Stakes Rise After Week 10 Chaos

Image – The Salt Lake Tribune

Week 10 delivered a shake-up at the top of college football, headlined by No. 11 Notre Dame’s upset of No. 1 Miami. No. 2 Georgia and No. 5 Alabama earned convincing SEC road wins, while No. 7 Texas rallied past No. 18 Missouri and No. 3 Utah held off No. 9 BYU in a top-10 rivalry showdown. Here’s a look back at five marquee matchups before turning the page to Week 11.

No. 7 Texas 34, No. 18 Missouri 20
Texas overcame a second-half deficit to leave Missouri with a 34-20 victory. The Longhorns trailed 20-13 in the third quarter before scoring the game’s final 21 points, with Arch Manning and the offense rallying to secure a ranked road win.

No. 3 Utah 28, No. 9 BYU 20
Utah claimed bragging rights in the Holy War, holding off BYU for a 28-20 victory. The Utes intercepted quarterback Bear Bachmeier four times, while Devon Dampier accounted for four touchdowns, including two on the ground, to help Utah prevail in the top-10 showdown.

No. 5 Alabama 31, No. 14 LSU 13
Alabama pulled away late to beat LSU 31-13 in Baton Rouge. The Crimson Tide scored the final 21 points over the last 17 minutes, while the Tigers squandered scoring opportunities with a missed field goal, an interception and a turnover on downs in Alabama territory during the second quarter.

No. 2 Georgia 42, No. 10 Ole Miss 7
Georgia overwhelmed Ole Miss in Oxford, scoring the first 35 points on its way to a 42-7 rout. The Bulldogs outgained the Rebels 481-252 and kept them off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter, improving to 8-1 with a dominant road performance.

No. 11 Notre Dame 31, No. 1 Miami 24
Notre Dame delivered the weekend’s biggest upset, knocking off top-ranked Miami 31-24 in South Bend. The Fighting Irish built a second-half lead and withstood a Hurricanes rally, avenging last season’s loss and handing Miami a setback at the top of the rankings.

No. 13 Wake Forest at SMU
Wake Forest heads to Dallas looking to protect its position in the ACC championship race. The Demon Deacons have just one conference loss, but SMU enters with momentum after beating Virginia Tech 51-28. This ranked matchup gives the Mustangs a chance to shake up the conference standings.

Duke at No. 7 Miami
Miami returns home needing a response after losing its No. 1 ranking with a defeat at Notre Dame. Duke presents an immediate test for the Hurricanes, who cannot afford to let one disappointing result turn into a late-season slide. Keeping their postseason goals within reach starts with taking care of business at home.

No. 18 USC at No. 9 Indiana
USC travels to Bloomington for a ranked Big Ten showdown against an Indiana team that has repeatedly found ways to win close games. Five of the Hoosiers’ six conference contests have been decided by one possession, while their quarterback situation adds intrigue coming out of a bye. The Trojans have an opportunity to earn a statement road victory and strengthen their postseason case.

No. 22 Missouri at No. 1 Georgia
Georgia returns to Athens atop the rankings after dismantling Ole Miss 42-7. Missouri, meanwhile, looks to recover from a 34-20 loss to Texas that knocked the Tigers out of the AP Top 25. The Bulldogs control their path to the SEC Championship Game, making this another important step in their conference title pursuit.

Oregon State at No. 24 Boise State
Boise State welcomes Oregon State with eight consecutive wins and an unbeaten conference record. The Broncos scored 64 points against Colorado State last week, while the Beavers enter following a 42-21 loss to Texas State. With “College GameDay” heading to Boise, the Broncos have a national stage to strengthen their playoff résumé.

No. 2 Utah at No. 23 Arizona
Utah heads to Tucson looking to avoid a letdown after its emotional rivalry win over BYU. The unbeaten Utes face an Arizona team capable of making this a difficult road trip, with the opening spread favoring Utah by just 2.5 points. A victory would keep the Utes firmly positioned near the top of the national rankings.

No. 6 Texas at No. 21 LSU
Texas makes another challenging SEC road trip after rallying past Missouri last week. LSU needs to regroup following its loss to Alabama, but the Tigers opened as favorites in Baton Rouge despite the teams’ contrasting results. For the Longhorns, another road victory would add momentum to their playoff push, while LSU has a chance to revive its postseason hopes.

College Football Playoff Top 12
No. 1 Georgia 8-1 (6-1) SEC This Week: No. 22 Missouri (6-3) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., ABC)
No. 2 Utah 9-0 (6-0) Big 12 This Week: at No. 23 Arizona (7-2) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., FOX)
No. 3 Alabama 7-2 (5-2) SEC This Week: at Vanderbilt (4-5) (Saturday, 11:45 a.m., SEC Network)
No. 4 UCLA 9-0 (6-0) Big Ten This Week: Illinois (6-3) (Friday, 8 p.m., FOX)
No. 5 Notre Dame 8-1 Independents This Week: Boston College (4-5) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., NBC)
No. 6 Texas 7-2 (4-2) SEC This Week: at No. 21 LSU (6-3) (Saturday, 6:30 p.m., ABC)
No. 7 Miami 8-1 (4-1) ACC This Week: Duke (7-2) (Saturday, 11 a.m., ABC)
No. 8 Tennessee 7-2 (4-2) SEC This Week: at Texas A&M (4-5) (Saturday, 2/2:30 p.m., ESPN)
No. 9 Indiana 8-1 (5-1) Big Ten This Week: No. 18 USC (7-2) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., CBS)
No. 10 BYU 7-2 (4-2) Big 12 This Week: Baylor (6-3) (Saturday, 2:30 p.m., FOX)
No. 11 Kentucky 7-2 (5-2) SEC This Week: Florida (5-4) (Saturday, 5:15/6 p.m., ESPN)
No. 12 Texas Tech 8-1 (5-1) Big 12 This Week: at Oklahoma State (6-3) (Saturday, 8:30 p.m., ESPN)

Projected College Football Playoff Bracket (How the College Football Playoff bracket is seeded)

First Round

South Bend
No. 5 Notre Dame
No. 12 Boise State

Knoxville
No. 8 Tennessee
No. 9 Indiana

Austin
No. 6 Texas
No. 11 Kentucky

Miami Gardens
No. 7 Miami
No. 10 BYU

Quarterfinals 

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
No. 4 UCLA
No. 5 Notre Dame/No. 12 Boise State

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
No. 1 Georgia
No. 8 Notre Dame/No. 9 Indiana

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
No. 3 Alabama
No. 6 Texas/No. 11 Kentucky

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
No. 2 Utah
No. 7 Miami/No. 10 BYU

Biggest risers and fallers in the CFP Top 25 this week:

Risers
No. 4 UCLA 9-0 (6-0) Big Ten Week 10: No. 8 (Defeated Minnesota 34-20)
No. 5 Notre Dame 8-1 Independents Week 10: No. 11 (Defeated No. 1 Miami 31-24)
No. 8 Tennessee 7-2 (4-2) SEC Week 10: No. 13 (Defeated No. 6 Kentucky 34-6)
No. 9 Indiana 8-1 (5-1) Big Ten Week 10: No. 4 (Off)
No. 12 Texas Tech 8-1 (5-1) Big 12 Week 10: No. 15 (Defeated West Virginia 53-48)
No. 13 Wake Forest 8-1 (5-1) ACC Week 10: No. 16 (Defeated Merrimack 77-0)
No. 14 Houston 7-2 (4-2) Big 12 Week 10: No. 17 (Defeated Cincinnati 31-24)
No. 15 Iowa 7-2 (4-2) Big Ten Week 10: No. 19 (Defeated Northwestern 24-10)
No. 16 Oregon 6-3 (4-2) Big Ten Week 10: No. 23 (Defeated No. 12 Ohio State 41-28)
No. 17 South Carolina 6-3 (4-3) SEC Week 10: No. 17 (Defeated Texas A&M 17-9)

Fallers
No. 7 Miami 8-1 (6-0) ACC Week 10: No. 1 (Lost to No. 11 Notre Dame 31-24)
No. 11 Kentucky 7-2 (5-2) SEC Week 10: No. 6 (Lost to No. 13 Tennessee 34-6)
No. 19 Ole Miss 6-3 (4-3) SEC Week 10: No. 10 (Lost to No. 2 Georgia 42-7)
No. 20 Ohio State 6-3 (4-2) Big Ten Week 10: No. 12 (Lost to No. 23 Oregon 41-28)
No. 21 LSU 6-3 (3-3) SEC Week 10: No. 14 (Lost to No. 5 Alabama 31-13)
No. 22 Missouri 6-3 (3-3) SEC Week 10: No. 18 (Lost to No. 7 Texas 34-20)

Dropped Out
Florida 5-4 (3-4) SEC Week 10: No. 24 (Lost to Oklahoma 23-7)

New
No. 25 Oklahoma State 6-3 () Big 12 Week 10: NR (Defeated Kansas State )

The Week 11 Slate (Rankings based on CFP Top 25):

*All times CDT.*

Saturday, Nov. 14

Image – AP News

No. 13 Wake Forest (8-1) at SMU (7-2)
11 a.m., ESPN
Wake Forest makes the trip to face SMU in a huge ACC ranked battle on Saturday afternoon. The Demon Deacons will look to continue their six-game winning streak against the Mustangs with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Wake Forest blanked Merrimack 77-0 on Saturday, Nov. 7, their last time on the field. Demon Deacons quarterback Gio Lopez was not active due to a lower body injury so backup Steele Pizzella completed 23 of 28 passes for 432 yards and three touchdowns and rushed seven times for 63 yards against the Warriors. Wide receiver Carlos Hernandez caught four passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns while running back Ty Clark carried the ball eight times for 40 yards and a touchdown in the win.

The Wake Forest defense is led by linebacker Vincent Firenze and defensive lineman Langston Hardy. Firenze leads the Demon Deacons with 53 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack while Hardy has recorded 44 tackles, a team-high five and a half sacks through eight games so far during the 2026 season.

SMU blew out Virginia Tech 51-28 on Friday, Nov. 6, in their last game action. Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings completed 24 of 32 passes for 350 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against the Hokies. Wide receiver Yamir Knight caught six passes for 103 yards and three touchdowns and tailback Kendrick Raphael took 15 carries for 63 yards in the victory.

SMU linebacker Alexander Kilgore has impressed with 51 tackles to lead the team this season. Mustangs defensive end Marques White has totaled 25 tackles, a team-high seven and a half sacks and two forced fumbles to assist Kilgore in leading the unit.

With or without quarterback Gio Lopez, Wake Forest can keep themselves in the ACC Championship game and College Football Playoff conversations with a quality win against SMU. Carlos Hernandez has been electric as a down the field threat and the Demon Deacons defense is strong enough to stop Kevin Jennings and the SMU offense.

SMU must defeat Wake Forest to keep themselves in ACC Championship game contention. Jennings’ ability to move the ball down the field with his arm and legs will be vital but it will be a total team effort against a strong Demon Deacons team. The Mustangs defense will need consistent stops to come out with a win on Saturday.

In what will be a back and forth game, Wake Forest will go to Dallas and continue their success against SMU. The Demon Deacons and Mustangs will battle in a shootout but it will be Gio Lopez who makes the big play to win game number nine this season.

Projected Score: Wake Forest 34, SMU 31

Image – Raleigh News & Observer

Duke (7-2) at No. 7 Miami (8-1)
11 a.m., ABC
Duke faces Miami in another huge ACC showdown on Saturday afternoon. The Blue Devils attempt to defeat their former quarterback, Darian Mensah, and wide receiver, Cooper Barkate, and the Hurricanes their second straight loss with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Duke dominated instate rival North Carolina State 41-3 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Quarterback Walker Eget completed 22 of 31 passes for 208 yards a touchdown against the Wolfpack. Running back Nate Sheppard rushed 18 times for 217 yards and three touchdowns and Jonah Burton caught five passes for 52 yards in the win.

Linebacker Nick Morris and defensive end Kevin O’Connor lead the Duke defense. Morris has totaled a team-leading 54 tackles and O’Connor has recorded a team-leading four and half sacks through nine games so far during the 2026 season.

Miami took their first loss of the season to Notre Dame by a score of 31-24 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Former Duke quarterback Darian Mensah completed 24 of 43 passes for 269 yards, three touchdowns and interception against Notre Dame. Fellow former Blue Devil Cooper Barkate caught nine passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns while Mark Fletcher Jr. recorded 13 carries for 57 yards in the loss.

Linebacker Mohamed Toure has impressed as the leader of Miami’s defense with 56 tackles across nine games. Defensive lineman Marquise Lightfoot has recorded 34 tackles, a team-high seven sacks and two forced fumbles so far this season.

As head coach Manny Diaz and Duke face Miami, led by their former quarterback and wide receiver, they must focus on the game and not overdoing it. Walker Eget must lead the Blue Devils offense to score consistently to keep pace with Darian Mensah’s unit on the other sideline.

After losing their first game of the season against Notre Dame, Miami must move on and make sure they go one week at a time to make a return trip to the College Football Playoff. Tailbacks Mark Fletcher Jr., Javian Mallory and pass catchers Cooper Barkate, Elija Lofton and Daylyn Upshaw will need to step up again in Malachi Toney’s absence and Mohamed Toure and Mitch Lightfoot will have to step against the Duke offense.

In what should be an offensive duel in the first half, Duke will keep it close in the first half but Miami will take over and move another win closer to their first ACC Championship game appearance. Darian Mensah and Cooper Barkate will send their former team packing with three losses as they prepare for Virginia Tech on Saturday, Nov. 21.

Projected Score: Miami 35, Duke 21

Image – The Daily Hoosier

No. 18 USC (7-2) at No. 9 Indiana (8-1)
2:30 p.m., CBS
USC will make the long trip to face Indiana on Saturday afternoon. With all of the craziness going on in the Big Ten, the Trojans and Hoosiers will battle for an important win with Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Merchants Bank Field at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, Indiana.

USC defeated Ohio State 30-18 on Saturday, Oct. 31 before taking their open week. Jayden Maiava completed 15 of 22 passes for 222 yards and a touchdown against the Buckeyes. Wide receiver Trent Mosley caught five passes for 101 yards and a touchdown while running back King Miller carried the ball 13 times for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Linebacker Deven Bryant leads USC with 55 tackles through nine games so far during the 2026 season. Alongside Bryant, safety Kennedy Urlacher has recorded 29 tackles, a team-high three sacks and a forced fumble.

Indiana took down Minnesota 23-16 in overtime before taking their open week as well. Hoosiers quarterback Josh Hoover completed 8 of 19 passes for 119 yards, a touchdown and an interception against the Golden Gophers. Wide receiver Charlie Becker caught eight passes for 149 yards and a touchdown while running back Turbo Richard received seven carries for 34 yards in the win.

The Indiana defense is headed by linebacker Isaiah Jones and defensive lineman Tobi Osunsanmi through nine games so far during the 2026 season. Jones has totaled a team-high 67 tackles and an interception and Osunsanmi has recorded 34 tackles, a team-gh 10 sacks and a forced fumble.

Jayden Maiava and the USC offense must put up a strong performance against a tough Indiana defense to come out with a second straight victory. Deven Bryant, Kennedy Urlacher and the Trojans defense will have to keep Josh Hoover and Charlie Becker in check, because if they do, a win could be in their sight because that has been the only thing working for the Indiana offense.

Indiana must continue to roll with the Hoover to Becker connection to get things started against USC. Turbo Richard must move the ball on the ground to keep the clock running, so that the Hoosiers’ defense gets enough rest to give them opportunities to stop Maiava and the Trojans consistently throughout Saturday’s game.

After defeating Ohio State two weeks ago, Saturday is a perfect opportunity for Lincoln Riley’s USC team to make a statement on the road. Jayden Maiava has to be elite against the Indiana defense but he is definitely capable. However, the Hoosiers will control the game on defense and keep the Trojans offense from moving up and down the field, grabbing their ninth win of the season.

Projected Score: Indiana 27, USC 20

Image – Online Athens

No. 22 Missouri (6-3) at No. 1 Georgia (8-1)
2:30 p.m., ABC
Missouri looks to bounce back after a tough loss to Texas against red-hot Georgia on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers look to play spoiler against the Bulldogs with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia.

Missouri dropped their last game to Texas, 34-20, on Saturday, Nov. 7. Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons completed 23 of 43 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns against the Longhorns. Wide receiver Cayden Lee caught nine passes for 79 yards and running back Jamal Roberts rushed 19 times for 66 yards in the loss.

The Missouri defense is led by linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, who has totaled 98 tackles, two and a half sacks and two forced fumbles through nine contests so far during the 2026 season. Edge defender Daeden Hopkins has recorded 21 tackles, a team-high seven sacks and two forced fumbles for the Tigers as week.

Georgia blew out Ole Miss 42-7 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Quarterback Gunnar Stockton completed 9 of 15 passes for 186 yards and four touchdowns while rushing six times for 28 yards and a touchdown against the Rebels. Wide receiver Talyn Taylor caught four passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns while tailback Dwight Phillips rushed 11 times for 66 yards in the win.

Linebackers Raylen Wilson and Chris Cole head the Georgia defense through nine games so far during the 2026 season. Raylen Wilson has tallied 58 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles while Cole has matched Wilson with 58 tackles and a team-high five sacks.

If Missouri wants a chance at an upset and to keep themselves in the College Football Playoff conversation, they will have to establish the ground game with Jamal Roberts and Ahmad Hardy. Roberts will need to record 20 plus carries and get more than 66 yards and if they are able, Eli Drinkwitz’s team can use Hardy in spot situations for a change in pace. The Tigers’ defense, led by Nicholas Rodriguez and Daeden Hopkins, will have to stop the consistent Georgia offense consistently if they want to be successful as well.

Georgia can continue their success by running the ball with Dwight Phillips and Nate Frazier to set up the pass to Talyn Taylor, Craig Dandridge and Lawson Luckie. If the Bulldogs defense does its job, they can add win number nine on the season and move another win closer to another appearance in the SEC Championship game, the conference’s last ever.

Missouri will have to play a perfect game on the road to go into Athens and defeat Georgia. Eliah Drinkwitz and the Tigers will attempt to establish their ground game but the Bulldogs’ defense will be too much to handle. Georgia would move to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the SEC ahead of their conference finale against South Carolina.

Projected Score: Georgia 31, Missouri 14

Image – KLCC

Oregon State (5-4) at No. 24 Boise State (8-1)
5 p.m., USA Network
ESPN’s College GameDay is in town for a crucial Pac-12 matchup between Oregon State and Boise State on Saturday night. Following back-to-back loss Oregon State attempts to upset the Group of Six’s College Football Playoff favorite Boise State with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho.

Oregon State dropped its second consecutive game, this time to Texas State, 42-21 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Beavers quarterback Braden Atkinson completed 20 of 36 passes for 192 yards and an interception against the Bobcats. Wide receiver Jesse Legree caught eight passes for 99 yards and running back AJ Newberry rushed nine times for 41 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

The Oregon State defense is led by linebackers Aiden Sullivan and Takari Hickle through nine games so far this season. Sullivan has totaled a team-high 69 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble while Hickle has recorded 46 tackles, a team-high seven sacks and a forced fumble.

Boise State impressed in a 64-38 blowout of Colorado State, 64-38, on Saturday, Nov. 7. Broncos backup quarterback Max Cutforth completed 16 of 19 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns in the absence of Maddux Madsen, who remains questionable to play Saturday’s game, against the Rams. Running back Dylan Riley carried the ball 19 times for 192 yards and two touchdowns while Rasean Jones caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Linebacker Boen Phelps has recorded a team-high 52 tackles, a sack and an interception to lead the Boise State defense through nine games so far this season. Also, defensive lineman Lopez Sanusi has totaled 15 tackles and a team-high four and a half sacks.

Oregon State must play their best game in three weeks when they go on the road to face their toughest test, Boise State, since opening the season against nationally-ranked Houston and Texas Tech to start the season. Braden Atkinson cannot turn the ball over and Aiden Sullivan and Takari Hickle will lead their unit against an impressive Broncos offense.

Boise State must control what they can control on their home field against Oregon State. With College GameDay in town, the Broncos will need to focus on the task at hand whether Maddux Madsen is back behind center or not. Boen Phelps and Lopez Sanusi will need to be big in leading their defense against Jesse Legree, who is one of the best offensive playmakers in the country.

Oregon State may keep it close with Boise State in the first half, but the they should handle the them in the second half. The Broncos have proven themselves as the best Group of Six team in the country and with the spotlight on them Saturday night, they will do that again against the Beavers.

Projected Score: Boise State 38, Oregon State 21

Image – Deseret News

No. 2 Utah (9-0) at No. 23 Arizona (7-2)
6:30 p.m., FOX
Utah and Arizona square off in the first of two crucial Big 12 matchups on Saturday night. The Utes look to continue their undefeated season against the Wildcats with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.

Utah defeated BYU 28-20 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Utes quarterback Devon Dampier completed 14 of 26 passes for 177 yards while rushing 20 times for 89 yards, with two passing and two rushing touchdowns against the Cougars. Wide receiver Braden Pegan caught five passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns while running back Wayshawn Parker carried the ball 14 times for 36 yards in the win.

Utah linebacker Trey Reynolds has been crucial for his team with 54 tackles and two interceptions through nine games during the 2026 season. Defensive tackle Karson Kaufusi has totaled 18 tackles and a team-high three sacks as well.

Arizona edged TCU 29-28 on Friday, Nov. 6 in their last time on the field. Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita completed 24 of 37 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while rushing 11 times for 38 yards and another touchdown against the Horned Frogs. Wide receiver Isaiah Mizell caught six passes for 78 yards and a touchdown and running back Kedrick Reescano carried the ball 10 times for 52 yards in the win.

The Arizona defense is led by linebackers Taye Brown and Chase Kennedy so far during the 2026 season. Brown’s team-leading 57 tackles and half a sack and Kennedy’s 34 tackles, team-leading six sacks and a forced fumble will be vital against a strong Utah ground attack.

Utah will continue to rely on their ground attack with Devon Dampier and Wayshawn Parker along with their strong defense, led by Trey Reynolds and Karson Kaufusi if they come out on top against Arizona. The Utes have used both their running game and their defense to win games all season and it should not fail them in this game.

Arizona needs Noah Fifita to get the ball to receivers Isaiah Mizell, Giovanni Richardson and Tre Spivey down the field without turning the ball over to come out on top against Utah. Taye Brown and Chase Kennedy will be important pieces of leading the Wildcats defense against the Utes’ strong ground game, but it may be too much.

In a game that much of the national media is expecting to be close, Utah will go into Tucson, defeat Arizona and move to 10-0. The Utes’ defense will hold strong, setting up their offense for success in what will be a fun game in Tucson.

Projected Score: Utah 28, Arizona 20

Image – LA Times

No. 6 Texas (7-2) at No. 21 LSU (6-3)
6:30 p.m., ABC
Texas goes for win number five against the AP Top 25 when they make the trip to face LSU on Saturday night. The Longhorns attempt to eliminate the Tigers from College Football Playoff contention with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Texas took care of Missouri on the road, 34-20, on Saturday, Nov. 7. Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning completed 28 of 38 passes for 297 yards and three touchdowns against the Tigers. Running back Raleek Brown rushed 17 times for 85 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Ryan Wingo caught six catches for 53 yards in the win.

Texas safety Jelani McDonald leads his defense with 67 tackles and an interception through nine games so far during the 2026 season. Edge defender Colin Simmons has recorded 25 tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as well.

LSU fell to Alabama 31-13 in their last scheduled annual meeting with the Crimson Tide on Saturday, Nov. 7. Tigers quarterback Sam Leavitt completed 35 of 47 passes for 380 yards and an interception. Wide receiver Jackson Harris caught 11 passes for 166 yards and tailback Dilin Jones rushed 17 times for 56 yards and a touchdown.

The LSU defense is led by linebacker TJ Dottery and defensive end Princely Unmanmielen. Dottery has totaled 68 tackles, two forced fumbles and a half a sack while Unmanmielen has recorded 35 tackles and eight and a half sacks through nine games of the 2026 season.

Texas can go into Baton Rouge and defeat LSU if Arch Manning returns to his home state and turns in another successful performance against the Tigers. Manning must avoid turning the ball over behind his offensive line that will have a difficult job dealing with the talented LSU front, including TJ Dottery and Princely Unmanmielen. The Longhorns’ defense knows what they have to do on Saturday against the Tigers but it will be difficult on the road and compete against an offense that was subdued in their loss to Alabama.

LSU can bounce back with a strong performance from their defense. Dottery and Unmanmielen must get in the backfield and the Tigers secondary must take advantages of Manning’s mistakes and turn them into good field position for their offense. If Dilin Jones can get the run game going against Texas, it will be easier for Sam Leavitt to make the throws he needs to down the field to get a win.

If Texas goes on the road and defeats LSU, the Lane Kiffin experiment will be a disappointment in year one. The Longhorns will make that happen with a strong defensive performance, holding the Tigers’ offense down, helping them move to 8-2 on the season.

Projected Score: Texas 24, LSU 21

Image – Lubbock-Avalanche Journal

No. 12 Texas Tech (8-1) at No. 25 Oklahoma State (6-3)
8:30 p.m., ESPN
The other notable Big 12 clash will be between Texas Tech and Oklahoma State on Saturday night. The red-hot Red Raiders offense looks to continue its success against the Cowboys with (play-by-play), (analyst), (sideline reporter) and (sideline reporter) on the call at Boone-Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Texas Tech defeated West Virginia 53-48 in a crazy finish on Saturday, Nov. 7. Red Raiders quarterback Will Hammond completed 24 of 37 passes for 227 yards and an interception against the Mountaineers. Running back J’Koby Williams rushed 19 times for 160 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Kenny Johnson caught five passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

The Texas Tech defense has been headed by linebacker Austin Romaine, who leads the team with an impressive 84 tackles, two interceptions and one and a half sacks through nine games so far during the 2026 season. Defensive lineman A.J. Holmes Jr. has added 30 tackles, a team-high seven and a half sacks and a forced fumble.

Oklahoma State defeated Kansas State 66-28 on Saturday, Nov. 7. Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker completed 22 of 28 passes for 313 yards, four touchdowns and an interception against the Wildcats. Running back Caleb Hawkins rushed 20 times for 175 yards and three touchdowns and wide receiver Justin Bowick caught three passes for 59 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

Oklahoma State linebacker Ethan Wesloski has been the guy for the Cowboys so far on the defensive side of the football through nine games during the 2026 season. Wesloski has a team-high 81 tackles and four sacks so far this season.

Texas Tech will need to continue to rely on the ground game with J’Koby Williams to set up the passing game with quarterbacks Will Hammond and Thomas Castellanos. On defense, keying in on talented signal-caller Drew Mestemaker on tailaback Caleb Hawkins will be vital to the Red Raiders getting a win on Saturday and moving closer to a second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.

As mentioned above, Oklahoma State head coach Eric Morris will need to continue to rely on the talents of Mestemaker and Hawkins in the backfield. The Texas Tech defense gave up 48 points to West Virginia last Saturday, so the film says that Morris’ offensive playmakers are more than capable of taking advantage of a Red Raiders defense that is vulnerable in the second half.

In what could be a classic Big 12 shootout on Saturday night, Oklahoma State will take a lead into the second half but Texas Tech will mount a comeback. The Red Raiders’ run game will be the difference as they move closer to clinching a spot in the final Big 12 Championship game.

Projected Score: Texas Tech 38, Oklahoma State 35

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