the next time they take the field. It will be a makeshift staff until LSU has time to put a staff in place ahead of the 2026 season.

LSU has 4 games left on its 2025 schedule and will look to finish the season strong.

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Hester believes the next coach needs to bring an identity that’s “mean, nasty and tough.”

Here’s his assessment:

Hester was a running back for the Tigers from 2004 to 2007. He spent all 4 seasons of his college career with the Tigers, and he won the 2008 BCS National Championship as a member of the Tigers. In that season, he rushed for over 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

LSU is currently 5-3 on the season and 2-3 in SEC play. While they’re on a bye this upcoming weekend, the following weekend it doesn’t get any easier for the Tigers as they travel to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 4 Alabama.

It will be hard for the Tigers to completely flip their season around, but a strong end to the 2025 season can set the Tigers up for a bounce-back year in 2026.

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Kelly was informed Sunday night that LSU would be parting ways with him after a rough start to the 2025 season for the Tigers. LSU opened as the preseason No. 9 and is currently not ranked in the top 25.

Pate did not hold back on Kelly when analyzing what went wrong in Baton Rouge. He ripped into him for how “checked out” he was while leading LSU’s program.

“But in the most critical parts of roster construction season there, portal, recruiting, this dude was on a beach,” Pate said of Kelly. “I lost all professional respect for how he was going about his business there when I found out how checked out he was on some of the most critical parts of LSU football.

“But the L on that chest right there stands for Louisiana. Brian Kelly had no interest in Louisiana. He had interest in two letters. One of them is B, and the other is K.”

Pate also claimed Kelly hired coaches he had little-to-no conversations with before joining his staff.

LSU will have the bye week to re-group before facing Alabama in Week 11.

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According to Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, Kelly made an appearance at the LSU team meeting and told his players, “Love y’all. Finish the season!”

Kelly’s tenure in Louisiana ended after less than 4 seasons. His official record with LSU was 34-14, and he led the LSU program to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2022 and 2023. However, a disappointing start to the 2025 season sealed his fate.

LSU is coming off back-to-back losses to Vanderbilt and Texas A&M and currently holds a conference record of 5-3, which slots LSU into 11th in the SEC.

LSU opened the season as the preseason No. 9, and after a win against Clemson to start the season, it seemed that LSU was bound to have a great season. However, the Tigers have collapsed into a 5-3 record and still have to play Alabama, Arkansas and Oklahoma this season.

The Tigers are on a bye this upcoming weekend but will face No. 4 Alabama on Nov. 8 in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

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The Aggies have had an amazing start to their season. They’re currently 7-0 and 4-0 in SEC conference play. They’re coming off a 45-42 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks, in which Reed had a strong outing. He completed 23 of his 32 passing attempts for 280 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also added 55 yards and 1 score on the ground to his totals.

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LSU is coming off a 7-point loss to Vanderbilt. The Tigers have had a weird season so far. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t seemed like himself, and the Tigers are far below what many expected of them in 2025. A win against a top-5 opponent could be the juice this team needs to get its season back on track.

McElroy is siding with the Tigers in this matchup to complete the upset.

“I’m taking the upset here. I shouldn’t. I’m going to be honest with you, I shouldn’t; it doesn’t feel good. It’s an insane thing to do,” McElroy said. “Because right now there’s not a lot to feel good about with LSU…I just think this is their last gasp. I think this is a group that will force a couple turnovers, and they’re just going to find a way to win this game.”

We’ll see how his pick fares on Saturday night.

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The Tide have been rolling since their opening loss to Florida State. Since then, the Tide are 6-0 and have rattled off 4 consecutive ranked wins. Alabama is clicking and will be looking to keep that going against a struggling South Carolina team. The Gamecocks are coming off back-to-back losses to LSU and Oklahoma. The offense put up a combined 17 points in the 2 losses, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for only 124 yards in both games.

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McElroy is sticking with the Tide in this matchup and expects Alabama to keep its win streak going.

“I’m taking Alabama, but I would not be surprised if this is a low-scoring, close, competitive football game for 3-plus quarters,” McElroy said. “Probably lean towards taking the points in this one. I think it’s going to be a close game, but I do think Alabama prevails in what will be a gutsy win on the road at Willy-Brice.”

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.

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MSU will be wearing maroon jerseys, white pants, and maroon helmets; however, its a special Mississippi State logo on the side of the helmet. The interlocking logo on these helmets was the Mississippi State logo from 1986 to 1995, before it was replaced with the logo we recognize now.

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This will be a huge opportunity for Mississippi State to earn its first SEC conference win of the season.

Mississippi State is coming off a 2-point loss to the Florida Gators. Quarterback Blake Shapen threw for over 300 yards, but he was unable to crack the end zone and threw 1 interception. All 3 touchdowns came on the ground. Two were scored by running back Davon Booth, and 1 was scored by Kamario Taylor.

Texas is coming off an overtime win over Kentucky in which the offense struggled. Quarterback Arch Manning completed 12 of his 27 passing attempts for 132 yards and 0 touchdowns. Even the ground game struggled, as running back Quintrevion Wisner only totaled 37 yards.

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 4:15 p.m. ET.

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Taylor highlighted how Missouri’s run game has been trending in the wrong direction in its last couple of games. Running back Ahmad Hardy had season lows in the Tigers’ past 2 games, not even cracking 60 total rushing yards.

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“Missouri’s offensive line struggles. There are free runners at times, and because of that, Rick, that defense of Vandy, I think, can nullify it [Mizzou running game],” Taylor said.

Neuheisel highlighted the Vanderbilt offense as one of the reasons he is going with Vanderbilt to get the win.

“And I, having lived through the pistol as a coach, I know this thing is effective, and Diego, at 24 years old, is a master of it,” Neuheisel said.

Vanderbilt will be looking for its second straight ranked victory after a win over LSU last weekend, while Missouri is in search of its first ranked win of the season. Both of these teams are 6-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Nashville.

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McErloy made it clear that Vanderbilt has made a big leap this season. While many may look at Vandy and question its legitimacy due to the program’s history, McElroy believes it is a legitimate CFP contender.

“To go out now and to beat an SEC blueblood and begin to achieve historic milestones almost weekly, this is showing us that Vanderbilt’s ceiling is very different than what it’s been in the past,” McElroy said. “They’re no longer content with just being in the conversation or moral victories. They are, truly, in pursuit of a legitimate conference championship, legitimate national relevance, and this is tremendous to see what they’ve done.”

Vanderbilt beat LSU 31-24 this past weekend and got its 6th win of the season. This is Vanderbilt’s best start to a season since 1950. Quarterback Diego Pavia was a threat both through the air and on the ground against the Tigers. He completed 14 of his 22 passing attempts for 160 yards and a touchdown and also added 86 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

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Vanderbilt will look to keep things going as they take on the No. 15 Missouri Tigers this weekend on Oct. 25 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Georgia jumped 3 spots from its ranking last week and slots in as the No. 5 team in ESPN’s power rankings following Week 8. Georgia hosted Ole Miss this past Saturday, and Gunnar Stockton and the Bulldogs’ offense hung 43 points on the Rebels to win the game 43-35.

Stockton was on fire against the Rebels, completing 26 of his 31 passing attempts for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also added 59 yards and another touchdown on the ground to his totals.

Here’s what ESPN’s Mark Schlabach had to say about Georgia in this week’s power rankings:

Georgia fans who had any lingering doubts about quarterback Gunnar Stockton probably don’t have them any longer after Saturday’s 43-35 victory against Ole Miss…Stockton was a perfect 12-for-12 with three touchdowns in the second half…,” Mark Schlabach of ESPN wrote. “Even when the Bulldogs fell behind in games against Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Ole Miss, Stockton never flinched. He ranks No. 2 in the FBS in total QBR (91.0) and has thrown only one interception with 17 total touchdowns.

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Georgia will be on a bye this weekend before it faces off with Florida in the Swamp on Nov. 1 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

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Alabama has rattled off 6 consecutive wins since its season-opening loss to Florida State. Its most recent win was a 37-20 victory over the Tennessee Volunteers. Quarterback Ty Simpson had another great game, completing 19 of his 29 passes for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Simpson has been spectacular all season and is currently tied for the best odds to win the Heisman Trophy.

Here’s some analysis on Alabama from ESPN’s Andrea Adelson in this week’s power rankings:

Over their six-game winning streak, the Tide have rewritten the narrative to their season, and coach Kalen DeBoer praised his team for finding a different way to win every week with the type of edge that makes the difference. In a 37-20 win over Tennessee, it was the defense that stepped up for its best performance to date,” Andrea Adelson of ESPN said. “Ty Simpson has led the way with his steady leadership, making clutch throws to help the Tide seal wins against Georgia and Missouri. It has not looked pretty at times, and DeBoer acknowledges his team still has a long way to go, but the sign of any good team is finding ways to win.

The Tide has won 4 consecutive games against ranked opponents, putting up at least 24 points in each contest. In these past 4 games, Simpson has totaled 1,090 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just 1 interception.

Alabama’s next game will come against South Carolina as the Crimson Tide will travel to Williams-Brice Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 25.

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Schrauth was injured during the 2nd quarter of Saturday’s game against USC. Schrauth did return to the game on the following possession; however, he was injured again in the 4th quarter.

“I don’t know what it is—knee, leg, contusion—but I know he was able to get back in there, then hobbled out again, and he was able to lead our team in the fight song,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said in his postgame poss conference. “That’s what’s most important. When we win, Billy leads us in the fight song. But I don’t know the medical diagnosis yet.”

This is a huge loss for the Fighting Irish, as Schrauth is viewed as one of the top guards in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft. According to Pro Football Focus, Schrauth has allowed only 2 quarterback pressures all year.

The Fighting Irish will have to face off against Boston College on Nov. 1 with redshirt sophomore Sullivan Absher in place of Schrauth.

If Notre Dame were to make the CFP, Schrauth would be lined up to return in time for a playoff run.

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Finebaum slammed the decision from Indiana on his show earlier this week, and on Friday morning, he doubled down on his take. Smith asked Finebaum if Indiana made the right move, and Finebaum answered clearly, they did not.

However, it’s not because he believes Cignetti is not doing a good job. Finebaum said that signing coaches to massive extensions this early into their tenure is how college football programs get into trouble.

“We’re barely at the midpoint. Let it play out before you completely send the Brinks truck up,” Finebaum said.

Finebaum went on to say that Cignetti has maybe 1.5 big wins and asked Indiana to just let it play out a little bit. He referenced Mel Tucker, James Franklin, and Jimbo Fisher as coaches who were all given massive extensions early into their tenure that didn’t play out how the programs expected.

Cignetti has led Indiana to a 17-2 record so far, with a College Football Playoff berth last season. With a favorable back-half schedule, Indiana is primed to make its second straight CFP appearance.

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During his show earlier this week, FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt broke down the matchup between 2 of the highest-powered offenses in the country. Tennessee currently has the No. 1 scoring offense in the country, averaging 48.2 points per game. However, Alabama’s offense is no slouch. Quarterback Ty Simpson is a Heisman Trophy candidate, according to Klatt.

“I think Bama wins it 34-28,” Klatt said. “So, I think it’s a bit of a high-scoring affair. Bama wins this one at home 34-28, but I’m going to take the +7.5 for Tennessee for the pick.”

Klatt mentioned how big a game this is for Tennessee. The Vols have not won in Bryant-Denny Stadium since 2003 — they have lost 10 straight. And with another loss on their résumé, the chances of the Vols making the College Football Playoff become much slimmer.

What the game comes down to for Klatt is Tennessee’s ability to get pressure on Simpson.

“If they can, they can control the passing game. If they don’t, he [Ty Simpson] will eat them alive,” Klatt said. “That’s the entire key. Can Bama give Ty Simpson time to throw?”

Kickoff between Tennessee and Alabama is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. The Crimson Tide are an 8.5-point favorite, per BetMGM.

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After Auburn took an early lead on Georgia at home last week and let it slip away, who in their right mind would back them this week against Mizzou? Well, Scott Van Pelt had a great answer to that question during Thursday night’s “Winners” segment on ESPN.

“Who hurt you, Scott?” SVP asked himself. “Auburn did. Auburn hurt me. But guess what? We’re all going to die, but I’m going to live while I’m here! And I will not live afraid! War Eagle again!”

SVP is taking the 1.5 points (via bet365) and riding with the Tigers this weekend in Jordan-Hare Stadium. SVP is 11-6-1 against the spread when picking Auburn, according to ESPN. He is currently 32-33 this season when picking his winners and is looking to bounce back after a 3-5 record in Week 7 of the CFB season.

Missouri is coming off a 3-point loss to the red-hot Crimson Tide. Quarterback Beau Pribula threw 2 interceptions last week, one of which essentially ended the game. He’ll have to take better care of the football if he wants a chance to take down Auburn at home.

Auburn is rolling in off a loss to Georgia and is currently on a 3-game losing streak. With rumors swirling that this game could determine Hugh Freeze’s future as the Auburn head coach, the Tigers are playing for much more than just a win on their record.

Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. ET.

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The top-10 matchup between No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 9 Georgia was on his card.

“Revenge spot. Lay ’em in Sanford against unbeaten Ole Miss,” Van Pelt said of the Bulldogs, who are a 7.5-point favorite, per BetMGM.

SVP is currently 32-33 this season when picking his winners. While not an amazing record, he still does pick the correct winner around half of the time.

Ole Miss is coming into Sanford Stadium with a perfect 6-0 record on the year. While they did struggle with Washington State last week, many believed they were looking ahead to this weekend’s matchup with Georgia. Since Trinidad Chambliss took over the quarterback job, he’s thrown 6 touchdowns to just 1 interception. He’s also shown his ability to get out of the pocket and make plays with his legs, rushing for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 4 games.

Georgia is coming off a 20-10 victory over Auburn. After being dominated in the first half, the Bulldogs put up 17 unanswered points in the second half to win the game. Starting slow has been a theme with this Georgia team, something it hopes to change this week.

Kickoff on Saturday is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

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Rattler started the game 8 for 15 with 1 interception, and the Sooners found themselves down 28-7 after the first quarter. Williams then took over and led Oklahoma to a comeback victory, outscoring Texas 35-10 in the second half to go on and win the Red River Rivalry. From that moment on, Williams was the starter at Oklahoma, and Rattler was his backup.

As Rattler’s New Orleans Saints prepare to face Williams’ Chicago Bears this Sunday, Rattler reflected back on this time and his relationship with his former OU teammate.

“We all have our own paths, and we’ve got to do our best with our own paths,” Rattler said. “It is what it is. The past is the past. We’re focused on the present and the future, but I would say, yeah, that definitely led me to South Carolina. It was a blessing in disguise that I got to play with the Gamecocks and develop there, get ready to the league after that.”

When asked what his relationship with Williams was like, Rattler responded with a simple “Cordial.”

“I’ll say what’s up to him at the game. I’ve got respect for him. Good player,” Rattler said.

The two former Oklahoma quarterbacks are set to face off in the NFL on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

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Tennessee released its uniform combination on X, and fans are calling it the return of the Icy Whites. The Vols will wear a white helmet, white jersey, and white pants. However, they won’t be wearing all white, as the uniforms are paired with black gloves, black accessories, and black cleats.

This is the first time this season that Tennessee will wear this uniform combination, as Mississippi State opted to wear white at home on Sept. 29.

Tennessee is coming off a 34-31 home victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks. The UT defense struggled to stop the rush attack of the Razorbacks, allowing running back Mike Washington Jr. to take 19 carries for 131 yards. The Vols will need to be much better if they want to knock off the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa.

While the Vols have not looked great in recent weeks, it wasn’t too long ago that Tennessee lost by just 3 in overtime to the Georgia Bulldogs, proving that they are among the elite teams in college football. The Vols may be looking to make it a shootout on Saturday.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.

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