‘He’s going to throw it 105 yards!’: The legend of Tennessee QB Joe Milton’s arm
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Alex Scarborough, ESPN Staff Writer
GROWING UP, JOE Milton couldn’t help himself when he saw smoke on the horizon. It didn’t matter how many times his mom warned him about the tractor blades that could chew him up, or how the fumes could aggravate his asthma and cause him to hyperventilate. If the sugar cane fields were being cut and burned, that meant rabbits were running for cover, and that meant game on for Milton.
Chasing rabbits is a Pahokee, Florida, tradition in the fall when farmers clear their land for next year’s harvest. Former NFL cornerback Janoris Jenkins so identified with his hometown and its unique pastime that he preferred to be called Jackrabbit.
Long-limbed and quick, Milton was good at chasing rabbits. And with his mom’s voice in his ear, he really did try to be safe. But when you’re young and full of adrenaline and sprinting after something that doesn’t want to be caught, how careful can you be? If it was a competition, he was going to find a way to win.
Milton recalled a particularly stubborn rabbit who raced toward a canal once. Usually they’d hide in the tall grass near the edge of the water, he said, but this rabbit was acting as if it was going to jump across. Never mind the danger that might be lurking in the water below. “You know what?” Milton decided. “I’m going to follow through with it.”
The rabbit did leap, and a split second later, an alligator rose up and snatched it out of the air with its teeth.
Milton slammed on the brakes. “I’m good,” he thought as he watched the gator devour its dinner.
It was the last time he ran toward the smoke. Ever since, he’s been chasing something more elusive than a scared little rabbit: his potential as one of the most irresistible quarterback prospects the state has produced.
Big, strong and a threat to run the football, he checks every box. But it’s his right arm — the one that gator could have easily mangled — that has become the stuff of legend. College coaches came from all over the country to see the towering passes it sent soaring down the sideline and the way it looked so effortless with just a flick of the wrist.
Teammates laugh at the absurdity of it all, the stories that sound too impossible to be true, like the time Milton threw a baseball 95 miles per hour without warming up. For the longest time, Milton was oblivious to his gift. But if he had to pinpoint the moment he knew he was different, it was his senior year at Olympia High School in Orlando when, on a lark, he got down on a knee and tested how far he could throw a football. It traveled 70 yards.
Only now, after five long years in college, is that talent coming into focus. And not a moment too soon as he takes center stage as the starting quarterback at No. 11 for Tennessee — his second school after transferring from Michigan, and his last chance. On Saturday, on the road at Florida (7 p.m. ET, ESPN), all eyes will be on Milton. How his story ends is anyone’s guess. Bust or first-round pick? Underachiever or national champion?
He’s traveled thousands of miles to get here, from Pahokee to Ann Arbor to Knoxville and points in between. All he has to do now is make the leap from can’t-miss prospect to star — and not get pulled down into the danger below.
“MY NAME’S JOE. I play quarterback at Tennessee.”
Truth be told, Milton didn’t need to introduce himself to the adolescent campers at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana. None of the 40 or so college counselors on hand this past June — not Heisman Trophy contenders Drake Maye, Michael Penix or Jayden Daniels — could match Milton’s 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame. Not to pick on Garrett Greene, who was Academic All-Big 12 Conference at West Virginia last season, but he looked like a child walking beside Milton, barely coming up to his chin.
Milton is larger than life in other ways, too. These kids live on social media, so chances are they’ve seen his jaw-dropping throws like this one or this one. And who among us hasn’t replayed the clip of him throwing an orange 100-plus yards? It has 1.4 million hits and counting on X.
How far can Joe throw an orange ? ❓@OrangeBowl @Qbjayy7 #GBO ? pic.twitter.com/lEP9aUTEJm
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) December 22, 2022
The buzz at the Manning academy on the Nicholls State campus surrounded Milton, and the question seemingly on everyone’s mind: How far would he throw during the passing competition?
During a 15-minute recess, after Milton broke the huddle by doing a standing backflip with the ease of someone stepping over a puddle, one camper asked Milton whether he would set a throwing record, although no formal records are kept. Milton shrugged and laughed if off. But then Greene fanned the flames, telling campers, “He’s going to throw it 105 yards!” Greene might as well have told them Milton would throw it over the moon, their eyes went so wide in disbelief.
Nearby, Peyton Manning, who has seen it all in his Hall of Fame career, also wondered about Milton’s limits — whether he had any. Peyton’s father, Archie, has been putting on the passing academy for 27 years, and Peyton Manning couldn’t recall a time when there was more anticipation for a quarterback. “We usually start to throw on the 30-yard line going toward the other end zone,” he said. “You figure you got 80 yards and that’s safe where you’re not going to run a [receiver] into the goalpost. I’m not sure the 30 is safe with Joe.”
There was a twinkle in Manning’s eye, but he wasn’t being hyperbolic. A Tennessee alumnus, he’s witnessed firsthand what Milton is capable of. While having that big arm is great, Manning said, “I know how much he studies. He’s an accurate quarterback, and he’s a great kid.
“I’m proud of him the way he came in last year after [Hendon Hooker‘s] injury and what a great teammate he was pulling for Hendon,” Manning said. “And I think that bowl win against Clemson can just do wonders for a new quarterback’s confidence. Joe’s a senior, but that was a new role for him and he just played so well. We had a good visit last night talking about the work they’re doing this offseason. I’m excited for him.”
Milton said that one-on-one conversation with Manning was surreal. And it wasn’t small talk, either. Milton said Manning hit him with a flurry of questions: How can you be in the present and not worry about last year? How are you leading the guys? How are you taking on your role every day? Milton assured him he was handling his business.
“Life is good,” he said. “I wake up, I’m happy. I’m not in a headspace where I’m stressing about anything. I’m just having fun.”
For one sweltering day this summer, Milton seemed unburdened — by the past, by expectations, by the pressure of having one season of eligibility left to prove he can be what he’s always dreamed of. The eldest of seven children, he fell back into the joy of tossing the ball around the backyard. It was a lesson in patience, he said, and a not-so-subtle reminder of those early days in Pahokee when anything was possible.
So he didn’t flinch when the first camper to cycle through his station was wearing a navy blue bucket hat with an unmistakable yellow block M across the front. He didn’t seem to notice the irony at all. A few moments later, a camper in a bright orange Tennessee shirt sailed a pass way off target, and Milton stepped in and encouraged him, “C’mon, man, I already know you can throw it.” He said to pay attention to his shoulder placement.
“You have no room for error,” he said, speaking from experience.
THE PLAYCALL WAS perfect. Milton, in his second game starting for Tennessee in 2021, took the snap on second-and-long and dropped back as if to pass when Pitt’s defense bit hard. The weakside linebacker rushed upfield while the defensive tackle in front of him ran a stunt, vacating the A-gap and creating a runway for Milton to take off. Defensive back Javon McIntyre then learned a lesson about angles and Joe Milton: Better safe than sorry. McIntyre, who is 45 pounds lighter than Milton, tried to cut him off before the first-down marker and didn’t even lay a hand on him. A footrace, Milton crossed midfield and sprinted all the way inside the 5-yard line before he was tripped up.
Milton lay on the ground and celebrated by crossing his arms on his chest. Neyland Stadium erupted. Was this the moment they were waiting for? Was this the Cam Newton clone they were promised when he transferred from Michigan in the spring? The arm, the legs, the whole package. “He’s the most athletic, biggest human being I’ve ever seen,” said Milton’s personal QB coach Donovan Dooley. “He looks like an action figure.”
“Soon as I stood up,” Milton said, “it felt like my ankle was loose.”
He played through the discomfort for one more series, but he knew what an MRI would later confirm: multiple ligament tears that would derail his season. And how’s this for irony? The defender who tackled him, Brandon Hill, was a friend Milton knew from Florida.
“I had a life flash,” Milton said. Maybe the universe was trying to tell him something. “My confidence level, I thought I wasn’t good enough to play football.”
It wasn’t just the one play and the injury that had him rattled. It was the whole damned thing: two years riding the bench at Michigan before finally getting his shot, only to then lose the starting job to Cade McNamara, prompting his decision to transfer to Tennessee. What went unreported at the time was that Milton broke his thumb in the second game of the 2020 season against Michigan State — a thought that haunted him going into Week 2 against Pitt a year later.
At Michigan, Milton said he thought he was better than he really was. Sure, he had that big arm — capable of firing passes so hard they’d rip apart the seams of receivers’ gloves — but he was complacent and immature. Dooley put it another way: Milton was playing quarterback rather than living the position by putting in extra hours studying the film and understanding the bigger picture. “He wishes he could have handled some things differently,” Dooley said.
Tennessee was supposed to offer a fresh start, but Milton found more of the same disappointment with the injury. Hooker would step in as his replacement and quickly establish himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
But rather than transfer a second time, Milton made the decision to stay and support the team as best he could. He and Hooker became inseparable. No one cheered on Hooker’s Heisman Trophy run last year more than Milton.
Milton said he looked in the mirror after the injury and told himself, “God ain’t make you this big for no reason. God didn’t make you this smart for no reason.”
He asked God for one more opportunity, and asked himself, “What are you going to do when you get it?”
3:02
It’s time for Milton III to put talent on full display
SEC Nation’s Jordan Rodgers and Tim Tebow break down No. 12 Tennessee’s Joe Milton III’s talent and explain why he’s gifted in many different ways.
IT WAS A process, letting go of the residual weight of those injuries and the disappointment of not realizing his potential sooner. But Milton has made peace with it.
Now, he said, he’s changed.
Now, he said, “I want more.”
“As you get older, you see how life works and you see how things can come and go,” he explained. “So I treat it differently. It’s more meaning now, not because it’s my last year but because guys want it more. I see it in their eyes, they’re dedicated. So why not give it my all?”
Don’t just take his word for it. Dooley traveled to Knoxville this summer for a few days of one-on-one work with Milton. It was early in the morning when he arrived at Tennessee’s indoor facility to set up, and Milton was already there. And not just that, he had eight or nine receivers with him. And not just that, he had two other quarterbacks as well.
When Dooley talks about living the position of quarterback, that’s what he means. Not being threatened by competition and leading the entire team. Getting to know the receivers inside and out so they’re in sync when the pressure is on and 90,000 fans are screaming so loud they can’t communicate verbally.
“It’s a total 180,” Dooley said. “Joe’s a different Joe. He’s a man now.”
Again, don’t take just one person’s word for it.
Ask defensive lineman Omari Thomas.
“I’ve seen Joe just be able to be himself,” he said. “I feel like that’s what helps Joe thrive in different situations is him being able to be himself, being able to be happy, be uplifting, and just be the person he is.”
Ask tight end Jacob Warren.
“I’ve noticed a shift in just how he carries himself and how he handles interactions with everybody — people around the building, whether it’s the janitor or people down in our dining hall,” he said. “He knows he’s Joe Milton. Everyone knows he’s Joe Milton.”
Coach Josh Heupel said it’s important to remember college athletes are still young and learning. When Hooker suffered a season-ending knee injury last year, Milton took over and was 2-0 as the starter.
“For Joe and his journey — the ups and downs that he’s had from growing up, to Michigan, to Tennessee — it’s all a product of who he is today and has helped make him as strong as he is,” he said.
Hooker showed what’s possible in Heupel’s up-tempo offense, scoring 32 touchdowns and winning SEC Offensive Player of the Year last season. A more mature, well-rounded Joe Milton has people buzzing about beating Alabama two years in a row and making a sneaky run for the Heisman Trophy.
Thomas is no longer surprised by anything Milton does, especially with a football in his hands. Thomas will be in practice and marvel at the speed and accuracy of Milton’s passes.
“He might be joking around and somebody will throw him a ball from the 50 and he’ll hit the goal post,” Thomas said. “I just don’t feel like it’s normal.”
It’s not.
Missouri cornerback Kris Abrams saw it firsthand last season when Milton came on in relief of Hooker and was a perfect 3-for-3. “He threw a bomb!” Abrams said, dumbfounded months later by Milton’s 58-yard pass in the fourth quarter. The only comparison he could come up with for Miltons’ arm was former LSU great JaMarcus Russell. But, Abrams added, “He can run it, too.”
Heupel had another comp: Brett Favre.
It’s not just that Milton can fit the ball into tight windows, Warren said, it’s that he can pick any window on the field he wants — whether it’s smack-dab between two defenders or a spot 70-plus yards downfield.
No one else in the country can make those throws, Warren said.
“No doubt that guy can.”
1:16
Joe Milton shows off arm strength at Manning Passing Academy
Tennessee QB Joe Milton puts his electric arm on display at the Manning Passing Academy.
WHEN THE MOMENT finally arrived, Milton dressed for the occasion. He put on a fresh Manning Passing Academy cap for the night’s throwing competition, turning it backward, and black socks with “I’m Expensive” written in white lettering. And, despite the sun setting an hour earlier, he wore sunglasses for good measure.
“He’s got a hose!” Cooper Manning, the emcee, warned the crowd before one of Milton’s early throws. He told the volunteers to clear out of the bushes behind the end zone just in case they got pegged.
Cooper laughed into the microphone after one of Milton’s 50-yard-plus bombs. He said he’d never seen anything like it.
“Can you get arrested for having a big arm?” he asked incredulously.
Then Milton really went for it, taking a breezy crow hop and letting it fly on a post route.
“Holy cow!” Cooper said before the towering pass had even reached its zenith.
It traveled at least 80 yards to the back-left corner of the end zone. Texas quarterback coach Brian Thiebaud said it was “the craziest throw I’ve ever seen.”
Finally came the main event: the Long Shot challenge. Three golf carts were set up on the field, dressed in oversized bull’s-eye targets. One cart ran the equivalent of a short drag route. Another cart ran an intermediate post. And the final cart ran a go-route straight down the sideline, punching the gas.
The college quarterbacks went in alphabetical order. Some hit the first target, some hit the second. But none hit the third target until Milton stepped up and made it look easy.
His final pass came down hard on the golf cart in the end zone, and Guidry Stadium erupted in applause.
Milton did a backflip as an exclamation point.
Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers was waiting his turn and couldn’t believe what he’d seen. Milton, he said, has the “strongest arm in the world.”
“I saw Anthony Richardson last year,” Rogers said. “I think it’s flying over his ball.”
Jim Nagy, a former scout who runs the Senior Bowl, flashed back to Richardson, too. The former Florida quarterback punctuated his Long Shot performance with a backflip as well. Viewed as an unproven passer with untapped potential, Richardson wound up getting selected with the No. 4 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts.
Sound familiar? The knock on Milton has always been that he struggles with the short-to-intermediate passes. Sometimes he throws it too hard, sailing it over or through his receivers’ hands. Dooley said against Clemson, “He was proving to himself that he could get this s— done.” But the questions about Milton’s touch persist. “We’ve done every goddamn drill I can think of,” Dooley said. “Right now, either we can do it or we can’t. It’s as simple as that.”
“In terms of any quarterback in his class, he’s maybe the guy I’m most excited to see what it looks like,” Nagy said. “Because the physical tools are undeniable. I mean, the arm strength and the athleticism.”
Milton might not be in the same conversation as top-five prospects like Caleb Williams or Maye right now, but don’t be surprised if he’s a quick riser. While accuracy and processing ability are the two most important traits NFL general managers and scouts are looking for, Nagy said, “It’s hard not to become enamored with arm strength when you’re an evaluator.”
Richardson isn’t the only example. Josh Allen completed a pedestrian 56.2% of passes and 21 interceptions in 27 games at Wyoming, and he’s blossomed into a star for the Buffalo Bills.
But we’re probably getting ahead of ourselves. Milton has to get through this season first. Up next is a game on the road against the Florida Gators on Saturday.
Rest assured that Milton is confident he and Tennessee will come out on top. As he told reporters at the Manning Passing Academy, “I don’t lose in Florida.”
But that wasn’t the only interesting thing he said before leaving Thibodaux. Before he stepped into the main interview room, he told ESPN the exact answer to the question so many had been asking: What’s the farthest he’s thrown a football?
He’d given only ballparks before — 80-plus, 90-something, far enough. But he went into specifics this time.
“Ninety-seven yards,” he said.
He wasn’t joking.
If he made 80-plus look easy, imagine if he reared back and really put his whole body into it?
With Joe Milton, anything feels possible.
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Adam Rittenberg
BATON ROUGE, La. — Texas A&M coach Mike Elko isn’t interested in what the Aggies were or what they failed to accomplish during decades of underachievement. He is all about the 2025 Aggies, who are 8-0 after beating LSU 49-25 on Saturday night.
Texas A&M scored 35 straight points to pull away, empty out Tiger Stadium and celebrate with a large contingent of its fans in the southeast corner of the stadium.
“I keep saying this: It’s not about the past,” Elko said. “We got to stop, like, worrying about the past, thinking about the past, talking about the past. I’m excited for what this team is doing right now.
“This team is doing some really special things.”
The third-ranked Aggies are 8-0 for the first time since 1992, after their first win at LSU as an SEC member. Texas A&M has scored 40 or more points in four consecutive road games for the first time in team history, tying the SEC record, and finished with the most points against a ranked LSU team at Tiger Stadium since Georgia scored 52 in 2008.
“They tried to put a quote up there that I said that Death Valley was underwhelming,” Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed said. “And shoot, I guess it was. They didn’t do much to me.”
What stood out about Texas A&M’s rout was how unlikely it seemed at halftime, when No. 20 LSU led 18-14. The Aggies had gone through a miserable, albeit historically familiar, second quarter, when they had a punt blocked through the end zone for a safety, threw two interceptions and were outscored 11-0.
Texas A&M outgained LSU 258-189 at the half, but its mistakes created a halftime deficit for the first time this season. The Aggies’ only win in their previous 10 games while trailing at the half came against LSU last season.
“I said, ‘You’re the better team, but you have to play better football, and if you don’t play better football, you’re going to let one slip away tonight,'” Elko said of his halftime message.
Added Reed: “Elko definitely said some things. I can’t really remember every detail. It was aggressive, though, for sure.”
Reed felt Texas A&M was the superior team from the start of the game, but the Aggies had to prove it. They did it with their most complete quarter of the season, outscoring LSU 21-0 and outgaining the Tigers 132-14. The highlight came from star wide receiver KC Concepcion, who returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.
Texas A&M punted just once in the second half and forced four consecutive LSU punts. Elko credited the strong finish to strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt, who held the same role at LSU from 2000 to 2021 until being ousted during the coaching transition from Ed Orgeron to Brian Kelly.
“Moffitt wanted this game just as bad as anyone else,” said Reed, who finished with 202 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, and 108 rushing yards and 2 scores. “I remember Thursday, he kind of brought in a tackling dummy with Brian Kelly’s face on it. Yeah, this one was an important one to him.”
Some LSU fans chanted for Kelly’s firing in the closing minutes as the Tigers, who began the season with national championship aspirations, lost for the third time in four games. LSU had been 20-1 in night games under Kelly.
“20-2,” Elko said when a reporter asked about Kelly’s record.
LSU is 4-5 in its past nine SEC games.
“Our fans are disappointed like any fan base would be,” said Kelly, who turned 64 on Saturday. “It stops with the head coach, so that responsibility falls with me.”
Elko is keenly aware of what Texas A&M has been, and what places like Tiger Stadium have represented for the program. He was the Aggies’ defensive coordinator in 2019 when LSU thumped the Aggies 50-7 in Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow’s final home game on the way to the national championship. Texas A&M had other losses in this stadium, big and small, stretching back to 1994, when it won 18-13.
“I told the kids this the other day, ‘I was the starting point guard on my high school basketball team the last time [Texas A&M] won here,'” Elko said.
He stopped short of saying he expected an 8-0 start, or such a dominant win in such a house of horrors for past Aggies teams. But Texas A&M’s different paths to victory this season — a last-minute comeback at Notre Dame, hard-nosed victories against Auburn and Arkansas, several blowouts — make Elko confident that his team can check all the boxes of a championship contender.
Texas A&M enters an open week before a November that will determine whether it secures its first College Football Playoff appearance.
“There’s definitely still a lot of things to be proven, and I feel like a lot of people in this country still don’t respect us as a team,” Reed said. “So no, we’re not trying to prove anybody wrong. We’re just going to go prove ourselves right.”
Nowhere in the College Football Playoff selection committee’s protocol does it refer to anything about a team’s history and tradition — or lack thereof. It’s not supposed to care that Vanderbilt hasn’t been 7-1 in 84 years.
The 12 people in that room will absolutely care, though, that Vanderbilt is 7-1 now — with back-to-back wins against ranked SEC opponents LSU and Missouri. Vanderbilt — the story of the season — is on the brink of making its first appearance in any CFP ranking during the playoff era.
And not only will the Commodores crack the committee’s top 25, but they also will have a legitimate chance to make their debut in the coveted top 12 when the first ranking is released Nov. 4. If the playoff were today, they would already be in. A lot can — and will — change with one Saturday remaining before the first ranking is revealed, but here is a snapshot of what it might look like through Week 9 results.
Projecting the top 12
Why they could be here: The Buckeyes remain safe at the top after a bye week, as Indiana’s home win against a UCLA team that is now 3-5 wouldn’t be enough to sway the committee into flipping them. Ohio State entered Week 9 ranked No. 1 in the country in total efficiency, No. 1 in defensive efficiency, and No. 6 in offensive efficiency. The Buckeyes also have three Big Ten road wins to Indiana’s two, and are No. 1 in ESPN’s Game Control metric with a slight edge over No. 2 Indiana. Ohio State’s win at Washington would also be strongly valued by the committee, as the Huskies improved to 6-2 on Saturday.
Why they could be lower: Indiana keeps making statements – even against unranked teams like UCLA. The Hoosiers’ win at Oregon is better than Ohio State’s victory against Texas, even though the Longhorns managed an epic overtime comeback Saturday at Mississippi State. The selection committee also compares common opponents, and while Ohio State and Indiana beat Illinois with ease, the Hoosiers did it in historic fashion, handing coach Bret Bielema the worst loss of his career.
Need to know: Ohio State’s spot at the top isn’t a guarantee as the season progresses. If Alabama runs the table and wins the SEC, the selection committee will at least consider the Tide for the No. 1 spot. Alabama entered Saturday with the No. 2 toughest schedule in the country — Ohio State was No. 33. The question would be if enough committee members could forgive the season-opening loss to Florida State, which has looked worse every week. So while this pecking order has been fairly stable with the Big Ten at the top, the possibility of shuffling remains — and that includes a promotion for the Hoosiers, too, if they finish as undefeated Big Ten champs.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at Michigan. The Buckeyes are trying to avoid a fifth straight loss to their rivals.
Why they could be here: The Hoosiers asserted themselves against a recharged UCLA team, leaving no doubt they were better in another lopsided win. Indiana still owns the best win in the country, Oct. 11 at Oregon, and the historic 63-10 rout against Illinois is another separation point between the Hoosiers and other contenders. They don’t have a nonconference victory, though, that stacks up against Ohio State’s season-opening win against Texas.
Why they could be higher: Indiana’s sheer domination of UCLA was yet another statement of the Hoosiers’ relentless consistency. They don’t play down to their opponents and have beaten everyone but Iowa by double digits. The 30-20 triumph at Oregon is better than Ohio State’s home win against the Longhorns on the overall résumé, and IU entered Saturday ranked No. 2 in the country in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric — just ahead of Ohio State.
Need to know: The Hoosiers have passed their most difficult tests of the season. Their task now is to avoid what would be a shocking November upset. None of their remaining opponents are ranked and only Maryland (4-3) is above .500. If the Hoosiers run the table and play for the Big Ten championship, they should be a CFP lock. Even if they lose the title game, they should be in contention for a top-four finish and first-round bye.
Toughest remaining game: If Indiana is a playoff team, it shouldn’t lose in November. Three of IU’s last four games are on the road, but Maryland has lost three straight, Penn State has lost four straight and Purdue has lost six in a row. The Hoosiers’ last home game is Nov. 15 against a struggling Wisconsin team. Indiana has at least a 70% chance to win each remaining game.
Why they could be here: The Tide avoided an upset on the road against a scrappy South Carolina team, preserving its position as what should be the committee’s top one-loss team. Alabama hasn’t lost since its season opener at Florida State and has four wins against ranked opponents. The Tide entered Saturday ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric, No. 2 in strength of schedule and in the top 15 in offensive and defensive efficiency. The win against Georgia will keep the Tide above the Bulldogs as long as their records remain the same because of the committee’s tiebreaker protocol.
Why they could be lower: The loss to Florida State happened, and the Noles are 3-4. Meanwhile, Texas A&M is still undefeated after its convincing road win at LSU, further enhancing its résumé with a second road victory against a ranked opponent.
Need to know: Alabama has a much-needed bye week and won’t play again before the selection committee releases its first ranking Nov. 4. This eight-game résumé is what the group will use to determine where Alabama starts.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 13 vs. Oklahoma. The Tide should be favored to prevail at home, but it’s a week after hosting LSU. Alabama has at least a 72% chance to win each of its remaining games, according to ESPN Analytics. Alabama and Georgia have the best chances in the conference to reach the SEC title game.
Why they could be here: With the win at LSU on Saturday, the Aggies have compiled one of the most impressive résumés in the country, further cementing their place in the top four. Texas A&M now has two road victories against ranked opponents, including the Sept. 13 nonconference win at Notre Dame. It was also their second straight SEC road triumph after escaping Arkansas. The Aggies are No. 1 in the country in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric and entered Week 9 ranked No. 8 in Game Control. Even with one loss, though, Alabama has four wins against ranked opponents. Texas A&M could be held back by the committee because LSU and Notre Dame are the only opponents it has defeated with winning records. Everyone else is a combined 20-26.
Why they could be higher: The Aggies are undefeated and some committee members will have a hard time forgetting Alabama’s loss to Florida State.
Need to know: The Aggies and Tide don’t play each other during the regular season but could settle the debate in the SEC championship game. Texas A&M also doesn’t play Georgia during the regular season.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 at Texas. The Longhorns’ playoff hopes could be on the line, and finishing the season on the road against a rival is never easy.
Why they could be here: The Bulldogs had a bye week, but their Oct. 18 victory against Ole Miss looks even better today after the Rebels won at Oklahoma. Georgia’s head-to-head win against Ole Miss will keep it above the Rebels as long as their records are comparable because of the tiebreaker in the committee’s protocol. A three-point loss to Alabama will also keep the Bulldogs below the Tide for the same reason. The overtime road win against what should be a CFP Top 25 Tennessee team adds to their résumé and helps separate Georgia from other one-loss contenders.
Why they could be lower: Lopsided wins against Marshall and Austin Peay aren’t going to impress anyone in the committee meeting room. Kentucky and Auburn have at least four defeats each. The Bulldogs entered their bye week No. 6 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric.
Need to know: Rival Georgia Tech has the best chance of any team to reach the ACC championship game, which means Georgia has an opportunity to possibly enhance its résumé with a victory against the eventual ACC champion or runner-up.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 vs. Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets are undefeated and pushed the Bulldogs to eight overtimes last year. This year’s game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Why they could be here: The Rebels earned their first road win against a ranked SEC opponent Saturday at Oklahoma, adding to an already impressive résumé that includes victories against Tulane and LSU. The eight-point loss at Georgia on Oct. 18 is the only blemish, and it’s one of the best ways to lose in the eyes of the committee — on the road to a ranked opponent in a close game. That head-to-head result, though, will keep Ole Miss behind Georgia as long as their records remain the same.
Why they could be lower: The Rebels entered Week 9 ranked No. 71 in defensive efficiency, well below most other contenders here. Typically, top playoff teams rank in the top 10 to 15 in offense and defense. Ole Miss had allowed 22 points per game through the first seven games and was No. 108 in the country with 10 sacks. The Rebels also are one of the most penalized teams in the nation, giving up 69 yards per game through the first seven games.
Need to know: In this projection, Ole Miss would earn the No. 6 seed, which would mean a first-round home game as the higher seed. The Rebels might need help to get into the SEC championship game because of the setback to Georgia but shouldn’t lose again. Ole Miss likely won’t face another ranked opponent this season.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 at Mississippi State. The Egg Bowl is always interesting, but a loss to the Bulldogs could mean a first-round road trip instead of a home game — or getting bumped out of the bracket entirely.
Why they could be here: The Canes got off to a slow start at home against Stanford, but eventually pulled away to avoid what would have been a devastating defeat to a sub-.500 team. The Hurricanes rebounded from their Oct. 17 loss to Louisville, and still have a decent résumé, but it’s lost some of its luster. The win against South Florida remains respectable, but the Bulls chances of winning the American took a hit Saturday with their loss to Memphis. Florida has already fired coach Billy Napier, and Florida State has lost four straight. Miami’s season-opening win against Notre Dame, though, is still one of the best nonconference wins in the country and continues to help separate the Canes from other contenders with weaker schedules. It also helped Miami that Louisville beat Boston College and should be a one-loss CFP Top 25 team, softening the blow of that loss a little. And Miami is still performing well, ranking in the top 12 in offensive and defensive efficiency.
Why they could be lower: Some selection committee members could argue that Vanderbilt has a better résumé than Oregon and Miami as far as one-loss teams. Even before the Commodores earned their second victory against a ranked opponent, they were No. 11, sandwiched between No. 10 Oregon and No. 12 Miami in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric.
Need to know: The Canes will leave their home state for the first time all season when they travel to SMU on Saturday.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at Pitt. The Panthers have captured four straight games, including a stunning 53-34 win against NC State on Saturday.
Why they could be here: The 10-point home loss to Indiana is the only blemish, and the committee would consider that a decent loss. It would also still look somewhat favorable upon the double overtime win at Penn State, considering the Nittany Lions still had their head coach and it was an unforgiving environment and crowd. It certainly isn’t a statement win, but nobody in the room is going to penalize Oregon for it, either. The Ducks entered Week 9 ranked No. 10 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric.
Why they could be lower: The Ducks came out flat against a struggling Wisconsin team and don’t have a lot on their résumé to compare with other one-loss teams. Vanderbilt has two better wins, and undefeated BYU can argue better victories against Utah and Iowa State. The committee would point out an FCS win against Montana State, and Oklahoma State and Oregon State are a combined 2-14. Overall, Oregon entered Saturday with the No. 31 strength of schedule — just slightly ahead of No. 34 Vanderbilt.
Need to know: Oregon has more chances to impress the selection committee in November, with games against Iowa, USC and at Washington looming — all teams with winning records and potentially ranked in the CFP Top 25. The committee doesn’t project ahead, though, and Oregon has a bye week heading into the first ranking. Don’t be surprised if the Ducks are lower than some might expect the defending Big Ten champions to be when the first ranking is revealed Nov. 4. Last year’s results don’t impact the committee’s decisions this season, but schedules do. Oregon doesn’t have a lot on its résumé to impress the group. Eye test will play a role.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 29 at Washington. The 6-2 Huskies have lost only to Ohio State and on the road against Michigan.
Why they could be here: The committee would have a difficult decision, putting the one-loss Commodores ahead of two undefeated teams, but could justify it because Vanderbilt’s two best wins are better than BYU’s wins against Utah and Iowa State — and better than any of Georgia Tech’s wins. The lone loss was to Alabama, which should be the committee’s top one-loss team. The Commodores have now won back-to-back games against ranked SEC opponents. They also earned a convincing 31-7 win at South Carolina, which just pushed Alabama to the brink. Vanderbilt would be compared with one-loss Texas Tech, and the Commodores have better wins than the Red Raiders, and a better loss, as Texas Tech lost to Arizona State.
Why they could be lower: The committee could reward the undefeated Big 12 and ACC teams simply because they haven’t lost yet.
Need to know: This position could change quickly, as Vandy is at Texas on Saturday, it’s last chance to make a first impression on the selection committee before its first ranking. Vandy’s last two games against ranked SEC opponents are both on the road; Saturday at Texas and in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29 at Tennessee.
Toughest remaining game: Saturday at Texas. The Longhorns are desperately trying to keep their playoff hopes alive by avoiding a third loss, and ESPN Analytics gives them at least a 70% chance to win.
Why they could be here: BYU entered Week 9 ranked No. 60 in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule metric, which would be a significant drawback in the committee meeting room — but it’s ahead of Georgia Tech in both schedule strength and Strength of Record, where BYU was No. 5 on Saturday. BYU rallied at Iowa State to earn its fourth road win of the season and remains the only undefeated team left in the Big 12. Its best wins, though, are against Utah and Iowa State, which are both over .500 but borderline CFP Top 25 teams.
Why they could be lower: The committee would discuss an FCS win against Portland State, and a win against a sub-.500 team in West Virginia. BYU also needed double overtime to win at unranked, three-loss Arizona on Oct. 11.
Need to know: This was BYU’s last chance to impress the selection committee before the first ranking is revealed on Nov. 4 because they have a bye week on Saturday. The committee will have an undefeated Big 12 team to consider for its first of six rankings.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 8 at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders rebounded from their loss at Arizona State with a convincing win against a beleaguered Oklahoma State team on Saturday. BYU and Texas Tech have the highest chances to reach the Big 12 title game, according to ESPN Analytics, followed by Cincinnati. The Cougars have to play both opponents on the road during the regular season, but have a bye week to prepare for the Nov. 8 game at Texas Tech.
Why they could be here: Undefeated Georgia Tech entered this week ranked No. 72 in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule metric, which will probably keep the Jackets lower in the committee’s top 12. Their best nonconference win is at Colorado, and the committee would note an FCS win against Gardner-Webb. Even without three injured starters, though, Georgia Tech pulled away to beat Syracuse soundly on Saturday — and the committee considers injuries to key players. The Jackets needed a convincing win after struggling multiple times to get separation against unranked opponents.
Why they could be higher: The Yellow Jackets would likely be behind BYU because the Cougars have better wins, but they could both be above Vanderbilt if more committee members keep the Commodores lower because of their loss to Alabama.
Need to know: Without any CFP Top 25 wins on their résumé, style points could come in handy in November in case Georgia Tech loses to rival Georgia and doesn’t win the ACC. A win against Georgia, though, would impress the committee any way it happened. That would make it much easier for the group to include Georgia Tech as an at-large team if the Jackets’ lone loss is to the ACC champion.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 28 vs. Georgia. The Yellow Jackets took their rival to eight overtimes last year before losing, 44-42, in Athens.
Why they could be here: The Irish remain on the bubble following their bye week, but the Oct. 18 home win against USC catapulted them back into the conversation. It was their first win against a ranked opponent, and the fifth straight win since an 0-2 start. Notre Dame was No. 9 overall in ESPN’s Strength of Schedule metric entering Saturday, but some committee members will have trouble voting the Irish much higher because of the two losses — even though they were by a combined four points to two ranked opponents. The victory against 6-2 Boise State was one of Notre Dame’s best wins, and that was part of a string of three games in which the Irish defense held its opponents to 13 points or fewer.
Why they could be lower: With the losses to Miami and Texas A&M, Notre Dame checked in at No. 18 in ESPN’s Strength of Record metric entering Saturday. It didn’t help that Miami lost to Louisville.
Need to know: If the playoff were today, Notre Dame would be bumped out to make room for the fifth-highest-ranked conference champion, which is guaranteed a spot in the 12-team field. Right now that team — Memphis as the projected American champion — would be ranked outside the top 12. As an independent, Notre Dame can’t lock up a spot in the playoff as one of the five conference champions, so its only path is through an at-large bid.
Toughest remaining game: Nov. 15 at Pitt. Notre Dame is projected to win each of its remaining games, but this one is on the road against an ACC team above .500. The Irish entered Week 9 with the best chance in the country to win out (68.4%).
Bracket
Based on the rankings above, the seeding would be:
First-round byes
No. 1 Ohio State (Big Ten champ)
No. 2 Indiana
No. 3 Alabama (SEC champ)
No. 4 Texas A&M
First-round games
On campus, Dec. 19 and 20
No. 12 Memphis (American champ) at No. 5 Georgia
No. 11 Georgia Tech at No. 6 Ole Miss
No. 10 BYU (Big 12 champ) at No. 7 Miami (ACC champ)
No. 9 Vanderbilt at No. 8 Oregon
Quarterfinal games
At the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Presented by Prudential and Allstate Sugar Bowl on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.
No. 12 Memphis/No. 5 Georgia winner vs. No. 4 Texas A&M
No. 11 Georgia Tech/No. 6 Ole Miss winner vs. No. 3 Alabama
No. 10 BYU/No. 7 Miami winner vs. No. 2 Indiana
No. 9 Vanderbilt/No. 8 Oregon winner vs. No. 1 Ohio State
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David Hale
It is human nature to assume that every trend line points endlessly in the same direction, off to some far horizon that looks, more or less, just like our current view.
We see the sun come up every day, and we assume it will again tomorrow. We bet on blue-chip stocks, knowing that, for every blip and dive along the way, they’ll pay off in the long run. We hear “Texas is back” each season, and we’re secure in the knowledge that, sooner or later, we’ll all get to laugh about it again.
Amid an infinite universe filled with mystery, there are some hard truths that are impossible to escape.
Or, at least that’s how it used to be.
On Saturday, Nashville, Tennessee, was the center of the college football universe, as Vanderbilt took another step toward the playoff. Week 9 gave us another Virginia escape act, another Texas Tech blowout, another line on Fernando Mendoza‘s Heisman Trophy résumé at Indiana. This season, the meek have inherited the college football world, and it’s as fun as it is unexpected.
It used to be that Vanderbilt was the doormat of the SEC, the team whose job was simply to keep the Butch Joneses and Will Muschamps of the world bowl eligible.
It used to be that Virginia was the least invested school in the ACC, a place where the locker room served as a Jamba Juice during open dates.
It used to be that Indiana’s place in the Big Ten was to keep Rutgers company at the bottom of the standings.
It used to be that Texas Tech used all its oil money on brisket and Cadillacs and Kliff Kingsbury’s hair gel.
These were truths we knew to be self-evident. These were teams whose struggles you could set a watch by. These were the standard by which all other awfulness was judged.
Until now.
In 2025, Vanderbilt is a power. The “College GameDay” bus rolled into Nashville, taking up valuable parking spots for bachelorette parties along Broadway, and Vandy put on a show. The Commodores played big-boy football against Missouri, with a dominant defense making up for Diego Pavia‘s struggles, holding the Tigers to just 10 points in a 17-10 win. That Vandy mustered just 265 yards, that Pavia didn’t throw a touchdown, that Missouri held the ball for 13 minutes more than the Dores was all pretense. In another era, back when Vandy was simply where the line for Pancake Pantry ended on a Saturday, all those stats would’ve spelled doom. On Saturday, it was the recipe for another win.
In ACC country, the world now revolves around Virginia and Georgia Tech. That this is pure lunacy, a relic of Coastal Chaos that has roared back to life like some sort of “Jurassic Park” sequel, is too horrifying to comprehend. Before this season, Virginia was 56-75 in the playoff era, the worst record in the ACC in that span. Before Brent Key took over as Georgia Tech’s interim coach in 2022, Geoff Collins was contractually obligated to describe recruits as “smothered,” “covered” or “scattered” in order to keep the NIL collective flush. And now, the two schools are a combined 15-1 after Virginia won its third overtime game of the year 17-16 against North Carolina, and Georgia Tech lambasted Syracuse 41-16.
How good is Indiana? The Hoosiers have been so dominant this season that the conversation has shifted from “they got a favorable schedule” to “they might be pretty solid” to “what if we paid Curt Cignetti the equivalent of the worldwide box office take for “A Minecraft Movie”? On Saturday, Indiana utterly demoralized red-hot UCLA 56-6. Not since his role as the villain in “Back to School” seeing Thornton Melon’s astonishing Triple Lindy to win the dive meet had Jerry Neuheisel been so embarrassed. And even still, enjoying a 40-some-point lead, Cignetti roamed the sideline with the same air of indignation as an assistant regional manager of a midlevel textile distributor, frustrated with another supply chain hiccup. Indiana is all business, and business is very good.
And then there’s Texas Tech, a school that spent more than a decade post-Mike Leach wandering the wilderness, now dominating the competition on a weekly basis. The Red Raiders walloped Oklahoma State 42-0, despite turning to their third different QB of the year in Mitch Griffis, who threw for 172 yards and a score. That a guy who was once benched at Wake Forest is now closing out wins for Texas Tech feels a little like a guy who got fired for falling asleep at the Taco Bell drive-through window winning a James Beard Award for making the world’s best burrito at Chipotle.
A school that several Big Ten ADs kept confusing with Iowa’s JV team for the better part of the 2010s is now in line for the playoff.
A job that Bronco Mendenhall once quit because he wanted to go fly-fishing is now one of the best in the ACC.
A place where buskers playing country songs on the sidewalk garnered more respect than the local team’s QB1 is now a true college football town.
This is not supposed to be how any of this works. If there was one eternal truth to the college football universe, it was that Charlie Weis would get another $1 million check 30 years after he quit coaching. But if there was a second incontrovertible truth, it’s that the rich stayed rich, and the commoners weren’t supposed to punch above their weight.
Indiana, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech and sweet little Vanderbilt were all here to play the part of the Washington Generals. They were supposed to play along while the Alabamas and Ohio States of the world used Velcro and duct tape and an enchanted monkey’s paw to win by 100 each week.
But this is a new era in college football, a time when the field has been leveled, and all we once knew to be true has evaporated like so many UNC revenue share dollars.
Welcome to the new frontier, kings becoming paupers, bums living large, dogs and cats living together. Mass hysteria.
What a time to be alive.
More:
Bama escapes | Texas survives
Trends | Under the radar
Heisman five
Bama survives Shula reunion
0:43
Germie Bernard’s late TD wins it for Alabama
Germie Bernard takes it to the house for a 25-yard rushing touchdown to seal a 29-22 win over South Carolina.
For three-and-a-half quarters, Alabama looked to be teetering on the brink of losing to South Carolina in what would’ve been the week’s biggest upset. It’s not just that the Gamecocks have been struggling and the Tide have looked as good as anyone in the country, but the man calling plays for South Carolina also happens to be the last man to coach an Alabama team that wasn’t any good.
Mike Shula likely holds the title of most embarrassing Alabama coach of the past 75 years who wasn’t fired after visiting a strip club, and he holds the unfortunate title of “the guy who came before Nick Saban.” It’s easy to forget that the Tide were a program in utter tumult back then, just as it was easy to forget Alabama lost to Florida State in Week 1.
On Saturday, Shula arrived with a message, courtesy of his favorite band (we assume): “This is how I remind you.”
LaNorris Sellers threw for 222, ran for 67 and accounted for a pair of touchdowns as the Gamecocks led Alabama 22-14 with less than 3 minutes to play in the game. But for all the chaos of the 2025 season, some upsets are just not meant to be, and Saban didn’t sell a 10% equity stake in the program to Satan at a crossroads in Eutaw just to see his predecessor come in and spoil it all.
Germie Bernard scored twice in the game’s final 136 seconds — first on a 4-yard pass from Ty Simpson and again on a 25-yard run — to seal a 29-22 win.
Afterward, Shula admitted the reunion hadn’t gone as he had hoped, but he offered a dark prediction of things to come, promising he would return and finally get his revenge against all those who had persecuted him before being interrupted by the Wendy’s drive-through attendant, ultimately admitting he just wanted two junior bacon cheeseburgers and a large fry.
Texas survives again
For a team that was supposed to be a national title contender, nothing has come particularly easy for Texas this year.
Arch Manning is more likely to be named Whataburger’s customer of the month than a Heisman Trophy winner. The Horns have lost games to Ohio State and Florida. A win in the Red River Rivalry buoyed hopes, but that was followed by an overtime win against woeful Kentucky and another ugly performance against a Mississippi State team that hadn’t won an SEC game in two years.
The Bulldogs turned a 14-7 deficit into a 31-14 fourth-quarter lead Saturday, and the Mississippi State faithful were ready to celebrate at Longhorn Steakhouse, not because it’s the best place to get a steak near Starkville, but because it would be the funniest way to taunt Texas.
Manning threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, and after a stalled drive with 1:47 to play, Mississippi State’s ensuing punt resulted in the worst Niblett-related disaster since Arby’s ill-fated attempt to sell narwhal nuggets in 2009. Ryan Niblett returned the kick 57 yards for a game-tying touchdown. Sans Manning, who left the game with an injury, Texas went on to win 45-38 in overtime thanks to a touchdown from backup Matthew Caldwell.
0:43
Ryan Niblett takes 79-yard punt return to the house
Ryan Niblett scores on a 79-yard punt return late in the 4th quarter to tie things up for Texas vs. Mississippi State.
After the game, Texas celebrated with its now beloved Halloween tradition of turning an assistant coach’s pet monkey loose on a bunch of children.
Week 9 vibe check
Each week, the marquee games help tell the story of the college football season. But dive a bit deeper, and there are myriad other moments across the college football landscape that might have big ripple effects, too. We try to capture those here.
Trending down: Kiffin to Florida rumors
After a disappointing loss to Georgia, Ole Miss was teetering on the brink of a season-defining second loss against Oklahoma on Saturday, just as Lane Kiffin rumors — or “Krumors” as we’re choosing to call them — reached their apex. Nevertheless, the reports of Kiffin’s impending departure might be premature, as Ole Miss rebounded to topple Oklahoma 34-26.
Trinidad Chambliss threw for 315 yards and a touchdown in the win and appears to have fully secured the starting job over Austin Simmons, who threw his first pass since Sept. 13 but looked primed for a transfer to Ferris State.
The game was a critical point for the Rebels’ playoff hopes, and the loss might have been a death knell for Oklahoma, which has two losses in its past three games and plays its last four against ranked foes. After the loss, head coach Brent Venables called it a “painful way to learn,” not unlike the time he fought that bear he thought insulted Bill Snyder.
It was the Rebels’ first road win vs. a ranked SEC foe since 2016, and it marked one of Kiffin’s most impressive victories, alongside beating No. 4 Oregon in 2011, toppling Penn State in the 2022 Peach Bowl and forcing Al Davis to learn how to use an overhead projector in 2008.
Trending up: Auburn‘s offense
Cam Coleman has been trending toward being the SEC’s version of Shohei Ohtani with the Los Angeles Angels, the guy who consistently does something so mind-blowing that announcers note it hadn’t happened since old “Velvet Hands” McGraw danced past Sewanee back in 1906, all while Auburn’s offense stumbled into another loss.
Saturday was different. Coleman did reel in a jaw-dropping touchdown catch, but the rest of the Tigers showed up, too, in a 33-24 win over Arkansas.
0:39
Auburn’s Cam Coleman reels in a spectacular one-handed TD
Jackson Arnold connects with Cam Coleman for a 23-yard Auburn touchdown.
It was the first conference win of the season for Auburn, and a definitive answer to one of life’s great mysteries: If forced to choose between rewarding Hugh Freeze or Bobby Petrino, would the universe choose to simply implode instead?
Trending down: Embarrassment in Chapel Hill
For the second straight week, North Carolina had a chance to win a game against a conference opponent, and for the second straight week, it was upended by a matter of inches.
But, for a team that had been losing by miles, a few inches feels like dramatic improvement.
Indeed, UNC no longer looks “cancel the documentary” bad and is now simply “brings back memories of Belichick’s time with the Cleveland Browns” bad. The defense was stellar, racking up six sacks against No. 16 Virginia, but the offensive ineptitude — the Heels have yet to score more than 20 vs. an FBS opponent — proved their undoing, alongside two red zone turnovers.
At this rate, the Heels should be on pace to win the ACC no later than 2035. Never question Belichick’s “process.”
Trending up: Michigan rivalry wins
Michigan threw for just 86 yards, but Justice Haynes and Jordan Marshall racked up 262 yards on the ground and three touchdowns to knock off Michigan State 31-20.
The Wolverines have now won eight straight against hated rivals Michigan State and Ohio State. Of course, as Michigan fans are always quick to note, there are no losers in this rivalry. Michigan alums get their football success, and Michigan State alums get a free sub with every 10 purchases at Blimpie.
Trending down: LSU‘s playoff hopes
You can’t spell “play-&-M-off” without A&M, and the Texas A&M are riding high with their sights set on an SEC title after a dominant 49-18 win over LSU.
0:22
Jamarion Morrow spins in for another Texas A&M TD
Jamarion Morrow gets around a defender and into the end zone for another Texas A&M touchdown vs. LSU.
The Aggies actually trailed 18-14 at halftime, but that was just a way to lure Brian Kelly into a false sense of security. Kelly spent halftime repeating his calming affirmations, assuring his players that he wasn’t going to be mad and was just really happy about how hard they played.
After the game in which Marcel Reed accounted for 310 yards and four TDs, and KC Concepcion had 177 all-purpose yards and two scores, including a punt return touchdown, Kelly burst through the locker room wall like the Kool-Aid man and informed his team that if he ends up having to coach Penn State next year, he’s crossing all of them off his Christmas card list.
Trending up: Aztecs’ defense
The race for the Group of 5’s playoff bid feels wide open after nine weeks, but perhaps the least-likely contender is San Diego State.
The Aztecs toppled Fresno State 23-0 on Saturday, their third shutout of the season. SDSU is now 6-1 and 3-0 in Mountain West play, with its lone loss coming to Washington State, which was contractually obligated as part of the agreement to finally allow the Aztecs’ entry into the Pac-12.
November showdowns at Hawai’i and against Boise State should help decide whether San Diego State is a true playoff contender, but the defense looks much like the elite units that buoyed the program for years, and the whole city appears ready to finally embrace football again or else go surfing, grab a burrito and maybe hit Lahaina after. Honestly, either way is fine.
Trending down: Doubting BYU
It was easy enough to view BYU with a bit of caution entering the season. Last year’s success had been fueled by some close wins, and the departure of QB Jake Retzlaff left the Cougars with a freshman leading the offense.
Turns out, none of that was an issue.
1:57
BYU Cougars vs. Iowa State Cyclones: Full Highlights
BYU Cougars vs. Iowa State Cyclones: Full Highlights
Bear Bachmeier accounted for three touchdowns, and BYU outscored Iowa State 24-3 in the second half to romp over the Cyclones 41-27 and remain undefeated.
After a rough first season in the Big 12, the Cougars are rolling, having won 19 of their past 21 and now look like the potential favorites for a bid to the conference title game. Should BYU land a playoff berth, there’s not enough Swig in all of Provo for the celebration that would inevitably ensue and be over by 9 p.m., because it’s a school night.
Trending down: Arizona State in the Big 12
Imagine for a moment you’re Arizona State, trailing Houston by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter with Jeff Sims at QB. Actually, don’t imagine that. You’ve done nothing to deserve that type of horror.
The important thing here is Sam Leavitt and the Sun Devils struggled early, Leavitt left with an injury, and despite Sims’ first touchdown pass since before ChatGPT existed, Houston still won 24-16.
It was a watershed moment for the Cougars, who are now 7-1 on the season. Connor Weigman continues to prove that the Jimbo Fisher curse can be broken by simply not playing for Jimbo Fisher. He threw for 201 yards, ran for 111 and accounted for three touchdowns. Along with Haynes King, who is starring for undefeated Georgia Tech, and Max Johnson, who is being completely ignored by Bill Belichick, things are awfully good for the former Texas A&M QBs.
Trending up: Wisconsin‘s offense
Oregon eased its way to a 21-7 win over the Badgers behind 102 yards and two scores from tailback Jordon Davison.
Technically it was a win for the Ducks, but more than that, it was a victory for Wisconsin, which scored in a Big Ten game for the first time since the Hoover administration. OK, we didn’t fact-check that statistic, but it feels right. And because the Badgers AD has offered full faith in Luke Fickell with a promise of more investment moving forward, Wisconsin fans can look forward to a touchdown and even a field goal or two in Big Ten games next season.
Trending up: Ypsilanti air guitar
Other conferences try to placate their crowds with lame in-game entertainment on the videoboard or spend commercial breaks by honoring sponsors. The MAC, on the other, hand, knows how to bring the heat.
— MACtion (@MACSports) October 25, 2025
Sadly, the Angus Young of Ypsilanti was not enough to inspire his Eastern Michigan team to victory, as Ohio went on to win 28-21. On the upside though, AC/DC’s new album, “Back in MAC” should be a banger.
One TD, Two TD, Mean TD, Green TD
Deep in the heart of the city of queens
Played a team from Texas called the Mean Green.
They brought Wesloskis and Sibleys with a Poffenbarger in tow
But it was the fantabulous Drew Mestemaker who stole the whole show.
He’d not played in prep nor transferred from Whoville Tech
Not been coached by a Dabo, a Kiffin nor Fleck.
But Drew was mean and he was green and he wore 17
And he played better that fine day than the crowd’d ever seen.
The Niners led early, but there were no screams and no shouts
For the mysterious Mestemaker left nothing in doubt.
He threw long, he threw short, he threw starboard and port
He hit receivers and backs, even a clabtrabulous gallort.
As the game played on, the Mestemaker was divine
By halftime he’d thrown a flurdiforous 329.
But his job wasn’t done; there was more ’round the corner
Like TDs to shazwallers, tabdablers and Cameron Dorner.
They gasped and guffawed, shouted “Flamdoozle!” on each play
For the Mestemaker’s arm grew three sizes that day.
By the end of the night, when the hour’d grown late
The Mestemaker had thrown for a school record — 608.
#GMG🦅 pic.twitter.com/vrDWFuDpQa
— UNT Football (@MeanGreenFB) October 25, 2025
North Texas departed with a win, a grin and an iconic pic
To dream the sweet dreams of the Mestemaker’s next trick.
Now his legend lives on, throughout the land of college ball
The Mestemaker at North Texas ’twas the greatest of all.
Under-the-radar play of the week
Memphis overcame a 31-17 fourth-quarter deficit by scoring the final 17 points of the game in a 34-31 win over No. 18 USF in what could be a defining moment in the race of the Group of 5’s playoff bid.
But none of that should overshadow USF QB Byrum Brown making one of the most athletic plays of the season, hurdling a Memphis defender en route to the end zone.
0:28
Byrum Brown leaps over a defender and runs in a 44-yard TD for USF
Byrum Brown avoids several tackles, making defenders fall at his feet and takes it into the end zone for a 44-yard touchdown.
Brown finished the game with 269 yards passing, 121 rushing and 3 total touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Tigers. On the upside, losing a critical game late after holding a sizable lead is yet another way USF is proving it belongs among the bigger brands of college football in the state of Florida.
Under-the-radar game of the week
SMU entered Saturday having won 20 straight regular-season conference games — across two conferences — but in Week 9, the Mustangs ran into a buzzsaw by the name of Wake Forest. The Deacons are one of the few buzzsaws who wear a top hat.
Wake turned exceptional field position into two first-half scores, leading 10-3 at one point despite having just 12 yards of total offense. SMU charged back and led 12-10, but the Deacons appeared on the brink of a victory with a first-and-goal at the SMU 6 with 1:55 to play. A fumble ended the drive, however, and SMU then aimed to run out the clock. The result was a three-and-out and a punt with 12 seconds remaining.
That gave Wake the ball at its own 42, and Deshawn Purdie quickly connected on a 25-yard completion to set up a game-winning kick from 50.
0:26
Connor Calvert’s career-long 50-yard FG wins it for Wake Forest
Connor Calvert sinks a 50-yard field goal as time expires to improbably lift Wake Forest past SMU.
That the kick fell short proved an optical illusion created by the fact that anyone who watched this game had likely gouged out their eyes previously, as the ball did narrowly cross the crossbar, giving Wake a 13-12 win.
The game featured 8 turnovers, 3 missed kicks, 17 total punts and 1 lawsuit by the Big Ten for copyright infringement.
Heisman five
1. Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza
Another four touchdowns, another blowout, another week in which Mendoza has stated his case that he deserves to be the favorite for the Heisman. The only potential pitfall for Mendoza now is that many Heisman voters had not previously been aware Indiana had a football program and are very confused about why he doesn’t play for Texas.
2. Everyone who didn’t play
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton, who spent the week washing his truck, listening to Toto and promising he’ll never be like his old man, was off. So, too, was Ohio State QB Julian Sayin, who used the downtime to play a few gigs with his boy band, “I’m Just Sayin.” Meanwhile, Notre Dame tailback Jeremiyah Love somehow still ran for another 83 yards against USC despite being off. They’re all very good.
3. Georgia Tech QB Haynes King
King threw for 304 yards, ran for 91 and accounted for five touchdowns in a 41-16 win over Syracuse. He followed that by working a 12-hour shift down at the factory, installed a new carburetor in his Chevy, shared a knowing glance with his high school sweetheart, then spent an hour or so dying all his collars a darker blue while listening to Foreigner’s “Double Vision” on cassette.
4. Alabama QB Ty Simpson
It was hardly his finest day, but when Bama needed a lift, Simpson provided it, finding his safety blanket in Germie Bernard to tie the game late. He finished with 253 passing yards and two TD passes and assurances that what happened in Week 1 will never happen again and was actually just a practical joke that had gone horribly wrong, like that time he ate Kadyn Proctor‘s leftover grilled cheese.
5. Navy QB Blake Horvath
He probably won’t make as much of a run toward the Heisman this year as he did in 2024, but Horvath is having another fantastic season for the undefeated Midshipmen. On Saturday, he threw for 83 yards, ran for 174 and scored four times in a 42-32 win over Florida Atlantic, thus proving once and for all that the real Navy is superior to that flotilla 12 retirees in Boca tried to use to invade the Daytona Buc-ee’s.
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