Set to launch worldwide on July 19, a full reveal of the modes and features of EA Sports College Football 25 was announced on Friday.

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes will be available in College Football 25, according to a release. Those two modes will allow players “to construct their own powerhouse program as a created coach or vie for the Heisman as a player” in what the video game introduces as CampusIQ, which will be “a suite of features that brings to life the true depth of college football through wide open, fast-paced gameplay across all 134 FBS schools in all areas of the game.”

READ: ESPN, FOX and Warner Bros. Discovery introduce Venu Sports streaming service

Over 10,000 players have opted into College Football 25, it was announced in March. Any student-athlete who opts in and has their name, image and likeness used will receive $600 and a copy of the video game.

College Football 25 will also offer “the all-new Road to the College Football Playoff and College Football Ultimate Team” that will “bring fresh online experiences and ways to play.”

“EA SPORTS College Football is BACK! We’ve felt the passion and anticipation of college football fans every step of the way since we first announced this game, and we’re ecstatic to finally be able to show everyone what we’ve been building,” EA Sports SVP and Group GM Daryl Holt stated in a release. “College Football 25 is built with authenticity at its core, inspired by experiences our fans have loved from our games, and fully evolved to reflect modern college football – all of which will immerse them in the sights, sounds, and true-to-life gameplay of the sport they love.”

READ: Northwestern announces 2024 schedule, will play 2 games at Wrigley Field

READ: ABC, ESPN unveil Weeks 0-1 broadcast schedule

EA Sports unveiled the cover of College Football 25 on Thursday, showcasing Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter. They will star on the covers of the Standard and Deluxe editions.

“Donovan, Quinn and Travis are extraordinary talents who impressed and entertained millions of college football fans on the field last season and are poised to do so again this year,” Holt stated in a release. “We’re proud to be able to incorporate thousands of current athletes in College Football 25, and featuring this trio of playmakers and their iconic college programs on the cover is a perfect fit as we usher in a new era for EA SPORTS and college football. I can’t wait for the world to learn more about the game tomorrow.”

ESPN broadcasters such as Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will “call marquee matchups,” along with other broadcast teams such as Rece Davis, Jesse Palmer and David Pollack will comprise the virtual booth and “take the mic for all other games.”

Among the gameplay features include Homefield Advantage, which will allow players to “through distractions like screen shaking, missing pre-play icons, and moving play art.” Additional features consist of Pre-Snap Recognition and the Wear & Tear System, which means virtual player stamina is affected by more play so it will be important to “manage your players’ health, limit fatigue, assess risk of injury, and avoid on-field mistakes by using strategic substitutions to ensure your players are at their best when it counts the most.”

The traditions within college football that make it one of a kind will be immersed in College Football 25. Along with team mascots and fight songs, the video game will include “unique team run-outs, rivalry rituals, synchronized crowd-chants, loudness meters as well as real game-day audio.”

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

Dynasty and Road To Glory modes are also offered in the video game alongside Road to the College Football Playoff, where players will “experience a new way to play competitively across consoles” and “earn rank by upsetting the toughest opponents and securing the votes you need to progress and level up divisions,” as well as College Football Ultimate Team.

College Football Ultimate Team will allow players to “build your dream team of college football stars and legends” in Solo Challenges or H2H seasons, and they can test their skill across consoles “in more competitive formats like College Football Ultimate Team Champs and Champs Gauntlet.”

EA Sports College Football 25 is available for pre-order now. According to Matt Brown of Extra Points, the video game will not be available for PC at launch. EA Sports is also offering an MVP bundle on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S that will include deluxe editions of College Football 25 and Madden NFL 25 “with 3-day early access and unlocks a multitude of benefits across both titles.”

The post EA Sports College Football 25 features, gameplay shared in full reveal appeared first on Saturday Glory.

The Bears accepted an invitation and will move within the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a full-league member of CUSA for the first time effective July 1, 2025.

READ: Former Colorado, Houston RB Alton McCaskill IV transfers to Arizona State

“We are so excited for the opportunities that CUSA membership will bring to our university, our student-athletes, our coaches and our fans,” Missouri State athletics director Kyle Moats stated in a release. “This move represents a transition to a national brand and a platform that will help raise the profile of Missouri State University and the city of Springfield. The steps we have taken over the past 15 years to invest in a successful broad-based athletics program have prepared us for this long-awaited moment.”

READ: Former Mississippi State, Vanderbilt QB Mike Wright transfers to Northwestern

READ: Former Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt transfers to Kentucky

Missouri State had been a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, where it will play one final season this fall, since 1990. The Bears have won 10 conference championships and made four appearances in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs most recently in 2021.

According to a release, Missouri State’s anticipated increase in revenue from going to an FBS conference “will ultimately make the move a budget-neutral transition.”

According to Lyndal Scranton of the Springfield Daily Citizen, retiring Missouri State president Clif Smart said the school received a $5 million commitment from a private individual to help with some of the costs for the move. Other costs include “$2.5 million paid over four years to join Conference USA.”

More financial resources for student-athletes and travel upgrades played “significant factors” in the school’s decision to make the move, according to a release. Short-term and long-term upgrades to the Bears’ home of Plaster Stadium were also factors, according to the Springfield Daily Citizen.

“This move will absolutely open doors for us,” Moats stated. “For our student-athletes, they will have less bus travel and more flights which will get them back to campus in a safer and more-timely manner. They will also have more financial resources at their disposal for cost of attendance, Alston funds, and a more strategic presence in the name, image and likeness (NIL) space.”

READ: Reports: Former MLB outfielder Monte Harrison joins Arkansas as walk-on wide receiver

Missouri State is already an affiliate member in CUSA in beach volleyball. The Bears will soon compete in football as well as other sports such as baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, and volleyball in addition to seven more.

Since moving to the FBS and thus requiring 22 additional football scholarships, Missouri State announced it will add STUNT and acrobatics and tumbling to its women’s athletics programs in 2024-25.

CUSA will expand to 12 teams in 2025 as Missouri State will join Delaware from the Coastal Athletic Association in the FCS. The Bears will join a new conference including defending champion Liberty as well as New Mexico State and Jacksonville State among others.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Missouri State University as the 12th member of Conference USA,” CUSA Commissioner Judy MacLeod stated in a release. “The institution boasts a great tradition in athletics and academics that will strengthen and further position our membership for long term success in the national landscape.  We look forward to our partnership with President Clif Smart, incoming President Dr. Biff Williams, Director of Athletics Kyle Moats, and their entire leadership team.”

The post Conference USA expanding to add Missouri State in 2025 appeared first on Saturday Glory.

EA Sports announced Monday on social media that “10,000+” student-athletes “are in the game.” It was announced in February that any player who opts in and has their name, image and likeness used in the game will receive at least $600 and a copy of “College Football 25.”

READ: 5 takeaways from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine 

“10k and counting… pretty pretttyyy good,” @EASPORTSCollege posted on X.

All 134 Football Bowl Subdivision schools will be available to play in the new video game.

READ: Texas WR Xavier Worthy breaks 40-yard dash record with 4.21 time at NFL Combine

ESPN broadcasters such as Rece Davis and Kirk Herbstreit will make up “the voices” of “College Football 25.”

If a player doesn’t opt into the “College Football 25” video game, then “a generic avatar based on the traditional strength or weakness of a position over the past decade for that school” will be created by EA Sports, according to ESPN.

The post EA Sports announces 10K players have opted in to ‘College Football 25’ appeared first on Saturday Glory.

College football players around the country shared on social media Thursday their participation in the upcoming EA Sports video game “College Football 25.”

EA Sports confirmed Thursday that all 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams will be available to play in the new game.

READ: Reports: CFP discusses 14-team Playoff possibilities

More information about the game will be available in May, according to a release.

Players such as Michigan’s Will Johnson and Ohio State transfer Quinshon Judkins posted on X a graphic designed in their team’s colors promoting the video game.

ESPN broadcasters such as Rece Davis and Kirk Herbstreit shared posts confirming they’ll also appear as “one of the voices” of the game. Herbstreit posted “I’m so excited to FINALLY announce that I’m part of @EASPORTSCollege. I’m proud to be a partner and one of the voices of the game once again – my 14th year in that role.”

According to Michael Rothstein of ESPN, any player who opts in and has their name, image and likeness used in the game will receive at least $600 and a copy of “College Football 25.”

Additional opportunities such as advertisements, promotion, social media posts and other avenues will be available for players to have a chance to make more, according to ESPN.

READ: Alabama announces JaMarcus Shephard, Nick Sheridan join offensive coaching staff

No Football Championship Subdivision school will be available to play when the game launches, according to ESPN.

If a player doesn’t opt into the “College Football 25” video game, then “a generic avatar based on the traditional strength or weakness of a position over the past decade for that school” will be created by EA Sports, according to ESPN.

According to Ryan Kryska of The Associated Press, users who could create and add players of real-life college football players who did not opt into the “College Football 25” video game will be blocked from doing so.

The post ‘I’m in the game’: CFB players share their participation in upcoming EA Sports ‘College Football 25’ appeared first on Saturday Glory.

Kill led the Aggies to 17 wins over two seasons including a 10-win campaign in 2022 which was the program’s first since 1960.

“Firstly, I want to extend my sincere thanks to the New Mexico State administration—President Jay Gogue, Mario Moccia, and Braun Cartwright,” Kill stated in a release. “They’ve been invaluable in our achievements over the last two years. I also want to express my deep gratitude to the people of Las Cruces. Aggie Nation has been incredibly supportive, and I will always be thankful for the opportunity I was given to lead their team. This year has been tremendously difficult for me, and I gave it everything I had physically, mentally and emotionally. New Mexico State holds a special place in my heart as it marks the end of my journey as a head coach. While I’ll remain involved with the Aggies, I recognize the need for a head coach with a lot of energy. Good luck to Coach Sanchez, the student-athletes and New Mexico State University.” 

READ: QB Maalik Murphy transfers to Duke

The Aggies and athletics director Mario Moccia named wide receivers coach Tony Sanchez the team’s next head coach.

Sanchez has been with the New Mexico State program for two seasons under Kill.

Sanchez previously was head coach at UNLV from 2015-19.

The post Jerry Kill steps down as New Mexico State head coach; Tony Sanchez is next skipper 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.

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.

The top-five teams in the College Football Playoff rankings all earned their 11^th wins of the season last Saturday. No. 4 Florida State had the highest margin of victory at 45 points against North Alabama, but it didn’t come without a cost. 

PODCAST: Despite chalk at the top, week 12 had intrigue

Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis left the game in the first quarter with a horrific left leg injury. He announced on Monday that his college career is over while stating “the great memories created here at FSU will never fade.” 

Here are some noteworthy quotes as focus turns from Week 12 to Week 13. 

Ryan Day, Ohio State 

The Buckeyes were without All-American linebacker Tommy Eichenberg last week against Minnesota. 

Eichenberg missed a second-straight game as he dealt with an upper-body injury. He leads Ohio State with 73 tackles this season. 

The Buckeyes took care of business against the Golden Gophers, defeating them 37-3 on Senior Day. Eichenberg, a graduate, tried his hardest to get into the game, but head coach Ryan Day said the decision to keep the linebacker out ultimately fell on him. 

“We’ll get Tommy back for next week,” Day said. “Tommy was ready to play in this one and I had to pull him back, and it was almost a fistfight. But I won. It took some even, I mean, I’ll be honest, it took some late night texts last night. He wanted to play, and this is a guy who has put so much into this program. Coming back, and for senior day for him not to be out there was really hard for Tommy, really hard. But I just explained to him there’s just too much on the line moving forward to risk any kind of setback, that we need him at his best and he was, after some calming down, he was OK. But it was not easy for him to not play in this game, athat was my decision. He was ready to go. He pushed himself to get to a point but he’ll have another great week of practice and be at 100% going into next week.” 

Jerry Kill, New Mexico State 

New Mexico State marched onto Auburn’s home field and upset the Tigers 31-10, holding them without a touchdown in the second half. 

It was the first time in Aggies program history that they defeated a team from the Southeastern Conference. They were paid around $1.7 million by Auburn to play them last Saturday. 

READ: Stat Pack: Week 12

Aggies head coach Jerry Kill is in just his second season with the program. He has 11 years of experience as a skipper, taking stops at Northern Illinois, Minnesota and TCU before joining New Mexico State prior to the 2022 season. 

The Aggies are 9-3 and will play in the Conference USA championship game Dec. 1 against undefeted Liberty. But until then, Kill and New Mexico State will enjoy its win over Auburn. 

“We walked in — and I probably shouldn’t say it but you know, life’s short and I may not be here tomorrow, something I’ve always said — I walked in, I said, ‘Hey, we just got 1.7 million to play a southeast conference team,’ so how about that,” Kill said. “One-point-seven million and winning the game, and so the kids, they’re all fired up. They’re wondering when they’re going to get it. They want it to be all NIL money.” 

Sherrone Moore, Michigan 

The Wolverines became the first program in college football to reach 1,000 wins in program history with their 11^th-straight at Maryland last Saturday. 

They did it without head coach Jim Harbaugh, who accepted and served the second of a three-game suspension as a result of the Big Ten Conference’s investigation into in-person scouting. It’s also the fifth time Harbaugh has been suspended from a game this season.

READ: Syracuse fires head coach Babers 

Michigan offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Sherrone Moore served as acting head coach once again, and he said he wants Harbaugh edited into the postgame celebrations of the 1,000^th win. 

“First we need to edit coach in there. There’s enough technology in the world today that we can get that done so we can do that,” Moore said. “But I mean, just it’s historic to be a part of this university, this place, this team, so really cool just to be a part of it. Guys are just ecstatic to get that 100th win, but they all knew exactly what time it was right after that. They all know what’s ahead so I’m super excited for that challenge.” 

The post Quotables: Week 12  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.

It’s not quite kegs and eggs, but we had to grow up sometime.

Saturday is Week Zero for college football, and while it’s not the best week of the season, it’s better than the feckless, Fickell-less hellscape we’ve been living in since January.

But we’re here now, and you better believe we’re going to enjoy every moment of it.

Each week of this college football season I’ll be taking a look at the 10 best games to watch, and throwing in a few questionably valid tips here and there.

I would say that everything that follows from here is for entertainment purposes only, but that sounds both arrogant and presumptuous.

Saturday August 26

Chaminade-Madonna (FL) vs. St. Frances Academy (MD) | 12:00 pm | ESPN

Look, when it’s Week Zero and you’ve come up with a gimmick of where you have to write about 10 games and there aren’t 10 college games to write about, you dip into the high school ranks. I’m basically a McDonald’s from 1991 looking for employees. I cannot promise competitive wages, paid time off, or opportunity for advancement, but fortunately gas is only $1.47 a gallon in this timeline, so it won’t cost you that much to get here. I can, however, give you every other weekend off, provided you can get somebody to cover your shift for the weekends you won’t be working. We also provide a 15% discount on meals for employees (No McDLTs). Anyway, back to the present day, you’re gonna be so ramped up after watching College Gameday that you’re going to need something to watch RIGHT EFFING NOW. I give you Chaminade-Madonna against St. Frances. Two of the best high school programs around. Chaminade-Madonna has the best receiver room in the nation that isn’t located in Columbus. That room includes five-star prospects Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State commit) and JoJo Trader (Miami commit). Meanwhile, St. Frances has a defense with more future collegians than a country club daycare. It’ll be fun. This will scratch your itch better than the ruler you keep on your desk.

Navy vs. Notre Dame (-21) (Dublin) | 2:30 pm | NBC |

The Irish were favored by 16.5 over Navy last year, and nearly covered, beating the Midshipmen 35-32. That game came after an oddly dominating 35-14 win over Clemson where the Irish treated the Tigers like a Midwesterner treats a Myrtle Beach Motel 6 after an extra large Papa John’s and a 2-liter of Big K cola. There will be no let down this week, unless the Notre Dame players end up in one too many pubs. I have to assume there are more things to do in Ireland than visit pubs and golf in the rain, but I’ve never seen proof in the movies. There is no better time to play an option team than in the season opener, so give Notre Dame credit for not being idiots here. They’ve been preparing for this game for months. Let’s just expect a slow start offensively for both squads, which leads me to (1) liking the under on 49.5.

UTEP at Jacksonville State (+1.5) | 5:30 pm | CBSSN

Jacksonville State is the very last team in Phil Steele’s preview magazine, which is like being the last kid picked in fifth-grade dodgeball. Even behind the kid who strikes out in kickball (that would be Sam Houston, by the way). This is Jacksonville State’s first game as a member of the FBS, so this is going to be the biggest thing to hit Jacksonville, Alabama since Cooter Brown’s Rib Shack opened 23 years ago. Rich Rodriguez is the head coach at Jacksonville State. He went 9-2 last year in his first year with the program. If there’s one thing we know about RichRod, it’s that if you hand him the keys, he can win anywhere in the country.*
*Offer not valid in Ann Arbor

UMass at New Mexico State (-7) | 7:00 pm | ESPN

This game features UMass head coach Don Brown against New Mexico State head coach Jerry Kill. If they were to partner up in a Euchre tournament and auction off the opportunity to spend the evening playing against them, I would spend an unfortunate amount of money to take part. I’d love to just sit and talk with them both over beers and cards. Plus I’d feel pretty good about my team’s chances of winning because you know Don Brown is always getting his partner euchred. The frustration from Jerry Kill would be intense. “How the hell are you going alone when I have the Right and the Left, Don!?” Also, (2) let’s go with the Aggies -7 here.

Ohio at San Diego State (-3) | 7:00 pm | FS1

Never before has an Ohio vs. San Diego State game been so anticipated. For one, there’s not a lot else going on. For two, this could be SDSU head coach Brady Hoke’s first real opportunity at a win over “Ohio.” If you’re a Bobcat fan, you just have to hope your team doesn’t get distracted by all of the amazing things to do in California and not bother to show up for a sporting event. Don’t be surprised when there is a vocal presence from the Ohio fans in the crowd. It’s a week-long drive back and forth, but it’s better than going to work. If you’re looking for some action, (3) bang the over on 0.5 touchdown receptions for Bobcat receiver Sam Wiglusz.

IMG Academy (FL) vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (PA) (Ocean City, NJ) | 7:00 pm | ESPN2

Yes, it’s another high school game, but there will be some talent on hand. IMG generally has half of Florida’s top 30 prospects. St. Joseph’s Prep has all kinds of FBS talent on hand as well. Interestingly, this could be a matchup that is watched closely in the Ohio State receivers room as St. Joseph’s Prep is where All-American Marvin Harrison, Jr. went to school, and IMG is where Marvin Harrison, Jr. Jr. went to school. You probably won’t tune in because you’ll be up to your ears in New Mexico State football. Just be careful not to let Aggie Football actually get into your ears, however, because it will lay eggs.

Hawaii at Vanderbilt (-17.5) | 7:30 pm | SECN

Vanderbilt went into Hawaii last year as 9.5-point and won 63-10, so 17.5 points seems very doable. (4) Some folks may have already gotten in at -17, but 17.5 still seems fine. Vandy is coming off of a season where they went 2-1 in their final three games against Kentucky, Florida, and Tennessee last year. That’s the kind of momentum that could mean something for any program other than Vanderbilt.

San Jose State at USC (-30.5) | 8:00 pm | P12N

You know those guys in The Lord of the Rings whose sole purpose is to sit up in the signal towers 24 hours a day looking to see if any other towers miles away raise a fire to signal danger or the need for help? That’s kind of how I feel about this game because I am one of the tower watchers who actually has the Pac 12 Network. I will be watching this fire and signaling to others via Twitter about what’s happening. Like, “Oh no, Gollum just went for 65 yards up the middle against Alex Grinch’s defense. Muster the Rohirrim!” When he is healthy, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is the best player in the country, so I think it’s okay to have a lot riding on him this week against the Spartans. That includes a five-leg parlay of (5) USC -10.5 in the first quarter, (6) USC over 40.5 points, (7) USC over 13.5 first quarter points, (8) USC -16.5 in the first half, and of course it wouldn’t be a USC game without also taking a sniff at their defense, so let’s add (9) San Jose State over 9.5 points. Watch for the towers, my friends, and be prepared to act.

FIU at Louisiana Tech (-11.5) | 9:00 pm | CBSSN

This game went to two overtimes last year, with FIU coming out with the 42-34 win. Former Texas Tech quarterback Sonny Cumbie is in his second season as the head coach at La Tech and my loyalty to him goes back to my old college fantasy football days. He may finally have a quarterback now with former Boise State Bronco Hank Bachmeier, who has had some good moments as a starter in his career. He has 13 career games with at least 250 yards passing. Florida International, meanwhile, hasn’t won a game since that double-overtime outing against the Bulldogs. Let’s go ahead and get back on the Sonny Cumbie train and (10) lay the 11.5. You only go broke once, right?

Mater Dei Catholic (CA) at Carlsbad (CA) | 10:00 pm | ESPN2

If you want to know why USC and UCLA bolted for the Big Ten, here’s one glimpse as to the reason — 95% of America can’t watch the University of Southern California play on Saturday night, but they can watch two California high schools play against each other. Carlsbad features five-star Alabama quarterback commit Julian Sayin, who will sign with Nick Saban in December but eventually play for Lane Kiffin when Saban retires.

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