NBC Sports’ Nicole Auerbach quickly linked Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer to the Michigan vacancy, saying the Tide’s second-year man is the “obvious top name” for the Wolverines in their search.

CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello also linked DeBoer to Michigan. He went on to claim that DeBoer could be intrigued by Michigan after not having any interest in the Penn State job.

“His name was surfacing at Penn State. There was no interest there on his part but Michigan could be a job that very much maybe piques his interest as maybe something to listen to,” Marcello said Wednesday on CBS Sports HQ. “Especially if there’s an early-round exit in the College Football Playoff. But I must urge, it’s so very, very early in all this. This job will attract plenty of attention from a big candidate.”

The 51-year-old DeBoer has guided Alabama to a 10-3 record this season and a first-round CFP game at Oklahoma on Dec. 19 (8 p.m. ET, ABC). Alabama is coming off a 28-7 loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game last Saturday.

Prior to Alabama, DeBoer was most recently a head coach at Fresno State (2020-2021) and Washington (2022-2023). He guided the Huskies to the CFP title game in 2023, which was a 34-13 loss to the Jim Harbaugh-led Michigan Wolverines.

DeBoer coached at Eastern Michigan from 2014-16. He was also the offensive coordinator at Indiana in 2019.

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It’s not immediately clear what Houston’s official title will be at LSU. Houston most recently served under Billy Napier as special teams coordinator this season and last year was Florida’s senior special teams analyst.

Additionally, Houston was a senior special teams analyst at Alabama in 2019 under Nick Saban. Houston also served as a special teams assistant for the New England Patriots from 2020-2023.

Houston began his coaching career as a quality control coach for Toledo in 2015, followed by a 3-season stint with Iowa State as an associate for quality control (2016-2017) and special teams coordinator (2018).

During his college career, Houston was selected as an All-America kicker at USC, playing for Pete Carroll and Kiffin.

Kiffin has also kept LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker, while bringing along Charlie Weis Jr. from Ole Miss to serve as LSU’s offensive coordinator.

Despite the turmoil this season — including firing Brian Kelly — LSU still managed a 7-5 record to earn bowl eligibility. LSU will face Houston on Dec. 27 in the Texas Bowl (9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN).

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On Wednesday, Howell was selected as the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

This comes after he was named a finalist for the Lombardi Award and the Chuck Bednarik Award. This season, Howell has tallied an SEC-leading 11.5 sacks along with 14 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Additionally, Howell is No. 2 in the country in pass breakups (6) for defensive ends.

Howell notched a season-high 3 sacks in Texas A&M’s 44-22 victory vs. Utah State on Sept. 6. The most sacks Howell had in an SEC game was 2.5 in the 31-9 win against Mississippi State on Oct. 4.

This is Howell’s second season with Texas A&M after transferring from Bowling Green. It’s been a dramatic increase in play compared to 2024, when Howell amassed four sacks. For his college career, Howell has recorded 124 total tackles, 27 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception.

Also, Texas A&M’s Trey Zuhn III was 1 of 2 winners of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. Texas A&M will host Miami in a CFP first-round matchup on Dec. 20 (noon ET, ABC).

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On Wednesday, the conference announced Pavia as the SEC Offensive Player of the Year.

Pavia’s superb play has helped Vanderbilt achieve its first double-digit victory season ever. The 6-foot senior has been a revelation for Vanderbilt after transferring from New Mexico State.

Pavia has passed for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an 87.7 QBR (No. 4 nationally). The dual-threat Pavia has also rushed for 826 yards and 9 scores this season. Pavia is No. 1 in the SEC in completion percentage (71.2), touchdown passes, and pass efficiency (181.5).

This is a step up from Pavia’s first season with Vanderbilt, which was also solid. In 2024, Pavia passed for 2,293 yards, 20 touchdowns, 4 interceptions, and a 143.5 passer rating, while also rushing for 800 yards and 8 scores.

In Pavia’s last game, a 45-24 victory at Tennessee, he was more successful on the ground with 165 yards and a touchdown.

Additionally, Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea was selected as the SEC Coach of the Year. Vanderbilt will conclude its season against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 (12 p.m. ET/ESPN).

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According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald, assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, and slot wide receivers coach Sawyer Jordan arrived back in Oxford on Monday morning. They join Charlie Weis Jr., who already returned after making the initial trip to Baton Rouge.

“Lane Kiffin made the decision to allow the coaches to return in an effort to help new Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, the staff and players maximize the opportunity ahead in the CFP,” Thamel added.

Ole Miss hosts Tulane on Dec. 20 in a first-round CFP matchup. This is the first CFP game for both teams. It’ll be a rematch as Ole Miss defeated Tulane 45-10 in Week 4 behind 419 yards from scrimmage from quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (307 passing, 112 rushing).

Weis has guided Ole Miss into being ranked No. 11 nationally in points per game (37.3). The Rebels had 4 games this season with at least 40 points and never scored below 24 points.

Ole Miss vs. Tulane is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff and will be broadcast on TNT/HBO Max, and truTV.

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The 8-time Pro Bowler is going to work out for the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday for a spot on their practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

This comes after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the Colts’ loss on Sunday vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. Riley Leonard, who replaced Jones, is reportedly hampered with a strained knee ligament, which is making him week-to-week and leaves his status unknown for this week’s game vs. the Seattle Seahawks.

The highly decorated Rivers is sixth all-time in NFL history in passing yards (63,440), trailing only Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Ben Roethlisberger. Rivers is also sixth in NFL history in touchdown passes (421), trailing just Brady, Brees, Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Favre.

In River’s final NFL season, he amassed 4,169 passing yards and 24 touchdowns with 11 interceptions en route to the Colts having an 11-5 record. Rivers spent the first 16 seasons of his career with the Chargers, first in San Diego (2004-2016) and then in Los Angeles (2017-2019).

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Pavia was selected on Monday as 1 of 4 finalists for the Heisman Trophy along with Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin.

Pavia is the first Heisman Trophy finalist in Vanderbilt history. The ceremony is Saturday night in New York City.

The 6-foot senior has passed for 3,192 yards with 27 touchdowns and the nation’s No. 4 QBR (87.7) along with rushing for 826 yards and a team-high nine scores. Pavia set program records for passing yards, touchdown passes, and total offense.

Pavia helped guide Vanderbilt to its first 10-win season after defeating in-state rival Tennessee 45-24. Afterwards, Pavia expressed supreme confidence in his abilities and gratitude to accomplish the goal.

“Well, a lot of people thought I was a fool (being confident in his team against the Vols),” Pavia said. “But, all it takes is faith, and I feel He gave me a vision. He gave me a platform. It felt good to come in and back it up.”

Pavia and Vanderbilt will wrap up the season against Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 from Tampa. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Golesh made the announcement on Monday for the hires of defensive coordinator/linebackers DJ Durkin, offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joel Gordon, run game coordinator/offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick, defensive assistant Brad Wilson and general manager Andrew Warsaw.

“I’m excited to announce these first five hires as we continue building our staff here at Auburn,” Golesh said. “Our approach has been really simple. We want elite people in every area of our program. Auburn has the resources to go get the best in the country, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Golesh made it a priority to fill out his staff with coaches whom he deems vital for the trajectory of the program. Auburn finished the regular season with a 5-7 mark.

“Everyone who touches our players matters. These are elite men, elite teachers and elite recruiters,” Golesh said. “They will do right by these young men and help us deliver the kind of program the Auburn Family deserves.”

Durkin will return for a third season with Auburn. This season, the Tigers were 30th nationally in total defense. Gordon was Golesh’s offensive coordinator at South Florida from 2023-2025. He aided the Bulls towards ranking second nationally in yards per game this season.

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After former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell held his introductory press conference at Penn State, Herbstreit praised it as the best fit amongst all the hires across the nation.

“Of all the hires during this coaching carousel this is the best FIT!” Herbstreit said. “Congrats to Penn State on this hire.”

The 46-year-old Campbell, who replaces James Franklin, is the 17th head coach in the history of the Nittany Lions. He guided the Cyclones to 2 Big 12 championship games during his tenure. Now, Campbell is steadfast in his quest to restore Penn State.

“From this day forward, we’re going to wake up every single day in this football program and we’re going to build championship habits,” Campbell said. “We’re going to do it 1 day at a time. We’re going to do it from the ground up.”

Campbell intends to hold the Nittany Lions accountable, which he believes will eventually result in a rejuvenated program.

“We’re going to do it in a football program that demands toughness. Mental and physical toughness. Demand discipline at every corner. Demand most importantly togetherness. Selflessness and togetherness,” Campbell said. “One team. One program. Unified to continue the great pride and the great tradition of Penn State football.”

Penn State went 6-6 in the regular season and plays Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27 (12 p.m. ET/ABC).

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The dynamic Reed is a key component for why the No. 7 Aggies qualified for the CFP. Reed passed for 2,932 yards with 25 touchdowns while also rushing for 466 yards and 4 scores during the regular season.

Cristobal is convinced that Reed is well-deserving of being a Heisman Trophy finalist, with the field being announced tonight.

“Nobody’s really stopped him this year. You said it correctly. He’s a true, dual-threat guy. Very strong arm. Very accurate. Tremendous competitor, the part that sticks out the most,” Cristobal said. “A lot of guys have athletic traits like that but what sticks out about him is he just doesn’t allow the previous play to affect him. He just rolls. He’s been 1 of the biggest factors in their surge this season. I think he should be 1 of the Heisman finalists.”

Reed against Miami’s tenacious defense will make for an exciting first-round matchup. Anchored by defensive linemen Ahkeem Mesidor and Rueben Bain Jr., the Hurricanes rank sixth nationally in points per game allowed (13.8).

Miami at Texas A&M is set for a 12 p.m. ET kickoff on Dec. 20 (ABC, ESPN).

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The sophomore has played a pair of seasons for the Tigers, appearing in 24 games. Breaux has amassed 36 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 0.5 sacks during his time at LSU. He had 19 tackles this year and 17 as a freshman.

Breaux, a native of Louisiana, has a 3-star rating in the 247Sports Transfer Rankings. Coming out of high school, he was regarded by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 107 defensive lineman and the No. 29 prospect from Louisiana for the Class of 2024.

Breaux has 2 years of college eligibility remaining. The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2 and it’s a 1-time, 2-week period for decisions to be made.

LSU is in a transition period after firing Brian Kelly during the season and hiring former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin last week.

The Tigers posted a 7-5 record this regular season. LSU will take on Houston in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27. LSU leads the all-time series 2-1 vs. Houston. The last matchup was a 28-13 LSU home win on Sept. 9, 2000. Kickoff is set for 9:15 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.

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ACC commissioner Jim Phillips has since released a response towards Bevacqua’s bold claims. Phillips acknowledges Notre Dame’s frustration but ultimately disagrees that the ACC wasn’t supportive of them being in the CFP.

“The University of Notre Dame is an incredibly valued member of the ACC and there is tremendous respect and appreciation for the entire institution,” Phillips said. “With that said, when it comes to football, we have a responsibility to support and advocate for all 17 of our football-playing member institutions, and I stand behind our conference efforts to do just that leading up to the College Football Playoff Committee selections on Sunday.

Phillips denies any bias by the conference favoring Miami over Notre Dame. Both teams are 10-2 and the Hurricanes defeated the Fighting Irish 27-24 in the regular season opener.

“At no time was it suggested by the ACC that Notre Dame was not a worthy candidate for inclusion in the field,” Phillips said. “We are thrilled for the University of Miami while also understanding and appreciating the significant disappointment of the Notre Dame players, coaches and program.”

This will mark Notre Dame’s first season without a bowl since going 4-8 under Brian Kelly in 2016.

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Vanderbilt‘s historic season will wrap up vs. Iowa in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31 in Tampa. Head coach Clark Lea told the SEC Network that he’s embracing 1 final sendoff for this squad and never considered declining a bowl game.

“No…” Lea said. “We love playing football here.”

It’s a drastically different response than the Fighting Irish, who are making the media rounds denouncing the CFP system after not qualifying despite 10 wins in a row. Meanwhile, Lea believes the Commodores squandered opportunities against Alabama and Texas to enhance their resume.

“That’s no one’s fault except our own. We had our opportunities and we didn’t do enough,” Lea said in a press conference. “We are not victims in this process. Our ownership is in coming up short…”

Vanderbilt finished the regular season on a strong note with 3 straight victories, capped off with a 45-24 win at Tennessee. This is the most victories in the history of the program. Vanderbilt vs. Iowa will kick off at 12 p.m. ET (ESPN) on New Year’s Eve.

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During an interview with On3’s Andy Staples, Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin confirmed the program’s pursuit of Kiffin prior to landing on Sumrall. Stricklin was extremely impressed with the job Kiffin did in transforming Ole Miss into a College Football Playoff squad.

“To see the success that he had at Ole Miss, that’s appealing,” Stricklin said. “Somebody who’s learned and they’ve grown. It wasn’t just we were being pushed to him. We were interested in him as a possibility. I’d say strongly interested.”

Yet, Stricklin still made sure to keep an open mind to other suitors given the nature of the coaching carousel.

“At the same time, we knew we couldn’t just count on that. So we were doing our due diligence on a number of candidates,” Stricklin said. “We ended up talking to nearly a dozen when it was all said and done.”

Stricklin believes it was definitely for the best to not become too fixated on merely Kiffin.

“It was obvious where that was shaping up. There was a flurry of initial engagement, I would say. Really positive conversations. Then the communication became a little more erratic,” Stricklin said. “The timing of when that began to occur, just reading the tea leaves gave me the impression that it’s a good thing we talked to other people and we’re going to have to look at some other candidates.”

Florida fired Billy Napier during the season and finished with a 4-8 mark. Sumrall is finishing out the season with Tulane, who will take on Ole Miss in a CFP first-round matchup on Dec. 20 (3:30 p.m. ET/TNT/truTV)

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UAB is reportedly hiring the 40-year-old Alex Mortensen as the program’s head coach, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Alex Mortensen is the son of former ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen. Alex Mortensen served as UAB’s interim head coach this season after Trent Dilfer was released after a 2-4 start.

Mortensen helped lead UAB to one of the biggest upsets of the season when the Blazers upset Memphis on Oct. 18.

His father, Chris Mortensen, died in 2024 after a battle with cancer. He worked for ESPN as an NFL insider from 1991 through 2023.

UAB went 2-4 in Alex Mortensen’s 6 games as interim head coach. The Blazers are 11-25 since transitioning from Conference USA to the American Conference. UAB has yet to reach a bowl game in that span.

Mortensen has served as UAB’s offensive coordinator since 2023. UAB’s offense peaked in 2023 under Mortensen when the Blazers ranked 3rd in the AAC in yards per play.

Prior to UAB, Alex Mortensen worked for Nick Saban at Alabama from 2014-2022 in a variety of positions.

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The Wildcats reached the decision after a vote by the players, per Football Scoop’s John Brice. This comes after Kansas State coach Chris Klieman recently announced his retirement.

The 58-year-old Klieman is being supplanted by ex-Kansas State quarterback and current Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein. Kansas State has a 6-6 record this season. Klieman went 54-34 in his tenure at Kansas State, including winning the Big 12 Championship in 2022.

“This decision was not taken lightly and was the culmination of many factors, including my own personal health,” Klieman said of his retirement. “I absolutely love coaching the game of football and developing players into young men, but now is the time for me to step away and spend more time with Rhonda and our three kids.”

Klieman’s final game for Kansas State was a 24-14 victory vs. visiting Colorado in the regular season finale. Prior to Kansas State, Klieman was the head coach of North Dakota State, which he guided to 4 FCS national titles in 5 seasons.

In Klieman’s time with Kansas State, he tallied a 3-2 mark in bowl games. The Wildcats ended the season ranked in 2022 and 2023.

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Tulane is looking for another head coach after Jon Sumrall accepted the position to replace Billy Napier at Florida. The Green Wave reportedly interviewed Baker for the opening on Monday. This comes as new LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is pushing to keep 43-year-old Baker on his staff.

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Tulane is currently ranked No. 20 in the College Football Playoff rankings with a 10-2 record. The Green Wave will take on No. 24 North Texas in the American title game on Friday (8 p.m. ET/ABC).

LSU’s defense this season is allowing 18.3 points under Baker, which ranks 15th nationally. This comes despite LSU getting rid of head coach Brian Kelly mid-season.

Baker was previously the defensive coordinator at Missouri, where he helped the Tigers to an 11-win season in 2023.

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The 38-year-old Sloan was LSU’s offensive coordinator in 2024-2025. Sloan began at LSU as a quarterbacks coach from 2022-2023. Before that, Sloan served in a variety of assistant roles at Louisiana Tech from 2013-2021.

Kentucky’s last offensive coordinator was Bush Hamdan, who served in the role from 2024-2025. Kentucky averaged 23.0 points this season, which ranked 102nd nationally.

Sloan guided an LSU unit ranked second nationally in 2024. However, this season he faced the challenge of many key injuries and the firing of head coach Brian Kelly. This season, LSU regressed to 332.7 yards of total offense per game.

Sloan is the first hire for the 36-year-old Stein, who is beginning his first head coaching job. Stein is a Kentucky native who played quarterback at Louisville from 2008-2012.

Kentucky went 5-7 this season, capped off with road losses at Vanderbilt and in-state rival Louisville.

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It shapes up as a return to the Sun Belt Conference for the 46-year-old Napier, who excelled at Louisiana with a 40-12 mark from 2018-2021. Napier won back-to-back Sun Belt titles in 2020-2021, along with 4 division titles from 2018-2021.

Napier wasn’t able to replicate that success in Gainesville, as Florida floundered to a 12-16 mark in his tenure.

Napier would succeed Bob Chesney, who is reportedly taking the head coaching role at UCLA after 2 strong seasons with the Dukes. James Madison is 11-1 this season and will face Troy on Friday in the Sun Belt title game, which is set for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN). The Dukes are No. 25 in the final College Football Playoff rankings prior to Selection Sunday, giving them a viable shot at cracking the bracket.

Napier had just 1 bowl victory while at Florida, which came vs. the American’s Tulane in the 2024 Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators never won more than 8 games under Napier.

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White was the Wildcats’ defensive coordinator the last 7 seasons. With White at the helm, Kentucky has amassed 14 NFL Draft picks, with 6 selections in the top 2 rounds.

Here’s the official announcement from Florida:

“Extremely thankful to Coach Sumrall for this exciting opportunity” White said. “I’m ready to hit the ground running on helping construct a defense that will make Gator Nation proud. Coach has already stated the vision – be the most feared defense in college football.”

This season, Florida’s defense allowed 24.0 points per game, which ranks 64th nationally. In order to improve on this 4-8 mark, defense will be key.

White is placing an emphasis on player development and establishing strong habits.

“Now comes the hard work necessary to make that vision a reality,” White said. “And while scheme has its importance, the most critical focus we’ll have as a defensive staff will be to develop the highly-talented playmakers we recruit and demand that they play with a pace and violence second to none.”

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ESPN is reporting that Florida State attempted to hire Kiffin before deciding to stick with the embattled Mike Norvell. This comes after previous reports that Florida made an aggressive push that Kiffin ultimately turned down. Here’s an excerpt of ESPN’s report from Mark Schlabach:

At the same time, Florida State athletic director Michael Alford also was wooing Kiffin behind the scenes, sources familiar with the search told ESPN. Kiffin and Alford had worked together at USC — Alford as the Trojans’ associate AD from 2000 to 2003 and Kiffin as Pete Carroll’s tight ends/wide receivers coach from 2001 to 2003. But Florida State hadn’t fired embattled coach Mike Norvell, whose program had slipped dramatically after going 13-1 and winning an ACC title in 2023. The Seminoles cratered last season, going 2-10, followed by a 5-7 mark this year.

Per ESPN’s report, Florida State athletic director Michael Alford reportedly pursued Kiffin privately all the way until the middle of November when it was clear he wasn’t coming, which led to the announcement Norvell would return.

Norvell would’ve been due $54 million if Florida State fired him without cause, along with an additional $18 million for his assistants, according to ESPN.

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The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Carter is regarded by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 23 EDGE and the No. 22 prospect from Georgia. Carter is also considered the 203rd best player in the nation.

“Go Vols. I’m home,” Carter told On3.

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Carter took an official visit to Tennessee on Nov. 15. He has been extremely productive on defense as a pass rusher. Carter amassed 83 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks during his senior season. For his high school career, he has tallied 223 tackles, 51 tackles for loss, and 44 sacks.

Carter initially committed to Texas A&M in Oct. 2024 before backing out of his pledge on Nov. 1.

Tennessee has had an excellent Signing Day. The Vols’ class is ranked fifth nationally according to 247Sports. Tennessee has a pair of 5-star prospects as well as 15 4-star players for its class. Only Alabama, ranked at No. 4 in the country by 247Sports, is above Tennessee in the SEC.

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The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Kaawa is regarded by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 31 quarterback. Meanwhile, 4-star signee Jett Thomalla is the No. 1 prospect from Nebraska and the nation’s No. 7 quarterback.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer explained the strategy behind signing this pair of quarterbacks. It’s more about quality than the quantity, as DeBoer describes it.

“You just don’t know what the future is. You always want to have five. … And we found the right guys,” DeBoer told reporters on Wednesday. “Between Jett and Tayden, I just love what they bring from an arm talent, winning mentality. Just go-getters.”

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The signing of Kaawa was Alabama’s 14th of this class, which is currently ranked as the best in the SEC according to 247Sports.

Alabama’s current quarterback, Ty Simpson, has passed for 3,056 yards, with 25 touchdowns and 4 interceptions along with a 151.0 passer rating. Simpson has 1 year of eligibility remaining and he’s also projected as a potential draft pick.

Alabama will face Georgia on Saturday in the SEC Championship Game from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

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During an appearance on ESPN’s Get Up, Paul Finebaum ripped Penn State for its handling of the coaching search as several other programs have filled their respective vacancies.

“It’s a disaster,” Finebaum said. “How you can go as long as they have gone without hiring a coach? I mean, we’ve been here every day. Ten, 15, 20 schools have replaced coaches.”

Finebaum believes Penn State should’ve been able to attract a top candidate because of its financial resources and roster talent.

“What is wrong with Penn State and Heather said something interesting. They have all the money in the world,” Finebaum said. “They had the best class in the country coming into the season, and James Franklin still found a way to screw it up.”

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This situation has Finebaum reassessing Penn State’s stature in the college football world.

“I think this program is a shell of its former self,” Finebaum said. “I don’t care how much money they have, but when you’re now heading into the first weekend in December without a coach, it’s pretty embarrassing.”

On the field, the Nittany Lions (6-6) persevered from the firing of Franklin and a 6-game losing streak to reach bowl eligibility with 3 straight wins to close the regular season.

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The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Wells is regarded by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 31 defensive lineman and the No. 12 prospect from Mississippi. Wells initially committed to Texas in June.

During his senior season, Wells tallied 36 tackles, 8 TFL and 2 sacks. Wells was selected to the Clarion-Ledger’s Dandy Dozen.

Corey described what made him interested in making the transition from Texas to Auburn. He emphasized that he felt plenty of support from everyone he encountered on campus.

“The people, the coaches,” Corey said via 247Sports. “Everybody here is just so welcoming. Everybody here just loves you because of who you are.”

Auburn now has 17 commits in the class of 2026, with 11 having already signed with the program. It’s a solid start for new head coach Alex Golesh and his staff as they look to build out their first recruiting class on The Plains.

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The 3-star prospect selected Georgia over other finalists Vanderbilt and Miami.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Stewart is regarded by the 247Sports Composite as the nation’s No. 39 safety and the No. 49 prospect from Georgia. Stewart previously explained what attracted him to the Bulldogs. He’s confident that his time at Georgia will pave the way for a career in the NFL.

“They produce DBs and they have a great DB coach (Travaris Robinson) that puts people in the league every single year,” Stewart said via Dawg Nation. “So I definitely want to be a part of that right now.”

During his senior season, the 2-way star had 49 receptions for 616 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 65 tackles, four tackles for losses, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. 

Stewart is expected to play safety or nickel in college.

Georgia is now has the No. 6 class in the country for 2026 according to 247Sports Composite.

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LSU’s new head coach showed extreme reverence for the program in his first time addressing the local media. Kiffin is thrilled to lead he Tigers after tussling with them throughout the years.

“I’m very honored to be the head coach of LSU. I can sum it up by saying this. This place is different,” Kiffin said. “Having watched this place for a long time. Having been on the other sidelines in this stadium. This place is different and that’s why we’re here. We have a lot of work to do but I’m very grateful for the opportunity to lead 1 of the elite programs in all of sports.”

Kiffin believes LSU is in a class of its own when considering a variety of factors.

“Someone very close to me reminded me this week in this decision that LSU is the best job in football,” Kiffin said. “When you take the history, tradition, passion and the great players in the state of Louisiana, no 1 can argue that when you’re in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night there is nothing like it.”

Kiffin made the difficult decision to walk away from an Ole Miss squad set to reach its first College Football Playoff. The prospect of restoring LSU back to glory is a risk he deemed worthy.

“This place is built for championships with championship expectations. We understand that,” Kiffin said. “But as an elite competitor, that’s exactly what you want and that’s why we’re here.”

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During his opening press conference, the former Tulane head coach revealed that he’s been in contact with Kiffin, whom he claims endorsed him for the Florida job.

“Going through the process of making decisions on jobs this time of year,” Sumrall said. “Maybe not ideal in coaching in the season. There’s very few people that you can trust to maybe have that conversation with them about what it’s like to go through this because it’s unique. And I do want to be very direct on one thing… Lane Kiffin and I have been going through the same thing and we’ve talked a lot. We were both in agreement that I was the right man for this job. So, he co-signed on that.”

Sumrall flashing his personality as a first impression in Gainesville wasn’t meant as a slight to Kiffin.

“Lane is a dear friend,” Sumrall said. “And I have to poke a little fun at him.”

Sumrall has guided Tulane to a 10-2 record this season and a spot in the American Championship Game vs. North Texas. That puts the Green Wave in an ideal position to claim the Group of Five’s automatic bid for the College Football Playoff.

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That remains to be seen but ESPN is already taking a shot at grading it. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg is giving Kiffin to LSU an A-.

The 50-year-old Kiffin spent 6 seasons at Ole Miss and is walking away after guiding the program to its winningest season ever (11-1). Meanwhile, LSU (7-5) has managed to qualify for bowl eligibility despite firing Brian Kelly this season.

Here’s Rittenberg’s analysis on the Kiffin hire in Baton Rouge:

The fixation around Kiffin the past few weeks would normally be attached to a multi-time national championship winner, or at least a coach who has won a Power 4 conference title. Kiffin did tremendous work at Ole Miss but still needs to show he can win the biggest games consistently. LSU is a national championship-or-bust type of program, and Kiffin will be judged at the very highest level, which he craves. He brings the right ingredients to get it done in Baton Rouge, especially his work with quarterbacks

Kiffin is now the first person to be a head coach at 3 SEC programs. His time at LSU will definitely provide the brightest spotlight.

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Head coach Clark Lea recently went on the SEC Network to make a passionate plea for the playoff. Vanderbilt’s lone losses are against ranked opponents Alabama and Texas. Lea implies that the committee is acting unfairly against Vanderbilt, which doesn’t hold the historical prestige of other illustrious SEC programs.

“I don’t know a world that exists where this team doesn’t belong in that field. I’m learning right now about all the flaws and how we determine who’s in and who’s out. I’m very interested against fighting any perception,” Lea said. “I think there’s a bias against Vanderbilt. I think we have been ignored. Early in the season we were not given a chance.”

This season Vanderbilt has winning streaks of 5, 3, and 2, capped off with a convincing 45-24 victory at ranked Tennessee. Lea believes that the Commodores are more than worthy of making the field.

“It took us winning our way into the conversation,” Lea said. “All we’ve done is line them up and knock them down…We deserve a chance to win a national championship.”

Currently, ESPN is projecting Vanderbilt to not make the CFP. Mark Schlabach has Vanderbilt playing Miami in the Gator Bowl. Kyle Bonagura is pitting Vanderbilt vs. Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl.

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However, getting there in time ended up like a scene from The Dukes of Hazzard. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Smith hilariously recalls the adventurous navigation necessary to locate Kiffin.

“Lane is basically giving me the play-by-play on where he is. I’m wheeling this van. We take a left. When we take a left off this highway, there’s all these firetrucks that have blocked off the road. There’s firemen blocking the road,” Smith said. “I said to hell with it…There’s a field that we drive around the barricade through all this farm equipment. The van is bottoming out…Then I mat this van all the way on top of the hill to the tarmac area and there he stood. Laughing his [expletive] off.”

Despite the public outcry against Lane Kiffin‘s choice and timing, Smith is appreciative of the head coach’s transparency in such a sensitive moment.

“It is the greatest era in the history of the program and he’s chosen to go to the enemy,” Smith said. “I asked him every question that I felt was pertinent in that moment. All the way down to what does LSU offer you that Ole Miss doesn’t? I give him a lot of credit because he said: ‘I don’t know that yet. It may not be the right decision yet. We’ll find out.'”

During Kiffin’s six seasons at Ole Miss, he amassed a 55-19 record and the program is headed to its first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

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ESPN’s FPI has weighed in on the win probabilities for the Aggies and Gamecocks for the Week 12 matchup. Texas A&M is given an 85.3 percent chance of winning, with South Carolina at a meager 14.7 percent.

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It’s not surprising given Texas A&M’s torrid run and South Carolina’s struggles. The Aggies are coming off a 38-17 victory at then-No. 22 Missouri on Saturday.

Texas A&M has an excellent offense, ranking 12th in points per game (37.8) and 19th in rushing yards (204.9) nationally. Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed has passed for 2,193 yards with 19 touchdowns while also rushing for 378 yards and 6 scores.

Meanwhile, South Carolina is coming off a bye week and is 1-6 in SEC play. The Gamecocks dropped their last game 30-14 at Ole Miss on Nov. 1. South Carolina recently hired offensive coordinator Mike Shula, as the team currently ranks 122nd in points per game (19.7), 128th in rushing yards (100.8), and 105th in passing yards (193.3).

South Carolina at Texas A&M is set for a noon ET kickoff (ESPN).

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During Wednesday’s edition of First Take, Finebaum refuted Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s claim that there’s too many SEC teams in the current top 12 rankings by making an example out of South Florida.

The 7-2 Bulls, out of the American conference, are ranked No. 24 as they vie for the prized automatic bid. South Florida began the season with ranked victories vs. Boise State and Florida.

Yet Finebaum is peeved by what he deems to be inferior teams getting an undeserved golden ticket.

“What about putting the best in? I don’t see Major League, I don’t see the NFL going ‘Ah, the Chiefs. They’ve been there too many times. Let’s put the Patriots in. Doggie, this is supposed to be about excellence, not about being fair,” Finebaum said. “This is not the little leagues where we give a second, third, fourth, and fifth place trophy. This should be the best.”

Finebaum compares the Group of Five to the minor leagues in professional baseball.

“It’s already a convoluted system because we let the group of whatever in, the Group of Five with South Florida. That division really has no business playing,” Finebaum said. “That’s like letting the Triple-A best team into the Major League playoffs.”

South Florida will aim to continue building its case with a key road game at unranked Navy, who is atop the American standings. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET (ESPN2) on Saturday.

Will USF make the CFP? Here’s how things are trending at prediction market Kalshi, where you can get in on the wager action today!

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FOX Sports’ Urban Meyer made his prediction for the spread on the massive matchup during the most recent edition of The Triple Option podcast. Meyer is confident that Texas will cover the 6.5 point spread in what he expects to be a tight contest.

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“Texas had a bye week and just came off their best game…I’m going to warn (Texas coach Steve Sarkisian) that I’m going to quit picking them. I’ve been picking them for 2 years. I like him as coach. I like their players. I’m not going to say who’s going to win. They’ll beat the spread,” Meyer said. “To me this is a flat game. The way Texas is playing right now…I think Texas will have a chance to win it but I don’t think Georgia will win by 6.5.”

Georgia is coming off a 41-21 victory at Mississippi State. Texas’ last game was a 34-31 home win vs. then-No. 9 Vanderbilt.

This will be a rematch of last season’s SEC Championship Game, which Georgia won 22-19. Texas at Georgia is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff (ABC) on Saturday.

What are the prediction markets saying about Texas at Georgia? Check out the latest from Kalshi and wager today!

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The 3-time NBA All-Star is in his first season with the Clippers after spending 2 injury-marred years with the Phoenix Suns. Beal’s agent Mark Bartelstein confirmed the news to Charania.

“We met with numerous doctors and specialists around the country in collaboration with the entire Clippers medical staff over the last few days, and came to the decision unanimously that the surgery will allow Brad to have a full and complete recovery,” Bartelstein said.

Beal spent the first 11 seasons of his NBA career with the Washington Wizards. The Wizards drafted Beal with the No. 3 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Injuries have plagued Beal since becoming a pro, as he’s only played at least 75 games during 3 seasons, a stretch from 2016-2019. Beal was selected to the All-NBA Third Team in 2021 when he averaged a career-high 31.3 points in 60 games.

During his lone season at Florida, Beal was a First-team All-SEC selection. Coming out of high school in Missouri, Beal was the Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2011.

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South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer recently made the decision to fire offensive coordinator Mike Shula. The interim offensive coordinator is now Mike Furrey, who has been South Carolina’s wide receivers coach since last season.

This means that Beamer is in the market for a fourth offensive coordinator since taking over the program in 2021. However, during his Tuesday press conference, Beamer pushed back on the criticism of his previous offensive coordinators, which also included Marcus Satterfield and Dowell Loggains.

“I push back a little bit on the narrative that we haven’t necessarily gotten these, I haven’t gotten these coordinator hires right,” Beamer said, per The State. “Have we been efficient enough on offense and consistent enough on offense? Absolutely not. But let’s also not act like we brought in three coordinators, and we’ve just fired all of them, and we just threw up our hands.”

All 3 past offensive coordinators had pro backgrounds. Beamer notes that while he’d love to hire a coach with college experience, he isn’t opposed to another NFL candidate.

“If we hire from outside, someone that’s been a college coordinator, I think that would be awesome,” Beamer said. “But if the best person is from the NFL and can fit what we want to do here offensively, then so be it.”

South Carolina will look to get going offensively this Saturday with a tough test at No. 3 Texas A&M (noon ET/ESPN).

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During a Tuesday appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Trump was effusive in his praise for the 74-year-old Saban, whom he fostered a relationship with thanks to multiple championship trips to the White House.

“I got to know him because he brought him team to the White House. He won a lot and I got to know him. He’s a fantastic guy. He’s somebody that really should get involved in college sports in terms of making sure that it all works out,” Trump said. “What’s happening is it looks like it’s not working out too well for colleges, for most of the people. A lot of the lesser sports are being totally terminated. It’s a shame.”

Saban is currently an analyst for ESPN’s College GameDay and also owns a line of car dealerships. Yet, Trump is fully confident that Saban could stabilize the system, including for the non-revenue college sports, if he ever had the interest in getting involved.

“It was almost like a training ground for the Olympics. A lot of those training grounds are being lost. Nick knows this stuff better than anybody. He’s really active in it,” Trump said. “I think they ought to let Nick Saban take a good strong look at it. From my standpoint, I’d listen to what he has to say.”

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The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Stockton, a native of Tiger, GA, has amassed 2,040 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions with the nation’s No. 3 QBR this season (89.4).

Stockton has also rushed for 321 yards and 7 touchdowns this season as well. In Georgia‘s win vs. Mississippi State, Stockton completed 18 of his 29 passes for 264 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions, while also rushing for 31 yards.

This is Stockton’s third season with Georgia. For his college career, Stockton has amassed 2,628 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air in addition to rushing for 371 yards. Coming out of high school, Stockton was regarded by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 7 quarterback and the No. 11 prospect from Georgia.

Next up for Stockton and Georgia is a massive matchup vs. visiting No. 11 Texas on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ABC. Georgia has won the last 2 meetings against Texas. The Bulldogs beat the Longhorns 22-19 in the 2024 SEC Championship Game.

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SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic believes the Crimson Tide should approach their running attack with the devotion of solid marriage. During Tuesday’s edition of McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning, he cited a clip from Nick Freitas’ podcast as an example. After playing the original clip, Cubelic then had his producer cue up a remixed version in which phrases were replaced with “running”.

“It needs dedication. It needs timing. It needs commitment. Even if a game or a quarter or a series it goes away from you, you know what? It’s always still going to be there,” Cubelic said. “You can always turn around and hand that ball off again. You can always toss that ball to the running back.”

Alabama is 120th nationally with 111.9 rushing yards per game. Cubelic added that traditional methods of running the ball are tried and true if consistently incorporated, so he advises the Crimson Tide to stay patient.

“Now we don’t recommend jet sweeps and you judge the run game on that. However, if you were to run a duo or a counter or a power or an inside zone or a toss sweep, it never truly goes away. But as Nick said, you’ve got to be committed to it first.”

Alabama vs. Oklahoma is set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Saturday (ABC).

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The Alabama native grew up a huge fan of the 7-time Pro Bowler. Williams shared with the media on Tuesday the feedback Jones gave him before the win against the Tigers.

“Just talking a couple basic things,” Williams said. “Just to help out in routes and when the ball is in the air, nothing too serious.”

Williams finished with 3 receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown. Overall this season, Williams has recorded 36 receptions for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Williams explained what aspects of the now-retired Jones’s game that he aims to emulate.

“Definitely his physicality and his mentality on each individual play,” Williams said. “He plays like its his last play every play. You could just definitely tell, like, he loves football and just continuing to have the attitude of gratitude day-in and day-out, and you just see it. Your film, you can’t wipe that away, so when you turn on his tape, you can’t miss it.”

Next up for Williams and No. 4 Alabama is a massive home game vs. No. 15 Oklahoma on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET/ABC).

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Former Heisman Trophy quarterback Cam Newton shared his thoughts about Auburn during a recent episode of his 4thand1 podcast, which AL.com transcribed. Newton, who helped guide Auburn to its last national championship in 2010, is firm in his assessment of the necessary qualifications for the next Tigers coach.

“Number one, find you somebody who can recruit,” Newton said. “You can’t go to the Kentucky Derby with donkeys. Need a stallion… Number two, I’m gonna tell you who else you need. You need to find somebody that other coaches respect, and he can assemble his coaching staff accordingly.”

The 36-year-old former NFL MVP also added that whoever is hired has to have a full grasp of the pressure of coaching in the SEC.

“Last but not least, you need to hire a coach that understands the SEC, man. You gotta win yesterday, coach. We ain’t got time for you to develop a way of going about it. You ain’t got time to introduce your culture. You ain’t got time for a fan base that’s been fiending for some type of something, for you to say, ‘It’s gonna take time.’”

D.J. Durkin is currently Auburn’s interim head coach. Auburn lost its first game under Durkin 45-38 at then-No. 16 Vanderbilt on Saturday in an inspired effort. Next up for Auburn after a bye week is a home matchup vs. Mercer on Nov. 22 (2 p.m. ET/SEC Network+).

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During his Monday press conference, Kiffin was asked about what it’s like to watch Knox play. Kiffin explained that he’s extremely proud but also tries to keep a low profile.

“I don’t much. I stay out of it. I think Coach [Christopher] Cutcliffe does a great job with the team, with the offense, with the quarterbacks specifically. I just was never going to be that parent because I’ve dealt with a lot of parents like that and especially at that position,” Kiffin said. “I try to be the refreshing quarterback parent.”

The 6-2 Knox Kiffin is in the Class of 2028 and visited Alabama over the weekend. Kiffin added that it’s even more special when his daughter is in the crowd with him.

“I’m just excited that he gets the opportunity to play. They’ve got such a cool team and they have all these comebacks. It was just awesome to watch,” Kiffin said. “The whole thing is really cool watching him and then Landry my daughter is next to me watching him.”

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During his Monday press conference, Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin made a public plea for Texas A&M to be the No. 1 team in the nation.

“Texas A&M being No. 3, what more do you want them to do to be 1?…” Kiffin said. “They went up to Notre Dame and won…What good did that do if that’s not rewarded? They have the highest metrics of everybody and not No. 1.”

Texas A&M is particularly dangerous offensively. The Aggies are 12th in points per game (37.8) and 19th nationally in rushing yards (204.9).

Texas A&M is coming off an impressive 38-17 victory at No. 22 Missouri. The Aggies have won 3 games against ranked opponents this season. Texas A&M also defeated then-No. 8 Notre Dame 41-40 and then-No. 20 LSU 49-25 each on the road. Texas A&M will get another ranked matchup in the regular season finale at No. 11 Texas on Nov. 28.

Next up for Texas A&M is a home contest vs. South Carolina on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.

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Class of 2026 ATH Legend Bey is flipping his commitment from the Volunteers to the Buckeyes, according to On3. The 6-foot, 185-pound Bey was previously committed to Tennessee dating back to June.

The Texas native is considered by the 247Sports Composite as the No. 24 ATH in the nation and the No. 47 in-state prospect. Bey also is a track athlete and that speed makes him extremely difficult to defend. Playing quarterback in high school is also regarded as a positive as Bey moves over to a new position when he gets to college.

Dynamic high school quarterback who projects as a playmaking skill weapon…Plays with sudden downhill acceleration and corresponding top-end speed. Also displays short-area redirecting twitch to evade in tight quarters and set up explosive cuts,” 247Sports Scouting Analyst Gabe Brooks wrote. “Years spent as a high school QB should aid awareness/football IQ when transitioning to a different skill position. May need time to acclimate to that new full-time spot, but could provide immediate return game value.

Currently, for the Class of 2026 team rankings, Ohio State is now No. 7 while Tennessee is slotted at No. 8 nationally.

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Klatt has the utmost respect for defending national champion Ohio State and believes a repeat is highly possible.

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“They might not have the best resume but they have the best team in the country…” Klatt said. “The defense is the best unit in all of college football.”

Klatt is impressed with Indiana but worries about their health as the regular season winds down.

“They don’t have the depth necessary to survive a lot of injuries. So they need to get healthy and they need to stay healthy.”

Klatt sees a lot of potential in Texas A&M but cautions against its run defense.

“A&M is a great football team. My only concern is their run defense…” Klatt said. “Somebody’s going to be able to run the football on them down the stretch and that’s going to take them out of their game.”

Klatt credits Georgia for finally putting together a complete game effort in the win vs. Mississippi State.

“Georgia finally goes from the team that’s just toying with everybody to putting the hammer down in the SEC…” Klatt said. “That’s not a team I would love to see in the playoff.”

The next edition of the CFP selection committee rankings will be unveiled on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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Offensive Player of the Week is Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia. Defensive Players of the Week are Kentucky’s Daveren Rayner and Texas A&M’s Daymion Sanford. The Special Teams Player of the Week is Georgia’s Peyton Woodring. The Offensive Line Players of the Week are Vanderbilt’s Jordan White and Alabama’s Parker Brailsford. The Defensive Line Player of the Week is Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell. The Freshman of the Week is Kentucky’s Cutter Boley.

Pavia finished with a career-best 489 total yards of offense in Vanderbilt’s victory vs. Auburn. His 377 passing yards were the most in his college career and he also threw 3 touchdowns.

Rayner had an interception, 5 tackles and a sack in Kentucky’s win against Florida. Sanford had 5 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble in Texas A&M’s victory vs Missouri.

Woodring made a 49-yard field goal and a 46-yard field goal in Georgia’s win vs. Mississippi State.

White had the top PFF grade for an offensive lineman over the weekend. Brailsford had six knockdown blocks and helped the Crimson Tide only give up 1 sack in the win against LSU.

Howell had 5 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Boley passed for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns.

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The Eagles lost to the host Grizzlies 29-24 on a fumbled spike attempt by quarterback Jake Schakel in the red zone as time expired. The stunning late-game miscue dropped Eastern Washington to 4-6 overall and 3-3 in the Big Sky.

Meanwhile, Montana remains undefeated at 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big Sky. Montana is battling with Montana State, who is also undefeated in conference play, for the top spot in the Big Sky.

It was a wildly up-and-down performance from the freshman quarterback, who completed 43 of his 63 passes for 451 yards and 2 touchdowns but also had 2 interceptions and that game-deciding mistake on the final play.

The Washington native came out of high school as the No. 24 in-state prospect and No. 94 quarterback in the nation according to the 247Sports Composite. Schakel held offers from FBS programs such as Colorado State, California, Florida Atlantic, and Nevada.

Eastern Washington will attempt to recover from this horrific loss as it takes on visiting Northern Colorado next weekend. Meanwhile, Montana heads to Portland State on Saturday to close out its road slate.

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Miami blew a second half lead at Syracuse in last year’s regular season finale to be eliminated from the ACC Championship Game and the long-time rivals definitely have bad blood. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Syracuse head coach Fran Brown had a heated exchange during the game on Saturday.

It got to the point where the officials nearly had to intercede to prevent any further escalation.

Syracuse’s defense played well in the first half, but Miami took a 14-0 lead into the halftime break.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck connected with Malachi Toney on a 14-yard score with 2:13 left in the first half. Beck also tossed a 61-yard score to Keelan Marion with 9:57 to go in the third quarter. Keionte Scott had a 38-yard pick-6 off a pass from Syracuse quarterback Rickie Collins with 1:50 remaining in the second quarter.

The pressure is on the 55-year-old Cristobal as Miami has never reached the College Football Playoff. Cristobal has not guided Miami to a bowl victory since taking over 2022.

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The 47-year-old Durkin is also Auburn’s defensive coordinator and that unit is looking solid against Vanderbilt so far. Auburn blanked Vanderbilt in the first quarter and defensive end Keldric Faulk recovered a fumble by Vanderbilt’s Makhilyn Young in the first half.

Auburn had 3 players with at least 4 tackles at halftime: safeties Kaleb Harris and AnQuon Fegans, as well as linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr..

Offensively, Auburn quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 14 of his 18 passes for a touchdown while also rushing for 53 yards and a score. Eric Singleton Jr. caught Daniels’ touchdown pass in the first quarter. Daniels’ 11-yard rushing touchdown came in the second quarter.

Auburn is looking to avoid a losing streak after falling 10-3 vs. visiting Kentucky in Freeze’s final game. Freeze finished with a 15-19 overall mark and 6-16 record in SEC play at Auburn.

This is the final road game of the season for the Tigers. Auburn has a bye next week followed by home games vs. Mercer and rival Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

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Zollers didn’t come out of the game in the first half, yet George stated that it’s unknown if the injury will have a lingering effect.

The 6-foot-4 freshman has taken over the starting role in the absence of Beau Pribula, who injured his leg in Missouri’s 17-10 loss at Vanderbilt on Oct. 25. Mizzou also lost quarterback Sam Horn to a season-ending injury earlier this year.

Heading into this game, Zollers completed 20 of his 29 passes for 213 yards with 2 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 92.3 QBR.

Coming out of high school, the native of Royersford, Pennsylvania was regarded by 247Sports as the No. 9 quarterback in the nation and the No. 2 in-state prospect.

Missouri is aiming for its first victory vs. a ranked opponent this season after losses to Alabama and Vanderbilt.

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