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The number of unbeaten teams remaining in major college football has now dipped below 20, but when it comes to playoff picks things are holding steady.

For the fifth consecutive week Georgia, Alabama and Ohio State are unanimous selections, though the Bulldogs made it interesting.

The Crimson Tide had the most impressive win among the leading triumvirate, but also move forward with some uncertainty. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Bryce Young left with an injury to his throwing shoulder in the second quarter of a 49-26 win at No. 20 Arkansas, but coach Nick Saban said afterward Young was “day to day.”

Ohio State fell behind 7-0 to visiting Rutgers — the first time in nine all-time meetings the Buckeyes have trailed to the Scarlet Knights — but quickly found separation on their way to a 49-10 win. Running back Miyan Williams tied the school record with five touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Georgia trailed 16-6 at halftime against Missouri and did not lead in the game at all until 4:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.

ESPN’s voters were nearly unanimous on a fourth team for the first time this season following Clemson‘s 30-20 defeat of NC State. The Tigers received 12 of a possible 14 votes with Michigan and Oregon garnering the final two votes.

Here’s a look at how ESPN’s college football reporters see the current playoff picture.


Andrea Adelson: 1. Georgia 2. Alabama 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson
Blake Baumgartner: 1. Georgia 2. Ohio State 3. Alabama 4. Clemson
Kyle Bonagura: 1. Georgia 2. Alabama 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson
Bill Connelly: 1. Alabama 2. Ohio State 3. Georgia 4. Michigan
Heather Dinich: 1. Ohio State 2. Alabama 3. Georgia 4. Clemson
Chris Low: 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson
Harry Lyles Jr.: 1. Alabama 2. Ohio State 3. Georgia 4. Clemson
Ryan McGee: 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Oregon
Adam Rittenberg: 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson
Alex Scarborough: 1. Georgia 2. Ohio State 3. Alabama 4. Clemson
Mark Schlabach: 1. Alabama 2. Ohio State 3. Georgia 4. Clemson
Paolo Uggetti: 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson
Tom VanHaaren: 1. Georgia 2. Ohio State 3. Alabama 4. Clemson
Dave Wilson: 1. Alabama 2. Georgia 3. Ohio State 4. Clemson

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Gators’ Lagway ‘ready to play,’ will start vs. LSU

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Gators' Lagway 'ready to play,' will start vs. LSU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is “ready to play,” coach Billy Napier said Thursday on his weekly radio show.

Napier removed Lagway from the team’s injury report and penciled him in to start against No. 21 LSU in the Swamp on Saturday.

Lagway practiced every day this week while progressing from a strained left hamstring. The highly touted freshman was carted off the field against Georgia on Nov. 2. Tests revealed a “less significant” injury than initially feared, and now he’s back in time to face the Tigers.

The Gators (4-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) need him. They have to win two of their final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible.

LSU (6-3, 3-2) has struggled mightily against dual-threat QBs, including Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Lagway returns after walk-on and Yale transfer Aidan Warner started in his place against Texas. Warner threw two interceptions and was 12-of-25 passing for 132 yards in a 49-17 loss.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

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Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

No. 12 Georgia will be without leading rusher Trevor Etienne for Saturday’s showdown against No. 7 Tennessee.

Etienne was downgraded from questionable to out on Thursday night’s SEC availability report.

Etienne left Georgia’s win over Florida with an upper-body injury on Nov. 2 and did not return. He played limited snaps in last week’s 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards.

Etienne leads the Bulldogs with 477 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season.

The loss is another blow to Georgia’s banged-up backfield. Cash Jones is also listed as questionable while Branson Robinson remains out after missing the past three games with a knee injury.

That leaves true freshman Nate Frazier as the only healthy Bulldogs running back who has played meaningful snaps this year. Frazier is second on the team with 333 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

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QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

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QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who lost his starting job earlier this week, will not be returning to the team, he announced Thursday night.

Castellanos, who started 12 games last season and retained the top job under new coach Bill O’Brien, wrote on X that “unfortunately, all good things come to an end, even though it’s sooner than I would like.” He did not mention the transfer portal in his departing message and has not officially entered it. The junior from Waycross, Georgia, started his career at UCF and appeared in five games in 2022.

O’Brien said Tuesday that Grayson James, who replaced Castellanos in last week’s win against Syracuse, will start Saturday when Boston College visits No. 14 SMU. Castellanos “wasn’t real thrilled” with the decision, O’Brien said, adding that the quarterback decided to step away from the team for several days.

Castellanos had 2,248 passing yards and 1,113 rushing yards last season under coach Jeff Hafley, passing for 15 touchdowns and adding 13 on the ground. He had 18 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season, but his accuracy dipped in recent weeks, and he completed only 2 of 7 passes against Syracuse before being replaced.

In his statement, Castellanos thanked both coaching staffs he played for at Boston College and wrote that he had “some of the best experiences of my life in the Eagles Nest and I will truly cherish these memories forever.”

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