Alabama held its spring game on Saturday, ushering in the Kalen DeBoer era and presenting more than a dozen awards afterward.

For as much that can be taken from any spring game, the White team offense beat the Crimson team defense 34-28. More than 72,000 fans were in attendance.

READ: UNLV’s Barry Odom agrees to extended contract through 2028

DeBoer said it was a “great day, fun day just altogether” as the spring capped off with the exhibition. He said former head coach Nick Saban had a chance to get in front of the team which DeBoer said “was pretty cool.”

“Scrimmage-wise, shoot, if it was a half, right, it had been a tale of two halves,” DeBoer said. “But that’s why you keep playing. So many things that we’re going to get to learn from, from this scrimmage depending on what side of the ball you’re on.”

READ: Report: Hines Ward to become WR coach at Arizona State

Alabama’s offense produced 508 yards and eclipsed 200 on the ground and through the air.

Starting quarterback Jalen Milroe, who returned for a fourth season, went 3-for-9 with 100 passing yards. He had the longest play of the day on a 52-yard pass to Washington transfer Germie Bernard.

DeBoer didn’t dive too deep into Milroe’s individual performance, rather, emphasizing the progression of all Crimson Tide quarterbacks this spring. He did say he noticed quarterback play continues to “take that next step” and “have that progression.”

“I thought the protection, especially the first half to three quarters, the protection was as good as we’ve had,” DeBoer said. “Now, some of that’s attributed to, early on, just kind of being a little bit more maybe vanilla defensively, things like that. But the offense stayed ahead of the chains, stayed in positions where they could be dual threat, run-pass options, take your shots when they were there.”

READ: Report: Boston College WR Joseph Griffin Jr. enters transfer portal

Redshirt sophomore Ty Simpson led the quarterbacks with 102 yards on 7-of-12 completion. Redshirt freshmen Dylan Lonergan went 8-for-12 with 67 yards and Austin Mack also had a 66% completion for 33 pass yards.

Bernard led the receivers with 122 yards on three catches. He’ll be an interesting factor into the Alabama offense next fall after recording 419 receiving yards and four total touchdowns in 2023.

On the ground, junior Jam Miller carried the ball eight times for 83 yards scoring two touchdowns and breaking off a 48-yard run. Richard Young, who was rated among the top running backs in the class of 2023, had 29 rushing yards on seven carries including a touchdown.

READ: O.J. Simpson passes away

Defensively, freshman linebacker Justin Okoronkwo had 11 tackles, five solo, and a tackle for loss. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Jeremiah Alexander had seven tackles and freshman defensive back Red Morgan had two quarterback pressures.

Miller received the Dixie Howell Memorial Award as the game’s most valuable player. Morgan, Okoronkwo and freshmen defensive lineman Isaia Faga and linebacker Jayshawn Ross earned the Derrick Thomas Community Service Award, and 10 players received the Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award including Simpson.

DeBoer said the Walk of Champions and “seeing that and feeling the energy and the excitement” from some of his first Alabama traditions in person “was a lot of fun.” The Crimson Tide will now enter the summer months of the offseason, among the important dates being the transfer portal opening Tuesday through April 30 and the first game of 2024 on Aug. 31 against Western Kentucky.

“I thought the guys, as hard as they were playing, I mean, there was times where when they were out there just looking out for each other too,” DeBoer said. “I don’t care if it was offense to offense, defense to defense, but most importantly offense and defense playing the game the way it was supposed to be played. And the energy wanting to go out there and make the plays but also not putting the team at risk just to go out then make that one potential play that could put someone at risk. But the energy, the excitement kind of leading up to the spring game was something I think kind of hit me today.”

The post Kalen DeBoer says Crimson Tide learned ‘so many things’ from Alabama A-Day Game appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Bond entered the transfer portal Friday and quickly found a new home with the Longhorns. He was the first Crimson Tide player to enter the transfer portal after Nick Saban announced his retirement.

READ: Michigan’s Blake Corum, J.J. McCarthy declare for NFL Draft

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Bond’s transfer to Texas was a “business decision.”

The move comes after a season in which Bond led Alabama with 48 receptions. He was the favorite target of quarterback Jalen Milroe, who found Bond for 668 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

READ: Reports: Cam Ward puts off NFL Draft, commits to Miami

Bond will join a receiving corps at Texas that was led by All-American Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers announced his decision to return for the 2024 season on Thursday.

The post Reports: Former Alabama WR Isaiah Bond transfers to Texas appeared first on Saturday Glory.

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond will enter the transfer portal. Bond led the Crimson Tide with 48 receptions this season. 

PODCAST: What Nick Saban’s Retirement Will Reveal About Alabama

While he may’ve been the favorite target of Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Bond also brought in 668 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He averaged 13.9 yards per catch. 

READ: Florida State enhances Mike Norvell’s contract 

Bond earned a starting role entering the 2023 season. He took advantage of it and also did the same on special teams. 

Alabama is still seeking its replacement for Saban as head coach. According to ESPN, Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer “is negotiating a contract” to fill the vacancy. 

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No. 1 Michigan will look to defend its top-seeded position against No. 2 Washington on Monday in Houston. Both teams fought off late comeback bids to advance past the semifinals and into the CFP National Championship.

READ: No. 2 Washington holds off No. 3 Texas 37-31 in Sugar Bowl CFP semifinal

The Wolverines used two rushing touchdowns scored by running back Blake Corum to boost themselves past the Crimson Tide in overtime of the Rose Bowl.

Across the country in New Orleans, Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies staved off Texas’ late comeback effort and held on to win 37-31.

Here are five takeaways from the CFP semifinals round.

Michgan’s defense came to play

The top scoring defense in college football proved its worth once again.

Michigan entered the Rose Bowl owning the No. 1 scoring defense holding opponents to less than 10 points per game.

The Wolverines, though, allowed more than their season average, and they had a stiff challenge in Alabama which had scored at least 17 points in every game this season.

But when it mattered, Michigan showed up in the key moments of the Rose Bowl.

Junior Colson and the Wolverines shut out the Crimson Tide in the third quarter and held them to 168 yards entering the fourth.

READ: Blake Corum’s TD in OT lifts No. 1 Michigan over No. 4 Alabama in Rose Bowl CFP semifinal

Michigan forced three punts in the second half as well as having picked up a fumble.

Michigan also forced four three-and-outs on four of the game’s first five drives. It allowed the Wolverines to go up 13-7 before they conjured up overtime magic to win the game.

In overtime, Michigan picked up the first touchdown after Corum ran 25 yards on two carries to give the Wolverines a lead.

Then, Michigan got stops on four-straight plays inside its 10-yard line, including the final one of the game that featured a low snap to Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, who ran straight ahead into the tackle pile to end the game.

So when it mattered, Michigan’s defense stepped up. Now, the Wolverines will look to stop Penix and Washington, which boasts the No. 5 total offense and averages 332.9 yards per game.

Blake Corum proves he’s top running threat

The NCAA leader in rushing touchdowns with 24 entering the Rose Bowl, Corum provided the critical runs in overtime to help Michigan advance to its first CFP National Championship.

Corum entered the Rose Bowl without a receiving touchdown on the season. He caught his first of the campaign to put Michigan ahead first 7-0 on a route to the left as Corum waltzed into the end zone.

Corum averaged 4.4 yards per carry across 19 attempts. He totaled 83 rushing yards and 35 receiving yards, a season-high.

Corum may be reaching his peak performance this season. In each of his past five games, he’s averaged more than three yards per carry, and he’s scored a rushing touchdown in 14 consecutive games.

The Marshall, Virginia, native broke off his longest run of the game on his second carry, going 21 yards and converting the first down to position Michigan near midfield where it later scored on Corum’s 8-yard receiving touchdown.

Now, Corum and the Wolverines will take part in their first CFP National Championship.

Corum will enter the national title game the leader in total points responsible for. He’s up to 156 points on 26 touchdowns.

He’ll have his latest challenge against Washington, which allows 137.1 rushing yards per game good for No. 41 in college football. Corum and the Wolverines will be ready.

It’s hard to stop Michael Penix Jr.

The Heisman Trophy runner-up shined bright on the biggest stage.

Penix went off 29-for-38 and threw for 430 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was representative of his year this season as Penix leads college football with 4,648 passing yards.

READ: No. 8 Oregon hands No. 23 Liberty first loss 45-6 in Fiesta Bowl

Penix threw go-ahead touchdowns in the second and third quarters while he continued to pile up passing yards. He eclipsed 400 pass yards for a fourth time this season.

Perhaps Penix’s best quarter came in the third. Both Texas and Washington tied at 21 entering the second half, then Penix turned on.

The sixth-year quarterback went 12-for-13 for 118 yards and a touchdown. He began the second half 11-of-11, and his signature throw came on a 19-yard pass to Jalen McMillan.

Even the Longhorns couldn’t slow Penix, who is having a career year after knee and shoulder injuries plagued his career at Indiana.

Two seasons later at Washington, Penix is leading the Huskies to the national championship game.

Jalen Milroe will be a force to reckon with in 2024

Alabama went into the 2023 season with a new starting quarterback after former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young was selected No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.

Nick Saban turned to junior Jalen Milroe from Katy, Texas, and Milroe had been a four-star recruit as part of the class of 2021.

Milroe set out this season with a team mantra behind him: “Let a naysayer know.”

Milroe and the Crimson Tide put the college football world on notice after Alabama beat Georgia 27-24 in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, snapping the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak.

Leading up to the SEC title game, Milroe converted a key 4th and 31 play against Auburn in the Iron Bowl, helping Alabama keep on its path toward the CFP.

It’s clear Milroe has a clutch gene. He tried to make something out of a low snap on 4th and Goal at the end of overtime before he ultimately was tackled near the line of scrimmage.

But that doesn’t mean Milroe won’t be back for 2024.

He’s already announced his intention to return to Alabama and put off the NFL ahead of the 2024 season. It’ll give Saban a second-year starting quarterback to compete in an expanded SEC that will welcome Oklahoma and Texas to the conference.

Milroe totaled 2,834 passing yards, 23 touchdowns to six interceptions and compiled a 66% completion in 2023. Saban and Alabama will be in prime position to strike in the first 12-team Playoff with Milroe under center next year.

Special teams play was sloppy

Muffed punt here, muffed punt there.

There several combined muffed punts during the CFP semifinal round. They stung the likes of Michigan and Washington, yet cost neither team the game.

Even still, special teams must perform at the highest levels of the season in Playoff games.

READ: Reports: DJ Uiagalelei to transfer to Florida State

Near the end of the Rose Bowl, Michigan lined up for a punt return while Alabama punter James Burnip got ready. When he caught the snap and prepared to boot the football, disaster struck.

Michigan punt returner Jake Thaw muffed the punt near the goal line and he recovered it at the 1-yard line. Fortunately for the Wolverines, they ran the ball once before kneeling it out and opting for overtime.

In the Sugar Bowl, Washington punt returner Germie Bernard muffed a punt and the Longhorns fell on the football. It resulted in Texas going 22 yards down the field and Byron Murphy II scoring from 1 yard out to tie the game at 14 points apeice.

Both Michigan and Washington know the detriments of poor special teams play. They’ll have one week to fine tune and reload before meeting in the final CFP National Championship of the four-team Playoff era.

The post 5 takeaways from College Football Playoff semifinals appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Corum broke several tackles on the game-winning run in overtime, which represented the second-ever CFP game that needed more time after regulation.

READ: 3 questions before College Football Playoff begins

Neither team mustered much offense to start the second half. They combined for 99 total yards on the third quarter, with Alabama responsible for 72 of them.

The Crimson Tide (12-2, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) took a 17-13 lead to give Michigan its first second-half deficit of the season. Jase McClellan ran in his second score of the game from 3 yards out 30 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Michigan (14-0, 9-0 Big Ten Conference) was forced to a three and out, and punter Tommy Doman booted the ball 41 yards away back to Alabama.

With the Crimson Tide moving down the field, Jalen Milroe looked to use his legs. Two plays later, disaster ensued.

Milroe lost possession of the football and fumbled near the far sideline, and Michigan’s Quentin Johnson recovered the ball.

J.J. McCarthy and the Wolverines lined up on 2nd and 10 the next drive. McCarthy handed the football to Corum, who tried to toss it back to McCarthy for a flea flicker.

The ball fell in front of McCarthy who landed on it, and the Wolverines offense stalled. Kicker Jaylen Harrell missed a 49-yard field goal, and the Crimson Tide held onto their 17-13 lead with 10:30 left to play.

Alabama kicker Will Reichard drilled a 52-yard field goal to give the Crimson Tide some insurance. They led 20-13 with 4:41 remaining.

READ: No. 8 Oregon hands No. 23 Liberty first loss 45-6 in Fiesta Bowl

Roman Wilson played a critical role in Michigan’s next drive. He was called for an illegal block after the Wolverines already converted, and it resulted in the ball spotted at the 50-yard line.

Wilson redeemed himself and caught a tipped pass for 29 yards two plays later. He caught the game-tying touchdown from 4 yards away to knot the game at 20 points apiece with 1:34 left to play.

Alabama mustered 18 yards on the next drive, then lined up to punt. James Burnip punted the ball 51 yards downfield, and Michigan returner Jake Thaw muffed the ball near the goal line.

Thaw recovered the ball at the 1-yard line, and Michigan chose to send the game to overtime with two runs up the middle.

The Crimson Tide won the toss in overtime but elected to defer.

Corum took the first handoff of overtime and ran eight yards, then found the end zone on his game-sealing touchdown run.

Corum had 83 rushing yards and averaged 4.4 yards per carry. He also brought in his first receiving touchdown of the season and had 35 receiving yards.

McCarthy finished 17-of-27 for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

Michigan punt returner Semaj Morgan muffed his return less than four minutes into the first quarter and Alabama took over possession at the Wolverines 44-yard line recovered by Quandarrius Robinson.

READ: Washington State QB Cam Ward declares for NFL Draft

The Crimson Tide capitalized on their extra possession and McClellan broke off a 34-yard touchdown run. Alabama led 7-0 after the first six minutes.

Corum and the Wolverines answered back in their next drive. He caught an 8-yard touchdown following conversions on 2nd and 8 and 4th and 1 during the series.

In a gritty second quarter, both teams rushed averaged 2.3 yards per carry or worse. The Wolverines, however, averaged 7.2 yards per play to Alabama’s 3.9.

Michigan took a 13-7 lead after Tyler Morris brought in a 38-yard touchdown that he used yards after the catch to punch in. The point after attempt failed, and it capped an eight-play, 83-yard drive that lasted 4:37.

Michigan outgained Alabama 351 yards to 288.

Milro went 16-of-23 for 116 passing yards.

McClellan totaled 87 rush yards and two touchdowns.

The post Blake Corum’s TD in OT lifts No. 1 Michigan over No. 4 Alabama in Rose Bowl CFP semifinal appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The New Year’s Six bowl games kicked off beginning Friday with the Cotton Bowl Classic between No. 7 Ohio State and No. 9 Missouri. The Tigers have 11 wins for the first time since 2014 after beating the Buckeyes 14-3.

READ: No. 6 Georgia claims Orange Bowl victory over No. 5 Florida State

Friday night meant the start for the New Year’s Six, and it continued Saturday with the Peach Bowl and Orange Bowl games.

No. 11 Ole Miss contested No. 10 Penn State in the Peach Bowl, beating the Nittany Lions 38-25, and No. 6 Georgia blew out No. 5 Florida State 63-3 later Saturday afternoon.

Finally, New Year’s Day will present three New Year’s Six bowl games with two being College Football Playoff semifinal games. The Fiesta Bowl will start the day between No. 23 Liberty and No. 8 Oregon, and the CFP matchups are Michigan-Alabama and Washington-Texas. 

Here are three questions entering the CFP semifinals.

Can Michigan, Washington maintain their higher seeded positions?

Both the Wolverines and Huskies achieved their highest rankings in the CFP era going into the Playoff.

And now, they’re expected to advance and play one another in the CFP National Championship.

But that won’t be an easy task for either team. Both Michigan, going against 11-1 Alabama, and Washington, which plays Big 12 Conference champion Texas, have their hands full.

Michigan will have to keep up with the Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide, and the Wolverines will have to battle a decorated program for a chance at their first win in the CFP.

READ: Jaxson Dart throws 3 TDs, No. 11 Ole Miss routs No. 10 Penn State 38-25 in Peach Bowl

Perhaps the most intriguing game of the CFP this season will be in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

Washington is making its second trip to the CFP while Texas made its first. Both teams won their conference championships, and the Longhorns enter with one loss coming Week 6 to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.

Both Washington and Texas will compete in the Sugar Bowl with stellar quarterback play. Michael Penix Jr. was a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing runner-up to LSU’s Jayden Daniels, and Quinn Ewers owns a win over CFP rival Alabama and leads the Big 12 Conference with a 70.7% completion.

Penix and Ewers both have taken different paths to get where they are today. Both began in the Big Ten as members of Indiana and Ohio State, respectively, and transferred out for greater opportunity.

It turned into trips to the CFP for Penix and Ewers. Now, both will have a chance at ultimate achievement with a trip to the national championship on the line.

If Washington wins, it’ll compete for its first national title since 1991, and a Texas win would give the Longhorns their first shot at a national championship since 2009.

Can No. 4 Alabama use Saban magic and get past No. 1 Michigan?

The Crimson Tide pulled off the unthinkable and won the SEC Championship following their 27-24 win over No. 6 Georgia, ending the Bulldogs’ 29-game winning streak.

It rewarded Alabama with the No. 4 spot in the CFP over No. 5 Florida State, which became the first Power Five program to go unbeaten as a conference champion and miss the Playoff.

Saban and the Crimson Tide won the CFP National Championship the last time they played in the semifinal at the Rose Bowl.

Saban and Alabama also hold a 3-2 edge over Michigan in their all-time series having won the past two meetings, including a 35-16 win in the Citrus Bowl at the end of the 2019 season.

But Michigan is different this time around. The Wolverines have navigated a season of adversity seeing their head coach suspended for six games during the regular season due to recruiting violations and for the in-person scouting operation which resulted in a suspension from the Big Ten Conference.

The Wolverines enter the Rose Bowl with the No. 1 scoring defense in college football. They’ve held opponents to 9.46 points per game this season; Alabama has scored at least 17 points in every game this year.

READ: No. 9 Missouri prevails 14-3 over No. 7 Ohio State in Cotton Bowl defensive slugfest

Alabama also will enter with Jalen Milroe riding his hot hand. Milroe has thrown 10 touchdowns over the past four games, and he averages 226.5 passing yards per game.

Where the test will remain is in the trenches. Michigan running back Blake Corum leads the NCAA with 24 rushing touchdowns, and Alabama holds the No. 46 rushing offense averaging 172.7 yards per game.

So in Alabama and Michigan’s latest meeting, a trip to the CFP National Championship is on the line. The Crimson Tide last made it in 2021, and Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are looking to make their first appearance in the title game behind their first CFP win.

Which team makes the biggest statement?

Bowl season can be impacted by plater opt outs and the transfer portal, and this time around that case still stands.

Players such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Caleb Williams and Jared Verse haven’t played in their teams’ bowl games to preserve their health and focus toward the 2024 NFL Draft. Others, such as Ohio State’s Kyle McCord and Texas’ Maalik Murphy, have already transferred out of their previous programs.

READ: Reports: Buffalo to hire Dave Patenaude as next offensive coordinator

So that leaves teams to turn toward younger players to flex the depth of their rosters. Freshmen who haven’t gotten full games’ worth of playing time or third- and fourth-string players sliding up the depth chart are among the groups that could see increased playing time.

Not only is bowl season about building momentum toward the next season but it’s also about ending the current one on a high note. Teams such as Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State and Oregon all had disappointing ends to their regular seasons — and in the case of the Seminoles, they missed the CFP.

But those teams still had a chance to end their seasons on a high note. In the case of the teams involved in the CFP, they can still add hardware to their mantles, and it all begins Monday in the Rose Bowl at 5 p.m. between Alabama and Michigan.

The post 3 questions before College Football Playoff begins appeared first on Saturday Glory.

No. 1 Michigan owns the top spot and will travel to the Rose Bowl to play No. 4 Alabama in a Citrus Bowl rematch from 2019. 

READ: Michigan-Alabama, Washington-Texas headline CFP field

On the flip side, No. 2 Washington won the Pac-12 Conference Championship and will travel to the Sugar Bowl to play No. 3 Texas, which made the CFP for the first time in program history. 

Here are some of the top statistical performances from conference championship weekend. 

Dillon Johnson, Washington 

The Huskies are Pac-12 champions for the first time since 2018, doing so by beating Oregon 34-31 for the second time this season. 

Many expected a quarterback duel between Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix, and while the pair matched up head to head and pound for pound, the ground game arguably dictated the conference title game. 

Huskies running back Dillon Johnson rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 5.4 yards per carry. 

It was an efficient outing for Johnson, whose 152 rushing yards are the second-most in his career. 

Neither Washington nor Oregon had more than 60 rushing yards in the first half. 

Johnson converted five first downs in the first half and four in the second, scoring a touchdown in each. 

Johnson is third in the Pac-12 with 1,063 rushing yards this season. He and the Huskies will take on No. 3 Texas on New Year’s Day for a spot in the CFP National Championship. 

Jalen Milroe, Alabama 

The Crimson Tide are back in the CFP for the first time since 2021 after clinching the Southeastern Conference Championship over Georgia. 

READ: No. 8 Alabama hangs on, beats No. 1 Georgia in SEC Championship

Alabama rode to a 27-24 victory thanks to another fine performance turned in by quarterback Jalen Milroe. 

Last week, it was converting on 4^th and 31. 

This week, it was about converting and capitalizing. 

Milroe threw for 192 yards on 56.5% completion. It wasn’t his best game, but it was one where he made the plays that mattered most. 

The first-year starting quarterback tossed two touchdown passes in the game, doing so for a fourth-straight contest, and Milroe eclipsed more than 200 scrimmage yards for a 12^th-straight game. 

Milroe had a big second quarter to separate Alabama from the Bulldogs. He found receivers Jamarion Miller and Jermaine Burton from 28 and 15 yards out, respectively, to put the Crimson Tide ahead 17-7. 

Alabama now has 11-consecutive wins, and Milroe received the game’s Most Valuable Player recognition for his efforts. Now, Milroe and the Crimson Tide will face No. 1 Michigan for a chance to get back to the national championship. 

Will Reichard, Alabama 

Alabama kicker Will Reichard appeared in the Stat Pack once this season already, and this time he’s back making more history. 

Reichard became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with his first field goal of the SEC Championship. He notched point No. 530 to move past Keenan Reynolds on his 43-yard field goal to begin the scoring for the Crimson Tide in the conference title game. 

Reichard now has 539 points in his five-year career. He was originally a three-star recruit from the class of 2019, according to Rivals. 

READ: Michigan lands atop AP Poll

Reichard went on to drill three extra points and two field goals to tally nine points in the SEC Championship game. His career-best is 14 points, coming after Reichard made eight extra points and two field goals against New Mexico State in September 2019. 

Kaidon Salter, Liberty 

No. 23 Liberty earned a New Year’s Six bowl game berth with a 49-35 shootout victory over New Mexico State. 

The Flames are one of four remaining unbeaten teams in college football, along with the Wolverines, Huskies and No. 5 Florida State. 

Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter had a career game on one of the biggest stages on which his team needed him the most. 

Salter tied Penix for the second-most yards this week, going for 319 yards on 80% completion, a career-high. 

Both Liberty and New Mexico State matched on another through the first three quarters 35-35. Something had to give — Liberty ran for two touchdowns in the final quarter — and Salter positioned his team to have a chance going into the final 15 minutes. 

Salter had at least 132 passing yards in both halves. His most productive quarter came in the second when he threw for 141 yards and a touchdown. 

Salter’s touchdown in the second quarter was his first of three in the game. He connected with receiver Noah Frith on a 26-yard scoring throw to give the Flames a brief 21-14 lead with 27 seconds left in the second quarter. 

Salter found CJ Daniels for a 20-yard passing touchdown in the third quarter. 

The third-year quarterback ran in a 35-yard score for insurance points midway through the fourth quarter, and Salter finished the game helping Liberty go on to face No. 8 Oregon in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024. 

Kimani Vidal, Troy 

Among other Group of 5 conference championships determined last weekend included the Sun Belt Championship, which Troy claimed 49-23 over Appalachian State. 

Troy running back Kimani Vidal exploded for 233 rushing yards and five touchdowns. It seemed there was no stopping the fourth-year running back. 

READ: No. 7 Texas routs No. 18 Oklahoma State to win Big 12 Championship

Vidal only had 15 yards after the first quarter. 

In the second, he was hard to stop. Vidal had four rushes of more than 10 yards, all coming on his final four carries of the first half. 

Two of those carries went for touchdowns. Vidal had scoring runs of 49, 36, 7, 6 and 2 yards. 

Vidal’s five rushing touchdowns are a Troy program record as he became the first player to ever rush for five scores in a Football Bowl Subdivision conference championship game. 

Vidal was the only ball-carrier to top 200 yards during conference championship week. With the focus now toward bowl season, Vidal and Troy will find themselves in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23 against Duke. 

The post Stat Pack: Week 14  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The Bulldogs had won 45 of their previous 46 games, dating back to the 2021 SEC Championship in which they lost to the same Crimson Tide team.

PODCAST: Will Championship Week create chaos or clarity?

Georgia struck first.

Bulldogs running back Kendall Milton ran in a 17-yard score on their first drive of the game to go up 7-0.

Alabama kicker Will Reichard became the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer with his first field goal of the game, a 43-yarder with 3:43 left in the first quarter.

Then, Milroe turned it on.

The first-year Crimson Tide starting quarterback threw two touchdowns in the second quarter, giving Alabama a lead it wouldn’t relinquish after passes of 28 and 15 yards to Jamarion Miller and Jermaine Burton.

Georgia got within three points twice in the fourth quarter after quarterback Carson Beck and Milton ran in 1-yard scores.

READ: No. 7 Texas routs No. 18 Oklahoma State to win Big 12 Championship

Milroe went 5-for-5 in the final quarter to will Alabama to victory. He led a nine-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in running back Roydell Williams punching in a 1-yard touchdown that proved to be the difference.

Milroe finished with 192 passing yards and two touchdowns on 57% completion.

Beck completed 72% of his passes for 243 passing yards.

It will be interesting to see where the College Football Playoff Selection Committee ranks both Georgia and Alabama on Sunday. The SEC has had at least one team make the Playoff in each of the nine seasons of the CFP era.

The post No. 8 Alabama hangs on, beats No. 1 Georgia in SEC Championship appeared first on Saturday Glory.

In fact, all five ranked matchups this week come in the Power 5 conference championship games. Two of those contests will be previewed later. 

PODCAST: Week 13 almost had all-out chaos

As a result of the close of the regular season, there will be five ranked teams that will play as the designated “road team.” Both No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Michigan are considered the road teams in the Southeastern and Big Ten conference championships. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

New Mexico State vs. No. 24 Liberty 

Among the five remaining unbeaten teams left in college football, No. 24 Liberty has a chance to capture history on Friday. 

The Flames are 12-0 for the first time in program history, and they have a chance to win the Conference USA Championship in their first season in the conference. 

Liberty running back Quinton Cooley leads the Conference USA with 1,251 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He’s been a big reason why the Flames average 498.5 yards and 40.1 points per game. 

Cooley and Liberty already have one win over New Mexico State this season, coming in 33-17 fashion in Week 2. 

The Flames have found abundant success under first-year head coach Jamey Chadwell, who said Liberty’s success stems from its team chemistry. 

“I think one as we’ve gone on through the season, we’ve gotten to know our team better,” Chadwell said. “It’s our first year, and so early on in the season you’re trying to figure out what can we do, who can do it, when can we do it, and as you get along and get to know your team better, they get to know you better. And I think that’s why we’ve gotten better throughout the season because we’ve started to understand more the strengths of our players and how to interact with them and to get them to play at the highest level. And secondly, I think they’ve done a fantastic job, the players have done a fantastic job, of believing in each other and believing in what we’re doing. And each week, they’ve just built off the previous week and have not been satisfied and they’ve stayed hungry to continue to get better. And when you do that, good things can happen.” 

No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 3 Washington 

The top-10 rematch that many have been waiting for. 

READ: Big Board: Week 14

Both No. 3 Washington and No. 5 Oregon met in Week 6 in Seattle with the Huskies coming out on top 36-33. 

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. outdueled Oregon’s Bo Nix with 302 passing yards and four touchdowns to Nix’s 337 yards and two scoring throws. 

However, Nix may be heating up at the right time. 

Nix has been responsible for 19 touchdowns in his last four games, including a pair of six-touchdown performances against Cal and Arizona State. 

Penix, meanwhile, is trailing Nix closely behind in a number of passing categories. Nix and Penix are No. 1 and 2 in passing yards, and the former has 37 passing touchdowns to the latter’s 32. 

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is out for revenge. He said the sting of the loss to Washington earlier in the season is still there, and he thinks the Ducks will be ready. 

“We didn’t finish, didn’t win the game last time, so that’s the kind of thing that sticks with you,” Lanning said. “But our coaches have been working extremely hard as soon as our game was over with as far as getting prepped and so were our players so we’ve had some really good days of practice here so far.” 

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 8 Alabama 

Perhaps the game with the biggest College Football Playoff implications will take place in Atlanta. 

No. 8 Alabama has been on the fringe of entering the CFP top-four ever since its loss to No. 7 Texas in Week 2. Since, the Crimson Tide have been on a 10-game winning streak. 

READ: Washington rises to No. 3, Buckeyes fall to No. 6 in 5th CFP rankings 

No. 1 Georgia, however, is riding a 29-game winning streak that dates back to the 2021 SEC Championship game. The Bulldogs lost to Alabama that year in the conference title game, but still made the CFP and defeated Michigan and the Crimson Tide in the national championship. 

Georgia appears most likely to make the CFP with a loss, and if Alabama loses then it’s more likely the Crimson Tide will be eliminated from Playoff contention. 

Both Alabama and Georgia have first-year starting quarterbacks in the Bulldogs’ Carson Beck and Crimson Tide’s Jalen Milroe. 

The stakes are stacked together and couldn’t be higher, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban knows what’s on the line. 

“Having the opportunity to play in the SEC championship game is, you know, I’m very, very proud of this team for the progress that they’ve made, the work that they’ve done to give themselves an opportunity to play in the SEC championship game,” Saban said. “This is one of the most competitive, best venues in college football, and we’re obviously playing one of the best teams in college football, if not the best team in college football.” 

The post Preview Thursday: Week 14  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

No. 1 Georgia, No. 2 Michigan, No. 4 Washington and No. 5 Florida State all took care of business last Saturday. 

PODCAST: Week 13 almost had all-out chaos

No. 6 Ohio State was the only undefeated team to lose its first game last weekend. The Buckeyes fell 30-24 to Michigan, and the Wolverines won the Big Ten East Division. 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 13 to Week 14. 

Ryan Day, Ohio State 

Ryan Day and the Buckeyes suffered rivalry defeat for a third year in a row on Saturday. 

No. 2 Michigan beat No. 6 Ohio State 30-24, and defensive back Rod Moore put the final nail in the coffin with a game-sealing interception with 25 seconds left. 

Day and the Buckeyes are familiar with this sort of rivalry aura. They’ve not met their goals of beating Michigan, winning the Big Ten Championship and capturing a national championship, and they haven’t met the first two since 2019. 

Day summarized his feelings after the game in Ann Arbor on Saturday. 

“Hard to describe now, just sick,” Day said. “The fact that we came up short in this game. You work your whole year for it, and we came up short.” 

Bo Nix, Oregon 

Oregon finds itself with an interesting scenario this upcoming weekend.

The Ducks are in the Pac-12 Championship game for a fourth time in five seasons, and this year, they’ll compete against the same Huskies team that beat them 36-33 in Week 6.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will prove to be a stiff challenge for the Ducks after passing for 302 yards and four touchdowns in the first meeting between the two teams.

Fellow Heisman Trophy-contending quarterback Bo Nix is hot on Penix’s heels leading the country with 3,906 passing yards, and he said the Ducks are right in position that they wanted to be.

“That’s exactly how we wanted it because of the circumstances because we did lose the first one, and they’re going to be a great opponent,” Nix said. “They’re going to be very respected, and we just got to go out there and do our part.” 

Nick Saban, Alabama 

The Iron Bowl proved this year to be a classic once again.

READ: Texas A&M names Duke’s Mike Elko next head coach 

No. 8 Alabama held on for a 27-24 win at Auburn, and the Crimson Tide will roll into conference championship week on a 10-game winning streak. 

Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe threw the game-winning touchdown pass with 32 seconds on the clock in the fourth quarter against the Tigers. He found receiver Isaiah Bond from 31 yards out, and did so on 4^th and 31. 

Alabama earned its fourth-straight win over Auburn, and Saban has been around to recall some of the signature moments from the rivalry series. 

“So do I need to really say anything? I mean, it’s an unbelievable game,” Saban said. “I guess if you’re in this long enough, sometimes it goes against you in the last play of the game and sometimes you’re fortunate and it goes for you. And our players really stepped up, got a couple of stops when we needed to on defense, which we didn’t play great all day, but we got stops when we needed to, and offense put some drives together and we overcame adversity.” 

The post Quotables: Week 13  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

College football will enter its 13th week of the year this time around, and rivalries will be on the line.

PODCAST: Week 12 could shape up conference championship game match-ups

No. 2 Ohio State, which rose a place in Sunday’s Associated Press Top 25 poll, will face No. 3 Michigan for a spot in the Big Ten Championship game.

No. 5 Florida State already locked up a berth in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game entering last week, and it learned its opponent: No. 10 Louisville.

Here are some of the top statistical performances from Week 12.

Carson Beck and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, Georgia

No. 1 Georgia returned to its top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings and had another top-25 test this week in No. 18 Tennessee.

The Volunteers challenged the Bulldogs early, getting out to a 7-0 lead after the game’s opening drive thanks running back Jaylen Wright running 75 yards for a touchdown on the first offensive snap.

The Bulldogs held Tennessee to three points thereafter. Quarterback Carson Beck keyed the strong comeback efforts with three passing touchdowns, and receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint played just as vital a role, scoring two touchdowns in the game.

Beck threw for 298 yards for the sixth time this season and three touchdowns for a third time. He tied his season-best 80% completion and wasn’t sacked.

Rosemy-Jacksaint scored his second touchdown on an 8-yard reception early in the third quarter, who caught the pass thrown by receiver Dillon Bell.

With the win, Georgia tied the Southeastern Conference record by winning its 28th-consecutive game.

Jalen Milroe, Alabama

The Crimson Tide might just be peaking at the right time, and so is quarterback Jalen Milroe.

No. 8 Alabama has its spot in the SEC championship game locked up, and it looked to extend its winning streak to nine games against Chattanooga.

READ: Syracuse fires head coach Babers

Milroe and the Crimson Tide took care of business, handling the Mocs 66-10.

Milroe had a career-high 81.3% completion against Chattanooga. He did it all in a little more than two quarters before backups Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan took over.

Three of Milroe’s 13 completions went for touchdowns. All three scores went to different receivers: Jermaine Burton from 5 yards, Robbie Ouzts from 7 and Malik Benson from 20.

Milroe now has had back-to-back games with at least three passing touchdowns. He’s 28-of-38 in those games and he’s thrown a combined 431 yards.

Alabama and Milroe have Auburn next week to close out the regular season before playing No. 1 Georgia. A shot at the CFP won’t be easy, but it isn’t out of the question for the Crimson Tide if they continue  to win.

Diego Pavia, New Mexico State

New Mexico State may have had the biggest win of the week.

According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, the Aggies were paid “$1.8 million” to play at Auburn, and New Mexico State came out on the winning end 31-10.

Aggies quarterback Diego Pavia led New Mexico State under center. He had three passing touchdowns to tie his season-high.

He connected on scoring passes of 9, 17 and 2 yards, finding a different receiver each time. Pavia finished with a 78.9% completion, his second-best mark of the season.

Pavia topped 200 passing yards for the ninth time in his career. He had 201 against Auburn.

It’s the first time New Mexico State beat a team from the SEC in program history.

Will Shipley, Clemson

Clemson has had an up and down season, but the Tigers notched another signature win under the belts on Saturday.

The Tigers defeated No. 22 North Carolina 31-20 and stormed back from a 7-0 deficit.

READ: Ohio State rises to No. 2 in latest AP Top 25

Tigers running back Will Shipley has seen injuries and a concussion hinder his season at times. He missed Clemson’s game Nov. 4 against Notre Dame.

In his most productive game of the year, Shipley took advantage of his carriers. He averaged 7 yards per rush and tallied 126 rushing yards, a season-high.

Shipley scored a 33-yard run in the third quarter to give the Tigers a 28-14 lead.

In a year where Clemson desired more than it has achieved, the Tigers earned their second ranked win of the season when Shipley shined brightest.

The post Stat Pack: Week 12 appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Alabama faced an early 13-0 deficit and trailed by as much as 20-7 at halftime. The Crimson Tide defense held the Volunteers to 129 yards and had a scoop-and-score in the second half en route to the victory. 

PODCAST: The Shane Beamer Story Isn’t That Serious

Trailing 20-7, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe found receiver Isaiah Bond 46 yards down the field for the first touchdown of the second half less than one minute into the third quarter. 

Crimson Tide kicker Will Reichard, who became the Southeastern Conference’s all-time leading scorer last week, made field goals of 42 and 50 yards while running back Jase McClellan ran in a 5-yard score that gave Alabama its first lead with 3:42 left in the third quarter. 

With 7:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell picked up a fumble by Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III and returned it 24 yards for the final insurance touchdown. 

READ: No. 3 Ohio State pulls away from No. 7 Penn State 20-12

The Volunteers outgained Alabama 404 yards to 358 but were shut out in the second half. Milton finished with 271 passing yards and two touchdowns and receiver Squirrel White had 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. 

Milroe had 220 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception while McClellan had 115 rushing yards. 

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