Transfer portal takeaways: Best available, potential QB fits and biggest questions per conference
-
ESPN staff
College football’s transfer portal officially opened Monday, and with it came all the storylines we’ve come to expect.
QB1 is out at one blue blood program, while several Power 5 schools witnessed a mass exodus. The names filled the portal and college football fans were left to figure out what this means for their favorite school — and player — ahead of bowl season and spring football.
Our reporters came together to find out the most intriguing prospects in the portal, the best quarterback landing spots and the biggest questions facing each conference after the first three days of the open window.
My favorite available transfer is …
David Hale: It’s not the biggest name in the portal, but cornerback Fentrell Cypress II could have a big impact wherever he lands. He was a huge part of a massive turnaround for the Virginia defense in 2022, finishing the season with 13 PBUs while allowing just 5.9 yards per target as the ACC’s top-graded corner by Pro Football Focus. He’s already on the radar of several blue blood programs, and if he’s not a household name today, he could easily blossom into one of the top corners in the country in 2023.
Andrea Adelson: The quarterbacks and skill players usually get all the shine, but we can’t forget the big guys up front. That is why I think Rhode Island lineman Ajani Cornelius is so intriguing. He obviously has the size (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) that everyone is looking for in an offensive tackle. He had a dominant year in 2022, including a performance against Pitt that should go a long way toward proving he can handle FBS defensive linemen (Cornelius did not allow one pressure in that game). He also has two years of eligibility left, which helps for both roster planning and development. With over 20 offers already, including Florida, Auburn and Oregon, Cornelius will have his choice of landing spots.
Tom Luginbill: Dasan McCullough. Pass-rushers come at a premium, and outside of Jermaine Johnson two years ago, who transferred to Florida State, few have entered the portal with McCullough’s skill set and production.
Dave Wilson: Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed. His path is the story of the current era of college football. In high school, he put up big numbers in his only year as a starter and finished third in the state’s player of the year voting, but was not heavily recruited. He signed with Southern Illinois, but after redshirting his first year, he transferred to the University of West Florida in Pensacola, where he led the Argos to a D-II national championship, throwing for 4,084 yards and 40 TDs, was second-team All-American and was sixth in the Harlon Hill voting, the small-school Heisman. Reed then transferred to WKU as a grad transfer, where he threw for 4,247 yards, second in the nation, and is now back in the portal looking for his fourth school.
Tom VanHaaren: Under Ball State running back Carson Steele‘s bio, it says he has a pet alligator. So that automatically vaults him to the top for me. Outside of Steele, I would go with Braden Fiske, a defensive tackle from Western Michigan. He had 58 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and six sacks this season for the Broncos. He’s getting interest from Notre Dame and USC among others and could be a player who shines in a Power 5 program next season.
Craig Haubert: Indiana linebacker Dasan McCullough jumps out for several reasons. A highly ranked ESPN 300 prospect in the 2022 class, he is a transfer option with still plenty of football ahead of him who has already shown signs of fulfilling his potential. His father, Deland, is the RBs coach at Notre Dame, and he contributed all season for the Hoosiers, getting several starts and registering 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. The portal has no shortage for WRs, DBs and even QBs, but an explosive, aggressive versatile front-seven defender with some proven experience should not be overlooked.
Alex Scarborough: Fine. Since everyone is playing it cool and not talking about the big-name quarterbacks here, I will. Say what you want about the way DJ Uiagalelei fizzled out at Clemson, but he has potential. Remember, everyone left Spencer Rattler for dead once he transferred from Oklahoma to South Carolina — and for most of the season they were right — but then he showed against Tennessee and Clemson what he’s capable of. But I’d be chasing two quarterbacks in particular: Devin Leary and Spencer Sanders. I give Sanders a slight edge because he brings more of a dual-threat skill set to the table (18 career rushing touchdowns to Leary’s five), but you can’t go wrong with that much talent and experience at the most important position on the field.
The potential QB fit I like the most is …
Adelson: DJU to UCLA. Heading back to the West Coast might be the fresh start that Uiagalelei needs, and going to a school with a head coach who has built his reputation on his offense makes this one feel like a good fit. Uiagalelei’s struggles have been well documented, but there is a valid question to be asked about whether the Clemson offense put him in a good enough position to succeed.
Tom Luginbill: Spencer Sanders to Auburn. He could have Malik Willis-type production in Hugh Freeze’s scheme. He has the ideal blend of passing prowess and dynamism. The downside is he’s got only one year left of eligibility.
VanHaaren: I agree with Andrea about Uiagalelei at UCLA, but I would like to see Devin Leary at Wisconsin with Luke Fickell. Not just because Wisconsin took Russell Wilson from NC State and saw success, but Fickell is going to need immediate help at quarterback with Graham Mertz entering the portal. Leary could come in and start from day one, elevate the Badgers’ quarterback play and get into a system that helped get Desmond Ridder to the NFL.
Craig Haubert: There are plenty of big names out there. And one who may be a long shot, but could be intriguing, is Georgia Tech‘s Jeff Sims to Florida. The Gators scored big on the recruiting trail by flipping ESPN 300 QB Jaden Rashada from Miami, but with Anthony Richardson entering the draft, there is room for an experienced QB on the roster. Sims had been inconsistent at Georgia Tech, but he is a talented dual-threat QB who has flashed big-play ability and could benefit from a fresh start. He would also give the Gators’ QB room a player in the mold of Richardson who is arguably a slightly stronger passer. Sims would likely also come in with tempered expectations as compared to some other transfer QBs, allowing for a good fit and competitive offseason QB battle.
Scarborough: I’m with Craig. I’d love to see Sims at Florida. He’d be a great fit in Napier’s offense.
Conference questions
ACC
Biggest ACC storyline to emerge: The QB exodus. The ACC entered the 2022 season billing it as “the year of the QB.” It didn’t work out so well for a number of big names, including Clemson’s Uiagalelei, NC State’s Leary and Boston College‘s Phil Jurkovec. All three have now entered the transfer portal, along with Georgia Tech’s Sims, Virginia’s Brennan Armstrong and Pitt’s Kedon Slovis. Those six QBs account for 142 games started at the schools they’re leaving. While some, like NC State, BC and Clemson have replacements on their current rosters, it still figures to be an active portal season for the league, with Louisville and Wake Forest potentially looking for veteran talent, too. In 2022, just two teams — North Carolina and Duke — entered the year without a veteran QB at the helm. At this point, they’re among the few — along with FSU, Virginia Tech, Syracuse and Pitt (where Jurkovec announced he intends to transfer) — who have a QB on the roster with more than a handful of starts to their name.
ACC contender with the most work to do in the portal: Florida State Seminoles. There are probably other teams with bigger needs in the portal, but no one in the ACC has the combination of prior portal success and potential for a huge 2023 like FSU. Mike Norvell has completely rebuilt the program through the portal, landing stars like Jermaine Johnson, Fabien Lovett, Dillan Gibbons, Jared Verse, Trey Benson and Jammie Robinson over the past two years. The only downside to that success is that he’ll need to keep going back to the well, as his transfer success stories became NFL draft picks. Still, the impact those transfers turned Florida State from laughingstock to genuine contender in the ACC, and if Norvell works his magic again this offseason, 2023 might be the year the Seminoles finally reclaim their spot at the top of the conference. — Hale
Biggest remaining question: There is little doubt Miami wants to use the portal to not only turn over its roster, but answer significant questions at key positions (wide receiver, running back, offensive line, for starters). The Hurricanes were not as successful with the portal last year, as many of the key transfers they brought in had mixed results. But after a 5-7 record in Year 1 under Mario Cristobal, there is a bigger sense of urgency to make sure the Canes use the portal to their advantage to help supplement what is projected to be a top-10 recruiting class. There was already pressure on Cristobal to get the Hurricanes back to national relevance. After a disappointing 2022, that pressure will only grow. — Adelson
Big 12
Biggest Big 12 storyline to emerge: The initial stages haven’t been overly damaging to the Big 12 teams, other than some key losses at Oklahoma State. Texas had several highly rated recruits jump in, but most of them weren’t significant contributors, and Oklahoma is in a similar situation, although the impending departure of wide receiver Theo Wease is a loss. But the Sooners and Longhorns will always draw their share of portal attention.
With Kansas State and TCU playing in high-profile games, there could still be movement, but right now, the biggest losses have come in Stillwater.
Big 12 contender with the most work to do in the portal: Oklahoma State. Now, Sanders, who has been incredibly exciting and puzzlingly inconsistent in four years as a starter, has entered his name into the portal looking for a fresh start. Star in-state recruits like Braylin Presley and Trace Ford are portal-bound. Dominic Richardson, a key member of the running back rotation, is too, along with safety Kanion Williams, who has been a team captain. Linebacker Mason Cobb, who had 96 tackles (13 for loss), is also in the portal.
Coach Mike Gundy has rebuilt over and over again and has done more with less for years. But this will be quite a test at a time when the Cowboys are looking to stand atop the new Big 12.
Biggest remaining question: Can TCU capitalize on this incredible run in Sonny Dykes’ first year? At SMU, he made Dallas a bounce-back destination for players from the area who wanted to come back home and play. Now in a Power 5 job, making the playoff in his first season, there’s proof of concept to sell recruits. After hitting on several key transfers last year like Johnny Hodges and Josh Newton, who both earned All-Big 12 honors as key pieces, can the Horned Frogs become an even bigger player? — Wilson
Big Ten
Biggest Big Ten storyline to emerge: Maryland had 14 players enter the transfer portal since the beginning of December. That included tight end CJ Dippre, who had three touchdowns in 2022, and linebacker Ahmad McCullough, who had 45 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack this season. There aren’t a ton of star players leaving, but 14 is a significant number and will hurt the depth for a team that needs depth to make a run late into the season. Maryland coach Mike Locksley has done well in the portal in the past, so if they can replace some of those spots with contributors, it won’t be a negative for the team.
Big Ten contender with the most work to do in the portal: Penn State has added some good pieces to its roster through recruiting over the last few classes, especially with quarterback Drew Allar and running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. The Nittany Lions had a good season in 2022 with 10 wins, but their two losses were to Michigan and Ohio State. Penn State needs to add a few solid contributors from the portal to bulk up the roster while some of the high school prospects continue to develop. They’re not far off from being where they want to be, but have already been active in the portal to shore up the roster. Penn State has offered wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr., a South Florida transfer, tight end Kyle Morlock, defensive end Elijah Jeudy, former Alabama cornerback Khyree Jackson among others. Getting some immediate contributors will help Penn State continue to improve and compete with Michigan and Ohio State in the coming years.
Biggest remaining question: Michigan doesn’t typically take in transfers unless they’re graduate transfers, Ohio State has typically built its team through recruiting and picking up a few transfers here and there, but there are a few Big Ten teams that could use big hauls from the portal,. Michigan State and coach Mel Tucker have seen success in the portal with the 2021 season, winning 10 games and plucking running back Kenneth Walker III from Wake Forest. But they have also seen the downside in 2022 when transfers don’t contribute as much as anticipated and high school prospects aren’t fully developed. In addition to Michigan State, new Nebraska coach Matt Rhule could benefit from bringing in transfer players. The question, though, is because he has been in the NFL, will he have the relationships to get in fast enough with difference makers before they make a decision. Rhule and his staff will have to work fast and be active to try to get players they want that can help from day one. — VanHaaren
Pac-12
Biggest Pac-12 storyline to emerge: The Deion Sanders era has begun in Colorado and it has kicked off with plenty of fireworks already. Sanders made news quickly upon arriving in Boulder, where a video showed him talking to current Colorado players and telling them to enter the portal. He also effectively told them his son, Shedeur, would transfer and be the Buffs’ quarterback. The message was pretty clear: change is coming. And change, in today’s game, is only quickened by the portal.
Sanders’ recruiting prowess now that he’s at a Power 5 school will inevitably seep into not just high school recruiting but transfers too. There is already chatter about Jackson State recruits (especially, no. 1 overall prospect Travis Hunter) following Sanders to Boulder and there’s no doubt Sanders is going to be making plenty of calls to players entering the portal, selling them on his vision for the Buffaloes.
It will be fascinating to see the turnover at Colorado and how much change Sanders can affect this offseason alone. The portal allows him to flex his strength in a completely different way: He doesn’t have to wait for recruits to get on campus, get acclimated and go through the learning curve that comes with making the leap from high school.
Pac-12 contender with the most work to do in portal: UCLA. The Bruins are losing some valuable seniors on both sides of the ball and, unlike their counterparts Oregon, Utah, USC, Washington and even Oregon State and Arizona, they don’t have a recruiting class (as of now) in the top-50 in the country.
The good news for UCLA is that Chip Kelly and his staff are already making moves. On Monday as the portal opened, the Bruins nabbed Cal inside linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo to begin shoring up their defense.
Above all, the Bruins have to decide how to replace outgoing quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and his incredible 2022 season. It felt like Kelly and DTR found something this season and the program would benefit in a major way if they were to continue that momentum despite a change at the position. Could they go with backup Ethan Garbers? Is freshman Justyn Martin ready? Or will they dip into the portal and try to snag a quarterback looking for a fresh start and a new home?
Biggest remaining question: How many quarterbacks will make their way West? The conference, with its inconsistent defenses and offensive-minded coaches, has become a bit of a refuge for quarterbacks looking for greener pastures.
Last season, the Pac-12 added Caleb Williams, Michael Penix Jr., Bo Nix and Cameron Ward via the transfer portal, while Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura made his way to Tucson too. Only one of the aforementioned quarterbacks (Nix) is leaving college and there’s already spots available (UCLA, Oregon State, Oregon, Arizona State) for other highly-touted quarterbacks like Devin Leary and D.J. Uiagalelei, who have already entered the portal, to consider.
The Uiagalelei landing spot will be particularly interesting to watch. The now-former Clemson quarterback is from Southern California and played at local powerhouse St. John’s Bosco. If UCLA wants to transition from the Dorian Thompson-Robinson era without having to turn to an underclassman, Uiagalelei presents an intriguing option. — Uggetti
SEC
Biggest SEC storyline to emerge: All in all, it’s been relatively quiet in the SEC so far. The only noteworthy quarterbacks to hit the portal have been Ole Miss‘ Luke Altmyer and Vanderbilt‘s Mike Wright — and neither was a starter to end the season. Arkansas‘ Malik Hornsby is on the move, but KJ Jefferson already announced that he was coming back after an injury-plagued season. Only a handful of our top-35 transfers are from the SEC: Missouri wideout Dominic Lovett, South Carolina tight end Austin Stogner, Alabama receiver Traeshon Holden and offensive lineman Javion Cohen. Given how Alabama lost two games and missed the playoff, the Crimson Tide are worth watching. So far, more than a dozen players are in the portal, including former top offensive line prospect Tommy Brockermeyer. They have needs at several key positions: receiver, offensive line and quarterback.
SEC contender with the most work to do in the portal: I’ll be interested to see if Georgia does any work in the portal. They were the only Power 5 team this season that didn’t sign a single transfer. So let’s rule them out from being overly active. To me, that leaves rival Florida as one of the teams to pay attention to. Napier did a lot in the portal during his first offseason, bringing O’Cyrus Torrence and Montrell Johnson with him from Louisiana, and signing Ricky Pearsall from Arizona State. But he needs even more help. The roster isn’t anywhere near complete, and now he’s got a starting quarterback to replace and more than a dozen players who just hit the portal. Look for Napier and his staff to beef up the trenches — the offensive and defensive lines.
Biggest remaining question: Who’s going to get a quarterback? Because there are quite a few teams with a need at the position. Florida just lost Anthony Richardson to the NFL. Stetson Bennett is finally leaving Georgia. Same for Hendon Hooker at Tennessee, Will Levis at Kentucky and Bryce Young at Alabama. Joe Milton III seems like he’ll get a long look to replace Hooker in Knoxville, but everywhere else feels wide open for competition. At Alabama in particular, dual-threat Jalen Milroe didn’t take the bull by the horns when Young was injured. While there are a few good young prospects waiting in the wings — freshman Ty Simpson and commits Dylan Lonergan and Eli Holstein — Nick Saban might not have the patience to develop a quarterback when a ready-made product is available in the portal. — Scarborough
-
Alden Gonzalez
The Los Angeles Angels and third baseman Anthony Rendon are in talks about buying out the final year of his contract, potentially bringing a resolution to the seven-year, $245 million deal that did not come close to paying dividends for the team, a source told ESPN on Wednesday.
Rendon, who spent the entire 2025 season recovering from hip surgery, is expected to retire, a source said.
The 35-year-old is owed $38 million in 2026. A potential buyout of that remaining money has not been finalized, and situations like this can often get complicated, but the expectation is that Rendon will defer at least part of that money, giving the team more financial flexibility to address needs this offseason.
The Angels made Rendon the game’s highest-paid third baseman in December 2019, after watching him star for the then-World Series champion Washington Nationals. If the Angels and Rendon’s agent, Scott Boras, are able to finalize a buyout, he will end up playing in just a quarter of the Angels’ games over the life of that deal, compiling 3.7 FanGraphs wins above replacement (fWAR).
A first-round pick out of Rice University in 2011, Rendon established himself as one of the game’s best all-around players with an emerging corps in Washington. He was a hitting savant and a gifted defender, and from 2016 to 2019 only nine position players put up more fWAR.
Rendon slashed .299/.384/.528 in that four-year stretch. His last season with the Nationals saw him finish third in National League MVP voting after putting up a career-high 1.010 OPS along with 34 home runs and a major-league-leading 126 RBIs while making his star turn in a postseason run that ended with the franchise’s first title.
With the spotlight cast onto him, Rendon’s publicly stated limited interest in baseball — he admitted often that it’s not his foremost priority, that it’s merely a job, and that he doesn’t care about the accolades or attention — became an endearing part of his personality. As the years went on, it became a referendum on his lack of productivity.
Rendon looked very much like his usual self during a 2020 season that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It proved to be the last time the Angels experienced anything close to Rendon’s prime. Over the next four years, he slashed just .231/.329/.336 while appearing in 205 of a potential 648 games. Injuries to his left groin, left knee, left hamstring, left shin, left oblique, lower back, both wrists and both hips sent him to the injured list.
The final blow came Feb. 12, 2025, when the Angels announced at the start of spring training that Rendon would undergo hip surgery and miss the season. Rendon spent the entire season away from the team, mostly rehabbing near his home in Houston. His last home run with the team occurred July 1, 2023. He never played in more than 58 games in a season.
Rendon’s albatross contract coincided with Mike Trout suffering a similar spate of bad injury luck. The unavailability of those two players — by far the team’s highest paid — coupled with an overall lack of depth throughout the roster, only furthered the Angels’ slide despite the emergence of Shohei Ohtani as a two-way phenomenon.
The Angels have not made the playoffs since 2014 and have not won a playoff game since 2009. The 2025 season marked their 10th in a row with a below-.500 record. Kurt Suzuki, Rendon’s teammate on the 2019 Nationals, has since been named the Angels’ manager — the team’s sixth in eight years.
Soon, at least, they can move on at third base.
Somehow, 13 weeks of college football have already come and gone, leaving us with one, last Saturday of regular-season action. It’s hard to believe that, a mere three months ago, we thought LSU, Clemson and Penn State were top-10 teams, that when Florida State beat Alabama, it meant times had changed in Tallahassee, and that when Miami beat Notre Dame, it meant that the Hurricanes would have a better shot at the playoff than the Irish. What fools we all were!
But the beauty of Week 14 — of Rivalry Week — is that the 13 weeks that preceded it are little more than periphery details.
Who cares if Ohio State has been the best team in the country, when all that matters is beating Michigan?
The massive disappointment felt by Clemson and South Carolina fans is of little consequence this weekend, when at least one fan base will earn some needed redemption after a lost season.
Florida fired its coach. Florida State is keeping theirs. None of that matters when the two face off Saturday.
Georgia Tech‘s defense has collapsed and so, too, the team’s playoff hopes, but a win over rival Georgia would make this a magical season nevertheless.
Alabama has largely proved its playoff pedigree, but there’s still the small matter of the Iron Bowl, where Auburn can get a head start on scripting a new story for a program still in search of its next head coach by not only beating its rival but by sending the Tide to the back of the playoff line.
Up and down the docket, the games are big — not because of the records or the postseason stakes, but because Rivalry Week means something different altogether. It’s bragging rights for a year, it’s talking smack to your neighbors, it’s a chance to right anything that has gone wrong in the past 13 weeks and finish the season with a defining moment. — David Hale
Jump to:
Stakes in key matchups
Title game scenarios
Quotes of the week
What’s at stake in these key matchups?
No. 1 Ohio State (11-0) at No. 15 Michigan (9-2)
(noon ET, Fox)
The stakes: The Wolverines are seeking a fifth straight win in the series, which would be their longest winning streak in the rivalry since the 1920s. With a victory — coupled with either an Oregon or Indiana loss — Michigan could also advance to the Big Ten championship game while entering the CFP at-large bid conversation. The Buckeyes probably have already clinched a playoff berth. But they’re still aiming for a first-round playoff bye and potentially the No. 1 seed. With a win over Michigan, Ohio State would also advance to the Big Ten title game for the first time in five years, while ending Michigan’s hold on the rivalry — the only blemish on Ryan Day’s otherwise sterling tenure as Ohio State’s head coach.
Ohio State wins if: The Buckeyes play up to their capability. Lately, they’ve inexplicably saved their worst performances for Michigan, including last season, when they stunningly lost at home as a three-touchdown favorite before bouncing back to win the national title. These Buckeyes have been even more dominant to this point. Ohio State ranks fourth in offensive efficiency, while its defense has given up only 84 points all season. Assuming wideouts Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate are ready to go after battling nagging lower-body injuries, the Buckeyes are college football’s most complete team with several future pros on both sides of the ball.
Michigan wins if: The Wolverines can hang around in the second half and intensify the pressure on the Buckeyes (9.5-point favorites), forcing Ohio State to play tightly yet again. Unlike last year, the Wolverines have the firepower on offense this time to test Ohio State, with dynamic freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, steady running back Jordan Marshall (who’s expected to return from a shoulder injury) and budding freshman receiver Andrew Marsh, who has emerged as Underwood’s go-to target in Big Ten play. If the Wolverines can land some big plays on offense and make the Big House crowd a factor, they have the defense (No. 5 nationally in EPA) to make this a fourth-quarter game, where, as this rivalry has proved over the years, anything can happen. — Jake Trotter
No. 3 Texas A&M (11-0) at No. 16 Texas (8-3)
(Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
The stakes: For Texas, its playoff hopes. For A&M, it’s history. The Longhorns, who have made the CFP semifinals the past two seasons, need an upset to stay alive. The 11-0 Aggies, who haven’t won a conference title since 1998, can tie the school record of 12 wins and earn a trip to the SEC championship game. It’s a rare high-stakes matchup for both programs; this will be only the 12th time both teams have been ranked coming into the game, which is being played for the 120th time. Texas has won eight of the previous 11 meetings under such circumstances.
Texas A&M wins if: If the Aggies’ offensive line controls the game. A&M QB Marcel Reed completes just 42% of his throws under pressure but has been pressured on just 25% of dropbacks. The Aggies average 5.3 yards per carry between the tackles, and the Longhorns give up only 3.5 up the middle. On defense, if A&M can get Texas into third downs, it will have a distinct advantage. The Aggies have the best third-down defense in the country, allowing conversions only 21.5% of the time, second best in the FBS in the past 20 years, while Texas converts 41% of opportunities, 11th best in the SEC.
Texas wins if: Arch Manning continues to be efficient running the offense. The Aggies average a sack on 10.6% of dropbacks, second best in the FBS, and Manning has been comfortable throwing quick strikes to Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V, who have combined for 40 catches and 785 yards over the past four games. Defensively, it will have to limit big plays, something that has bedeviled the Longhorns of late: Reed has 43 passes of 20 or more yards, second to Alabama’s Ty Simpson (45). Texas has given up 37 such passes, second only to Arkansas (49). — Dave Wilson
No. 4 Georgia (10-1) at No. 23 Georgia Tech (9-2)
(Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
The stakes: For two teams who’ve spent the bulk of this season with playoff aspirations, there’s remarkably little postseason impact to be drawn from this one. Georgia Tech’s disaster against Pitt almost certainly means the Yellow Jackets are out, short of a miracle berth in the ACC championship game. Georgia’s win over Texas two weeks ago all but locked up a playoff bid for the Bulldogs. So, what’s at stake here? Look no further than last year’s eight-overtime thriller to understand. For Georgia, any postseason success would come tinged with regret if the Dawgs don’t take care of business here. For Tech, finally toppling the hated Bulldogs would be more than enough to ensure this season went down in the history books as one of the school’s best.
Georgia wins if: The Bulldogs’ defense can stop Haynes King. A year ago, the Georgia Tech QB tormented the Dawgs throughout the game, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for another 110 yards and three scores in a 44-42 defeat. The Jackets’ offense is relentless, thanks in large part to King’s brilliance, and though he’s guaranteed at least one more game with Tech before his college career ends, this will be his true farewell performance, meaning a player renowned for his toughness will leave nothing left in the tank. That puts the burden squarely on the Dawgs’ defensive front, which has to manage to corral King in the pocket but also not let him burn them downfield.
Georgia Tech wins if: It can stop the run. Georgia’s rushing offense has taken strides lately, but it still averages just a tick over 4.5 yards per carry — solid, but hardly spectacular. But Georgia Tech’s defense has made a habit of turning middling rushing attacks into unstoppable forces. The Jackets have given up at least 150 rushing yards in eight of their past nine games, and have surrendered 10 rushing touchdowns in their past three contests — two of which were losses. Tech has to figure out a way to keep Georgia’s offense one-dimensional, and if November’s performances are any indication, that’s going to be a major undertaking. — Hale
No. 14 Vanderbilt (9-2) at No. 19 Tennessee (8-3)
(3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The stakes: There’s more at stake for the Commodores, who can win 10 games in a season for the first time in school history and keep their CFP hopes alive. Depending on what happens elsewhere this weekend and next, Vandy could be in line for an at-large bid if it beats the Volunteers. Tennessee has won each of the past six games in the series (victories in 2019 and ’20 were later vacated because of NCAA rules violations) and most of the scores weren’t close. The Vols can win at least nine games for the fourth straight season and improve their standing in the SEC’s bowl pecking order.
Vanderbilt wins if: Quarterback Diego Pavia continues to carry the Commodores. He has played spectacularly this season and has the fourth-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, per ESPN BET. Pavia has turned it up a notch down the stretch, throwing for more than 350 passing yards in each of his past three games with 14 touchdowns (three rushing) and one interception. In last week’s 45-17 win against Kentucky, Pavia threw for a school-record 484 yards with five touchdowns on 33-for-39 passing.
Tennessee wins if: If the Volunteers contain Pavia and play keep-away as they did last season. In Tennessee’s 36-23 victory in Nashville in 2024, it limited Pavia to 104 passing yards with one touchdown and one interception. He ran for 45 yards. The Volunteers ran for 281 yards and went 11-for-15 on third down, limiting the Commodores to only 11 offensive plays in the second half. This UT defense isn’t nearly as good as the one that led the Vols to the CFP last season. The Vols rank 14th in the SEC in scoring defense (27.2 points) and passing defense (247.1 yards), so they’re going to have to sustain drives on offense again. — Mark Schlabach
No. 10 Alabama (9-2) at Auburn (5-6)
(7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
The stakes: The stakes are fairly straightforward: Alabama clinches a spot in the SEC championship game with a win over its rival, and that would put it in position to get into the CFP. As it stands, Alabama is on the bubble. A win in Atlanta would guarantee the Crimson Tide a spot in the 12-team playoff; a loss and things might get dicier. As for Auburn, nothing would be more fitting than clinching bowl eligibility with a win over its hated rival as a massive underdog. This has been a disappointing season for the Tigers, but a victory would make its year.
Alabama wins if: The matchup plays right into what Alabama does well. Auburn has a good run defense, and Alabama has struggled to get the ground game going; Auburn has a shakier pass defense, and Ty Simpson and his receivers have excelled in the passing game. So if Simpson can make plays to his skill players, the way he has for most of the season, Alabama will be in good shape. The key, like any game, is to take care of the football. Auburn is one of the best teams in the country at forcing turnovers.
Auburn wins if: Jeremiah Cobb has been one of the bright spots on offense for the Tigers, ranking No. 4 in the SEC in rushing with 936 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. Though Alabama has made big improvements with its run defense in the last month of the season, if Cobb can get going on the ground, that would certainly help the Tigers control the clock and the game. As the underdog at home, staying in the game early to keep the crowd into it also will be key. — Andrea Adelson
No. 12 Miami (9-2) at No. 22 Pitt (8-3)
(noon ET, ABC)
The stakes: Though neither team is a front-runner to make it to the ACC championship game, both could sneak in depending on a few different scenarios. For Miami to make it to Charlotte, the Hurricanes have to win and then get help from potentially three teams. The more likely scenario here is the Hurricanes have to win to keep any hopes of an at-large bid to the CFP alive. For Pitt, getting to Charlotte is much simpler: A victory, plus a loss by either Virginia or SMU gets the Panthers into the ACC title game with a CFP spot on the line. Easier said than done, of course.
Miami wins if: The Hurricanes have played at a championship level on defense for the bulk of the season, and they will have to do the same against freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel. Notre Dame proved that if he is under significant pressure, he could get flustered and make mistakes. Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor will be key. Carson Beck has nine interceptions on the season; six came in two losses. He has not thrown an interception since the loss to SMU, so continuing to play mistake-free in the passing game will be huge.
Pitt wins if: Pitt is known for its physical, aggressive defense, and that will be key to slowing Miami and forcing the Hurricanes into more passing situations than they want. That will ratchet up the chances that Beck makes a mistake. Last week against Georgia Tech, the Jackets intercepted Haynes King twice — including a 100-yard pick-six. The way to keep Miami from teeing off on Heintschel is to make sure the run game is a threat, the way it was against the Jackets. Without Desmond Reid, Pitt got 201 yards on the ground from Ja’Kyrian “Boosie” Turner. — Adelson
Conference championship scenarios
ACC
-
Win, OR
-
SMU loss + Pitt loss + clinch tiebreaker over Georgia Tech/Miami/Pitt/SMU
-
Win, OR
-
Pitt loss + Duke loss + clinch tiebreaker over Miami/Georgia Tech/SMU/Virginia
-
Win + Virginia loss, OR
-
Win + SMU loss
-
Win + Pitt loss + SMU loss, OR
-
Win + Pitt loss + Virginia loss + clinch tiebreaker versus Miami
-
Win + Virginia loss + Duke loss + SMU win, OR
-
Win + SMU loss + Duke loss + clinch tiebreaker over Virginia/Georgia Tech/SMU, OR
-
Win + SMU loss + Virginia loss + clinch tiebreaker over Virginia/Georgia Tech/SMU, OR
-
Win + SMU win + Duke win + Virginia loss + clinch tiebreaker over Duke
-
Pitt win + Virginia loss + SMU loss, OR
-
Miami win + SMU loss + Duke loss + clinch tiebreaker over Virginia/Miami/SMU
Big Ten
-
Win, OR
-
Ohio State loss
-
Win, OR
-
Indiana loss + Oregon loss
-
Win + Indiana loss, OR
-
Win + Oregon loss
-
Win + Ohio State loss
Big 12
-
Win, OR
-
ASU loss, OR
-
BYU loss + Utah win
-
Win, OR
-
ASU loss, OR
-
Texas Tech loss + Utah loss
-
Win + BYU loss, OR
-
Win + Texas Tech loss + Utah loss
-
Win + Texas Tech loss + BYU win + Arizona State win
SEC
-
Alabama loss, OR
-
Texas A&M loss
-
Win
-
Win, OR
-
Alabama loss + Ole Miss loss
-
Win + Texas A&M loss + Alabama loss
American
-
Win, OR
-
Loss by either North Texas or Navy if it has the highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Losses by both North Texas and Navy if it has the second-highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Win, OR
-
Losses by either Tulane or Navy if it has the highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Losses by both Tulane and Navy if it has the second-highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Win, and loss by either Tulane or North Texas
-
Loss by either Tulane or North Texas if it has the highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Losses by both Tulane and North Texas if it has the second-highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Win, and loss by two of Tulane/North Texas/Navy if it has the highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Win, and losses by all of Tulane/North Texas/Navy if it has the second-highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Win, and loss by two of Tulane/North Texas/Navy if it has the highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
-
Win, and losses by all of Tulane/North Texas/Navy if it has the second-highest composite computer average of the 6-2 teams
Conference USA
-
Win, OR
-
Kennesaw State loss
-
Win, OR
-
Kennesaw State loss + finish ahead of Kennesaw State in computer metrics
-
Win, OR
-
Western Kentucky loss + finish ahead of Western Kentucky
MAC
-
Win, OR
-
Ohio win, OR
-
Miami (Ohio) loss
-
Win + Western Michigan win, OR
-
Win + Miami (Ohio) loss
-
Win + Western Michigan loss, OR
-
Win + Central Michigan win
-
Win + Northern Illinois win + Miami (Ohio) loss + Central Michigan win + Beat Central Michigan in team rating score metric
-
Win + Ohio loss + Miami (Ohio) loss, OR
-
Win + Western Michigan loss + Ohio loss + Miami (Ohio) win, OR
-
Win + Kent State win + Miami (Ohio) loss, OR
-
Win + Kent State loss + Miami (Ohio) loss + beat Ohio in team rating score metric
Mountain West
-
Win, OR
-
Losses by Boise State and UNLV, OR
-
Finish in top two in computer metrics among 6-2 teams
-
Win + San Diego State win, OR
-
Win + finish in top two in computer metrics among 6-2 teams
-
UNLV loss + New Mexico loss + finish with the top computer metrics among 5-3 teams
-
Win + Boise State loss + New Mexico loss, OR
-
Win + San Diego State loss + finish in top two in computer metrics among 6-2 teams, OR
-
Boise State loss + New Mexico loss + finish with the top computer metrics among 5-3 teams
-
Win + Boise State loss, OR
-
Win + finish in top two in computer metrics among 6-2 teams, OR
-
Boise State loss + UNLV loss + finish with the top computer metrics among 5-3 teams
-
Win + Boise State loss + New Mexico loss + UNLV loss + finish with the top computer metrics among 5-3 teams
-
Win + Boise State loss + New Mexico loss + UNLV loss + finish with the top computer metrics among 5-3 teams
-
Win + New Mexico loss + UNLV loss + finish with the top computer metrics among 5-3 teams
Sun Belt
Quotes of the week
“Very important,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said Monday when asked about the importance of finishing the season with the Rebels amid speculation over his future entering Friday’s Egg Bowl. “I’ve never thought of anything different than that.”
Michigan coach Sherrone Moore on “The Game” and the Wolverines’ rivalry with Ohio State: “It’s a feeling that you can’t really describe. It’s an intensity. It’s just an aura about it that you just can’t describe until you get on the field. It’s awesome to be a part of. It’s the best rivalry in sports in my opinion. … It’s competitive and there’s nothing like it.”
Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer on the Iron Bowl: “I know what [it] means to the state here. A huge deal for us, as well. It’s a big game for a lot of reasons. We just focus on what it is, and it’s our big rivalry game. It’s an SEC game on the road. It’ll be an awesome environment. Just blessed to be a part of it, especially here on this Thanksgiving week, that’s what you think about it.”
“Beating them does a lot for me,” Washington‘s Jedd Fisch said ahead of Saturday’s visit from Oregon. “Knocking them out is just another part of it. We want to do everything we possibly can to get a win on Saturday. That is our plan to do everything possible to get that done. We will work exceptionally hard, knowing that we have a really, really good opponent coming into town.”
“I like that [for] this game that we get an opportunity to stand alone,” Texas’ Steve Sarkisian said of the Longhorns’ Friday night matchup with Texas A&M. “OK, so whether it’s Thanksgiving or Friday after Thanksgiving, I just think this game deserves the spotlight to stand alone. The fact that we’re playing on Friday night with all the eyes of college football on it — really the football world on this game — I think this game deserves that. So whatever that looks like [in the future]. Again, I’m not the decision-maker on that. But I do think this is a great opportunity for us.”
“Nothing matters, except a win on Saturday at noon,” Pitt’s Pat Narduzzi said of his Panthers, who are vying for a spot in the ACC title game as Miami visits in Week 14. “Nothing matters. We can’t control what other people do. We could have controlled it earlier in the year in one of our other ACC games, but all we can do is control and focus on one thing. We start worrying about other things out there, it doesn’t matter.”
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment3 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024