Beginning this season, the “SEC on ABC franchise” will debut with the Miami–Florida matchup Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m., according to a release. The SEC on ABC brand will include “a new graphics package, theme music and more.”

According to a release, all special date games and ESPN’s broadcast schedule for the first three weeks of the season will be revealed May 30. The network’s Bowl Season schedule will also be unveiled June 6.

READ: Colorado-Nebraska primetime kickoff announced for Week 2 matchup on NBC

READ: Joe Alt cherishes Notre Dame career, hopes to put ‘best foot forward’ with Los Angeles after No. 5 overall NFL Draft selection

ESPN’s College GameDay, which will welcome former Alabama head coach Nick Saban on set this fall, will begin the season in Dublin, Ireland, at noon on Aug. 24 when Florida State matches up in Week 0 with Georgia Tech. It will be the first time the show originates from outside the United States.

Saban and College GameDay will return stateside Aug. 31 from College Station where new Aggies head coach Mike Elko and Texas A&M will face Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.

ESPN will also broadcast the Southeastern Conference debuts for Oklahoma and Texas. The Sooners will open at home Aug. 30 against Temple at 7 p.m., and Texas will host Colorado State on Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m.

Deion Sanders and Colorado will also make their debut in the Big 12 Conference Aug. 29 when the Buffaloes host North Dakota State at 8 p.m. on ESPN.

READ: Former Penn State SAF King Mack transfers to Alabama

ESPN’s run of teams in new conferences continues in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Aug. 30 when Stanford, departing the Pac-12 Conference, plays TCU at 10:30 p.m.

ESPN will also carry Kalen DeBoer’s Alabama debut against Western Kentucky at 7 p.m. on Aug. 31.

ABC will begin its Week 1 coverage in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium where Dabo Swinney and Clemson will take on Kirby Smart and Georgia at noon.

Here is ABC and ESPN’s Weeks 0-1 schedule.

Week 0

Florida State at Georgia Tech — Aug. 24 at noon on ESPN

Florida A&M at Norfolk State — Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Week 1

North Dakota State at Colorado — Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. on ESPN

Temple at Oklahoma — Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

TCU at Stanford — Aug. 30 at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN

Clemson at Georgia — Aug. 31 at noon on ABC

Miami at Florida — Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ABC

Colorado State at Texas — Aug. 31 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN

Western Kentucky at Alabama — Aug. 31 at 7 p.m. on ESPN

Notre Dame at Texas A&M — Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

USC at LSU — Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Boston College at Florida State — Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN

The post ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule appeared first on Saturday Glory.

On Tuesday the Georgia Athletics Board announced it approved a contract extension for Smart making him “the highest paid coach in college football” after increasing his salary to $13 million a year. It will keep Smart with the Bulldogs two additional years through 2033.

READ: MAC Offensive Player of the Year Peny Boone to transfer to UCF

“I want to thank President (Jere W.) Morehead, Josh Brooks and the Board of Directors for extending my contract at the University of Georgia,” Smart stated in a release. “I continue to be grateful and humbled by our administration’s commitment to our football program. The current culture in collegiate athletics is everchanging and as challenging as it has ever been, so I truly appreciate the leadership that our team is continually provided. I have an immense pride for representing my alma mater and look forward to that relationship continuing for many years to come.”

According to a release, Smart will receive “an average increase of $1.75 million annually,” and “his maximum amount of bonuses per year will go from $1.3 million to $1.55 million” based on the new 12-team College Football Playoff format.

According to Chris Low of ESPN, Smart’s extension is part of a 10-year, $130 million contract. Smart’s salary increases from $10.75 million.

READ: Jayden Daniels realizes draft dream after No. 2 overall selection by Washington Commanders

Smart now holds the title of top paid coach in college football, and he just might be considered the most decorated coach in the sport.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban retired this offseason, meaning Smart is the Southeastern Conference’s winningest coach with a 94-16 record. Smart led Georgia to back-to-back CFP National Championships in 2021-22, becoming the first team to do so since the Crimson Tide in 2011-12.

Smart and the Bulldogs just missed returning to the CFP last season for a chance at a three-peat defending their national titles. They went 13-1 in 2023 falling to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and sliding to No. 6 in the CFP rankings before beating No. 5 Florida State 63-3 in the Orange Bowl.

Smart’s senior class last year departed the program with a 50-4 career record, which set a new school record.

READ: Entire UAB football team signs up for Athletes.org

The Georgia Athletics Board also announced it approved a one-year extension for Brooks, the school’s athletics director. Morehead stated Brooks “has done a terrific job” and “positioned UGA Athletics to thrive in a rapidly changing college sports landscape.”

Brooks will see his salary increase to $1,275,000, and he’ll remain at Georgia through 2030 according to a release.

“I am extremely grateful for the trust placed in me by President Morehead and the UGA Athletic Association Board of Directors,” Brooks stated in a release. “Serving in this role and working alongside our outstanding student-athletes, coaches and staff is truly the privilege of a lifetime. I also want to thank President Morehead and the Board of Directors for Coach Smart’s well-deserved contract extension. His success in the first eight years leading our football program is unmatched, and his generosity and leadership as part of our university community has made a lasting impact.”

The post Georgia approves new contract for Kirby Smart; Smart becomes college football’s highest paid coach appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The 2024 NFL Draft continued Friday with the second and third rounds picking through No. 100 overall. It began with wide receivers Keon Coleman of Florida State and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey going back to back at Nos. 33-34 to the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively, and ended with Rice’s Luke McCaffrey being picked by the Washington Commanders. No quarterbacks were selected after six went in the first round on Thursday.

READ: No. 1 pick Caleb Williams says he wants to be part of ‘a big portion’ of winning with Chicago Bears after NFL Draft

More than 150,000 fans attended the draft on Thursday, and all 32 picks are listed in First Round Live Reaction: 2024 NFL Draft.

Michigan men go back-to-back in second round; Jim Harbaugh takes Los Angeles’ first Wolverine in third

Defending national champion Michigan sent an NFL Scouting Combine-record 18 participants to Indianapolis earlier this offseason.

Michigan saw six players drafted in the second and third rounds, bringing its total to seven so far this draft after quarterback J.J. McCarthy went No. 10 overall to the Minnesota Vikings.

READ: ‘Adversity teaches a man a lot about himself’: Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. pens letter to NFL GMs in Players Tribune

Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was the second Wolverine picked in the draft when he went No. 49 overall to the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round. He began back-to-back selections of former Michigan players as cornerback Mike Sainristil went next at No. 50 overall.

New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh drafted his first former Wolverine when he chose linebacker Junior Colson in the third round at No. 69 overall.

The crosstown rival Los Angeles Rams selected former Michigan running back Blake Corum at No. 83 overall in the third round. He started a string of three-straight Wolverines drafted when wide receiver Roman Wilson went No. 84 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers and guard Zak Zinter was picked No. 85 overall by the Cleveland Browns.

Harbaugh broke out in song among Chargers personnel during the draft in a video posted on X.

Kirby Smart shouts out drafted Bulldogs

Georgia continued its streak of at least six Bulldogs picked in every draft since 2018.

READ: Florida State’s Braden Fiske motivated by ‘huge impact’ leading up to NFL Draft

Four more of head coach Kirby Smart’s former players heard their names called in Detroit: McConkey and defensive backs Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith.

Smart shouted each of the four Bulldog draftees on Friday, as he did Thursday for former tight end Brock Bowers and tackle Amarius Mims.

About McConkey, Smart posted: “Congrats @laddmcconkey02 !! So excited to watch you be a part of the @chargers. You’re such a great young man & I’m thankful for your time in Athens. You meant so much to this team, school & community. Always grateful for your impact on this program. GO DAWGS !!”

Of Lassiter, Smart posted: “Another Dawg off the board @kamari_lassiter!! You were such a good player, teammate and leader for this program, and I am so thankful for your impact. The @houstontexans are going to get a great player for their defense. I know you’ll represent us the right way and you’ll be very successful.  Enjoy this moment! GO DAWGS!!”

Of Bullard, Smart posted: “Bull to Green Bay!! @cravejaaye I know you’ve worked really hard for this & so happy you were able to reach your goals and more. You have a bright future & I’m proud of you. The @packers are getting a great player and an even better person. I hope you can come back to Athens sometime this fall. GO DAWGS !!”

Of Smith, Smart posted: “Let’s go @TykSmith!! Can’t wait to see what you do in Tampa Bay. You’re such a great player, leader and person and I am so happy for you that your dreams are becoming a reality. Soak in this moment with your family! Thanks for all you’ve done & GO DAWGS!!”

READ: Jayden Daniels says he’ll ‘be ready’ for NFL after LSU Pro Day

2024 NFL Draft results

Here are the full results from rounds two and three of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Second round

No. 33: Buffalo Bills via trade with Carolina Panthers: WR Keon Coleman — Florida State

No. 34: Los Angeles Chargers via trade with New England Patriots: WR Ladd McConkey — Georgia

No. 35: Atlanta Falcons via trade with Arizona Cardinals: DT Ruke Orhorhoro — Clemson

No. 36: Washington Commanders: DT Jer’Zhan Newton — Illinois

No. 37: New England Patriots via trade with Los Angeles Chargers: WR Ja’Lynn Polk — Washington

No. 38: Tennessee Titans: DT T’Vondre Sweat — Texas

No. 39: Los Angeles Rams via trade with Carolina Panthers (from N.Y. Giants): DT Braden Fiske — Florida State

No. 40: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with Washington Commanders (from Chicago): CB Cooper DeJean — Iowa

No. 41: New Orleans Saints via trade with Green Bay Packers (from N.Y. Jets): CB Kool-Aid McKinstry — Alabama

No. 42: Houston Texans (from Minnesota): CB Kamari Lassiter — Georgia

No. 43: Arizona Cardinals via trade with Atlanta Falcons: CB Max Melton — Rutgers

No. 44: Las Vegas Raiders: OC Jackson Powers-Johnson — Oregon

No. 45: Green Bay Packers via trade with New Orleans Saints (from Denver): LB Edgerrin Cooper — Texas A&M

No. 46: Carolina Panthers via trade with Indianapolis Colts: RB Jonathon Brooks — Texas

No. 47: New York Giants (from Seattle): SAF Tyler Nubin — Minnesota

No. 48: Jacksonville Jaguars: DT Maason Smith — LSU

No. 49: Cincinnati Bengals: DT Kris Jenkins — Michigan

No. 50: Washington Commanders via trade with Philadelphia Eagles (from New Orleans): CB Mike Sainristil — Michigan

No. 51: Pittsburgh Steelers: OC Zach Frazier — West Virginia

No. 52: Indianapolis Colts via trade with Los Angeles Rams: WR Adonai Mitchell — Texas

No. 53: Washington Commanders via trade with Philadelphia Eagles: TE Ben Sinnott — Kansas State

No. 54: Cleveland Browns: DT Michael Hall Jr. — Ohio State

No. 55: Miami Dolphins: OT Patrick Paul — Houston

No. 56: Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Marshawn Kneeland — Western Michigan

No. 57: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE Chris Braswell — Alabama

No. 58: Green Bay Packers: SAF Javon Bullard — Georgia

No. 59: Houston Texans: OT Blake Fisher — Notre Dame

No. 60: Buffalo Bills: SAF Cole Bishop — Utah

No. 61: Detroit Lions: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. — Missouri

No. 62: Baltimore Ravens: OT Roger Rosengarten — Washington

No. 63: Kansas City Chiefs via trade with San Francisco 49ers: OT Kingsley Suamataia — BYU

No. 64: San Francisco 49ers via trade with Kansas City Chiefs: CB Renardo Green — Florida State

Third round

No. 65: New York Jets via trade with Carolina Panthers: WR Malachi Corley — Western Kentucky

No. 66: Arizona Cardinals: RB Trey Benson — Florida State

No. 67: Washington Commanders: OG Brandon Coleman — TCU

No. 68: New England Patriots: OT Caedan Wallace — Penn State

No. 69: Los Angeles Chargers: LB Junior Colson — Michigan

No. 70: New York Giants: CB Andru Phillips — Kentucky

No. 71: Arizona Cardinals (from Tennessee): OG Isaiah Adams — Illinois

No. 72: Carolina Panthers via trade with New York Jets: LB Trevin Wallace — Kentucky

No. 73: Dallas Cowboys via trade with Detroit Lions (from Minnesota): OG Cooper Beebe — Kansas State

No. 74: Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Bralen Trice — Washington

No. 75: Chicago Bears: OT Kiran Amegadjie — Yale

No. 76: Denver Broncos: EDGE Jonah Elliss — Utah

No. 77: Las Vegas Raiders: OT Delmar Glaze — Maryland

No. 78: Houston Texans via trade with Washington Commanders (from Seattle): SAF Calen Bullock — USC

No. 79: Atlanta Falcons (from Jacksonville): OT Matt Goncalves — Pittsburgh

No. 80: Cincinnati Bengals: WR Jermaine Burton — Alabama

No. 81: Seattle Seahawks (from New Orleans through Denver): OG Christian Haynes — UConn

No. 82: Arizona Cardinals via trade with Indianapolis Colts: TE Tip Reiman — Illinois

No. 83: Los Angeles Rams: RB Blake Corum — Michigan

No. 84: Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Roman Wilson — Michigan

No. 85: Cleveland Browns: OG Zak Zinter — Michigan

No. 86: San Francisco 49ers via trade with Houston Texans (from Philadelphia): OG Dominick Puni — Kansas

No. 87: Dallas Cowboys: LB Marist Liufau — Notre Dame

No. 88: Green Bay Packers: RB MarShawn Lloyd — USC

No. 89: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: SAF Tykee Smith — Georgia

No. 90: Arizona Cardinals (from Houston): CB Elijah Jones — Boston College

No. 91: Green Bay Packers (from Buffalo): LB Ty’Ron Hopper — Missouri

No. 92: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (from Detroit): WR Jalen McMillan — Washington

No. 93: Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Adisa Isaac — Penn State

No. 94: Philadelphia Eagles via trade with San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Jalyx Hunt — Houston Christian University

No. 95: Buffalo Bills via trade with Kansas City Chiefs: DT DeWayne Carter — Duke

No. 96: Jacksonville Jaguars (Compensatory Selection): CB Jarrian Jones — Florida State

No. 97: Cincinnati Bengals (Compensatory Selection): DT McKinnley Jackson — Texas A&M

No. 98: Pittsburgh Steelers (from Philadelphia; Compensatory Selection): LB Payton Wilson — NC State

No. 99: Los Angeles Rams (Special Compensatory Selection): SAF Kamren Kinchens — Miami

No. 100: Washington Commanders (from San Francisco; Special Compensatory Selection): WR Luke McCaffrey — Rice

The post Notes and Reaction: Rounds 2-3 of 2024 NFL Draft appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Notably, Alabama will have an opening at head coach in wake of Nick Saban’s retirement plans announced on Wednesday.

PODCAST: One Major Problem Alabama Faces in Search to Find Replacement for Nick Saban

Lanning, who is a former assistant coach at Alabama, posted a video on social media stating “I’m not leaving.”

“I want to be here in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have me,” Lanning said. “This place has everything I could possibly ever want. There’s a little bit of a problem in society today with people looking for what’s next and where there’s an opportunity, and the reality is, the grass is not always greener. In fact, the grass is d— green in Eugene.”

Lanning comes from a long line within the coaching tree under Saban and Alabama.

He spent the 2015 season with the Crimson Tide, a season in which they won the national championship.

Lanning then spent the 2016-17 seasons with Memphis before taking a position as outside linebackers coach under Kirby Smart at Georgia in 2018.

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

With the Bulldogs, Lanning served as the defensive coordinator from 2019-21. He took the head coaching position at Oregon on Dec. 11, 2021, and led the Ducks to a 10-win season in his first year.

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Lanning is a candidate to replace Saban as the Crimson Tide’s head coach. Lanning appears to put those rumors aside in his social media video.

The post Oregon head coach Dan Lanning dispels coaching rumors, announces he’ll remain with Ducks appeared first on Saturday Glory.

All three of those ranked games will be previewed later, and there are 12 ranked teams that will play on the road this week. 

PODCAST: Week 11 Recap: Are things getting any clearer?

No. 1 Georgia and No. 3 Michigan will play on the road, while No. 2 Ohio State, which dropped one spot in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings, will round out its home schedule against Minnesota. 

Jordan Travis and No. 4 Florida State will face North Alabama in a game in which the Seminoles will be heavily favored. The Seminoles are riding a 16-game winning streak and have already clinched a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

No. 22 Utah at No. 17 Arizona 

The first of two Pac-12 Conference matchups this week will focus on key positioning for possible conference title implications. 

Arizona has been one of the hottest teams entering the middle of November. The Wildcats are on a four-game winning streak and have clinched their most wins at 7-3 since the 2017 season. 

Wildcats head coach Jedd Fisch has heard his name involved and tossed around the coaching carousel as teams are already letting go of some coordinators and some head coaches. 

But Fisch isn’t focused on his coaching prospects. To him, his focus is on Arizona football and upending the reigning Pac-12 champion Utah, which has the third-best scoring defense in the conference behind an average of 17.8 points per game. 

“That’s this time of year. When you’re successful and your team’s playing well that’s what happens,” Fisch said. “I think our only focus is beating Utah. This is a great team coming in. I told our team yesterday that you have a chance to — they are the reigning champions. They’re the two years reigning Pac-12 champions. We need everybody focusing on one thing and one thing only and that is Utah football and trying to have the best Arizona football program we can have to go beat Utah’s football team, and we are going to give them everything that we have. We are going to empty the tank, and we need a full house to do that.” 

No. 1 Georgia at No. 18 Tennessee 

Another test stands in the way for Georgia, which will play this week as the top-seeded team in the CFP rankings after overtaking the Buckeyes. 

The Bulldogs earned a top-10 win last weekend when they beat Ole Miss 52-17. Georgia held the Rebels to three points in the second half, and its defense withstood the test of Ole Miss’ offense led by quarterback Jaxson Dart. 

READ: Big Board: Week 12

This week, Georgia will go up against Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton III and the Volunteers offense, which ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference averaging 454.8 yards per game. 

The Volunteers will present a unique challenge to Georgia. Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart kept team strategy close to the vest, as he hopes his team can maintain its perfect 10-0 record against a team that has an upset on its mind. 

“I don’t think you can simulate their pace,” Smart said. “They’re really good at what they do. They’re fast at what they do. We try to, but I don’t really delve into how we practice publicly so we keep that in house but it is tough to simulate.” 

No. 5 Washington at No. 11 Oregon State 

The second Pac-12 matchup of Preview Thursday this week could serve as a sort of Pac-12 championship preview. 

The Beavers enter Saturday’s game at 8-2 and 5-2 in Pac-12 play. They’ve claimed a two-game winning streak having beaten Colorado and Stanford to climb to their highest ranking of the season. 

Oregon State will need some help, though. No. 6 Oregon stands in the way of the Beavers at 6-1 in the conference, and the Ducks’ only loss came to No. 5 Washington. 

The Huskies have been doing some skating recently, and they’ve kept their perfect 10-0 record among six unbeaten teams left in college football. 

READ: Georgia climbs to No. 1 in third CFP rankings

Washington has won each of its past six games by 10 points or less, and they’re atop the Pac-12 standings. 

Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer can see the conference championship on the horizon, and he wants his team to continue taking care of business. 

“I’m proud of the direction we’re going,” DeBoer said. “We put ourselves in a spot now where, I mean, every game does matter but it really has a heightened level of importance, and we’re excited about that. I think our guys really play well when the lights are bright, and that goes into the week of preparation, the energy. They bring it every single day and so big week ahead against a really, really good football team that’s playing really well and well coached, and so we know we have a great challenge going on the road again.” 

The post Preview Thursday: Week 12  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

That rule is that the Rebels refrain from talking about the College Football Playoff throughout the year. It’s something that makes Kiffin unique to his players even though they’re well within striking distance of the Playoff. 

“We don’t ever talk about that because I think that’s out of our control,” Kiffin said. “I think people get up and start lobbying about that and focus on that and you see a lot of people do that and then lose.” 

PODCAST: November crowns champions and who will step up in week 11?

But maybe Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has a rule of his own — he doesn’t respond to text messages during game week. 

That’s what Kiffin said he’s gotten in the days leading up to Saturday’s top-10 bout between No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 2 Georgia. Kiffin said there’s a group text chat among Southeastern Conference coaches, and Smart has yet to give him a ring. 

“Maybe he has a rule during the week of the game he doesn’t respond to you,” Kiffin said. “Obviously it goes without saying like he’s done an unbelievable job and they’re in the midst of a run. I think I read where No. 1 in the country for so many weeks and the next one to catch is the USC run when I happened to be an assistant there so that just tells you how hard it is to do what they’re doing to stay No. 1 that long to be close to a three-peat is really phenomenal at anytime let alone nowadays with scholarship limitations, portal and everything.”  

The Rebels will get a crack at the nation’s two-time defending national champion Saturday night at 7 p.m. on ESPN. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since Ole Miss won 45-14 in 2016. 

Georgia will enter on a 26-game winning streak having not lost a regular season game since 2020. The Bulldogs will have a chance to set a new program record as they ride a 24-game home winning streak, something Kiffin and the Rebels are tasked with stopping. 

“There’s not a lot of answers out there how to beat these guys at home,” Kiffin said. “A lot of people have tried, and so we got to have a really good week of practice. This is a very challenging combination now of having elite phenomenal players and elite phenomenal coaches combined and on the road so there’s a trifecta of what’s the hardest thing to pull off and this would be it.” 

READ: Preview Thursday: Week 11

Kiffin has experience being a part of winning streaks. He was an assistant coach at USC when the Trojans won 34-consecutive games from 2003-05, and he was also offensive coordinator at Alabama when the Crimson Tide went 40-4 from 2014-16 including a 26-game winning streak. 

“I think those two examples there of being fortunate to be at USC when we won 34-straight I think before we couldn’t tackle Vince Young and when I left Alabama I think we were at 26 straight or something,” Kiffin said. “To be a part of that is the only way that happens is a phenomenal head coach that has like Pete Carroll and Nick Saban and now Kirby Smart to be able to hold that together to be able to manage when you’re going to have down games, things aren’t going to go well, it’s football, and to overcome those poor games to me is what being a super elite program and super elite head coach is about.” 

The current Ole Miss team under Kiffin is currently on a five-game winning streak. The only slip up for the Rebels this season is a 24-10 loss to the Crimson Tide in Week 4. 

Ole Miss boasts the No. 3 total offense in the SEC averaging 478.9 yards per game. Quarterback Jaxson Dart is fifth among passers in the conference with 2,467 yards. 

The Rebels have won three of their past five games by one possession. Last week, the Rebels fought off a comeback bid by Texas A&M and thwarted the Aggies 38-35 as running back Quinshon Judkins ran in the go-ahead score in the final two minutes, and Kiffin had a new nickname for his team. 

“I joked with them they’re kind of like the cardiac kids,” Kiffin said. “To have so many like games that go to the wire, got to come back from being behind in fourth quarters. So I don’t know that I really remember this many within a season, especially not a full season yet but it says a lot about them. This is a really cool group of kids to coach. And you guys know, I’m very honest, that for every year it isn’t like that. It just is what it is. And this is a really, really neat group that overcomes things.” 

READ: Big Board: Week 11

Kiffin said he thinks Ole Miss runs “a pretty unique offense” and added the caveat “when it’s working.” It’s a high-powered offense with a good balance between passing and running, as Dart and Judkins both rank in the top-five in passing and rushing yards in the conference, respectively. 

What Kiffin wants to do is limit the “super elite defensive talent” that Georgia has, as the Bulldogs secondary is loaded with All-Americans in safeties Javon Bullard and Malaki Starks. 

And what else Kiffin wants to do is lead the Ole Miss team into doing something not many people expect. 

“I kind of feel like this one’s different whether it’s right or wrong,” Kiffin said. “It’s kind of more like playing with house’s money meaning no one expects us to win. We’re double-digit underdogs and feel like those big games over the years, the places and stuff, those were more like they were the big game or the national game and the teams were considered close. I think that no one’s expecting us to win or probably even play them close so just go in there and see what happens.” 

The post With streaks abound, Kiffin says ‘cardiac kids’ at No. 9 Ole Miss could surprise No. 2 Georgia  appeared first on Saturday Glory.

None bigger than a pair of top-10 matchups taking place around the college football world than No. 3 Michigan-No. 10 Penn State and No. 9 Ole Miss-No. 2 Georgia. 

PODCAST: Week 10 did not disappoint

Those games will be previewed later. There are also eight ranked programs playing on the road this week including No. 7 Texas and No. 8 Alabama. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

Miami at No. 4 Florida State 

A battle for the state of Florida will take place on Saturday. 

The No. 4 Seminoles will put their 15-game winning streak on the line against Miami, which is looking to get back in the win column after a loss at NC State. 

The rivalry game between the Seminoles and Hurricanes is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC, and quarterbacks Jordan Travis of Florida State and Miami’s Tyler Van Dyke will square off. Both teams are top-five in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense putting up more than 437 yards per game. 

READ: Top-four unchanged, Ole Miss rises to No. 9 in second CFP rankings

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said his team looks forward to playing Miami every season, and it’s a game that is talked about with the likes of any game on the biggest stage. 

“There’s only two games that I talk about before the season and I talked about them before our offseason because every day matters when it comes to that,” Norvell said. “If that’s not important to you then you’re not going to play in this game because you will get exposed. This game takes everything that you have. I’m grateful that I get the chance to coach in this game, I mean, it’s special and you respect the past, you respect every game that has been played before, you respect the people that have played in this game and I mean because these guys have to give it all and because if not, you can take all records, all things that have happened before, it won’t matter. But you prepare for this one every single day.” 

No. 3 Michigan at No. 10 Penn State 

There is a chance for a three-way tie in the Big Ten East Division. 

If Penn State can upend Michigan at home on Saturday and if the Buckeyes were to lose to Michigan on Nov. 25, then all three of Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State would be in a tie atop the division. 

First, though, the Wolverines must take on the Nittany Lions. 

This will be a matchup between the top two total defenses in the country. Michigan leads by allowing 231.4 yards per game while the Nittany Lions are close behind at 234.2. 

Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy will look to vault himself higher into the Heisman Trophy conversation, while Penn State’s Drew Allar will get an extended look against the Wolverines defense. 

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh said Allar, who is fourth in the Big Ten with 1,895 passing yards, will present a challenge to Michigan. 

“He’s been good. You can see all the improvement,” Harbaugh said. “Just prototypical guy, tall, smart, got great stature in the pocket, very athletic, strong. He’s hard to get down on the ground. Courage, stands in there and throws it now. He’s an excellent quarterback.” 

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 2 Georgia 

The second top-10 showdown of the week is set to be a good one in SEC country. 

The No. 2 Bulldogs will welcome their third ranked opponent of the season in No. 9 Ole Miss, which is riding a five-game winning streak. 

While the top-10 matchup in the Big Ten will be a battle among defenses, this SEC matchup will be one for the offenses. 

READ: Big Board: Week 11

Georgia has the No. 2 offense in the SEC with an average of 493 yards per game, while the Rebels are right behind at 478.89 yards. 

The quarterback battle will be between Georgia’s Carson Beck, who is in his first season as starter, and Ole Miss’s Jaxson Dart, who is in his second year with the program after transferring from USC. 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart has scouted what Dart has done this season, as the Kaysville, Utah, native is third in the SEC with a 168.87 quarterback rating. Smart said Dart encapsulates what Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss look for in quarterbacks. 

“I think Lane’s quarterbacks take home a personality from him, and they have a lot of moxie,” Smart said. “They have a lot of talent. They play really hard. They play with reckless abandon for their body, and he runs like a running back. He’s taking some hits this year and shown his toughness so he’s not going to shy away from contact and toughness, and he’s the extra element of run that gives them a competitive advantage over a lot of teams you play because they have great backs, but he runs the ball like a back and he throws the ball really well too, which that’s what makes them really hard to defend when you got a guy that can make all the throws but can also take off and run, and he’s proven the ability to do that.” 

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The top-ranked Buckeyes will hit the road for a second-consecutive week when they travel to face Rutgers, which boasts a 6-2 record on an upward trajectory. The Scarlet Knights have won each of their past two games. 

PODCAST: Lance Leipold is the Exact Opposite of Deion Sanders 

Sticking in the Big Ten Conference, No. 3 Michigan will play host to Purdue as the Boilermakers look to play spoiler to the Wolverines’ undefeated season. 

Here are several games to watch this week. 

No. 23 Kansas State at No. 7 Texas 

There are plenty of Big 12 Conference title implications in this one. 

No. 7 Texas will play host to a hot No. 23 Kansas State team entering Austin, Texas, on a three-game winning streak. 

Quinn Ewers continues to deal with a shoulder injury. The Longhorns will have a question mark at quarterback. 

Maalik Murphy quarterbacked the Longhorns for the entirety of the game against BYU. Murphy completed 64% of his passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while the Texas defense terrorized Cougars quarterback Kedon Slovis for two interceptions. 

The Wildcats have outscored their past three opponents 120-24, and they’ve done so with a rolling offense. Kansas State has posted three-consecutive games of at least 394 total yards of offense, peaking at 587 yards recorded against TCU. 

“This is a really hot team right now. They’ve been playing as good as anybody in the country in all three phases for the last two to three weeks,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I think it’s really important that we focus on us and what we need to do, that the details and the level of physicality in which we play the game are at the forefront of what we do. I do believe our best football is still ahead of us, and that part is exciting to me, and we’re going to need to play complimentary football Saturday against a very good, well-coached football team in Kansas State.” 

No. 12 Missouri at No. 2 Georgia 

The No. 2 Bulldogs will face their second ranked opponent of the season on Saturday when No. 12 Missouri comes to town. 

These two teams faced off a season ago in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers had Georgia’s number for most of the game, getting out to a 13-0 lead that turned into a 16-6 halftime advantage. 

Georgia scored two rushing touchdowns in the final 10 minutes of the game to complete its comeback and win 26-22. 

This season, Missouri’s Brady Cook will get another chance to upend the Bulldogs against first-year starting quarterback Carson Beck, who is second in the Southeastern Conference with 2,462 passing yards. Cook is third with 2,259 passing yards. 

READ: Big Board: Week 10 

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said “it helped” trailing last season against Missouri and having to come back from a double-digit deficit. 

“Being down in a game or not playing well maybe because of them playing well and you not playing well, it makes you question yourself,” Smart said. “There was a lot of things they did to help us and a lot of things that we did to help them but at the end of the day, we didn’t play very well until the fourth quarter and a lot of that had to do with them, and give them credit for the way they played. But, yeah, last year’s team, retrospect, it helped build the resiliency of that team.” 

No. 5 Washington at No. 20 USC 

A matchup between last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and this season’s frontrunner is on tap in Southern California on Saturday. 

Caleb Williams and No. 20 USC will host Michael Penix Jr. and the No. 5 Huskies. Washington came out on top 28-14 in their last meeting during the 2019 season — before either head coach Lincoln Riley or Kalen DeBoer took their posts at their respective programs. 

Both USC and Washington are atop the Pac-12 Conference standings at 5-1 and 5-0 in conference play this year, respectively. The Trojans are reeling from having lost two of their past three games but bounced back in a close win against Cal 50-49. 

READ: Ohio State, Georgia lead first CFP rankings 

The Huskies are second in the Pac-12 in total offense behind an average of 501.3 yards per game. They’ve had a couple of relatively close calls the past two weeks against Arizona State and Stanford, winning 15-7 and 42-33 in those games, and is seeking to make another statement win. 

Riley said Washington is “a good football team” that has “done a great job this year.” 

“Their quarterback has obviously played at a high level and does a great job distributing to their playmakers which they’ve got a really good group of playmakers,” Riley said. “Runs the offense really, really well. You can tell obviously he’s got a lot of experience with Kalen and his system, and you can tell, right, that it shows up and he’s played at a high level. They’ve got some really good players defensively as well. It’s a very, very talented roster. You got a number of guys that are projected pretty high NFL draft picks, a couple on both sides of the ball so a good group. A good group, a good challenge, I mean, like it should be here at the end to have two good football teams going at it so it’s going to be great.” 

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The NCAA launched an investigation into the University of Michigan football program into alleged sign stealing, and the Big Ten Conference released a statement Oct. 19 stating it was notified by the NCAA of the investigation. 

PODCAST: Who Should Be on Upset Alert This Weekend?

Athletics director Warde Manuel and the Wolverines athletics department suspended football staff member Connor Stalions with pay on Oct. 20. Stalions was named in an ESPN report as the “person of interest in the investigation into whether No. 2-ranked Michigan violation an NCAA rule by scouting future opponents in person at games,” which has been prohibited since 1994. 

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Stalions bought tickets to “more than 30 games at 11 Big Ten schools over the past three years,” and “video evidence of sideline taping is expected to be sent to the NCAA this week, caught by stadium surveillance this year.” 

According to Marc Givler of Buckeye Huddle, Stalions also “purchased a ticket to a Clemson home football game during the 2022 regular season.” This shows that the scope of the alleged sign stealing extended beyond just the Big Ten. 

Thamel also reported that Stalions bought tickets for games among at least four schools outside the Big Ten, including the 2021 and 2022 Southeastern Conference Championship games. 

According to Will Hobson of The Washington Post, “an outside investigative firm approached the NCAA with documents and videos the firm said it had obtained from computer drives maintained and accessed by multiple Michigan coaches.” 

Furthermore, “Among the pieces of evidence the firm presented, those people said, was a detailed schedule of Michigan’s planned sign-stealing travel for the rest of this season, listing opponents’ schedules, which games Michigan scouts would attend and how much money was budgeted for travel and tickets to scout each team,” according to The Washington Post. 

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement Oct. 19, and it can be found below via ESPN. 

“I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter,” Harbaugh stated. “I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action. I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rules. No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules. Pursuant to NCAA rules, I will not be able to comment further while this investigation takes place.” 

According to Thamel on Thursday, NCAA enforcement staff “have been at the University of Michigan this week to look into the sign-stealing probe,” and Thamel posted that it is “an indication of the priority the case has taken.” 

What other coaches are saying about sign stealing in college football 

Sign stealing is prevalent in football. It happens at levels from youth all the way up to the professional ranks. 

Where it can be considered illegal and not part of the game extends beyond traditional methods of scouting. 

PODCAST: More big games set the week nine slate

Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said he didn’t want to get into the investigation going on up at Michigan, instead choosing to focus on this week’s game at Wisconsin. 

“That’s just something I don’t want to get into right now,” Day said. 

But that doesn’t mean other coaches aren’t talking about sign stealing in college football. 

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders took an interesting approach when discussing the length and breadth of sign stealing in not just football but baseball, too. 

“I mean everyone’s trying to get an edge,” Sanders said. “I mean, everyone’s trying to get whatever edge they can. You could have someone’s whole game plan — they could mail it to you — you still got to stop it. You still got to stop it, so in football it’s not as pronounced as baseball. If I know a curveball is coming, I got you. With football I don’t give a darn if you know a sweep is coming. You still got to stop it. Physically. It’s a physical game. You got to stop it, so that’s a little tough. I don’t buy into a lot of that stuff that someone’s stealing, they’re stealing that. I don’t buy into a lot of that stuff. You still got to play the game.” 

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables said “people are finding all different kinds of ways to prevent it and to try to gain a competitive advantage” when it comes to sign stealing. He said “with tempo and pace” it makes it difficult to decipher opposing signs, and there are individuals with signs shielding them on the sidelines from giving their opponents any sort of leg up. 

Venables said he’s sure sign stealing is part of college football, and that means coaches must be proactive. 

“I think you’d be naive and negligent if you’re always not aware of the potential,” Venables said. “That’s why, again, from whether it’s year to year or it’s week to week, since I’ve been coaching as long as there’s been signaling where you’re always on both sides of the ball, always changing up your signals and things of that nature. Even the hand signals on the field that the players will do amongst each other.” 

READ: Preview Thursday: Week 9

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart also spoke on the topic of sign stealing, and he recalled being with his father scouting opposing teams when he was younger. Here is Smart’s full quote. 

“I’ve never heard of anybody going to the games to watch and film and do all that, all the stuff that’s going on, everybody’s talking about,” Smart said. “I don’t know anybody that’s ever done that or I’ve never been asked to do that as a young coach or known anybody to do that. I’ve never heard of that. In high school football, I grew up my dad. We’d go watch other teams play. That was part of what you did. You didn’t watch the other team play. You sat out there with four other coaches and you drew up their plays while they were doing it. That’s pre-cell phone and probably pre-signals because they were sending people in or the coach with send them in with signals. That was a long time ago. But as far as in-game, I think people try to do that. It tries to go on. As a signal caller, when I had to call defenses it confused me if I had to sit there and try to wait on somebody to tell me what they thought they got and I’m trying to think about what the best call for this situation is. And you’re relying on misinformation or something that’s not very reliable. So I don’t, I don’t know. I mean, there’s times that people have said they’ve had our signals in-game and they knew this or that and you talk to the team that you played last and sometimes when you’re not going to play that team again, they share what they might have had on you and things like that so I’ve heard of it in-game. But a lot of times you can know the signal and still not do it right. It’s kind of a joke we have is you know what play is come in and you mess it up, and I’ve laughed with coaches about that before.” 

The Bulldogs also recently played Michigan during the College Football Playoff semifinals in the 2021 season. Georgia beat the Wolverines 34-11 during the Orange Bowl, and later went on to win the first of back-to-back national championships. 

Smart said he “didn’t notice anything or know anything” prior to the Orange Bowl when his team played Michigan.  

“Nobody we talked to warned us or any of that,” Smart said. “I think everybody we play they say, ‘They steal your signals.’ I mean, we play somebody they’re always like they’re great at stealing your signals. But what they’re referencing is different than stealing them. I mean they’re coming and they’re talking about people, someone, coming to film on that’s completely different, but we’ve tried to hide the signals, hold the calls, put signs up, do all that but there’s nothing I remember about the Michigan game that makes me think that.” 

Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule has a unique lens into anything related to sign stealing. He spent parts of three seasons as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers in the NFL from 2020-22, and that came after head coaching stops at Temple and Baylor. 

Rhule was honest as he could be when discussing sign stealing, even noting that it happens “every game.” But what Rhule wanted to emphasize was the difference between sideline technology in the NFL compared to college football. 

Rhule, among other head coaches, wants to see helmet technology installed inside the quarterback’s helmet. Here is Rhule’s full quote. 

“Sign stealing happens every game,” Rhule said. “There’s nothing wrong with teams over there looking over trying to steal our signs. There’s nothing wrong with us trying to look at their signs. That’s why you should have mics in the helmets, right? Like all these coaches that vote against it every year, it’s because they don’t want to teach their quarterback. You know, in the NFL the quarterback goes out there with three play calls because if I see the free safety’s foot like that, it might be one-high, I’m going to check to this play, but you get the college and you’re watching the game on a Tuesday night and they got the signal and they’re just calling the play. So it’s what makes college football to me, it’s why they score more points, but it’s also why the kids are less prepared. So that’s why there should be, 100% should be (helmet technology). They could get rid of all the stupid signs on the sidelines and we could get pictures of rock stars and all that stuff and we could just play football the way it was meant to be. You go to a high school game, there’s technology on the sideline. You go to NFL game, there’s technology on the sideline. You go to a college, there’s nothing. It should be that. But that’s sign stealing. I would not carry that over to going and filming someone else’s practices or something like that or filming someone else’s games. That’s completely something different. I’m not saying that that happened. But I think what’s wrong partly in our society right now sometimes as we say someone does something against the rules, and sports need rules, right? Sports need rules to keep competitive balance, and when someone does something against the rules, we say, well, should that really even be a rule? And it is the rule. That’s the rule, right? Like I didn’t get to play with – we don’t get five downs. So but in-game, stealing of signs, when I play against somebody and I know that person has friends on the next staff, I know if they have our signs, they’re having it the next week, that’s all part of the game and you have to do what you do. We should absolutely have technology. But if there’s a rule, the rule should be followed. And I’m not speaking about what’s happening right now because I don’t know what happened. But if that is happening somewhere, it’s completely, completely wrong.” 

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And, similar to Smart, Rhule said he hasn’t heard nor suspected anything regarding the ongoing Michigan sign stealing investigation. 

“No one from the Big Ten or NCAA has asked me anything yet, so I’m not going to probably comment on anything like that,” Rhule said. “I would never want to cache to somebody else going through a hard time. I don’t know anything.” 

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Georgia tight end Brock Bowers will have surgery to address an ankle injury suffered Saturday during the game at Vanderbilt, the Bulldogs announced Monday. 

According to Anthony Dasher of Rivals, Bowers will undergo tightrope surgery after he sustained a high ankle sprain during the second quarter against the Commodores. 

PODCAST: 5 Pac-12 Questions After a Wild Weekend

X-rays originally revealed negative results, according to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, and surgery will allow medical professionals to stabilize Bowers’ ankle and allow it to heal. 

According to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Bowers will miss four to six weeks. 

Bowers had appeared in all seven games this season for Georgia. He has 567 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns across 41 receptions and a rushing touchdown. 

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No. 1 Georgia stands atop the college football world with the longest active winning streak of 23 games. Fresno State, which had a winning streak of 13 games, lost its first one to Wyoming last Saturday.

PODCAST: Kirby Smart is Right for Not Caring

Alongside the Bulldogs are No. 2 Michigan, No. 5 Oklahoma, No. 10 USC and No. 14 Louisville. The Cardinals picked up a signature win over Notre Dame, dropping the Fighting Irish to 5-2 having lost two of their past three. 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 6 to Week 7. 

Cristobal on Miami’s kneel down mistake to Georgia Tech 

Then-No. 17 Miami led 20-17 going into the final minute against the Yellow Jackets, and had enough of an advantage where a kneel down would’ve sealed the game and the win. 

But Miami didn’t take the option to kneel the clock out. Instead, running back Donald Chaney Jr. was handed the football eight-consecutive times, and on the final one, disaster struck. 

Chaney fumbled the football at Georgia Tech’s 26-yard line and the Yellow Jackets recovered the ball. Facing a long way to go, they fired off completions of 30 and 44 yards to move all the way into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown. 

“We had our opportunities, even though we didn’t play well,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “Obviously we could have coached better, could have made a better decision. All those things were on the table and we just didn’t do it, and Saturday is going to be here in a hurry against an excellent football team, and we got to go on the road and we got to get it done so very simple.” 

Chip Kelly on UCLA’s big win over No. 13 Washington State 

The Bruins also picked up an upset win over the Cougars, handing them their first loss of the season. 

PODCAST: Talking winners, top teams and much more after week six

UCLA head coach Chip Kelly is notorious for his offensive schemes, but the Bruins defense stepped up to the plate last Saturday. 

Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn was faced with the challenge of stopping a Cougars offensive spearheaded by quarterback Cam Ward. Ward had passed for more than 300 yards three times and topped 400 twice already in the season. 

UCLA did enough of a job to nullify Washington State’s passing game and held Ward to a season-low 197 passing yards. The Bruins also forced a pair of interceptions. 

Kelly said the defensive staff led by Lynn “did an outstanding job in that whole group.” 

“I think our entire defensive staff led by him, did an unbelievable job because that was the No. 2 ranked passing offense in the country, and to hold them to that and not allow them really to rush it was outstanding when really we gave them one score on the offensive side of the ball so but besides that they were phenomenal,” Kelly said. “So the whole coaching staff and players were outstanding on the defensive side.” 

Miley Cyrus’ name drops in Smart’s postgame press conference 

While the Bulldogs raced away to their sixth win of the season behind a 51-13 performance against No. 20 Kentucky, head coach Kirby Smart was faced with a wrecking ball reference postgame. 

A wrecking ball analogy compared Georgia’s performance to one as such, and the Bulldogs do have the No. 8 total offense behind an average of 502.3 yards per game. 

READ: Stat Pack: Week 6

That’s a stout offensive output. Georgia also has the No. 10 scoring offense averaging 40.7 points each time they take the field. 

In jest, Smart took the postgame wrecking ball reference and ran with it. 

“I don’t know who Miley Cyrus is, like, what does she have to do with a wrecking ball?” Smart said. “I know Eric Chruch ‘Wrecking Ball,’” 

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So for Georgia head coach Kirby Smart to say he doesn’t care about one aspect is refreshing.

That’s the topic of today’s episode of The Daily Huddle.

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