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In what is shaping up to be one of the weirder seasons in recent memory, allow us to introduce you to the weirdest one-sided matchup in the past decade.

No. 7 Texas A&M and No. 16 Arkansas meet on Saturday having played each other 77 times dating back to 1903. The two former Southwest Conference rivals now play annually at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in a contest branded as the Southwest Classic.

They took a break following the Hogs’ departure for the SEC in 1991 and didn’t resume play until 2009, with Arkansas winning three straight. In 2011, they met just six days after A&M announced it was leaving the Big 12 for the SEC. The Aggies blew a 35-17 second-half lead and lost 42-38.

But since 2012, when the Aggies officially rejoined the Hogs in the SEC West, it has been all A&M, with the Aggies going 9-0 against Arkansas in that span.

But that streak doesn’t tell the whole story of how wild the games have been, no matter the quality of either team. Three of the games — in 2014, 2015 and 2017 — went into overtime. In 2014, Arkansas blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead. In 2015, they lost an eight-point lead with three minutes left. In 2017, the Aggies won a 50-43 thriller after Christian Kirk scored his third touchdown of the game in OT and the Aggies picked off Austin Allen to end the game. In all, five of the past seven showdowns were decided by a single score, including the 2019 game featuring a historically bad Arkansas team that lost its 13th straight SEC game under coach Chad Morris.

Also of note: The Aggies knocked starting Arkansas quarterback Nick Starkel out of that game. The same Nick Starkel who entered the 2017 season as A&M’s starting quarterback before getting injured in the opener against UCLA and giving way to Kellen Mond. Starkel opted to transfer, then transferred again to San Jose State, where he’s now starting.

Last year, the game was played in College Station because of the pandemic, with the Aggies cruising to a 42-31 win.

Now the game returns to Arlington on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS) and this year’s twist is that both teams are ranked for just the third time in the history of their rivalry. After the Hogs flattened Texas two weeks ago, plenty of message-board bragging rights are on the line — either Arkansas can claim a state championship in Texas, or the Aggies can prove their SEC mettle over the incoming Longhorns. Meanwhile, in the real standings, the winner becomes the biggest threat to Alabama’s West chokehold.


The big games

No. 18 Wisconsin at No. 12 Notre Dame (at Soldier Field in Chicago, noon ET, FOX): Here’s Notre Dame’s chance to prove it’s better than what it has shown the first few weeks. Close wins against Florida State and Toledo are nothing to feel great about, and a two-touchdown win over Purdue isn’t a glowing endorsement for a team that expects to compete among college football’s best every year. For Wisconsin, they can add a non-conference ranked win to their resume. It won’t necessarily make up for the loss against Penn State earlier in the season, but if that remains their only loss and they win out, they are in Playoff business.

No. 9 Clemson at NC State (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN App): The Tigers come into this game off a 14-8 win against a Georgia Tech team that was a massive underdog. Clemson’s offense hasn’t come close to living up to the hype it received before the season, and will be going against an NC State defense that’s currently 23rd in Bill Connelly’s SP+. The Tigers should and will be favored in this game, but they’re going to have to show some sort of life on offense before people really start smashing the panic button with this team. It certainly helps that their defense hasn’t allowed a single offensive touchdown this season.

Rutgers at No. 19 Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN App): This game has an intrigue about it that we’re not sure anybody expected coming into the season. Rutgers is 3-0, and Michigan, also undefeated, has been arguably the best team in the Big Ten East. The Scarlet Knights will be without two cornerbacks, Max Melton and Chris Long, who are suspended after being taken into police custody because of a paintball gun incident. Melton, who is a starter, has two interceptions, a blocked punt, a fumble recovery and eight tackles this season. That will certainly be advantageous for Michigan and Cade McNamara, who is proving to be one of Jim Harbaugh’s best quarterbacks since he became the head coach in Ann Arbor.

Southern Miss at No. 1 Alabama (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network/ESPN App): Another benchmark for greatness is the only real intrigue in this one. Nick Saban can win his 100th straight game against an unranked opponent. That’s longer than the next three longest active streaks combined (Clemson with 36, Notre Dame with 35 and Cincinnati with 24).

Akron at No. 10 Ohio State (7:30 p.m. ET, BTN): If you’re really into evaluating the teams we believe to be Playoff contenders, you should actually keep tabs on this game. Ohio State’s defense has been giving up yards at a clip we simply aren’t used to. The Buckeyes gave up 408 yards against Minnesota, 505 against Oregon and 501 against Tulsa. They cannot keep up that kind of pace and expect to be in the Playoff in January. Ryan Day switched defensive playcallers last week against the Golden Hurricane from Kerry Coombs to Matt Barnes, and while the change didn’t make much of a difference, it’ll be a situation worth watching as the Buckeyes’ season progresses. Ohio State hasn’t lost to a team in the state since 1921, and that probably won’t change on Saturday. But keep an eye on the box score here.

West Virginia at No. 4 Oklahoma (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN App): The real intrigue here is seeing if Oklahoma’s offense can return to form and prove they belong at this lofty ranking. Last week, Nebraska held the Sooners to the fewest points (23) since Lincoln Riley arrived in Norman. Spencer Rattler, the preseason favorite for the Heisman, looks to have fallen from contention. But none of that will matter if the Sooners can keep winning, no matter the margin or number of fireworks. West Virginia is 0-25 all time on the road against top-five teams.

Arizona at No. 3 Oregon (10:30 p.m. ET ESPN/ESPN App): UCLA lost to Fresno State last weekend. USC has already fired its coach. It appears the Ducks have to survive the season to be the conference’s only hope for a playoff spot. This game looks like a safe bet: The Wildcats are 0-3, 28-point underdogs and coming off a loss to Northern Arizona.

A man of his word

Last week, Portland State coach Bruce Barnum offered to buy anyone’s beer (and as many as they wanted) at his namesake Barny’s Beer Garden at Hillsboro Stadium to encourage fans to come out and watch his Vikings. On Tuesday, the coach had the receipts: a $14,448 bar tab.

The best jerseys of the week

UTEP is playing New Mexico on Saturday, and while we normally wouldn’t recommend you watch this game, we’d like to present to you the Miners’ Texas Western uniforms:

The best NIL shirt yet

One of the highlights of Week 3 is already one of the highlights of the name, image and likeness era, with Oklahoma’s D.J. Graham selling T-shirts with his Odell Beckham Jr.-approved interception featured.

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Arch Manning the only top-four 2023 QB to bypass portal; where did the other three go?

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Arch Manning the only top-four 2023 QB to bypass portal; where did the other three go?

Two years after the five-star quartet of quarterbacks in the ESPN 300 were wowing fans and garnering “next big thing” buzz for their abilities, reality has hit harder than the most ferocious blitzing linebackers.

As college football’s spring transfer portal closed Friday, Malachi Nelson, Jackson Arnold and Dante Moore are looking to ignite their careers at schools different from their initial ones. Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is the only one from that 2023 group who has stayed with his first choice.

All four quarterbacks were ranked in the top five of the ESPN 300 that year.

“It’s really just a sign of the times,” ESPN’s director of football recruiting Billy Tucker said. “That class wasn’t any less special because they transferred. It’s just that the culture now is about instant gratification. I don’t know that what happened with the 2023 quarterbacks isn’t the norm.”

Nelson was the top ranked prospect in 2023 and began his collegiate career with the USC Trojans.

As a freshman, he served as a backup to Caleb Williams, the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. Nelson threw only three passes that season.

Nelson transferred to Boise State, where he lost out on the starting spot to Maddux Madsen, who led the team to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Again, Nelson barely saw playing time, going 12-of-17 for just 66 yards last season before reentering the portal.

In January, he reportedly turned down more lucrative offers to join Scotty Walden at UTEP, where the path to being a starter seems like a forgone conclusion.

Moore checked in at No. 2 in 2023 and began his career at UCLA, where he struggled to find a rhythm in limited playing time. In nine games with the Bruins, Moore threw 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions and got sacked 16 times. He transferred to Oregon in December 2023 — after a year sitting behind star quarterback Dillon Gabriel in 2024. Moore appears to be the heir apparent in Eugene though it isn’t guaranteed.

“For most high-profile prospects these days, and certainly quarterbacks, the path to the starting spot needs to be clear by spring of their freshman year,” Tucker said. “And if it’s not then there’s a really good chance they’ll leave.”

The opposite happened for Arnold at Oklahoma, but it still wasn’t enough.

The 6-foot-1, 211-pounder was ranked No. 3 in 2023 and won Gatorade National Player of the Year as a high school senior. By his sophomore season in Norman, he earned the starting position.

Arnold amassed 1,421 passing yards, 444 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns in a dismal 6-6 season that saw him get demoted and promoted. The tumultuous experience prompted Arnold to transfer to Auburn in December. His path to outright starter seems imminent.

Then there’s Manning, who checked in at No. 5 overall in 2023.

Being the grandson of New Orleans Saints legend Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl MVP quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch summed up his thought process about remaining at Texas in five words in a recent news conference, simply saying, “Sometimes it’s worth the wait.”

In two years in Austin, Manning has appeared in nine games, two of which he started.

Last season, he went 61-of-90 passing for 939 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 108 yards and four more scores.

Now, the stage is set for him to lead the Longhorns during the 2025 season.

“This used to be the norm,” Tucker said of Manning waiting his turn. “You wait the two years and you’re starting as a junior. Now, even if you’re getting paid, it’s not enough if you’re not starting. Any adversity and the guys are leaving. It’s just the current landscape in college football.”

Tucker, who also serves as director of the Under Armour All-America Game, said he would caution current and future stars about using the transfer portal entry as a knee-jerk reaction.

“Look at Georgia, a lot of their defensive guys are one-year starters and then they’re in the NFL first round,” Tucker said. “It’s not like you need three years of proven production to make it. That NIL money could get multiplied by at least five in my opinion. If you can stay the course and have one to two good years at a proven program, you’ll more than make up any money you could’ve lost in NIL. It’s more about the people guiding these players not being as informed as they need to be. It stinks, but until there are rules to govern the current landscape, we’ll continue to see this.”

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Michigan lands No. 4 pocket passer Smigiel

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Michigan lands No. 4 pocket passer Smigiel

Four-star quarterback Brady Smigiel, ESPN’s No. 4 pocket passer in the 2026 class, has committed to Michigan, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

A 6-foot-5, 210-pound prospect from Newbury Park, California, Smigiel is the No. 45 overall recruit in the 2026 ESPN 300 and began the weekend as the cycle’s No. 2 available quarterback. The former Florida State commit becomes the highest-ranked member of coach Sherrone Moore’s 2026 recruiting class.

Smigiel visited the Wolverines’ for the program’s spring game on April 19.

“We just thought it was time to make the decision and when I went out to Michigan I knew it was the spot for me,” Smigiel told ESPN. “Being able to see the strength staff and how they handle the players — the discipline within the program — it was all really impressive.”

Smigiel noted his connection with first-year Michigan offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who previously recruited Smigiel at North Carolina, as a key factor in his decision. Program tradition and the opportunity to step into the Wolverines’ thin quarterback depth behind five-star freshman Bryce Underwood also played a role in Smigiel’s move to commit prior to previously scheduled official visits to Washington and South Carolina later this spring.

With Smigiel’s pledge, Michigan now holds two ESPN 300 commitments in the 2026 cycle following the February addition of four-star offensive guard Bear McWhorter (No. 186 overall).

The Wolverines also hold pledges from three-star cornerback Brody Jennings and wide receiver Jaylen Pile in 2026. The Wolverines remain in the mix for a handful of top 2026 targets, including linebacker Anthony Jones (No. 25 overall), tight end Ian Premer (No. 60) and running back Javian Osborne (No. 81).

Michigan was a leading finalist for Smigiel’s pledge last June when he committed to Florida State over the Wolverines, Ohio State, Oregon and Washington.

Smigiel shut down his recruitment following his summer pledge and remained a cornerstone of the Seminoles’ 2026 class through the program’s 2-10 finish last fall before pulling his commitment from Florida State in late-January. At the time, Smigiel pointed to the offseason reshuffle of the program’s coaching staff and a scheme change under first-year offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as the primary driver in his decision.

“I just didn’t feel like Florida State was that spot for me anymore,” Smigiel told ESPN in early February. I committed to coach (Mike) Norvell calling the plays and now that he’s not, it’s a completely different situation.”

Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State, South Carolina, UCLA and Washington emerged as early leaders in Smigiel’s renewed process in February, and he later took unofficial trips to Washington, South Carolina and UCLA.

Sources told ESPN that Washington was a serious contender for Smigiel’s pledge before four-star quarterback Derek Zammit committed to the program on April 19. North Carolina and South Carolina also made significant pushes over the last week prior to Smigiel’s commitment to the Wolverines.

Equipped with standout arm strength and elite downfield accuracy, Smigiel is one of the most polished quarterback prospects in the 2026 class.

Smigiel is a three-year starter and will enter his senior season with 11,228 passing yards and 147 touchdowns for his prep career. He threw for 3,521 yards and 49 touchdowns and led Newbury Park to a division title as a junior last fall.

Upon Smigiel’s pledge, only five of the 18 quarterbacks ranked inside the ESPN 300 remain uncommitted, led by No. 1 overall quarterback Jared Curtis and fellow top 100 passer Ryder Lyons (No. 50 overall).

Curtis, No. 5 in the ESPN 300, is set to choose between Georgia and Oregon on May 5.

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Tulane QB Finley in portal again amid legal case

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Tulane QB Finley in portal again amid legal case

Tulane quarterback TJ Finley is once again in the transfer portal after being suspended earlier this month pending the outcome of a legal case.

Finley, who has spent time at five FBS programs in his career, entered the portal Friday morning. He was arrested April 2 on a charge of illegal possession of stolen things worth more than $25,000, after police linked the license plate of a truck he was driving to a stolen vehicle in Atlanta.

His attorneys claim Finley is the victim of a scam after buying a used truck via a social media marketplace. Finley is due in court June 1 in New Orleans.

Tulane on Thursday received a commitment from quarterback transfer Brendan Sullivan, who started three games last season for Iowa and made some starts for Northwestern in 2022 and 2023.

Finley began his college career at LSU in 2020, starting five games and passing for 941 yards with five touchdowns and five interceptions. He then transferred to Auburn, where he opened the 2022 season as the team’s starter before injuring his throwing shoulder just before SEC play began.

Finley had his most productive season in 2023 at Texas State, where he passed for 3,439 yards with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He then transferred to Western Kentucky, where he was the backup last season, before joining Tulane in December.

The Ponchatoula, Louisiana, native had been competing with fellow transfers Kadin Semonza and Donovan Leary for the starting role before the suspension.

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