AUBURN, Ala. – Alex McPherson connected on a 43-yard field goal with 33 seconds remaining Saturday to cap Auburn’s comeback and hand Arkansas a 26-23 loss at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
The Razorbacks led 13-9 entering a fourth quarter in which the teams combined for 27 points. Arkansas (3-6, 1-5 SEC) pulled even at 23-23 with 1:56 remaining when KJ Jackson found Antonio Jordan for a 23-yard touchdown.
Auburn (5-4, 3-4 SEC) answered with a 10-play, 50-yard scoring drive directed by quarterback Byrum Brown. Brown opened the possession with an 11-yard keeper, connected with Keshawn Singleton for 21 yards and converted third-and-1 at the Arkansas 34 with a 2-yard run.
Arkansas used the rest of its timeouts during the possession but saved additional time when Brown stepped out of bounds after a 5-yard gain.
The Razorbacks could not capitalize on their final opportunity. An intentional grounding penalty caused a 10-second runoff, and a last-second lateral play ended with a fumble recovered by Auburn.
After struggling in the first half, Brown completed 10 of 14 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns after halftime while adding 125 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. His rushing touchdown extended his streak to six consecutive games.
Brown put Auburn ahead 23-16 with 3:56 remaining when he escaped a potential sack by linebacker Ja’Quavion Smith and found Singleton alone in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown.
Jackson, playing in his home state, responded with two key throws on Arkansas’ next possession. He hit tight end Ty Lockwood for 43 yards before finding Jordan for the tying touchdown on the first play after the two-minute timeout.
Jackson finished 14 of 30 for 180 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Auburn’s defense pressured him throughout the second half and recorded six sacks for a loss of 42 yards.
The Tigers took their first lead on Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run with 12:50 left. Arkansas answered with Max Gilbert’s 46-yard field goal, which bounced off the left upright and through to tie the score at 16-16 with 9:32 remaining.
Gilbert made three of five field-goal attempts, connecting from 38, 37 and 46 yards while missing from 53 and 51. He is 1 of 7 on attempts of at least 50 yards this season.
After missing from 53 yards on Arkansas’ opening possession, Gilbert gave the Razorbacks a 3-0 lead with a 38-yard field goal with 2:28 remaining in the first quarter.
Braylen Russell extended the advantage to 10-0 on a 2-yard touchdown run with 11:21 left in the first half. Sutton Smith’s 65-yard run to the Auburn 1 set up the score.
Arkansas officially finished with 172 rushing yards on 44 attempts. Excluding sacks, the Razorbacks gained 214 yards on 38 carries. Settles led the team with 100 yards on 16 carries, including a 46-yard run that set up Gilbert’s field goal late in the third quarter.
Arkansas controlled the game defensively early. After stopping Brown short on a fourth-and-2 keeper at the Auburn 48 on the Tigers’ opening possession, the Razorbacks forced punts on each of the next five drives.
Auburn fans booed when the punt team took the field following the Tigers’ third three-and-out. Through five possessions, Auburn had totaled just 39 total yards, and Brown had minus-10 rushing yards.
McPherson provided Auburn’s first points with a 33-yard field goal with three seconds remaining before halftime, cutting Arkansas’ lead to 10-3.
Bentonville native Chas Nimrod caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brown with 5:01 left in the third quarter. McPherson missed the extra point, leaving Arkansas ahead 10-9.
Auburn became the first home team to win in the series since 2020, when Anders Carlson’s field goal with seven seconds remaining lifted the Tigers to a 30-28 victory. The visiting team won every meeting from 2021-25.
The Tigers moved within one win of bowl eligibility for the first time since 2023. Auburn visits Mississippi State and hosts Samford of the Football Championship Subdivision before closing the regular season at No. 5 Alabama in the Iron Bowl.
Arkansas faces three consecutive opponents ranked in the initial College Football Playoff rankings to close its season. The Razorbacks host No. 21 South Carolina next Saturday before visiting No. 7 Texas and welcoming No. 14 LSU to Fayetteiville.
The victory was Golesh’s first against Silverfield after going 0-3 against his Memphis teams while coaching South Florida from 2023-25.
Golesh and Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack were finalists for the Arkansas job before Silverfield was hired last November.
Next Up: Arkansas hosts South Carolina (6-3, 4-3) at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in Fayetteville. The game will air on SEC Network. The Gamecocks defeated Texas A&M 17-9 in Columbia on Saturday.
WASHINGTON — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Cavaliers is set for Noon Sunday, November 8 on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas returns home to Fayetteville to face Robert Morris on Wednesday, November 11.
Schedule: No. 12 Arkansas (1-0) vs. No. 9 Virginia (2-0) (Washington DC; Capital Showcase)
Tune In: Sunday afternoon’s matchup between Arkansas and Virginia will stream on ESPN with Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Sean Farnham (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) and Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Capital One Arena.
Notes: John Calipari helped Arkansas win their 53rd home opener in a row and move to 34-0 in openers at Bud Walton Arena in a 106-61 domination of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night. His Razorbacks will face their first test when they travel to Washington DC to face AP No. 9 Virginia on Sunday afternoon.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr. returns to his hometown of Washington DC to face Virginia after posting 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting, four rebounds, three steals and two assists against UAPB. Smith’s defensive capabilities will prove valuable against a Virginia team that is hoping guard Chance Mallory takes a big step as a breakout player this season.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson led Arkansas to a big win against UAPB with a team-high 23 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field and a 4-for-7 mark from behind the three point line. Wilkinson also recorded six rebounds, a team-high five steals, three assists and a block against the Golden Lions on Tuesday night. If Wilkinson continues his hot shooting against Virginia, things will go well for the Razorbacks.
Guard Billy Richmond III was the head of the snake on offense in Arkansas’ two exhibition wins, leading the Razorbacks in scoring in victories with 17 points against No. 15 Gonzaga on Oct. 24 and 20 points against Memphis on Oct. 28. Richmond totaled eight points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal in Arkansas’ blowout of UAPB on Tuesday night. The Memphis, Tenn. native’s experience will be important as the Razorbacks face their first test of the season against Virginia on Sunday.
Forward Miikka Muurinen has continued to be the piece Arkansas needed at the power forward spot after Trevon Brazile was selected by the Denver Nuggets in the 2026 NBA Draft. Muurinen’s athleticism has been huge for him, helping him reach 10 points on 3-of-9 shooting along with four rebounds and two steals against the Golden Lions on Tuesday night. Muurinen’s matchup against All-ACC forward Thjis De Ridder will go a long way in determining the result of Sunday afternoon’s tilt in Washington DC.
Forward Cooper Bowser, the Woodbridge, Va., product will get a homecoming as well when he and Arkansas face Virginia. Bowser scored eight points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting from the field and added seven rebounds and a block in the victory against UAPB. Bowser has been the stability the Razorbacks have needed at center but a difficult test against a Cavaliers front court that is led by Johann Grunloh and the aforementioned De Ridder.
Ryan Odom, who led Virginia to a 30-6 record and a Round of 32 appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, has his Cavaliers out to a 2-0 start following victories against Drexel on Tuesday and Northeastern on Friday to start the 2026 season. Odom’s team will face their first regular season test against Arkansas on Sunday before traveling to Maryland on Nov. 13, welcoming Kentucky to town for the ACC/SEC Challenge on Dec. 2 and heading to New York City to face UConn on Dec. 20.
Guard Chance Mallory is the guy head coach Ryan Odom and Virginia fans expect to take a big leap to lead Virginia deeper into the NCAA Tournament come March. On Friday against Northeastern, Mallory scored 20 points on 7-for-12 shooting from the field, alongside five assists and four steals in the 97-72 win against Northeastern on Friday. Mallory’s matchup against Jordan Smith Jr. will play a big factor in Sunday afternoon’s game.
Guard Sam Lewis matched his backcourt mate with 20 points on 5-for-11 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from the free throw line. Lewis also picked up four assists, two rebounds a steal against the Huskies on Friday. Lewis will have the job of defending against three-point specialist Jeremiah Wilkinson when the two teams meet on Sunday.
Forward Nolan Adekunle tallied three points, two assists, a block and a steal in Friday’s win against Northeastern. Adekunle will need to put up a better offensive performance against Billy Richmond III, alongside Mallory and Lewis if Virginia wants to defeat the Razorbacks on Sunday.
Forward Thjis De Ridder was productive in Virginia’s win on Friday against Northeastern. De Ridder scored 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting and added six rebounds, four assists and four steals against the Huskies. If De Ridder shows up and plays well against Arkansas, he can test the young Razorback front court.
Center Johann Grunloh turned in 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, added four rebounds, three assists and two blocks against Northeastern on Friday. Grunloh’s 7-foot, 250-pound size could do well for him against a Razorbacks front court that relies on freshman Caleb Ourigou for the same thing but he has yet to make a true impact on the floor for Arkansas.
November has arrived, and the race for the College Football Playoff is only getting tighter. Week 9 delivered another shakeup as USC knocked off No. 2 Ohio State, while Georgia, Utah and Texas Tech handled business in key conference matchups. With the season entering its final full month, Week 10 brings another opportunity for contenders to separate themselves and another chance for an upset to change the picture.
Iowa left little doubt in the battle for the Heartland Trophy, shutting out No. 25 Wisconsin 30-0 at Kinnick Stadium. Hank Brown threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns as the Hawkeyes built a 20-0 halftime lead and handed the Badgers their fifth consecutive loss in the rivalry.
No. 13 Texas Tech rallied from a halftime deficit to beat No. 22 Arizona 34-26 in a pivotal Big 12 matchup. Tommy Castellanos accounted for three touchdowns and rushed for 117 yards, while J’Koby Williams added 175 rushing yards and a decisive 64-yard touchdown. Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 417 yards, but the Wildcats couldn’t finish the job in Lubbock.
No. 3 Georgia used a dominant defensive performance to put away No. 17 Florida 27-8. The Bulldogs forced four turnovers, highlighted by Chris Cole’s 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown, and kept the Gators off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter. Georgia’s sixth consecutive victory in the rivalry kept the Bulldogs firmly in the SEC title hunt.
No. 6 Utah wasted no time taking control at Cincinnati, building a 42-6 halftime lead on its way to a 49-25 victory. Devon Dampier threw for 260 yards and two touchdowns, while the Utes added two defensive scores before halftime. Cincinnati showed some life after the break, but Utah’s overwhelming start helped it improve to 8-0.
USC delivered the biggest upset of the day, knocking off No. 2 Ohio State 30-18 at the Coliseum. Jayden Maiava threw for 222 yards and a touchdown, and the Trojans never trailed after his early 69-yard scoring strike to Trent Mosley. Ohio State outgained USC 464-338, but 11 penalties and missed opportunities helped send the Buckeyes to their second loss of the season.
Could Week 10 be a repeat of Week 7 where upsets occur all day or will the favorites take care of business? It starts in the early slate with the Holy War between No. 9 BYU and No. 3 Utah and an old Big 12 matchup resuming between No. 7 Texas and No. 18 Missouri.
The afternoon and evening slates have even more SEC flavor. No. 5 Alabama and No. 14 LSU renew their historic series while SEC leader No. 6 Kentucky hits the road to face rival No. 13 Tennessee to begin the primetime slate. Also, No. 23 Oregon visits No. 12 Ohio State with the Buckeyes looking to bounce back from their loss at USC and avoid another setback in the race.
No. 10 Ole Miss has had some of the best success at their home field, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, since 2024 but No. 2 Georgia comes to town after they dominated Florida last Saturday in Atlanta. Another rivalry finishes up the night when the College Football Playoff’s top ranked Miami team travels to South Bend to face No. 11 Notre Dame.
College Football Playoff Top 12 No. 1 Miami 8-0 (6-0) ACC This Week: at No. 11 Notre Dame (7-1) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC) No. 2 Georgia 7-1 (5-1) SEC This Week: at No. 10 Ole Miss (6-2) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC) No. 3 Utah 8-0 (5-0) Big 12 This Week: No. 9 BYU (7-1) (Saturday, 11 a.m., ABC) No. 4 Indiana 8-1 (5-1) Big Ten This Week: Off No. 5 Alabama 6-2 (4-2) SEC This Week: at No. 14 LSU (6-2) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ABC) No. 6 Kentucky 7-1 (5-1) SEC This Week: at No. 13 Tennessee (6-2) (Saturday, 5:15 p.m., ESPN) No. 7 Texas 6-2 (3-2) SEC This Week: at No. 18 Missouri (6-2) (Saturday, 11 a.m., ESPN) No. 8 UCLA 8-0 (5-0) Big Ten This Week: at Minnesota (5-3) (Saturday, 11 a.m., FOX) No. 9 BYU 7-1 (4-1) Big 12 This Week: at No. 3 Utah (8-0) (Saturday, 11 a.m., ABC) No. 10 Ole Miss 6-2 (4-2) SEC This Week: No. 2 Georgia (7-1) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC) No. 11 Notre Dame 7-1 Independents This Week: No. 1 Miami (8-0) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC) No. 12 Ohio State 6-2 (4-1) Big Ten This Week: No. 23 Oregon (5-3) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., CBS)
Fallers No. 9 Ohio State 6-2 (4-1) Big Ten Week 9: No. 2 (Lost to USC 30-18) No. 25 Florida 5-3 (3-3) SEC Week 9: No. 17 (Lost to No. 3 Georgia 27-8)
Dropped Out SMU 6-2 (4-2) ACC Week 9: No. 19 (Lost to Syracuse 30-27) Northwestern 6-2 (3-2) Big Ten Week 9: No. 20 (Lost to Oregon 34-26) Oklahoma State 5-3 (3-2) Big 12 Week 9: No. 24 (Lost to Iowa State 51-49) Wisconsin 5-3 (3-2) Big Ten Week 9: No. 25 (Lost to Iowa 30-0)
New No. 21 Iowa 6-2 (3-2) Big Ten Week 9: NR (Defeated No. 25 Wisconsin 30-0) No. 22 New Mexico 7-1 (4-0) Mountain West Week 9: NR (Defeated San Jose State 21-16) No. 23 South Carolina 5-3 (3-3) SEC Week 9: NR (Defeated Oklahoma 42-25)
No. 7 Texas (6-2) at No. 18 Missouri (6-2) 11 a.m., ESPN After meeting nine times as common opponents in the Big 12 and facing off in the 2017 Texas Bowl, Texas travels to Missouri for the first time since Nov. 12, 2011 to play their first game as SEC foes. The Longhorns, who defeated the Tigers in the Texas Bowl nine short years ago, will seek their second consecutive win in the series with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter) on the call at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.
Texas defeated Mississippi State 31-3 in what was an ugly game on Saturday, Oct. 31. Quarterback Arch Manning was efficient, completing 16 of 20 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns against the Bulldogs. The Mississippi State defense limited leading receiver Ryan Wingo to just three catches for 14 yards from Manning while running back Raleek Brown carried the ball eight times for 30 yards with a long rush of 11 yards in the win.
The Texas defense has continued its success despite recent injuries to players like pass-rusher Colin Simmons. Defensive back Jelani McDonald continues to lead the Longhorns with 63 tackles along with an interception while Simmons still tops the team in sacks with 10.5.
Missouri took down Arkansas 34-10 to win their fifth consecutive Battle Line Rivalry on Saturday, Oct. 31. Quarterback Austin Simmons completed 20 of 31 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns against the Razorbacks. Tailback Jamal Roberts reached 1,000 yards on the ground on the season with a 23 carry day for 138 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Cayden Lee caught six passes for 78 yards in the victory.
Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez has impressed on the Missouri defense this season with 86 tackles, two forced fumbles and one and a half sacks through eight games this season. In addition, edge defender Daeden Hopkins has totaled 20 tackles, a team-leading seven sacks and two forced fumbles.
Texas can continue their success against Missouri with a consistent game from Arch Manning that sees him getting the ball to Ryan Wingo, Cam Coleman and other receivers. Raleek Brown will also need to continue establishing the running game for the Longhorns to help set up Manning’s passing attack and keep their talented defense off the field to give them the rest they need.
Austin Simmons will rely on Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy, who returned for the first time this season in last week’s win against Arkansas, to set up his passing attack. Hardy and Roberts’ ability to move the ball down the field will be of utmost importance to head coach Eliah Drinkwitz to defeat a strong Texas defense to keep Manning and his offense off the field.
In what is should be a close game, the defenses will be what determines who wins the battle between Texas and Missouri. The Longhorns’ will shut down Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts from moving down the field and give Arch Manning the opportunities he needs to defeat the Tigers and keep themselves in contention for the College Football Playoff.
No. 9 BYU (7-1) at No. 3 Utah (8-0) 11 a.m., ABC The Holy War is again an important game in the Big 12 with one-loss BYU travel to undefeated Utah for a Saturday afternoon showdown. If the Cougars defeat the Utes, there will be a three-way tie at the top of the league assuming Texas Tech takes care of business against West Virginia as well. BYU and Utah will continue their storied rivalry series with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) on the call at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
BYU edged Arizona State 27-20 the last time they hit the field on Saturday, Oct. 31. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 19 of 30 passes for 236 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Sun Devils. Wide receiver Legend Glasker caught four passes for 87 yards while star tailback LJ Martin is questionable to return on Saturday, and the last time he played was Saturday, Oct. 3.
The BYU defense is led by linebacker Cade Uluave, who leads the Cougars with 52 tackles, one and a half sacks and an interception through eight games this season. Defensive end Tausili Akana tops BYU in sacks with three and a half along with his 17 tackles so far this season.
Utah dominated Cincinnati 49-25 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Quarterback Devon Dampier completed 22 of 29 passes for 260 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while rushing nine times for 45 yards against the Bearcats. Running back Wayshawn Parker carried the ball seven times for 82 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Braden Pegan caught five passes for 46 yards in the victory.
Utah’s defense is headed by linebacker Trey Reynolds and defensive tackle Karson Kaufusi. Reynolds has totaled 46 tackles and an interception while Kaufusi has recorded 17 tackles and a team-high three sacks through eight contests so far during the 2026 campaign.
BYU must hope they can utilize their rushing attack, with or without LJ Martin, to set up the passing attack for Bear Bachmeier and his receivers. Cade Uluave and Tausili Akana will have to lead their defense and shut down Devon Dampier, Wayshawn Parker and the Utah ground attack if they want to end the Utes’ undefeated season.
Dampier has been better at avoiding turnovers, however, against a BYU defense that will want to be better after a loss to BYU two weeks ago where they gave up 39 points and a close win against Iowa State where they gave up 20, will be looking to make him make a mistake.
Utah’s home field advantage will be important in continuing their undefeated season against instate rival BYU. The Cougars are capable of pulling another top five upset if their offense can compete with the Utes’ high-scoring offense. However, Devon Dampier and the Utah offense will be too much for BYU.
No. 23 Oregon (5-3) at No. 12 Ohio State (6-2) 2:30 p.m., CBS In the pre-season many thought the battle between Oregon and Ohio State would be a battle between two teams ranked at least in the top five of the first College Football Playoff poll. Instead, both are outside of the projected bracket after the committee unveiled their first top 25 on Tuesday night, thanks in big part to the injuries of their starting quarterbacks, Dante Moore and Julian Sayin. The Ducks and Buckeyes will look to get things going with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst) and Jenny Dell (sideline reporter) on the call at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Oregon defeated Northwestern 34-26 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Quarterback Dylan Raiola completed 22 of 31 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns against the Wildcats. Wide receiver Dakorien Moore caught seven passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns while running back Jordon Davison rushed three times for 17 yards before suffering a lower-extremity injury in the win, which will make him miss the game against Ohio State.
Oregon defensive back Koi Perich has tallied 53 tackles and two interceptions while linebacker Matayo Uiagalelei has recorded 34 tackles, a team-high six sacks and an interception so far during the 2026 campaign. The Ducks defense will need a strong showing against the Buckeyes despite injuries limiting them in last week’s loss.
Ohio State fell to USC 30-18 on Saturday, Oct. 31 without starting quarterback Julian Sayin. Quarterback Luke Fahey completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown against the Trojans. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith caught 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown and tailback Bo Jackson received 21 carries for 121 yards in the loss.
After giving up 30 points to the Trojans last Saturday, the Ohio State defense must bounce back behind their leaders. The guys the Buckeyes will need to rely on will be safety Earl Little Jr., has totaled 43 tackles and a forced fumble, and defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, who has totaled 25 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble so far during the 2026 season.
Oregon can defeat Ohio State if Dylan Raiola turns in another efficient performance where he succeeds throwing the ball to receivers Dakorien Moore, Evan Stewart and others. The Ducks defense must also shut down the Buckeyes’ Fahey from getting the ball to Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin and Chris Henry Jr. down the field and rely on Bo Jackson from moving it with his feet.
If Ohio State puts up a better offensive performance against Oregon’s talented defense, they can get back to their winning ways and stay in contention for another College Football Playoff spot. Ryan Day’s team may not be in the best spot without Julian Sayin behind center, but Smith and Jackson’s performances in the loss to USC last week proves they can bounce back at home.
If Oregon wants to go into Columbus and get a win against Ohio State, they will need a full team effort despite Julian Sayin’s injury. The Ducks will fight hard but the Buckeyes will take a lead in the second half and move to 7-2 ahead of their matchup against Northwestern on Saturday, Nov. 14.
No. 5 Alabama (6-2) at No. 14 LSU (6-2) 2:30 p.m., ABC Since Nick Saban left LSU for the NFL and then was hired by Alabama and Les Miles had the Tigers going strong, this series has been one of the most important rivalry games in the country as it determined the winner of the SEC West many times. The series continues on Saturday afternoon with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Alabama took down Texas A&M 31-20 on Saturday, Oct. 24 before taking their open week. Quarterback Keelon Russell completed 19 of 30 passes for 311 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against the Aggies. Wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks, who caught three passes for 73 yards and has emerged as the top wide receiver for Russell since Ryan Coleman-Williams suffered an injury, and running back Daniel Hill took nine carries for 36 yards.
Two linebackers are the keys to the Alabama defense so far during the 2026 season. Caleb Woodson leads the team in tackles with 63, two sacks and an interception while Yhonzae Pierre has 25 tackles, a team-high three and a half sacks, a forced fumble and an interception.
LSU dominated Auburn 38-17 on Saturday, Oct. 24 before they took their open week as well. Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 32 of 45 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns while rushing eight times for 54 yards against the Tigers. Running back Dilin Jones rushed 21 times for 91 yards for a touchdown and wide receiver Jackson Harris caught nine passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
LSU’s talented defense will have a tough job dealing with Russell’s dual-threat ability. Linebacker TJ Dottery, who has totaled 58 tackles, two forced fumbles and a half a sack while defensive end Princely Unmanmielen has recorded 32 tackles and an impressive eight and a half sacks through eight games this season.
An Alabama win would mean that Keelon Russell shines against the LSU defense. Russell would get the ball to playmakers Daniel Hill, Lotzeir Brooks and potential Ryan Coleman-Williams, who is questionable to return for Saturday’s game against the Tigers. The Crimson Tide defense will be crucial against an LSU offense that has scored 30 or more points five games in a row.
LSU’s hot offensive run will be hard to stop, even for the quality Alabama defense. If quarterback Sam Leavitt can get the ball to tailback Dilin Jones and rely on pass-catchers Jackson Harris, Winston Watkins Jr., Eugene Wilson III and Trey’Dez Green down the field, the Tigers can be well on their way to a fifth win in their last six games.
In what should be another entertaining matchup between Alabama and LSU, Tigers fans should hope Lane Kiffin can lead his team to a win and avoid losing another big game. LSU has the home field advantage but the Crimson Tide is definitely capable of competing. The loser of this game will have three losses but in this season’s craziness, that does not mean that they are eliminated from the College Football Playoff. Kiffin and the Tigers will avoid a loss to Alabama and win their seventh game of the season ahead of another huge home showdown against Texas on Saturday, Nov. 14.
No. 6 Kentucky (7-1) at No. 13 Tennessee (6-2) 5:15 p.m., ESPN There will be huge SEC championship game implications when Kentucky faces Tennessee on Saturday night. The one-loss Wildcats can eliminate the two-loss Volunteers from contention with a win. Kentucky and Tennessee renew their rivalry with Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Kentucky defeated Vanderbilt 34-17 on Saturday, Oct. 24 before their bye week. Quarterback Kenny Minchey completed 19 of 26 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown while rushing five times for 23 yards. Wide receiver Kenny Darby caught four passes for 71 yards and running back CJ Baxter received one carry for three yards before suffering an injury but is expected to play after a couple of weeks of rest.
The Kentucky defense has been up and down this season but the important thing the Wildcats have to against Tennessee is shut down their running game. Two players that can help out with that are linebacker Grant Godfrey, who leads the team with 72 tackles, two sacks and an interception and defensive lineman Mi’Quise Humphrey-Grace, who has totaled 27 tackles, a team-high five sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.
Tennessee was upset by South Carolina on a game-winning field goal, 27-24, in their last time on the field on Saturday, Oct. 24 before they took their bye week. Quarterback George MacIntyre completed 16 of 23 passes for 136 yards against the Gamecocks. Tailback DeSean Bishop carried the ball 32 times for 120 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Mike Matthews caught five passes for 147 yards in the loss.
The strength of the Tennessee defense, led by coordinator Jim Knowles, is headed by linebacker Amare Campbell and defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby. Campbell has totaled an impressive 52 tackles and three sacks while Weathersby has recorded 19 tackles and an impressive seven sacks.
Kentucky can defeat Tennessee by doing what they have done in their seven wins so far this season. The Wildcats must take care of the football, play solid defense against a Volunteer offense that runs through running back DeSean Bishop and make the right play at the end of the game to continue their successful season.
Tennessee’s defense will continue to be what wins them games during the 2026 season. Tyree Weathersby’s ability to rush quarterback Kenny Minchey will be vital to limiting the Kentucky offense. However, on the offensive side, Bishop’s ability to move the ball on the ground will be important to setting up George MacIntyre’s ability to get the ball to his receivers with his arm.
Tennessee has owned Kentucky in recent history, especially at home in Knoxville but the Wildcats have a team that Josh Heupel knows will be difficult to handle. The Volunteers’ defense will force the Kentucky to struggle to move the ball down the field and their offense will make the necessary plays to give the Wildcats their second loss of the season, causing even more craziness in what will be the beginning to a crazy final month of the 2026 regular season.
No. 2 Georgia (7-1) at No. 10 Ole Miss (6-2) 6:30 p.m., ABC Another big SEC matchup comes on Saturday night when Georgia squares off against Ole Miss. The Bulldogs can continue to prove they can win their first national championship since 2022 with a strong performance against the Rebels with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst) and Katie George (sideline reporter) on the call at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
Georgia dominated Florida 27-8 on Saturday, Oct. 31 after their tough loss to Auburn two weeks before. Quarterback Gunnar Stockton completed 13 of 23 passes for 101 yards while rushing 12 times for 45 yards against the Gators. Running back Dwight Phillips rushed eight times for 67 yards while wide receiver Craig Dandridge caught three passes for 39 yards in the win.
The strong defense Georgia has is led by linebacker Raylen Wilson. Wilson leads the Bulldogs with 51 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles through eight games this season. Fellow linebacker Chris Cole has also been impactful with 49 tackles, three and a half sacks and three passes defended as well.
Ole Miss played an impressive second half and they defeated old SEC West rival Auburn 45-15. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss completed 22 of 34 passes for 263 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while rushing seven times for 65 yards against the Tigers. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander caught five passes for 59 yards while running back Makhi Frazier took 17 carries for 56 yards in the victory.
Ole Miss’ defense will have to step up on Saturday against Georgia because if not the 11 players on the unit could be the reason for their third loss and being eliminated from College Football Playoff contention. Linebacker Keaton Thomas has recorded 52 tackles, a forced fumble and a half a sack while defensive end Blake Purchase has been impactful with 16 tackles, four and a half sacks and two forced fumbles.
Georgia can continue their successful season by having Gunnar Stockton rely on the running game of tailbacks Dwight Phillips and Nate Frazier set up the passing attack for him. Stockton started the season out efficiently but since the loss to Auburn, he has failed to lead the Bulldogs offense. The good news for Stockton that the Ole Miss defense is a unit he can perform well against. If Georgia’s defense can turn Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels offense’s touchdowns into field goals, they have a better chance to avenge their Sugar Bowl loss.
Ole Miss must hope for Chambliss’ best single-game performance since their win against former head coach Lane Kiffin and LSU on Sept. 19. Continuing to play without running back Kewan Lacy will be difficult so the Rebels offense will have to support Chambliss well against Georgia. Pete Golding’s defense will have to play its best game of the season if they want to defeat the Bulldogs.
In a game that may be close for the first three quarters, Georgia will avenge their Sugar Bowl loss to Ole Miss and move one game closer to another potential SEC Championship game appearance in Atlanta. The Bulldogs offense will consistently move down the field and their defense, having learned how to defend against Trinidad Chambliss in two previous games last season, will find ways to stop him and his talented weapons to win the game.
No. 1 Miami (8-0) at No. 11 Notre Dame (7-1) 6:30 p.m., NBC ESPN’s College GameDay is in town for a huge matchup between Miami and Notre Dame on Saturday night. The Hurricanes can continue their stretch at No. 1 in both the AP and College Football Playoff polls with another victory against the Fighting Irish after giving them their first loss last season in Week 1 on Aug. 31, 2025. Miami and Notre Dame face off with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) on the call at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.
Miami avoided getting upset and they defeated North Carolina 38-35 on Saturday, Oct. 31. Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 22 of 29 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns against the Tar Heels. Wide receiver Malachi Toney caught seven passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns while running backs Javian Mallory took 12 carries for 51 yards and Mark Fletcher Jr. rushed 13 times for 43 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Toney will be out for Saturday’s game after suffering a high ankle sprain this week in practice.
The Miami defense must step up as they go on the road to play a hungry Notre Dame team. The Hurricanes have given up 20+ points in three consecutive games so it will be important for linebacker Mohamed Toure, who has totaled 44 tackles, and Marquise Lightfoot, who has recorded 29 tackles, a team-high seven sacks and two forced fumbles so far during the 2026 season, to compete at the highest level.
After a slow start, Notre Dame breezed past Navy 35-13. Quarterback CJ Carr completed 19 of 29 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns against the Midshipmen. Running back Nolan James Jr. carried the ball nine times for 107 yards and two touchdowns while wide receiver Jordan Faison caught four passes for 46 yards in the win.
Linebacker Drayk Bowen is the leading tackler for the Notre Dame defense with 45 tackles. Bowen is joined by defensive lineman Boubacar Traore, who has recorded 24 tackles, three and a half sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception through eight contests so far during the 2026 season.
Miami can continue their undefeated season if Darian Mensah can rely on other offensive weapons outside of Malachi Toney, like Cooper Barkate, Daylyn Shaw and Elija Lofton in a road environment as tough as the one at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night. The Hurricanes defense must also deal with efficient signal-caller CJ Carr, who knows he must lead his team to a win against the Hurricanes because if they lose, their College Football Playoff hopes may be over.
If Carr continues his success and avoids turning the ball over, the Notre Dame offense can have the success it needs to upset the top ranked Miami team. Nolan James Jr. will have more space to run and receivers Jordan Faison, Micah Gilbert and Jaden Greathouse can succeed catching passes from him. The Fighting Irish defense will have an easier job dealing with the Hurricanes offense because they are playing without Toney but the relationship that Mensah has with Barkate is something that cannot be overlooked by defensive coordinator Chris Ash, because they were a terrific combination at Duke last season and they continue to be this year.
In a game that will determine Notre Dame’s season, they will defeat Miami in front of a packed home crowd and create even more craziness during the 2026 season. Assuming the Hurricanes fall against the Fighting Irish, they will be fine as long as they do one thing that they have never done: win the ACC Championship game.
AUBURN, Ala. — Kickoff between the Razorbacks and the Tigers is set for 11:45 a.m. Saturday, November 7 on SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Michella Chester (sideline reporter) on the call. Next up Arkansas returns home to face South Carolina on November 14.
Schedule: Arkansas (3-5) at Auburn (4-4)
Tune In: Saturday afternoon’s matchup between Arkansas and Auburn will stream on SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour (play-by-play), Matt Stinchcomb (analyst) and Michella Chester (sideline reporter) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play), Quinn Grovey (analyst) and Geno Bell (sideline reporter) on the call from inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Notes: Ryan Silverfield, Arkansas’ first year head coach, is looking to continue his success against Auburn head coach Alex Golesh. Silverfield is 3-0 against Golesh-coached teams entering Saturday’s showdown against the Tigers.
QB KJ Jackson continues to lead Arkansas offense after winning the starting quarterback job during fall camp. Through eight games, Montgomery, Ala. native has completed 151 of 249 passes (60.69%) for 1,673 yards and seven touchdowns while also rushing for a team-leading four touchdowns so far this season.
RB Cam Settles is one of Arkansas’ top ball carriers through eight games with three starts. Settles has rushed 55 times for 214 yards and two touchdowns so far this season. The Little Rock native recorded both of his touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ win at Vanderbilt on Oct. 17, becoming the first to rush for multiple touchdowns in a game this season.
WR Chris Marshall is one of the SEC’s top receivers. The Missouri City, Texas, native was limited in Arkansas’ win against Vanderbilt on Oct. 17 and missed the loss against Missouri on Oct. 31 due to an injury. Marshall has caught 43 passes for 633 yards and two touchdowns through seven games played. The highlight of Marshall’s season so far is his back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against Georgia on Sept. 19 and Tulsa on Sept. 26. Marshall ranks second among SEC pass catchers in receiving yards per game (90.4), third in receptions per game (6.1), first in receiving plays of 10-plus yards (28) and tied for third in first down receptions (29).
DL Quincy Rhodes Jr. leads the Arkansas defense in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3) through eight games. The North Little Rock native has recorded at least a tackle for loss in all eight games this season, on top of his 12 career sacks, which is 4.5 sacks shy of cracking Arkansas’ career top 10.
Alex Golesh is 27-19 in his fourth season as a head coach, including a 4-4 record and a 1-4 mark in SEC play in his first season at Auburn. Golesh is seeking his first win against Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield after losing their three meetings while coaching at South Florida.
QB Byrum Brown has completed 159 of 247 passes (64.4%) for 1,560 yards, nine touchdowns and seven interceptions while rushing 139 times for 484 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games so far this season. The Raleigh, N.C., native’s top performance this season was against Georgia, when he accounted for 150 passing yards, 115 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
RBJeremiah Cobb has carried the ball 70 times for 484 yards and two touchdowns in his action this season, which is second on thee team. Cobb has also caught 11 passes for 54 yards. The Montgomery, Ala., native showed his strongest performance of the season with 13 rushes for 61 yards in the win against Georgia.
WRKeshaun Singleton has caught 39 passes for 433 yards and two touchdowns through eight games this season. The Norcross, Ga., native is averaging 11.1 yards per reception, with a season-long catch of 48 yards. Singleton leads Auburn in receiving yards entering Saturday’s matchup against Arkansas.
LBElijah Melendez has recorded 63 tackles, including 43 solo stops, four sacks and one interception this season. The Kissimmee, Fla., native has also broken up seven passes and returned his interception 13 yards during his sophomore campaign
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Golden Lions is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 3 on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas opens regular season action when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the first time in program history.
Schedule: Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 12 Arkansas
Tune In: Wednesday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Memphis will stream on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Bud Walton Arena.
Notes: John Calipari led Arkansas to a 2-0 record in exhibition games to begin the 2026-27 season, his third in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks opened with a 76-72 win against No. 15 Gonzaga on Saturday, Oct. 24 before defeating Memphis 93-81 on Wednesday, Oct. 28 at Bud Walton Arena. Calipari will begin his 35th season as a collegiate head coach when Arkansas faces Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr. bounced back after struggling from the field in Arkansas’ exhibition opener against Gonzaga and scored 17 points (tied for the team high) on 7-for-11 shooting from the field against Memphis. Smith also accounted for 3 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks and a steal in the victory against the Tigers. The Washington DC product will officially open his freshman season against UAPB when he hits the floor next.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson was unable to have success shooting from behind the three-point line after a 1-for-9 performance but impacted the win against Memphis in other ways. Wilkinson scored 11 points, added 3 assists and 3 steals against the Tigers. Wilkinson will make his official debut for his third team in college on Tuesday night.
Guard Billy Richmond III led Arkansas to another win, this time against his hometown Memphis team. Richmond tied to lead the team in scoring with 17 points on impressive 7-for-7 shooting and 2-of-2 on three point attempts in the victory. Richmond also had 3 assists, 2 blocks and a steal against the Tigers. Richmond, the longest-tenured Razorback on the roster, will make his junior debut against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Forward Miikka Muurinen was impactful in Arkansas’ win against Memphis. Muurinen scored 10 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double performance that also included 2 steals. After two successful performances in the Razorbacks’ exhibition game, the Finnish native will play a huge role in the front court this season, starting with Tuesday’s showdown against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Forward Cooper Bowser has been the steady force Arkansas has needed at the center spot for the last season. After a solid start against Gonzaga, Bowser contributed 6 points on 3-for-3 shooting, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and a steal. The Woodbridge, Va. native will be vital for success inside for the Razorbacks alongside a group of youthful players.
Solomon Bozeman will begin his sixth season as head coach of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday when his Golden Lions face Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday night. Last season, Bozeman led UAPB to a 13-19 overall record with a 10-8 record in Southwest Athletic Conference play. Their 2025-26 season ended in the SWAC Tournament with a 84-81 loss against Southern.
GuardJalen Tatum spent his junior and senior seasons at Jackson State University after beginning his career at Holmes Community College. Tatum appeared in 11 games and made six starts as a senior last season. Tatum averaged 7.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season. Now, the Pine Bluff, Ark. native will have to deal with defensive pest Jordan Smith Jr. on the other bench tonight.
GuardJai’Chaun Hayes, the Arkansas native, showed his impact as a freshman during the 2025-26 season. Hayes opened the 2025 season with 11 points at Portland before scoring a season-high 15 points against Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 23, 2025. Hayes did not play during the spring semester but he is ready to help lead UAPB against Arkansas. The Hot Springs, Ark. native will get the chance to match up with Jeremiah Wilkinson tonight.
GuardJahmari Hamilton-Brown, the Independence Community College product, redshirted after transferring from the Pirates. At Independence, Hamilton-Brown averaged 12 points and shot 41 percent of his three-point attempts. The Lynn, Mass. native will get the chance to battle with Billy Richmond III tonight.
GuardCJ Smith is at his fourth stop in as many years to play for UAPB this season. Smith appeared in 30 games and made 21 starts as a freshman at Coffeyville Community College. Smith averaged 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and recorded 15 block shots as a freshman for the Red Ravens. After transferring and spending a redshirt year at Oklahoma State, he left Stillwater and went to UTEP. Smith appeared in 11 games while averaging 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game while shooting 33.3 percent from behind the three-point line. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native will battle with Miikka Muurinen tonight.
ForwardCreed Williamson, the son of Razorback great Corliss Williamson, has spent time at multiple schools in the state. After high school, Williamson spent a prep year at Link Academy in Missouri. Then, Williamson transferred to Little Rock where he appeared in 41 games and made a start. He averaged 2.6 points while shooting 54.9% from the field for the Trojans. Williamson spent his junior season at Henderson State, where he appeared in 22 games and made seven starts for the Reddies. There, he averaged 4.9 points per game while shooting 54.3 percent from the field. The Little Rock, Ark., native will face off with Cooper Bowser tonight.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas spent its Halloween night haunted by mistakes in a 34-10 loss to Missouri.
Four Arkansas turnovers led to 24 points for the No. 23 Tigers, while five personal fouls accounted for 75 penalty yards and wiped out two Razorbacks touchdowns.
Missouri (6-2, 3-2 SEC) clinched bowl eligibility for the seventh consecutive season under Arkansas native Eliah Drinkwitz and won the Battle Line Trophy for the fifth consecutive season. The Tigers improved to 11-2 against the Razorbacks since joining the SEC and 6-1 under Drinkwitz, who grew up in Alma, about 45 miles south of Fayetteville.
Arkansas (3-5, 1-4) lost its 11th consecutive game against a Power Four opponent.
The Tigers never trailed and led 10-0 after the first quarter, capitalizing on an Arkansas interception and a fumble.
On the Razorbacks’ second possession, defensive back Trajen Greco intercepted a tipped pass from quarterback KJ Jackson. Greco returned the interception to the Arkansas 43, and Blake Craig kicked a 31-yard field goal to give Missouri a 3-0 lead with 5:33 left in the first quarter.
Missouri forced another turnover on Arkansas’ next possession when the Razorbacks attempted to convert on fourth-and-1 from their own 33. Kash Courtney’s high snap went through the hands of running back Cam Settles in the wildcat formation. After linebacker Elijah Dotson kicked the ball near the 20-yard line, linebacker Darris Smith recovered it in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown.
Craig extended Missouri’s lead to 13-0 with a 53-yard field goal from the right hash mark with 9:00 remaining in the second quarter.
Arkansas came away empty on its first scoring opportunity when Max Gilbert’s 52-yard field goal attempt from the left hash mark sailed wide left with 4:22 remaining before halftime. The Razorbacks later trimmed the deficit to 13-7 on Jackson’s 2-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds remaining. One play earlier, Antonio Jordan turned a third-and-9 reception into a 37-yard gain to the Missouri 4 to set up the score.
Missouri seized control with two quick touchdowns after halftime. Austin Simmons capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Donovan Olugbode. The possession included a 46-yard completion to Cayden Lee on third down that moved the Tigers to the Arkansas 11.
A pass interference penalty moved Arkansas to its own 40 on its first offensive snap of the second half, but the Razorbacks soon gave the ball back. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez forced a Jackson fumble, and defensive end Sterling Webb recovered at the Arkansas 45.
Jamal Roberts broke free for 43 yards on second down before scoring on a 2-yard run on the next play. His ninth rushing touchdown of the season pushed Missouri’s lead to 27-7. Roberts finished with 138 yards on 23 carries, bringing his SEC-leading rushing total to 1,005 yards.
Arkansas controlled the ball for the final 9:47 of the third quarter after Roberts’ touchdown, but its 20-play possession produced only a 32-yard field goal by Gilbert on the opening play of the fourth quarter. The kick cut Missouri’s lead to 27-10.
The Razorbacks converted two fourth downs on runs by Jackson and Settles during the drive, but a pair of 15-yard penalties wiped out two touchdowns. Jordan’s 25-yard touchdown reception was nullified when left guard Malachi Breland was called for unnecessary roughness for taking down linebacker Robert Woodyard. Later, Settles’ 1-yard touchdown run was erased by a chop block involving tackles Bryant Williams and Kavion Broussard.
Arkansas finished with seven penalties for 85 yards.
The teams exchanged fumbles in a 33-second span with just under 10 minutes remaining. Linebacker Bradley Shaw recovered a Roberts fumble at the Arkansas 16, but Jordan lost the ball moments later at the end of a 7-yard reception. Cornerback Jahlil Florence recovered at the Razorbacks’ 33.
Missouri converted its fourth forced turnover into another touchdown when Simmons connected with Roberts for a 10-yard score with 7:19 remaining, extending the lead to 34-10. It was Roberts’ second career touchdown reception and his first of the season.
Arkansas reached the Missouri 1 in the closing minutes but again failed to score. A false start backed the Razorbacks up to the 6, and Jackson’s fourth-down pass intended for former Missouri receiver Courtney Crutchfield fell incomplete.
The Tigers outgained the Razorbacks 390-288, including a 211-59 advantage on the ground.
Simmons completed 20 of 31 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns. Lee led Missouri’s receivers with six catches for 78 yards.
Jackson completed 20 of 34 passes for 229 yards and was held without a touchdown pass for the third time this season. Excluding sacks, he rushed for 39 yards on 12 attempts and scored on the ground for the second consecutive game.
Jordan paced Arkansas with seven receptions for 106 yards. Chris Marshall, the Razorbacks’ leading receiver this season, did not play after suffering an apparent hamstring injury two weeks earlier at Vanderbilt.
Settles led Arkansas’ running backs with 38 yards on 12 carries, while Sutton Smith added 22 yards on nine attempts. Braylen Russell was stopped for no gain on his lone carry. Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield said Russell missed practice during the week because of an undisclosed injury.
Next Up: Arkansas is scheduled to play on the road at Auburn (4-4, 2-4) next Saturday, Nov. 7, at 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network. The Tigers fell to No. 12 Ole Miss 45-15 in Oxford on Saturday.
The countdown to tipoff is almost over, and a new season of men’s college basketball brings another round of big expectations and bigger questions. Which teams will live up to the preseason hype? Who will emerge as a surprise contender? And which players will become household names on the road to March?
From marquee nonconference matchups to rivalry games and conference championship races, the 2026-27 season offers plenty to look forward to. Before the action begins, my preview breaks down the major conferences, highlights the games to circle on the calendar and makes predictions for the teams and players that will define the season.
ACC No. 1 Duke Blue Devils No. 2 Virginia Cavaliers No. 3 Miami Hurricanes No. 4 Louisville Cardinals No. 5 North Carolina Tar Heels No. 6 Florida State Seminoles No. 7 Clemson Tigers No. 8 SMU Mustangs No. 9 North Carolina State Wolfpack No. 10 Boston College Eagles No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies No. 12 Syracuse Orange No. 13 Stanford Cardinal No. 14 California Golden Bears No. 15 Wake Forest Demon Deacons No. 16 Pittsburgh Panthers No. 17 Notre Dame Fighting Irish No. 18 Georgia Tech Yellowjackets
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 UConn vs. Duke (Las Vegas) (Nov. 25) No. 2 Illinois at Duke (Nov. 17) No. 3 Duke vs. Michigan State (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champions Classic) No. 4 Arkansas vs. Virginia (Capital Showcase) No. 5 Louisville at Kentucky (Dec. 12)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Duke vs. North Carolina (Feb. 13; March 6) No. 2 Duke vs. Virginia (Feb. 6; March 2) No. 3 Duke at Louisville (Feb. 24) No. 4 Miami at Louisville (Jan. 19) No. 5 Louisville at Virginia (Feb. 15)
Big 12 No. 1 Arizona Wildcats No. 2 Houston Cougars No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks No. 4 Texas Tech Red Raiders No. 5 Iowa State Cyclones No. 6 BYU Cougars No. 7 TCU Horned Frogs No. 8 Baylor Bears No. 9 West Virginia Mountaineers No. 10 Cincinnati Bearcats No. 11 Oklahoma State Cowboys No. 12 UCF Golden Knights No. 13 Arizona State Sun Devils No. 14 Colorado Buffaloes No. 15 Kansas State Wildcats No. 16 Utah Utes
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 UConn at Arizona (Nov. 18) No. 2 Houston vs. Alabama (Dec. 8; New York City; Jimmy V Classic) No. 3 Kansas at UConn (Dec. 12) No. 4 Illinois at Texas Tech (Nov. 10) No. 5 Kentucky vs. Kansas (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champion’s Classic)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Arizona vs. Houston (Feb. 6, March 6) No. 2 Kansas at Houston (Feb. 1) No. 3 Arizona at Texas Tech (Jan. 22) No. 4 Iowa State vs. Kansas (Feb. 13, March 1) No. 5 Arizona vs. BYU (Jan. 12, Feb. 22)
Conference Tournament Champion: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Big East No. 1 UConn Huskies No. 2 St. John’s Red Storm No. 3 Villanova Wildcats No. 4 Providence Friars No. 5 Creighton Blue Jays No. 6 Marquette Golden Eagles No. 7 DePaul Blue Demons No. 8 Xavier Musketeers No. 9 Georgetown Hoyas No. 10 Seton Hall Pirates No. 11 Butler Bulldogs
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 UConn vs. Duke (Las Vegas) (Nov. 25) No. 2 Michigan vs. UConn (Boston) (Nov. 6) No. 3 Kansas at UConn (Dec. 12) No. 4 Arizona vs. St. John’s (Dec. 5; New York City; Hall of Fame Series – New York) No. 5 St. John’s vs. Alabama (Dec. 12; Birmingham)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 UConn vs. St. John’s (Jan. 29, March 2) No. 2 UConn vs. Villanova (Feb. 3, Feb. 14) No. 3 UConn vs. Providence (Jan. 20, Feb. 27) No. 4 Providence vs. St. John’s (Dec. 30, Jan. 13) No. 5 Creighton vs. Providence (Feb. 3, March 6)
Conference Tournament Champion: St. John’s Red Storm
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Illinois at Duke (Nov. 17) No. 2 Duke vs. Michigan State (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champion’s Classic) No. 3 Arkansas vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26; Detroit; CareSource Invitational) No. 4 Michigan vs. UConn (Boston) (Nov. 6) No. 5 Illinois at Texas Tech (Nov. 10)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Illinois at Michigan State (Feb. 5) No. 2 Michigan vs. Michigan State (Feb. 13, Feb. 26) No. 3 Illinois vs. Purdue (Jan. 5, Feb. 12) No. 4 UCLA vs. USC (Feb. 13, March 6) No. 5 Iowa vs. Nebraska (Jan. 16, Jan. 30)
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Duke at Florida (Dec. 1) No. 2 Arkansas vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26; Detroit; CareSource Invitational) No. 3 Houston vs. Alabama (Dec. 8; New York City; Jimmy V Classic) No. 4 St. John’s vs. Alabama (Dec. 12; Birmingham) No. 5 Miami vs. Florida (Nov. 2; Tampa)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Florida vs. Texas (Jan. 2, Feb. 6) No. 2 Alabama vs. Arkansas (Jan. 9, Feb. 13) No. 3 Florida at Arkansas (Feb. 27) No. 4 Alabama at Tennessee (Feb. 20) No. 5 Alabama vs. Auburn (Jan. 30, March 6)
Conference Tournament Champion:
National Preview
Best Non-Conference Games: No. 1 Duke at Florida (Dec. 1) No. 2 UConn vs. Duke (Las Vegas) (Nov. 25) No. 3 Duke vs. Michigan State (Nov. 10; Chicago; Champions Classic) No. 4 UConn at Arizona (Nov. 18) No. 5 Arkansas vs. Michigan State (Nov. 26; Detroit; CareSource Invitational)
Best Conference Games: No. 1 Illinois at Michigan State (Feb. 5) No. 2 Arizona vs. Houston (Feb. 6, March 6) No. 3 Kansas at Houston (Feb. 1) No. 4 Florida vs. Texas (Jan. 2, Feb. 6) No. 5 UConn vs. St. John’s (Jan. 29, March 2)
National Player of the Year: Thomas Haugh, Forward, Florida Gators National Champion:Duke Blue Devils
After another upset-filled Saturday that saw No. 2 BYU and No. 8 Texas Tech suffer their first losses of the season, college football fans now turn their attention to Week 9. Before looking ahead, here’s a look back at five games from the Week 8 slate.
Two matchups highlighted Saturday’s early action. Pittsburgh traveled to Miami Gardens, Florida, to face No. 1 Miami, while No. 6 Indiana looked to bounce back from its first loss of the season against Michigan in Ann Arbor.
The evening slate featured an important SEC showdown in Austin. No. 7 Ole Miss battled No. 19 Texas as the Longhorns tried to avoid a third consecutive loss and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Two conference matchups closed out the night. North Dakota State visited New Mexico with first place in the Mountain West standings at stake, while No. 14 Houston faced No. 10 Utah in Salt Lake City in a ranked Big 12 showdown.
Now, the attention shifts to Week 9. No. 25 Wisconsin takes on Iowa in a Big Ten matchup, while No. 22 Arizona faces No. 13 Texas Tech in a ranked Big 12 showdown.
The SEC slate features No. 17 Florida against No. 3 Georgia, with both teams looking to strengthen their position in the conference race. Elsewhere, No. 6 Utah meets Cincinnati in another important Big 12 game, while No. 2 Ohio State battles USC in a marquee Big Ten matchup.
AP Top 5 No. 1 Miami 7-0 (5-0) ACC This Week: at North Carolina (4-3) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ) No. 2 Ohio State 6-1 (4-0) Big Ten This Week: at USC (6-2) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., NBC) No. 3 Georgia 6-1 (4-1) SEC This Week: No. 17 Florida (5-2) (Atlanta) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ABC) No. 4 Indiana 7-1 (4-1) Big Ten This Week: Minnesota (5-2) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., CBS) No. 5 Notre Dame 6-1 Independents This Week: Navy (2-5) (Saturday, 11 a.m., ABC)
Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week:
No. 25 Wisconsin (5-2) at Iowa (5-2) 11 a.m., FOX Wisconsin heads on the road for a critical Big Ten battle against rival Iowa in Saturday’s early slate. The Badgers and Hawkeyes will face off with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Tom Rinaldi (sideline reporter) and Jenny Taft (sideline reporter) on the call at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.
Wisconsin dominated USC 24-17 on Saturday, Oct. 24 in their last result on the field. Quarterback Colton Joseph completed 12 of 14 passes for 58 yards and a touchdown while rushing 15 times for 32 yards against the Trojans. Running back Abu Sama III carried the ball 17 times for 71 yards while leading wide receiver Tyrell Henry caught only one pass for no yards in the win.
A pair of linebackers lead the Wisconsin defense. Cooper Catalano has totaled 60 tackles while Sebastian Cheeks has recorded 26 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles so far this season for the Badgers.
Iowa fell to Minnesota 13-10 on Saturday, Oct. 24. In the loss, Hank Brown completed 11 of 21 passes for 136 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Kamari Moulton was limited to 22 yards on 10 carries while wide receiver Tony Diaz caught a pass for 57 yards against the Golden Gophers.
Iowa linebacker Cam Buffington has recorded an impressive 62 tackles and two sacks across seven games of action during the 2026 season so far. Defensive end Joseph Anderson leads the Hawkeyes’ group of pass-rushers with his four sacks so far on the season.
Wisconsin must get the ball to their receivers more if they want to succeed against the Iowa. If Abu Sama can continue his success on the ground, it will be easier for Colton Joseph to pass the ball to receivers Tyrell Henry, Jacob Henry and Chris Brooks Jr. If Cooper Catalano and Sebastian Cheeks shut down the Hawkeyes’ offense, they can set up their unit with more opportunities to score.
Iowa will hope that their defense can shut down Wisconsin’s offense to bounce back after a tough loss against Minnesota. If the defense shuts down the Badgers’ offense, they will be able to set up their offense with better opportunities to score.
In what could be a defensive battle, Iowa must rely on their home field advantage to shut down Wisconsin’s recent success. The Hawkeyes will use that to upset the Badgers and potentially get themselves back into the AP Top 25 as the month of November begins.
No. 22 Arizona (6-1) at No. 13 Texas Tech (6-1) 11 a.m., ESPN Arizona will look to continue their five-game winning streak against Texas Tech on Saturday. The Wildcats will battle against the Red Raiders with Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoacek (analyst), Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Galaxy Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.
Arizona blew out Iowa State 39-3 to continue their hot streak on Saturday, Oct. 24. Quarterback Noah Fifita completed 27 of 34 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Isaiah Mizell exploded in an eight catch performance for 134 yards and a touchdown while running back rushed eight times for 41 yards and a touchdown.
The Arizona defense is led by two linebackers. Taye Brown has 62 tackles and a half sack while Chase Kennedy has 26 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble through half of the 2026 season.
Texas Tech dropped their first game of the season against Cincinnati by a score of 37-24 on Saturday, Oct. 24. Quarterback Will Hammond completed 24 of 37 passes for 227 yards and an interception against the Bearcats. Running back J’Kobi Williams received 12 carries for 81 yards and wide receiver Kenny Johnson caught seven passes for 81 yards in the loss.
Linebacker Austin Romaine has impressed this season for Texas Tech with a team-high 52 tackles through seven contests so far this season. Defensive lineman AJ Holmes Jr. is the top name for the Red Raiders’ defensive front with 23 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble across his action.
If Noah Fifita continues his success from behind center, Arizona will be tough to beat on Saturday against Texas Tech. Going on the road will be difficult against a Texas Tech team coming off a loss will be tough for the Wildcats, even after a phenomenal defensive performance against Iowa State.
Texas Tech can bounce back with a big win at home against Arizona. If Will Hammond does not turn the ball over on offense and Taye Brown continues his success on defense, the rest of the Red Raiders could follow their lead and get back in the win column.
In what should be a back and forth game, Noah Fifita will lead Arizona into Lubbock and get an upset win. The Texas Tech offense will fight back but the Wildcats’ defense will make a stop in the fourth quarter to win the game and move to 7-1 on the season.
No. 17 Florida (5-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia (6-1) (Atlanta; Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic) 2:30 p.m., ABC The “World’s Greatest Outdoor Cocktail Party” resumes between Florida and Georgia but this time in Atlanta with the construction going on Jacksonville. The Gators and Bulldogs will renew their rivalry with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
Florida upset Texas 27-24 the last time the Gators were on the field. Quarterback Aaron Philo missed the win against the Longhorns due to an injury but he is expected to return to action. If not, Trammell Jones Jr. will start another game behind center after completing 22 of 35 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns in the victory against Texas. Gators tailback Jadan Baugh took 25 carries for 91 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Dallas Wilson caught three passes for 27 yards in the win.
The Florida defense has been up and down so far this season. Gators linebacker Myles Graham has totaled 48 tackles, three and a half sacks and a forced fumble while fellow linebacker Jayden Woods has recorded 28 tackles, four and a half sacks and a forced fumble through seven contests this season.
Georgia fell 27-24 on a game-winning field goal by Auburn in the closing seconds. Quarterback Stetson Bennett completed 22 of 34 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing nine times for 26 yards against the Tigers. The Bulldogs have a balanced ground attack but Dwight Phillips Jr. leads the room after carrying the ball 10 times for 68 yards and a touchdown the last time he was on the field. Wide receiver Craig Dandridge caught four passes for 88 yards in the loss.
Georgia linebacker Raylen Wilson leads the Bulldogs defense with 43 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles so far this season. Wilson and UGA’s feared unit will look to make sure they bounce back against their rival Florida.
Florida must hope they can establish their ground game with Jadan Baugh and backup Duke Clark, who remains on the SEC Availability report as of Thursday. If the Gators cannot do that against the Georgia defense, the passing attack will not be able to succeed against the Bulldogs. Without offensive success, it will be hard for Florida to defeat their rivals.
Georgia can get back in the win column by doing what they do best. Like Florida, the Bulldogs’ running game is strong with Dwight Phillips Jr. and Nate Frazier. If Phillips and Frazier get down the field successfully, it will set up Gunnar Stockton with easier passing opportunities and will help him not turn the ball over. The Georgia defense knows what to do and they will not lose them the game in Jon Sumrall’s first season as head coach in Gainesville.
Florida will keep this game closer than the media would think but Georgia will bounce back with a strong performance in their second home, Atlanta. The Bulldogs will use their bread-and-butter, the ground game and their defense, to grab their seventh win of the season and all but eliminate the Gators from the College Football Playoff just days before their first rankings are announced.
No. 6 Utah (7-0) at Cincinnati (5-2) 2:45 p.m., ESPN Another crucial Big 12 matchup comes on Saturday afternoon when Utah makes the trip to face Cincinnati. The Utes will meet the Bearcats with Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Utah beat Houston 21-13 on Saturday, Oct. 24, in a game that made the Utes the only undefeated team left in the Big 12. Quarterback Devon Dampier completed 18 of 26 passes for 2024 yards and two interceptions while rushing 15 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns in the victory against Houston. Tailback Wayshawn Parker carried the ball 13 times for 47 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Braden Pegan caught two passes for 37 yards in the win.
Utah linebacker Trey Reynolds tops the team with 44 tackles while adding an interception so far this season. Defensive tackle Karson Kaufusi leads the Utes’ pass-rush with 12 tackles,
Cincinnati upset Texas Tech 37-24 in their last time on the field on Saturday, Oct. 24. Quarterback JC French completed 19 of 30 passes for 172 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while rushing 12 times for 46 yards in the victory against the Red Raiders. Running back Cole Tabb took 16 carries for 173 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver JV Gibson caught four passes for 43 yards in the win.
Cincinnati linebacker Jonathan Thompson leads the way with 60 tackles, two and a half sacks and two forced fumbles through seven games so far this season. Edge defender Patrick Bauer, who has recorded 25 tackles and three and a half sacks, ha stepped up as the Bearcats’ top pass-rusher.
Utah must establish its running game and rely on its defense to continue its undefeated season against Cincinnati. Wayshawn Parker will need to get more yards than he did in last week’s win. The Utes’ defense won’t have as tough of a job as they did last Saturday against Houston however they can’t overlook JC French and the Bearcats from having success
Cincinnati can get a second consecutive upset win by playing turnover-free football. French can’t throw two interceptions like he did against Texas Tech. If Jonathan Thompson and Patrick Bauer can cause problems for Devon Dampier and the Utah offense, there is a better chance for another upset win.
If Cincinnati does not control this game early, Utah will take control and win this game. The Utes’ ability to run the ball will be too much for the Bearcats in a game that will be close throughout.
No. 2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC (6-2) 6:30 p.m., NBC Ohio State will be in Los Angeles to face USC for the first time since Sept. 13, 2008, when they defeated the Trojans 35-3. The Buckeyes will look to continue their five-game winning streak with Noah Eagle (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analyst), (sideline reporter) and Kathryn Tappen (sideline reporter) on the call at the United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
Ohio State defeated Indiana 19-15 on Saturday, Oct. 17 in their last time on the field before taking their open week. Quarterback Julian Sayin passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions before suffering an injury that will keep him out indefinitely against the Hoosiers. Head coach Ryan Day has yet to make a decision on who the new starter will be whether it will be Luke Fahey or Tavien Saint Clair.
The good news for whoever steps in behind center is that Jeremiah Smith will be catching passes from him. Smith caught four passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in the victory. Running back Bo Jackson carried the ball 18 times for 56 yards against Indiana.
Where the Ohio State offense will struggle without Sayin, their defense will make up for it. Safety Earl Little Jr. leads the Buckeyes with 38 tackles and a fumble recovery while defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. has totaled 22 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble during his action this season.
USC lost to Wisconsin by a score of 24-7 on Saturday, Oct. 24. Quarterback Jayden Maiava completed 31 of 50 passes for 257 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions against the Badgers. Wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt caught five passes for 43 yards while tailback King Miller was limited to 7 yards on 11 carries in the loss.
The USC defense has struggled on multiple occasions this season but they will need their best one of the season if they want to come out with a win against Ohio State. Linebacker Deven Bryant, who has totaled 44 tackles, and safety Kennedy Urlacher, who has recorded 23 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble will be vital to shut down the Buckeyes’ feared offense.
Bo Jackson and the Ohio State rushing attack must make it easier for whoever takes snaps for the Buckeyes to settle in against the USC defense. The Buckeyes have plenty of capable receivers with Jeremiah Smith, Devin McCuin and Chris Henry Jr. to throw to and a defense that can shut down its opponents.
USC must rely on a quality performance from Jayden Maiava where he does not turn the football over and a performance from its defense that does not allow the Ohio State offense to have success throughout the game.
If Lincoln Riley and USC don’t pull the upset against Ohio State, his job could be in even more danger. If the Buckeyes are able to establish the run game, it will be hard for the Trojans defense to stop them even with a new quarterback behind center. Ryan Day will have a tough job leading his team to another national championship but Ohio State should not have a problem defeating USC in this one.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Kickoff between the Razorbacks and the Tigers is set for 6:45 p.m. Saturday, October 31 on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline reporter) on the call. Next up Arkansas heads back on the road to the plains where they will renew their series against Auburn on November 7.
Schedule: No. 23 Missouri (5-2) at Arkansas (3-4)
Tune In: Saturday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Missouri will stream on SEC Network with Dave Neal (play-by-play), Cole Cubelic (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline reporter) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play), Quinn Grovey (analyst) and Geno Bell (sideline reporter) on the call from inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Notes: Ryan Silverfield earned his first SEC head coaching won on the road in Nashville at Vanderbilt on Oct. 17. Silverfield is looking to lead Arkansas to its first win against Missoouri in the Battle Line Rivalry since the 2021 season, when the Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 34-17.
QB KJ Jackson has completed 131 of 215 passes (60.9%) for 1,444 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions across seven games of action since earning the starting job in fall camp. The Montgomery, Ala., native has carried the ball 59 times for 140 yards and a team-leading three touchdowns so far this season.
RB Cam Settles is one of Arkansas’ top rushers through seven games. Settles has rushed for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 43 carries (team-high 4.1 yards per carry). The Little Rock native recorded a pair of touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ win at Vanderbilt on Oct. 17, becoming the first Arkansas running back with multiple touchdowns in a game all season.
WR Chris Marshall, one of the top wide receivers in the SEC, is the star of Arkansas’ offense. Despite being limited by an injury in Arkansas’ win at Vanderbilt, the Missouri City, Texas, native has caught 43 passes for 633 yards and two touchdowns through seven contests this season. Marshall’s 2026 campaign has been highlighted by his back-to-back 100-yard performances against Georgia on Sept. 19 and Tulsa on Sept. 26. Marshall is in the top 5 among SEC pass catchers in nearly every major receiving category, including receptions (43), receiving yards (633), receptions per game (6.1), receiving yards per game (90.4), first down receptions (29) and receiving plays of 10-plus yards (28).
DL Quincy Rhodes Jr. tops the Arkansas defense in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3) through seven games. The North Little Rock native has recorded at least a tackle for loss in five of seven games this year for the Razorbacks. Rhodes Jr. has totaled 12 career sacks, which is 4.5 sacks shy of making Arkansas’ career top 10.
Eliah Drinkwitz, the Arkansas native, has made Missouri one of the most successful programs in the SEC in his seventh season as head coach of the Tigers. Drinkwitz’s overall head coaching record sits at 63-32 while in his time in Columbia, he is an impressive 51-31. Drinkwitz has posted a 5-1 record against the Razorbacks as Missouri’s head coach and he will look to continue it on Saturday, for the first time away from Thanksgiving weekend.
QB Austin Simmons has completed 132 of 209 passes for 1,773 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. Simmons struggled against his former team Ole Miss in his last start, completing 25 of 44 passes for 339 yards and an interception. The Miami, Fla., native will have to play much better if Missouri wants to make a postseason run.
RB Jamal Roberts has succeeded as one of the top running backs in the country over the first half of the season. Roberts has carried the ball 167 times for 867 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 105 yards. The St. Louis, Missouri, product was limited against Ole Miss, rushing 20 times for only 39 yards.
WR Cayden Lee has emerged as a top target for Austin Simmons after transferring with him from Ole Miss. Lee has caught 47 passes for 678 yards and five touchdowns across seven games this season. Lee caught five passes for 62 yards against his former team, the Rebels.
LBNicholas Rodriguez, the leader of the Missouri defense, has totaled 76 tackles, one and a half sacks and a forced fumble across his action so far during the 2026 season. The Miami, Fla., native impressed against Ole Miss, recording 14 tackles and a forced fumble in the game.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Tigers is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 28 on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas opens regular season action when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff for the first time in program history.
Schedule: Memphis at No. 12 Arkansas
Tune In: Saturday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Memphis will stream on SEC Network+ with Brett Dolan (play-by-play) and Manuale Watkins (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Bud Walton Arena.
Notes: John Calipari led Arkansas to a 76-72 win against No. 15 Gonzaga on Saturday, Oct. 24 inside Bud Walton Arena. Calipari moved to 3-1 in exhibition games as the Razorbacks’ head coach following the victory against the Bulldogs. Now, Calipari will lead Arkansas against his former team, Memphis, after they defeated the Tigers 99-75 on Oct. 27, 2025 in an exhibition matchup a season ago.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr. scored 1 point, added 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in his unofficial Arkansas debut against Gonzaga. Smith went 0-of-9 from the field and 0-of-2 from the three-point range in the victory. Fellow freshman guard Davion Thompson stepped in and score 12 points and hit a three-point dagger to win the game against the Bulldogs with 1:01 to go on Saturday.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson had more success than his backcourt mate in Saturday’s win. Wilkinson scored 7 points on 3-of-7 shooting from the field, and 1-of-2 of from three-point range. The Powder Springs, Ga., product added an assist, a steal and a block against Gonzaga.
Guard Billy Richmond III led Arkansas with a team-high 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal in the victory against Gonzaga. Richmond was successful on 4-of-10 shots from the field and was 3-of-5 from three-point range.
Forward Miikka Muurinen impressed in his first action for Arkansas since he was cleared at the end of September. Muurinen scored 10 points, when he shot 4-of-11 from the field and 1-of-4 from three-point range,added 6 rebounds and 2 blocks against Gonzaga for the Razorbacks.
Forward Cooper Bowser, the only senior on the Arkansas roster, played the best game he has for the Razorbacks. After a few games of poor play in the Bahamas, Bowser bounced back in a performance that saw him score 9 points, added 10 rebounds and a block against Gonzaga.
Penny Hardaway, entering his ninth season as head coach, led Memphis to a 76-58 victory against Mississippi State on Oct. 23. Hardaway’s Memphis team finishes their exhibition slate against Arkansas after losing 99-75 to them a season ago in an exhibition game at the FedEx Forum. If Memphis able to defeat the Razorbacks, they will move to 2-0 in their exhibition games ahead of their regular season debut against No. 18 Iowa State in Sioux Fall, South Dakota.
Guard Jayden Reid exploded for 26 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in the win against Mississippi State. Reid shot an impressive 11-of-15 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range. Reid will have to play big again against Arkansas if they want to get a win inside Bud Walton Arena.
Guard Luke Almodover scored 11 points and added 4 rebounds against Mississippi State. Almodover connected on 3-of-6 field goals and 2-of-3 three pointers against Bulldogs. Almodover will have a tough matchup against Jeremiah Wilkinson on Wednesday night.
Forward Rihards Vavers posted 10 points and 5 rebounds against Mississippi State. Vavers made 4-of-6 of his field goals and 2-of-4 of his three-pointers against the Bulldogs. The veteran Vavers will have the job of facing off against with Billy Richmond III on Wednesday night.
Forward Tylik Weeks struggled offensively against Mississippi State, scoring 6 points on 1-of-9 shooting from the field and 0-2 shooting from three-point range. Weeks added 9 rebounds, 3 assists, a block and a steal in the victory against the Bulldogs.
Forward Nemanja Popovic tallied 12 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists in Friday’s against Mississippi State. Popovic added 3 steals and shot 6-of-9 from the field. Popovic’s battle against Miikka Muurinen and Cooper Bowser in the paint will be an interesting battle tonight.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Tip-off between the Razorbacks and Bulldogs is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, October 24 on SEC Network+ with Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Joe Kleine (analyst) on the call. Next up Arkansas finishes exhibition play when they host Memphis on October 28.
Schedule: No. 15 Gonzaga at No. 12 Arkansas
Tune In: Saturday night’s matchup between Arkansas and Gonzaga will stream on SEC Network+ with Josh Haley (play-by-play) and Joe Kleine (analyst) on the call. The game can also be heard on the Razorback Sports Network from Learfield including locally in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM or through the Razorback app, with Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) and Matt Zimmerman (analyst) on the call from inside Bud Walton Arena.
Notes: John Calipari enters his third season as head coach of Arkansas after 15 years of success at Kentucky. Calipari led the Razorbacks to a 28-9 overall record that included 13 SEC wins in the regular season and their first conference tournament championship since 2000. Calipari also led Arkansas to the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season and his Razorbacks will look to build upon that this season, starting Saturday afternoon against Gonzaga.
Guard Jordan Smith Jr., who was the consensus national high school player of the year during his senior season at Paul VI in Washington DC, impressed during Arkansas’ four games in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, where he led the Razorbacks by averaging with 21.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3 steals per game. John Calipari has said Smith is changing the culture in Fayetteville, so his impact should be great as a freshman this season.
Guard Jeremiah Wilkinson is a huge transfer addition for Arkansas after they lost the shooting threats of guards Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas to the NBA. Wilkinson scored 17 points for Georgia in a victory against the Razorbacks on Jan. 17 last season before dropping 30 points in a loss to Saint Louis on in the Round of 64 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. On a team full of youth, Wilkinson’s experience and three-point shooting acumen will be vital for Arkansas to be successful this season.
Guard/Wing Billy Richmond III, the lone returner for Arkansas that saw meaningful minutes last season, will be vital to the Razorbacks’ success this season as a leader. During the off-season, Richmond became a coach on the floor and the guy any of the Razorbacks’ four newcomers could go to if they had a question. After a four-game run last February that saw Richmond score 20 or more points, he only averaged 8.3 points, 3 assists and 2.8 rebounds across his action in the Bahamas over the summer.
Wing/Forward Miikka Muurinen was finally cleared to play ton Sept. 30. As a result, Muurinen did not play in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League, but he has impressed in practices the media has gotten to see and at the Primetime at the Palace Event back on Oct. 2.
Forward/Center Cooper Bowser is the only senior on the Arkansas roster after transferring following a season where he won Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and led the country in dunks at Furman last season. Bowser started the first two games in the Bahamas but after being outperformed by reclassed freshman Caleb Ourigou, he came off the bench. Across his action, Bowser averaged 4.8 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks.
Mark Few enters his 28th season as Gonzaga’s men’s basketball coach. Few helped the Bulldogs to a 31-4 record and a 16-2 mark in their final season in the West Coast Conference. The Zags also won the WCC Tournament Championship before falling in the Round of 32. The last time Few saw the Razorbacks, Eric Musselman’s team defeated him and Gonzaga 74-68 on March 24, 2022 to upset the No. 1 overall seed and move onto the Elite Eight.
Guard Xaivian Lee spent last season as the backcourt mate of former Arkansas guard Boogie Fland at Florida. Lee helped the Gators to an SEC regular season championship before they bowed out in the Round of 32 to Iowa. Lee averaged 11.6 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and shot 42% from the field in his lone season at Florida after transferring from Princeton.
Guard Isiah Harwell transferred from Houston to play for Mark Few at Gonzaga. Harwell scored 6 points against the Razorbacks in their 94-85 win last season on Dec. 20. Harwell averaged 3.6 points, 2 rebounds, and shot 27.9% from the field as a freshman last season.
Guard Davis Fogle emerged as an important piece for Mark Few after his teammate Braden Huff’s injury last season. Fogle is expected to take an even bigger jump this season after averaging 8.6 points and 3.1 rebounds per gamewhile shooting an incredible 51.8% from the field.
Forward/Center Braden Huff would have been an All-American last season if it weren’t for his left knee injury he suffered in practice last January. Despite the game not counting on either team’s record, Huff could be the biggest challenge in the front court before SEC play arrives for Arkansas in January. Huff averaged 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting an incredible 66.2% from the field.
Center Massamba Diop transferred from Arizona State to Gonzaga in the off-season. Diop is a raw talent but will definitely be a challenge for a young Arkansas front court. Diop averaged 13.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and shot 56.9% from the field as a freshman last season.
After a wild Week 7 slate that saw five of the top seven teams in the AP poll fall, college football fans now turn their attention to another intriguing group of Week 8 games.
Three matchups headlined Saturday’s early action. No. 4 Ohio State battled No. 5 Indiana in a top-five showdown, while Florida faced No. 7 Texas and No. 16 Mississippi State met No. 22 LSU in a pair of SEC games.
The afternoon slate featured two more ranked SEC matchups. No. 6 Alabama and No. 14 Tennessee renewed their Third Saturday in October rivalry in Knoxville, while No. 13 Missouri traveled to Oxford to face No. 9 Ole Miss.
Two ranked showdowns closed out the day. No. 2 Notre Dame faced No. 8 BYU in Provo, Utah, while No. 18 Oklahoma State battled No. 20 Houston in an important Big 12 matchup.
Now, the attention shifts to Week 8. Pittsburgh takes on No. 1 Miami, while No. 6 Indiana faces Michigan in another important Big Ten game.
The SEC slate includes No. 7 Ole Miss against No. 19 Texas, with both teams looking to strengthen their position in the conference race. Elsewhere, North Dakota State meets New Mexico, while No. 14 Houston battles No. 10 Utah in a top-15 Big 12 showdown.
AP Top 5 No. 1 Miami 6-0 (4-0) ACC This Week: Pittsburgh (5-2) (Saturday, 11 a.m., ESPN) No. 2 BYU 6-0 (4-0) Big 12 This Week: at UCF (3-3) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., FOX) No. 3 Ohio State 6-1 (4-0) Big Ten This Week: Off No. 4 Notre Dame 6-1 Independents This Week: Off No. 5 Georgia 6-1 (4-1) SEC This Week: Off
Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week:
Pittsburgh (5-2) at No. 1 Miami (6-0) 11 a.m., ESPN Pittsburgh and Miami renew an old Big East matchup that will be a key matchup for ACC championship implications. The Panthers will go on the road and attempt to upset the top-ranked Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon with Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst), Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter) on the call at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Miami survived a double-overtime thriller against Florida State, 43-35, after preventing a Seminoles’ Hail Mary on the final play of the game on Saturday, Oct. 17, moving them up to No. 1 in the AP Poll on Sunday.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah continues to keep his name on the Heisman Trophy watch list after completing 23 of 34 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Mensah’s top wide receiver Malachi Toney continued his successful season with 11 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns while running back Javian Mallory carried the ball 13 times for 108 yards and two touchdowns.
Hurricanes linebacker Mohamed Toure and defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot will hope to lead their defense to a better performance against Pittsburgh. Toure has recorded 30 tackles while Lightfoot has totaled 20 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble across six games so far during the 2026 season.
Pittsburgh fell to Boston College, 21-17, on Saturday, Oct. 17, the Panthers second consecutive loss. Quarterback Corey Daily completed 11 of 25 passes for 193 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Eagles. Wide receiver Cataurus Hicks caught five passes for 135 yards and a touchdown while tailback Damon Ferguson Jr. rushed 17 times for 119 yards in the loss.
Panthers defensive back Cruce Brookins leads the team with 46 tackles so far this season. His teammate, defensive lineman Jaeden Moore tops the team with 2.5 sacks in addition to two fumbles he has forced.
After a close win, Miami must refocus on the task at hand and defeat Pittsburgh. The Hurricanes have one of the best offense in the country with Darian Mensah behind center throwing the football to receivers Malachi Toney and Cooper Barkate alongside running backs Javian Mallory and Mark Fletcher Jr. If the offense shows up like they did last week, it will be easier for the defense to shut down a struggling Pittsburgh offense.
Pittsburgh must hope Corey Daily can step up against the Mohamed Toure and Marquise Lightfoot-led Miami pass-rush and deliver the ball to his receivers without turning the ball over. Despite losing last week, running back Damon Ferguson Jr. was able to get down the field against Boston College but it will be vital to score against the Hurricanes defense to set up the pass.
The Panthers defense will have a tough job stopping the Miami offense but any chance they have to set their offense up with quality field position. Cruce Brookins and Jaeden Moore will be important as leaders but it will be vital for the other nine defenders to stop the dynamic unit that includes Mensah, Toney, Barkate, Mallory and Fletcher Jr.
Miami should dominate Pittsburgh in front of a packed house. The Hurricanes offense should go up and down the field and their defense should shut the Panthers’ offense down consistently, moving one game closer to clinching a spot in their first ACC Championship game.
No. 6 Indiana (6-1) at Michigan (4-2) 11 a.m., FOX Indiana looks to bounce back against a Michigan team that is looking to build behind a new quarterback. The Hoosiers will face off against the Wolverines with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Tom Rinaldi (sideline reporter) and Jenny Taft (sideline reporter) on the call at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Indiana was defeated by Ohio State in a tremendous defensive battle, 19-15 after wide receiver Nick Marsh’s potential game-winning touchdown catch was no good thanks to having a foot out of bounds on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover completed 20 of 40 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown against the Buckeyes. Wide receiver Charlie Becker was crucial for the Hoosiers, catching nine passes for 165 yards while running back Turbo Richards rushed 16 times for 46 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones leads the team with 52 tackles and an interception so far this season. Defensive lineman Tobi Osunsanmi has also been impactful with 26 tackles, seven sacks and a forced fumble.
Michigan edged Penn State 21-18 on Saturday, Oct. 17 in their last appearance on the field. Starting quarterback Bryce Underwood was replaced by freshman Tommy Carr after completing only 5 of 11 passes for 43 yards and two interceptions. After entering the game, Carr completed 5 of 7 passes for 47 yards while rushing for 36 yards and a touchdown on four attempts.
Wide receiver JJ Buchanan caught three passes for 36 yards and tailback Jordan Marshall got 14 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown in the win against the Nittany Lions.
After holding Penn State to just 18 points, helping them earn their first win in three weeks, Michigan linebacker Troy Bowles, who has totaled 50 tackles and a half a sack, leads the Wolverine defense. Alongside Bowles, defensive end John Henry Daley has added 19 tackles and four sacks so far this season.
Indiana can get back to their winning ways by continuing to play complimentary football. It will be difficult for the Hoosiers to score against a talented Michigan defense but having already played Ohio State, they have seen a defense with similar playmakers.
Josh Hoover has yet to throw an interception this season and if he can avoid turning the ball over and making the right play with the help of Turbo Richards, Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh as his playmakers, the Hoosiers can get another win on Saturday, especially given the defects of a Michigan offense that will rely on the first start of Tommy Carr and a group of playmakers that has not been able to consistently move down the field for most of the season.
As mentioned above, Michigan’s defense, headed by Troy Bowles and John Henry Daley, will need to stop Indiana consistently if they want to come out with the win. Like their arch rivals Ohio State did last Saturday, the Wolverines will need to force Hoover and the Indiana offense to settle for field goals instead of giving up touchdowns.
If Michigan is able to force the Hoosiers to settle for three points instead of seven, their offense must take advantage of that and score to compete with Indiana. If Tommy Carr is given the opportunity to win the game for the Wolverines’ quarterback must use his legs and decision-making to lead successful drives.
In what could be another low-scoring game, Indiana will avoid an upset and defeat Michigan. The Hoosiers’ offense will rely on their ground game and passing game while their defense will shut down the Wolverines’ offense at opportune times.
No. 11 Tennessee (6-1) at South Carolina (3-3) 2:30 p.m., ESPN Tennessee will hope history does not repeat itself when it heads to South Carolina for a huge showdown on Saturday afternoon. The Volunteers and Gamecocks renew an old SEC east division matchup with Wes Durham (play-by-play), Dusty Dvoracek (analyst), Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) on the call at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.
Following a sleepy performance in a victory against Arkansas, Tennessee woke up and defeated Alabama for the third consecutive time in Knoxville, 26-10, on Saturday, Oct. 17. Quarterback George MacIntyre completed 21 of 31 passes for 197 yards and an interception. Running back DeSean Bishop continued his successful season, rushing 32 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns while wide receiver Mike Matthews caught a seven passes for 85 yards in the win against the Crimson Tide.
The Tennessee defense has continued to be one of the strongest units in the nation. The Volunteers’ linebacker Amare Campbell leads the team with 46 tackles and two sacks, and defensive tackle Tyree Weathersby has totaled 17 tackles and a team-high six and a half sacks through seven contests so far this season.
South Carolina defeated Florida 38-19 on Saturday, Oct. 10 before taking their open week last Saturday. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has had an up and down season however against Florida, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Tailback Matt Fuller carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards and Nyk Harbor caught four passes for 82 yards in the Gamecocks’ latest victory.
After holding Florida’s high-scoring offense to just 19 points, the South Carolina defense should feel good about themselves. But stopping the Tennessee rushing attack will be difficult on Saturday. Linebacker Justin Okoronkwo leads the team 43 tackles and an interception while defensive end Anthony Addison has added 12 tackles and three sacks through six games this season.
Tennessee can make their winning streak four games by relying on their strong running game with DeSean Bishop and a tough defense headed by Amare Campbell and Tyree Weathersby. George MacIntyre will just need to make the right throws and get out of the pocket to have success against South Carolina on Saturday afternoon.
South Carolina will hope quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ dynamic play is here to stay after an impressive performance two weeks ago against Florida. Sellers must get time from his offensive line and get the ball to playmakers Nyk Harbor, Mazeo Bennett Jr. and DJ Black on the perimeter. Matt Fuller must get yards on the ground on first and second down to keep the Tennessee pass-rush honest with a strong performance from their offensive line.
The Gamecocks defense can stop the Tennessee offense but only if they keep Bishop from moving the ball on the ground. If they cannot, MacIntyre can succeed in the passing game and if they want to complete the upset, that cannot happen.
In what could be a great back-and-forth game between Tennessee and South Carolina, the Volunteers will go to Columbia and prove that they are a true College Football Playoff contender, which would set up a huge matchup against No. 12 Kentucky on Saturday, Nov. 7.
No. 7 Ole Miss (5-1) at No. 19 Texas (4-2) 6:30 p.m., ABC Ole Miss will head on the road for their first matchup against Texas as conference foes in the SEC on Saturday night. The Rebels square off against the Longhorns with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium at Campbell-Williams Field in Austin, Texas.
Ole Miss dominated their former quarterback Austin Simmons and Missouri 31-3 in a ranked battle on Saturday, Oct. 17. Rebels signal-caller Trinidad Chambliss completed 20 of 36 passes for 241 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander caught three passes for 20 yards and running back Kyren Lacy rushed 16 times for 122 yards in the win.
Linebacker Luke Ferrelli has led the Ole Miss defense so far this season after totaling 39 tackles and two sacks through six games so far this season. Also, defensive end Blake Purchase has recorded 23 tackles, three and a half sacks and a forced fumble, will be vital for the Rebels defense.
Texas took their second consecutive 27-24 loss, this time to Florida on Saturday, Oct. 17. Questions have continued to arise about head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning, who have not coached or played up to expectations this season. It gets even more difficult for Manning, who faces his grandfather and uncle’s former team, Ole Miss, on Saturday.
Manning completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Ryan Wingo caught five passes for 49 yards against the Gators. The Longhorns’ leading rusher, Hollywood Smothers, rushed 12 times for 52 yards in the win.
The Texas defense will likely be without star edge defender Colin Simmons due to a high-ankle sprain. As a result, it will be that much more important for the Longhorns to prepare for Trinidad Chambliss and the high-scoring Ole Miss offense with their leader, linebacker Rasheem Biles, who has 48 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble.
Ole Miss will need to start fast on the road against a struggling Texas team. If Chambliss and the Rebels start out fast, they will have a better shot at defeating the Longhorns. If the Ole Miss defense makes Arch Manning uncomfortable by consistently getting into the backfield to sack him, which would prevent the ground and passing games from establishing against a Rebels defense that is improving.
Texas can win if Arch Manning shows up, quiets the doubters and gets the ball to talented wideouts Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman. Even without Simmons on their defensive front, the overall unit is too good to not do their best against a high-scoring offense led by Chambliss. Steve Sarkisian and his team need a win and a second AP Top 10 win would do wonders as they look to get back to their winning-ways.
Ole Miss will come into Austin and give Texas their third consecutive loss. The Rebels’ Trinidad Chambliss will lead them to a victory that will see him outplaying Arch Manning, despite the talented Longhorns defense. Ole Miss will take care of Texas in a close game.
North Dakota State (6-1) at New Mexico (5-1) 9 p.m., The CW In what could be a preview of this season’s Mountain West Championship game, North Dakota State will meet New Mexico on Saturday night. The Bison and Lobos face off with Jack McMullen (play-by-play), Cody Kessler (analyst) and Marshall Newhouse (sideline reporter) on the call at University Stadium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
North Dakota State bounced back from their first loss in Mountain West play to UNLV, the Bison bounced back with a 31-17 victory against Nevada 31-17 on Saturday, Oct. 17. Quarterback Nathan Hayes completed 19 of 25 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns along with eight carries for 42 yards and one touchdown against the Wolfpack. Wide receiver Jackson Williams caught five passes for 58 yards and running back Myles Mitchell had 13 carries for 49 yards in the victory.
Linebacker Donovan Woolen leads the North Dakota State defense with 51 tackles, one and a half sacks and an interception through six games so far during the 2026 season. Along with Woolen, defensive end Kelton McCaslin has added 16 tackles and four sacks as well for the Bison.
New Mexico defeated Hawaii 21-10 in its last time on the field on Saturday, Oct. 17. Quarterback Toa Fa’avae completed 5 of 10 passes for 59 yards and two interceptions while rushing 10 times for 77 yards and a touchdown against the Rainbow Warriors. Running back Scottre Humphrey carried the ball 15 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns while wide receiver Bailen George caught one pass for 22 yards in the victory.
New Mexico linebacker Mercury Swaim and defensive end Darren Agu are big parts of the Lobos defense. Swaim has totaled 32 tackles, a sack and a half and a forced fumble while Agu has recorded 24 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble through six contests so far during the 2026 season.
In a battle of two strong defenses, North Dakota State’s must stop up and shut down Fa’avae from rushing the ball down the field, especially. If the Bison defense can do that, they can set quarterback Nathan Hayes up in good situations to lead his offense down the field against New Mexico.
If New Mexico’s Mercury Swain and Darren Agu can get into the backfield and force Hayes and Myles Mitchell to have problems moving the ball down the field, they too can set their offense up for success. The Lobos fell to Oklahoma by just a score of 14-6 and have dominated the rest of their schedule, so if they show up, they have a great shot to protect their home field.
North Dakota State heads to Albuquerque needing a win over New Mexico to hand the Lobos their first conference loss and avoid falling two games behind them in the standings. The Bison will play tough and keep the game close, but New Mexico will move to 3-0 in Mountain West play and move closer to a potential bid in the College Football Playoff.
Projected Score: New Mexico 27, North Dakota State 24
No. 14 Houston (6-1) at No. 10 Utah (6-0) 9:15 p.m., ESPN ESPN’s College GameDay will be in the state of Utah for the second consecutive Saturday for a huge Big 12 battle between Houston and Utah on Saturday night. The Cougars will face the Utes with Tom Hart (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter) on the call at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Houston seeks their second consecutive ranked win on Saturday following a 35-32 win against Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 17. Quarterback Connor Weigman completed 24 of 33 passes for 343 yards, five touchdowns and an interception in a huge performance against the Cowboys. Wide receiver Amare Thomas caught seven passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns and running back Makhi Hughes carried the ball 18 times for 77 yards in the victory.
Houston defensive back Kentrell Webb leads the team with 43 tackles through six contests so far during the 2026 campaign. Fellow defensive back Javion White has added 30 tackles, a team-leading two and a half sacks and a forced fumble.
Utah slipped by Colorado 27-24 on Saturday, Oct. 17. Quarterback Devon Dampier completed 24 of 41 passes for 278 yards for three touchdowns and two interceptions. Tailback Wayshawn Parker rushed 23 times for 98 yards while wide receiver Braden Pegan caught eight passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns in the close win.
Utah linebacker Trey Reynolds has totaled a team-leading 35 tackles and an interception so far this season. Reynolds’ teammate Karson Kaufusi has also been important for the Utes, recording 11 tackles and a team-high two sacks through six games so far this season.
Houston will lean on quarterback Connor Weigman to build on his success in last weekend’s win over a previously ranked Oklahoma State team. Defensively, the Cougars will try to replicate the Cowboys’ success in containing Devon Dampier, who finished with minus-8 rushing yards on eight carries. Houston will also look to limit Wayshawn Parker on the ground and keep the offense from creating opportunities for Braden Pegan, Creed Whitmore and Ricky Johnson.
Utah needs Dampier to not turn the ball over like he did last week against Colorado and get the ball to his playmakers Parker, Pegan, Whitmore and Johnson down the field if they want to win against Houston. The Utes’ defense will attempt to get in the backfield and keep Weigman from getting the ball to his receivers and scoring consistently.
In what should be a battle for all four quarters in Salt Lake City on Saturday night, Utah will find a way to protect their home field and bounce back after their sleepy win against Colorado last weekend with a season-defining performance against Houston. The Utes defense will stop Connor Weigman and the Cougars’ offense from scoring in the fourth quarter and they will continue their undefeated season.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cam Settles ran for two touchdowns and KJ Jackson threw for 251 yards as Arkansas snapped a 14-game SEC losing streak with a 31-21 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday night.
Settles’ 3-yard touchdown run put the Razorbacks (3-4, 1-3 SEC) ahead 28-21 with nine seconds left in the third quarter. Arkansas sealed its first conference victory since Oct. 25, 2024, on Max Gilbert’s 39-yard field goal with 24 seconds remaining.
Safety Miguel Mitchell’s interception with 3:46 left set up Arkansas’ final possession. Jackson then connected with wide receiver Jamari Hawkins for a 31-yard gain to help set up Gilbert’s kick.
Jackson completed 21 of 31 passes and rushed for a team-high 58 yards and a touchdown. The Razorbacks outgained the Commodores 438-390 and finished with a season-high 187 rushing yards. Braylen Russell added 51 yards on the ground, while Settles finished with 45.
Vanderbilt (3-4, 0-4 SEC) opened the scoring on Sedrick Alexander’s 4-yard touchdown run with 13 seconds left in the first quarter, capping a 76-yard drive that lasted three and a half minutes.
Arkansas tied the game at 7 when cornerback Joker Johnson returned an interception for a touchdown with 6:16 remaining in the second quarter. Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis responded on the next possession, finding wide receiver Jordan Sherrill for a 24-yard touchdown on the first play after the two-minute timeout.
The Razorbacks answered with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Settles’ 11-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 14 with 38 seconds left before halftime. It was the first career touchdown for the sophomore from Little Rock.
Arkansas receiver Chris Marshall exited late in the second quarter after a 28-yard reception on that drive. Marshall appeared hobbled as he went out of bounds and reached for his hamstring on the sideline. He did not appear again in the game.
Jackson gave Arkansas its first lead on an 8-yard touchdown run with 11:17 left in the third quarter. Vanderbilt tied it again on Makhilyn Young’s 3-yard scoring run with 5:42 remaining in the period.
After both teams came up empty on their next possessions, Antonio Jordan hauled in a 32-yard pass down the sideline to set up Settles’ go-ahead 3-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter. The 6-foot-6 sophomore receiver from Warren finished with five catches for 74 yards.
Curtis completed 19 of 31 passes for 274 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Notes: Arkansas moved to 5-0 all-time when playing at Vanderbilt on Saturday night, their first victory in Nashville was a 7-6 victory against the Commodores in 1949. Before Saturday’s game, the Razorbacks had not played there since October 29, 2011, when they defeated Vanderbilt 31-28 in Bobby Petrino’s final season as head coach.
Next Up: Arkansas enters its open week in a three-way tie for 13th place in the SEC with South Carolina and Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks are slated to host Missouri on Oct. 31 in either an afternoon (2:30 to 3:30 p.m.) or night window (5 to 7 p.m.) showdown. The SEC will announce Week 9 kickoff times and television networks on Monday.
The No. 13 Tigers (5-2, 2-2 SEC) lost to No. 9 Ole Miss 31-3 on Saturday.
When coach John Calipari, wing Billy Richmond III and forward/center Cooper Bowser arrived in Birmingham for SEC Basketball Tip-Off Media Days on Oct. 14, one thing became clear: College basketball is back.
Arkansas features a talented roster led by Richmond, transfers Bowser from Furman and Jeremiah Wilkinson from Georgia, and the nation’s top-ranked incoming high school class.
Jordan Smith Jr., last season’s consensus national high school player of the year, headlines a freshman group that includes JJ Andrews, Abdou Torre and Miikka Muurinen.
The Razorbacks have the talent to make a deep run in the 2027 NCAA Tournament, but a challenging nonconference schedule and 18 SEC games stand between them and March.
Can Calipari guide Arkansas to a third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance—and beyond—with a roster whose average age is 18.9?
As other programs lean on experience, Calipari is sticking with the approach that has defined his career: recruiting elite high school talent. This season will test whether that formula can produce another deep postseason run.
Starters Jordan Smith Jr., guard, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson, guard, junior Billy Richmond III, guard/wing, junior Miikka Muurinen, wing/forward, freshman Cooper Bowser, forward/center, senior
Jordan Smith Jr. leads the unit as the backcourt after averaging 21.2 points, 5.8 assists and 3 steals per game in the Bahamas where he won Baha Mar Hoops Most Valuable Player. Smith Jr. will lead Arkansas as their starting point guard across the 2026-27 season.
Davion Thompson will back up Smith after scoring 11 points and adding 2.8 assists per game over the summer. Thompson will add the necessary 3-point shooting to the lead guard spot John Calipari needs to advance in the NCAA Tournament come March.
Jeremiah Wilkinson will likely begin the season as a starter at the shooting guard position but he could become one of the best sixth men in the country off the bench. Wilkinson averaged 10.5 points while shooting 50% from the field.
Abdou Torre will begin the season as Wilkinson’s backup but proved he could start in his first collegiate season when he scored 14.8 points, 5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest in Baha Mar.
Billy Richmond III can attack the rim, pull up from the mid-range, and defend better than many wings in the country. The Razorbacks’ leader scored only 8.3 points, three assists and 2.8 rebounds per game across the four games in the Bahamas.
JJ Andrews impressed during summer play with 15 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Like his teammate Toure, Andrews could challenge for a starting role at small forward or compete with fellow freshman Miikka Muurinen for minutes at power forward.
Muurinen was not granted his eligibility until Thursday, Sept. 29 so he did not play in the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League. He will be expected to start at power forward with the aforementioned Andrews and Maper Maker, who could also play at center.
Maker averaged 3 points, 5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game across his action in the Bahamas.
Cooper Bowser started the first two games of summer action for Arkansas at the center position. Bowser put up 4.8 points, 5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks a game across his action.
Caleb Ourigou stepped in as the starting center for the final two games of Baha Mar action for the Razorbacks. Ourigou posted 7.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his minutes.
Ilia Frolov spent minutes off the bench playing the five for Arkansas. Frolov averaged 3.5 points and 4 rebounds per game in the Bahamas.
Paulo Semedo saw no action in the Baha Mar Summer League after suffering an injury prior to play beginning. Semedo is expected to see limited action again as a redshirt freshman in Fayetteville.
Regular Season: Nov. 3 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Nov. 8 Virginia (Washington DC; Capital Showcase) Nov. 10 Robert Morris Nov. 13 Central Arkansas Nov. 17 Indiana (New York City; Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York) Nov. 20 Mississippi Valley State Nov. 26 Michigan State (Detroit; CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic) Dec. 1 at North Carolina (ACC/SEC Challenge) Dec. 5 Oral Roberts (North Little Rock) Dec. 8 Oakland Dec. 13 UT Arlington Dec. 19 Arizona (Phoenix; Hall of Fame Series) Dec. 22 Central Michigan Dec. 29 Texas-Rio Grande Valley Jan. 2 Missouri Jan. 6 at South Carolina Jan. 9 Alabama Jan. 12 at Texas A&M Jan. 16 at Tennessee Jan. 19 Georgia Jan. 23 at Texas Jan. 26 LSU Jan. 30 Mississippi State Feb. 2/3 BYE Feb. 6 at Vanderbilt Feb. 9 Ole Miss Feb. 13 at Alabama Feb. 16 Auburn Feb. 20 at Kentucky Feb. 23 at Missouri Feb. 27 Florida March 2 at LSU March 6 Oklahoma March 10-14 SEC Tournament (Nashville)
Notes: In exhibition play, Arkansas will face against Gonzaga on Oct. 24 and Memphis on Oct. 28. The Razorbacks defeated the Bulldogs 74-68 on March 24, 2022 in San Francisco during the Sweet 16. Arkansas will face Memphis a year after defeating the Tigers 99-75 in an exhibition at the Fedex Forum on Oct. 27, 2025.
Arkansas opens regular season play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Nov. 3), who they will play for the first time in program history. The first of five games against Power 5 competition is in Washington DC against Virginia (Nov. 8) in the Capital Showcase.
The Razorback returns home for a two game homestand against Robert Morris (Nov. 10) and Central Arkansas (Nov. 13). The Hogs have not faced the Colonials during John Calipari’s tenure but are 2-0 against the Bears in as many seasons.
Arkansas returns to Madison Square Garden, one of Calipari’s favorite arenas to play in, for the Bad Boy Mowers Series – New York against Indiana (Nov. 17). The Razorbacks have played the Hoosiers five times and are 3-2 in the series. Arkansas defeated Indiana 71-64 at Assembly Hall the last time they faced off on Dec. 29, 2019 in Eric Musselman’s first season as head coach.
Arkansas will be back at Bud Walton Arena for their matchup against Mississippi Valley State (Nov. 20) before facing Michigan State (Nov. 26), the Razorbacks’ third Thanksgiving Day matchup in as many seasons.
The Hogs will will go for their first victory on “Turkey Day” under John Calipari when they face the Spartans for the second consecutive season in the state of Michigan for the CBS Sports Thanksgiving Classic, this time in Detroit, Michigan.
Arkansas will continue their roadtrip to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where they will face North Carolina (Dec. 1) inside the Dean E. Smith Center in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks last game against the Tar Heels was an 87-72 loss at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas on Nov. 24, 2023 in the third place game of the event.
The Hogs take their annual trip to North Little Rock, Arkansas next to face Oral Roberts (Dec. 5), who they have seen a lot over the years. The Razorbacks defeated the Golden Eagles on a Davonte Davis buzzer-beater 72-70 in the Sweet 16 on March 27, 2021.
After John Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats were upset by Oakland in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 on March 21, 2024, he took the open Arkansas job three weeks later. Calipari’s Razorbacks defeated the Golden Grizzlies 92-62 on Dec. 30, 2024 to close out non-conference play the next season.
Arkansas faces Oakland (Dec. 8) and UT Arlington (Dec. 13) in Fayetteville before hitting the road to Phoenix, Arizona to face Arizona in the Hall of Fame Series. The Razorbacks will attempt to avenge a 109-88 blowout loss to the Wildcats that ended their season in the Sweet 16 on March 26 in San Jose, California.
The Hogs close out non-conference play back at Bud Walton Arena against Central Michigan (Dec. 22) and Texas-Rio Grande Valley (Dec. 29).
Arkansas opens SEC play against Missouri (Jan. 2). The Razorbacks swept the season series against the Tigers last season, with a 94-86 victory at Bud Walton Arena on Feb. 21 and an 88-84 overtime win at Mizzou Arena on the final day of the regular season, March 7.
Arkansas’ first road conference game is at South Carolina (Jan. 6). The Razorbacks dominated South Carolina 108-74 in Fayetteville on Jan. 14 in their only meeting last season.
Alabama visits Bud Walton Arena on Jan. 9 for the teams’ first of two regular-season meetings. The Razorbacks are seeking their first win against Alabama in seven opportunities after their 117-115 double-overtime loss at Coleman Coliseum on Feb. 18, when Darius Acuff Jr. scored 49 points.
The Hogs take their first multi-game trip of conference play and it begins in College Station, Texas at Reed Arena where they will face Texas A&M (Jan. 12). They have not defeated the Aggies on their home floor since Feb. 20, 2024, when they defeated them 78-71.
Arkansas’ first road trip finishes up in Knoxville (Jan. 16), where they have not defeated Rick Barnes and Tennessee since Jan. 3, 2017. The young Razorbacks will have a tough matchup against a veteran-led Volunteers team.
Georgia comes to Fayetteville next on Jan. 19. Arkansas’ Jeremiah Wilkinson will face his former team, the Bulldogs, when they come to town for a Tuesday night showdown with students back in Fayetteville for the spring semester.
Arkansas heads to Austin next to face rival Texas (Jan. 23), who has gotten plenty of pre-season attention from the media. The Longhorns reached the Sweet 16 in Sean Miller’s first season as head coach following a 105-85 loss to the Razorbacks on March 4.
The Hogs finish the month of January at Bud Walton Arena with two teams they dominated last season. Arkansas faces LSU (Jan. 26), who they swept with an 85-81 win on Jan. 24 in Fayetteville and a 91-62 victory on Feb. 10 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Arkansas finishes the month against Mississippi State (Jan. 30) on a Saturday night. The Razorbacks crushed the Bulldogs 88-68 on Feb. 7 in Starkville, Mississippi last night.
Arkansas opens the month of February with a bye week before another Saturday night showdown at Vanderbilt (Feb. 6). The Razorbacks dominated the Commodores 93-68 at Bud Walton Arena on Jan. 20 before a second victory 86-75 in the SEC Tournament Championship game in Nashville, Tenn.
Ole Miss returns to Fayetteville next for a matchup that could turn into a trap game for Arkansas (Feb. 9). Next, Razorbacks head to Tuscaloosa to finish their two-game set against Alabama (Feb. 13).
The Hogs return home to face Auburn on Feb. 16 before a two-game road swing at Calipari’s former employer Kentucky (Feb. 20) and at Missouri (Feb. 23).
Arkansas welcomes Florida (Feb. 27) back to Bud Walton Arena for a huge late season showdown that could play a huge part in determining the SEC regular season title. The Razorbacks welcome their former point guard, Boogie Fland, back to Fayetteville for the first time when they face off with the Gators.
The Hogs head to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for their final SEC road game of the season against LSU (March 2). The Razorbacks could sweep the Tigers for the second consecutive season with two wins against Will Wade’s team.
Arkansas wraps up the regular season back at Bud Walton Arena against Oklahoma (March 6). The Razorbacks are looking for a third consecutive victory against the Sooners following an 83-79 win on Jan. 27 in the regular season and an 82-79 win in the SEC Tournament en route to their first conference tournament championship since 2000.
Arkansas will return to Nashville, Tenn. for the SEC Tournament from March 10-14, looking for their second consecutive tournament championship.
After an exciting week 6 slate that saw excitement, back-and-forth games and upsets, it is time to prepare for what will be a loaded group of week 7 games, slated for Friday, Oct. 16-Saturday, Oct. 17.
Nebraska gave No. 6 Indiana a big scare to lead off Saturday’s action. The Corn Huskers took a 10-3 lead into the locker room at halftime and took a 17-6 lead with 12:01 to go in the game.
Then, Indiana mounted their comeback. The Hoosiers quickly answered to make the game 17-13 with 11:51 to go after a 75-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Hoover to wide receiver Nick Marsh. After a Nebraska punt, Indiana scored again on another Hoover touchdown pass to Marsh, this one from 44 yards out.
The Indiana defense shut down the Nebraska offense two more times and they clinched the win for the 20-17 victory for Hoosiers.
The afternoon slate included Oklahoma’s upset of No. 1 Texas and No. 21 UCLA’s win against No. 13 Oregon. The Sooners defeated the Longhorns in another entertaining Red River Rivalry matchup at the Cotton Bowl. Texas took a 17-7 lead into halftime before the Oklahoma’s ground game set them up with 10 points to tie the game with 14:48 to go.
The Sooners’ defense forced two Arch Manning interceptions including defensive back’s Courtland Guillory’s fourth quarter pick that set up Oklahoma placekicker Tate Sandell’s game-winning field goal from 47 yards out.
Sandell’s kick gave Oklahoma a 27-24 win which helped them stay in the College Football Playoff conversation thanks to avoiding their third loss on Saturday afternoon.
UCLA dispatched Oregon in a low-scoring game at the Rose Bowl Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bruins took their first lead over the Ducks at 10-6 with 8:08 to go until halftime.
UCLA extended their lead to 17-6 when backup quarterback Ty Dieffenbach completed a nine-yard pass to the end zone for running back Wayne Knight. After backup quarterback Dylan Raiola was replaced by Brock Thomas, Thomas completed a 44-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Evan Stewart to make it 17-13 with 2:16 to go in the game.
The score remained the same after UCLA ran most of the rest of the clock out and the score said 17-13 at the end.
Two SEC matchups headlined the prime time slate. No. 10 LSU fell in overtime to Kentucky while No. 2 Georgia and No. 6 Alabama battled in another entertaining game. The Wildcats won their second consecutive overtime game
Kentucky took their first lead against LSU after quarterback Kenny Minchey’s 1-yard touchdown run made the score 21-17. The Tigers’ Scott Starzyk cut the lead to one with 2:13 to go in the third quarter. The Wildcats responded with a field goal of their own before LSU scored a touchdown to make it 27-24 Tigers with 9:42 to go in the game.
Kentucky’s two missed field goals sandwiched an LSU fumble before a Wildcats’ field goal made it 27-27 and forced over time. Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt scored on a 15-yard touchdown drive to open the period.
Then, Kentucky running back CJ Baxter answered with a 1-yard touchdown run. The Wildcats won the game with a successful two-point try on another run from Kenny Minchey, winning 35-34.
Georgia and Alabama went back-and-forth to close Saturday night’s action at Bryant-Denny Stadium at Saban Field. An EJ Crowell touchdown run from 1-yard out had the Crimson Tide up 14-10 at halftime.
After a low-scoring third quarter, Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton rushed for a 14-yard score while Alabama placekicker Conor Talty’s 39-yard kick was good to equal the score at 17-17.
Georgia placekicker Connor Woodring’s kick from 23 yards out made the score 20-17 and the Bulldogs kept their undefeated season going.
Now, college football fans await a loaded week 7 slate that starts out with three big early games. No. 4 Ohio State battles No. 5 Indiana in a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Championship game, Florida and No. 7 Texas look to bounce back against each other and No. 16 Mississippi State attempts to keep their success going against a struggling No. 22 LSU team.
The afternoon slate includes two top 15 SEC matchups. No. 6 Alabama goes for their first win against No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville since 2020 while Austin Simmons leads No. 13 Missouri into his old house, where they will play his former team, No. 9 Ole Miss.
The primetime slate includes two matchups with AP Top 25 teams. No. 2 Notre Dame heads to Provo, Utah for a matchup against No. 8 BYU while No. 18 Oklahoma State meets No. 20 Houston in a pivotal Big 12 game.
AP Top 5 No. 1 Georgia 6-0 (4-0) SEC This Week: Auburn (3-2) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ESPN) No. 2 Notre Dame 6-0 Independents This Week: at No. 8 BYU (5-0) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC) No. 3 Miami 5-0 (3-0) ACC This Week: Florida State (3-3) (Saturday, 6 p.m., ESPN) No. 4 Ohio State 5-1 (3-0) Big Ten This Week: at No. 5 Indiana (6-0) (Saturday, 11 a.m., FOX) No. 5 Indiana 6-0 (3-0) Big Ten Week: No. 4 Ohio State (5-1) (Saturday, 11 a.m., FOX)
Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week:
Risers No. 12 UCLA 5-0 (3-0) Big Ten Week 6: No. 21 (Defeated No. 15 Oregon 17-15) No. 17 Iowa 5-1 (2-1) Big Ten Week 6: No. 20 (Defeated Washington 41-24)
Dropped Out Oregon 3-2 (1-1) Big Ten Week 6: No. 15 (Lost to No. 21 UCLA 17-15) Florida 4-2 (2-2) SEC Week 6: No. 16 (Lost to South Carolina 38-19) Pittsburgh 5-1 (2-1) ACC Week 6: No. 25 (Lost to North Carolina 21-17)
New No. 15 Kentucky 5-1 (3-1) SEC Week 6: NR (Defeated No. 10 LSU 35-34) No. 21 Wake Forest 5-1 (3-1) ACC Week 6: NR (Defeated NC State 38-14) No. 25 Northwestern 4-1 (1-1) Big Ten Week 6: NR (Defeated Ball State 45-14)
The Week 7 Slate (Rankings based on the AP Top 25.)
No. 16 Mississippi State (4-1) at No. 22 LSU (4-2) 11 a.m., ESPN Mississippi State will be in Baton Rouge for a huge SEC matchup against LSU. The Bulldogs and Tigers face off with Roy Philpott (play-by-play), Brock Osweiler (analyst), Stormy Buonantony (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Mississippi State lost to Alabama 56-23 on Oct. 3 before taking their open week last weekend. Quarterback Kamario Taylor completed 19 of 34 passes for 258 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Running back Fluff Bothwell suffered an injury against the Crimson Tide while wide receiver Anthony Evans III caught 12 passes for 166 yards.
The Mississippi State defense gave up a lot of points against Alabama the last time they were on the field so it will be up to defensive leaders Tyler Lockhart and Will Whitson to step up and lead the way. The linebacker Lockhart leads the Bulldogs with 31 tackles while defensive lineman Whitson has added 13 tackles and a team-high two sacks through five contests this season.
LSU fell to Kentucky 35-34 in overtime on Oct. 10 in their last game on the field. Quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 25 of 34 passes for 275 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr. caught six passes for 62 yards and running back Dilin Jones carried the ball 16 times for 56 yards in the loss to the Wildcats.
Despite giving up 35 points in a defeat last Saturday, the LSU defense is still one of the strongest in the country. Linebacker TJ Dottery has recorded 4o tackles and two forced fumbles and defensive end Princewill Umanmielen has totaled 26 tackles and eight sacks through six games so far during the 2026 campaign.
Mississippi State must hope Kamario Taylor protects the football better than he did in the loss to Alabama and gets tailback Fluff Bothwell back to support the offense so he can get the ball to receivers Anthony Evans III, Sanfrisco Magee and Marquis Johnson.
LSU can protect their home field and defeat the Bulldogs again if Lane Kiffin’s running backs can set up Sam Leavitt’s passing attack for another great offensive performance. The Tigers defense is good enough to stop the Mississippi State offense but without linebacker Whit Weeks due to injury, Taylor and his offense can definitely take advantage of that to win the game on Saturday afternoon.
Lane Kiffin and LSU cannot lose to Mississippi State after another loss to Kentucky for one of his programs last Saturday. Jeff Lebby’s offense is definitely capable of scoring with Sam Leavitt and the Tigers offense but it won’t be enough in Baton Rouge. Kiffin does not let the loss from last weekend turn into another one and they avoid dropping out of College Football Playoff contention.
Florida (4-2) at No. 7 Texas (4-1) 11 a.m., ABC Florida will be in Austin to meet Texas in a game where both teams want to get back on the right track. The Gators attempt to defeat the Longhorns for the second season in a row with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline reporter) on the call at Darrell K. Royal Stadium in Austin, Texas.
Florida was blown out by South Carolina 38-19 on Saturday, Oct. 10 and fell from their No. 16 ranking to outside of the AP Poll. Quarterback Aaron Philo completed 21 of 28 passes for 227 yards, a touchdown and an interception while wide receiver Dallas Wilson posted eight catches for 74 yards and running back Jadan Baugh was limited to 59 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against the Gamecocks.
The Florida defense has struggled so far overall but linebacker Myles Graham is a big reason why they can turn the corner and get better. Graham has recorded 42 tackles and two and a half sacks through six games during the 2026 season. Graham’s fellow linebacker Jayden Woods has 24 tackles, four and a half sacks and a forced fumble so far this season as well.
Texas was stunned by rival Oklahoma by a score of 27-24 in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 10. Quarterback Arch Manning completed 19 of 31 passes for 260 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss. Wide receiver Cam Coleman caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown while tailback Hollywood Smothers rushed 12 times for 39 yards in the defeat against the Sooners.
The Texas defense can get their team back on the right foot with a strong showing against a Florida offense with a great rush attack. Linebacker Rasheem Biles leads the Longhorns in tackles (41) in addition to his two interceptions, a sack and a forced fumble. Edge defender Colin Simmons continues to prove he can be a top ten pick in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft after posting 17 tackles, nine and a half sacks and two forced fumbles through five contests this season.
With questions on if signal-caller Aaron Philo can play against Texas due to injury, Tramell Jones Jr. will step in for him and the rushing attack will become that much more important for Florida to end their two-game losing streak. The Gators will have to rely on running backs Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark to return to the form they had just weeks ago, helping them reach their 4-0 start.
Texas can win by getting back to success on offense against a weaker Florida defense. If quarterback Arch Manning can’t have success against the Gators defense with receivers Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Moseley V to throw to down the field, the Longhorns don’t deserve a College Football Playoff spot. If Will Muschamp’s defense does their job, Texas should get back to their winning ways.
With the home crowd behind them, Texas will defeat Florida and avoid losing back-to-back games. The Longhorns’ offense will return to form and their defense will stand up strong against Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark’s ground attack with questions at quarterback in Gainesville with Aaron Philo’s injury concerns.
No. 4 Ohio State (5-1) at No. 5 Indiana (6-0) 11 a.m., FOX Ohio State and Indiana face off in a huge AP top 5 matchup on Saturday afternoon. Big Noon FOX for the matchup between the Buckeyes and Hoosiers with Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (sideline reporter) on the call at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.
Ohio State dominated Maryland 45-16 in their last time on the field on Saturday, Oct. 10. The connection between quarterback Julian Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith has paced the Buckeyes offense this season. Sayin completed 13 of 21 passes for 242 yards, 4 touchdowns and an interception and Smith caught four passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Running back Bo Jackson carried the ball 23 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns against Maryland as well.
Safety Earl Little Jr. has emerged as the top dog on an Ohio State defense that lost a lot of talent to the NFL last spring. Little Jr. has totaled 30 tackles through six contests so far this season. Defensive end Kenyatta Jackson Jr. is the top pass rusher for the Buckeyes, recording 15 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble as well.
Indiana edged Nebraska 20-17 on Saturday, Oct. 10. In the close victory, quarterback Josh Hoover completed 12 of 22 passes for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Hoover’s favorite wide receiver is Charlie Becker, who caught three passes for 52 yards while tailback Turbo Richard rushed eight times for only 10 yards in the victory against the Corn Huskers.
Indiana linebacker Isaiah Jones leads the team with 46 tackles and an interception. Defensive lineman Tobi Osunsanmi leads his front with 22 tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble so far through the 2026 season.
Ohio State can avenge their Big Ten Championship loss to Indiana from last December by relying on the connection between Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. If Bo Jackson can get down field like he did in the victory against Maryland, Arthur Smith’s offense will be able to open up the passing attack from Sayin to Smith, Devin McCuin, Nate Roberts and Chris Henry Jr.
Indiana’s ball control will get them a second consecutive victory against Ohio State. Josh Hoover must protect the football in the passing game and avoid fumbling the ball with a better Turbo Richard performance on the ground. If Richard can get things going on the ground, pressure will be on Hoover to get the ball to Charlie Becker, Nick Marsh and Shazz Preston and the defense to stop the tremendous Buckeyes offense consistently.
In what could be one of the best games of the season, Ryan Day’s Ohio State team will prove why they are the best team in the Big Ten again against Indiana. The Buckeyes may struggle to move the ball against Bryant Haines’ defense through the first few drives but at some point Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith will get it going and they will continue their undefeated season.
No. 13 Missouri (5-1) at No. 9 Ole Miss (4-1) 2:30 p.m., SEC Network Missouri meets up with Ole Miss in a big SEC battle on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers and Rebels will battle with Matt Schumacker (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst) and Taylor Davis (sideline reporter) on the call at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.
Missouri won their first game in three matchups against Texas A&M, 27-6, on Saturday, Oct. 10. Quarterback Austin Simmons and wide receiver Cayden Lee return to their former school, Ole Miss, as the leaders of the Tigers offense. Simmons completed 14 of 28 passes for 147 yards, a touchdown and an interception while Lee caught seven passes for 94 yards and a touchdown against the Aggies. Tailback Jamal Roberts turned in an incredible performance, recording 34 carries for 222 yards and two touchdowns in the win as well.
Missouri linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez leads the team with an incredible 63 tackles and one and a half sacks through six games so far this season. Edge defender Daeden Hopkins has added 17 tackles, seven sacks and two forced fumbles to back Rodriguez on the defense.
Ole Miss blew out Vanderbilt 52-10 on Saturday, Oct. 10 following their open week. Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss completed 20 of 30 passes for 213 yards, three touchdowns and an interception in the win. After returning from an injury, tailback Kewan Lacy carried the ball seven times for 39 yards and a touchdown ahead of playing against his former team, Missouri. Wide receiver Deuce Alexander continued his productive season with five catches for 74 yards for a touchdown against the Commodores.
After struggling through the first few weeks of the season, the Ole Miss defense held the Vanderbilt offense to just three points. Linebacker Luke Ferrelli leads the Rebels with 34 tackles and a sack through the first five games of the 2026 campaign. Also, defensive end Blake Purchase has totaled 21 tackles, three and a half sacks and a forced fumble this season.
Missouri can defeat Ole Miss with another strong performance from their ground game, led by Jamal Roberts against a Rebels defense that has not had much success this season. If Roberts can have success, it will help setup the passing game from Austin Simmons to Cayden Lee and Donovan Olugbode down the field. Offensive success will help the Tigers’ defense, led by Nicholas Rodriguez and Daeden Hopkins against Trinidad Chambliss and the opposing offense.
Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense will have to have a strong performance against the Missouri defense if they want to win this game. Chambliss will need to get the ball to Deuce Alexander, Traylon Ray and Caleb Odom while relying on Kewan Lacy to set them up with second and third and shorts. The Rebels defense must come out strong against Chip Lindsey’s strong offense.
In what should be the game of the week in the SEC, Missouri will go on the road looking for their second win against an AP top 10 team this season, after they defeated Florida at home in Columbia, Missouri on Oct. 3. It will be tough to do against an Ole Miss team that has not lost against an SEC team at home since 2024, but it is doable if they come out strong.
With former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons and receiver Cayden Lee going against their former team in their old house, they will know what they have to do to get a win. But Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels will protect their home field and edge the Tigers out for a win.
No. 6 Alabama (5-1) at No. 14 Tennessee (5-1) 2:30 p.m., ABC Alabama will attempt to bounce back after last week’s loss to Georgia when they renew their rivalry against Tennessee on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide and Volunteers face off with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Alabama fell to Georgia, 20-17, in a game of the SEC’s top two teams up to this point in the season on Saturday, Oct. 10. Quarterback Keelon Russell completed 16 of 30 passes for 185 yards, a touchdown and rushed nine times for 41 yards against the Bulldogs. Trae’shaw Brown carried the ball nine times for 90 yards. The Crimson Tide will likely be without wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams, it will be up to Lotzeir Brooks, who caught two passes for 37 yards against the Bulldogs.
Alabama linebackers Luke Metz and Caleb Woodson lead their defense. Metz has totaled 45 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery while Woodson has recorded 42 tackles, two sacks, two passes defended and an interception through six games this season.
Tennessee edged SEC bottom-dweller Arkansas 24-17 on Saturday, Oct. 10. Backup signal-caller George MacIntyre completed 18 of 29 passes for 247 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions against the Razorbacks. Tailback DeSean Bishop rushed 19 times for 138 yards and a touchdown and wide receiver Mike Matthews caught four passes for 78 yards in the victory.
Tennessee linebacker Amare Campbell and defensive lineman Xavier Gilliam are the two players that lead a much better unit in Jim Knowles’ first season as the coordinator. Campbell has recorded 39 tackles and two sacks and Gilliam has recorded 21 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles so far during the 2026 campaign.
Alabama needs to forget their loss to Georgia and get back to playing the complimentary football they know they can against Tennessee. The Crimson Tide’s Keelon Russell will be without Ryan Coleman-Williams but there are others that can step up for him on the perimeter to make plays. Without Coleman-Williams, Trae’shaw Brown’s volume will likely go up in the backfield and their defense will be trusted upon to defend against George MacIntyre, who makes just his second start of his career on Saturday afternoon.
Amare Campbell, Xavier Gilliam and the Tennessee defense will have to be the story if they want to protect their home field against an Alabama team that has shown to be Kalen DeBoer’s best through his three season tenure. If the defense can get Russell and the Crimson Tide offense to struggle or turn the ball over, DeSean Bishop will have to turn in the best game of his season running the ball to come out with the win.
Alabama will go into Knoxville and get their first win against Tennessee in their last three opportunities on Saturday afternoon. Keelon Russel will use the Alabama running game to set up their passing attack without Coleman-Williams and they will score enough against the talented Tennessee defense and move to 6-1 ahead of their showdown against Texas A&M on Saturday, Oct. 24.
No. 18 Oklahoma State (4-1) at No. 20 Houston (5-1) 6:30 p.m., FOX Oklahoma State squares off with Houston in a huge Big 12 battle on Saturday. The Cowboys and Cougars meet with Jack Kizer (play-by-play) and Mark Helfrich (analyst) on the call at John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Oklahoma State won their fourth consecutive game after defeating UCF 42-28 on Saturday, Oct. 10 the last time they were on the field. The Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker completed 19 of 28 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns against the Knights. Tailback Caleb Hawkins carried the ball 23 times for 83 yards and wide receiver Wyatt Young caught five passes for 52 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Oklahoma State linebacker Ethan Wesloski leads the defense with 53 tackles and a sack through five games so far this season. In addition, defensive end Jaleel Johnson has totaled 11 tackles and a sack and a half through five games as well.
Houston went to Kansas State and defeated the Wildcats 35-16 on Saturday, Oct. 10. Cougars quarterback Connor Weigman completed 19 of 30 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns against Kansas State. Tailback Re’Shaun Sanford II rushed 20 times for 90 yards while tight end Patrick Overmyer added eight catches for 83 yards and four touchdowns in the win.
The secondary is the strength for the Houston defense so far this season. The Cougars’ defensive backs Kentrell Webb, who has 38 tackles, and Javion White, who has 24 tackles, two and a half sacks and a forced fumble through six games so far during the 2026 season.
Oklahoma State will hope Drew Mestemaker excels against the talented Houston secondary and gets the ball to his playmakers on the perimeter, the Cowboys can go on the road to Houston and get Eric Morris another big win. The defense will need to be consistent against Connor Weigman and the Cougars offense to get the win s well.
If Houston can have as much success from the Weigman to Patrick Overmeyer in the red zone against the Oklahoma State defense, they will put their defense in a great position. The Cougars can rely on their strong secondary with Kentrell Webb and Javion White to shut down the Cowboys’ talented receivers, but Mestemaker is an offensive weapon they do not want to overlook.
Oklahoma State and Houston should trade scores back-and-forth and the team that gets the ball last should win this game. The dual between Drew Mestemaker and Connor Weigman will come down to the wire and the home team will come out on top. Willie Fritz’s Cougars will move to 6-1 ahead of their showdown at No. 11 Utah on Saturday, Oct. 24.
No. 2 Notre Dame (6-0) at No. 8 BYU (5-0) 6:30 p.m., ABC Notre Dame and BYU face off in the second AP top 10 matchup of the day. With ESPN’s College GameDay in town, the Fighting Irish and Cougars meet up with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly. Rowe (sideline reporter) and Laura Rutledge (sideline reporter) on the call at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
Notre Dame blasted longtime foe Stanford 58-7 on Saturday, Oct. 10. Quarterback CJ Carr completed 14 of 20 passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns in the victory. Running back Jonaz Walton carried the ball 13 times for 181 yards and two touchdowns and wide receiver Jordan Faison caught three passes for 16 yards in the win.
Notre Dame linebacker Drayk Bowen has totaled 30 tackles to lead the team entering their huge week 7 showdown. Defensive lineman Boubacar Traore’s 17 tackles, three and a half sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception have also been huge for the Fighting Irish up front.
BYU defeated Iowa State 24-10 on Friday, Oct. 9, the last time they hit the field. Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier completed 22 of 30 passes for 329 yards and two touchdowns while rushing nine times for 109 yards against the Cyclones. Wide receiver Legend Glasker caught five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown while LJ Martin has been sidelined with a lower-body injury. Martin’s replacement Journee Tonga rushed eight times for 19 yards and a touchdown in the win.
BYU linebacker Cade Uluave and defensive end Tausili Akana are the top two players on their defense. Uluave’s 26 tackles, interception and half sack and Akana’s 11 tackles and three and a half sacks will be vital against the strong Notre Dame offense.
Notre Dame can defeat BYU if they rely on CJ Carr to do what he does best and that his taking care of the ball and scoring touchdowns for his offense with the help of Jonaz Walton and Jordan Faison. The Fighting Irish defense should be able to shut Bear Bachmeier and his unit down if Carr is able to have success because they will be off the field and well-rested.
BYU will hope that their defensive playmakers can get in the backfield and cause problems against the talented Notre Dame offense to set their offense up with quality field position. From there Bachmeier will be able to get it to Legend Glasker, Kyler Kasper and Walker Lyons down the field, especially without the help of talented tailback LJ Martin.
If the BYU does not have success on early downs, they will struggle to win this game against Notre Dame. The Cougars defense must take advantage of their home crowd and force the Fighting Irish to make a mistake early in the game to set their offense up for success. However, Notre Dame will make it too difficult for BYU to do that and the Fighting Irish will continue their undefeated season.
