Category: College Football

Image – Yahoo Sports

In five months, the sport of college football will return to our televisions every Saturday from September to the first week of December and games will continue in the College Football Playoff until a champion is decided at the end of January.

Along with that, ESPN’s College GameDay will head to a different campus site each week. The GameDay crew has been going to different sites since the 1993 season and 2026 will not be any different. So, where will Rece Davis, Pat McAfee, Desmond Howard, and Kirk Herbstreit head each Saturday for their famous pregame show? Read to find out below.

Weekly Picks:

Image – Chapelboro.com

Aug. 29
North Carolina vs TCU (Dublin; Aer Lingus College Football Classic)
College GameDay did not go to a campus site for Week 0’s games a year ago, instead deciding to put on a studio show. Two years ago, the crew went to Dublin for Georgia Tech’s win against Florida State. So, could GameDay return to Dublin again for North Carolina-TCU overseas?

It definitely is possible. On Sept. 1, 2025, TCU destroyed North Carolina 48-14 in Bill Belichick’s debut as the Tar Heels’ head coach. Under a year later, Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs will face North Carolina again to open the regular season.

Quarterback Josh Hoover is no longer in Fort Worth as he decided to transfer to Indiana to off-season so it will be a new look offense for the North Carolina defense to deal with in this game. On the other side, Belichick hired former Arkansas interim head coach Bobby Petrino to be his next offensive coordinator. So, the TCU defense should have a bigger challenge than they did a season ago.

If the College GameDay were to go anywhere else in Week 0, it would be to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for an ACC showdown between North Carolina State and Virginia.

Image – FBS Schedules

Sept. 5
Ole Miss vs Louisville (Nashville)
College GameDay does not always open with back to back games at neutral sites but they have to make an excuse for Ole Miss and Louisville, who will face off in Nashville to highlight week 1 of the 2026 college football slate. The Rebels and the Cardinals are two rising programs that could both appear in the College Football Playoff.

Amidst all of the craziness of Lane Kiffin’s departure to LSU, Pete Golding led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals and they were just four points short of making the national championship game, losing to Miami 31-27. Golding should be confident that his team can return to that stage returning his backfield of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy and a defense that should be better than it was a year ago.

Jeff Brohm has nearly brought his alma mater back to the top of the sport. Louisville went 9-4 in 2025 and they won four games in the ACC. They finished the season with a 27-22 victory against Toledo in the Boca Raton Bowl. Now, they must rebuild an offense losing quarterback Miller Moss, especially if they want to keep up with the Rebels’ high-scoring offense.

The Clemson-LSU is the game College GameDay could opt for in week 1 if they don’t go to Nashville for Ole Miss-Louisville.

Image – Cleveland.com

Sept. 12
Ohio State at Texas
The College GameDay set will be in Austin on Sept. 12 for a huge battle between two of college football’s best. The GameDay crew was in Columbus for the game a season ago, a 14-7 Ohio State win, but this season the game is Austin, so Texas must take advantage and avenge their loss to the Buckeyes from a year ago.

Ohio State boasts an offense with some of the best playmakers in the country. That group includes quarterback Julian Sayin, wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, and a running back room that expects Bo Jackson to step in and be the next great player standing next to the quarterback for the Buckeyes after a year buried on the depth chart. Ohio State’s defense lost top safety Caleb Downs and pass-rushers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese to the NFL Draft but their defense always raises to the occasion.

Matt Patricia’s defense will be trusted to stop Arch Manning and the Texas offense, that improved drastically after a 45-38 win against Mississippi State on Oct. 25. In his second season as the starter behind center, Manning has no excuses not to perform being able to throw to Auburn transfer Cam Coleman down the field. The Longhorns’ defense will have a new leader as Will Muschamp takes over his old job, replaces Pete Kwiatowski, and will attempt to build on what he had started.

If Ohio State-Texas is not the choice for College GameDay, another Big Ten-SEC battle between Oklahoma and Michigan may be the choice, as they would head to Ann Arbor for the game.

Image – The Daily Advertiser

Sept. 19
LSU at Ole Miss
Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss as LSU’s head coach is the slam dunk pick for College GameDay during week 3. The Rebels’ athletic department did not allow Kiffin to coach his team during their College Football Playoff run. Instead, Pete Golding led Ole Miss to the College Football Playoff semifinals. Both teams open their SEC slates with a familiar foe that they don’t like.

LSU went 7-6 last season, prompting them to fire head coach Brian Kelly and hiring Kiffin away from Ole Miss. After helping the Rebels on their playoff run, new Tigers offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will hope quarterback Sam Leavitt is fully healthy for the season as he continues to deal with an injury after transferring from Arizona State. He will need to be out on the field for Kiffin’s offense if they want to outscore his old quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and the Rebels’ offense.

Ole Miss quarterback Chambliss and Kyren Lacy will be tough to deal with and Kiffin knows it. That is why he retained Blake Baker as his defensive coordinator. They were able to retain linebackers Whit and West Weeks in addition to adding Ole Miss’ Princewill Umanmielen to their defensive line. The x-factor in this game will be Baker against Ole Miss’ new offensive coordinator John David Baker, who returned to the Rebels’ staff after a few seasons at East Carolina.

While it is likely ESPN will send College GameDay to Oxford for the battle between LSU and Ole Miss, if they do not go there, they may go to Lubbock for Houston-Texas Tech.

Image – The Register-Gard

Sept. 26
Oregon at USC
College GameDay has not been to Memorial Coliseum for a USC game in a long time. That may change when ESPN potentially sends the College GameDay crew to Los Angeles as Oregon heads to face their old Pac-12 rival, the Trojans. USC head coach Lincoln Riley must have a team that can compete for a College Football Playoff berth or his job might be in question. Dan Lanning’s Ducks are capable of another playoff run, despite the devastating loss to Big Ten foe Indiana in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals a year ago.

Lanning’s team returns Dante Moore behind center and gets wide receiver Evan Stewart comes back after a torn ACL to lead the Oregon offense. The Ducks’ defense is headed by linebackers Matayo Uiagalalelei and Teitum Tuitoi and they will be forces all season and vital against Riley’s offense that wants to go up and down the field.

Riley will expect his quarterback Jayden Maiava to ascend to a new level in 2026 and he will have to reach that level if they want to score on the tough Duck defense. Questions will have to be answered on defense after former TCU head coach Gary Patterson takes over the unit.

If they don’t go to Los Angeles for Oregon-USC, I anticipate College GameDay may go to the Oklahoma-Georgia game in Athens.

Image – Rubbing the Rock

Oct. 3
Miami at Clemson
This projection might be entirely wrong as Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers have fallen from the top of college football. Miami has replaced them as the ACC’s top team despite not winning the conference’s championship game last season.

The Hurricanes made the College Football Playoff as an at-large and defeated Texas A&M, Ohio State and Ole Miss on their way to the national championship game in January. They fell to Indiana in the game however they reinstated them as one of college football’s top programs. Duke transfer quarterback Darian Mensah can be a star for his team, especially with upcoming sophomore receiver Malachi Toney’s skills down the field. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman will have to replace likely first round NFL Draft pick Rueben Bain at the defensive end position but the Hurricanes should be the favorites to win the ACC and make another playoff appearance in 2026.

Clemson will have a new look in 2026 after many players exited to the NFL and the transfer portal. Christopher Vizzina takes over at quarterback and three defensive back transfers look to lead the Tigers back in the right direction.

College GameDay may head to Iowa City for Ohio State-Iowa if they do not head to Clemson for the battle between the Hurricanes and Tigers.

Image – Chicago Tribune

Oct. 10
Georgia at Alabama
The last two seasons, the battles between Alabama and Georgia have been highlighted by ESPN and College GameDay and for good reason. In 2024, the Crimson Tide defeated the Bulldogs 41-34 and 24-21 in 2025 in their last two regular season meetings. Despite those results, Georgia has won the last two SEC Championship games. So, it is not likely GameDay will miss this game.

The Bulldogs fell short of winning a third national championship in five seasons after falling to Ole Miss in a 39-34 shootout in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Quarterback Gunnar Stockton and running back Nate Frazier have returned but wide receivers Zachariah Brach, Dillon Bell, Colbie Young. tight end Oscar Delp are headed to the NFL. On defense, defensive tackle Christen Miller, linebacker CJ Allen, and cornerback Daylen Everette are also headed to the pros.

Alabama has a quarterback battle between redshirt junior Austin Mack and redshirt freshman Keelon Russell going on this spring. The winner of that battle will be a vital part of the Crimson Tide’s third win over the Bulldogs in as many regular seasons. The winner will get to Ryan Coleman-Williams, who must bounce back this fall after an up and down sophomore season.

The Cotton Bowl should be the destination for ESPN to send the College GameDay crew for the Oklahoma-Texas matchup if they do not go to the Alabama-Georgia game for the third consecutive season.

Image – Inside the Hall

Oct. 17
Ohio State at Indiana
ESPN will not missing out on sending the College GameDay crew to the Big Ten Championship game rematch between Ohio State and Indiana in Bloomington, over ten months after the 14-10 Hoosiers’ win back on Dec. 4. Ryan Day’s Buckeyes will attempt to avenge their loss to Indiana as they look to get back to the national championship game. Curt Cignetti will have his team focused and ready as they attempt to win a second consecutive national championship.

Two seasons ago, Ohio State finished the season with the national championship trophy. Last season, the Buckeyes came up short in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals against Miami, losing to the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl. Julian Sayin, Jeremiah Smith, and their entire roster will not be satisfied with anything less than a second national championship in three seasons but they will have to go through Cignetti and Indiana to get it.

Cignetti must hope new quarterback Josh Hoover fits in his offense and shows out on the field, especially against a team like the Buckeyes. Hoover will have the luxury of throwing to returning receiver Charlie Becker and Michigan State transfer Nick Marsh. The Hoosier defense should also be ready to face the Buckeyes’ offense but it will be a challenge just as it was a year ago.

If College GameDay does not go to Bloomington for week seven, they may go to Provo for the battle between Catholics and Mormons, Notre Dame at BYU on Oct. 17.

Image – Auburn Tigers

Oct. 24
LSU at Auburn
It was hard to pick for this week, so an old SEC West rivalry returning to the calendar makes for a perfect selection for College GameDay this week. While, the crew may not choose to go with all of the LSU games they could go to, but this seems like an easy pick if Alex Golesh has Auburn improving in his first season as head coach.

The Tigers will play through their quarterback Byrum Brown, who was Golesh’s quarterback at South Florida as well. Golesh also retained defensive coordinator DJ Durkin on his staff so even though they lost a few pieces in the transfer portal, the Tigers’ defense should still be one of the SEC’s best.

Sam Leavitt should be healthy for LSU eight weeks into the season but if he is not, Jordan-Hare Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in the SEC, so Lane Kiffin’s team could definitely lose to Auburn if they are not focused.

Alabama-Texas A&M, Indiana-Michigan and Ole Miss-Texas make sense as games that College GameDay could go to if they do not head to ‘The Plains’ on Oct. 24.

Image – Texas Tech Athletics

Oct. 31
Arizona at Texas Tech
ESPN should send the College GameDay crew to Lubbock, where they will see Arizona face Texas Tech on their home field. The Red Raiders won the Big 12 Championship and appeared in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history in 2025 so the crew should definitely make plans to get out to west Texas if they continue their success.

Brett Brennan led the Wildcats to a 9-4 record with a 6-3 standing against Big 12 competition last fall. Things are looking up for Arizona with veteran quarterback Noah Fifita starting behind center. Memphis transfer Everett Roussaw Jr. heads over to help the Wildcats’ pass-rush against what should be another solid Texas Tech offense.

Cincinnati transfer Brendan Sorsby will replace Behren Morton behind center for the Red Raiders. Sorsby will have the benefit of throwing to Micah Hudson, Coy Eakin and Kenny Johnson. Joey McGuire picked up four front seven transfers to fill the spots NFL-bound Jacob Roudriguez and David Bailey leave behind in Lubbock.

If the College GameDay set is not at Texas Tech for Oct. 31 games, it could also be in Atlanta for the Florida-Georgia game or Los Angeles for Ohio State-USC.

Image – Sun Sentinel

Nov. 7
Miami at Notre Dame
College GameDay should definitely pick South Bend as the destination for their week 10 show, as Miami and Notre Dame renew their rivalry to begin the month of November in college football.

The Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over Notre Dame on Aug. 31 started both teams’ seasons a year ago. A week later, the Fighting Irish fell 41-40 to Texas A&M. Those two losses kept them out of the College Football Playoff. Miami made their first appearance in the College Football Playoff and advanced to the national championship game, where they fell to Indiana 27-21 at their home stadium.

The Hurricanes are reenergized for another season after their quarterback Mensah will look to pick up where outgoing signal-caller Carson Beck left it at the end of last season. The defense will have to pick it up after losing many pieces to the NFL, as mentioned above.

Notre Dame will come in to 2026 angry after missing the College Football Playoff in 2025. CJ Carr returns at quarterback but tailback Jeremiyah Love is off to the NFL Draft. The Fighting Irish should also have the defense to beat Miami and make another postseason run.

If College GameDay does not go to South Bend for the Miami-Notre Dame showdown, they may make it to Oxford for Georgia-Ole Miss or Baton Rouge for Alabama-LSU.

Image – LSU Athletics

Nov. 14
Texas at LSU
Seven years ago, LSU went to Austin and defeated Texas 45-38 in an absolute thriller. In 2026, the Longhorns makes a return trip to Baton Rouge. Both teams should be able to make the SEC Championship game if College GameDay heads to Louisiana for their classic pregame show.

Arch Manning returns to his home state and home area when he leads Texas to face LSU. The New Orleans native will be the x-factor against the Tigers’ defense. The Longhorn defense will have to shut down Sam Leavitt and a group of transfer receivers including Jayce Brown, Eugene Wilson III and Winston Watkins.

The 2026 version of Texas-LSU may not combine for 83 points but it will definitely be the quality of game that ESPN will not want the College GameDay cast to miss out on. Tennessee-Texas A&M and Ole Miss-Oklahoma are other games the crew may consider going to on Nov. 14.

Image – Jacksonville.com

Nov. 21
Texas A&M at Oklahoma
The SEC is known for the second to last week of the regular season being their “cupcake” week because of the amount of the Group of 6 or FCS opponents their members play that week. However, Texas A&M-Oklahoma is a game that College GameDay will not want to miss. The two old Big 12 rivals square off on the gridiron for the first time as SEC foes in a game that could have SEC and College Football Playoff implications.

After their first College Football Playoff appearance, the Aggies promoted Holoman Wiggins to be their new offensive coordinator after Collin Klein returned to Kansas State to become the new head coach. Marcel Reed will still be throwing passes to Mario Craver and Ashton Bethel-Roman but Mike Elko has had to retool a defense that lost a bunch of production to the NFL.

The Sooners also made their first College Football Playoff appearance in 2025 and it ended in the first round just like the Aggies. John Mateer is back at quarterback, top receiver Isaiah Sategna was retained but the offensive line will need to be improved to improve the ground game and to protect Mateer a bit better. Under head coach Brent Venables, the Oklahoma defense will always be great but they have lost pieces just like Texas A&M. By the end of the season, Venables should have his defense clicking.

Virginia Tech-Miami or LSU-Tennessee are the two options College GameDay might consider if they do not go to Norman for Oklahoma’s week 12 matchup against Texas A&M.

Image – Ohio State Buckeyes

Nov. 28
Ohio State at Michigan
Most years, Ohio State-Michigan is the pick for College GameDay during rivalry week and for good reason. ‘The Game’ is the most heated rivalry in the sport and because it is a Big Ten game, ESPN does not get to actually broadcast the game. So there is no reason why they will not be there.

The Buckeyes fell short of a national championship a year ago but there is no reason why they cannot be that good this season. Jeremiah Smith is one of the best receiver prospects in the country, Julian Sayin is throwing him the ball and they always have a quality defense.

After years of building up and turning Utah football into a quality program, Kyle Whittingham has taken over Michigan and will look to get the Wolverines back to defeating Ohio State. It will be no easy task against Ryan Day’s squad but he has the talent that is capable to do so. Dual-threat quarterback Bryce Underwood should develop under the new offensive staff and Whittingham always had talented defenses in his time in Salt Lake City.

If College GameDay does not make their Thanksgiving weekend stop in Ann Arbor, they might do it in Tuscaloosa for the ‘Iron Bowl’ between Auburn and Alabama.

Image – Dawn of the Dog

Dec. 5
SEC Championship Game (Atlanta)
The last couple of years, the College GameDay set is in Atlanta for the SEC Championship game. A big part of why they go to it every season is Disney’s deal with the SEC. No matter what the matchup is, the crew should definitely be there to cover the weekend of games and preview that matchup because it is normally appointment television.

Georgia has won the last two SEC title games but Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Texas and Texas A&M are all capable of reaching the game and potentially defeating the Bulldogs.

The SEC has not won a national championship game in three years, so the conference must find out a way to get back on the Big Ten’s level, the conference that has won the last three championships.

If GameDay does not go to the SEC Championship game, they will likely be in Indianapolis at the Big Ten Championship game, although it is unlikely with the media deals in place right now between the two conferences.

Image – Army West Point

Dec. 12
Army vs Navy (East Rutherford)
College GameDay will definitely be in East Rutherford at MetLife Stadium for the annual Army-Navy game. Last season, the Midshipmen got a 17-16 victory over the Black Knights.

Army went 7-6 and 4-4 in the American Conference. They will attempt to avenge their loss to Navy, who had a strong 11-2 record with seven wins in conference.

There are bowl games on that day but ESPN will not send College GameDay anywhere else.

Image: On3

Since Ryan Silverfield accepted job as head coach for the Arkansas Razorbacks on Nov. 30, 2025, he has been hard at work making his first staff, putting together his transfer portal and high school classes, and preparing for the upcoming season with winter workouts with a team competition with coaches drafting players to create four teams.

Silverfield’s staff is headlined by offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, who spent the last four seasons as his offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator Ron Roberts, who has spent time in the same position at fellow SEC programs Auburn and Florida and special teams coordinator Chad Lunsford, who spent the 2025 season in the same spot at Auburn.

Originally, Silverfield hired Clint Trickett to be his quarterbacks coach and Marion Hobby to be one of his two defensive line coaches. Since, Maryland hired Trickett as their offensive coordinator and Hobby was hired away by the Indianapolis Colts. Silverfield hired Mitch Stewart, his quarterbacks coach at Memphis to replace Trickett. A replacement for Hobby has not been named.

David Johnson was hired to be the running backs coach and assistant head coach, Larry Smith will coach receivers, Marcus Johnson, Jeff Myers, and Baer Hunter will coach the offensive line. Tight ends coach Morgan Turner is the lone man to stay apart of the staff that was with Sam Pittman last season.

On defense, Kynjee Cotton will be joined by the newly hired Landius Wilkerson to coach the defensive line. CJ Wiliford will coach cornerbacks and Eddie Hicks, TJ Rushing, and Deron Wilson will be in charge of defensive backs. Wilson, who returns to Fayetteville after a year in Gainesville at Florida, will also be the assistant defensive coordinator.

Scott Gasper was hired as the Senior Director of Recruiting & Player Personnel, Noah Franklin will lead as the strength and conditioning coordinator, and Gaizka Crowley will be the football only general manager for the Razorbacks. In 2025, Crowley helped Arizona to a five win improvement going from four to nine wins and an invitation to the Holiday Bowl.

Recently, Razorback athletics announced important dates for the 2026 season:

Silverfield will lead Arkansas onto the field for the first time today with their first practice on March 15. The Razorbacks wrap up spring drills on Saturday, April 25 with the spring game hosted by TheLinkU.

Arkansas begins the season at home against North Alabama on September 5 before their first ever trip to Salt Lake City to face Utah a week later on September 12.

Arkansas returns home to begin SEC play against the back to back SEC champion Georgia Bulldogs. Razorback Stadium will be striped out for the game on September 19.

Tulsa comes to town the next weekend for what will begin another home and home series between the Razorbacks and the Golden Wave. The September 26 game will be apart of Family Weekend and the newest members of the Hall of Honor being recognized as well.

Two weeks later, Tennessee returns to Fayetteville to face Arkansas. Razorback Foundation Appreciation Day will be apart of the day’s celebration just over two years after the Razorbacks upset the No. 4 Volunteers in the same stadium.

Homecoming is set for October 31 with a new date for the Battle Line Rivalry against Missouri. The Razorbacks will not play the Tigers the final weekend of the regular season for the first time since 2020.

Arkansas welcomes former cross division rival South Carolina to Fayetteville two weeks later on November 14. The Razorbacks will honor the military that day along with celebrating the 250th year of the United States of America. 

The Battle for the Golden Boot against LSU returns to the final weekend of the regular season on Nov. 29. Arkansas’ seniors will be honored pregame.

Incoming 2026 Class (via 247Sports):
119.Anthony Beal (#15DL) Cherry Creek, AR Cross County HS
355.Terry Hodges (#18RB) Bryant, AR Bryant HS
463.Anthony Kennedy Jr. (#37DL) Little Rock, AR Little Rock Central HS
575.Colton Yarbrough (#40Edge) Durant, OK Durant HS
680.Hank Hendrix (#40QB) Fayetteville, AR) Fayetteville HS
Dequane Prevo (#63ATH) Bentonville, AR Bentonville HS
Tay Lockett (#82S) Conway, AR Conway HS
Jakore Smith (#65LB) Bryant, AR Bryant HS
Jalon Copeland (#78CB) Valdosta, GA Valdosta HS
Jude Hall (#138WR) Greenville, SC Christ Church Episcopal School
Ben Mubenga (#106OT) Buford, GA Buford HS
Kyndrick Williams (#120S) Fayetteville, AR Fayetteville HS
Hugh Smith (#92OT) Missouri City, TX Ridge Point HS
Tucker Young (#116OT) Hot Springs, AR Lakeside HS
Brandon Ford (#146CB) Crowley, TX Crowley HS
Blair Irvin III (#247WR) Bentonville, AR Bentonville HS
Carey Clayton (OL) Grapevine, TX Carroll Senior HS
Connor Smith (P) Clintwood, VA Ridgeview HS

JUCO
DL J’Lynn Allen, North Little Rock, AR Hutchinson CC
DB Nsongbeh Ginyui, Bakersfield CC
DB DJ Hairston, Hinds CC
DL Antonio Sandel-Bascomb, Akron, OHCoffeyville CC

Transfer Additions (via 247Sports):
75.OT Bryant Williams Previous School: Louisiana
139.LB Khmori House Previous School: North Carolina
151.CB Jahiem Johnson Previous School: Tulane
282.OT Terence Robinson Jr. Previous School: Ouachita Baptist
315.DL Hunter Osborne Previous School: Virginia
380.WR Chris Marshall Previous School: Boise State
395.CB Braydon Lee Previous School: Maryland
416.LB Phoenix Jackson Previous School: Baylor
420.LB Ben Bogle Previous School: West Virginia
442.QB AJ Hill Previous School: Memphis
465.IOL Davion Witherspoon Previous School: Ohio
480.S Christian Harrison Previous School: Cincinnati
506.WR Jelani Watkins Previous School: LSU
515.CB La’Khi Roland Previous School: Maryland
517.DL Carlon Jones Previous School: USC
531.RB Sutton Smith Previous School: Memphis
532.LB Steven Soles Jr. Previous School: Kentucky
586.DL Jamonta Walker Previous School: Auburn
633.CB Shelton Lewis Previous School: Clemson
643.WR Jamari Hawkins Previous School: Memphis
776.RB Jasper Parker Previous School: Michigan
831.TE Matt Adcock Previous School: Memphis
938.S Ian Williams Previous School: Memphis
968.DL Trajen Odom Previous School: Ohio State
978.S Carter Stoutmire Previous School: Colorado
979.DT Xadavien Sims Previous School: Oregon
1038.CB Lamarcus Hicks II Previous School: Iowa State
1078.WR Donovan Faupel Previous School: New Mexico State
1206.CB Tyler Scott Previous School: Georgia State
1253.LB Ja’Quavion Smith Previous School: Howard
1327.OL Josiah Clemons Previous School: Memphis
1387.TE Ty Lockwood Previous School: Boston College
1579.S John Howse IV Previous School: Middle Tennessee State
1641.LB Jeremy Evans Previous School: Baylor
1663.CB Kyeaure Magloire Previous School: West Georgia
1740.OT Adam Hawkes Previous School: Oregon State
1796.QB Braeden Fuller Previous School: Angelo State
TE Breylen Gilbert Previous School: Georgia State
K Max Gilbert Previous School: Tennessee
K Braeden McCalister Previous School: Georgia State
QB Cade Trotter Previous School: Clemson
LS Adam Johnston Previous School: Sacramento State

Early look at the 2026 position groups before spring practice begins:

QB
Braeden Fuller, Senior (RS)
KJ Jackson, Sophomore (RS)
AJ Hill, Freshman (RS)
Cade Trotter, Freshman (RS)
Hank Hendrix, Freshman

RB
Braylon Russell, Junior
Sutton Smith, Senior (RS)
Jasper Parker, Sophomore
Cam Settles, Sophomore
Markeylin Batton, Freshman (RS)
TJ Hodges, Freshman

WR
Chris Marshall, Senior (RS)
Jalen Brown, Junior (RS)
CJ Brown, Junior
Jamari Hawkins, Senior (RS)
Donovan Faupel, Senior
Ismael Cisse, Junior (RS)
Courtney Crutchfield, Sophomore (RS)
Monte Harrison, Sophomore
Jelani Watkins, Sophomore
Antonio Jordan, Freshman (RS)
Dequane Provo, Freshman
Blair Irvin III, Freshman

TE
Jaden Platt, Junior (RS)
Matt Adcock, Senior
Maddox Lassiter, Junior (RS)
Ty Lockwood, Junior (RS)
Gavin Garretson, Freshman (RS)
Huston Hendrix, Freshman (RS)

OL
Caden Kitler, Senior (RS)
Bryant Williams, Senior (RS)
Davion Witherspoon, Senior (RS)
Tim Dawn, Senior (RS)
Payton Parks-Smith, Senior (RS)
Brooks Edmonson, Senior (RS)
Malachi Breland, Junior (RS)
Aaron Smith, Junior (RS)
Kobe Branham, Sophomore (RS)
Kavion Broussard, Sophomore (RS)
Adam Hawkes, Sophomore (RS)
Terence Roberson Jr., Sophomore (RS)
Josiah Clemons, Freshman (RS)
Kash Courtney, Freshman (RS)
Carey Clayton, Freshman

DL
Quincy Rhodes, Senior
David Oke, Senior (RS)
Hunter Osborne, Junior (RS)
Charlie Collins, Junior
Stephen Soles Jr., Junior
Donovan Whitten, Junior
Carlon Jones, Sophomore (RS)
Jamonta Walker, Sophomore (RS)
Xadavien Sims, Sophomore (RS)
Trajen Odom, Freshman (RS)
Trent Sellers, Freshman (RS)
Caleb Bell, Freshman (RS)
Keiundre Johnson, Freshman (RS)
Reginald Vaughn, Freshman (RS)
Anthony Kennedy Jr., Freshman
Danny Beale III, Freshman
Colton Yarbrough, Freshman

LB
Phoenix Jackson, Senior (RS)
Jeremy Evans, Senior (RS)
Ben Bogle, Senior (RS)
Bradley Shaw, Junior
Khmori House, Junior
Ja’Quavion House, Junior
Wyatt Simmons, Sophomore (RS)
Preston Davis, Sophomore (RS)
Joseph Whitt, Sophomore (RS)
Jakore Smith, Freshman

Secondary
Miguel Mitchell, Senior (RS)
Landon Phipps, Senior (RS)
Christian Harris, Senior (RS)
Kyeaure Magloire, Senior (RS)
Kourtlan Marsh, Senior (RS)
John Howse IV, Senior (RS)
Carter Stoutmire, Senior
Jahiem Johnson, Junior (RS)
Shelton Lewis, Junior (RS)
Tyler Scott, Junior (RS)
La’Khi Roland, Junior
Braydon Lee, Sophomore (RS)
DJ Hairston Jr., Sophomore
Nsongbeh Ginyui, Sophomore
Ian Williams, Sophomore
Lamarcus Hicks II, Freshman (RS)
Blake Brisker, Freshman (RS)
Tay Lockett, Freshman
Kyndrick Williams, Freshman
Jalon Copeland, Freshman
Brandon Ford, Freshman

Special Teams
Starters
Kickers
Braeden McCallister, Senior (RS)
Charlie Von Der Meden, Sophomore (RS)
Max Gilbert, Sophomore
Punter
Gavin Rush, Freshman (RS)
Long Snapper
Adam Johnston, Junior (RS)

Early look at the 2026 slate:
Sept. 5
North Alabama
Arkansas will begin the Ryan Silverfield era with their first matchup ever against the Lions.

In his six season-openers as the head man at Memphis, Silverfield led the Tigers to a 5-1 record in those games. The only loss was to the Razorbacks’ long-time SEC foe Mississippi State back in 2022. North Alabama is 0-3 in season-openers under head coach Brent Dearmon.

Dearmon’s overall record as the Lions’ head coach is 8-27, and he has failed to reach more than three wins in a single season as head coach. Silverfield attempts to lead Arkansas into the new era with a victory over what has been a struggling North Alabama prediction.

Sept. 12
@ Utah
Arkansas heads to Salt Lake City for a showdown with Utah in week 2. The Razorbacks have never faced the Utes on the road in their program’s history but recently went to Provo and beat Utah’s instate rival BYU back on Oct. 15, 2022.

Despite the fact that Kyle Whittingham left the Utes to be Michigan’s new head coach, longtime defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley has taken over the program. Whittingham and Scalley are the two men that have set up what Utah football is now: toughness, defense, and a team that has been successful since the final few seasons of the Pac-12.

The Razorbacks look for a defining non-conference win on the road against a Big 12 opponent for the first time since their win over the Cougars almost four years ago.

Sept. 19
Georgia
Georgia will be at Razorback Stadium to face Arkansas for the first time since Sam Pittman’s first SEC game as head coach. Just six years later, it is Pittman’s replacement’s, Ryan Silverfield’s first duel against an SEC program.

Despite the game being in Fayetteville, there is no tougher challenge in the SEC for Arkansas to begin the Silverfield era with. The Bulldogs have won the last two SEC Championships despite winning no College Football Playoff games since the event expanded to 12 teams.

Something tells me Georgia’s Kirby Smart will have his team ready for their 2026 conference opener, too. The Bulldogs want another SEC Championship and they want to win their first national championship since January of 2023.

Georgia returns quarterback Gunnar Stockton but will have a revamped offense around Nate Frazier. Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann wants his defense to reach levels Dan Lanning’s did following their 2021 national championship run and a year later when his defense helped the Bulldogs win it all in 2022.

Silverfield and the Razorbacks must be prepared to face Georgia because if not, the Bulldogs will blow them out.

Sept. 26
Tulsa
Arkansas welcomes Tulsa to Fayetteville for the first time since Oct. 23, 2018, where they shut them out 23-0.

Last season, Ryan Silverfield’s Memphis team defeated Tulsa 45-7 back on Oct. 4, 2025. If the Golden Hurricanes put up a similar performance at Razorback Stadium this season, they can definitely win that game.

The Razorbacks only won two games last season but Tulsa only won four games. This is a game Arkansas needs to win if they want to get to a bowl game in Silverfield’s first season with a tough October SEC slate coming up after this game.

Oct. 3
@ Texas A&M
Arkansas will play at Texas A&M in College Station for the first time since the 2020 COVID season that included SEC-only competition. Since the Razorbacks last played the Aggies on the road, they have lost four of their last five games in the contest.

Texas A&M fired Jimbo Fisher after the 2023 season and hired their former defensive coordinator Mike Elko, then the head coach at Duke, to take over the program. Since taking over, the Aggies are 19-7 and have recorded a 12-4 record in SEC play and appeared in the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history during the 2025 season.

Texas A&M lost their offensive coordinator following the 2025 season. Collin Klein returns to his alma mater to take over the head coaching job at Kansas State. The Aggies also lost one of their top offensive playmakers in wide receiver K.C. Concepcion but return quarterback Marcel Reed and receiver Mario Craver.

Texas A&M will have a retooled defense following their playoff run when they host the Razorbacks to begin the month of October. Arkansas will attempt to win their first game in College Station against the Aggies since Nov. 24, 1989.

Oct. 10
Tennessee
The last time Arkansas welcomed Tennessee to Razorback Stadium, they upset the No. 4 Volunteers 19-14 back on Oct. 5, 2024. The Volunteers likely won’t be an AP Top 5 team when they face off in Fayetteville this season but under Josh Heupel, Tennessee has been successful offensively.

Last season, Tennessee outscored Arkansas 34-31 in Knoxville, their first victory over the Razorbacks in five attempts. Both the Volunteers and Razorbacks’ defenses were two of the first in the SEC and the country last fall. New Tennessee coordinator Jim Knowles, who helped Ohio State to a national championship in 2024, is known as of the best coordinators in the country and longtime SEC coordinator Roberts takes over the Arkansas defense.

Heupel’s team will have a new quarterback in 2026 after failing to get another year of eligibility for Joey Aguilar. If the defense improves and one of the Volunteers’ quarterbacks step up, there is no reason why they cannot compete for an SEC championship, another College Football Playoff berth, and a second consecutive win over the Razorbacks.

Oct. 17
@ Vanderbilt
Arkansas heads to Nashville for their first meeting with Vanderbilt on the gridiron since Oct. 29, 2011, Bobby Petrino’s last season as head coach. The Razorbacks came back from an early deficit and defeated the Commodores 31-28 in Petrino’s final season as head coach in Fayetteville.

Seven years later, Vanderbilt went to Fayetteville and defeated Arkansas 45-31 in Chad Morris’ first season as head coach. Now, the two programs, known for being at the bottom of the barrel in the league since 2012, face off for the first time in nine years.

The Commodores’ head coach Clark Lea has been built a solid program in Nashville. Lea’s offense, led by quarterback Diego Pavia and tight end Eli Stowers, and their quality defense helped Vanderbilt to back to back successful seasons between 2024-2025, combining for a 17-9 record overall and a 10-6 mark in SEC play.

Now Pavia, Stowers, and many other playmakers are off to the pros and Clark Lea will rely on Nashville’s very own Jared Curtis, the top overall high school quarterback in the high school class of 2026, to take over the reins from Pavia after he flipped him from the University of Georgia. A rebuilt defense will be expected to come together on the ‘West end’ as well.

This is Ryan Silverfield’s Razorbacks best shot at a road conference win. The Commodores’ will have to rely on a young quarterback and a defense with many new playmakers to defeat Arkansas on Oct. 17.

Oct. 24
OPEN

Oct. 31
Missouri
After their open week, Arkansas will welcome Missouri to Fayetteville for the second consecutive season because of the SEC’s move to nine conference games. Also as a result of the move to nine conference games, the Arkansas-Missouri “Battle Line” rivalry has been moved out of the final weekend of the regular season. It will be the first time the Razorbacks will not face the Tigers the final weekend of the regular season since 2020, when they faced Alabama to close things out.

Arkansas native Eliah Drinkwitz has done a tremendous job as head coach of Missouri but the Tigers took a small step back in 2025. After back to back 10+ win seasons in 2023 and 2024, they went 8-5 thanks to an injury to their quarterback Beau Pribula.

Former Ole Miss signal-caller Austin Simmons is expected to take over behind center with fellow Rebel transfer Cayden Lee coming over to anchor a receiver position. Drinkwitz will trust them to lead an offense that struggled through much of 2025 and will have a new coordinator this season, former North Carolina and Wisconsin offensive coordinator, Chip Lindsey.

The Missouri defense has been what has kept Arkansas from defeating them since 2021, when KJ Jefferson and Treylon Burks led the Razorbacks to their last win over the Tigers. There have been close calls since the Razorbacks’ last win with a 29-27 Missouri victory in 2022, a 28-21 Missouri victory in 2024, and a 31-17 Missouri victory on the Saturday after Thanksgiving a year ago.

Can the coaching change help Arkansas win just its fifth game all-time against Missouri? We will find out on Halloween when Silverfield and Drinkwitz go head to head.

Nov. 7
@ Auburn
The last two times the Razorback football program has traveled to “The Plains” to face Auburn, in 2022 and 2024, they have come out victorious. Despite the fact that the Tigers have won every game in Fayetteville since 2017, but lucky for Arkansas, Auburn does not come to Fayetteville until 2028.

Alex Golesh takes over at Auburn following the firing of Hugh Freeze. His innovative offense, led by his quarterback Byrum Brown, who joined him after both guys left South Florida. If Brown can be half as successful as he was in the American conference in the SEC this season and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin, who Golesh retained on his staff after Freeze’s exit, can have as good of a defense as he did last year, the Tigers will be successful.

Golesh had success in the American with the Bulls but failed to beat new Arkansas coach Silverfield has won all three games his Memphis Tigers faced South Florida.

Nov. 14
South Carolina
Arkansas’ old permanent cross-division rival South Carolina in the pre-2012 realignment SEC returns to Fayetteville for the first time since Sept. 10, 2022, when the Razorbacks defeated the Gamecocks 44-30.

A big difference between that day and this season will be which sideline Kendal Briles is on. Back in 2022, Briles called plays for Sam Pittman and the Razorbacks in their win over South Carolina. Now, he enters his first season as offensive coordinator in Columbia coaching NFL prospect LaNorris Sellers behind center.

The difference in Mike Shula and Briles should be big and if it is, the Gamecocks can bounce back from a 4-8 season and contend for the 12-team College Football Playoff once again. Defensive end Dylan Stewart returns for his junior season where he will continue to lead the South Carolina defense against a new-look Arkansas offense.

A back and forth game seems realistic between the Razorbacks and the Gamecocks after they combined for just six wins during the 2025 regular season. We will find out on Nov. 14.

Nov. 21
@ Texas
Arkansas heads to Austin to face Texas for the second time in as many season with the SEC’s move to nine league games. The Longhorns have defeated the Razorbacks in back to back times for the first time since defeating them in 2004 and 2008, with both of those games being played in Austin as well.

Steve Sarkisian and Texas did not appear in the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2022 so they will be attempting to get back there in 2026 with Arch Manning, who has gained a year of experience, at quarterback, a retooled receiving core with Auburn transfer Cam Coleman, and what should be an improved offensive line.

Former Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp has returned to the “40 acres” to replace one of the country’s best Pete Kwiatowski. The Longhorns did not have much success on that side of the ball in 2025 but his recruiting acumen and tenure up until last fall were solid. Muschamp’s unit will be under major criticism if it fails to succeed this fall.

Arkansas’ last road game in 2026 will likely be its most difficult against rival Texas but don’t count out Silverfield and the new-look Razorbacks over eight months away from the action against the Longhorns.

Nov. 28
LSU
The Tigers have historically dominated Arkansas since the Razorbacks joined the SEC, with a 44-23 all-time series lead. The last time Arkansas defeated LSU, Cam Little kicked a game-winning field goal to defeat the Tigers in overtime at Tiger Stadium in 2021.

Now that Lane Kiffin, a man everyone of Arkansas fans hate, is leading another program they have disdain for in LSU, they will be front and center for a rivalry series that finally returns to Thanksgiving weekend since 2013.

Leading up to the rivalry’s move to earlier in the calendar, the series was much more competitive. From 2007-2013, LSU won four of seven matchups against Arkansas. Since, the Tigers have nine of the last twelve.

Kiffin and his retooled roster will attempt to improve LSU’s standing from seven victories in 2025 to a potential College Football Playoff team in 2026. If he fails, with Charlie Weiss calling offensive plays and Blake Baker leading the defense, things in Baton Rouge will continue to be crazy.

Arizona State transfer Sam Leavitt takes over at quarterback after he visited many schools during his time in the transfer portal. Leavitt should benefit greatly from playing in Kiffin and Weiss’s offense after a down year filled with injuries in Tempe.

Defensively, Baker will have former Ole Miss edge Princewill Umanmielen and returning linebacker Whit Weeks to anchor them against the strong offenses in the SEC. They will be the key cogs in stopping Arkansas’ defense to wrap up the regular season.

If Silverfield and Arkansas get a victory in year 1 in front of their home crowd against a team many Razorback fans consider their biggest rival, things would start out well for him and his tenure. If not, LSU is probably a lock for the College Football Playoff and a national championship contender.

I wrote more about the Razorbacks’ opponents when the schedule came out in December, right here.

Image Courtesy: WRTV

Monday, January 19
College Football Playoff National Championship (Miami Gardens)
10.Miami (13-2) vs. 1.Indiana (15-0)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Miami returns home for the College Football Playoff National Championship game against undefeated No. 1 Indiana/No. 5 Oregon after defeating No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Hurricanes’ offense controlled the time of possession with offensive playmakers Malachi Toney and Mark Fletcher Jr. helping quarterback Carson Beck defeat the Rebels. Toney’s 36-yard touchdown on a bubble screen and Beck’s game-winning 3-yard touchdown run were the difference in the fourth quarter against an Ole Miss team that advanced to the semifinals without former head coach Lane Kiffin.

The Miami defense could have closed Jan. 8’s thriller much earlier with a victory as their secondary dropped four different potential passes that could have been intercepted from Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. But the defensive effort was good enough to help them advance to the program’s first national championship game since Jan. 3, 2003 at the Fiesta Bowl.

Indiana dominated No. 5 Oregon 56-22 in the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers’ defense forced three first half turnovers setting up great field position for quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the offense. D’Angelo Ponds’ pick six on the opening play from scrimmage and two forced fumbles led to 28 points.

Indiana’s Mendoza, who threw five touchdowns, and Ponds who contributed six tackles in addition to his interception, will both return to their hometown of Miami for Monday’s game after winning offensive and defensive MVP at the Peach Bowl. The Hoosiers will play for their first national championship game against the Hurricanes in their home stadium.

Beck, who went 23 for 37, passed for 268 yards, two touchdowns, an interception, and a fumble. While he did score the game-winning touchdown, he cannot expect to turn the ball over against Indiana and lead Miami to another victory. Hoosier linebackers Aiden Fisher, Isaiah Jones, and Rolijah Hardy will look to get to Beck and pressure him so that he does not have an easy time against their defense.

Mark Fletcher (22 carries for 154 yards) and CharMar Brown (14 carries for 54 yards and 1 TD) helped Beck in the backfield against the Rebels. Wide receivers Keelan Marion (7 catches, 114 yards, and 1 TD) and Toney (5 catches, 81 yards, and 1 TD) also were pivotal in Thursday’s victory. Fletcher, Brown, Marion, and Toney will be trusted to do even more against an Indiana defense that is one of the best in the country. Defensive backs Louis Moore, Jamari Sharpe, and Ponds will deal with the Miami playmakers.

The Hurricane’s skilled pass rushers, including Akeem Mesidor, Mohamed Toure, and Rueben Bain Jr., will have to affect Mendoza, who has been the most efficient passer in the country. Mendoza’s trusted weapons include Kaelon Black in the backfield and Elijah Sarratt, Charlie Becker, and Riley Nowakowski down the field.

Miami defensive backs Jakobe Thomas and Keionte Scott will attempt to stop Black, Sarratt, Becker, and Nowakowski from having successful days. Both Thomas and Scott have been key in the secondary for the Hurricanes and now they will face their biggest challenge of the postseason against the Hoosiers.

In a home game for Miami where they will be considered the “road team” because of being the lower seed, they will face their biggest challenge against the top seed Indiana in the national championship. The Hoosiers beat No. 9 Alabama 38-3 in the Rose Bowl and No. 5 Oregon in the Peach Bowl 56-22. The Hurricanes have been underrated their entire run to the national championship game but they will finally fall at the hands of the Hoosiers. Indiana and Miami may battle for a half or three quarters but the Hoosiers will win their first College Football Playoff National Championship trophy under Curt Cignetti.

Projected Score: Indiana 38, Miami 28

Image Courtesy: WANE 15

Thursday, January 8
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl (Glendale)
6.Ole Miss (13-1) vs. 10.Miami (12-2)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
The two most exciting stories of the 2025-2026 College Football Playoff will meet on Thursday night far from their southeast homes in Glendale at the Fiesta Bowls. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss are the only SEC representative in the CFP semifinals after avenging their loss to No. 3 Georgia from earlier in the season at the Sugar Bowl. Miami’s defense, headed by Rueben Bain Jr., Akeem Mesidor, and Keion Scott upset reigning national champion Ohio State at the Cotton Bowl.

Chambliss led the Rebels to victory over the Bulldogs by passing for 362 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receivers Harrison Wallace caught nine passes for 156 yards and one touchdown an De’Zhaun Stribling caught seven passes for 122 yards in the victory. Miami defensive backs Jakobe Thomas’ seven tackles and interception and Scott’s four tackles and pick six helped that helped the Hurricanes to a victory over the Buckeyes on New Year’s Eve.

Despite dealing with an injury entering the matchup against Georgia, tailback Kewan Lacy reached 98 yards and two scores. A second quarter fumble did not amount to any Bulldog points but facing a tough Miami defense, he must avoid turning the ball over if they want to advance to the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Linebackers Mesidor (2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss) and Bain Jr. (3 tackles, 1.5 tackle for loss, and 1 sack) will attempt to limit Chambliss and Lacy from having a successful game against the Hurricanes.

Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr.carried the ball 19 times for 90 yards. He will have to run for a touchdown against the Rebels if they want a better chance of advancing to the national championship game. Ole Miss defensive tackle Zxavian Harris totaled 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass defended, end Princewell Unanmielen got seven tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss, and linebacker Suntarine Perkins got six tackles, two passes defended, and one sack.

Carson Beck threw for just 138 yards and a touchdown in their quarterfinal win over Ohio State. CJ Daniels caught five passes for 49 yards and Keelan Marion caught five passes for 36 yards. While they did not catch a touchdown but Fletcher Jr. caught a touchdown to extend their lead. Safety Wydett Williams Jr. and cornerback Jaylon Braxton led their defense against a strong Georgia offense and will have to do the same against the Hurricanes.

In what should be a back and forth game, a high scoring game would likely favor Ole Miss thanks to their efficient offense and a lower scoring game would likely favor Miami thanks to their impressive pass rush and secondary. The matchup between the Hurricanes offense and Rebels defense will be what determines who moves on to the national championship game. A win for the Hurricanes over the Rebels would send them back to home at Hard Rock Stadium. But Chambliss and the Ole Miss offense will be the first team to have success against Bain Jr. and the Miami defense and advance on to the College Football Playoff National Championship game.

Projected Score: Ole Miss 31, Miami 28

Friday, January 9
College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl (Atlanta)
1.Indiana (14-0) vs. 5.Oregon (13-1)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
A Big Ten rematch will take place far from the midwest and west coast in Atlanta at the Peach Bowl. Both No. 1 Indiana and No. 5 Oregon dominated their competition in the quarterfinals. The Hoosiers eliminated No. 9 Alabama 38-3 at the Rose Bowl and the Ducks shut out Texas Tech 23-0 at the Orange Bowl. Now, Oregon will attempt to avenge their 30-20 loss to Indiana back on Oct. 11.

Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was impressive and efficient in Indiana’s 38-3 blowout of Alabama. He went completed 14 of 16 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The trio of Charlie Becker (2 catches for 51 yards and 1 TD), Omar Cooper Jr. (3 catches for 45 yards and 1 TD), and Elijah Sarratt (4 passes for 40 yards and 1 TD) contributed to the Rose Bowl victory as well. Oregon freshman defensive back Brandon Finney Jr., starred with six tackles and two interceptions in their domination of Texas Tech.

The duo of running backs Kaelon Black, who rushed 15 times for 99 yards and a touchdown and Roman Hemby, who carried the ball 18 times for 89 yards and a score, helped the Ducks put the Red Raiders away in the Orange Bowl. The playmakers’ offensive line won the Rose Bowl Game’s offensive MVP. That is thanks to all of the time the line gave to Mendoza and holes made for Black and Hemby out of the backfield. Linebackers Bryce Boettcher (12 tackles) and Teitum Tuitoi (6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 tackles for loss) against Texas Tech must play well if they want to get past the Hoosiers’ strong offensive line.

Indiana defensive backs Devan Boykin and Jamari Sharpe will be vital in stopping Oregon’s passing attack, led by quarterback Dante Moore, who threw for 234 yards and an interception against the Red Raiders’ tough defense. Avoiding turning the ball over and getting the ball to wide receivers Malik Benson, Jamari Johnson, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq will be important in avenging their loss earlier in the season against the Hoosiers.

Tailbacks Jordon Davison (42 yards and 2 TDs) and Noah Whittington (31 yards) will have to play much better on Friday against the Indiana’s strong defense. Linebackers Aiden Fisher (7 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss) and Rolijah Hardy (4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss) will attempt to stop the Ducks’ strong run game.

The all-Big Ten Peach Bowl means that the winner will be attempting to claim the conference’s third consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship. Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers have been the standard of the sport all season long and they will sweep Dan Lanning’s Ducks in what should be one of the best games of the season. With a victory, Indiana would look to finish the job by defeating the winner of No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 10 Miami in South Beach at the national championship game.

Projected Score: Indiana 27, Oregon 20

Image Courtesy: UGA Today

Wednesday, December 31
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic (Arlington)
2.Ohio State (12-1) vs. 10.Miami (11-2)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Miami struggled offensively but they went to College Station and defeated No. 7 Texas A&M 10-3 to advance to the quarterfinals. The Hurricanes proved their worth in the College Football Playoff when receiver Malachi Toney threw the go-ahead touchdown pass to Carson Beck just minutes after Toney fumbled the ball. Ohio State will be the next challenge for Miami in their pursuit of their first national championship trophy since 2000. The No. 2 Buckeyes will hope their defense shuts the Hurricane offense down like the Aggies did or this could turn into a shootout.

Miami’s offense is paced by Beck, Toney, and tailback Mark Fletcher Jr. The Hurricanes’ entire group only gained 278 yards overall against Texas Tech. Fletcher Jr. led the Miami offense with 172 yards on the ground and set up Beck, who threw for only 103 yards and the game winning touchdown. Ohio State leading tacklers Sonny Styles (81) and Arvell Reese (62) will be an even more difficult task for Fletcher Jr. to get through their defense and help his team to a victory.

Beck must use the time his offensive line gives him against Ohio State’s talented defensive front to get it to wide receivers Keelan Marion, CJ Daniels, and Toney if they want to keep pace with the Buckeyes’ offense. Miami will have to move the ball against a tough Buckeye secondary, led by safeties Caleb Downs and Jaylen McClain. The two have combined four passes defended and two interceptions will be hard to

Miami defensive backs Keionte Scott accounted for 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks and Jakobe Smith had nine tackles, 0.5 sacks, and 0.5 tackles for loss in their victory against Texas A&M. They will be a big part of defending against one of the top receiving cores in the nation including Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Max Klare, and Brandon Inniss who catch passes from Heisman Trophy finalist Julian Sayin, who has thrown for 3,323 yards, 31 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.

Bo Jackson (1,035 yards and 5 TDs), James Peoples (344 yards and 3 TDs), and CJ Donaldson (330 yards and 10 TDs) share carries in the backfield. Linebackers Mohamed Toure (8 tackles and 1 pass defended)), Wesley Bissainthe (7 tackles), and defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. (5 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks) were huge for the Hurricanes against the Aggies and they will be important to stop the Buckeyes run game on Wednesday night.

As Ohio State begins their run for a second consecutive national championship trophy, they may start slow after an almost month break off but their defense should keep the Miami at offense at bay long enough to run away with a victory. The Hurricanes will keep the game close until they give up a run by Ohio State’s offense that may include multiple touchdowns in a row. The Buckeyes will defeat Miami by ten points.

Projected Score: Ohio State 24, Miami 14

Thursday, January 1
College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the  Capital One Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
4.Texas Tech (12-1) vs. 5.Oregon (12-1)
12 PM ET, ESPN
Oregon’s defense struggled in a game where they defeated No. 12 James Madison by just 17 points, 51-34. The Ducks will have to come out with a better performance against the Big 12’s best, No. 4 Texas Tech. The Red Raiders boast a loaded offense have and have one of the top defenders in the country, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez. Texas Tech has not faced a high-powered offense like that of Oregon’s so New Year’s Day’s test will be an interesting one.

The Ducks’ defense gave up a season high 34 points to James Madison on Dec. 20. They will have to limit Texas Tech’s offense better than they did against the Dukes. It will be up to the leaders of the defense to win against the Red Raiders. A few of those leaders include linebackers Bryce Boettcher (113 tackles, 4 passes defended, 1 sack, and 1 interception) and Teitum Tuitoi (60 tackles, 7.5 tackles, and 5 passes defended). They will be in charge of shutting down the Texas Tech ground game on Thursday afternoon.

Red Raider tailbacks Cameron Dickey (1,095 yards and 14 TDs) and J’Koby Williams (787 yards and 6 TDs) will look to continue their successful seasons against Boettcher and Tuitoi. If they do so, setting up the passing game, led by signal-caller Behren Morton and a receiving core that includes four guys with 300 receiving yards or more. That group includes Caleb Douglas (7 TDs), Reggie Virgil (6 TDs), Coy Eakin (6 TDs), and Terrance Carter Jr. (5 TDs). Defensive backs Dillon Thieneman and Aaron Flowers have combined for seven passes defended and three interceptions this season. They will be huge against Texas Tech’s talented wideouts.

While their defense struggled, the Oregon offense exploded for 51 points against James Madison. Quarterback Dante Moore threw for 313 yards, four touchdowns, but must limit turnovers against Texas Tech after throwing two interceptions. Moore’s two leading receivers in the game were Malik Benson (5 catches for 119 yards and 2 TDs) and Jeremiah McClellan (6 catches for 83 yards and 1 TD).

The Ducks’ running backs Jordon Davison carried the ball ten times for 90 yards and Dierre Hill Jr. went six times for 76 yards and a score against the Dukes. They will have a difficult challenge going against Butkus, Bronko, and Lombardi Award winner Rodriguez at linebacker.

In what could be a back and forth game, it will be up to either the Texas Tech or Oregon defense to shut their opponent’s offense down. While the Red Raiders have not faced a potent offense like that of the Ducks’, Morton and Rodriguez will lead their team to a victory. Texas Tech would move on to the semifinals to face the winner of the Rose Bowl, either No. 1 Indiana or No. 9 Alabama.

Projected Score: Texas Tech 34, Oregon 31

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential (Pasadena)
1.Indiana (13-0) vs. 9.Alabama (11-3)
4 PM ET, ESPN
In the first quarter against No. 8 Oklahoma, Alabama fell down 17-0. Until quarterback Ty Simpson and the Crimson Tide offense answered back with 17 points of their own in the second quarter, the game shifted. A revolting win over the Sooners, their first in three attempts since Oklahoma joined the SEC, may be just what Alabama needs to return to their high quality of play they had back in October.

The Rose Bowl will be a different challenge for the Crimson Tide. The Indiana defense will present challenges to the Alabama offense they have not seen this season as one of the best units in the country. Though some may think the Hoosiers’ offense may be pedestrian, the Heisman Trophy Fernando Mendoza winner leads it from behind center.

Mendoza’s Heisman campaign included passing for almost 3,000 yards, 33 touchdowns, rushed for 240 yards, and six more scores. He will attempt to get the ball to a talented receiver duo including Omar Cooper Jr. and Elijah Sarratt, who combined for 23 touchdowns so far this season. Alabama defensive backs Keon Sabb, Domani Jackson, and Bray Hubbard combined for 16 tackles in the victory over Oklahoma and they will be just as important in this game to stop Cooper Jr. and Sarratt.

Running backs Roman Hemby, Kaelon Black, and Khobie Martin shared carries next to Mendoza in the backfield. Linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson led the Crimson Tide in sacks against the Sooners. If they can stop Hemby, Black, and Martin, the Hoosier passing game will not set up as easily.

Despite Simpson’s slow start in the first quarter against Oklahoma, he threw for 232 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks caught five passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns but Indiana defensive backs Louis Moore (76 tackles, 6 interceptions, and 1 pass defended) and Devan Boykin (48 tackles, 5 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) will have to watch out for fellow receivers Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton, Ryan Williams, and tight end Josh Cuevas if they want to come out victorious on Thursday night.

The Crimson Tide running game has been pedestrian this season with Daniel Hill leading the way with just nine carries for 43 yards and a single touchdown. Linebackers Rolijah Hardy (87 tackles, 8 sacks, and 4 passes defended) and Aiden Fisher (75 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions) will be a huge part of continuing to limit the Crimson Tide’s up and down ground game.

In a game between two strong defenses, Alabama will pull the upset of the College Football Playoff and defeat top seed Indiana in a low scoring game. The Crimson Tide would advance to play the winner of No. 4 Oregon or No. 5 Texas Tech in the College Football Playoff Semifinals.

Projected Score: Alabama 24, Indiana 23

College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
3.Georgia (12-1) vs. 6.Ole Miss (12-1)
8 PM ET, ESPN
Georgia and Ole Miss will play in a rematch from Oct. 18 in Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl. There are many differences from that game. The Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin is now in the same role at LSU and defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to take over. In Golding’s first game as head coach, Ole Miss dominated No. 11 Tulane 41-10 in another rematch from earlier in the season.

Since the Bulldogs win over the Rebels in mid-October, they are on a seven game winning streak and have used a combination of offense, defense, and special teams on their way to another SEC Championship under head coach Kirby Smart. Georgia will attempt to win a third national championship since 2021 by starting out with a victory over Ole Miss.

Last time the Bulldogs went out on the gridiron, they dominated Alabama 28-7 and avenged a loss to the Crimson Tide they suffered earlier in the season. In that game, Gunner Stockton completed 20 of his 26 passes, 156 yards, passed for three touchdowns, and rushed for 39 yards. Stockton got the ball to wide receivers Zachariah Brach for 53 yards and a touchdown and Dillon Bell for 45 yards and another score. Ole Miss safeties Wydett Williams and Suntarine Perkins, who combined for nine tackles in their victory over Tulane, will be important to defend Branch and Bell.

Starting tailback Nate Frazier rushed for only 52 yards and a touchdown against Alabama. He will be counted on to do more for Georgia as they attempt to defeat Ole Miss for the second time this season. Defensive tackle Will Echoles, who had six tackles and one tackle for loss and linebacker TJ Dottery who had six tackles against Tulane, will attempt to continue to limit Frazier.

Despite exiting their win over Tulane early with an injury, Ole Miss tailback Kewan Lacy rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Lacy, who is probable to play on Thursday night because of a bruised shoulder injury, will look to do much more than he did against the Green Wave versus the Bulldogs. Linebackers CJ Allen and Raylen Wilson lead the Bulldogs in tackles this season. It will be vital for them to shut down the Ole Miss ground game, especially if Lacy is full go on New Year’s Day.

Defensive backs KJ Bolden (66 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and JaCorey Thomas (42 tackles and 1 sack) will be in charge of stopping Ole Miss’ talented passing attack. That passing attack is headed by Trinidad Chambliss who accounted for 282 yards and one touchdown through the air and 36 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. With Lane Kiffin’s new offensive staff at LSU back in Oxford for the playoff run, coordinator Charlie Weiss will hope he sets up situations for Chambliss to wide receivers Deuce Alexanders (7 catches for 87 yards), De’Zhaun Stribling (5 catches for 79 yards and 1 TD), and tight end Dae’Quan Wright (4 catches for 64 yards) to make big plays like they did in their first round victory,

In what should be another close game, one of college football’s top head coaches, Kirby Smart, will overwhelm Golding and the Rebels in his second game as head coach. Because they have Smart, Georgia will defeat Ole Miss by seven points and cover the spread. The Bulldogs would advance to face the winner of No. 2 Ohio State and No. 10 Miami in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Projected Score: Georgia 35, Ole Miss 28

Image Courtesy: ABC News

Friday, December 19
9.Alabama (10-3) @ 8.Oklahoma (10-2)
8 PM ET, ABC & ESPN
Alabama will limp into Norman struggling after taking a 23-21 loss to No. 8 Oklahoma just over a month ago on Nov. 15. The Crimson Tide had won eight straight games before losing to the Sooners and since they are 2-2. Their offense has looked much worse and it has been hampered by injuries.

Oklahoma will hope their offense can improve so they don’t have to rely on their defense, one of the best units in the country, to stop Alabama on every possession. For that to happen, the Sooners need to score more than 17 points, the number they put up in both of their last two conference games each against Missouri and LSU.

There are rumors that Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson is dealing with a serious back injury. But with the lack of a run game due to Jam Miller’s lower leg injury, it will be up to receivers Germie Bernard, Ryan Williams, and Isaiah Horton, who have combined for 19 touchdowns, to step up against the Sooners’ defense.

For Oklahoma to defeat Alabama again, they will hope to get defensive lineman R. Mason Thomas, who has 6.5 sacks this season, back from injury. Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables anticipates Thomas will practice ahead of Friday’s game. It will be important for the Sooners to have Thomas next to defensive lineman David Stone (3.5 sacks) to get to Simpson and defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings, who has four passes defended, to stop Bernard, Williams, and Horton from having big nights.

With Miller expected to return for the College Football Playoff, he will be expected to come back from injury against one of if not the best defensive lines in the country at Oklahoma. So, backups Daniel Hill and Kevin Riley will have to support Miller even though they had -3 rushing yards against Georgia in the SEC Championship game. Linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke will attempt to shut down the Tide’s ground game.

The Alabama secondary will have to watch out for Oklahoma’s wide receiver Isaiah Sategna (), who has won the Sooners many of their game catching passes from John Mateer, who is more dangerous on the ground than with his arm, and must avoid throwing his 11th interception against the Crimson Tide if they want to win on Friday night. Defensive backs Bray Hubbard’s and Keon Sabb’s 11 passes defended and five interceptions will be trusted defending against Sategna.

Oklahoma running backs Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson have combined for 861 yards and eight touchdowns. Linebackers Justin Jefferson (67 tackles) and Deontae Lawson (66 tackles) will be trusted to stop the Sooners’ ground game that will also be supported by Mateer, who is a strong runner with 416 yards and seven scores.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer, who has gone 0-2 versus Oklahoma the last two seasons since taking over, will look for his win against the Sooners to advance in the College Football Playoff. But the game is in Norman and Oklahoma’s defense will not allow the Alabama defense to have the same little success they had against them in November. The Sooners would advance to face Indiana at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day by defeating the Crimson Tide.

Projected Score: Oklahoma 20, Alabama 17

Saturday, December 20
10.Miami (10-2) @ 7.Texas A&M (11-1)
12 PM ET, ABC & ESPN
Miami was not ranked in the top 12 in all of the College Football Playoff ranking shows until the Selection Show on Dec. 7. For the Hurricanes, that is all that matters as they were included as the final at-large in the playoff despite not even making the ACC Championship game. They head on the road to one of college football’s toughest environments at Kyle Field against Texas A&M.

The Aggies lone loss is to instate rival Texas, which kept them out of making their first SEC Championship game appearance. They will attempt to bounce back against Miami as they play for the first time in over three weeks.

The Hurricanes will rely heavily on former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck to get the ball down the field and score points. Beck has thrown for over 3,072 yards and 25 touchdowns but must stay away from turnovers as he has already thrown 10 interceptions this season. He will have to get the ball to wide receivers Malachi Toney (970 yards and 7 TDs), Keelan Marion (557 yards and 1 TD), and CJ Daniels (397 yards and 7 TDs) if they want to win the game on the road. Texas A&M safeties Marcus Ratcliffe and Dalton Brooks will be vital in stopping a former SEC quarterback and his offense.

Tailbacks Mark Fletcher, CharMar Brown, and Girard Brown Jr. have combined for 19 scores this season. They will look to support Beck’s passing game and get through the A&M front seven, led by linebacker Tauren York (67 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) and defensive end defensive end Cashius Howell (29 tackles and 11.5 sacks).

Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed may be even more important to his team’s success than Carson Beck on Saturday afternoon. The second year starter threw for just 180 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions against what is a good Texas defense but is not the way Reed needs to be playing entering the postseason.

Reed’s tremendous receivers like KC Concepcion (886 yards and 9 TDs), Mario Craver (825 yards and 4 TDs), and Ashton Bethel Roman (459 yards and 5 TDs) will be vital for their offense’s success with coordinator Col.in Klein returning to his alma mater Kansas State to take over the head coaching position. Miami defensive backs Jakobe Frazier (4 interceptions and 4 passes defended) and Zechariah Poyser (5 passes defended) will be critical in making sure does not have a good game against them.

Linebackers Mohamed Toure and Wesley Bissainthe will be trusted to stop the Aggies’ running backs. That group includes Rueben Owens, Le’Veon Moss, and quarterback Reed, who have combined for 17 scores this season. The ground game has been up and down this season for Mike Elko’s team but if they can get them a push at home, the chances of Texas A&M winning will be even greater against Miami.

In what could be the best game of the College Football Playoff’s first round, Miami will have to start fast and gain a lead early in the game if they don’t want the Texas A&M’s “12th Man” crowd get involved and help Texas A&M have success. The Aggies will bounce back from their loss to Texas and advance to face No. 2 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 31 by defeating the Hurricanes.

Projected Score: Texas A&M 31, Miami 27

11.Tulane (11-2) @ 6.Ole Miss (11-1)
3:30 PM ET, TNT & HBO Max
Ole Miss dominated Tulane 45-10 back on Sept. 20 in Oxford. Now, the Green Wave return to Oxford three months later to the day. Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall will remain with the team through their College Football Playoff run before taking the same job at Florida but Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin has already arrived in Baton Rouge and has been at his new job at LSU for the last few weeks. Now, defensive coordinator Pete Golding has been promoted to be the full time head coach and he will look to lead the Rebels to a national championship.

In the loss to Ole Miss, Tulane scored just 10 points. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff went five for 17, 56 passing yards, and no touchdowns but he did lead the Green Wave in rushing with 51 yards. Retzlaff will need his offensive playmakers to step up against Golding’s strong defense if they want a chance to defeat Ole Miss. Rebel linebackers TJ Dottery and Suntarine Perkins will attempt to get to Retzlaff, sack him, and keep him from having a quality game.

One way Tulane can come out victorious is by getting better support from their running backs. Arnold Barnes III and Javin Gordon combined for just 82 yards in the loss over three months ago so much more will be expected to beat the Rebels. Similarly, receivers Shabazz Preston (3 catches for 35 yards), Bryce Bohanon (3 catches for 28 yards), and Omari Hayes (1 catch for 22 yards) will also have to be better for their quarterback in Saturday’s action. Safety Wydett Williams Jr., one of the top safeties in the nation who has accounted for eight passes defended and three passes defended, will lead the Ole Miss secondary against the Green Wave playmakers.

It will be interesting to see Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who has thrown for over 3,000 yards, 18 touchdowns, and just three interceptions play for the first time since Kiffin, the head coach who recruited him from Division II Ferris State, play in his first game since he left the program and in the College Football Playoff. Not even a season after winning the DII national championship for the Bulldogs, he will attempt to defeat Tulane for the second time this season.

Chambliss will look to keep getting the football to receivers Harrison Wallace III (719 yards and 3 TDs), Deuce Alexander (577 yards and 2 TDs), and Cayden Lee (537 yards and 3 TDs) so they can advance on in the playoffs. Green Wave safeties Jack Tchienchou (6 tackles), Kevin Adams III (6 tackles), and cornerback Javion White (5 tackles, 1 pass defended, and 1 tackle for loss) will be trusted to step up again against the strong Ole Miss passing game.

For the Green Wave to win on Saturday, they will need their front seven to be better than it was back in September against Ole Miss. Linebackers Sam Howard (5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack) and Dickson Agu (5 tackles) will be trusted to perform even better against the Rebels’ Kyren Lacy, who has starred as one of the nation’s top tailbacks, 1,279 rushing for yards and 20 scores.

While Tulane could keep it closer, they will not be good enough to beat an Ole Miss team that will be hungrier than ever just weeks after Kiffin’s exit to advance to the quarterfinal round of the College Football Playoff. The Rebels will outscore the Green Wave and advance to set up a rematch with No. 3 Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Projected Score: Ole Miss 42, Tulane 20

12.James Madison (12-1) @ 5.Oregon (11-1)
7:30 PM ET, TNT & HBO Max
Sun Belt champion James Madison will be treated to a rough road environment when they travel to Eugene to face Oregon. The Dukes are attempting to win their first game against a Power 4 team when they face the Ducks on Saturday night.

Last season, Oregon went 13-0, won the Big Ten in their first season of the conference, but lost to Ohio State 41-21 in the Rose Bowl after all of their success. Now, the bracket sets up much better for the Ducks playing a Group of Five team before a potential matchup against No. 4 Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl if they are able to win versus the Dukes on Saturday.

Like Tulane facing Ole Miss, James Madison will have an uphill battle defeating No. 5 Oregon on Saturday night. The Dukes’ offense is powered by their ground game, headed by tailback Wayne Knight, who has rushed for 1,263 yards and nine touchdowns, and quarterback Alonza Barnett, who has rushed for 544 yards and 14 more scores. They must continue to run the ball well against Oregon’s strong defense if they want a chance to win. Oregon linebackers Bryce Boettcher, who has an incredible 104 tackles, three passes defended, one sack, and one interception and Teitum Tuitoi, who has 57 tackles, seven sacks, and three passes defended will be a tough group to block for the Dukes’ offensive line.

Barnett will have to get the ball to wide receivers Landon Ellis and Nick DeGennaro, who have combined for nine touchdowns this season to back up the success of their ground game. Defensive backs Dillon Thieneman (4 passes defended and 2 interceptions) and Aaron Flowers (2 passes defended and 1 interceptions) will be in charge of defending Barnett’s passing game.

James Madison safeties Tyler Brown and Jacob Thomas will be trusted to stop Oregon’s passing game that could be getting back one of its top weapons from injury, wide receiver Evan Stewart, who has not played this season due to a torn patellar tendon in June. If Stewart does not play against James Madison, quarterback Dante Moore will continue getting the ball to receivers Malik Benson (526 yards and 4 TDs), Dakorien Moore (443 yards and 3 TDs), and tight end Kenyon Sadiq (490 yards and 8 TDs).

Running backs Noah Whittington, Jordon Davison, Dierre Hill Jr., all of whom have over 400 yards rushing each and have 23 touchdowns. Linebackers Trent Hendricks and Gannon Weathersby will be in charge of stopping the Ducks’ ground game.

Oregon will take advantage of the home primetime game at Autzen Stadium and defeat James Madison handily. The Dukes may keep the game close in the first half but the Ducks should run away with it in the second half. Oregon will advance to face Texas Tech in the Capital One Orange Bowl on Jan. 1.

Projected Score: Oregon 34, James Madison 17

Image Courtesy: Ethan Doan

On Thursday night, the SEC unveiled the 2026 conference football slate for all 16 member schools. Here are some notes and insights for each of Arkansas’ opponents.

Plus, check out this video to see my thoughts on the Razorbacks’ 2026 schedule and the SEC as a whole.

Arkansas football’s 2026 Schedule:

Sept. 5
North Alabama
Arkansas will open the 2026 season and new head coach Ryan Silverfield’s tenure against North Alabama. The season opener will be the Razorbacks’ first ever meeting with the Lions.

North Alabama didn’t face any Power Four opponents this season, but the Lions did open with a tough matchup against Western Kentucky on Aug. 30, falling 55–6. The Hilltoppers went on to finish among the stronger Group of Five programs, posting an 8–4 record overall and a 6–2 mark in Conference USA.

Later in the season, on Oct. 11, North Alabama dropped another non-conference game to Central Arkansas; Arkansas’ in-state counterpart; by a score of 49–21.

The Lions matched the Razorbacks with a 2-10 record in 2025.

Sept. 12
@ Utah
Arkansas will travel to Salt Lake City for their required Power 4 matchup against a respected Utah program. The Razorbacks and Utes have never faced off on the gridiron before but it has not been long since the Razorbacks have played in the “Beehive State.” Arkansas traveled to Provo and defeated BYU 52-35 back on Oct. 15, 2022.

Utah finished with a 10-2 overall record and seven wins in their second season in the Big 12. The Utes were ranked No. 15 in the final College Football Playoff rankings, just five spots away from an at-large bid to make an appearance.

There is also another piece of familiarity between the Razorbacks and the Utes. One of the top players in Arkansas, Greenwood quarterback Kane Archer, signed with Utah in the early signing period on Dec. 3. He likely won’t be playing for the Utes on Sept. 12 but seeing one of Arkansas’ own on the other sideline will be interesting.

On Friday, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham announced that he will retire after his team plays in the Las Vegas Bowl versus Nebraska on Dec. 31. Whittingham spent 32 years with the Utes and 21 of his years as head coach. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, who was named coach in waiting back in 2024, will take over for Whittingham in 2026.

The Utes will travel to Fayetteville to finish the home and home series against the Razorbacks on Sept. 15, 2029.

Sept. 19
Georgia
Arkansas faces Georgia for the first time since they met as AP top 10 opponents on Oct. 2, 2021. The Bulldogs defeated the Razorbacks 37-0 on their way to the first of back to back national championships between the hedges.

They travel to Fayetteville for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic effected ten game SEC slate season on Sept. 26, 2020. Georgia struggled in the first half but with a strong second half, they defeated Arkansas 37-10. It was Sam Pittman’s first game as head coach since leaving Athens, where he succeeded as the Bulldogs’ offensive line coach.

Six years later, the Razorbacks will begin their 2026 SEC campaign against Georgia in Fayetteville. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 12-4 versus the Razorbacks.

Sept. 26
Tulsa
Arkansas and Tulsa have many times on the gridiron. The Golden Hurricane will return to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the first time since Oct. 20, 2018, when the Razorbacks pitched a 23–0 shutout.

Tulsa won just four games during the 2025 season. In his final season as the Memphis head coach, Ryan Silverfield’s Tigers dominated the Golden Hurricane 45-7 back on Oct. 4. Silverfield will hope to do the same against Tulsa on Sept. 26.

Looking ahead, Tulsa is set to host Arkansas in the 2027 season opener on Sept. 4, marking the Razorbacks’ first-ever trip to Tulsa. Arkansas has won 54 games over the Golden Hurricane while Tulsa has come out victorious just 16 times over the Razorbacks.

Oct. 3
@ Texas A&M
Arkansas welcomed Texas A&M back to Fayetteville on Oct. 18 for the first time since 2013 and fell 48-45 in a shootout. Now, the Razorbacks make the return trip to College Station for the first time since the 2020 where they lost 42-31.

After facing Georgia two weeks earlier, Arkansas will open SEC play against back to back opponents that made this seaso’s College Football Playoff, as Texas A&M makes its run at a first national championship when they play No. 10 Miami on Dec. 20 in the first round of the College Football Playoff.

The Aggies have dominated Arkansas of late winning the last four and thirteen of the last fourteen. However, the Razorbacks still lead the series against the Aggies 41-37.

Oct. 10
Tennessee
Arkansas will welcome Tennessee back to Fayetteville two years after upsetting them. The Volunteers were ranked No. 4 in the AP Poll when they fell to the Razorbacks on Oct. 5, 2024.

With the pressure on from fans, Josh Heupel and Tennessee cannot lose this game or his seat may become warm after failing to make it to back to back College Football Playoffs in 2024 and last season in 2025.

The Volunteers ended the Razorbacks’ four-game winning streak in the series with a 34-31 victory in Knoxville on Oct. 15. Tennessee’s victory extended their advantage to 14-7 over Arkansas all-time.

Oct. 17
@ Vanderbilt
Arkansas has not played Vanderbilt in Nashville since Oct. 29, 2011. In Bobby Petrino’s final season as head coach, the Razorbacks defeated the Commodores 31-28. Another October matchup between the two schools looms.

Now, Vanderbilt is rejuvenated under head coach Clark Lea with a chance to establish themselves as a true SEC contender in the post-Diego Pavia era at quarterback. The Commodores will face the Razorbacks for just the 11th time and in Nashville for just the fourth time ever.

The Commodores beat the Razorbacks 45-31 the last time they faced off on Oct. 27, 2018 in Fayetteville. But Arkansas holds the all-time series lead 7-3 over Vanderbilt entering the 2026 matchup.

Oct. 24
Arkansas will spend their bye week on Oct. 24 having completed non-conference play and the first four games of SEC play. Rest will be important for the Razorbacks with five more SEC games over the final five weeks of the season.

Oct. 31
Missouri
While Missouri’s success against Arkansas is well documented on the gridiron, the Tigers will travel to face the Razorbacks on the road for the second consecutive season because of the new nine-game conference slate being introduced in 2026. Missouri ended the 2025 regular season with a 31-17 victory over Arkansas just a few weeks ago.

Missouri will play Arkansas on Halloween in 2026 instead of the final weekend of the regular season for the first time since entering the SEC as a result of the new annual opponents for the nine-game schedule. The Razorbacks and Tigers have closed the regular season except the pandemic shortened 2020 season against each other since 2014. They will draw former Big Eight and Big 12 rival Oklahoma the final weekend of the regular season instead.

Missouri’s lead in the series remains large at 12-4 against Arkansas on the football field.

Nov. 7
@ Auburn
Arkansas has gone into Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn and defeated the Tigers back to back times with victories in 2022 and 2024. However, Auburn has not lost in Fayetteville against Arkansas since the crazy four-overtime game in 2015.

While both programs have not been successful over the last few seasons, both programs have new head coaches. Arkansas’ Ryan Silverfield has a perfect 3-0 record against Auburn’s Alex Golesh, who came over from South Florida. Golesh was rumored to have been hired by Arkansas on Nov. 26 before accepting the Auburn job opening on Nov. 30.

Now, a new era in this SEC series begins on “The Plains” to begin November for both programs.Auburn has a seven game lead on Arkansas all-time at 21-14.

Nov. 14
South Carolina
Until Missouri joined the SEC in 2012, South Carolina was Arkansas’ annual cross-division rival in the east division. The Gamecocks dominated the Razorbacks in their last meeting as permanent staples on each others’ schedules on Oct. 13, 2013 by a score of 52-7.

Since, the teams have split the next two meetings ahead of their 2026 game in Fayetteville. Arkansas and South Carolina will meet in the month of November for the first time since Nov. 11, 2012.

If quarterback LaNorris Sellers returns to Columbia to play his junior season for South Carolina, his offensive coordinator will be Kendal Briles. Briles, who came over from TCU, was Arkansas’ offensive coordinator from 2021-2023 and directed an offense with a similar quarterback to Sellers, KJ Jefferson.

Arkansas has a 14-10 lead on South Carolina in the series all-time.

Nov. 21
@ Texas
While Arkansas will welcome Missouri back to Fayetteville in 2026 for a second consecutive season, they will have to return to Austin to face Texas as a result of the nine-game SEC schedule. The Longhorns went up and down the field on the Razorbacks in a 52-37 win back in November.

Texas missed out on a third consecutive College Football Playoff appearance by just a few spots, being ranked No. 13 in the final poll. Next season, they will look to put an exclamation point on a strong season with a senior day win over Arkansas.

Arkansas and Texas have split their last four meetings but the Longhorns lead the series 58-23.

Nov. 28
LSU
The Battle for the Golden Boot returns to its regular season finale position in the schedule on Nov. 28. Arkansas and LSU met on the final weekend of the regular season from 1992 when the Razorbacks joined the SEC through the 2013 season. Now, the rivalry will return to the last weekend of November for at least the next four seasons.

In their final season under head coach Brian Kelly, LSU struggled to a 7-5 record. After firing Kelly, interim coach Frank Wilson’s Tigers beat the Razorbacks 23-22.

A familiar name takes over for Kelly in Baton Rouge. Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin left the Rebels for LSU during their best season in program history at 11-1 on Nov. 30 just two days after his team beat Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.

Razorback fans will want nothing more than to end their seasons by beating Kiffin and the Tigers under new head coach Ryan Silverfield. However, LSU has dominated the series against Arkansas 44-23.

Looking Ahead:
Arkansas will not face Alabama, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Oklahoma Florida, or Mississippi State during the 2026 season. The Razorbacks will face those teams and annual opponents LSU, Missouri, and Texas in the fall of 2027.

They will host Alabama, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Texas and head on the road to play Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, and Oklahoma in a year and a half.

Image Courtesy: ESPN

Here are the twelve teams (seeded 1-12) I believe that will be in this season’s College Football Playoff:

First Round Byes:
1.Indiana (13-0) Big Ten Champion
2.Georgia (12-1) SEC Champion
3.Ohio State (12-1) Big Ten Runner-Up
4.Texas Tech (12-1) Big 12 Champion

Indiana put a stamp on claiming the one seed in this season’s College Football Playoff by defeating No. 1 Ohio State 13-10 in Saturday’s Big Ten Championship game. The Hoosiers will begin their run in the CFP at the Rose Bowl against the winner of the 8./9. game on Jan. 1. Georgia will claim the No. 2 spot behind Indiana after avenging their Sept. 28 loss to 9.Alabama with a dominant 28-7 win over the Crimson Tide.

Ohio State will fall two spots to No. 3 after their loss to Indiana. The Buckeyes will attempt to win back to back CFP National Championships after a few off weeks. Texas Tech will remain at No. 4 after another dominant win over 11.BYU, 34-7, in the Big 12 Championship game. After defeating the Cougars (by a score of 34-7) for the second time, they have won 12 games for the first time in program history.

First Round Home Teams:
5.Oregon (11-1) Big Ten At-Large
6.Ole Miss (11-1) SEC At-Large
7.Texas A&M (11-1) SEC At-Large
8.Oklahoma (10-2) SEC At-Large

All four of Oregon, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma will remain exactly where they are ranked following conference championship weekend because none of them participated in any of those games. The Ducks will play at the top of the bracket as the No. 5 seed, setting up a match up against the final team in the field, the No. 12 seed. At No. 6, Ole Miss still gets a home game even after head coach Lane Kiffin left for rival LSU last weekend.

Texas A&M may be thankful that they will get a home game the weekend before Christmas Day because all four of the teams that got bye weeks in last season’s College Football Playoff fell in their quarterfinal match ups. The Aggies fell to instate rival Texas on the final day of the regular season to make them fall from No. 3 to No. 7 in the rankings last Tuesday night.

Oklahoma’s defense carried them to their tenth victory over LSU on Nov. 29. That will not keep the Sooners from hosting a playoff game against either Alabama, Notre Dame, or Miami that will require quarterback John Mateer and his offense to have its best performance of the season to advance to the quarterfinals.

Last Four In:
9.Notre Dame (10-2) Independents At-Large
10.Alabama (10-3) SEC Runner-Up
11.Tulane (11-2) American Champion
12.James Madison (12-1) Sun Belt Champion

Based on how the College Football Playoff selection committee ranked on Tuesday, these will be the final four teams in the College Football Playoff. On Tuesday, they placed Alabama at No. 9 so that if they fell to Georgia, they could still make it in. The selection committee did not penalize SMU for losing last season’s ACC Title game, so Alabama should not be penalized and left out either.

As a result, Notre Dame will rise back up to No. 9. Based on how the selection committee has ranked the Fighting Irish over the last month, they do not want to deal with the Miami argument. They fell to the Hurricanes 27-24 on Labor Day but have not been measured head to head in any one of the selection committee’s rankings because they have not been ranked next to each other.

As a result of Tulane being ranked No. 20 in Tuesday’s rankings and defeating North Texas in the American Championship game on Friday, they will get the No. 11 seed. That would mean a rematch from earlier in the season against Ole Miss. The Rebels defeated the Green Wave 45-10 on Sept. 20. James Madison, who was ranked No. 25 on Tuesday, will get the No. 12 seed over ACC champion Duke (8-5) after defeating Troy in the Sun Belt Championship game.

On the Bubble:
Miami (10-2) ACC At-Large
BYU (11-2) Big 12 Runner-Up
Texas (9-3) SEC At-Large
Vanderbilt (10-2) SEC At-Large

If Miami gets left out of this season’s College Football Playoff, they definitely have a gripe with the selection committee. The Hurricanes defeated the Fighting Irish head to head. The fact that they do not have an ACC Championship trophy next to their name is the reason why they may not be in the playoff. But it would not surprise me if they are in as the last at-large over Notre Dame.

BYU’s only two losses are to No. 4 Texas Tech. Outside of that, the Cougars’ resumé is not strong. But they were blasted in both of those games by a combined score of 63-14 in those games.

Texas’ victory over Texas A&M last weekend would have added to their case to make the College Football Playoff for a third consecutive season if they would not have lost 29-21 to 4-8 Florida back in Oct. 4. Vanderbilt’s 10-2 record would normally grant them entry into the College Football Playoff. But losses to Alabama and Texas kept them out of the SEC Championship game and the Commodores best win is against 8-4 Tennessee or 8-4 Missouri.

Bracket based on my projections:

First Round (Dec. 19-20)

Eugene
5.Oregon
12.James Madison

Norman
8.Oklahoma
9.Notre Dame

Oxford
6.Ole Miss
11.Tulane

College Station
7.Texas A&M
10.Alabama

Quarterfinals (Dec. 31-Jan. 1)

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Indiana
8.Oklahoma/9.Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
4.Texas Tech
5.Oregon/12.James Madison

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
3.Ohio State
6.Ole Miss/11.Tulane

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
2.Georgia
7.Texas A&M/10.Alabama

The semifinals will be played at the VRBO Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, AZ on Jan. 8 and at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia on Jan. 9. The 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship will be wrap up the season on Jan. 19 in Miami Gardens, FL.

Image Courtesy: CBS Sports

CFP Top 12
1.Ohio State 12-0 (9-0) Big Ten This week: 2.Indiana (12-0) (Indianapolis) (Saturday, 8 PM ET, FOX)
2.Indiana 12-0 (9-0) Big Ten This week: 1.Ohio State (12-0) (Indianapolis) (Saturday, 8 PM ET, FOX)
3.Georgia 11-1 (7-1) SEC This week: 9.Alabama (10-2) (Atlanta) (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ABC)
4.Texas Tech 11-1 (8-1) Big 12 This week: BYU (11-1) (Arlington) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
5.Oregon 11-1 (8-1) Big Ten This week: Off
6.Ole Miss 11-1 (7-1) SEC This week: Off
7.Texas A&M 11-1 (7-1) SEC This week: Off
8.Oklahoma 10-2 (6-2) SEC This week: Off
9.Alabama 10-2 (7-1) SEC This week: 3.Georgia (11-1) (Atlanta) (Saturday, 4 PM ET, ABC)
10.Notre Dame 10-2 Independents This week: Off
11.BYU 11-1 (8-1) Big 12 This week: Texas Tech (11-1) (Arlington) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
12.Miami 10-2 (6-2) ACC This week: Off

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

First Round

Eugene
5.Oregon
12.Tulane

Norman
8.Oklahoma
9.Alabama

Oxford
6.Ole Miss
11.Miami

College Station
7.Texas A&M
10.Notre Dame

Quarterfinals

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
4.Texas Tech
5.Oregon/12.Tulane

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Ohio State
8.Oklahoma/9.Alabama

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
3.Georgia
6.Ole Miss/11.Miami

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
2.Indiana
7.Texas A&M/10.Notre Dame

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

Risers
13.Texas 9-3 (6-2) SEC Week 14: #16 (Defeated 3.Texas A&M 27-17)
18.Arizona 9-3 (6-3) Big 12 Week 14: #25 (Defeated 20.Arizona State 23-7)
20.Tulane 10-2 (7-1) American Week 14: #24 (Defeated Charlotte 27-0)

Fallers
7.Texas A&M 11-1 (7-1) SEC Week 14: #3 (Lost to 16.Texas 27-17)
19.Michigan 9-3 (7-2) Big Ten Week 14: #15 (Lost to 1.Ohio State 27-9)

Dropped Out
Tennessee 8-4 (4-4) SEC Week 14: #19 (Lost to 14.Vanderbilt 45-24)
Arizona State 8-4 (6-3) Big 12 Week 14: #20 (Lost to 25.Arizona 23-7)
SMU 8-4 (6-2) ACC Week 14: #21 (Lost to California 38-35)
Georgia Tech 9-3 (6-2) ACC Week 14: #23 (Lost to 4.Georgia 16-9)

New
21.Houston 9-3 (6-3) Big 12 Week 14: NR (Defeated Baylor 31-24)
23.Iowa 8-4 (6-3) Big Ten Week 14: NR (Defeated Nebraska 40-16)
24.North Texas 11-1 (7-1) American Week 14: NR (Defeated Temple 52-25)
25.James Madison 11-1 (8-0) Sun Belt Week 14: NR (Defeated Coastal Carolina 34-21)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)

Friday, December 5
Sun Belt Championship Game
Troy (8-4) @ 25.James Madison (11-1)
7 PM ET, ESPN
Troy heads on the road to face in this Friday’s Sun Belt Championship game. The Trojans began November with two losses to Arkansas State and Old Dominion before finishing the regular season strong with victories against Georgia State and Southern Miss.The Dukes have dominated the league all season with their only loss being out of conference to a strong Louisville team. They will hope Duke upsets Virginia in the ACC Championship game so there could be two Group of Five champions in the College Football Playoff next to the winner of Tulane and North Texas in the American Championship game.

For Troy to upset James Madison, they will have to put together a terrific offensive performance headed by their two quarterback system that includes Tucker Kilcrease (1,414 yards, 9 TDs, and 4 INTs) and Goose Crowder (1,118 yards, 11 TDs, and 5 INTs). They must hand the ball to running backs Tae Meadows and Jordan Lovett, who have combined for almost 1,000 rushing yards and seven touchdowns and pass the ball to former Georgia receiver RaRa Thomas, who has caught 31 passes for 495 yards and five scores. Dukes’ linebacker Trent Hendrick and safety Tyler Brown will be vital in shutting the Trojans’ offense down.

The Trojan defense is led by linebacker Jordan Stringer, who has totaled 104 tackles, three passes defended, and two sacks and safety Devin Lafayette, who has 99 tackles, four passes defended, two interceptions, and a sack. James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III (2,440 passing yards, 459 rushing yards, 33 overall TDs, and 7 INTs) and tailback Wayne Knight (1,051 yards and 13 TDs) are one of the top duos in the Group of Five. If Barnett gets it to receivers Landon Ellis (532 yards and 5 TDs), Nick DeGennaro (386 yards and 4 TDs), and Jaylan Sanchez (349 yards and 1 TD), the Dukes may roll to victory.

Despite reports that James Madison head coach Bobby Chesney is headed to Los Angeles for the same job at UCLA, the Dukes will be focused and they will defeat Troy. A victory for James Madison would put them in position to make the College Football Playoff if a few things go there way.

Projected Score: James Madison 31, Troy 13

American Championship Game
24.North Texas (11-1) @ 20.Tulane (10-2)
8 PM ET, ABC
North Texas heads to New Orleans to face Tulane in a likely winner take all game to the College Football Playoff. Since getting blown out by South Florida on Oct. 10, the Mean Green have won six consecutive games entering Friday night’s match up. The Green Wave have won four in a row before they host North Texas this weekend.

Mean Green quarterback Drew Westemaker has starred this season, throwing for 3,835 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. It helps Westemaker that he has one of the better receivers in the country in Wyatt Young, who has recorded 1,203 yards and 10 touchdowns as well as Cameron Dorner who has 769 yards and six scores. Tulane’s Jack Tchienchou’s and Bailey Despanie’s combined seven passes defended and two interceptions are important against the Westemaker led unit.

In addition, running back Caleb Hawkins has rushed for an impressive 1,216 yards and 23 touchdowns. Linebacker Chris Rodgers (68 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 pass defended) will lead the Green Wave front against one of the nation’s most impressive tailbacks.

North Texas safeties Patrick Smith-Young (63 tackles and 2 passes defended) and Will Jones II (60 passes, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes defended) will lead their secondary against Tulane’s passing game. If they can limit Jake Retzlaff, who has had an up and down season behind center with 2,717 yards, 14 touchdowns, and six interceptions on the season. Retzlaff does have five capable receivers including Shazz Preston, Anthony Brown-Stephens, Omari Hayes, Bryce Bohanon, and Zycarl Lewis Jr. who have combined for eleven scores this season.

Linebackers Ethan Wesloski’s 97 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one interception and Trey Fields’ 92 tackles, two passes defended, one sack, and one interception will be vital against the Green Wave’s running game led by Retzlaff (561 yards and 14 TDs) and Javin Gordon (479 yards and 5 TDs).

With both North Texas’ Eric Morris (Oklahoma State) and Tulane’s Jon Sumrall (Florida) headed for new jobs in 2026, it will be interesting to see which team comes in more focused to lock up a College Football Playoff bid on Friday night. The game should be back and forth between the Mean Green and Green Wave but there has to be only one winner. North Texas will outscore Tulane and Morris will end his tenure in the American Conference with a conference title.

Projected Score: North Texas 38, Tulane 35

Saturday, December 6
Big 12 Championship Game
11.BYU (11-1) vs. 4.Texas Tech (11-1) (Arlington)
12 PM ET, ABC
After getting blown out 29-7 in Lubbock against Texas Tech on Nov. 1, BYU will return to Texas to face the Red Raiders for the chance to play in the College Football Playoff. It will be up to the Cougar offense to score more than just a touchdown against the Red Raiders’ tough defense on Saturday if they want to defeat them for the first time since Oct. 18. A close BYU win could get both teams in the CFP bracket on Sunday.

If the Cougar offense scores more than seven points on Saturday afternoon, it will be because quarterback Bear Bachmeier leads the way with his 2,593 passing yards, 529 rushing yards, and 25 combined touchdowns. Next to him, tailback LJ Martin has been one of the best in the country by topping 1,200 rush yards and 11 more scores. Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez had a fantastic game against BYU back in October. A repeat performance would likely lead to another victory for his team.

If Martin can sent up Bachmeier’s pass game, receivers Parker Kingston (804 yards and 5 TDs), Chase Roberts (713 yards and 5 TDs), and tight end Carsen Ryan (472 yards and 3 TDs) can make plays against a talented Texas Tech secondary. Defensive backs Cole Wisniewski (67 tackles, 5 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Brice Pollock (41 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 4 passes defended) will look to shut it down.

BYU safeties Faletau Satuala’s and Tanner Wall’s combined five interceptions and two passes defended will attempt to limit Texas Tech signal-caller Behren Morton’s play. Morton has thrown for 2,428 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Three receivers Caleb Douglas (823 yards and 7 TDs), Reggie Virgil (590 yards and 6 TDs), Coy Eakin (560 yards and 4 TDs), and tight end Terrance Carter Jr. (530 yards and 5 TDs) will look to help him Morton out.

Running back Cameron Dickey has paced the Red Raiders with 1,023 yards and 13 scores. Linebackers Isaiah Glasker (54 tackles, 3 interceptions, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Jack Kelly (52 tackles, 9 sacks, and 1 pass defended)’s ability to shut down the Red Raider ground game.

While BYU should show up a little better than they did on the road versus Texas Tech, they will not be able to defeat the Red Raiders in 2025. The Cougars would lose their second game to Texas Tech in a month and a half and would not appear in this season’s College Football Playoff.

Projected Score: Texas Tech 31, BYU 14

SEC Championship Game
9.Alabama (10-2) vs. 3.Georgia (11-1) (Atlanta)
4 PM ET, ABC
Alabama needed a game-winning touchdown from quarterback Ty Simpson to wide receiver Isaiah Horton with under four minutes left to defeat hated instate rival Auburn in the Iron Bowl and advance to Saturday’s SEC Championship game. Since Georgia’s loss to Alabama on Sep. 28, the Bulldogs have begun playing their best football of the season despite slowing down a bit in their 16-9 victory against Georgia Tech in the “Clean, Old Fashioned Hate” rivalry.

For the Crimson Tide to defeat Georgia again, their defense must totally eliminate the Bulldogs’ offense like the Georgia Tech defense did last week. For that to happen, linebackers Justin Jefferson (63 tackles, 5 passes defended, 2 sacks, and 1 interception), Deontae Lawson (60 tackles and 3 passes defended), and Yhonzae Pierre (39 tackles and 6 sacks) must pressure Georgia signal-caller Gunner Stockton (2,535 passing yards, 403 rushing yards, 28 total TDs, and 5 INTs). Standing next to Stockton in the backfield are tailbacks Nate Frazier (809 yards and 5 TDs) and Chauncey Bowens (493 yards and 6 TDs), who will look to make things easier on their quarterback.

Defensive backs Bray Hubbard (55 tackles, 8 passes defended, 4 interceptions) and Keon Sabb (38 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, and 1 sack) must defend the Georgia receivers better than they did against Auburn’s Cam Coleman and Eric Singleton when they made their comeback last weekend. Georgia wideouts Zachariah Branch (691 yards and 4 TDs), Colbie Young (336 yards and 1 TD), and London Humphreys (276 yards and 3 TDs) will look to replicate what Coleman and Singleton did last week.

On offense, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (3,056 yards, 25 TDs, and 4 INTs) has not been as good as he was when they played Georgia the first time. It will be up to Simpson to get the ball to receivers Germie Bernard (700 yards and 6 TDs) and Ryan Williams (598 yards and 4 TDs) after he had a quiet performance against the Tigers. Georgia defensive backs KJ Bolden (63 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and Joenel Aguero (39 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) will look to stop Simpson from getting the ball to Bernard and Williams similar to how Auburn did last week.

On the other hand, Jam Miller (493 yards and 3 TDs) and Kevin Riley (222 yards and 2 TDs) paced the offense last Saturday to help the Crimson Tide’s offense succeed against Auburn. They will need to open up their passing game against Georgia’s defense if they want to come out victorious. Linebackers CJ Allen’s and Raylen Wilson’s have combined for 145 tackles and 6 sacks this season and they will look to pressure Simpson and shut running gaps for Miller and Riley.

Even with a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship game, Alabama should be still be in the College Football Playoff with a strong resumé including wins over then No. 5 Georgia, No. 16 Vanderbilt, No. 14 Missouri, No. 11 Tennessee before losing to then No. 11 Oklahoma. The Crimson Tide do have the worst loss of any team currently in the playoff rankings when they opened the season with a loss to Florida State. That being said, the Bulldogs will defeat Alabama for the first time since the 2021 National Championship game and clinch a bye in the College Football Playoff.

Projected Score: Georgia 27, Alabama 24

Big Ten Championship Game
2.Indiana (12-0) vs. 1.Ohio State (12-0) (Indianapolis)
8 PM ET, FOX
Saturday night’s battle between the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes and the No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers will be for the top spot in the final College Football Playoff Rankings on Sunday. The Buckeyes finally defeated Michigan, 27-9, last Saturday for the first time in five attempts in “The Game”. The Hoosiers finished their 2025 campaign with a dominant 56-3 win over instate rival Purdue. The winner of the Big Ten Championship will likely not have to play again until the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Jan. 1 so much is on the line.

For Indiana to succeed against Ohio State’s defense, Fernando Mendoza (2,758 yards, 32 TDs, and 5 INTs) must be successful passing the ball behind center against the Buckeyes’ strong front seven. Ohio State’s Sonny Styles (69 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, and 0.5 sacks) and Arvell Reese (61 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended) will look to get to Mendoza and keep him from getting the ball to the tremendous duo of Omar Cooper Jr. (804 yards) and Elijah Sarratt (650 yards) and their combined 22 touchdowns on the season.

The trio of Rhoman Hemby’s, Kaelon Black’s, and Khobie Martin’s combined 20 scores from the backfield will be crucial in setting up Mendoza’s passing game against one of the best players in the country, Ohio State safety Caleb Downs, who has totaled 52 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 pass defended, and 1 sack this season.

Indiana defensive backs Louis Moore’s and Devan Boykins’ combined seven interceptions and five passes defended will be important against Julian Sayin (3,065 yards, 30 TDs, and 5 INTs) and his terrific receiving core including Jeremiah Smith, who has caught 72 passes for 942 yards, and 11 touchdowns and Carnell Tate who has caught 44 passes for 793 yards and 793 yards.

Linebackers Rolijah Hardy (77 tackles, 7 sacks, and 3 passes defended) and Aiden Fisher (70 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions) will be vital against defending Ohio State’s ground game which succeeded greatly in their win over Michigan. The Buckeyes’ Bo Jackson rushed for 117 yards and CJ Donaldson rushed for 44 yards against the Wolverines.

In what should be a fantastic match up, Ohio State will top Indiana. With a victory over the Hoosiers, the Buckeyes would clinch the top seed in the College Football Playoff and would be the betting favorite to win their second consecutive national championship. Indiana would likely fall a few spots but they would still be a top four seed with a first round bye in the playoffs.

Projected Score: Ohio State 30, Indiana 23

ACC Championship Game
Duke (7-5) vs. 17.Virginia (10-2) (Charlotte)
8 PM ET, ABC
An interesting ACC Title game returns to Charlotte on Saturday night between charter members Duke and Virginia. Manny Diaz’s Duke Blue Devils could win the ACC with a 7-5 record because they went 6-2 in conference play despite losses to Tulane and UConn outside of the league. On the other hand, Tony Elliott’s Virginia Cavaliers have been one of the more impressive teams in the ACC this season thanks to 10 regular season wins and a league best seven regular season conference wins. If the Cavaliers defeat the Blue Devils for the second time in three weeks on Saturday, they will supplant Miami as the ACC’s representative in the College Football Playoff after winning the conference championship game.

The Blue Devils offense is multidimensional with quarterback Darian Mensah throwing for over 3,400 yards and 28 touchdowns, running backs Nate Sheppard (865 yards and 9 TDs) and Anderson Castle (435 yards and 11 TDs), and receivers Cooper Barkate (978 yards and 6 TDs), Que’Sean Brown (665 yards and 3 TDs), and Sahmir Hagans (432 yards and 6 TDs) all contributing to their cause.

Virginia safeties Devil Neal (70 tackles, 6 passes defended, and 0.5 sacks) and Ethan Minter (45 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception) will look to shut down Mensah’s passing attack. Linebackers Cam Robinson’s and James Jackson’s combined 119 tackles are vital against the Duke ground game.

Duke safeties Caleb Weaver and DaShawn Stone both cause takeaways in the secondary with three interceptions and three passes defended between them. Their challenge will be Cavalier quarterback Chandler Morris, who has thrown for 2,586 yards, rushed for 248 yards, and has accounted for 19 overall touchdowns. Morris will look to get the ball to receivers Trell Harris (809 yards and 5 TDs), Jahmal Edrine (484 yards and 1 TD), and Cam Ross (459 yards and 2 TDs).

Running backs J’Mari Taylor has almost reached 1,000 yards and already has 14 touchdowns on the season and Harrison Waylee (422 yards and 5 TDs) will attempt to cause problems for Duke’s defense. Linebackers Luke Mergott (72 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Jaiden Francois (70 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended) will attempt to shut gaps for the Virginia tailbacks so they cannot advance the ball on the ground.

It is hard to know what to expect in Saturday night’s battle between Duke and Virginia. But, I believe the Cavaliers will make sure the ACC gets at least one squad in this season’s College Football Playoff by beating the Blue Devils. If that is the case, Duke would suffer its sixth loss despite making the ACC Title game.

Projected Score: Virginia 31, Duke 20

Image Courtesy: Sports Illustrated

According to an official announcement from the Arkansas athletics program, “Ryan Silverfield, one of the nation’s winningest coaches over the last three seasons, has been named the 35th head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks.”

Ryan Silverfield compiled a 50-25 record over six seasons as Memphis’ head coach after taking over the program in December 2019, guiding the Tigers to a winning record and bowl eligibility every year, including double-digit win campaigns in both 2023 and 2024. His first full season at the helm ended with an 8-3 mark in 2020, setting the tone for one of the most consistently successful stretches in modern program history.

Silverfield launched his coaching career at Jacksonville’s The Bolles School as an assistant before building a diverse résumé across high school, college, and the NFL. His path included stops at Hampden-Sydney College, Memorial Day High School in Savannah, Jacksonville University, UCF, and the Minnesota Vikings, as well as college roles at Toledo and Arizona State and an NFL stint with the Detroit Lions. He then joined Memphis’ staff as an assistant, working his way up through the Tigers’ ranks before ultimately assuming the head coaching role he held for the last six seasons.

Silverfield’s introductory press conference will be on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 1 p.m. CT in the Broyles Center.

Image Courtesy: Vols Wire – USA Today

College Football Playoff Top 12
1.Ohio State 11-0 (8-0) Big Ten This week: @ 15.Michigan (9-2) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
2.Indiana 11-0 (8-0) Big Ten This week: @ Purdue (2-9) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, NBC)
3.Texas A&M 11-0 (7-0) SEC This week: @ 16.Texas (8-3) (Friday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
4.Georgia 10-1 (7-1) SEC This week: @ 23.Georgia Tech (9-2) (Friday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
5.Texas Tech 10-1 (7-1) Big 12 This week: @ West Virginia (4-7) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)
6.Oregon 10-1 (7-1) Big Ten This week: @ Washington (8-3) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
7.Ole Miss 10-1 (6-1) SEC This week: @ Mississippi State (5-6) (Friday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
8.Oklahoma 9-2 (5-2) SEC This week: LSU (7-4) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
9.Notre Dame 9-2 Independents This week: @ Stanford (4-7) (Saturday, 10:30 PM ET, ESPN)
10.Alabama 9-2 (6-1) SEC This week: @ Auburn (5-6) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
11.BYU 10-1 (7-1) Big 12 This week: UCF (5-6) (Saturday, 1 PM ET, ESPN2)
12.Miami 9-2 (5-2) ACC This week: @ 22.Pittsburgh (8-3) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)

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

First Round

Lubbock
5.Texas Tech
12.Tulane

Norman
8.Oklahoma
9.Notre Dame

Eugene
6.Oregon
11.Miami

Oxford
7.Ole Miss
10.Alabama

Quarterfinals

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
4.Georgia
5.Texas Tech/12.Tulane

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Ohio State
8.Oklahoma/9.Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
3.Texas A&M
6.Oregon/11.Miami

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
2.Indiana
7.Ole Miss/10.Alabama

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

Risers
15.Michigan 9-2 (7-1) Big Ten Week 13: #18 (Defeated Maryland 45-20)
20.Arizona State 8-3 (6-2) Big 12 Week 13: #25 (Defeated Colorado 42-17)

Fallers
23.Georgia Tech 9-2 (6-2) ACC Week 13: #16 (Lost to Pittsburgh 42-28)

Dropped Out
Illinois 7-4 (4-4) Big Ten Week 13: #21 (Lost to Wisconsin 27-10)
Missouri 7-4 (3-4) SEC Week 13: #22 (Lost to 8.Oklahoma 17-6)
Houston 8-3 (5-3) Big 12 Week 13: #23 (Lost to TCU 17-14)

New
21.SMU 8-3 (6-1) ACC Week 13: NR (Defeated Louisville 38-6)
22.Pittsburgh 8-3 (6-1) ACC Week 13: NR (Defeated 16.Georgia Tech 42-28)
25.Arizona 8-3 (5-3) Big 12 Week 13: NR (Defeated Baylor 41-17)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)

Thursday, November 27
Navy (8-2) @ Memphis (8-3)
7:30 PM ET, ESPN
Navy must beat Memphis on the road if they want a shot at making the American Championship game. The Tigers have fallen apart after a two game losing streak since being ranked in the debut College Football Playoff rankings. Now coming off of a bye, they could ruin the Midshipmen’s chances at a postseason run with a win on Thanksgiving night. Navy hopes to get closer to both with a victory over Memphis.

The Navy offense runs through quarterback Blake Horvath, who has accounted for 2,276 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. He will trust tailback Alex Tecza (669 rushing yards and 7 TDs), fellow quarterback Braxton Woodson (414 yards and 6 TDs), receiver Eli Heidenreich (741 receiving yards, 396 yards, and 7 combined TDs), and receiver Brandon Chatman (368 rushing yards, 131 receiving yards, and 3 rushing TDs) to make plays for him down the field against the Memphis defense. Linebacker Sam Brumfield (89 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 interception) will look to stop their ground game and defensive back Kamari Wilson (72 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) will handle Horvath’s passing game.

Navy linebacker MarcAnthony Parker (80 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 interception) and safety Guiseppe Sessi (65 tackles) will look to lead their unit against the Tiger offense. Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis has thrown 13 touchdowns but must avoid his growing number of six interceptions if they want to ruin the Midshipmen’s playoff chances. Lewis can do that if his offensive line protects him and he relies on running back Sutton Smith (644 yards and 7 TDs) and receivers Cortez Braham Jr. (824 yards and 7 TDs) and Jamari Hawkins (587 yards and 1 TD).

Thursday’s game between Navy and Memphis should be a shootout. The Midshipmen will outscore the Tigers and move closer to potentially clinching a berth to the American Championship game. A loss for Memphis would be their fourth of the year as their head coach Ryan Silverfield is possibly a candidate for the open Arkansas head coaching job.

Projected Score: Navy 34, Memphis 27

Friday, November 28
4.Georgia (10-1) @ 23.Georgia Tech (9-2) (Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Invesco QQQ Atlanta Gridiron Classic)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
After last season’s infamous eight overtime bloodbath, Georgia and Georgia Tech fans can only wonder what is to come in this season’s “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” rivalry game, which was moved from the Yellow Jackets’ campus to Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Both teams are in position to make the College Football Playoff with the Bulldogs’ 10-1 record and Yellow Jackets’ and 9-2 record entering the final weekend of the regular season.

The Bulldogs must hope Alabama falls against Auburn if they want to return to Atlanta next week to play in the SEC Championship game. The Yellow Jackets’ chances to play for an ACC Title game have diminished after their 42-28 loss to Pittsburgh last weekend. But they still stand if three scenarios play out a certain way.

Georgia has won seven consecutive games since that loss to the Crimson Tide to end September. They have played some of their best football, especially on the defensive side. Over those seven games, their opponents have been held to 113 points on offense. A big part of that has been the Bulldog linebacking core, including CJ Allen (78 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 passes defended) and Raylen Wilson (61 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1 pass defended). They will be in charge of pressuring Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King, who leads the Yellow Jackets in both passing (2,516) and rushing (883) yards this season. King also leads the team with a combined 27 touchdowns.

In their loss to Pitt last week, Georgia Tech’s playmakers struggled. Running back Jamal Haynes rushed 10 times for 39 yards and 1 touchdown and wide receivers Malik Rutherford and Isiah Canion combined for just 135 yards between them. Georgia defensive backs KJ Bolden (54 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes defended) and Joenel Aguero (36 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) will make sure each of them have a similar performance to the one they had last week.

Quarterback Gunner Stockton has improved throughout his first season as the starter, throwing for 2,465 yards, 19 touchdowns, rushing for 361 yards, and eight more scores. Stockton has gotten the ball to receivers Zachariah Branch (638 yards and 3 TDs) and Colbie Young (336 yards and 1 TD) the most this season but has only relied on Nate Frazier (701 yards and 5 TDs) and Chauncey Bowens (493 yards and 6 TDs) in the ground game. Georgia Tech linebacker Kyle Efford’s 68 tackles, two passes defended, and 1.5 sacks will be important in leading their front against the Bulldog ground game and defensive back Clayton Powell-Lee’s 61 tackles and 2 passes defended will be huge for their secondary against their passing attack.

After last season’s crazy game at Sanford Stadium between Georgia and Georgia Tech, it is hard to know what will come in Friday’s game. But to me, this game will only be close for a half at the most. The Bulldogs will dominate the Yellow Jackets in the second half, grabbing their eleventh win of the season. Georgia Tech would take its third loss of the season over the last month if Georgia does in fact come out victorious.

Projected Score: Georgia 34, Georgia Tech 20

3.Texas A&M (11-0) @ 16.Texas (8-3)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
After dominating Samford, Texas A&M heads to Austin face instate rival Texas. The Aggies would clinch an SEC title game berth with a victory. Since suffering their third loss to Georgia two weeks ago, the Longhorns can only hope to defeat Texas A&M and for chaos to ensue if they want to make a third consecutive College Football Playoff. The Lone Star Showdown returns on Friday night with a lot on the line.

The Aggies will look to defeat Texas with another quality performance. That will start with their talented pass rush, headed by defensive end Cashius Howell, who has accounted for 26 tackles, 11.5 sacks, and 6 passes defended and linebacker Daymion Sanford who has 46 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception. Texas quarterback Arch Manning will look to build on his best performance of the season, where he threw for 389 yards, four touchdowns, rushed for a touchdown, and caught another score against Arkansas when they host Texas A&M.

Safety Marcus Ratcliffe (55 tackles and 3 passes defended) and cornerback Will Lee III (42 tackles, 6 passes defended, and 1 sack) will have their eyes on Texas pass catchers Ryan Wingo (732 yards and 6 TDs), DeAndre Moore Jr. (528 yards and 4 TDs), and Parker Livingstone (472 yards and 6 TDs).

If Texas A&M’s receiving duo of KC Concepcion (829 yards and 9 TDs) and Mario Craver (781 yards and 4 TDs) is as good as they have been all season and they are open down the field consistently for quarterback Marcel Reed (2,752 passing yards, 395 rushing yards, and 31 overall TDs), they should be able to get their first win against Texas since Nov. 25, 2010. Texas defensive backs Michael Taaffe (65 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass defended, and 1 sack) and Jelani McDonald (64 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 passes defended) will attempt to stop Concepcion, Craver, and Reed’s other targets.

Tailbacks Rueben Owens (570 yards and 5 TDs) and Le’Veon Moss (389 yards and 6 TDs) make up one of the better rooms in the nation. Linebackers Anthony Hill (70 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 pass defended) will look to lead the Longhorns’ front seven against Owens and Moss.

The battle between Texas and Texas A&M could go many different ways. The Longhorns have a 5-1 record at home against SEC opponents since they joined the league and the Aggies having to come back from a 31-point deficit just to beat South Carolina two weeks ago, things could become murky at DRK-Memorial Stadium in Austin. But Mike Elko’s team will be more prepared against their instate rival and Texas A&M will defeat Texas on Friday night in a close game.

Projected Score: Texas A&M 31, Texas 28

25.Arizona (8-3) @ 20.Arizona State (8-3)
9 PM ET, FOX
Arizona has won four consecutive games entering their trip to Tempe to face Arizona State. The Sun Devils have won four of their last five games entering Friday’s “Territorial Cup”. While Arizona State needs a lot of help to get to the Big 12 Championship game, if they win over the Wildcats, Utah loses to Kansas, and Texas Tech falls to West Virginia, they could clinch a second consecutive bid to Arlington. Arizona will look to ruin their chances by defeating the Sun Devils.

After a subpar 2024 campaign, Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita has starred in 2025 with 2,677 yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. Fifita has used his weapons well this season including receivers Kris Hutson (645 yards and 4 TDs), Javin Whatley (418 yards and 4 TDs), and tailback Ismail Mahdi (732 yards and 4 TDs). Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott’s 89 tackles, 7 sacks, and 2 passes defended and defensive back Myles Rowser’s 73 tackles and 3 passes defended will be important in stopping the Wildcats from scoring.

Sun Devil backup signal caller Jeff Sims, who has thrown for 772 yards, seven touchdowns, two interceptions, and rushed for 423 yards and two scores, has done great behind center since starter Sam Leavitt got injured. Sims’ playmakers Raleek Brown (1,078 rushing yards and 4 TDs) and Jordyn Tyson (689 receiving yards and 8 TDs) will help him defeat Arizona. Defensive back Dalton Johnson (94 tackles, 5 passes defended, and 3 interceptions) and linebacker Taye Brown (80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) will be in charge of stopping Sims and his offense.

In what should be a close game, Arizona will go on the road and upset Arizona State. The Wildcats’ Fifita will continue his tremendous season behind center and the Sun Devils’ defense will not have an answer. Arizona would win its ninth game of the season and keep Arizona State from doing the same thing.

Projected Score: Arizona 28, Arizona State 21

Saturday, November 29
12.Miami (9-2) @ 22.Pittsburgh (8-3)
12 PM ET, ABC
Miami travels to Pittsburgh for a huge game with ACC Championship game implications. The Hurricanes must defeat Pittsburgh and hope for Virginia Tech and Wake Forest or NC State to win or California, NC State, and Wake Forest to win. The Panthers must win on Saturday afternoon and for California or Virginia Tech to win. No matter what happens, Miami and Pittsburgh renew their old rivalry.

If the Hurricanes want to come out victorious and keep their postseason pursuits in reach, quarterback Carson Beck cannot turn the ball over against the Panthers. Beck has already thrown nine interceptions this season so it will be important for him to continue his play over their three game winning streak, where he has thrown for eight touchdowns and did not turn the ball over once. If he can get the ball to receivers Malachi Toney (844 yards and 6 TDs), Keelan Marion (544 yards and 1 TD), and CJ Daniels (351 yards and 6 TDs) will help them succeed against Pitt. Defensive backs Kavir Bainz-Marquez (53 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 passes defended) and Cruce Brookins (40 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) will look to stop the Hurricanes’ impressive run over the last three weeks through the air.

Another way to help them succeed is the running back trio Mark Fletcher Jr. (655 yards and 9 TDs), CharMar Brown (374 yards and 5 TDs), and Girard Pringle Jr. (280 yards and 4 TDs). Linebackers Rasheem Biles (76 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 sacks, and 2 interceptions) and Kyle Louis (67 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) hope to shut down the Hurricanes’ strong rushing attack.

Pitt quarterback Mason Heintschel’s 1,899 yards passing and 14 touchdowns are impressive for only starting beginning in week 5. If Heintschel can continue the success he had against Georgia Tech when he threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns and get the ball to receivers Kenny Johnson, Raphael Williams Jr., and Catarus Hicks who have combined for 15 scores on the season, they will have a better shot of winning this game. Miami defensive backs Keionte Scott (44 tackles, 5 passes defended, 3 sacks, and 1 interception) and Jakobe Thomas (43 tackles, 4 interceptions, 4 passes defended, and 3 sacks) will be vital against their passing attack.

Linebacker Mohamed Toure’s 52 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 sack and tackle Akheem Mesidor’s 44 tackles and 7 sacks will be important in stopping the Panthers’ ground game led by Ja’Kyrian Turner (678 yards and 7 TDs), Desmond Reid (278 yards and 2 TDs), and Juelz Goff (256 yards and 5 TDs). They will be vital in getting Heintschel’s passing game going against Miami’s defense.

In what should be a back and forth game, Miami will go on the road and get a close win over Pitt, eliminating them from ACC Championship game contention. A win for the Hurricanes would put them in position to make it to Charlotte next Saturday themselves depending on what happens elsewhere in the league and from there a potential shot to make the College Football Playoff depending on the game’s result.

Projected Score: Miami 30, Pittsburgh 27

1.Ohio State (11-0) @ 15.Michigan (9-2)
12 PM ET, FOX
Can Ohio State beat Michigan for the first time in five seasons? The Buckeyes are always in College Football Playoff contention but they have not been able to defeat the Wolverines since Nov. 30, 2019. ESPN’s College GameDay will be on sight for “The Game” for the first time since 2023. If Ryan Day’s team finally gets it done, Ohio State should be the favorite to win back to back national championships.

Ohio State not had this big of a test since defeating pre-season No. 1 Texas 14-7. The common denominator in their last four losses to the Michigan. So it will be up to Julian Sayin (2,832 yards and 32 TDs) to continue his fantastic season to defeat the Wolverines. Neither one of his top receivers, Jeremiah Smith (902 yards and 10 TDs) and Carnell Tate (711 yards and 7 TDs), played in their route against Rutgers last Saturday due to injuries. “They will be getting physical and mental reps all week,” head coach Ryan Day said about his receivers. Michigan defensive backs Brandyn Hillman’ and Mason Curtis’ combined six passes defended and two interceptions will be crucial against Smith and Tate assuming they both play.

Tailbacks Bo Jackson, James Peoples, and Isaiah West have combined for 10 touchdowns this season. They will attempt to set up Sayin’s passing game against Michigan’s secondary. Linebackers Ernest Hausmann (68 tackles, 1 sacks, and 1 passes defended) and Jimmy Rolder (57 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) will be crucial against the Buckeyes’ strong rushing attack.

Michigan running backs Jordan Marshall, Justice Haynes, and quarterback Bryce Underwood have impressed on the ground this season. Marshall (871 yards and 10 TDs), Haynes (857 yards and 10 TDs), and Underwood (322 yards and 5 TDs) will look to open up their offense against Ohio State linebackers Sonny Styles (63 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1 interception, and 0.5 sacks), Arvell Reese (59 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended), and defensive end Caden Curry (49 tackles, 9 sacks, and 1 pass defended), who have made up one of the best front sevens in college football this season.

Underwood has thrown for 2,166 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions on the seasons. As a result, only two of his receivers have excelled this season: Andrew Marsh (641 yards and 3 TDs) and Donaven McCulley (488 yards and 3 TDs). Two of the nations top safeties; Caleb Downs (49 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack) and Jaylen McClain (39 tackles and 3 passes defended) will look to shut down Michigan’s struggling passing game.

Until Ohio State proves they can beat Michigan, I will not pick them to do so. The Wolverines defense will step up, cause multiple turnovers, and they will keep the Buckeyes from scoring four touchdowns.

Projected Score: Michigan 24, Ohio State 21

14.Vanderbilt (9-2) @ 19.Tennessee (8-3)
3:30 PM ET, ESPN
Vanderbilt travels to Knoxville to battle Tennessee in the most important game between the two teams in a long time. The Commodores still have a shot to make the College Football Playoff but they will need style points and a big victory over the Volunteers if they wish to get there.

If Commodore quarterback Diego Pavia (2,924 passing yards, 661 rushing yards, and 34 overall TDs) turns in another fantastic performance against rival Tennessee, he will definitely be in New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation in two weeks. It helps Pavia that he has the help of receivers Tre Richardson (604 yards and 5 TDs), Junior Sherrill (585 yards and 7 TDs), Richie Hoskins (300 yards and 3 TDs), and tight end Eli Stowers (705 yards and 4 TDs). Tennessee’s secondary must be better than they have been with defensive backs Edrees Farooq’s two passes defended and one interception and Andre Turrentine’s one interception are important against Pavia’s passing game.

Tailbacks Sedrick Alexander has rushed for 445 yards and eight touchdowns and Makhilyn Young’ 395 yards and five scores power the Vanderbilt offense. Linebackers Edwin Spillman (72 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Jeremiah Telander (64 tackles, 1 interception, and 0.5 sacks) will look to stop Pavia from escaping out of the pocket and Alexander and Young from running through the tackles.

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar has starred at quarterback this season throwing for over 3,100 yards and 23 scores but has also thrown 10 interceptions. The sure handed receivers Chris Brazzell II (926 yards and 8 TDs), Braylon Staley (771 yards and 6 TDs), and Mike Matthews (712 yards and 4 TDs) will be important in helping Aguilar move the ball against the Vanderbilt secondary. Safeties CJ Heard (52 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 sacks, and 1 pass defended) and Marlen Sewell (42 tackles, 1 pass defended, and 0.5 sacks) are crucial against Tennessee.

Linebackers Bryan Longwell and Langston Patterson have combined for 118 tackles this season. They will be vital against Tennessee’s run game, led by DeSean Bishop and Star Thomas who have combined for 1,415 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Even though Tennessee is favored by three and a half points, Pavia’s last regular season game will not end in a loss for Vanderbilt. The two offenses will battle in a shootout that will end in a Commodore win over the Volunteers.

Projected Score: Vanderbilt 34, Tennessee 31

6.Oregon (10-1) @ Washington (8-3)
3:30 PM ET, CBS
Oregon strengthened its College Football Playoff resumé with a 42-27 victory over No. 15 USC last Saturday. The next step is a challenging test against Washington, who has won three of their last five games. A win for the Ducks over the Huskies would all but lock up a second consecutive playoff appearance. A Washington win over Oregon would not eliminate them from contention but it would give the Huskies their first nine win or better season since they went 14-1 and lost the national championship game against Michigan in January of 2024.

The Ducks’ offense has scored 42 points in both of their last two games against Minnesota and No. 15 USC. Quarterback Dante Moore has thrown for over 2,447 yards, 23 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. Washington defensive backs. So, Moore will want to get the ball to receivers Dakorien Moore (443 yards and 3 TDs), Malik Benson (424 yards and 3 TDs), and tight end Kenyon Saddiq (479 yards and 8 TDs) to have success against the Huskies. Safeties Alex McLaughlin’s and Makell Esteen’s combined seven passes defended and four interceptions will be important against the Ducks’ passing attack.

Linebackers Xe’ree Alexander (60 tackles and 1 pass defended and Deven Bryant (59 tackles and 2 passes defended) will look to stop Moore’s running backs Noah Whittington, Jordon Davison, and Dierre Hill Jr., who have combined for 23 touchdowns this season.

Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr.’s 2,721 passing yards and 19 touchdowns leads the offense. The Oregon secondary, led by defensive backs Dillon Thieneman (57 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Aaron Flowers (48 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interceptions), will look to stop Williams’ passing attack with receivers Denzel Boston, Dezmen Roebuck, Jonah Coleman, and tight end Decker DeGraff combined 16 scores.

Linebackers Bryce Boettcher (57 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Teitum Tuioti (52 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended) will be huge against the Washington ground game led by Williams Jr. (568 yards and 6 TDs), Jonah Coleman (651 yards and 14 TDs), and Adam Mohammed (412 yards and 5 TDs).

Oregon and Washington should battle in a close game for at least the first half. But the Ducks’ offense will overcome the Huskys’ defense and they will get their eleventh win of the season.

Projected Score: Oregon 35, Washington 24

4.Alabama (9-2) @ Auburn (5-6)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
In their last four trips to Jordan-Hare Stadium, Alabama has struggled against Auburn and has gone 2-2 in those games. The Crimson Tide must defeat the Tigers on Saturday night or they will miss the College Football Playoff for a second consecutive season.

If that happens, head coach Kalen DeBoer could be fired because that is not acceptable in Tuscaloosa. With a win, Auburn could clinch a bowl berth under interim coach DJ Durkin. The Iron Bowl returns to Auburn for an intense showdown on Saturday night.

It was Alabama’s ground attack that powered them to a 56-0 win over Eastern Illinois last Saturday. All eight of their scores were by rushing including tailbacks Jam Miller (1), AK Dear (2), Kevin Riley (2), Richard Young (1), Daniel Hill (1), and backup signal-caller Austin Mack (1). Auburn linebackers Xavier Atkins (81 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 interception) and Robert Woodyard Jr. (64 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 pass defended) will look to make sure the Crimson Tide don’t continue their success on the ground against them.

Starting quarterback Ty Simpson failed to throw for a touchdown and through two interceptions against the Panthers defense. Simpson will have to be better against a talented Auburn defense in their house on Saturday night. He can do that if receivers Germie Bernard (676 yards and 6 TDs), Ryan Williams (598 yards and 4 TDs), and Isaiah Horton (383 yards and 5 TDs) do their job appropriately down the field. Safety Kaleb Harris (45 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) will lead the Tiger secondary and they hope to continue forcing Simpson’s struggles.

Alabama defensive backs Bray Hubbard (53 tackles, 8 passes defended, 3 interceptions, and 1 sack) and Keon Sabb (33 tackles, 1 interception, 1 pass defended) will attempt to shut down Auburn’s passing game, led by starting quarterback Ashton Daniels (538 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 interception) on, who has seen limited action so far this season. Daniels will look to get the ball to talented receivers Cam Coleman (682 yards and 5 TDs) and Eric Singleton (508 yards and 3 TDs) to potentially upset the Crimson Tide.

Running backs Jeremiah Cobb (936 yards and 4 TDs) will have to support Daniels against a talented Alabama front seven. Linebackers Justin Jefferson (58 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 sacks, and 1 interception) and Deontae Lawson (53 tackles and 3 passes defended) will lead their front against Auburn’s ground game.

After losing to Oklahoma two weeks ago, Alabama must defeat Auburn to keep themselves in SEC Championship game and College Football Playoff contention. Because of that, the Crimson Tide will bounce back and defeat the Tigers. Alabama would advance to the SEC Championship game with a win over Auburn.

Projected Score: Alabama 28, Auburn 13

Image Courtesy: Los Angeles Times

College Football Playoff Top 12
1.Ohio State 10-0 (7-0) Big Ten This week: Rutgers (5-5) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
2.Indiana 11-0 (8-0) Big Ten This week: Off
3.Texas A&M 10-0 (7-0) SEC This week: Samford (1-10) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, SECN+)
4.Georgia 9-1 (7-1) SEC This week: Charlotte (1-9) (Saturday, 12:45 PM ET, SECN)
5.Texas Tech 10-1 (7-1) Big 12 This week: Off
6.Ole Miss 10-1 (6-1) SEC This week: Off
7.Oregon 9-1 (6-1) Big Ten This week: USC (8-2) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
8.Oklahoma 8-2 (4-2) SEC This week: Missouri (7-3) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
9.Notre Dame 8-2 Independents This week: Syracuse (3-7) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, NBC)
10.Alabama 8-2 (6-1) SEC This week: Eastern Illinois (3-8) (Saturday, 2 PM ET, SECN+)
11.BYU 9-1 (6-1) Big 12 This week: @ Cincinnati (7-3) (Saturday, , )
12.Utah 8-2 (5-2) Big 12 This week: Kansas State (5-5) (Saturday, , )

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

First Round

Lubbock
5.Texas Tech
12.Tulane

Norman
8.Oklahoma
9.Notre Dame

Oxford
6.Ole Miss
11.Miami

Eugene
7.Oregon
10.Alabama

Quarterfinals

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
4.Georgia
5.Texas Tech/12.Tulane

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Ohio State
8.Oklahoma/9.Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
3.Texas A&M
6.Ole Miss/11.Miami

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
2.Indiana
7.Oregon/10.Alabama

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

Risers
8.Oklahoma 8-2 (4-2) SEC Week 12: #11 (Defeated 4.Alabama 23-21)
20.Tennessee 7-3 (3-3) SEC Week 12: #23 (Defeated New Mexico State 42-9)

Fallers
10.Alabama 8-2 (6-1) SEC Week 12: #4 (Lost to 11.Oklahoma 23-21)
17.Texas 7-3 (4-2) SEC Week 12: #10 (Lost to 5.Georgia 35-10)

Dropped Out
Louisville 7-3 (4-3) ACC Week 12: #20 (Lost to Clemson 20-19)
Iowa 6-4 (4-3) Big Ten Week 12: #21 (Lost to 17.USC 26-21)
Pittsburgh 7-3 (5-1) ACC Week 12: #22 (Lost to 9.Notre Dame 37-15)
South Florida 7-3 (4-2) American Week 12: #24 (Lost to Navy 41-38)
Cincinnati 7-3 (5-2) Big 12 Week 12: #25 (Lost to Arizona 30-24)

New
21.Illinois 7-3 (4-3) Big Ten Week 12: NR (Defeated Maryland 24-6)
22.Missouri 7-3 (3-3) SEC Week 12: NR (Defeated Mississippi State 49-27)
23.Houston 8-2 (5-2) Big 12 Week 12: NR (Off)
24.Tulane 8-2 (5-1) American Week 12: NR (Defeated Florida Atlantic 35-24)
25.Arizona State 7-3 (5-2) Big 12 Week 12: NR (Defeated West Virginia 25-23)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)

Saturday, November 22
Louisville (7-3) @ SMU (7-3)
12 PM ET, ESPN2
Louisville travels to Dallas off of a crushing 20-19 loss to Clemson to face an SMU squad who is rested off of a bye week. The Cardinals now have two losses in ACC play and have to hope for chaos to get themselves back in contention for the conference title. They could help themselves out by giving the Mustangs a second conference loss if they were to come out victorious on Saturday afternoon. Louisville will attempt to avenge their 2024 loss to SMU in this game.

The Cardinals’ defense will attempt to turn in a similar performance this week to keep the SMU offense off the board. Linebacker TJ Quinn (72 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack) and defensive lineman Clev Lubin (46 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 1 forced fumble) will attempt to control the Mustang ground game. They will attempt to stop TJ Harden (613 yards and 6 TDs) and Chris Johnson Jr. (316 yards and 3 TDs) from having success running the ball on Saturday afternoon.

Quarterback Kevin Jennings has thrown for over 2,800 yards, 21 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Jennings will look to get the ball to wide receivers Jordan Hudson (595 yards and 4 TDs), Romello Brinson (582 yards and 3 TDs), and Yamir Knight (460 yards and 4 TDs), who all have a shot to explode for good games against the Cardinals. Defensive backs D’Angelo Hutchinson’s and JoJo Evans Jr.’s combined eight passes defended and two interceptions will be vital against the SMU passing game.

Louisville quarterback Miller Moss has had an up and down season throwing 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He must rely on his group of receivers including Chris Bell (871 yards and 6 TDs) and Caullin Lacy (542 yards and 2 TDs) to be successful and defeat SMU. Louisville safeties Isaiah Nwokobia (37 tackles, 7 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and Ahmad Moses (73 tackles, 5 interceptions, 1 pass defended, and 1 sack) will look to shut Moss down.

The tailback duo of Isaac Brown, who has rushed for 782 yards and five touchdowns and Keyjuan Brown, who has rushed for 592 yards and six touchdowns will be relied on to have success so Moss’ passing game opens up. Linebackers Brandon Booker (46 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 0.5 sacks) and Alexander Kilgore (45 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) are crucial in leading the SMU front against Louisville’s talented running backs.

In what should be a close game, SMU will protect their home field and defeat Louisville on Saturday afternoon. The Mustangs’ offense will outscore the Cardinals’ and they will keep themselves in contention for a second consecutive berth in the ACC Championship game.

Projected Score: SMU 31, Louisville 21

22.Missouri (7-3) @ 8.Oklahoma (8-2)
12 PM ET, ABC
The most important game in the SEC this week takes place in Norman just a week after Oklahoma went to Tuscaloosa and defeated then No. 4 Alabama at their homecoming game. The Sooners still have two losses so they must avoid losses against Missouri this Saturday and LSU on Nov. 29 if they want to appear in the College Football Playoff. Missouri will look to ruin Oklahoma’s season with a victory on Saturday afternoon.

Tiger running back Ahmad Hardy has been one of the best at his position in the country this season, going for 1,346 yards and 15 scores thus far this season. Oklahoma linebackers Kip Lewis and Owen Heinecke have the job of stopping Hardy with their combined 110 tackles, six passes defended, and five sacks.

Quarterback Matt Zollers (402 yards, 4 TDs, and 1 interception) enters his third game as the starter behind center. Continuing to throw the football to wide receivers Kevin Coleman Jr. (600 yards and 1 TD), Marquis Johnson (340 yards and 2 TDs), Donovan Olugbode (318 yards and 2 TDs) will be difficult against a strong Oklahoma defense but it will be necessary to defeat the Sooners. Defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings (48 tackles and 1 interception) will lead the Sooners’ secondary against Zoller and his receiving core.

Missouri safeties Santana Banner (41 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) and Marvin Burks Jr. (39 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) will be vital in stopping wide receivers Isaiah Sategna (718 yards and 5 TDs) and Deion Burks (454 yards and 2 TDs) down the field. The man getting them the ball is quarterback John Mateer, who has only thrown eight touchdowns to seven interceptions but he helped lead his team to a win over Alabama last Saturday.

Linebackers Josiah Trotter (61 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended) and Khalil Jacobs (37 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 passes defended) will look to stop Oklahoma running backs Tory Blaylock (402 yards and 4 TDs) and Xavier Robinson (366 yards and 4 TDs).

Oklahoma’s defense will help them avoid a letdown after a big win over Alabama by defeating Missouri. The Sooners will stop Hardy consistently and move a week closer to making the College Football Playoff if they continue to be victorious versus Mizzou and LSU.

Projected Score: Oklahoma 24, Missouri 17

15.USC (8-2) @ 7.Oregon (9-1)
3:30 PM ET, CBS
ESPN’s College GameDay returns to Eugene for the second time this season for a huge Big Ten battle between USC and Oregon. The Trojans and Ducks are both red hot with four straight conference wins each. The winner of Saturday afternoon’s game will keep themselves in contention for a potential shot at playing in the Big Ten Championship game with No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Indiana both undefeated in league play. USC’s impressive offense will be tested against Oregon’s tough defense on the road at Autzen Stadium this weekend.

Will Jayden Maiava (2,868 yards and 18 passing TDs) rise to the occasion against Oregon’s defense like he has done for much of the season? Oregon’s secondary, led by Dillon Thieneman (49 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Aaron Flowers (44 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception), will make it difficult for Maiava but his talented group of receivers will make it easier. That group includes Makai Lemon (1,090 yards and 8 TDs), Ja’Kobi Lane (585 yards and 4 TDs), and tight end Lake McRee (389 yards and 2 TDs) will be a hard group for the Duck secondary to defend.

Tailbacks King Miller has rushed for 719 yards and five touchdowns and Waymond Jordan has rushed for 576 yards and five more scores. Linebackers Bryan Boettcher (77 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1 sack, and 1 interception) and Teitum Tuioti (47 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended) will look to stop Miller and Jordan.

Quarterback Dante Moore (2,190 yards and 21 passing TDs) will look to match Maiava’s performance on Saturday afternoon by getting the ball to receivers Dakorien Moore, Malik Benson, Gary Bryant Jr., Jeremiah McClellan, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq have combined 18 touchdowns through 10 games this season.USC safeties Bishop Fitzgerald (51 tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Christian Pierce (44 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) will be important in shutting down the Oregon passing game.

Linebackers Eric Gentry’s and Desman Stephens II’s 124 combined tackles will help lead the Trojans’ front seven against the Ducks’ rushing attack. Their rushing attack is headed by three running backs Noah Whittington (623 yards and 5 TDs), Jordon Davison (461 yards and 12 TDs), and Dierre Hill Jr. (424 yards and 4 TDs).

The battle between USC and Oregon should be the game of the day on Saturday. The Trojans’ improved defense will help them upset the Ducks and give them win number nine on the season. USC would likely move into the projected College Football Playoff field in next Tuesday’s rankings released.

Projected Score: USC 34, Oregon 31

Pittsburgh (7-3) @ 16.Georgia Tech (9-1)
7 PM ET, ESPN
While Saturday’s blowout loss to Notre Dame did not eliminate Pittsburgh from the College Football Playoff conversation because it was not an ACC loss, the Panthers will have to bounce back against Georgia Tech on the road if they want to keep their name in the hat for the ACC Conference Championship game and Playoff conversations on Saturday night.

The Yellowjackets had to stage a massive comeback to beat Boston College last Saturday to advance to 9-1 on the season. If Georgia Tech keeps winning, beginning against Pittsburgh on Saturday, they will control their own destiny to make the College Football Playoff.

In their loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 15, Pittsburgh true freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel completed just 16 of 33 passes for 126 yards, no passing touchdowns, and an interception. He will have to step up against Georgia Tech’s defense if they want to come out victorious and get the ball to the only three targets who had above 20 receiving yards: Desmond Reid (63 yards), Kenny Johnson (27 yards), and Malachi Thomas (21 yards and 1 TD). Georgia Tech defensive backs Clayton Powell-Lee (57 tackles an 2 passes defended) and Omar Daniels (38 passes defended and 1 interception) will look to hold the Panther receivers down like they were a week ago.

Notre Dame’s defense held Pitt to just 70 rushing yards too. They will need more out of their leading rushers Ja’Kyrian Turner and Desmond Reid, who combined for just 50 yards last Saturday. Linebackers Kyle Efford (66 tackles and 2 passes defended) and EJ Lightest (54 tackles) will attempt to stop Turner and Reid from having big performances.

While their offense gave them just 15 points against the Fighting Irish, the Panther defense cannot give up 37 points and expect to win a game, especially as they face veteran quarterback Haynes King (2,259 yards, 807 rushing yards, and 24 combined TDs) at his house on Saturday night. So, it will be up to linebackers Rasheem Biles (61 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions) and Braylan Lovelace (61 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) will be crucial in dealing with not only King’s dual threat abilities but also running backs Malachi Hosley (625 yards and 7 TDs) and Jamal Haynes (454 yards and 4 TDs).

King will also attempt to get the ball to wide receivers Eric Rivers (516 yards and 1 TD), Isiah Canion (359 yards and 2 TDs), Malik Rutherford (323 yards and 3 TDs), and Jordan Allen (293 yards) to have success in this game. Defensive backs Kavir Bains-Marquez’s and Cruce Brookins’ combined 5 passes defended and 3 interceptions will be crucial against the Yellow Jackets’ passing game.

While I think Pittsburgh will play better on Saturday, Georgia Tech will protect their home field and clinch their spot in the ACC Championship game with a win. The game should be close for most of the game, but the Yellow Jackets will defeat the Panthers with their veteran signal-caller King outperforming the freshman Heintschel.

Projected Score: Georgia Tech 35, Pittsburgh 24

11.BYU (9-1) @ Cincinnati (7-3)
8 PM ET, FOX
After dominating TCU last Saturday night, BYU controls its own destiny to make the Big 12 Championship if they win their last two games against Cincinnati and UCF. The Cougars will head on the road to face the Bearcats, who took their second Big 12 loss last weekend to Arizona. Cincinnati will look to bounce back and give BYU their second loss of the season when they meet on Saturday night at Nippert Stadium.

The Cougars have relied on signal-caller Bear Bachmeier (2,177 passing yards, 479 rushing yards, 23 overall TDs) all season. They will have to do that again as they travel to face Cincinnati’s defense on the road. To be successful, Bachmeier will have to continue to get the ball to wide receivers Chase Roberts (702 yards and 5 TDs), Parker Kingston (639 yards and 4 TDs), and tight end Carsen Ryan (371 yards and 3 TDs) if they want to come out victorious on Saturday night. It will be up to Cincinnati safeties Trevon Gola-Hollard (64 tackles and 3 passes defended) and Christian Harrison (52 tackles, 7 passes defended, and 1 interception) will have to stop them consistently to give BYU their second loss.

Tailback LJ Martin, who has rushed for 912 yards and six touchdowns this season, will look to help Bachmeier and the BYU passing game against Cincinnati. Linebackers Jake Golday (92 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 2 passes defended) and Jonathan Thompson (53 tackles and 1 sack) will look to make sure that does not happen.

Cincinnati quarterback Brendan Sorsby has thrown for 2,218 yards, rushed for 483 yards, and has 31 overall touchdowns. BYU safeties Faletau Satuala and Tanner Wall have combined for six interceptions through ten games. They will look to do that to shut the Cincinnati passing game, including receivers Cyrus Allen (572 yards and 10 TDs), Jeff Caldwell (416 yards and 4 TDs), and Caleb Goodie (380 yards and 2 TDs).

Linebackers Isaiah Glasker (50 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 passes defended) and Jack Kelly (43 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 pass defended) will look to get to Sorsby and sack him and handle Tawee Walker’s (652 yards and 4 TDs) rushing attack.

BYU’s offensive attack will overpower the Cincinnati defense, winning them the game. The Cougars’ victory would be the Bearcats’ third consecutive loss effectively ending any last shot of them making the Big 12 Championship game. BYU would stay in the College Football Playoff hunt ranked No. 11 or higher depending on this weekend’s results on the gridiron.

Projected Score: BYU 38, Cincinnati 21

Image Courtesy: Southeastern Conference

College Football Playoff Top 12
1.Ohio State 9-0 (6-0) Big Ten This week: UCLA (3-6) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, NBC)
2.Indiana 10-0 (7-0) Big Ten This week: Wisconsin (3-6) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, BTN)
3.Texas A&M 9-0 (6-0) SEC This week: South Carolina (3-6) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, )
4.Alabama 8-1 (6-0) SEC This week: 11.Oklahoma (7-2) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
5.Georgia 8-1 (6-1) SEC This week: 10.Texas (7-2) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
6.Texas Tech 9-1 (6-1) Big 12 This week: UCF (4-5) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, FOX)
7.Ole Miss 9-1 (5-1) SEC This week: Florida (3-6) (Saturday, 7 PM ET, ESPN)
8.Oregon 8-1 (5-1) Big Ten This week: Minnesota (6-3) (Friday, 9 PM ET, FOX)
9.Notre Dame 7-2 Independents This week: @ Pittsburgh (7-2) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ACCN)
10.Texas 7-2 (4-1) SEC This week: @ 5.Georgia (8-1) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
11.Oklahoma 7-2 (3-2) SEC This week: @ 4.Alabama (8-1) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
12.BYU 8-1 (5-1) Big 12 This week: TCU (6-3) (Saturday, 10:15 PM ET, ESPN)

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

First Round

Athens
5.Georgia
12.South Florida

Eugene
8.Oregon
9.Notre Dame

Lubbock
6.Texas Tech
11.Miami

Oxford
7.Ole Miss
10.Texas

Quarterfinals

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
4.Alabama
5.Georgia/12.South Florida

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Ohio State
8.Oregon/9.Notre Dame

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
3.Texas A&M
6.Texas Tech/11.Miami

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
2.Indiana
7.Ole Miss/10.Texas

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

Risers
15.Miami 7-2 (3-2) ACC Week 11: #18 (Defeated Syracuse 38-10)
18.Michigan 7-2 (5-1) Big Ten Week 11: #21 (Off)

Fallers
12.BYU 8-1 (5-1) Big 12 Week 11: #7 (Lost to 8.Texas Tech 29-7)
19.Virginia 8-2 (5-1) ACC Week 11: #14 (Lost to Wake Forest 16-9)
20.Louisville 7-2 (4-2) ACC Week 11: #15 (Lost to California 29-26)

Dropped Out
Missouri 6-3 (2-3) SEC Week 11: #22 (Lost to 3.Texas A&M 38-17)
Washington 6-3 (3-3) Big Ten Week 11: #23 (Lost to Wisconsin 13-10)

New
24.South Florida 7-2 (4-1) American Week 11: NR (Defeated UTSA 55-23)
25.Cincinnati 7-2 (5-1) Big 12 Week 11: NR (Off)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)

Saturday, November 15
24.South Florida (7-2) @ Navy (7-2)
12 PM ET, ESPN2
South Florida’s trip to Annapolis this weekend is important as they attempt to make and win the American Conference Championship game and appear in the College Football Playoff after the committee ranked them No. 24 in their rankings and the fifth conference champion in their projected bracket this week. The Bulls have just one loss in conference play so if they win on Saturday, in Birmingham against UAB, and back home in Tampa against Rice to close out the season, they will be in a perfect position to do so.

Despite back to back losses, Navy is in a similar position at the top of the American with five wins and just a single loss to North Texas. After losing the Mean Green two weeks ago, they went to South Bend and were defeated by Notre Dame. Getting back on track will be important against South Florida on Saturday.

South Florida quarterback Byrum Brown leads the team in both passing (2,203) and rushing (705) yards. He also has thrown 19 touchdowns and rushed for nine more. Four wide receivers have show out especially for the Bulls so far this season: Keshaun Singleton (573 yards and 5 TDs), Chas Nimrod (466 yards and 3 TDs), Jeremiah Koger (355 yards and 5 TDs), and Christian Neptune (228 yards and 1 TD). Navy safety Giuseppe Sessi and cornerback Phillip Hamilton will be in charge of keeping Brown and his receiving core in check.

The tailback duo of Nykahi Davenport (397 yards and 5 TDs) and Sam Franklin (374 yards and 4 TDs) have been huge this season for the Bull offense. Linebackers MarcAnthony Parker’s and Luke Pirris’ combined 130 tackles will be crucial in stopping Davenport and Franklin from creating big plays constantly in the run game.

South Florida linebackers Mac Harris (75 tackles, 6 sacks, and 1 interception) and Jhalyn Shuler (69 tackles, 7 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception) are important in shutting down the Navy option offense. After missing the Notre Dame loss due to an upper body injury, it is unclear whether Navy quarterback Blake Horvath will play versus South Florida. Running back Alex Tecza (6 rushing TDs) and wide receiver Brandon Chatman (2 rushing TDs) will be important in helping backup quarterback Braxton Woodson in what would be his second consecutive start in the option game.

Receiver Eli Heidenreich (595 yards and 4 TDs) and tight end Cody Howard (128 yards and 1 TD) will be vital for the Midshipmen passing game. Safety Tavin Ward and cornerback Jarvis Lee have combined for three interceptions and three passes defended this season. They will be in charge of defending against the Midshipmen receivers on Saturday afternoon.

If Horvath is healthy and starts on Saturday afternoon, Navy’s high-scoring offense could return against South Florida. But I believe Jon Sumrall’s Bulls will be too good for the Midshipmen and they will move to 8-2 on the season.

Projected Score: South Florida 28, Navy 20

9.Notre Dame (7-2) @ 22.Pittsburgh (7-2)
12 PM ET, ABC
ESPN’s College GameDay will be in Pittsburgh for a College Football Playoff elimination game between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh. The Fighting Irish dominated Navy last Saturday 49-10 while the Panthers have won five consecutive games and are off a bye week. A loss for either team would keep them out of the College Football Playoff. So, it will be important for both Notre Dame and Pitt to show up with energy on Saturday afternoon.

Notre Dame’s offense has scored 28 or more points seven times in their nine games. They will look to do the same against Pittsburgh with their strong offense led by quarterback CJ Carr. Carr has thrown for 2,275 yards and 19 touchdowns. Wide receivers Jordan Faison, Malachi Fields, Will Pauling, and tight end Eli Raridon have helped Carr out with 11 combined scores. It will be up to Pitt defensive backs Kavir Bains-Marquez (39 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Cruce Brookins (2 passes defended and 1 interception) to stop the Fighting Irish passing game. 

The running backs standing by Carr are two of the nation’s best. Jeremiyah Love (988 yards and 13 TDs) and Jadarian Price (568 yards and 9 TDs) have helped their quarterback set up the pass quite well this season. Linebackers Braylan Lovelace (55 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) and Rasheem Biles (52 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) to defend against the two impressive backs. 

Pitt’s group of three running backs includes Ja’Kyrian Turner, Desmond Reid, and Juelz Goff. The group has combined for over 800 yards and 12 scores this season. Notre Dame linebackers Drayk Bower (55 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 passes defended) and Kynston Viliamu-Asa (44 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) will be crucial in stopping Pitt’s ground game on Saturday afternoon. 

Safeties Adon Shuler’s and Tae Johnson’s seven combined passes defended and five combined interceptions will be important in stopping quarterback Mason Heitschel (1,547 yards, 12 TDs, and 5 INTs) and his receivers Kenny Johnson, Raphael Williams Jr., Cataurus Hicks, and Desmond Reid. The group has combined for over 1,705 yards and 16 TDs and will pose a great threat to Shuler, Johnson, and the rest of Notre Dame’s secondary. 

A loss for either Notre Dame or Pittsburgh means likely not making the College Football Playoff baring a bunch of chaos. The Fighting Irish will go on the road and turn in another terrific offensive performance which will help them beat the Panthers. If Notre Dame does win on Saturday, victories over Syracuse and Stanford would be the only two things separating themselves from another College Football Playoff berth. 

Projected Score: Notre Dame 35, Pittsburgh 24

21.Iowa (6-3) @ 17.USC (7-2)
3:30 PM ET, BTN
Iowa came close to defeating No. 9 Oregon on the road, losing on a game-winning field goal 18-16. The Hawkeyes (4-2) are two games back from first place in the Big Ten so it will be hard for the Hawkeyes to accomplish winning a conference title or a College Football playoff appearance, they can ruin USC’s chances by going to the Coliseum and winning on Saturday afternoon. Unlike the Hawkeyes, the Trojans (5-1) are just a game back of Indiana (7-0) in first place. If Iowa’s defense can make things difficult for USC’s high scoring offense, they will have a shot to win outright this weekend.

In Iowa’s close loss to Oregon, they kept quarterback Dante Moore from throwing a single touchdown and caught an interception. Their leading tackler Karson Sharar got 10 tackles and one tackle for loss. Behind Sharar, defensive back Koen Stringer got 9 tackles. It will be up to them to lead their defense against another high powered offense in USC. Trojan quarterback Jayden Maiva (2,614 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs) has to have his head on a swivel and avoid getting dropped in the backfield against Iowa’s tremendous defense.

Maiava must get the ball to his playmakers including running backs King Miller (636 yards and 5 TDs), Waymond Jordan (576 yards and 5 TDs), receivers Makai Lemon (937 yards and 7 TDs), and Ja’Kobe Lane (520 yards and 4 TDs).

On the other side, Iowa signal-caller Mark Gronowski did get a pass into the end zone to tight end DJ Vonnahme, who caught just two passes for 43 yards last Saturday. USC safeties Bishop Fitzgerald (5 interceptions and 3 passes defended) and Christian Pierce (37 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) will lead their secondary against the Hawkeyes’ passing game.

So, the Iowa offense will have to rely on their defense continuing their dominant season and hoping their running game can continue to have success. Running back Kamari Moulton (87 yards) and quarterback Gronowski (25 yards and 1 TD) will have to find gaps against USC’s defense if they want to keep up on the scoreboard. Linebackers Eric Gentry (61 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 pass defended) and Desman Stephens II (53 tackles) will be instrumental on stopping the engine of Iowa’s offense and giving their unit more opportunities to score.

The battle between USC’s offense and Iowa’s defense will determine this game. If the Hawkeyes can stop the Trojans like they did Oregon’s offense, I will be impressed. USC will score more than Oregon last week and defeat Iowa in a game that will be close for three quarters.

Projected Score: USC 28, Iowa 17

11.Oklahoma (7-2) @ 4.Alabama (8-1)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
The first of two important SEC battles on this mid-November Saturday will be important for determining the fate of postseason football for the SEC. Off of a bye week, Oklahoma will have to hope its pedestrian offense can keep pace with Alabama on the road as they attempt to defeat them for the second consecutive season. The Crimson Tide will attempt to avenge their 2024 defeat to the Sooners where they scored just 3 points. Alabama’s offense looked sloppy in their 20-9 win over a rejuvenated LSU team under an interim coach but more will be required to beat Oklahoma, led by one of the nation’s top defenses.

The Sooners’ offense needs their best performance of the season if they want to be victorious against Alabama. That will require John Mateer (1,949 yards, 8 TDs, and 7 INTs) to be more efficient in the passing game. Against Alabama’s secondary, led by Mateer must get the ball to receivers Isaiah Sategna (692 yards and 5 TDs) and Deion Burks (435 yards and 2 TDs) to score touchdowns. Mateer will have to get his passes by Alabama secondary members Bray Hubbard (44 tackles, 7 passes defended, and 3 interceptions), and Keon Sabb (29 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended).

Their run game has improved over the last few weeks with a combination of Tory Blaylock (401 yards and 4 TDs) and Xavier Robinson (332 yards and 4 TDs) picking up the production. Linebackers Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson 101 combined tackles will be important in preventing the Oklahoma run game from setting up passing opportunities for Mateer.

Oklahoma linebacker Kip Lewis (53 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) defensive lineman R Mason Thomas (23 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 1 pass defended) will be important pieces in stopping Alabama signal-caller Ty Simpson (2,461 yards and 21 TDs) on Saturday afternoon. Thomas remains questionable for the game due to an injury so the Crimson Tide running game, led by Jam Miller who has rushed for 321 yards and two scores.

Defensive backs Kip Lewis (53 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Peyton Bowen (28 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception) will have a tough job of dealing with one of the better receiving cores in the country. That group includes Germie Bernard (605 yards and 6 TDs) and Ryan Williams (528 yards and 4 TDs).

In what should be a lower scoring game, Alabama will defeat Oklahoma and end their College Football Playoff chances. Simpson will make clutch fourth quarter plays and give the Crimson Tide a close win over the Sooners. Alabama avenges their 2024 loss to Oklahoma and marches a step forward to another potential SEC Championship game berth.

Projected Score: Alabama 24, Oklahoma 20

10.Texas (7-2) @ 5.Georgia (8-1)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
Texas looks to defeat Georgia for the first time in their third attempt on Saturday night. The Longhorns failed to beat Georgia last October and in the SEC Championship in 2024. Now they will attempt to beat the Bulldogs playing their best football after dominating Mississippi State 41-21 last weekend. If Texas, on a four game winning streak, can keep its offensive play improving against Georgia’s talented defense, they have a great shot of coming out victorious and continuing their pursuit of a third consecutive College Football Playoff appearance.

The Longhorns must hope their offense gives them the production they have gotten the last couple of Saturdays in this game. They scored 45 points against Mississippi State three weeks ago and 34 against Vanderbilt two weeks ago in victories. In those games, quarterback Arch Manning has thrown for 674 yards, 6 touchdowns, and just one interception. So, Georgia’s secondary including must be good against Manning as he attempts to get the ball to Ryan Wingo (593 yards and 5 TDs) and DeAndre Moore Jr. (379 yards and 1 TD) down the field. Georgia defensive backs KJ Bolden (47 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Joenel Aguero (32 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) will hope to neutralize Manning’s passing attack for the first time in almost a month.

Tailback Quintrevion Wisner’s 338 yards and three touchdowns has created more opportunities for Manning in the passing game. Leading tacklers CJ Allen (75 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 passes defended) and Raylen Wilson (54 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1 pass defended) at linebacker will be important in stopping Wisner from having a big night.

Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (64 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) is one of the top linebackers in the country. He will have the job of limiting the Georgia ground game, headed by Nate Frazier (575 yards and 3 TDs) and Chauncey Bowens (474 yards and 6 TDs).

Quarterback Gunnar Stockton has improved over the season at a great rate, throwing for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns so far this season. Stockton will look to get the ball to receivers Zachariah Branch (542 yards and 3 TDs), Colbie Young (336 yards and 1 TD), and London Humphreys (221 yards and 2 TDs) against one of the better secondaries in the country. That great Texas secondary includes defensive backs Jelani McDonald (55 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions) and Michael Taaffe (51 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 sack) will lead the Texas secondary against Georgia’s dangerous passing game.

If Texas’ offense shows up how it has over their previous two victories, they can play Georgia close on the road at Sanford Stadium. But the Bulldogs just put their best performance of the season together last Saturday against Mississippi State and they will keep it going this weekend. Georgia would eliminate Texas from College Football Playoff conversations with a victory.

Projected Score: Georgia 31, Texas 24

Image Courtesy: NBC 5

College Football Playoff Top 12
1.Ohio State 8-0 (5-0) Big Ten This week: @ Purdue (2-7) (Saturday, 1 PM ET, BTN)
2.Indiana 9-0 (6-0) Big Ten This week: @ Penn State (3-5) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, FOX)
3.Texas A&M 8-0 (5-0) SEC This week: @ 22.Missouri (6-2) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, ABC)
4.Alabama 7-1 (5-0) SEC This week: LSU (5-3) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, ABC)
5.Georgia 7-1 (5-1) SEC This week: @ Mississippi State (5-4) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ESPN)
6.Ole Miss 8-1 (5-1) SEC This week: The Citadel (4-5) (Saturday, 1 PM ET, ESPN+)
7.BYU 8-0 (5-0) Big 12 This week: @ 8.Texas Tech (8-1) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
8.Texas Tech 8-1 (5-1) Big 12 This week: 7.BYU (8-0) (Saturday, 12 PM ET, ABC)
9.Oregon 7-1 (4-1) Big Ten This week: @ 20.Iowa (6-2) (Saturday, 3:30 PM ET, CBS)
10.Notre Dame 6-2 Independents This week: Navy (7-1) (Saturday, 7:30 PM ET, NBC)
11.Texas 7-2 (4-1) SEC This week: Off
12.Oklahoma 7-2 (3-2) SEC This week: Off

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

First Round

Athens
5.Georgia
12.Memphis

Lubbock
8.Texas Tech
9.Oregon

Oxford
6.Ole Miss
11.Virginia

Provo
7.BYU
10.Notre Dame

Quarterfinals

Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens)
4.Alabama
5.Georgia/12.Memphis

Rose Bowl (Pasadena)
1.Ohio State
8.Texas Tech/9.Oregon

Sugar Bowl (New Orleans)
3.Texas A&M
6.Ole Miss/11.Virginia

Cotton Bowl (Arlington)
2.Indiana
7.BYU/10.Notre Dame

Biggest risers and fallers in the AP Top 25 this week (No previous CFP Top 25):

Risers
9.Texas Tech 8-1 (5-1) Big 12 Week 10: #13 (Defeated Kansas State 43-20)
11.Oklahoma 7-2 (3-2) SEC Week 10: #18 (Defeated 14.Tennessee 33-27)
12.Virginia 8-1 (5-0) ACC Week 10: #15 (Defeated California 31-21)
13.Texas 7-2 (4-1) SEC Week 10: #20 (Defeated 9.Vanderbilt 34-31)
17.Utah 7-2 (4-2) Big 12 Week 10: #24 (Defeated 17.Cincinnati 45-14)
22.Memphis 8-1 (4-1) American Week 10: #25 (Defeated Rice 38-14)

Fallers
15.Vanderbilt 7-2 (3-2) SEC Week 10: #9 (Lost to 20.Texas 34-31)
16.Georgia Tech 8-1 (5-1) ACC Week 10: #8 (Lost to NC State 48-36)
18.Miami 6-2 (2-2) ACC Week 10: #10 (Lost to SMU 26-20)
23.Tennessee 6-3 (3-3) SEC Week 10: #14 (Lost to 18.Oklahoma 33-27)
25.Cincinnati 7-2 (5-1) Big 12 Week 10: #17 (Lost to 24.Utah 45-14)

Dropped Out
Houston 7-2 (4-2) Big 12 Week 10: #22 (Lost to West Virginia 45-35)

New
24.Washington 6-2 (3-2) Big Ten Week 10: NR (Off)

Key games this weekend (Rankings based off of CFP Poll)

Friday, November 7
Tulane (6-2) @ Memphis (8-1)
9 PM ET, ESPN
Another huge battle for teams to potentially appear in both the American Conference Championship game and the Group of 5’s spot in the College Football Playoff. Memphis was not ranked in their first edition of the College Football Playoff rankings but the committee has them ranked as the top team in the Group of Five, setting them as the 12-seed in the College Football Playoff projection currently. Tulane is unranked after suffering their second loss of the season to UTSA, 48-26. Both the Tigers’ and Green Wave’s coaches Ryan Silverfield and Jon Sumrall have been listed as potential candidates for the four open SEC jobs but both must have their teams focused for this week’s Friday night battle if they want to come out victorious.

Tulane signal-caller Jake Retzlaff leads the Green Wave in both passing yards (1,622) and rushing yards (513) with 16 combined touchdowns. Retzlaff is joined by a balanced ground attack including Javin Gordon, Arnold Barnes III, and Zuberi Mobley have combined for 913 yards and five scores. Tiger linebackers Sam Brumfield (66 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 1 interception), DeMarco Ward (48 tackles and 2 interceptions), and Everett Roussaw Jr. (45 tackles, 3 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception) will anchor their defense against Tulane’s quality ground game.

If the Green Wave want to score more through the pass, Retzlaff will have to improve on just seven touchdowns through the air by getting the ball to receivers Omari Haynes, Shazz Preston, and Bryce Bohanon. They all only have one touchdown each on the season so getting to the end zone will be important so they can catch passes from their quarterback. Memphis defensive backs Kamari Wilson (59 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and Chris Bracy (54 tackles, 7 passes defended, and 1 interception) will make it challenging for the Green Wave to advance the ball through the air.

Safeties Jack Tchienchou (51 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Bailey Despanie (47 tackles and 3 passes defended) will make it tough for Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis to get the ball to his receivers down the field. Like Retzlaff, Lewis leads his team in both passing (1,869) and rushing (562) yards. While Cortez Braham Jr. leads the pack with 632 yards and seven scores for the Tigers’ receiving game, Jamari Hawkins (450 yards) and Marcello Bussey (218 yards) will have to get in the end zone if they want to help Memphis defeat Tulane.

Running backs Sutton Smith and Greg Desrosier Jr., who have combined for almost 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. The linebacking trio of Dickson Agu (36 tackles and 1 pass defended), Chris Rodgers (35 tackles and 1 sack), and Sam Howard (31 tackles and 1 sack) will do their best job to stop the Tiger ground game and get in the backfield to sack Brendon Lewis.

If this game was in New Orleans, I would pick Tulane to beat Memphis. But it is in Memphis and the Tigers are 4-0 at home with wins over Arkansas and No. 18 South Florida already this season. Silverfield’s team will move to 9-1 before a trip to East Carolina.

Projected Score: Memphis 35, Tulane 28

Saturday, November 8
7.BYU (8-0) @ 8.Texas Tech (8-1)
12 PM ET, ABC
ESPN’s College GameDay will head to a second consecutive Big 12 destination when they arrive to Lubbock for Saturday’s battle between BYU and Texas Tech, the top two teams in the league. The Cougars come off of a bye after their victory over Iowa State two weeks ago while the Red Raiders went to Manhattan and crushed Kansas State 43-20. The winner of Saturday afternoon’s game should feel confident they will be in Arlington at the Big 12 Championship game but must remained focused with three weeks to go.

BYU is powered by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who like the first two quarterbacks I have mentioned on this post, is skilled both passing and rushing with the football. Bachmeier has thrown for almost 1,700 yards, 11 touchdowns, rushed for 408 yards, and scored nine more touchdowns on the ground. Bachmeier’s receivers Chase Roberts (591 yards and 4 TDs) and Parker Kingston (516 yards and 4 TDs) will be huge in determining this game if Bachmeier can get them the ball. Texas Tech secondary members Cole Wisnewski (47 tackles, 5 passes defended, and 1 sack) and Brenden Jordan (32 tackles and 1 interception) will look to shut down the BYU passing game to help them get a victory.

Tailback LJ Martin helps Bachmeier on the ground with 789 yards on the ground and five touchdowns through eight games this season. Red Raider linebackers Jacob Rodriguez (74 tackles, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and 1 sack) and Ben Roberts (54 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 1 interception) will be crucial against keep Martin from having a big game so that BYU’s passing offense does not succeed.

After returning from injury against Kansas State, Texas Tech’s Behren Morton threw for 249 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. His top receivers in the victory were Caleb Douglas, who eight passes for 82 yards and two scores, Terrance Carter Jr., who caught four passes for 81 yards, and Reggie Virgil, who caught five balls for 72 yards. Safeties Faletau Sala and Tanner Wall are tremendous secondary pieces for the Cougars. Sala has 53 tackles, two interceptions, two passes defended, and a sack while has 38 stops and two interceptions this season.

Linebacker Jack Kelly (35 tackles and 5 sacks) and defensive end Logan Lutui (35 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception) will be important in defending against the Texas Tech ground game. Red Raider running back duo Cameron Dickey (746 yards and 10 TDs) and J’Koby Williams (525 yards and 5 TDs) will do their best against Kelly, Lutui, and the rest of the Cougar defensive front on Saturday afternoon.

In what should be college football’s game of the day on Saturday, Texas Tech’s fully healthy offense will give BYU its first loss of the season. The Red Raiders will defeat the Cougars and put themselves in sole possession of first place in the Big 12 with just two games left in the season.

Projected Score: Texas Tech 34, BYU 27

9.Oregon (7-1) @ 20.Iowa (6-2)
3:30 PM ET, CBS
Oregon begins a tough November slate beginning with a trip to Kinnick Stadium to face Iowa. The Ducks’ lone defeat is to Indiana so it will be important for them to beat the Hawkeyes with games against Minnesota, USC, and Washington coming up to finish the season. Iowa has two strong losses as well losing to Iowa State and Indiana by a combined eight points. This Big Ten showdown is full of postseason consequences.

The Ducks’ offense needs a quality game against an always quality Iowa defense. Quarterback Dante Moore has excelled with 19 touchdowns, throwing to a group of five receivers, including Dakorien Moore, Gary Bryant Jr., Malik Benson, Jeremiah McClain, and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. All five have over 200 receiving yards and have combined for 15 scores. Iowa defensive backs Koen Entringer (44 tackles and 2 passes defended) and Zach Lutmer (43 tackles, 4 passes defended, 2 passes defended, and 1 sack) are talented but will have their hands full with Oregon’s pass catching group.

Moore has four running backs next to him that can create big plays. Noah Whittington (433 yards and 4 TDs), Dierre Hill Jr. (357 yards and 3 TDs), Jordan Davison (352 yards and 10 TDs), and running back Jayden Limar (249 yards and 3 TDs) make up one the best rushing groups in the nation. Linebackers Karson Sharar (46 tackles and 1 sack) and Jaden Harrell (33 tackles and 1 sack) will do their part to stop the Duck tailbacks.

Linebackers Bryan Boettcher (63 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Teitum Tuitoi (35 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 pass defended) each are active in keeping the opposing running game from getting going each week. This time, Boettcher and Tuitoi will lead the Oregon defensive front against Iowa’s run game led by Kamari Moulton (435 yards and 2 TDs), Xavier Williams (249 yards and 3 TDs), and Jaziun Patterson (216 yards).

Quarterback Mark Gronowski has thrown for just 946 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions this season. He is more skilled as a runner, going for 313 yards and 11 scores. As a result of Gronowski being more of a rushing quarterback, just four of his targets have caught a touchdown. Defensive backs Aaron Flower (38 tackles, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Dillon Thieneman (37 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 1 interception) will challenge Iowa’s limited passing attack.

The only time Iowa did not score more than 20 points in their last five games was in a loss to No. 2 Indiana on Sept. 27. Now, because the Hawkeyes face their toughest opponent since, the No. 9 Oregon Ducks, they will suffer their third loss of the season. The Ducks win their seventh game of the season by going on the road and defeating Iowa.

Projected Score: Oregon 28, Iowa 24

3.Texas A&M (8-0) @ 22.Missouri (6-2)
3:30 PM ET, ABC
As Texas A&M continues their three-game road trip to Columbia to face Missouri, they must keep the foot on the pedal. The Aggies are known for falling flat in November after success early in the season so a win over the Tigers would be beneficial. But Missouri won’t make it easy, so Texas A&M will have to continue playing successful football.

After being ranked third in this season’s first College Football Playoff rankings, Texas A&M will want to put their foot on the gas against on a Missouri. Quarterback Marcel Reed has been fantastic this season throwing for almost 2,000 yards, 17 touchdowns, rushing for 349 yards, and six more scores. Mario Craver and KC Concepcion are one of the nation’s top receiving duos. Craver has caught 40 passes for 716 yards and four touchdowns and Concepcion has caught 36 balls for 545 yards and seven scores. Missouri safeties Santana Banner (30 tackles and 1 interception) and Jalen Catalon (27 tackles and 1 pass defended) will have to lead their secondary against this tremendous passing game on Saturday afternoon.

The Aggies also have a talented tailback duo in Reuben Owens II (440 yards and 3 TDs) and Le’Veon Moss (389 yards and 6 TDs). Tiger linebackers Josiah Trotter and Khalil Jacobs, who have combined for 79 tackles and 4 sacks, must step up and prevent A&M’s rushing game from setting up Marcel Reed’s passing game.

Texas A&M’s defense must stop Missouri’s back-up signal caller Matt Zollers (213 passing yards and 2 touchdowns) from getting the ball down the field consistently if they want to continue the season undefeated. It starts in the secondary for their defense with safeties Marcus Ratcliffe (44 tackles and 3 passes defended), Dalton Brooks (32 tackles and 1 sack), and cornerback Will Lee (34 tackles and 5 passes defended) against Missouri’s rebuilt receiving core, including Kevin Coleman (558 yards and 1 TD), Marquis Johnson (340 yards and 2 TDs), Joshua Manning (231 yards and 1 TD), Donovan Olugbode (213 yards and 1 TD), and tight end Brett Norfleet (224 yards and 5 TDs)

Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy has been fantastic this season since transferring from ULM, going for 937 yards and 11 touchdowns through eight games. Jamal Roberts (428 yards and 3 touchdowns) has done a terrific job backing Hardy up this season. The Aggies’ defensive front is also talented with linebackers Taurean York (45 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 pass defended), Daymion Sanford (33 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception), and tackle Albert Regis (30 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 2 sacks) will empower their front against Missouri’s tailbacks.

Missouri starting quarterback Beau Pribula’s being out due to a dislocated angle will be too much for them to be able to beat Texas A&M. The Aggies have to many weapons against the Tigers’ up and down secondary for them to pull an upset. A Texas A&M victory would put them at 9-0 and would have them feeling good that they will be in the SEC Championship game for the first time and that they could be a top two team in the College Football Playoff rankings next Tuesday.

Projected Score: Texas A&M 34, Missouri 20

Navy (7-1) @ 10.Notre Dame (6-2)
7:30 PM ET, NBC
Coming off of a loss to North Texas, Navy must travel to South Bend to face a Notre Dame squad playing its best football at the right time. With a tough schedule remaining, the Midshipmen will try to defeat the Fighting Irish and eliminate them from the College Football Playoff. But winning on the road is not easy so Navy will have to play quality complimentary football to defeat Notre Dame.

Navy must bounce back on offense after only scoring 17 points last week. It will be tough against Notre Dame’s strong defense but it will have to be done with their option offense, headed by quarterback Blake Horvath, who has passed for 1,143 yards and seven touchdowns. Horvath also leads the Midshipmen in rushing with 926 yards and 13 touchdowns on the ground. Fighting Irish defensive lineman Boubacar Traore (30 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and 1 FF) will be vital in making Horvath’s night at bad one against his defense.

Horvath’s playmakers include receivers Eli Heidenreich (575 receiving yards, 342 rushing yards and 7 TDs), Brandon Chatman (360 rushing yards, 124 receiving yards, and 2 TDs), and running back Alex Tecza (523 rushing yards and 6 TDs). It will be up to safeties Adon Shuler (44 tackles, 4 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and Tae Johnson (39 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 passes defended) to defend against Navy’s complicated option offense.

First, the Fighting Irish’s group of tailbacks is one of the best in the country. Jeremiyah Love (894 yards) and Jadarian Price (521 yards) have combined for 19 touchdowns through eight games. Defensively, Midshipmen linebackers MarcAnthony Parker (68 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 1 interception), Luke Pirris (59 tackles, 2 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, and 1 FR), and safety Giuseppe Sessi (50 tackles and 1 FR) will attempt to stop the Notre Dame’s impressive offense.

Quarterback CJ Carr (2,057 yards and 16 TDs) has been one of the nation’s top first year starters. Receivers Jordan Faison (518 yards and 2 TDs), Malachi Fields (400 yards and 3 TDs), Will Pauling (332 yards and 5 TDs), and tight end Eli Raridon (406 yards) help power the Notre Dame offense. Their success will be prevalent against Navy’s defense and getting a victory.

Notre Dame’s defense will hold Navy’s offense under 20 points again, and they will continue their run to a potential second consecutive College Football Playoff appearance. The Midshipmen will lose but will still control their own destiny of potentially making the College Football Playoff by winning the American Conference with South Florida, Memphis, and Navy coming up on the schedule.

Projected Score: Notre Dame 38, Navy 17

LSU (5-3) @ 4.Alabama (7-1)
7:30 PM ET, ABC
Almost two weeks after their head coach Brian Kelly was fired, LSU will face rival Alabama on the road in Tuscaloosa. Interim head coach Frank Wilson has had time to prepare his Tigers for the most important game of the season against the Crimson Tide, but this game may be too hard with Alabama’s success the last seven weeks. Alabama, however, cannot look past this game and focus on potential revenge against No. 11 Oklahoma next weekend if they want to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2024.

LSU’s passing game must get to a different level if they want to defeat Alabama on Saturday night. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier must build on his 12 touchdown and five interception season by getting the ball to receivers Aaron Anderson (382 yards), Barion Brown (361 yards and 1 TD), Zavion Thomas (267 yards and 3 TDs), and tight end Trey’Dez Green (264 yards and 4 TDs). Alabama’s defensive back Bray Hubbard (39 tackles, 6 passes defended, and 3 interceptions) is one of the top players in the country and it will be hard to move the ball down the field against him.

To set up the passing game, the Tigers must rely on their tailbacks. The duo of Caden Durham (378 yards) and Harlem Berry (225 yards) have combined for just four touchdowns this season. Each one of them may have to get in the end zone if they want to win against the Crimson Tide. Linebackers Justin Jefferson (47 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 passes defended, and 1 interception) and Deontae Lawson (38 tackles and 3 passes defended) will look to shut it down.

After giving up 49 points to Texas A&M two weeks ago, the LSU must at least look improved against an Alabama offense that has looked incredible since its week one loss to Florida State. It will be up to safeties AJ Haulcy (64 tackles, 3 passes defended, and 2 interceptions) and Tamarcus Cooley (43 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 passes defended) will have the job of defending against Alabama receivers Germie Bernard (526 yards and 6 TDs), Ryan Williams (495 yards and 3 TDs), and Isaiah Horton (272 yards and 5 TDs). Quarterback Ty Simpson (2,184 yards and 20 TDs) has done a phenomenal job of passing them the ball this season.

Linebackers West Weeks and Davhon Keys have combined for 98 tackles and 2 sacks. They will have the job of defending against the Crimson Tide’s Jam Miller (308 yards and 2 TDs) and Kevin Riley (181 yards) in the backfield.

LSU may stay in the game in the first half, but they will not go to Tuscaloosa and beat Alabama on Saturday night. The Crimson Tide will use a strong offensive performance and their defense will hold the Tigers offense down to just a few scores.

Projected Score: Alabama 34, LSU 17