Blake Corum’s journey from small-town Virginia to Michigan’s Big House
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When Michigan running back Blake Corum went outside as a kid, he never wore shoes.
Barefoot Blake would grab charcoal briquettes from the family grill, mix them in a bowl of water and then paint on trees in and around Marshall, Virginia, his one stoplight hometown, about 50 miles west of Washington, D.C. He loved building things, mostly forts and teepees. His parents, James and Christina, didn’t worry about their son’s screen time.
“I was never inside,” Corum said. “There’s nothing much there but to use your imagination. It’s quiet. There’s trees and woods and the air is fresh. I liked growing up there, just because I felt like I was by myself. No one’s going to bother you.
“You can just sit out there and dream.”
Corum doesn’t believe enough kids, or even some of his teammates at Michigan, allow themselves to imagine, to dream. He has always been a dreamer. Still is.
These days and nights, he dreams about a lot: Winning Saturday’s game against Illinois (noon ET, ABC) and keeping Michigan undefeated; beating Ohio State next week, the day after his 22nd birthday; and claiming another Big Ten title and a return trip to the College Football Playoff. Sitting in the lobby outside the football offices at Schembechler Hall before a recent practice, Corum pointed toward Michigan’s Heisman Trophy display, which recognizes the school’s three winners: Tom Harmon, Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson.
He dreams about that, too.
Corum also has non-football dreams. About buying the farm outside Marshall that his grandfather managed, which belonged to longtime Washington NFL owner Jack Kent Cooke. He also dreams about ways to impact others, a lifelong instinct he will continue this weekend in distributing Thanksgiving meals to families in need.
“I don’t stop dreaming,” Corum said. “I dream all the time.”
Corum has had a dream season for 10-0 Michigan. He’s tied for the national lead in touchdowns (18), leads the FBS in first downs (81) and ranks third in rushing yards (1,349) despite logging only four total carries in the second halves of Michigan’s first three games. He accounts for 26% of Michigan’s plays of 20 yards or longer and averages 5.8 yards per carry in Big Ten play. The 5-foot-8, 210-pound Corum has become the top non-quarterback candidate in a crowded Heisman field.
Last week, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh called Corum the best college running back he ever coached and the second best ever behind future Hall of Famer Frank Gore. Others around the program describe a uniquely impactful player who combines attributes from some of the game’s all-time great runners, and an unabated will to work.
“A generational back,” said Michigan associate head coach Biff Poggi, who coached Corum at Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy and was just named the new head coach of the Charlotte 49ers. “You coach your whole life and probably will never have a guy like this.”
Corum plays in the nation’s largest stadium at Michigan, and his football journey took him to the urban epicenter of Baltimore. But his roots are firmly in Marshall, a speck on the map with a population of 2,913, according to the 2020 census. The town has a Food Lion and a 7-Eleven, where the old heads hang out and talk. There’s a library, several churches and plenty of one-way streets.
“Everyone knows everyone,” Corum said.
His parents both grew up there. The family lived in several spots, including farms managed by Christina’s father, David Pierce. In 2005, while the Corums waited for their home to be built, they stayed with Pierce on the horse farm owned by Cooke.
Blake adored “the red house,” Pierce’s home on the property. He even has it tattooed on his arm.
“This kid probably was in middle school and he was like, ‘I’m going to buy that farm, mom,'” said Christina Corum, who grew up on the farm. “There are certain things he’s dreamed of that motivate him and keep him going. His great memories, a lot of them are from the farm. He would go outside and jump on a mower. He loved looking for frogs down by the creek.”
“A country guy for sure,” Blake said.
The oldest of four — Blake has sisters Skye, Starr and Rainn — he spent his childhood exploring.
“He always ran around with no shirt on, no shoes,” James said. “You’ve got to build tough feet in the country, man. You walk on gravel, in the woods, whatever.”
James noticed Blake’s physical gifts early. He walked before 1 and rode a bike without training wheels at 3. He started playing football at 5, and soon averaged five touchdowns per game.
Blake began working out before school in fifth grade. James took him to train with local high school players and their strength coach. Blake also had several private coaches.
“From fifth grade to eighth grade, I was consistent,” Blake said. “My parents made me show them what I really wanted … before they put in the sacrifice.”
When Blake reached high school, the family faced a decision. Fauquier High, where James played running back and cornerback, was no longer the county’s only high school. The team had slipped (Fauquier went winless this season). The area also had not produced many NFL players other than Cleveland Browns offensive lineman Wyatt Teller, from Bealeton.
Neighboring Maryland offered better competition and visibility for colleges. Schools had scouted Corum and wanted him. He chose St. Vincent Pallotti in Laurel, about 75 miles from Marshall.
“We didn’t even think twice about it,” Christina said. “We didn’t doubt his ability to work hard. If that’s where he felt he needed to be, then we’re going to support that. Now I’m not going to lie: It was taxing on the family.”
The drive took two hours each way. Christina usually did drop-offs, returning home in time to take her daughters to school. James handled pickups but sometimes would do both legs. He owns a landscaping business, which allowed him to work flexible hours and pick up his kids.
But the trips took a toll.
“Dreadful,” James said, laughing. “Damn, you’re tired all day. You’re like, ‘I’ve got to travel this [Capital] Beltway, I’m sitting in traffic both ways.’ There were days I didn’t want to do it, but we did.”
Blake woke up between 3 to 4 a.m. on school days. Twice a week, he stopped for workouts in Manassas, Virginia. He arrived at Pallotti around 6 a.m. Corum got to know the custodians, and would crash on a couch until the school bell rang.
After practice, he’d head home.
“We’d ride in the HOV lane, but it still took us two hours,” Blake said. “I’d get home at 7, 7:30, eat dinner, do homework, take a shower, sleep and repeat. It was like that for two years.”
The work resulted in FBS scholarship offers, including one from then-Indiana assistant Mike Hart, the all-time leading rusher at Michigan. But before making a college choice, Corum wanted to upgrade his high school competition.
Poggi, who had built St. Frances into a national power, initially wasn’t interested. He liked bigger backs. When Ian Thomas, a former Illinois linebacker who coached Pallotti High and had joined Poggi’s staff, brought Corum over, Poggi saw a more filled-out player than he expected.
Still, he told Corum that St. Frances had plenty of running backs who fit better than he did.
“I said, ‘What do you think about that?'” Poggi said. “He said, ‘I’ll beat everybody out, and I’m coming to win the national championship.’ I said, ‘OK, you’ve got a scholarship.’ The rest was history.”
Corum’s first high school was two hours from home. St. Frances, located in the heart of Baltimore, was a world away from tiny Marshall.
“My first day there, I saw someone get shot,” Corum said. “I’m going from peaceful living, y’all don’t get bothered in Marshall. It was a big change, but one of the best experiences I had.”
Blake felt he matured at St. Frances, where he began boarding (players live in Canton, a neighborhood near Baltimore’s harbor). He also saw how the city embraced the program.
In 2019, St. Frances opened against Miami Central, a game televised by ESPN. Corum had 155 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a 49-13 win. After practice the next week, Corum was walking down Chase Street, which bisects the school and the jail.
“The inmates are shouting down, ‘We just watched you, keep doing what you’re doing, we’re proud of you,'” Corum said. “I’m looking up, I can’t see them, but they can see out their little window.”
Corum had a different background than many of the St. Frances players, but quickly bonded with them. After games, he’d often drive a group back to Marshall for the weekend.
Some of his teammates had never seen cows or ridden four-wheelers or fished.
“I told Blake, ‘You’re learning from them and they’re learning from you,'” Christina Corum said. “He created some great friendships. He changed a lot; they changed a lot.”
Corum quickly became a team leader. St. Frances had a roster filled with elite players, but none trained quite like he did.
“It was a little annoying because he was always working out,” Poggi said. “I would say, ‘Look, you’re going to carry the ball 35 times Friday night. Can you not go in the gym Saturday morning, Sunday morning?'”
Corum’s talent and drive helped him become a top-125 recruit. His college decision came down to Michigan and Ohio State. Corum visited each school on back-to-back June weekends in 2019. The Ohio State visit went well, and Christina and James expected their son to become a Buckeye.
But on the last day at Michigan, Blake came to his parents’ hotel at 7 a.m. He said he had called Ohio State to tell them he was committing … to Michigan.
“Blake’s always been the kind of kid to help a team get back to where they were,” James said. “He’s never been one to jump on the bandwagon.”
Mike Hart doesn’t hold back in assessing Corum: “One of the best backs to ever play here.”
The view of Corum inside Schembechler Hall seems more suited for a four-year starter like Hart, or a Big Ten MVP like Harbaugh. Corum only had 26 carries as a freshman, as Michigan went 2-4 during the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He struggled to absorb the playbook and to identify blitzing defenders.
Corum needed to refine his mental approach before his physical talent could take over.
“Coach Hart changed the game for me,” Corum said. “Last year, my IQ got better. Before the play, I knew who was [blitzing], my mind wasn’t racing, I knew the plays, I was confident.”
Hart, who returned to Michigan before the 2021 season to coach running backs, had followed Corum throughout his high school career. He saw a talented runner who needed to, of all things, slow down.
“Slow down when you’re working out all the time, slow down when you’re carrying the ball, faster isn’t always better,” Hart said. “If you listen, which he does, then you get better. That’s what he’s done. Some people like to work hard, but people don’t work like Blake works.”
During Corum’s freshman year, heavy snowfall canceled classes and left the streets and sidewalks deserted. Rather than stay inside, Corum and Michigan linebacker Nikhai Green-Hill, his roommate and teammate at St. Frances, drove to Veterans Park in Ann Arbor, where they ran the steepest hill they could find.
Afterward, they defrosted in Green-Hill’s car.
“It was one of those vulnerable moments, where you’re like, ‘This is what we’re working toward,'” Hill-Green said. “Some people call it manifestation, or believing in yourself. He’s told me everything he’s wanted to do, his dreams and aspirations, and he’s checking the boxes. That’s just a testament to him and how hard he works.”
Last season, Corum became the lightning to Hassan Haskins‘ thunder, finishing behind Haskins in carries (270-143), rushing yards (1,327-952) and touchdowns (20-11). But Corum had a similar carries load until being injured on his first rush against Indiana in Week 10, and essentially missed three games. He averaged nearly 2 yards per carry more than Haskins (6.7-4.9).
With Haskins gone to the NFL, Michigan is now seeing the complete, best version of Corum. Hart can’t present a film cutup in running back meetings that Corum hasn’t already reviewed. Corum understands blocking schemes and teammates’ assignments, and even changes protections.
Hart, who finished with 5,040 yards on 1,015 carries with 41 rushing touchdowns at Michigan, sees a lot of himself in Corum. Hart just played longer.
“We’re really similar, he’s just faster,” said Hart, who had a team-record 28 100-yard rushing performances. “I always tell him I’m a better short-yardage back. But he’s awesome. Everything you want in a back is Blake Corum. When the [NFL] scouts ask me about him, there’s no red marks on the kid at all.”
Harbaugh has compared Corum to a chess player always thinking several moves ahead. Corum relies on small, seemingly subtle moves to find room. He ranks sixth in missed tackles forced (64).
“That is just a natural instinct,” Corum said. “You can work on cuts all day, you can work on new moves all day, but if you can’t do it in the blink of an eye, it doesn’t matter. Before the play, I’m not thinking, ‘I’m going to hit him with the spin move, or I’m going to ‘jurdle’ him.'”
“Jurdle,” as in the Madden move?
“A jump-hurdle,” Corum explained. “It’s a sudden light jump stiff-arm hurdle, trying to just get your leg out the way. I do the jurdle quite often.”
When Poggi studies Corum, he sees shades of two of the game’s greats, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. Corum, playing at 10 pounds heavier than last season, has a compact frame and runs with power, like Payton.
He also can confuse defenders like Sanders, who is tracking the Michigan star.
“He’s all wrapped into one,” Poggi said. “Those guys just don’t come around very often.”
Bilal Saeed tries not to text Corum often. He’s respectful of Corum’s time, especially during a season like this.
There’s only one issue: Corum keeps blowing up Saeed’s phone.
“Blake is hitting me up: ‘What about this idea for the turkey giveaway? I want to do this.’ Let’s do a backpack giveaway,'” said Saeed, who helps organize community events in and around Ann Arbor. “He’s come in with all these ideas, based on what he sees.”
Saeed first met Corum in June 2021 at the launch of CLR Academy, an outreach program for kids in low-income areas in Ypsilanti, which borders Ann Arbor. Saeed, who has known Hart for years and worked on events for Hart’s foundation, asked if any Michigan players would come to the first CLR event, held at the Sycamore Meadows apartments.
Corum came with Hill-Green and several others.
“Right away, [Corum] starts reading books with the kids, building these connections,” Saeed said. “Then, he kept showing up. He was hooping with the kids, kicking the soccer ball around.”
Corum has always been a giver. As a kid, he’d bring his own money to church and deposit bills in the offering plate. At St. Frances, he took on a job and gave some of his wages to people on the street.
But the arrival of name, image and likeness opportunities provided the platform for Corum to truly give back. Corum has used his NIL earnings to fund several initiatives, including school supplies, meals and holiday gifts. In November 2021, he held “Giving Back 2 Give Thanks,” an event where he passed out 100 turkey meals for families in Ypsilanti, alongside his father and Hill-Green.
They’ll do the same thing Sunday, except with at least 300 meals and backpacks.
“It was always inside of Blake,” Saeed said. “Just having that intention, the impact isn’t going to only be the community he’s reaching out to, but the next generation of athletes. We’re talking about a Heisman candidate here, and all you can see in this guy is his humility.”
Saturday could mark Corum’s final game at Michigan Stadium. He’s not projected high in the NFL draft — only one of ESPN’s experts pegged Corum among the top five draft-eligible backs — but his success, position and age make a move likely.
Corum thinks about his legacy at Michigan. He has football goals left, including the Heisman. For some time, Poggi has playfully bumped Corum and said, “Let’s go to New York.” Strong performances Saturday against Illinois, the nation’s No. 2 defense behind Michigan’s, and most certainly next week at Ohio State, will help secure a finalist spot.
But Corum wants to be remembered more for how he impacted people on campus and in the community. Seeing Halloween pictures of kids dressed in his jersey “meant a lot.”
So many of the dreams he once had, in the peaceful stillness of Marshall, have come true at Michigan. And more will come.
“I try to remind myself how blessed I am,” Corum said. “So I dream every day. I don’t stop dreaming.”
Was something in the air in Week 12? We are now down to three undefeated FBS teams following No. 6 BYU’s loss to Kansas on Saturday night, and in total, five AP Top 25 teams lost to unranked opponents.
With BYU suffering its first loss of the season and now tied with Colorado in the Big 12 standings, what do the Cougars need to do in the last few weeks to reach the conference title game?
Georgia gained a much-needed win over Tennessee at home Saturday. The Bulldogs are well positioned to make a College Football Playoff appearance, but injuries have taken a toll on their roster depth. How can Georgia prepare for the playoff over the next few weeks, should it gain one of the 12 spots?
How did Saturday’s action affect our Power Rankings?
Here’s the latest top 25 from our college football experts, who provide their insight on each team following Week 12.
Previous ranking: 1
The 11-0 Ducks escaped Wisconsin with a 16-13 comeback victory in the fourth quarter. But again, Oregon couldn’t stifle the opposing team’s running game, as Badgers running back Tawee Walker kept the Ducks offense off the field with 97 yards on 20 carries. Oregon now ranks 71st nationally in EPA (expected points added) on run defense (minus-8.99), and 12th in the Big Ten. The league’s other playoff contenders — Ohio State, Indiana and Penn State — all rank in the top 11 nationally in EPA run defense. Oregon is sure to face prolific rushing attacks in the playoff. Getting key stops against the run — and getting its high-powered offense back on the field — will be paramount, if the Ducks are going to make a run to their first national championship. — Jake Trotter
Previous ranking: 2
The Buckeyes’ defense has responded very well from its loss to Oregon, holding its past four opponents to under 20 points and fewer than 275 yards per game. But the Buckeyes (9-1) will need to be a bit sharper on third down this coming week against Indiana, which entered Week 12 ranked 10th nationally in third-down conversions (49.1%). Northwestern converted five of its first 11 third-down chances against Ohio State on Saturday at Wrigley Field, and could have made the game more competitive if it had finished drives in Buckeyes territory.
Coach Ryan Day noted the early third-down struggles and the defense’s improvement as the game went along, saying, “We settled down a little bit.” Ohio State will need its veteran defensive line to pressure Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who has been sacked only 10 times this season, and fluster a Hoosiers offensive line that struggled against Michigan. — Adam Rittenberg
Previous ranking: 3
The 9-1 Longhorns avoided a major pothole on their road to a showdown with Texas A&M that could have SEC championship game implications, fending off a pesky Arkansas team. Texas still couldn’t get its vertical passing game on track due to the Hogs’ three-safety approach on defense, and Texas players admitted it was frustrating. But in a road game against old rivals who anxiously awaited a chance to break Texas’ hearts the way the Longhorns had done to them for years, Steve Sarkisian’s team adjusted and was able to grind out the 20-10 win. The star was the defense, which was smothering all day, holding an offense that averaged 484 yards per game to just 231. Texas has Kentucky on Saturday before the Aggies on Nov. 30. — Dave Wilson
Previous ranking: 5
Areas of improvement are tough to find for an Indiana team that leads the nation in scoring margin (301) and is 10-0 for the first time. But the Hoosiers’ offensive struggles in the second half on Nov. 9 against Michigan sounded some alarm bells, especially since they will face an Ohio State team with a lot more talent this week. IU had only 17 net yards on 24 plays in the second half against the Wolverines, as reliable quarterback Kurtis Rourke threw an interception near the goal line and a banged-up offensive line showed cracks for the first time.
The second open week came at a good time, as Rourke is still recovering from surgery on the thumb on his throwing hand, while wide receiver Myles Price and others had a chance to rest up. Indiana’s line-of-scrimmage play has been overlooked with all the other highlights, but the Hoosiers must hold up there against Ohio State to have a chance in Columbus. — Rittenberg
Previous ranking: 6
Penn State thrashed Purdue 49-10, as expected. But if the Nittany Lions are going to make a playoff run, they’re going to need to be sharper in the red zone. Coming into the weekend, Penn State (9-1) ranked just 48th in red zone scoring percentage (87.2%). Missed opportunities in the red zone doomed the Nittany Lions in their Nov. 2 loss to Ohio State.
Twice, Penn State had first-and-goal at the Buckeyes’ 3-yard line, but both times it came up empty. Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun wrestled the ball away for an interception just before halftime. Then, with a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, Penn State couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone. Had the Nittany Lions converted both of those opportunities, they’d still be undefeated. Penn State can’t afford to come up empty on deep drives if it wants to advance in the playoff. — Trotter
Previous ranking: 8
It wasn’t supposed to be close, and it wasn’t Saturday in Alabama’s 52-7 rout of outmanned FCS foe Mercer. It was a scrimmage of sorts for the Crimson Tide (8-2, 4-2) before diving into their final two games of the season and what would almost certainly be a berth in the SEC championship game if they can win out against Oklahoma on the road this coming weekend and then Auburn at home on Nov. 30.
Turnovers will be key for Alabama the rest of the way. The Crimson Tide hurt themselves with turnovers in their two losses, so taking care of the ball will be critical. Quarterback Jalen Milroe was done midway through the third quarter after piling up 229 total yards of total offense and accounting for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). He has also been better at limiting his turnovers. Alabama’s defense forced three turnovers in what was the Tide’s third straight dominant performance. Since the 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt on Oct. 5, Alabama has not given up more than 25 points in a game. — Chris Low
Previous ranking: 10
After what might end up being a season-defining win over Georgia, Ole Miss (8-2) enjoyed a bye in Week 12 in anticipation of a manageable but anxious home stretch. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels will wrap the season with a trip to Florida and an Egg Bowl visit from Mississippi State. They will be comfortably favored in both games, and at 11th in the CFP rankings, they’ll have a solid shot at ending up in the playoff if they win out. But it’s not a guarantee, and Florida, who just beat LSU on Saturday, is a pretty dangerous underdog at the moment. The Gators will test Ole Miss’ big-play prevention capabilities: On six of 43 snaps against LSU, Florida gained at least 20 yards. MSU can bite off chunk plays as well, and if Ole Miss is to win out, discipline in the back will be a must. — Bill Connelly
Previous ranking: 13
Now that the sky is no longer falling in Athens, Georgia, after the Bulldogs took down Tennessee 31-17 on Saturday night, they need to focus on trying to get healthy for the stretch run. Tailback Trevor Etienne missed the game with a rib injury, leaving freshmen Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens to carry the load against the Volunteers. Receiver Dillon Bell went down with an ankle injury; coach Kirby Smart didn’t know the severity of the injury. Georgia’s depleted receiver corps, which was missing suspended Colbie Young, was already razor thin in terms of depth.
The Bulldogs (8-2) were forced to play only five offensive linemen the entire game because starting tackle Earnest Greene III is battling a shoulder injury. The starting unit of left tackle Monroe Freeling, left guard Dylan Fairchild, center Jared Wilson, right guard Tate Ratledge and right tackle Xavier Truss didn’t allow a sack and gave quarterback Carson Beck plenty of time to work. He completed 25 of 40 passes for 347 yards with three total touchdowns. Georgia had four scoring drives of 75 yards or more. With non-SEC games remaining against UMass and Georgia Tech at home, Georgia is well-positioned to make the CFP. — Mark Schlabach
Previous ranking: 11
The Irish (9-1) continued their dominance of the ACC, walloping Virginia 35-14 and finishing 5-0 against their part-time conference for the year. Since beginning a scheduling agreement with the ACC that guarantees five games against the conference each season in 2014, Notre Dame has finished without a regular-season loss six times and is 50-11 overall against the ACC. In the win over Virginia, Riley Leonard threw for three touchdowns, and Jeremiyah Love ran for two more. Notre Dame’s playoff hopes likely come down to next week’s game against undefeated Army. — David Hale
Previous ranking: 9
The 9-1 Hurricanes had an open date to prepare for their final two regular-season games, with an ACC championship game berth on the line. There is little doubt Miami spent that time focusing on its defense, and ways to ensure the breakdowns we have seen in recent weeks — especially in a loss to Georgia Tech — are fixed. While the Miami secondary had shown inconsistency throughout the season, what was particularly galling in the loss to the Yellow Jackets was a run defense that simply was out of position and unable to adjust — allowing 271 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Up next is Wake Forest and running back Demond Claiborne, one of the better rushers in the league. The matchup will provide a good test to see whether Miami has fixed one of its bigger issues. — Andrea Adelson
Previous ranking: 12
With BYU’s loss to the Kansas Jayhawks, Boise State (9-1) is inching closer toward the possibility of receiving a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. The Broncos got off to a slow start at San José State on Saturday, but after falling behind 14-0, they closed the game on a 42-7 run to win convincingly as Ashton Jeanty broke the single-season school rushing record. With 1,893 yards through 10 games, Jeanty is sure to be a Heisman Trophy finalist and could soon be within striking distance of Barry Sanders’ single-season FBS rushing record of 2,628 yards from 1988. — Kyle Bonagura
Previous ranking: 4
The Volunteers’ eighth straight loss to Georgia didn’t necessarily knock them out of the CFP, but they’re going to face an uphill battle to get back into the top 12 unless there are some upsets in the final two weeks of the regular season. Tennessee (8-2) had a great win over Alabama at home, but victories over struggling NC State and Oklahoma won’t do much to help its chances. Against the Bulldogs, the Volunteers couldn’t protect quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who returned after suffering a concussion last week, and couldn’t get enough pressure on Georgia quarterback Carson Beck.
Iamaleava was sacked five times. He completed 20 of 33 passes for 167 yards. The UT defense didn’t have a sack and had only two tackles for loss, allowing Beck to throw for 347 yards with two scores. Georgia went 8-for-14 on third down and 5-for-5 in the red zone. If the Vols beat UTEP and Vanderbilt in their final two games, they’ll be in the CFP discussion. They’ll probably be wondering if they’ve done enough. — Schlabach
Previous ranking: 14
Certainly, there is plenty to clean up after a 38-28 win over Boston College in which the Eagles took the Mustangs (9-1) down to the wire. BC was able to run the ball for 180 yards and three touchdowns and held the ball for nearly 11 more minutes than the Mustangs — not a huge surprise, given the Eagles clearly planned to slow down SMU and limit its possessions. But SMU’s defense made the plays it needed to in the end, sacking Grayson James on consecutive plays late in the game to help secure the win.
SMU heads to Virginia next to keep its undefeated league mark intact and move one step closer to an ACC championship game appearance. Kevin Jennings and Brashard Smith were spectacular once again, combining to score all four of the Mustangs’ touchdowns. — Adelson
Previous ranking: 7
Another late game-winning drive wasn’t in the cards for BYU, which dropped its first game of the season, 17-13 at home vs. Kansas. The Cougars (9-1) remain tied with Colorado atop the Big 12 standings at 6-1, but are in a position now where they will likely need to win at Arizona State (5-2) on Friday to reach the conference title game. Their 13 points against Kansas were the fewest they have scored in a game this season, as Jake Retzlaff completed 18 of 28 passes for 192 yards with a touchdown and an interception. — Bonagura
Previous ranking: 17
The Aggies (8-2) needed a get-right game after getting shut out in the second half of a 44-20 loss at South Carolina on Nov. 2 that snapped their seven-game winning streak. They worked out some kinks against New Mexico State, including allowing just 50 yards to the other Aggies in the first half. Marcel Reed further solidified his place as A&M’s starter with two passing touchdowns and a rush for another.
In the first game without leading rusher Le’Veon Moss, Amari Daniels had five carries for 84 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown, and A&M was able to empty the bench and even get the all-walk-on 12th Man kickoff team some time. The Aggies will have to lock in for a dangerous night game at Auburn on Saturday before returning home to defend Kyle Field against the Longhorns on Nov. 30. — Wilson
Previous ranking: 15
Army (9-0) watched Tulane clinch the other spot in the AAC championship on Saturday; the Green Wave and Black Knights will face off for the title on Dec. 7. But first comes maybe the biggest (non-Navy) Army game in decades Saturday, when the Black Knights head to Yankee Stadium to face Notre Dame in a game that could determine their CFP viability. With a win, they would almost certainly rise into the teens in the CFP rankings. To pull off the upset, though, the Black Knights might have to find their inner disruptor. They are great at the bend-but-don’t-break routine, forcing few negative plays but allowing no big plays and making stops in the red zone. But Notre Dame can run the ball (and finish in the red zone) with ruthless efficiency, and if Army can’t knock the Irish off-schedule, it might not make enough stops. — Connelly
Previous ranking: 16
The Buffaloes (8-2) are on a four-game winning streak and could legitimately win a Big 12 title in Deion Sanders’ second season. But a 49-24 rout of Utah on Saturday left their head coach wanting more from the rushing attack. Arkansas transfer Isaiah Augustave broke a 37-yard touchdown run against the Utes, but the Buffs’ backs combined for 32 yards on 11 carries over the rest of the game. “We can do some remarkable things if we have a more balanced offense,” Sanders said. Colorado has gained 1,017 yards on non-sack rushes this season, fewest among all Power 4 offenses. — Max Olson
Previous ranking: 20
The Gamecocks are one of those teams that nobody is lining up to play right now, and one of the things that will make them even more formidable the rest of the way will be holding on to leads. They’re finding different ways to win, growing up in key areas and smothering opposing offenses with a defensive line that’s right up there with any in college football. The Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3) rallied past Missouri in the final minute for a 34-30 win on Saturday, giving them their fourth straight victory and marking only the second time in the past 11 seasons they have finished with a winning SEC record.
The only real snag is that the Gamecocks had a two-touchdown lead early and couldn’t hold on. That could come back to bite them down the road. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers, a redshirt freshman, is blossoming at just the right time. He passed for 353 yards and five touchdowns, with the final one being the game winner to Rocket Sanders on a 15-yard shovel pass. Two nonconference games remain for South Carolina: against Wofford at home this coming weekend and then at home vs. bitter in-state rival Clemson on Nov. 30. The Gamecocks are one of the more improved teams in the country from a year ago and a couple of close losses to LSU and Alabama away from being right in the middle of the playoff conversation. — Low
Previous ranking: 19
The Tigers are done with ACC play with two weeks to go in the regular season, going 7-1 (8-2 overall), and still have a slight chance to make it to the ACC championship game after an up-and-down 24-20 win over Pitt on Saturday. The easiest route would be for Miami to lose again. No matter what happens, Clemson suddenly has issues on its offensive line, which lost another player Saturday. The Tigers are down multiple starters, and it showed in a ragged effort against the Panthers in which they were unable to run the ball until Cade Klubnik‘s late touchdown; Klubnik was harassed for the majority of the game. The Citadel is up next, and then a huge matchup against rival South Carolina at home as the Tigers seek to notch another 10-win season. — Adelson
Previous ranking: NR
Kenny Dillingham and his coaching staff continues to pull off one of the best turnarounds in the country. The 8-2 Sun Devils notched another statement win on Saturday with a 24-14 road stunner over No. 16 Kansas State. Redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt is playing at a high level, Jordyn Tyson burned the Wildcats for 176 receiving yards and two scores on 12 catches and the Sun Devils’ defense didn’t allow a score until late in the third quarter. One area where they’ll need to improve if they hope to win out: the kicking game. Former USC and Ohio State transfer Parker Lewis has taken over the kicking duties and converted a 47-yard field goal against K-State. — Olson
Previous ranking: 25
It’s difficult to nitpick a Green Wave team that has won eight straight games by an average margin of 28.8 points and clinched a spot in the AAC title game with a 35-0 win over Navy on Saturday. However, if Tulane (9-2) wants to make the most of its outside shot at a playoff berth, it could use an uptick in the passing game. Freshman quarterback Darian Mensah delivered another efficient performance in Week 12 (10-of-14, 138 yards, two TDs), while Tulane’s 10th-ranked rushing attack totalled 220 yards. The Green Wave offense is rolling, but Mensah has eclipsed 14 completions just twice over the past eight games and 200 yards only three times during that stretch. The Tulane run game has carried Jon Sumrall’s program this fall, but it will need a passing attack when it meets Army — and the nation’s No. 3 run defense (82.6 yards per game) entering Week 12 — in the AAC championship game on Dec. 6. — Eli Lederman
Previous ranking: NR
The Cyclones (8-2) snapped a two-game skid Saturday with a 24-point second half powered by a pair of Rocco Becht touchdowns. But the biggest hitch in Iowa State’s slim Big 12 title game (and playoff) hopes remains a run defense that was gashed for 287 rushing yards in a 34-17 road win over Cincinnati on Saturday night. The injuries that have ravaged Iowa State’s defense in the back half of the season have shown up on the ground, where Jon Heacock’s unit has now given up 200-plus yards in five of the Cyclones’ past eight games. Can Iowa State improve against the run with a depleted and inexperienced defense in the coming weeks? Unclear. But it’s the area in which the Cyclones need to improve if they’re going to scrap back into the conference title race ahead of a visit to Utah and a home game vs. Kansas State to close the regular season. — Lederman
Previous ranking: 18
The Cougars escaped a number of close calls throughout the season, but their luck finally caught up with them in a poor road performance at New Mexico. Wazzu led 28-14 at halftime, only to collapse in a 38-35 loss, with New Mexico scoring the game-winning touchdown with 21 seconds to play. If the Cougars (8-2) win out, they can still tie their single-season school wins record (11), but there’s no sugarcoating this: It was a terrible loss to take this deep in the season. — Bonagura
Previous ranking: NR
There’s not much to nitpick about the 8-2 Rebels following their 41-20 win over San Diego State late Saturday night. UNLV was never in much danger in this one, pulling away with a 21-point second quarter and surpassing 250 yards both passing and rushing. The Rebels have a top-10 scoring offense in the FBS but haven’t been among the nation’s best in third-down efficiency, ranking 86th entering Saturday with a conversion rate of 38%. They boosted that percentage against the Aztecs by going 8-for-16, but coach Barry Odom knows it’s going to take excellent situational football to win the Mountain West. — Olson
Previous ranking: 24
For the first time since a loss to Kentucky in November 2022, Missouri lost a one-score game. The Tigers’ nine-game winning streak in such games came to an end at the hands of LaNorris Sellers, Raheim Sanders and the South Carolina offense. Mizzou got a gutty performance from quarterback Brady Cook, who started despite being listed as doubtful for much of the week because of a wrist injury; the senior threw for 237 yards and got 150 rushing yards from Nate Noel and a glorious late touchdown from Luther Burden III to give the Tigers the lead with 1:10 left. But the Gamecocks scored 55 seconds later, and Mizzou fell to 6-3. The biggest challenge for the rest of the season: remaining focused. Mizzou entered the season with playoff hopes, and those are out the window, but the Tigers will be favored in each of their last two games and could still finish 9-3. That’s never bad in Columbia. — Connelly
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