CFB-FBS: Southeastern Conference Week 8 Release and Previews

TWO TOP-10 MATCHUPS HIGHLIGHT THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER

WEEK 8 GAME SCHEDULE

Auburn (2-4, 0-3 SEC) at Missouri (5-1, 1-1 SEC)

Series: AU leads, 3-1

11 a.m. CT • ESPN

Last: AU, 17-14 (2022 at Auburn)

Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)

SiriusXM: 386 – 119/19

SERIES HISTORY

• In the all-time series, Auburn leads Missouri by a 3-1 count; in games since Missouri joined the SEC, Auburn is 3-0. Missouri captured the first meeting, a 34-17 victory in the 1973 Sun Bowl in El Paso. In 2013, Auburn won the SEC Championship with a 59-42 victory over Missouri in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Auburn was then a 51-14 winner in Columbia in 2017 and a 17-14 overtime victor at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2022. • This will be the 130th time Auburn plays a team with the nickname Tigers. Auburn is 67-57-5 in the previous such matchups against Clemson, LSU, Memphis, Missouri, Pacific and Sewanee.

Auburn Notes

AFTER THE OPEN DATE

• Auburn (2-4, 0-3) travels to No. 19 Missouri (5-1, 1-1) on Saturday, October 19, for an 11 a.m. CT game at Memorial Stadium at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. ESPN will televise the contest. • In all-time SEC play, Auburn holds a 338-276-18 mark (.549) back through 1933. In SEC games played in Auburn, the Tigers are 145-71-6 (.667) all-time; away from Auburn, the Tigers are 193- 204-12 (.487) overall in SEC play.

IN OCTOBER

• Auburn is 321-174-18 (.643) all-time in October. Auburn’s October home record is 176-39-3 (.814). Away from Auburn, the Tigers are 145-135-15 (.517) in October. The Tigers are 10-8 in games played on October 19, 5-3 in SEC contests and 7-8 away from Auburn on that date. Auburn has won two straight on this date, both SEC road games.

KICKOFF COVERAGE

• Auburn is tied for the national lead – along with fellow SEC foe Vanderbilt – with 10 players who have caught a touchdown pass this season • It’s the first time since 2019 — and just the second time since 1949 — Auburn will not have a home game during the month of October. It’s also the first time since 2019 the Tigers will play three straight SEC road games. • Auburn has scored in 148 consecutive games, dating back to the first game of the 2013 season. The program record is 149 straight games from 1980-1992. • Two-time team captain Luke Deal is a nominee for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award and punter Oscar Chapman, a 3.41 accounting graduate, is a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy • KeAndre Lambert-Smith ranks 14th nationally and fourth in the SEC in yards per reception (21.25). His 156 yards against Arkansas was the 14th-best receiving performance in Auburn history. His six receiving touchdowns are tied for 13th nationally and most in the SEC • Auburn leads the SEC, and ranks fourth nationally, in yards per completion (15.79). Auburn is 9th in the country averaging 7.35 yards per play. The Tigers are 11th nationally averaging 9.6 yards per pass attempt and 29th averaging 5.28 yards per rush.

ON OFFENSE

• KeAndre Lambert-Smith has caught six touchdowns in his first six games at Auburn. He’s averaging 85.0 yards per game, fourth-best in the SEC and is on the Biletnikoff Award mid-season watch list. His 2,231 career yards rank second among active SEC players, and he is one of six in the league with more than 2,000 career receiving yards. The Penn State transfer caught touchdowns of 67 yards and four yards vs. AAMU and had a 15-yard score against California. He’s the first Auburn player with a TD catch in consecutive games since Rivaldo Fairweather caught a touchdown at Vanderbilt, two at Arkansas and one against New Mexico State last season. It is the third time in his career Lambert-Smith has caught a touchdown in consecutive games; he also did so in 2022 and in 2022-23 while playing at Penn State. Lambert-Smith had a career-high 156 yards receiving on five catches against Arkansas, including touchdowns of 10 and 67 yards, the 14th-best receiving performance in Auburn history. He added five catches for 77 yards against Oklahoma, including a 31- yard score. His seven receptions at Georgia gained 95 yards. Auburn’s wide receivers caught seven TD in the first two games of the season, which matched the WR total for all of 2023.

Missouri Notes

MIZZOU HOSTS AUBURN FOR 113TH HOMECOMING

University of Missouri football returns to Faurot Field to renew Southeastern Conference play Saturday, when the No. 19/16 Tigers host the Auburn Tigers in Mizzou’s 113th Homecoming game. Saturday’s game kicks off at 11 a.m. CT and airs on ESPN and the Tiger Radio Network. THE SERIES Auburn enters Saturday’s matchup with a 3-1 series edge against Mizzou, including a 2017 win over the Tigers in the only other meeting in Columbia. AU has won each of the last three games in the series since Mizzou’s move to the SEC. MU’s lone win over Auburn came in the 1973 Sun Bowl — a 34-17 victory in El Paso, Texas. THE COACHES ELIAH DRINKWITZ is in his fifth season as Mizzou’s head coach and enters Saturday’s game with a 33-22 mark (45- 23 overall). The Alma, Arkansas, native has led the Tigers to 18 wins in their last 22 contests, dating back to November 2022. Mizzou has earned bowl bids in each of Drinkwitz’s first four seasons in Columbia, making him one of only two MU head coaches (Warren Powers, 1978-81) to achieve that feat. Prior to taking the Mizzou job, Drinkwitz was 12-1 as the head coach at Appalachian State in 2019. HUGH FREEZE brings an 83-59 overall record as a collegiate head coach into Saturday’s contest. Now in his second year as Auburn’s sideline boss, Freeze guided the Tigers to a 6-7 mark last fall, following a successful four-year stint at Liberty, where he led the Flames to 34 wins.

FIRST AND TEN – STORYLINES

• Missouri brings a seven-game Homecoming winning streak into Saturday’s game and will face off against Auburn on the special day for the first time in program history. • The Tigers are 67-40-5 all-time in Homecoming games, including a 4-0 mark under Eliah Drinkwitz. • Drinkwitz moved into a tie with Larry Smith for the No. 7 spot on Mizzou’s all-time head coaching wins list last weekend with his 33rd win in just four and a half seasons; he needs four more victories to match Dan Devine’s program record of 37 wins through his first five seasons at Mizzou. • Mizzou has won five of its first six games for the second-straight year. • The Tigers are riding a string of 19 consecutive weeks ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll, marking their longest such streak in a decade. • Mizzou’s defense ranks 12th in the nation in total defense (270.8 ypg) and seventh in passing defense (154.5). • MU’s offense has converted 24-of-25 (.960) red zone opportunities into points this season, which leads the SEC and ranks ninth nationally; the Tigers have scored on 80-of-81 (.988) combined trips to the red zone since the start of the 2023 season. • QB Brady Cook (7,822) ranks fourth on the Tigers’ all-time passing yardage list and fifth on MU’s career touchdown passes chart (45); he enters Saturday’s game 977 yards behind Brad Smith in the No. 3 spot and six TD tosses shy of James Franklin in the No. 4 position, respectively, on those two charts. • K Blake Craig leads the SEC in field goals (13) and ranks 12th nationally in scoring (61 points). • WR Luther Burden III broke off a career-best 61-yard scoring run on the second play from scrimmage and reeled in five catches for 59 yards last week at UMass, extending his streak of games with at least one reception to 28 in a row (since Oct. 1, 2022). • Burden III ran his career total to 1,978 receiving yards, leaving the junior just 22 yards away from becoming the 12th Tiger receiver to top the 2,000-yard mark.

A TRADITION LIKE NO OTHER

• Mizzou, the birthplace of Homecoming, is 67-40-5 all-time in Homecoming games entering Saturday’s 113th renewal of the tradition. • The Tigers have won their last seven Homecoming games, as well as 17 of 22 overall, including a landmark 36-27 win over BCS No. 1 Oklahoma in 2010. The Tigers also earned their first SEC win in the 2012 Homecoming tilt against Kentucky (33-10). • Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz is 4-0 when leading the Tigers in Homecoming games. • Legend says that Homecoming got its start at MU in 1911, thanks to the vision and efforts of Chester L. Brewer, Mizzou’s director of athletics at the time. • Wanting to spice up the annual season-ending game vs. Kansas in Columbia, he issued a plea to Mizzou alumni, especially former Tiger football players, to “Come Home” for the game. They did just that, with a record crowd of 9,000 overflowing old Rollins Field. • With four minutes to play, and Mizzou trailing by three, Tigers captain Glen Shuck booted a tying field goal from a difficult angle. Then, Billy Blees caught a rampaging KU fullback in the open field in the final seconds to preserve the tie and was carried off the field a hero. Hence, “Homecoming” was born.

HISTORIC STARTS

• Missouri started the season 4-0 for the second-straight season, marking the 20th time in program history MU has won its first four games. • MU has gone on to post a winning season in each of the previous 19 years in which it won its first four contests. • With last week’s victory at UMass, the Tigers have now won at least five of their first six contests 36 times. • Mizzou has gone on to post six wins in its first seven games in 24 of the previous 35 seasons in which it started with at least five wins in its first six outings.

DRINK IT UP

• Under Head Coach Eliah Drinkwitz, Mizzou has gone 24-7 in five seasons on Faurot Field, giving the Tigers’ sideline boss the best home winning percentage in the history of the program (through at least four seasons). • Additionally, Drinkwitz has led MU to 33 victories in 55 games at the helm, putting him just four victories away from Dan Devine’s program record for coaching wins through five seasons. • Drinkwitz is currently tied with Gary Pinkel for third on the Tigers’ coaching wins list through five seasons, trailing only Warren Powers (36) and Devine; he also moved into a tie with Larry Smith for the No. 7 spot on MU’s overall head coaching wins list.

TIGERS DOMINANT IN NON-CONFERENCE

• Missouri concluded its second-straight unbeaten nonconference season with last Saturday’s win at UMass. • The Tigers wrapped up a perfect 4-0 non-conference season, extending their non-conference regular-season win streak to 10 consecutive games, dating back to September 17, 2022. • Saturday’s 45-3 win not only gave the Tigers their first true non-conference road win since 2018, it also marked their largest margin of victory on the road since a 55-10 rout of Colorado in Boulder on November 3, 2007. • Under head coach Eliah Drinkwitz, the Tigers are 14-2 overall in non-conference action.

PROTECTING THE ROCK

• The Tigers’ 5-1 start has been made possible by an offense that has not only controlled the time of possession in five of its six outings, but also limiting turnovers to just two giveaways to date. • Mizzou leads the SEC and ranks 11th nationally in time of possession, controlling the ball for an average of 33:09 through its first six games. • Additionally, the Tigers have turned the ball over just two times — one fumble in their season opener vs. Murray State (Aug. 29) and one interception in game two vs. Buffalo (Sept. 7). • MU has not committed a turnover in any of its last four contests, spanning more than 17 full quarters (plus two overtime periods vs. Vanderbilt). • QB Brady Cook, who set an SEC record for consecutive pass attempts without throwing an interception (365) last fall, brings an active string of 135 straight pass attempts since his lone pick of the season in the third quarter of the Tigers’ matchup vs. Buffalo. • For the season, the Tigers are tied for second nationally with just two giveaways, ranking second among all FBS teams with one INT and fifth nationally with one fumble lost.

SPECIAL TEAMS, SPECIAL PLAYS, SPECIAL PLAYERS

• Mizzou’s special teams have played starring roles in each of the Tigers’ six games to date, ranking among the nation’s top units in a number of statistical categories. • Blake Craig factored prominently in the Tigers’ SEC opener vs. Vanderbilt (Sept. 21), as the redshirt freshman booted three field goals to aid the Tigers in a 30-27 double-overtime win. • Craig drilled the deciding 37-yard field goal in the second OT, propelling MU to victory. • The Kansas City product also successfully kicked a 54-yarder, which made him 3-of-4 on the year from beyond 50 yards; through just six career games, Craig already ranks fourth among all Mizzou kickers with his three makes from beyond 50 yards. • Thanks to the work of Craig, the Tigers’ 13 field goals lead the SEC; Craig ranks second among all FBS kickers in field goals per game (2.17), while his average of 10.2 points per game ranks 14th nationally and fourth in the SEC. • Craig’s effort vs. Vandy came on the heels of a 4-of-4 afternoon vs. No. 24 Boston College (Sept. 14), which earned him SEC Special Teams Player of the Week laurels. • Craig’s 56-yarder as time expired in the first half marked the longest field goal ever kicked by a Missouri freshman, surpassing Harrison Mevis’s 52-yarder vs. LSU in 2020. • The kick also tied for the fourth-longest in program history (sharing the distinction with a pair of Mevis 56- yard kicks).

South Carolina (3-3, 1-3 SEC) at Oklahoma (4-2, 1-2 SEC)

Series: First Meeting

11:45 a.m. CT • SEC Network

Norman, Okla. • Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (83,489)

SiriusXM: 374 – 106/1901

South Carolina Notes

QUICKLY:

The South Carolina Gamecocks (3-3, 1-3 SEC) begin the second half of the 2024 regular season with the back end of a two-game road swing as they travel to Norman, Okla. for the first time in school history to face the Oklahoma Sooners (4-2, 1-2 SEC) in an SEC showdown on Saturday, Oct. 19. Game time is set for 12:45 ET (11:45 am CT) at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (80,126).

OVER THE AIRWAVES:

This week’s contest will be televised on SEC Network. Tom Hart will handle the play-by-play with Cole Cubelic providing the color commentary. Alyssa Lang will patrol the sidelines. Compass Media has a national radio audience as well with Gregg Daniels serving as the play-by-play voice and Chad Brown adding the analysis. The Gamecock Sports Radio Network features a pair of Gamecock Great quarterbacks in play-by-play voice Todd Ellis (33rd season) and analyst Tommy Suggs (52nd season). Chet Tucker returns for his second year as the sideline reporter.

REACHING THE HALFWAY POINT:

The South Carolina Gamecocks have navigated the first half of the 2024 season to a 3-3 record overall and a 1-3 mark in SEC play. All three of Carolina’s losses have come to ranked opponents with two of setbacks decided on the game’s final play. They opened the campaign with a hard-fought 23-19 win over Old Dominion, then dominated Kentucky in the SEC opener, winning by a 31-6 count in Lexington, the largest road win in the Shane Beamer Era at South Carolina. The Gamecocks were unable to hold onto a 17-0 first half lead in a heartbreaking 36-33 setback to No. 16/17 LSU, then bounced back with a convincing 50-7 rout of Akron to improve to 3-1. The Gamecocks have dropped their last two contests to highly-ranked opponents, coming up on the short end of a 27-3 decision to No. 12/11 Ole Miss in Columbia, then suffering another gut wretching defeat in a 27-25 loss at No. 7/7 Alabama last Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa.

A LITTLE HISTORY:

2024 marks year four of the Shane Beamer Era and the 131st season of intercollegiate football at the University of South Carolina, dating back to 1892. It is the 118th-consecutive year in which South Carolina has competed on the gridiron. The University did not field a team in either 1893 or 1906. Carolina owns an all-time record of 637-616-44, a .508 winning percentage. Since the start of the 21st century, the Gamecocks are 171-134, a .561 winning clip. In four seasons under Coach Beamer, the Gamecocks are 23-21, a .523 winning percentage.

A South Carolina win over Oklahoma would…

• Snap the Gamecocks’ two-game losing skid, get them to 4-3 overall and 2-3 in league play and give the Gamecocks their first win in the series with the Sooners. • Give the Gamecocks their second road win of the season after going winless on the road in 2023. • Give the Gamecocks their seventh win in their last 11 games overall.

IT JUST MEANS MORE:

The 2024 season is South Carolina’s 33rd year in the Southeastern Conference. South Carolina and Arkansas joined the SEC prior to the 1992 campaign. The Gamecocks earned the SEC Eastern Division title in the 2010 season. The Gamecocks are 110-151-1 (.422) all-time in SEC regular season play but posted a 42-38 (.525) record in conference action from 2010-19. Under Coach Beamer, the Gamecocks are 11-17 in SEC play, a .393 winning clip. TOUGH SLATE: South Carolina again has one of the nation’s toughest schedules, as seven of its 12 opponents were ranked in the nation’s preseason top-20. The Gamecocks’ 2024 slate includes contests against preseason top-20 teams Alabama (5/5), Ole Miss (6/6), Missouri (11/11), LSU (13/12), Clemson (14/14), Oklahoma (16/16) and Texas A&M (20/20). Six of those seven teams remain the top-25 through the first seven weeks, with three of those opponents still remaining on the schedule

Oklahoma Notes

OPENING KICK

• In the first-ever matchup between the two programs, Oklahoma (4- 2, 1-2) hosts South Carolina (3-3, 1-3) on Saturday at 11:45 a.m. CT at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The game will be televised by SEC Network with Tom Hart, Cole Cubelic and Alyssa Lang announcing. • Oklahoma is 53-17-7 (.734) all-time at home against current members of the SEC. It is 4-1-1 all-time at home against SEC members at the time of competition (1-0 each vs. Alabama and Kentucky, 1-1 vs. Tennessee and 1-0-1 vs. Vanderbilt). • This week’s AP poll is the first since the final version of the 2022 season in which OU is not ranked, snapping a string of 23 straight polls it appeared in the top 25. • South Carolina is the lone SEC opponent remaining on Oklahoma’s schedule that is unranked in this week’s AP poll. The Sooners, who have already faced then-No. 6 Tennessee and No. 1 Texas, play at No. 18 Ole Miss next week, at No. 19 Missouri, vs. No. 7 Alabama and at No. 8 LSU. They also host Maine on Nov. 2. • Since the start of the 1999 season (Bob Stoops’ first as head coach), Oklahoma has lost consecutive home games on just one occasion. That was in 2014 to No. 14 Kansas State (31-30) and No. 10 Baylor (48-14). The Sooners are 12-1 during that span in home games following a home defeat. u Also since the start of the 1999 campaign, OU is 117-8 (.936) at home against teams unranked in the AP poll. • The 2024 season marks the 130th in OU football history. The Sooners lead the nation with their 50 all-time conference championships, 27 11-plus-win seasons (tied), 33 AP top-five finishes and five No. 1 overall NFL Draft picks (tied). They rank second with their seven Heisman Trophy winners (tied), third with seven AP national championships, their 101 weeks as the AP’s No. 1 team and 431 total weeks in the AP Top 5, and fourth with their 57 bowl appearances, 31 bowl wins (tied) and 417 NFL Draft picks. • Since the end of World War II (1946 season to present), OU leads all programs with 704 wins (30 more than Alabama, the program with the next most). South Carolina ranks 55th with 441 wins during the span.

KEY STORYLINES

• While Oklahoma and South Carolina have never met, OU head coach Brent Venables faced the Gamecocks nine times while serving as Clemson’s defensive coordinator and the Tigers posted a 7-2 record (won the final seven matchups). In those seven wins, Clemson held South Carolina to an average of 14.9 points per game. Over the last five meetings, Venables’ defense held the Gamecocks to an average of 11.0 points (gave up 10 or fewer points four times). • Fourth-year South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer served as Oklahoma’s assistant head coach for offense (tight ends and H-backs) during the 2018-20 seasons. During that period, the Sooners posted a 33-6 overall record, won three Big 12 championships and participated in two College Football Playoffs (2018 and ’19). OU ranked second nationally in scoring offense (44.6 ppg) and total offense (537.3 ypg) during the stretch and ranked sixth in passing offense (311.5 ypg) and 15th in rushing offense (225.7 ypg). u Since the start of the 1999 season, the Sooners are 24-1 in their games immediately following their annual contest against Texas. The lone defeat came in 2014 (31-30 vs. Kansas State in Norman). In the 24 wins, OU outscored its opponents by 589 points (average of 24.5 points). • Since the start of the 2000 season, OU has played just 26 games when unranked in the AP poll. It is 17-9 in those contests (10-5 vs. fellow unranked teams). • Saturday’s game will pit an Oklahoma team that ranks seventh nationally in turnovers gained (14) and 11th in turnover margin (+1.2 per game) against a South Carolina squad that ranks 115th with its 12 turnovers lost and 68th in turnover margin (even). OU leads the SEC in both categories. • OU has registered six interceptions and is tied for the national lead with eight fumble recoveries, two more than it had all of last season. South Carolina has thrown four interceptions and lost eight fumbles, tied for the most nationally. • Since the start of the 2023 season, OU is 12-0 when it wins the turnover battle (4-0 this year) and 2-4 when it loses it (0-2 this year). • During the Venables era (since the start of the 2022 season), Oklahoma’s defense ranks second in the nation with 43 interceptions. The Sooners have registered at least one interception in 11 of their last 12 games and in 27 of their last 32. • Until Saturday’s game against Texas, OU had featured a different starting offensive line in its first five contests this season. Nine Sooners on the O line have started at least one contest. Febechi Nwaiwu (right guard all six games), Jacob Sexton (two games at left tackle and four at left guard) and Michael Tarquin (three games at left tackle and three at right tackle) have started all six games. Other starters have been Branson Hickman (four games at center), Jake Taylor (three games at right tackle), Joshua Bates (two games at center), Logan Howland (two games at left tackle), Geirean Hatchett (one game at left guard; out for the year) and Heath Ozaeta (one game at left guard)

HOME IS WHERE THE “W” IS

• The Sooners are 143-14 (.911) at Gaylord Family — Oklahoma Memorial Stadium since the start of the 1999 season, giving them the same number of conference titles during the period as home defeats. It is the best home winning percentage in the country over the last 25- plus seasons (Boise State [.906] and Ohio State [.898] are next). OU has outscored its foes by an average of 43-18 in those games. • OU has sold out 156 straight originally scheduled home contests, dating back to the start of the 1999 season (Bob Stoops’ first as head coach). Only Nebraska has a longer current streak (401).

SEC SOONERS

• Oklahoma and Texas officially joined the Southeastern Conference on July 1 after 28 years in the Big 12 Conference. OU won half of the Big 12’s football titles (14 of 28) since the league began in 1996 (six of the last nine) and posted a 187-61 (.754) record against conference competition (includes an 11-1 record in Big 12 Championship games). • OU is no stranger to many of its new SEC brethren as Oklahoma has a 162-114-13 (.583) record against the league’s current member schools, including fellow new entrant Texas. Not including the Longhorns, OU owns a 111-50-8 (.680) all-time record against current SEC programs. • OU has never faced two SEC programs: South Carolina and Mississippi State. The Sooners host the Gamecocks this week but do not face the Bulldogs. Entering this season, OU had never played a campus game against seven current SEC programs (Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina). • The SEC is the Sooners’ seventh football conference. They were also a member of the Southwest Conference (two championships), Missouri Valley (one championship), Big Six (five championships), Big Seven (12 championships), Big Eight (16 championships) and Big 12 (14 championships). • Oklahoma’s 14 Big 12 titles were 10 more than the program with the next most (Texas won four). From 2010 through 2023, OU won eight Big 12 titles and was followed by Baylor (three), Kansas State (two) and Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas (one each).

Alabama (5-1, 2-1 SEC) at Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC)

Series: ALA leads, 59-39-7

3:30 p.m. ET • ABC

Last: ALA, 34-20 (2023 at Tuscaloosa)

Knoxville, Tenn. • Neyland Stadium (101,915)

SiriusXM: 137/192 – 119/191

INSIDE THE SERIES

Overall: 107th Meeting (Alabama leads, 60-38-8) In Knoxville: Alabama leads, 27-21-1 Current Streak: Alabama, Won 1 Last Meeting: Oct. 21, 2023 – Tuscaloosa (W, 34-20) Series Notes: Alabama and Tennessee will square off for the 107th time in series history when the two teams kick off on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium. The Crimson Tide owns the all-time advantage, 60-38-8, including a 27-21-1 mark in Knoxville. Alabama came out on top, 34-20, in the most recent meeting on Oct. 21 of last season, while the Vols claimed a 52-49 win in 2022, the last time the teams squared off in Knoxville. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has never faced the Volunteers during his head coaching career, while Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel is 1-2 against the Tide.

Alabama Notes

DEBOER AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS:

Kalen DeBoer is 13-2 across 15 career matchups with teams ranked in the Associated Press Top 25, including an impressive 5-1 mark against top-10 teams. Added to those totals was the Crimson Tide’s 41-34 win over then-No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 28. DeBoer’s first career matchup against a top-25 foe at the FBS level came at Fresno State on Sept. 4, 2021, with the Bulldogs falling at No. 11 Oregon. Following the loss to the Ducks, DeBoer-led teams at Fresno and Washington proceeded to reel off 12 straight wins against ranked foes, including six victories in 2023. The winning streak was snapped following Washington’s 34-13 loss to top-ranked Michigan in last season’s CFP National Championship.

NOT FOR A CENTURY:

With a 5-1 record, Kalen DeBoer becomes the first Alabama head coach since Frank Thomas in 1931 to win five of his first six games in his inaugural season at the Capstone.

AGAINST THE TOP 10:

Alabama owns an 86-80-1 (.516) all-time record against teams ranked in the top-10 of the Associated Press Poll. Since the start of the 2008 season, the Crimson Tide has posted a 37-14 (.725) overall record against top-10 teams, including a 22-8 (.733) mark versus the top 10 since the inception of the College Football Playoff.

BEATING THE BEST:

The Crimson Tide is 81-22 (.786) against the Associated Press Top 25 since the start of 2008. That record includes the Tide’s 41-34 win over then-No. 1/2 Georgia on Sept. 28. Alabama owned a 4-2 mark in 2023 with wins against then-No. 15 Ole Miss on Sept. 23, then-No. 17 Tennessee on Oct. 21, then-No. 13 LSU on Nov. 4 and finally against then-No. 1 Georgia in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 2. Since 2007, Alabama has 25 wins over AP top-five teams, the most in the country. LSU has produced the next-closest win total with 12.

ALABAMA IN THE AP POLL:

Alabama’s No. 7 ranking in the Week 8 edition of the Associated Press Poll marked the 269th consecutive week that the Crimson Tide has appeared in the poll. That streak is the longest active streak in college football. The 269 weeks more than doubles second-place Georgia with the Bulldogs appearing in the poll for 122 consecutive weeks. Alabama’s 269 straight weeks tops the Crimson Tide’s previous program-long streak of 105 consecutive weeks under head coach Gene Stallings in the mid-1990s.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

MILROE vs. THE BEST:

As Alabama’s starter each of the last two seasons, Jalen Milroe has played some of his best football against the top competition. He has guided the Crimson Tide to five wins over Associated Press Top 25 teams, including the Tide’s 41-34 victory on Sept. 28 over then-No. 2 Georgia to go with four wins a season ago. In seven total contests against AP Top 25 foes across the last two seasons, Milroe has completed 67.8 percent (116-171) of his passes for 1,601 yards while accounting for 15 total touchdowns (nine passing, six rushing). He has accumulated 2,040 total yards in those matchups.

PILING UP THE POINTS:

Jalen Milroe has accounted for 23 total touchdowns in six games of action this season, including 12 passing and 11 rushing. His 23 total scores are tied for the national lead, while his 140 points are the second-best total in the country. Milroe’s 11 rushing scores are the second-most among quarterbacks in Division I, while he is one of only 33 FBS quarterbacks with at least 12 passing touchdowns.

THROWING THE BOMB:

Through six games this season, Jalen Milroe has completed 96-of-132 passes for 1,483 yards. Entering Alabama’s matchup with Tennessee, Milroe is averaging 11.23 yards per pass attempt, the top mark in the country. He has also accumulated 15.45 yards per completion which ranks third in the conference and sixth in Division I.

HOME RUN HITTER:

Jalen Milroe’s passing touchdowns have typically come in the form of a big play during his time as QB1 at Alabama. Across 19 starts the last two seasons, he is averaging 35.9 yards per passing touchdown, accumulating 1,258 total yards on 35 scores. This season alone, the Katy, Texas, native has thrown for 12 total touchdowns with every score coming from at least 16 yards or better. He has also recorded four touchdowns of 55-plus yards, highlighted by an 84-yarder in the season opener with Western Kentucky. As the starter in 2023, Milroe averaged 33.1 yards per score across his 23 passing touchdowns.

DUAL-THREAT JALEN:

Jalen Milroe has proven to be a threat with his arms and legs during his time at the Capstone. He has rushed for 24 total touchdowns during his career, including 11 this season. Milroe’s 11 touchdowns are tied for the second-most by a quarterback in Division I and are also tied for the fifth-most at any position. In 2023, he totaled 12 rushing touchdowns which finished as the second-most by a quarterback in Alabama single-season history, trailing only Jalen Hurts’ 13 from the 2016 campaign.

OPENING DRIVE TOUCHDOWNS:

The Crimson Tide has won 56 of its last 57 games when scoring a touchdown on the first offensive possession of the game. The most recent instance came on Oct. 12 against South Carolina when Jalen Milroe rushed into the end zone from one yard away to open the day’s scoring. Alabama’s lone loss when scoring a touchdown on the opening drive during the current stretch came at Texas A&M on Oct. 9, 2021.

SCORING STREAK CONTINUES:

Alabama extended its school record for consecutive games with a score to 316 thanks to Jalen Milroe’s one-yard touchdown run on Oct. 12 against South Carolina. The Tide was last held off the scoreboard in a 9-0 loss to Auburn on Nov. 18, 2000. Alabama owns a 255-61 (.806) record over the course of the current streak.

BALL PROTECTION:

In the last 225 games (dating back to the start of the 2008 season), Alabama has turned the ball over only 242 times (130 fumbles, 112 interceptions) for an average of 1.07 turnovers per game. Since 2009, the Tide has turned the ball over only 224 times in 214 games (1.04/game). The 224 turnovers since 2009 includes 92 interceptions in 5,672 attempts (one interception every 61.6 attempts) by UA starting quarterbacks and 33 lost fumbles in 5,542 carries (one fumble lost every 167.9 carries) by the Tide’s top two running backs.

LAYING DOWN THE LAW:

Linebacker Deontae Lawson was named the Lott Trophy Player of the Week on Oct. 2 following his standout performance in Alabama’s 41-34 win over then-No. 2/1 Georgia on Sept. 28. Lawson produced a team-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. The redshirt junior also contributed one sack (-11 yards), two tackles for loss and a pass breakup against the Bulldogs.

FALL ON THE BALL:

Through six games, the Alabama defense has forced eight fumbles with six recoveries (75.0 percent). The Crimson Tide is one of only 13 defensive units to have recovered at least six fumbles this season.

CREATING CHAOS:

The Crimson Tide have forced 12 total turnovers (six fumbles, six interceptions) in its first six games, the second-most in the SEC. Alabama is one of just 18 teams to have forced at least 12 turnovers in 2024.

TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS:

Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 117 of the last 133 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 207 turnovers (131 interceptions, 76 fumbles) and returned 42 of those miscues for touchdowns.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

BIG LEG BURNIP:

James Burnip has maintained his consistent form through six games. Called upon for 25 punts, Burnip has produced 10 punts of 50-plus yards, with 10 boots pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. Burnip’s 45.8 yards per punt is the ninth-best figure in the country and ranks third in the SEC.

HE’S THAT GUY:

Burnip was named the Ray Guy Award’s Punter of the Week on Sept. 17 for his punting prowess during UA’s 42-10 win at Wisconsin on Sept. 14, as he averaged 49.2 yards per kick over his five boots. Burnip produced a season-long 64-yard kick in Madison, the sixth 60-plus yard punt of his career. The recognition was the second of the season thus far for Burnip, as he was named to the Ray Guy Award “Ray’s 8” list following his performance against Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.

IT ENDS HERE:

The Alabama punting unit is currently allowing just 1.33 yards per return, the third-best mark in the SEC and the sixth-best figure in the FBS.

Tennessee Notes

THIRD SATURDAY IN OCTOBER:

It’s the 107th meeting between No. 11/10 Tennessee and No. 7/7 Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday in Neyland Stadium. Billed the Third Saturday in October since 1939, the two teams are meeting as top 20 teams for the 22nd time. Both teams are off to a 5-1 start and a 2-1 mark in league play, which is in a four-way tie for fifth place. The Vols are seeking back-to-back home wins over the Tide for the first time since 2004, ’06. This is the second of four straight games for the Vols in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee has won four in a row at home and is 16-1 in Neyland since the start of the 2022 season. The Vols are seeking bowl eligibility for a fourth straight season for the first time since 2001-04.

OT VICTORY:

RB Dylan Sampson ran for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including the decisive 1-yard blow in overtime, as Tennessee overcame a 10-0 third-quarter deficit to stave off Florida, 23-17. The Vols scored 17 unanswered points to seize the lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Florida evened it up at 17 with 29 seconds left and came up empty on its first possession in OT with a missed field goal, setting the stage for UT’s first walk-off victory since defeating No. 3/1 Alabama, 52-49, in regulation on Oct. 15, 2022. Defensively, the Vols registered three sacks, 12 tackles for loss and held the Gators to 5-of-15 on third down. Florida had the ball inside UT’s 30-yard line four times in the first half and managed only three points. Preseason All-American James Pearce Jr. made the play of the game when he forced Graham Mertz to fumble at the goal line to prevent a Gator score. Pearce Jr. recovered that fumble. Four Vols finished with seven tackles, including Pearce. LB Arion Carter had a key second-half interception. It was the first time since 1990-92 that the Vols earned back-to-back home wins vs. UF. It was also the first time since defeating Pitt in 2022 that UT rallied from a double-digit deficit to win. The Vols trailed 10-0 and 17-7 in the first half of that one. The Florida victory was the Vols’ first win when trailing by double-digits in the second half since beating Indiana in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. UT trailed 22-9 in the fourth quarter of that contest. The Vols improved to 2-1 in OT under Josh Heupel and 15-9 all-time in OT games.

HEUPEL ERA:

Josh Heupel, the 2022 AP SEC Coach of the Year, is in his fourth season at UT. Since taking over a program that was 3-7 prior to his arrival, Heupel owns a 32-13 record and is 25-7 since the start of the 2022 season. The 25 wins since the start of 2022 are fourth-most in the SEC. He led UT to the program’s winningest two-year stretch (20 from 2022-23) since the Vols won 20 from 2003-04. Since 2018, he ranks sixth nationally among active FBS head coaches after hitting the 60-win mark last week vs. Florida. Heupel became the first UT coach to register back-to-back home game victories over the Gators since Gen. Robert Neyland won three home games in a row in 1933, 1940 and 1952. Heupel owns a 10-8 record vs. ranked teams with the Vols. The 10 wins are third nationally among active FBS head coaches since 2021.

TOP 10 IN THE FBS:

Tennessee heads into the Alabama contest ranked in the FBS top 10 in 12 major categories: third-down defense (2nd – 24.1), yards per play allowed (2nd – 4.04), total defense (2nd – 249.8), kickoff return defense (3rd – 5.0), scoring defense (4th – 10.7), rushing defense (5th – 79.7), red zone defense (6th – 63.2), rushing offense (7th – 246.2), tackles for loss (7th – 8.3), punt return average (9th – 18.6), scoring offense (9th – 42.2), and total offense (9th – 484.5). UT has surrendered the third-fewest offensive TDs in the FBS this season (6). UT has not issued a first-half touchdown in seven straight games and every game this season. UT has yet to allow an opponent to reach the 20-point mark in 2024. Opponents have managed only two touchdowns in 12 quarters at Neyland Stadium this season.

BY THE NUMBERS

20 straight games without allowing a sack by Preseason All-American C Cooper Mays, who is the Vols’ starter for the fourth straight year

26 games producing 200 rushing yards in the Josh Heupel era and own a 24-2 record when doing so (won 18 in a row when doing so)

15 rushing touchdowns by Jr. RB Dylan Sampson, which leads the SEC and ranks 2nd in FBS (6 straight games with a TD)

3 30+ yard plays allowed by UT defense all season (30 yd rush; 46 & 30 yd pass), tied for fewest in FBS (Army, Nebraska, Texas)

NOTING THE TENNESSEE-ALABAMA SERIES

• Tennessee and Alabama meet for the 107th time with the Crimson Tide holding a 60- 39-7 all-time advantage. •The two teams have played every season since 1928 except for 1943 (World War II – no season). • In 1939, No. 5 Tennessee defeated Alabama, 21–0, and the rivalry was officially designated as the Third Saturday in October. • The last meeting in Neyland Stadium was a 52-49 Tennessee victory that snapped a 15-game losing streak to the Tide and was the Vols’ first victory in the series since Oct. 21, 2006. It represented the most points scored by the Vols in the series and the most points the Tide had allowed in any game since a 54-4 defeat vs. Sewanee in 1907. • Last year, Tennessee held a 20-7 halftime lead in Tuscaloosa, but the Tide scored 27 unanswered in the second half. It was the Vols’ first loss when leading at halftime in the Josh Heupel era. • The Alabama series is the third-longest in UT history (106 games) behind Kentucky (119) and Vanderbilt (117). • The Vols have put up at least 20 points in Heupel’s first three meetings vs. the Tide. It’s the first time UT has put up at least 20 in three straight meetings since 1995-2001. • Josh Heupel is 1-2 vs. Alabama as a head coach, and the Vols have led at one point in all three of those contests. Heupel was 2-0 vs. the Tide as an assistant coach at Oklahoma, including a 45-31 win in the 2014 Sugar Bowl as offensive coordinator. • Josh Heupel and Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer are both South Dakota natives. Heupel is from Aberdeen, while DeBoer is from Milbank. The two towns are separated by 96 miles on Highway 12. • Tennessee senior tight end starter Miles Kitselman played the 2022-23 seasons at Alabama. This will be his third game in the series but his first in a Vols uniform. Kitselman signed with the Tide out of Hutchinson (Kan.) CC. • Tennessee LB coach William Inge served as the Co-DC/LB coach under Kalen DeBoer at Washington, including during last year’s CFP run. The two also coached together at Fresno State and Indiana.

NOTEBOOK

NICO TIME

• RS-Fr. Nico Iamaleava takes the reins at quarterback for Tennessee in 2024. The former five-star recruit from Long Beach, Calif., is making his eighth career start and fourth SEC start this weekend. Iamaleava is 6-1 with three home victories, a road win at No. 15/13 Oklahoma and two neutral site wins (Citrus Bowl, Duke’s Mayo Classic). Three of his six wins have come vs. ranked opponents at the time of the meeting (No. 20 Iowa, No. 24 NC State, at No. 15/13 Oklahoma). • Tennessee has outscored opponents 288-64 in Iamaleava’s seven starts dating back to the 2024 Citrus Bowl. • Iamaleava, the MVP of the 2024 Citrus Bowl in his first start, became the first Vol freshman quarterback to win a bowl game since Peyton Manning beat Virginia Tech in the 1994 Gator Bowl. • Iamaleava was the first freshman QB (true or redshirt) to start an opener for the Vols since true freshman Brent Schaeffer did vs. UNLV on Sept. 5, 2004. • Iamaleava has already three times been named SEC Freshman of the Week, doing so vs. Chattanooga, NC State and Oklahoma. He’s already tied the school record for SEC Freshman of the Week honors set by Tyler Bray, who won it three times in a four-week span during the 2010 campaign. • Iamaleava set a UT record for most passing yards in a half with 314 in his first home start vs. Chattanooga, topping the previous record of 313 by Tyler Bray in the first half vs. Troy on Nov. 3, 2012. It marked the fourth 300-yard passing total in a half in UT history. Iamaleava connected on his first 10 passes, and he finished 22-of-28 with three touchdowns and no picks in only one half of work. • A week later in the Duke’s Mayo Classic vs. NC State, Iamaleava earned SEC Freshman of the Week with 276 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. • At No. 15/13 Oklahoma on Sept. 21, Iamaleava completed 13-of-21 passes for 194 yards and one touchdown with a career-long 66-yard TD pass to Dont’e Thornton Jr. in the first quarter for his third freshman honor. • Iamaleava became the first UT freshman QB – true or redshirt – to beat Florida since true freshmen Erik Ainge and Brent Schaeffer in 2004. Though Schaeffer started the game, Ainge took the majority of the snaps. • Iamaleava is seeking to become the first UT freshman QB – true or redshirt – to defeat Alabama since Ainge in 2004 (17-13).

DEFENDING NEYLAND STADIUM

• Neyland Stadium has returned as one of the toughest places to play in the country under head coach Josh Heupel. • Tennessee owns a 21-4 record in Neyland Stadium under Heupel and has won 16 of its last 17 games it has played there with the only loss during that span coming to top-ranked Georgia. • The Vols have outscored opponents 2,024-458 in Neyland in the Heupel era. 17 of those 21 victories have come by double-digits. • The Vols were a combined 13-1 in the two previous seasons in Neyland Stadium (2022-23). That was the highest two-year win total in Neyland since winning 13 from 1998-99. • The Vols’ 16 home wins since the start of the 2022 season are tied for sixth in the nation during that span. That .941 win percentage since 2022 is eighth-best in the nation. • Tennessee has won eight straight night games in Neyland Stadium.

EIGHT STRAIGHT GAMES OF HOLDING OPPONENTS UNDER 20 POINTS

• Tennessee has issued 64 combined points this season through six games. That is the fewest point total through the first six games of a UT season since giving up 64 in 1972: 34-3 Georgia Tech, 28-21 Penn State, 45-6 Wake Forest, 6-10 Auburn, 38-7 Memphis and 10-17 Alabama. Bill Battle was in his third season as head coach that year. Battle served as athletic director at Alabama from 2013-17. • The 64 points allowed by the Vols this season are the third-fewest in the FBS behind Texas (38) and Army (59). • Tennessee has held opponents to under 20 points in eight straight games dating back to last season’s Vanderbilt game (48-14). • The Vols have held opponents to under 20 points in the first six games of a season for the first time since 1969. That year, UT did it in the first seven games.

D-SAMP: THE SEC’S BEST RUNNING BACK

• Jr. Dylan Sampson is off to a hot start through the first six games of the 2024 season: – Rushing TDs: 15 (1st in SEC, 2nd in FBS behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty 17) – Rushing Yds: 699 (1st in SEC, 8th in FBS) – Rushing Yds Per Game: 116.5 (1st in SEC, 9th in FBS) – Rushing Yds Per Carry: 5.92 (4th in SEC, 34th in FBS) – All-Purpose Yards: 787 (2nd in SEC, 12th in FBS) – All-Purpose Yards Per Game: 131.2 (2nd in SEC, 13th in FBS) – 100-Yard Rushing Games: 5 (1st in SEC) – Scoring: 15.0 (1st in SEC, 2nd in FBS) – Total Points Scored: 90 (1st in SEC, 2nd in FBS) • What’s even more impressive is Sampson has done this in just 20 quarters this season. He did not play in the second half vs. Chattanooga and Kent State with the games already secured. • Sampson is the third Tennessee running back in the last three seasons to score double-digit rushing TDs in a single campaign – joining Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright who had 13 and 10 in 2022, respectively. • Sampson owns nine career 100-yard rushing games, and he’s done it in five out of the first six games this season. He was eight yards shy of hitting the mark vs. Oklahoma on Sept. 21. His nine career 100-yard games are tied with Tauren Poole (2008-11) and Arian Foster (2005-08) for the 10th most in Tennessee history. He is one away from joining a five-way tie for sixth place with Cedric Houston (2001-04), Charlie Garner (1992-93), James Stewart (1991-94) and Reggie Cobb (1987-89). • Sampson has registered multi-touchdown rushing games in five out of his last six contests, and the Baton Rouge native has scored at least one touchdown in six straight games. The last Tennessee player with a rushing touchdown in six straight contests was Montario Hardesty, who did so in the opening six games of the 2009 season. • According to PFF, 425 of Sampson’s 699 rushing yards have come after contact. He had 57 vs. Chattanooga, 98 vs. NC State, 56 vs. Kent State, 67 vs. Oklahoma, 52 at Arkansas and 95 vs. Florida. • Sampson put up a historic first half vs. Kent State on Sept. 14, scoring four rushing touchdowns while carrying the ball 13 times for 101 yards. The four rushing TDs tied the single-game school record for the modern era (since 1937) with six other players, most recently John Kelly, who had four rushing TDs vs. Georgia Tech on Sept. 4, 2017 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Sampson was the first Vol to accomplish the feat in a single half in the modern era. Prior to the modern era, Gene McEver had four rushing scores in the second half against South Carolina in 1929. • Sampson is continuing a long line of successful Vol backs under Josh Heupel. Jaylen Wright, a 2023 AllSEC recipient, was selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins. Jabari Small signed a free agent contract with the Tennessee Titans in May and is a member of their practice squad. • Sampson led Tennessee to a comeback victory over Florida on Oct. 12. He rushed for 112 yards on 27 carries with three touchdowns – all in the second half. His 1-yard plunge in overtime gave the Vols the walkoff winner. • Sampson’s 15 rushing touchdowns are the most by an SEC player through the first six games of a season since 1992 according to ESPN. His 15 scores are already the most by a UT player since Tony Thompson had 16 in 12 games in 1990. The only other players with more are Reggie Cobb (17 in 1987) and Gene McEver (18 in 1929). • Sampson has played in 28 career games and has scored an incredible 28 rushing touchdowns already – 29 total touchdowns including one receiving. He is tied with Stanley Morgan (1973-76) for fourth place in UT career annals. Sampson’s figure is the highest total by a Vol running back in the last 30 years (1995- 2024), as only quarterback Joshua Dobbs (32 from 2013-16) has more during that time.

TENNESSEE BOASTS THE SEC’S FIRST AND FOURTH-LEADING SCORERS

• Tennessee’s 5-1 start has led two Vols to rank first and fourth the SEC’s scoring chart. Jr. RB Dylan Sampson leads the league with 90 total points and 15.0 per game, while RS-Fr. kicker Max Gilbert is fourth with 61 points and second with a 10.2 average. Sampson is second nationally. Gilbert is tied for 14th nationally and is fourth among kickers in the category. • Gilbert is 11-of-12 on the year on field goals and 28-of-28 on PATs. His long make is a 45-yarder, and his lone miss was a 53-yarder vs. NC State. • Gilbert was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week following the Sept. 21 win at Oklahoma. He was 3-of-3 on field goals and drilled both of his PATs. He made field goals of 27 yards, 41 yards and 32 yards. He accounted for all six of the Vols’ points in the second half that finished off the game.

DEFENSIVE STOP RATE IS BEST AMONG POWER TEAMS

• Tennessee’s defensive stop rate is the best among Power Four teams and the second-best in the FBS. The Vols have forced a turnover, created a three-and-out or made a fourth-down stop an average of 7.4 times per game vs. FBS competition. 56.9 percent of opponents’ possessions have resulted in above (doesn’t include Chattanooga opener – FCS). Hard Stop % vs. FBS Competition Hard Stops Per Game vs. FBS Teams 1. James Madison – 59.7 1. Tennessee – 7.4 2. Tennessee – 56.9 James Madison – 7.4 3. BYU – 56.5 3. BYU – 7.0

VOLS AMONG THE NATION’S BEST IN ONE-TD GAMES

• Tennessee has proven to be among the nation’s best in tight games. The Vols are 6-1 in one-touchdown games (decided by 8 points or less) since the start of the 2022 season, and UT added to that total with a 23-17 overtime victory over Florida. The Vols’ only loss during that span was at Arkansas on Oct. 5. Of those six wins, three have come vs. ranked teams – #17 Pitt (2022), #20 Florida (2022), #3/1 Alabama (2022). The other three were vs. Kentucky (2023), Texas A&M (2023) and Florida (2024). • The 85.71 win percentage for Tennessee in one-score games since the start of the 2022 season is the best in the SEC (min. three one-score games played).

Texas A&M (5-1, 3-0 SEC) at Mississippi State (1-5, 0-3 SEC)

Series: MSU leads, 9-8

3:15 p.m. ET • SEC Network

Last: TAMU, 51-10 (2023 at College Station)

Starkville, Miss. • Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field (60,311)

SiriusXM: 106/190 – 374

Texas A&M Notes

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Texas A&M aims to even the series with Mississippi State and make it back-to-back wins over the Bulldogs after handing them a 51-10 loss a season ago. • The Aggies boast one of the best rushing offenses in the nation, ranking ninth with 232.3 yards per game, while their SEC-best 5.6 yards per carry average as a team is good for 15th in the country. • Junior RB Le’Veon Moss leads the strong Aggie rushing attack, ranking second in the SEC and 17th nationally with 101.5 yards per game, while his five rushing scores are the fifth-most in the league … Moss is coming off a career-best 138-yard, three-touchdown performance in the win over Missouri, marking his third 100-yard game and second multi-TD game of the season. • Sophomore QB Conner Weigman returned for the Aggies in Week 6, leading them to a lopsided victory over top-10 Missouri, connecting on 18-of-22 passes for a season-best 276 yards. • After limiting Missouri to just 10 points, the Aggies rank 17th in the country in scoring defense (16.7), while their 11 touchdowns allowed on the season are tied for 14th nationally. • Junior DB Will Lee III has brought veteran leadership to the secondary and ranks second in the SEC with nine passes defended this season after breaking up a career-best four passes against Arkansas … He ranks second on the team with 22 tackles, 20 of which are solo takedowns. • Junior DL Nic Scourton has come on strong in league play, tallying 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks through three SEC games … He made a massive impact in the win over Arkansas as all four of his tackles were for a total 16 yards lost, including a strip sack late in the fourth quarter to seal the victory … Scourton ranks sixth in the nation and second in the SEC with 10.0 tackles for loss on the season, while his 4.5 sacks are good for sixth in the league.

QUICK HITS

• The Aggies’ offensive line has controlled the battle in the trenches while clearing the way for A&M’s top-10 rushing attack, as the unit ranks second in the SEC and ninth nationally allowing 20.0 tackles for loss and its 7.0 sacks allowed rank third among league teams. • Junior RB Amari Daniels has played a key role in the Aggies’ success in the run game, ranking among the top-25 in the SEC with 40.8 yards per game … After registering his second multi-touchdown game of the season with two 1-yard scores against Missouri, Daniels’ four scores on the year rank 10th in the SEC. • Texas A&M has been efficient in the red zone as it ranks 15th with a 96.5 conversion rate with the team scoring on 21 of its 22 trips. • The Aggies have held their opponents to 100-orfewer yards on the ground in four straight games, most recently limiting Missouri to just 68 yards and no rushing scores. • The Maroon & White have disrupted the opposition’s aerial attack, tallying seven picks on the season, which is tied for second in the SEC and 19th nationally. • Takeaways have been a key piece of the Aggie defense this season as A&M sits at No. 2 in the SEC and No. 15 in the country in turnover margin (1.0/g). • Sophomore DB Marcus Ratcliffe has picked off a pass in three of the last five games to help him rank sixth nationally and lead the SEC with three interceptions on the year. • Graduate K Randy Bond tallied 11 points in the win over Missouri, marking the 10th time in his career he has scored 10-plus points in a game … Bond ranks 10th nationally with 11 made field goals this season while his 54 total points are good for 25th. • Sophomore DL Nana Boadi-Owusu was named the 12th Man ahead of the 2024 season, becoming just the sixth student-athlete in program history to hold the season-long honor.

MAROON GOONS

• The Texas A&M offensive line has been winning the battle in the trenches, playing with great consistency despite having to display its reliable depth early on … The Maroon Goons have helped the Aggies boast one of the best rushing offenses in the country while also holding strong to protect their quarterbacks. • The Maroon & White rank ninth in the country and second in the SEC, allowing 20.0 tackles for loss on the year., while their 7.0 sacks allowed are good for third in the league. • With the help of the o-line clearing the way, the Aggies rank 13th nationally and second in the SEC averaging 231.6 rushing yards per game and have racked up over 200 yards on the ground in three of the five games this season. • The line is anchored by junior Trey Zuhn III, who was named a season-long team captain prior to the season and has been a staple at left tackle over the last two years. • Zuhn started all 13 games last season and has logged 30 career starts as he helped clear the way for a 1,000-yard rusher in 2022 and helped A&M rack up over 400 yards of total offense in eight games last year. • In the offseason, sophomore Chase Bisontis made the move to left guard after starting all 12 regular season games he played in at right tackle and the bowl game at right guard as a freshman in 2023 … The Aggies added veteran experience with junior transfers Ar’maj Reed-Adams, who made 15 starts in 31 games played at Kansas and Kolinu’u Faaiu, who played in 16 games with eight of those being starts at center through three seasons at Utah. • Offensive line coach Adam Cushing joined head coach Mike Elko in Aggieland after two seasons at Duke where his o-line kept its quarterback protected, ranking 12th among Power 5 schools allowing just 17.0 sacks and seventh nationally giving up just 51.0 tackles for loss in 2022 … Duke also ranked in the top-18 among Power 5 schools in sacks and tackles for loss allowed in 2023.

ELEVATING THE RUN GAME

• Junior running backs Le’Veon Moss and Amari Daniels have made big improvements in the offseason and have been a dynamic duo in the backfield for the Maroon & White early this year. • Moss registered his third 100-yard game of the season with a career-high 138 rushing yards and a career-best three trips to the end zone for his second multi-TD game in the win over Missouri … He ranks 17th nationally and second in the SEC averaging 101.5 yards per game … His 6.9 yards per carry average is also good for second in the SEC, while his six rushing scores are good for fifth among league backs. • Moss set a new career high in every category through the first three games of the season, notching 20 carries against Notre Dame, scoring two touchdowns in the McNeese win and tallying a then-career-best 110 yards in the victory at Florida. • Daniels recorded his second multi-touchdown game of the season and of his career with a pair of 1-yard scores in the first half against Missouri and joined the 1,000 career yards club with 68 yards on 13 carries in the win at Florida … He ranks among the top-25 in the league with 40.8 y/g while his four touchdowns are good for 10th in the SEC. • Dual-threat freshman QB Marcel Reed has also contributed to the robust rushing attack, ranking 21st overall and fourth among quarterbacks in the SEC averaging 45.2 yards per game. • As a team, the Aggies are No. 9 in the country and second in the SEC in rushing offense, averaging 232.3 yards per game, and their league-best 5.6 yards per carry as a team are good for 15th nationally. • After eclipsing the 300-yards mark in Week 2, the Maroon & White tallied 310 yards on the ground in the win at Florida, marking the first time they have tallied 300-plus rushing yards in back-to-back games since the 2012 season. • In the win over McNeese, A&M racked up 333 yards on the ground and five rushing scores, marking the most rushing yards in a game for the Aggies since rushing for over 500 yards against Northwestern State to start the 2018 season and the most rushing scores since reaching the end zone five times on the ground in the Orange Bowl win over North Carolina to cap off the 2020 season.

STEADY BACKER

• Sophomore LB Taurean York immediately stepped into a leadership role as a true freshman in 2023, quarterbacking the defense at mike linebacker, and was selected as a team captain by his teammates ahead of the 2024 season. • In the season opener against Notre Dame, York helped lead the defense with nine takedowns in the game … York leads the Aggies with 28 takedowns and has recorded five-plus tackles in three of the team’s six games so far this season. • York started all 13 games last season, finishing second on the team with 74 tackles, which ranked in the top-20 among SEC players and third among league freshman … His 8.5 tackles for loss were the most by an SEC freshman a year ago and ranked fourth on the team. • He registered the first double-digit tackles game of his career with 11 against Auburn last season, including 2.0 for loss … On the year, York tallied five-or more tackles in nine of the 13 games. • York was a key contributor to the defense that led the SEC in rushing defense (108.8 y/g) and sacks (42.0), while also standing at second in the league and eighth in the nation with 99.0 tackles for loss and 19th in the country, third in the SEC, in total defense (316.2 y/g).

NEW LOOK SECONDARY

• The Texas A&M secondary has seen several new faces in 2024, adding eight defensive backs in the transfer portal while returning sophomores Jayvon Thomas and Dalton Brooks have also made starts this season. • Sophomore Marcus Ratcliffe has made an immediate impact for the Maroon & White after spending last season at San Diego State, starting all six games and helping lead the SEC while ranking sixth nationally with three interceptions on the year. • Junior Will Lee III, who came to Aggieland from Kansas State, ranks second in the SEC with nine passes defended on the year after breaking up a career-high four passes in the win over Arkansas … He also ranks second on the team with 22 tackles while his 20 solo takedowns rank among the top-25 in the SEC … He recorded his first interception as an Aggie in the win over McNeese. • Thomas, who has started four games at corner, made his first interception late in the fourth quarter at Florida, returning it 15 yards and getting the ball back in A&M’s hands to close out the victory. • Lone veteran Bryce Anderson registered the first touchdown of his career when he came up with a tipped pass and returned it 45 yards to the house at Florida, becoming the third Aggie to have scored a defensive touchdown in their career. • As a team, the Aggies rank 19th nationally and are tied for second in the SEC with seven interceptions on the season, while also ranking 15th in the country and second in the league with a 1.0 turnover margin.

DEPTH ON THE D-LINE

• Texas A&M boasts one of the most talented and unpredictable defensive lines in the nation, led by the veteran experience and consistent production of senior Shemar Turner and junior transfer Nic Scourton. • Scourton has played with consistency in the SEC, registering at least 1.0 tackle for loss in five of A&M’s six games … In the win over Arkansas he finished with 4.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, including a strip sack late in the fourth quarter to help the Aggies seal the victory. • Scourton ranks sixth nationally and second in the SEC with 10.0 tackles for loss on the year, standing as one of two players in the league to hit double figures in the category … His 4.5 sacks on the season are good for 20th in the country and sixth in the league. • Turner started the 2024 season with a career-high seven takedowns against Notre Dame and made a pair of solo tackles for loss in a game for the second time in his career with 2.0 against Bowling Green. • Juniors Shemar Stewart and Albert Regis have earned starting jobs on the line this season after being part of the Aggies’ consistent second rotation last year … Stewart has come on strong in the last three games, getting to the quarterback in back-to-back victories while matching his career high with five tackles at Florida. • As a defense, the Aggies have held their opponents to 100-or-fewer yards on the ground in four straight games, most recently limiting Missouri to just 68 yards and no rushing scores … A&M boasts the No. 17 scoring defense in the country (16.7 ppg) and its 11 touchdowns allowed are good for 14th nationally.

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS

• Graduate K Randy Bond was one of the nation’s leading scorers a season ago and continues to rank among the best in 2024 while also climbing A&M’s all-time scoring, field goals made and extra point lists. • Bond currently ranks 10th nationally and third in the SEC with 11 made field goals this season, while his 54 total points land among the top-25 in the country and top-10 league scorers. • Bond has posted double-digit points in a game 10 times in his career, most recently hitting double-figures for the third time this season with 11 points in the victory over Missouri by way of two field goals and five extra points. • The kicker has been climbing A&M’s all-time field goals made, extra points and scoring lists, ranking sixth with 50 career makes and 10th overall with 244 points, while he is just two extra points away from the top 10, making 94 to-date. • Last season, Bond registered a new career-long with a 52-yarder against ULM and he later connected from the same distance against South Carolina and Mississippi State. • Four Aggies on the 2024 roster have registered a blocked kick in their careers … Senior DL Shemar Turner blocked a pair of field goal attempts last season, getting his hand on the ball in back-to-back weeks against Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and junior DL Albert Regis blocked a field goal attempt in the win over Miami in 2022, and senior WR Jahdae Walker blocked a punt a year later in Miami … Prior to arriving in Aggieland, graduate DB Trey Jones III registered a blocked kick against Eastern Michigan in 2022.

Mississippi State Notes

Saturday Storylines

• Mississippi State will play its third top-15 opponent in as many games, this time at home, after playing #1 Texas and #5 Georgia on the road. • The Bulldogs have the nation’s toughest schedule, per ESPN’s FPI, through the first eight weeks of the season. » State’s remaining strength of schedule ranks 11th nationally. • Since the start of SEC play (3 games), Mississippi State ranks 8th in points per game at 24.0. State’s 24.0 points per game in SEC play are more than #18 Ole Miss (23.3), #11 Tennessee (20.7) & #19 Missouri (20.0). • Mississippi State became the first team since Tennessee in 2016 to score at least 30 points against Georgia in Athens • Michael Van Buren Jr. became just the second Mississippi State quarterback in program history to throw for over 300 yards against Georgia. • Mario Craver is one of five SEC freshmen with a reception of 70+ yards this season and one of just two with two or more receptions of 50+ yards this season. • Mississippi State is averaging 22.0 points per game against teams ranked in the AP Top 25, which ranks 16th nationally and 5th in the SEC among teams that have played at least two games against Top 25 teams this season. • Kevin Coleman Jr. earned his third career 100-yard receiving game at #5 Georgia with 103 yards on eight receptions. He also picked up his third receiving touchdown of the season. He has now caught a pass in 23 straight games. • According to multiple media outlets, Mississippi State will play one of the most demanding schedules in America in 2024. On3 ranked it second-toughest, 247sports ranked it seventh, and ESPN said it is the second-hardest in the SEC. • Mississippi State is celebrating its 125th season of football in 2024. The Bulldogs first took the field on Nov. 16, 1895. Following a four-game 1896 season, the Bulldogs didn’t play football again until 1901 and then didn’t play again in 1943 due to World War II

STATE NOTEBOOK

ELITE COMPANY

• When Mississippi State scored 31 points on the road at #5 Georgia, they joined an elite group for programs that have scored 30+ points against UGA since 2020 (60-game span). Mississippi State joined Alabama (2020, ‘21, ‘24), LSU (2022), Ohio State (2022) and Florida (2020) as the only teams to score at least 30 points against Georgia since 2020. • Mississippi State became the first team since Tennessee in 2016 to score at least 30 points against Georgia in Athens. That snapped a Georgia streak of 48 straight home games without allowing an opponent to score 30+ at Sanford Stadium.

THE OFFENSE IS BUILDING MOMENTUM

• Since the start of SEC play (3 games), Mississippi State ranks 8th in points per game at 24.0, despite playing two top 5 teams on the road with a true freshman quarterback making his first two career starts. State was averaging just 20.0 ppg vs. FBS non-conference opponents. • State’s 24.0 points per game in SEC play are more than #18 Ole Miss (23.3), #11 Tennessee (20.7) & #19 Missouri (20.0). • Mississippi State is averaging 22.0 points per game against teams ranked in the AP Top 25 which ranks 16th nationally, 5th in the SEC, among teams that have played at least two games against Top 25 teams this season. • Mississippi State’s 31 points scored against #5 Georgia are the most points the Bulldogs have scored against an AP Top 5 team since 2016, when State scored 35 against #4 Texas A&M. • State’s 31 points scored at #5 Georgia are the most points Mississippi State has scored on the road vs. a Top 5 opponent since the start of the AP Poll in 1936.

FIRST TIME STARTERS

• Mississippi State has had 11 players make their first career starts this season. The Bulldogs are 1 of 12 FBS teams this season to have 11+ players make their first career starts. Air Force leads the way with 30 first-time starters. • State is 1 of 3 Power-4 teams on this list, the others being Georgia (14) and Michigan State (11).

2024 OFFENSIVE DEBUTS

• First Career starts in 2024 (4): Michael Van Buren Jr.^, Mario Craver^, Leon Bell, Luke Work^ • Mississippi State or collegiate debut in 2024 (27): Michael Van Buren Jr.^, Kelly Akharaiyi, Blake Shapen, Kevin Coleman Jr., Braylon Burnside^, Mario Craver^, Ricky Johnson^, Cameron Ball, Trent Hudson, Sanfrisco Magee^, Johnnie Daniels, Davon Booth, Xavier Gayten^, Elijah Cannon^, Brinston Williams, Semaj Parker, Luke Work^, Wesley Davis, Makylan Pounders, Ethan Miner, Jimothy Lewis Jr.^, Jacoby Jackson, Marlon Martinez, Kade Kolka, Zach Haynes, Justin Ball, Logan Flinta ^ indicates true freshman

2024 DEFENSIVE DEBUTS

• First Career starts in 2024 (7): Zakari Tillman, Kelley Jones, Isaac Smith, Brylan Lanier, Kedrick Bingley-Jones, Trevion Williams, Nic Mitchell, • Mississippi State or collegiate debut in 2024 (19): Fred Clark^, Brylan Lanier, Traveon Wright, Stone Blanton, Sulaiman Kpaka, Tyler Woodard, Kobi Albert, Khamauri Rogers, Cyrus Reyes^, Kedrick Bingley-Jones, Marcus Ross, Jatavious Johnson^, Michael Robinson, Branden Jennings, Kai McClendon^, Corey Clark, Terrance Hibbler Jr.^, Ashun Shepphard, DeAgo Brumfield ^ indicates true freshman

QUICK STRIKE OFFENSE

• Mississippi State scored its first points of 2024 in just three plays and 32 seconds. It was the fastest scoring drive for the Bulldogs in a season-opener since Kylin Hill scored on the opening play by rushing for a 53-yard touchdown against Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 1, 2018. • On the year, Mississippi State has scored seven of its 22 offensive touchdowns in five plays or less. » Of the Bulldogs’ 22 touchdowns this season, they have scored seven touchdowns in under 2 minutes, three touchdowns in under 32 seconds, and two touchdowns in under 15 seconds. • The Bulldogs average time of possession per game this season is 26:23. • Mississippi State’s longest drive of the season has been 6:43 vs. Florida. It did result in a touchdown. • State led Florida in time of possession (32:24 to 27:36). It was the first time all season State held the ball for more than 23 minutes.

LSU (5-1, 2-0 SEC) at Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC)

Series: LSU leads, 44-23-2

6 p.m. CT • ESPN

Last: LSU, 34-31 (2023 at Baton Rouge)

Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000)

SiriusXM: 119/191 – 384

LSU and Arkansas Battle for The Golden Boot

LSU, winners of 5 straight, returns to action on Saturday when the Tigers travel to face Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) in Fayetteville. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. on ESPN. LSU enters the game coming off a 29-26 overtime win over then-No. 8 Ole Miss, while Arkansas enjoyed an open date. In its last outing, Arkansas knocked off then-No. 4 Tennessee, 19-14, in Fayetteville. The October playing date for the LSU-Arkansas game marks the second-earliest the teams have met during the 69-game series between the teams. With the adjustments to the league schedule, the Tigers and Razorbacks played in September for the first time ever last year. This year’s October 19 playing date is the second-earliest the teams have ever met. When Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, the Tigers and Razorbacks played in the final game of the regular-season from 1992-2013. That changed in 2014 when LSU closed out its regular-season with Texas A&M for nine years (with the exception coming during the Covid-shortened 2020 season).

LSU Notes

Top 10 LSU Travels To Face Arkansas in Annual Battle for the Boot

LSU (5-1, 2-0 SEC), ranked No. 8 in both polls, plays the first of two straight SEC road games on Saturday when the Tigers travel to face Arkansas (4-2, 2-1 SEC) at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN with Mark Jones (pxp), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline) on the call. LSU, winners of 5 straight, is coming off a thrilling 29-26 overtime win over No. 8 Ole Miss on Saturday, while Arkansas enjoyed an open date last week. The Razorbacks beat Top 10 Tennessee, 19-14, in their last action on Oct. 5. LSU beat the Razorbacks, 34-31, last year in Tiger Stadium. LSU has won 7 of the last 8 games in the series with the only loss during that span coming in Tiger Stadium in overtime, 16-13, in 2021. The game also serves as the annual Battle for the Boot, a 24-karat, 200-pound trophy shaped to resemble the states of Louisiana and Arkansas. The Battle for the Boot dates back to 1996 and LSU has won the trophy 19 times during that span and the Tigers currently have possession have the trophy. LSU enters the game averaging 34.2 points and 460.3 total yards per game (123.3 rushing, 337.0 passing). Defensively, LSU is allowing 22.3 points and 372.0 total yards per game (127.7 rushing, 244.3 passing). Junior QB Garrett Nussmeier leads the SEC in passing TDs (18). His 331.5 yards passing per game ranks No. 2 in the league and No. 6 nationally. In 5 games, Nussmeier has completed 160-of-249 passes for 1,989 yards, 18 TDs and 6 interceptions. Freshman Caden Durham leads the Tigers in rushing with 281 yards and 3 TDs on 41 carries. LSU has 4 players with at least 20 receptions led by TE Mason Taylor (33 rec., 323 yards, 1 TD). Kyren Lacy leads the SEC in TD receptions (6). LBs Whit Weeks (59 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Greg Penn (47 tackles) lead the Tiger defense. DEs Bradyn Swinson (7 sacks, 8.5 TFL, 2 FF) and Sai’vion Jones (4.5 sacks, 5.5 TFL, 2 FF, 1 FR) have the most impact plays for the Tiger defense.

QUICK NOTES

• QB Garrett Nussmeier leads the SEC and ranks No. 4 in the nation in passing TDs with 18. He’s coming off a 3-TD passing performance against Ole Miss, which included a game-tying TD with less than a minute remaining in the contest followed by the game-winner on LSU’s first play in overtime. • In 7 career starts, Nussmeier has led LSU to a 6-1 mark. He’s guided the Tigers to fourth quarter comebacks in 3 of his 7 starts, including last week vs. Ole Miss. • WR Kyren Lacy, who caught the game-winning TD pass on LSU’s first play in overtime against Ole Miss, had his second straight 100-yard receiving game with 111 yards and a TD on 5 receptions vs. the Rebels. Lacy has 30 receptions for 463 yards and 6 TDs (No. 1 in SEC) in 2024. • LSU won its eighth game under Brian Kelly after trailing by double-figures in the first half last week vs. Ole Miss. LSU trailed 10-0 in the 2Q vs. Ole Miss and came back to win, 29-26, in overtime. Earlier this year, LSU trailed South Carolina, 17-0, in the 2Q and won, 36-33. • LSU is 7-3 under BK in games decided by one score. The list includes a 2-0 mark vs. Arkansas – LSU won 13-10 in Fayetteville (2022) and 34-31 in Tiger Stadium (2023). LSU is 2-1 in 1-score games in 2024. • The Ole Miss game marked only the third time in school history LSU won a game without leading until the final snap of the contest. The other 2 were a 9-6 OT win over Alabama in 2011 and a 16-13 OT win over Alabama in 2005 – both of those games were in Tuscaloosa. • TE Mason Taylor is the first player at his position in LSU history to catch 100 passes and have 1,000 receiving yards. Taylor has 107 career receptions for 1,085 yards and 5 TDs. • LB Whit Weeks had a career-best 18 tackles, including a sack for a 6-yard loss, in the win over Ole Miss. Whit Weeks currently leads the SEC in total tackles with 59 (9.83 per game). • DE Bradyn Swinson had his third game in 2024 with at least 2 sacks last week vs. Ole Miss. Swinson is No. 2 in the SEC and No. 5 nationally in sacks with 7.0. • LSU has recorded 19 sacks in its last 4 games (5 vs. South Carolina, 5 vs. UCLA, 3 vs. South Alabama, 6 vs. Ole Miss). LSU’s ranks second in the SEC and No. 5 in the nation in total sacks (21). LSU’s 3.5 sacks/game is No. 4 nationally and first in the SEC. • In its last 5 games, LSU has given up only 32 second half/ overtime points combined. LSU allowed only 9 points (3 field goals) in the second half and overtime last week against Ole Miss. • LSU’s starting offensive line has combined for 128 career starts at LSU. LT Will Campbell, a preseason All-America, and RG Miles Frazier lead the way with 32 starts apiece. RT Emery Jones (30), LG Garrett Dellinger (28) and C DJ Chester (6) round out the lineup. • LSU is riding back-to-back 10-win seasons, the first for LSU since going 10-3 in 2018 followed by a 15-0 mark and the national championship in 2019. LSU still reached the 10-win mark in both 2022 and 2023 after opening the season with losses.

LSU-Arkansas Series:

LSU leads 44-23-2 LSU has won 2 straight and 7 of the past 8 meetings with Arkansas dating back to a 38-10 victory in Fayetteville in 2016. LSU has won 4 straight in Fayetteville with Arkansas’ last win against the Tigers in Razorback Stadium coming in 2014 by a 17-0 count. Saturday’s contest marks the 70th overall between the teams with LSU holding a 44-23-2 advantage in the series that dates back to 1901 when the Tigers posted a 15-0 win in Baton Rouge. Since Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992, LSU is 21-11 against the Razorbacks, which includes a 5-2 mark at Razorback Stadium. Of the 32 games played between the teams as SEC foes, the contest has been decided by a touchdown or less 14 times. Prior to Arkansas joining the SEC, the teams played 23 times from 1913-36 in Shreveport, La., as par of the State Fair Classic. LSU and Arkansas also met twice in the Cotton Bowl – the first being what’s dubbed the “Ice Bowl” on Jan. 1, 1947 as the teams battled to a scoreless tie. LSU beat No. 2-ranked Arkansas, 14-7, in the 1966 Cotton Bowl. The teams didn’t play again until Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992.

Arkansas Notes

THE RUNDOWN

• Arkansas plays host to a top-10 opponent in consecutive games in Fayetteville for the first time in program history when No. 8 LSU comes to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for this year’s edition of the Battle for the Golden Boot. Kickoff between the Hogs and nationally ranked Tigers is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, on ESPN.

• With a win against LSU, Arkansas would improve to 3-1 or better through four SEC games for the first time under head coach Sam Pittman and the sixth time (1993, 1995, 1998, 2006 and 2011) since joining the conference in 1992.

• Arkansas enters Saturday seeking consecutive wins over a ranked opponent for the first time since 2015. With a victory, the Hogs would earn their second win against a top-10 opponent this season and secure multiple top-10 wins in a season for the first time since 1965 and only the third time (1964 and 1965) in program history.

• QB Taylen Green has completed 107-of-189 (56.6%) passes for 1,502 yards and five touchdowns through six games this season. A dual-threat quarterback, Green has also run for 326 yards and four scores on 81 carries (4.0 ypc) to help power Arkansas’ rushing offense, which is averaging 199.5 yards per game and has accounted for 20 of the Razorbacks’ 25 total offensive touchdowns this year.

• RB Ja’Quinden Jackson has made his case as one of the nation’s best running backs with three 100-yard rushing games and three multiple rushing touchdowns performances through Arkansas’ first six games. The Utah transfer has rushed for at least one touchdown in every game this season, becoming the first Razorback to score a rushing touchdown in six consecutive games since RB Knile Davis accomplished the feat in 2010. Entering Saturday night’s game, Jackson is third in the SEC in rushing yards per game (94.3) and rushing touchdowns (10).

• WR Andrew Armstrong has solidified himself as QB Taylen Green’s go-to target, leading the Razorbacks in both receptions (38) and receiving yards (552) despite missing the team’s season opener. Armstrong, who ranks second in the SEC in receptions (38), receptions per game (7.6) and receiving yards per game (110.4), enters Saturday night’s showdown having caught a pass in 33 consecutive games and recording multiple receptions in 28 straight games since his 2021 season at Texas A&M-Commerce.

• DL Landon Jackson has lived up to the preseason hype, leading the Hogs in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (2.4) through the first six games of the campaign. The preseason All-American, who has recorded at least a half sack in each of Arkansas’ previous two contests, is the only Razorback defender since at least 1997 with multiple games of 8+ total tackles, 3+ tackles for loss and 2+ sacks in their career.

QB1

• QB Taylen Green, the Boise State transfer, is tasked with leading the Arkansas offense in the 2024 campaign. • In his Razorback debut against UAPB (Aug. 29), Green accounted for four touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) to become just the third Arkansas signal-caller since 1997 to pass and rush for multiple touchdowns in a single game. • Green posted 477 total yards of offense (416 passing + 61 rushing), the second-highest single game total in Arkansas history, at Oklahoma State (Sept. 7). His 416 passing yards are the fourth-highest single game total in school history and the most by an Arkansas quarterback in a single game since QB Tyler Wilson threw for 419 against Rutgers (Sept. 22, 2012). • Green ran for two scores in the win over UAB (Sept. 14), his second multi-rushing touchdown game of the season and seventh multi-rushing touchdown effort of his career. • Prior to Arkansas, Green played in 13 games with 12 starts for Boise State as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, completing 121-of-212 passes (57.1%) for 1,752 yards and 11 touchdowns. • A dual-threat quarterback, the Lewisville, Texas, native also rushed for 436 yards and nine scores on 78 carries (5.6 ypc). • As a redshirt freshman at Boise State in 2022, Green was the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American by College Football News after playing in 13 games with 10 starts and completing 166-of-271 (61.3%) passes for 2,042 yards and 14 touchdowns. • Green also rushed for 10 touchdowns on the year, finishing the season as the only freshman with at least 10 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns in 2022.

RUNNIN’ RAZORBACKS

• RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, a transfer from Utah, has wasted no time proving to be a difference-maker for the Arkansas offense this season, rushing for 100-plus yards in three consecutive games to begin the 2024 campaign, his first as a Hog. • Jackson, who currently ranks third in the SEC and seventh nationally in rushing touchdowns (10), has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of Arkansas’ first six games of the season. Jackson, who has 10 rushing scores through the first six games, is the fastest Arkansas player to reach 10 rushing touchdowns in a season since RB Madre Hill did so in 1995. • Jackson is the first Razorback running back to rush for a touchdown in six consecutive games since RB Knile Davis did so in 2010. The last Arkansas running back to rush for a touchdown in seven straight games was RB Darren McFadden in 2006. • In 2023, Jackson played in 12 games with 11 starts for Utah, logging a team-high 161 carries for 797 yards (5.0 ypc) and a team-leading four touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 53 yards. He led the Utes in 100-yard rushing games (3). • RB Rashod Dubinion is the Hogs’ top returning running back. The Ellenwood, Ga., native played in 10 games with two starts, rushing for 260 yards on 82 carries (3.2 ypc) with a touchdown to go with 14 catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. • A pair of newcomers in transfer RB Rodney Hill and true freshman RB Braylen Russell round out the Razorbacks’ running backs room. Hill comes to Arkansas from Florida State, where he ran for 190 yards and one touchdown on 50 carries while playing in 12 games. He also added five catches for 83 yards and a pair of kickoff returns for 42 yards • Russell, a Benton, Ark., native, was a four-star prospect coming out of high school. Rated the No. 16 running back nationally and the No. 3 overall prospect in Arkansas by ESPN, he ran the ball 167 times for 1,359 yards (8.0 ypc) and 20 touchdowns to go with 18 receptions for 351 receiving yards and five scores during his stellar senior season in 2023.

YOU THROW IT, THEY CATCH IT

• Entering 2024, the Razorback offense returned 93.8% of the team’s receiving yards (2,111), 89.4% of the team’s receptions (185) and all but one of the team’s receiving touchdowns (21 – 95.5%) from 2023. Seven of the Hogs’ top eight pass catchers from last season all returned for 2024 led by WR Andrew Armstrong (56 receptions for 764 yards and five touchdowns). • Returners also include WR Isaac TeSlaa (34 receptions for 351 yards and 2 TD), TE Luke Hasz (16 receptions for 253 yards and 3 TD), WR Tyrone Broden (15 receptions for 109 yards and 3 TD), WR Isaiah Sategna (15 receptions for 129 yards and 2 TD), RB Rashod Dubinion (14 receptions for 85 yards and 1 TD) and TE Ty Washington (11 receptions for 170 yards and 2 TD). • Armstrong has burst onto the scene since transferring from Texas A&M-Commerce prior to 2023. Now in his second year as a Razorback, Armstrong led Arkansas in receptions (56), receiving yards (764), receiving yards per game (63.7) and receiving touchdowns (5) one season ago. A native of Dallas, Texas, Armstrong started all 12 games in 2023 and caught at least two passes in every game. He also logged 103 yards on three catches in the Hogs’ first ever win at Florida (Nov. 4, 2023). • Armstrong, who turned in consecutive 100-yard receiving games against Oklahoma State (Sept. 7) and UAB (Sept. 14) to begin his season, has a three 100-yard receiving games through Arkansas’ first six games of the 2024 campaign. • Armstrong owns a team-leading 33-game reception streak dating back to Oct. 16, 2021, while at Texas A&M-Commerce. • As a senior in 2023, TeSlaa started all 12 games in his first season at Arkansas, catching 34 passes for 351 yards and two touchdowns. A Hillsdale College transfer, TeSlaa led the team with eight contested catches according to Pro Football Focus and finished second on the squad in receptions and yards. He caught at least one pass in all 12 games of the 2023 season. • TeSlaa delivered a big game against Texas A&M (Sept. 28), logging five receptions for a career-high 120 yards and a touchdown. TeSlaa became the first Arkansas wide receiver with 5+ receptions, 120+ receiving yards and 1+ receiving touchdown in a game since WR Treylon Burks did so against Missouri on Nov. 26, 2021. • The trio of Armstrong, TeSlaa and Broden (listed below in order of career receptions) has combined for 430 receptions, 6,751 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns over 132 career games played.

Ball State (2-4 at Vanderbilt (4-2, 2-1 SEC)

Series: First Meeting

6 p.m. CT • SEC+/ ESPN+

Nashville, Tenn. • FirstBank Stadium (28,934)

SiriusXM: 137/192

Ball State Notes

BALL STATE GETS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN, HEADS TO NASHVILLE TO BATTLE VANDERBILT

• Ball State visits Nashville to battle a Southeastern Conference opponent for the third time in two seasons. Counting its game at Miami (Fla.) last month, Saturday’s game reflects the Ball State’s fourth matchup against a Power Four opponent the past two years. • Ball State used seven sacks and a strong run defense to get past Kent State last Saturday. The Cardinals led 27-7 in the third period, but big plays kept Kent State in the game, cutting the lead to 27-21 early in the fourth. Even after Jackson Courville’s third field goal of the contest staked the Cardinals to a 30-21 lead with 3:19 to play, the Golden Flashes got two more touchdowns to keep applying pressure to the Ball State lead. Vaughn Pemberton’s 41- yard burst with 1:13 was the difference-maker in the 37-35 victory. • For the first time this year, it was the Cardinals’ defense that shone most brightly against Kent State. Brandon Berger had a career-high three sacks and the total defensive effort limited Kent State to just 67 rushing yards. Riley Tolsma and Joey Stemler each had eight tackles, and Stemler added 1.5 sacks. The Cardinals totaled nine stops in the Flashes’ backfield. • Junior TE Tanner Koziol ranks seventh nationally with 7.7 receptions per game, grabbing eight catches at Kent State after corralling exactly nine in each of the previous three weeks. He ranks second among tight ends in catches per game and third with 72.3 yards per game. • FCS transfer Braedon Sloan has netted 423 yards on 99 carries this season, in addition to 222 yards on 19 catches. The versatile Sloan has approached or exceeded the 100-yard mark in all-purpose yards in each game: 155 vs. Western Michigan, 103 vs. Missouri State, 97 at Kent State, 94 at CMU and 72 at JMU. He scored two rushing touchdowns last Saturday. • The 100th anniversary of Ball State’s first season in 1924 coincides with the 100th season on the field, given that the Cardinals didn’t field a team in 1943 due to World War II. Season-long celebrations of the 100th season will be displayed at Scheumann Stadium this season. Similarly, it is the program’s 50th season in the MAC — formally joining the league in 1973 and playing its first football games in 1975.

WHAT A WIN MEANS:

• Currently the fifth winningest coach in Ball State football history, Mike Neu will capture his 40th victory as head coach of his alma mater, tying Dwight Wallace (40) with the fourth-most wins as the Cardinals’ head coach.

INSIDE THE SERIES: VANDERBILT

• While the Cardinals have never met Vanderbilt on the gridiron, Ball State battles an SEC opponent for the third time in two seasons, following season-opening games at Kentucky and Georgia last season.

AGAINST THE SEC

• The Cardinals are seeking their first win against an SEC opponent. Ball State is 0-14 against teams currently in the SEC and 0-10 against SEC foes at the time of the game (Auburn 0-3; Kentucky 0-2; Florida 0-1; Georgia 0-1; Missouri 0-3 and Oklahoma 0-1 while in Big XII; South Carolina 0-1; Tennessee 0-1; Texas A&M 0-1).

VS. NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

• For the second time in a month, the Cardinals face a team coming off a performance that earned the title as “national team of the week.” Ball State played at James Madison the week after they beat North Carolina, 70-50. The Cardinals face the Commodores just two weeks after they beat No. 1-ranked Alabama.

Vanderbilt Notes

STORYLINES NEXT UP

• Vanderbilt returns home to host Ball State on Saturday after winning back-to-back SEC games against No. 1 Alabama and Kentucky. • The Commodores are receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches polls for the second consecutive week. • Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Vanderbilt and Ball State. The Commodores are 11-1 all-time versus MAC opponents with the most recent match up coming in 2022 at Northern Illinois when Vandy won 38-28.

LAST TIME OUT

• Vanderbilt won its second consecutive SEC battle with a 20-13 thriller on the road at Kentucky. Vandy’s 20 points was the second most scored against the Kentucky defense this season. The Wildcats had previously held Georgia to 13 points and Ole Miss to 17. • Vandy’s 4-2 start is the best start since the 2008 season when Vanderbilt went 5-1 through its first six games. • Vanderbilt has won back-to-back games at Kentucky for the first time since 1992 and 1994. • De’Rickey Wright grabbed his sixth career interception in the win. Vandy has a pick in 10 of the last 12 games dating to last season. • Diego Pavia finished 15-of-18 with two touchdowns, marking his fourth consecutive game with multiple touchdowns through the air. • Brock Taylor went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts including posting a 50-yarder to improve to 4-of-5 this year from 50-plus yards. • Taylor was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second consecutive week. He is the second Vanderbilt player since the SEC instituted weekly awards in 1985 to win the same award in consecutive weeks. Quarterback Eric Jones was named Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 1987.

BACK-TO-BACK

• Vanderbilt did not trail in either of its back-to-back victories over No. 1 Alabama and at Kentucky. It is the first time since at least 1960 that the Commodores led for the entirety of consecutive SEC contests. • Vandy’s offense did not have a single three-and-out drive in either win, marking the only time since at least 2002 that Vanderbilt has gone two consecutive SEC contests without a three-and-out. • According to ESPN Research, Diego Pavia became the first SEC quarterback to record an 80 percent completion rate, at least two touchdown passes and 50 yards rushing in back-to-back wins.

ROLL DORES ROLL

• Vandy’s historic 40-35 win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5 was the program’s first victory over a No. 1-ranked team and the first top-five win in program history. • The Commodores were 0-60 against AP top-five opponents entering the contest with No. 1/2-ranked Alabama and it was Vandy’s first win over the Crimson Tide since the 1984 season. • Vanderbilt held Alabama to 35 points, the fewest points scored by the Crimson Tide this season entering the contest. • The Commodores converted 12-of-18 third-down opportunities leading to 42:08 of possession. • Vandy’s offense registered 26 first downs in the win, the most in a game this season. • Vandy took the opening drive down the field for a touchdown, the first touchdown allowed by the Alabama defense in the first quarter this season. • The Commodore defense picked up its second pick six of the season when Randon Fontenette grabbed a pass tipped by De’Rickey Wright and took it to the end zone. Alabama had not allowed a pick six since 2022. • Diego Pavia finished the game 16-for-20 with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns. His 80 percent completion rate was the highest mark by an opposing quarterback against the Crimson Tide since 2010, when Stephen Garcia finished with an 85 percent mark for South Carolina, per ESPN Research. • Pavia found Junior Sherrill for a 36-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-1 play that increased Vandy’s lead back to two scores in the third quarter. • Pavia became the 10th quarterback since 2010 to defeat both Auburn and Alabama in his career, joining Jayden Daniels, Stetson Bennett, Zach Calzada, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Trevor Knight, Chad Kelly, Bo Wallace and Johnny Manziel. Pavia, Bennett, Watson and Matthew Stafford are the only quarterbacks since 2004 to defeat both without playing in the SEC West.

Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) at Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC)

Series: TEX leads, 4-1

6:30 p.m. CT • ABC

Last: TEX, 28-21 (2019 at Sugar Bowl)

Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119)

SiriusXM: 82 – 84

SERIES HISTORY

• Texas and Georgia have met five times with the Longhorns holding a 4-1 series advantage with the most recent meeting in the Allstate Sugar Bowl following the 2018 season. The Longhorns defeated Georgia, 28-21. • The Bulldogs won the previous matchup, 10-9, in the 1984 Cotton Bowl, which was the Longhorns’ lone defeat of the 1983 season. • Texas also prevailed, 26-7, in 1957, and 13-8 in 1958, in a home-and-home series played in Athens and Austin, respectively. • The Longhorns won the first-ever meeting, 41-38, in the 1949 Orange Bowl to conclude the 1948 season. • Oct. 19 will be just the second time Texas and Georgia have played in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium and the first since 1958.

Georgia Notes

Aiming To Be Elite Against One Tough Slate

The Bulldogs opened the 2024 season ranked No. 1 in the AP and US LBM Coaches poll for the third time in school history (2008, 2023). Georgia dropped to No. 2 in the AP poll after its 13-12 road win over Kentucky on Sept. 14 and remained there for another week before falling to No. 4 Alabama on Sept 28. In this week’s AP poll, the Bulldogs are at No. 5 for the third straight week. Georgia was No. 1 in the US LBM Coaches poll until its first loss when it dropped to No. 5. For the second week in a row, Georgia occupies the No. 4 spot. This week’s opponent, Texas, is in the top spot in both polls. The Bulldogs have the longest active streak of being ranked in the AP top 10 (57 straight polls). Last Saturday in Athens, Georgia used an aerial attack of 459 yards (3rd most in school history and most since 1994) to defeat Miss. State 41-31 while Texas dispatched Oklahoma 34-3 in Dallas. UT now leads the nation in Scoring Defense at 6.3 ppg and is seventh in Scoring Offense at 43.2 ppg.

Georgia-Texas Tidbits

*First Meeting: Georgia entered the 1949 Orange Bowl on an eight-game winning streak and No. 8 AP ranking. Texas was 6-3-1 and playing in its first Orange Bowl and posted a 41-28 win. UT ran 58 times for 324 yards and five TDs, including 107 yards and a score by Tom Landry (eventual Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame coach) in his final game.

*Second Meeting: The 1957 contest came at Grant Field in Atlanta in front of a crowd of 33,000 and was the first game of 33-year-old Darrell Royal’s tenure at UT as the Longhorns won 26-7.

*Third Meeting: In 1958 in Austin, Georgia was trailing 6-0 early in the 4th quarter when future Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton put himself in (coaches had planned to redshirt him as the 3rd-string QB) when he saw starting QB Charlie Britt still sitting on the bench as the team took the field. He ran in and told his teammates, “I’ve come to win this game.” He directed a 21-play, 95-yard TD drive along with a two-point conversion for an 8-6 edge. UT answered with a 17-play, 72-yard TD drive capped by a 1-yard run by Bobby Gurwitz to lift 11th-ranked Texas to a 13-8 win.

*Fourth Meeting: Ask a Georgia fan what time it is in Texas and you’ll likely hear it’s Ten to Nine! In the 1984 Cotton Bowl, UT entered 11-0 and ranked No. 2 with a shot at its fifth national championship if it beat No. 7 Georgia (9-1-1). Down 9-3 with less than five minutes left, the Bulldogs took advantage of a muffed punt return by Craig Curry at the UT 24. Gary Moss recovered it and Georgia later scored on a 17-yard scamper by QB John Lastinger with 3:22 remaining for a 10-9 lead as Vince Dooley’s Dogs claimed the upset and finished with a No. 4 ranking.

*Fifth Meeting: Sam Ehlinger finished with three rushing TDs and 169 passing yards to lead Tom Herman’s UT squad to a 28-21 upset of No. 6 Georgia in the 2019 Sugar Bowl. The Bulldogs finished 11-3 and ranked No. 7 while UT ended the season 10-4 and No. 9.

Beck By Popular Demand

Fifth-year senior Carson Beck, a 6-4, 220-pound native of Jacksonville, Fla., owns an 18-2 record as a starter. Led Georgia to 13-1 mark in ’23. *Among the 25 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award * 6-2 versus top-20 opponents with a 69.4 Completion Percentage (175-252) for 2,410 yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs in those contests. * Tied school record with 36 comp. in win over MSU, career-high 459 yards ranks 3rd in school history, most since Eric Zeier had 485 vs. USC in ’94 * Set then Career Highs in 41-34 road loss at #4 Alabama, 50 att., 439 yards, 3 INTs; Was 8-of-17 for 100 yards, 2 INTs in 1st Half and trailed 30-7; then went 19-33 for 339 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT in the 2nd Half and led briefly 34-33 * 439 passing yards @ #4 UA ranked 4th most in school history * SEC Offensive Player of the Week after 34-3 win over #14 Clemson this year * Georgia’s quarterback room also includes redshirt sophomore Gunner Stockton, freshman Ryan Puglisi and redshirt freshman transfer Jaden Rashada (Ariz. State). Stockton saw action in four games last year and completed 63% of his passes (12-for-19) for 148 yards and two TDs. This year, Stockton is 10-for-12 for 90 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INT.

Etienne Leads Backfield With The “Hard Yards”

Georgia’s top running backs are Trevor Etienne, Branson Robinson, who was sidelined in 2023 due to a knee injury, Cash Jones and freshman Nate Frazier. Etienne has a team-high 335 yards (5.3 avg.) and 4 TDs. The longest Bulldog rush belongs to wideout Anthony Evans III (52 vs. MSU). Georgia has been down two starters on the line the past two games (senior guard Tate Ratledge {out 3 games} and junior center Jared Wilson). After the AU game, Georgia coach Kirby Smart complimented Etienne, saying “the touchdowns are great, but that’s not what it’s about. It’s about the hard yards. It’s about the 3rd-and-10 catch that he gets and makes it 4th-and-1. It’s about the 4th-and-1 play that he gets it and makes one.” * Etienne had a team-best 55 rushing yards and one TD on 12 carries plus two catches for 11 yards at #4 UA. He had 124 all-purpose yards in the win over AU (88-rushing and 2 TDs, 36-rec. on six catches). *In the season-opening win over #14 CU, Frazier registered 83 yards on 11 carries including a 40-yard scamper and his first TD. Frazier had 38 yards on seven carries against AU. He now has 194 yards on 37 carries (5.2 avg.) *Jones’ lone carry against Clemson was a 15-yard TD that featured an impressive stiff arm. Jones has been a key contributor on special teams.

Are We Punting? Nope.

In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs have a 65% success rate in 4th Down Conversions (73-for-113) with 11 TDs. This year, the Bulldogs rank third nationally in 4th Down Conversions at 91% (10-for-11). Faced with a 30-7 halftime deficit at No. 4 Alabama, Georgia attacked every drive in the second half with a four-down mentality. After going 1-for-1 on 4th down in the first half, Georgia went 4-for-4 in the second half to finish 5-for-5, the best ever under Smart. The Bulldogs came into the game 1-for-2 on 4th Downs. Georgia was 2-for-2 on 4th Downs against AU and MSU.

Defensive Playmakers At Each Level

Georgia has had 42 players drafted over the past four seasons, including 23 on defense and eight of those defenders have gone in the first round. * The 2024 unit ranks T20th in Scoring Defense (17.2 ppg). * Did not allow a TD until the fourth game of the year. * The 2023 unit ranked fifth nationally in Scoring Defense (15.6 ppg).

Texas Notes

THE OPENING KICKOFF

• No. 1/1 Texas (6-0, 2-0 SEC) continues its 132nd season of football at 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 19, vs. No. 5/4 Georgia (5-1, 3-1 SEC) at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The game will broadcast on ABC with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe (reporter) and Katie George (reporter) on the call. • It’ll be just the third top-5 matchup in Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium history with the other two being in 2006 (#1 Ohio State 24, #2 Texas 7) and 1970 (#1 Texas 42, #4 Arkansas 7). • It’ll be a matchup between two of the nation’s winningest football programs as UT boasts the fourth-most wins (954) in NCAA history while Georgia sits at ninth with 886 all-time wins. Texas holds an all-time record of 954-392-33 (.704). The Longhorns’ 954 wins are the second most by an SEC program following Alabama’s 969 victories. • Last week, Texas defeated No. 18/16 Oklahoma, 34-3, on Oct. 12 in this year’s edition of the Allstate Red River Rivalry. It was UT’s second AP top-25 ranked win of the season. • Texas notched its first 6-0 start to a season since 2009. It’s the fourth time since 2000 that the Longhorns have started the season 6-0 (2024, 2009, 2008 and 2005). • Texas has been unanimous No. 1 in both The Associated Press and AFCA Coaches Poll for the past two weeks and held the top spot in at least one of the two major polls for five-straight weeks. That’s the Horns longest streak at No. 1 since 1977 when they topped both polls for six consecutive weeks. • Following Texas’ 56-7 win over UTSA on Sept. 14, Texas moved to No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time since Oct. 26, 2008. The Longhorns were ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll for two consecutive weeks before moving to No. 2 during Week 6. Texas is back at No. 1 for the second straight week. 6. The Longhorns are the undisputed No. 1 team after earning the No. 1 ranking for the third-consecutive week in the Coaches Poll as well. The Longhorns have 49 appearances at No. 1 in the AP Poll.

TOP-5 TUSSLE AT DKR-TEXAS MEMORIAL STADIUM

• Saturday’s game between No. 1/1 Texas vs. No. 5/4 Georgia will mark just the third meeting of top-5 teams at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. It’s the first since 2006 when No. 1 Ohio State defeated No. 2 Texas, 24-7. The only previous top-5 matchup at the Longhorns home stadium came in 1970, when No. 1 Texas knocked off No. 4 Arkansas, 42-7. It will also mark the 18th time a top-5 team has played at DKR-TMS.

TEXAS X ESPN’S COLLEGE GAMEDAY

• It’ll be the seventh time (third in Austin) in the last four seasons that Texas will be appearing on ESPN’s College GameDay as the pregame show airs live from the University of Texas campus this Saturday. • The show will air live from Ann Arbor for three hours from 8-11 a.m. CT, hosted by Rece Davis, Lee Corso Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee, Nick Saban, Kirk Herbstreit and other ESPN personalities. • It marks the third-straight year that GameDay will broadcast at least twice in a season live from a game the Longhorns are playing in. The only other times that has occurred for the Longhorns was 2005, 2008 and 2009 when UT made three GameDay appearances in those years. • Including eight visits to the Red River Rivalry and four neutral site appearances, it will mark the 24th time the GameDay set, and its show will be a prominent fixture at a Texas game. The last time was earlier this season when the Longhorns defeated No. 10/9 Michigan 31-12 on the road in Ann Arbor, Mich., on Sept. 7. • Texas is 12-11 all-time when the Horns are one of the teams in College GameDay’s featured matchup, highlighted by a 5-4 mark when the show comes to the Forty Acres.

A TEXAS WIN WOULD …

• Be Texas’ 955th all-time victory, the fourth-winningest program in college football history. • Give Steve Sarkisian his 79th victory as a head coach and 32nd at Texas in his 127th career game as a head coach. • Move Texas’ home winning streak to 12 games. • Secure UT’s 64th victory over Oklahoma and grant Texas a 64-51-5 series edge against the Sooners. • Record the Longhorns’ third AP Top-25 victory on the season and first AP Top-5 win of the season. • Record UT’s highest ranked win of the season and first since downing No. 3/3 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Sept. 7, 2023. • Clinch Texas’ second-straight AP Top-25 win after defeating No. 18 Oklahoma 34-3 on Oct. 12. • Move Texas to 7-0 for the first time since 2009.

Kentucky (3-3, 1-3 SEC) at Florida (3-3, 1-2 SEC)

Series: UF leads, 53-21-0

7:45 p.m. ET • SEC Network

Last: UK, 33-14 (2023 at Lexington)

Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)

SiriusXM: 374 – 106/190

THE SERIES

• Florida leads the all-time series with Kentucky, 53-21. • The Gators lead the all-time series in Gainesville, 29-6. • The Wildcats have won three straight in the series and four of the past six. • The Wildcats have won two of those games (2018, 2022) in The Swamp after not having won there previously since 1979. • In UK’s last trip to the The Swamp on Sept. 10, 2022, the Wildcats came away with a 26-16 win. • Last season, Kentucky defeated Florida, 33-14, in Lexington, setting the following season highs in its most impressive rushing performance of 2023: • Team Rushing Attempts – 36 • Team Rushing Yards – 329 • Yards per rush – 9.1 • Rushing Touchdowns – 3 (Ray Davis with all three) • Player Rushing Yards – 280 (Ray Davis) • Longest Rush – 75 yards (Ray Davis)

Kentucky Notes

BY THE NUMBERS

18 STRAIGHT REGULAR-SEASON VICTORIES VS. NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS

16 STRAIGHT REGULAR-SEASON HOME VICTORIES VS. NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS

UK DEFENSE HAS ALLOWED FEWER THAN 26 POINTS PER GAME AND 160 RUSHING YARDS PER GAME IN SIX STRAIGHT SEASONS

MARK STOOPS HOLDS SCHOOL RECORDS FOR WINS (66) AND BOWL APPEARANCES (7)

QUICK NOTES

• The Wildcats will go on the road to face the Gators in Gainesville, Florida, on Oct. 19 for a 7:45 p.m. ET kickoff on SEC Network. • The Wildcats have won three straight in the series and four of the past six. • The Wildcats have won two of those games (2018, 2022) in The Swamp after not having won there previously since 1979. • The Cats are coming off a loss to Vanderbilt at home, 20-13, on Oct. 12. • Prior to that, Kentucky defeated No. 6/5 Ole Miss, 20-17, on Sept. 28, which marked its highestranked triumph at an opponent’s Southeastern Conference campus stadium in program history. • It also marked UK’s highest-ranked triumph in the Mark Stoops era. • Kentucky ranks in the nation’s top 10 in four defensive categories — fewest first downs allowed (fourth), total defense (fourth), scoring defense (ninth) and rushing defense (10th). • Kentucky has led its opponent in rushing yardage in all six games this season. • UK has won or tied the first downs in every game this season. • Two junior wide receivers, Barion Brown and Dane Key, both have eclipsed 100 career catches this season, becoming the 20th and 21st players in program history, respectively, to do so. • Dane Key has caught at least seven passes in three consecutive games (Ohio, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt), the last Wildcat to do so since Wan’Dale Robinson in 2021. • He now has 1,607 career receiving yards to remain ninth on the all-time career list. He needs just 55 more yards to move into eighth, which is currently occupied by Randall Cobb. • Kentucky’s defense is paced by senior linebacker D’Eryk Jackson, who leads the team with 33 tackles and three pass breakups. Jackson recorded his fifth career interception against Vanderbilt on Oct. 12, which marked Vanderbilt’s first interception all season. • Jackson has led UK in tackles in each of the last two seasons. • Outside linebacker J.J. Weaver recorded a sack (-5 yards) against Vanderbilt, giving him 20.5 sacks for his career, which remains fourth in program history. • He needs 3.0 more sacks to tie for third in program history. • Three Wildcats received preseason All-America nods, including return specialist Barion Brown (Athlon, Phil Steele, Sporting News and USA Today), defensive lineman Deone Walker (AP, Athlon, ESPN, Phil Steele, Sporting News, USA Today and Walter Camp) and defensive back Maxwell Hairston (Athlon). • Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops is the longest-tenured active head coach in the Southeastern Conference and the sixth longest-tenured active head coach in FBS. • Now in his 12th season at Kentucky, Stoops is one of only 19 head coaches who have coached at least 12 seasons at an SEC school since the league’s first season in 1933.

WINNIN’ IN THE SIP

• Kentucky defeated No. 6/5 Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, on Sept. 28, 20-17, which marked its highest-ranked road win at a Southeastern Conference campus stadium in school history. • It also marked its highest Associated Press ranked road win since a victory at No. 4 Penn State in 1977. • It also marked its first win over an Associated Press ranked, top-six team since a victory over No. 1 LSU in 2007. • It also marked UK’s highest-ranked win in the Mark Stoops era.

KENTUCKY IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

• The Wildcats have a 189-409-12 (.319) all-time record in Southeastern Conference games. • UK head coach Mark Stoops has a 31-58 (.348) all-time record in SEC games.

WILDCATS AGAINST RANKED TEAMS

• Kentucky has played 273 ranked teams in the Associated Press poll in its history, while the Wildcats are 53-215-5 in those games. • In ranked games this season, Kentucky defeated No. 6 Ole Miss, 20-17, on Sept. 28, and suffered a narrow defeat to top-ranked Georgia, 13-12, on Sept. 14. • Two of UK’s biggest wins in the Mark Stoops era have come in 2023 and 2024, including taking down No. 6 Ole Miss on, 20-17, on Sept. 28, 2024 and No. 9 Louisville, 38-31, on Nov. 25, 2023. • The UofL triumph was the highest AP-ranked win of the Stoops era, until the UM triumph took that spot on Sept. 28, 2024. • The Wildcats are 8-9 against their last 17 ranked AP-ranked teams, dating back to a win over NC State in the 2020 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. • Since 2018, the Cats are 12-16 against AP-ranked teams.

OFFENSE AGAINST THE RANKED IN 2024

VS. NO. 1/1 GEORGIA

• The Wildcats’ 170 yards rushing against the No. 1/1 Bulldogs at home on Sept. 14 are the most ever for the Cats against a No. 1-ranked team and the most against the Dawgs since 2016 (186 yards).

VS. NO. 6/5 OLE MISS

• Against an Ole Miss defense that ranked first in the nation in scoring defense (5.5 points per game) and rushing defense (34.5 yards per game) and also 12th in the nation in total defense (239 yards per game) going into the matchup in Oxford, Mississippi, on Sept. 28, Kentucky put up 20 points, 336 yards of total offense, 93 rushing yards and 243 passing yards.

DEFENSE AGAINST THE RANKED IN 2024

VS. NO. 1/1 GEORGIA

• Kentucky held No. 1/1 Georgia to 13 points on Sept. 14, the fewest UK has held UGA to since allowing just 12 points in 1995. • It also was the fewest points UK allowed against a No. 1-ranked team since 1959, a 9-0 loss against LSU. • The Wildcat defense also held the Bulldogs to 262 yards of total offense, the Dawgs’ fewest since putting up 260 against Texas A&M in November 2019. • It marked the first time the Cats have held the Dawgs to as little yards since 1996 (212). • It marked the first time the Cats have held a No. 1-ranked team to as little yards since 1964 (187, vs. Ole Miss). • UK’s defense also held UGA to its fewest passing yards – 160 – since Georgia Tech held Georgia to 146 yards in November 2022.

VS. NO. 6/5 OLE MISS

• Kentucky held No. 6/5 Ole Miss to 17 points, 353 yards of total offense, 261 passing yards and 92 rushing yards on the Rebels’ home field. • The Rebels entered the game leading the nation in scoring (55 points per game), total offense (670.8 yards per game) and passing offense (422.8 yards per game), while ranking 12th in rushing offense (248 yards per game). • Ole Miss had punted four times total in its first four games but were forced to kick it away five times in the game

Florida Notes

THE STORYLINE

• Week 8 marks the 75th all-time meeting between Florida and Kentucky including the 36th matchup in Gainesville. • The Gators wield a 53-21 record against the Wildcats including a 29-6 mark at home. • Florida has won 33 of the last 37 meetings in the series including wins in 20 of the last 22 in The Swamp. • Prior to Florida’s home losses in 2018 and 2022, the Gators had not lost to Kentucky in Gainesville since 1979. • Florida won 19-consecutive home games vs. Kentucky from 1981 to 2016. • Since 2018, Florida is just 2-4 against Kentucky. The wins came in 2019 in Lexington and in 2020 in Gainesville. • The Gators are 7-4 vs. UK since HC Mark Stoops took over in 2013, with the losses coming in 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2023. • Those are Florida’s only four losses in the head-to-head series dating back through 1987. • From 1987-2017, the Gators claimed 31-consecutive games in the series against the Wildcats. • Week 8 is Florida’s 2024 Homecoming game. Last season, the Gators defeated Vanderbilt, 38-14, to win its fifth-straight HC matchup. The Gators are 29-5 across their last 34 HC games and own a 71-26-2 all-time record on HC. • This is the third meeting (0-2) between HC Billy Napier and UK’s Stoops as head coaches (more on Page 9). • Across the last three games, QB Graham Mertz and QB DJ Lagway have gone a combined 69-of-87 passing (79.3%) with 729 yards, six touchdowns and one interception for a 170.2 rating. • Mertz and Lagway represent one of just two FBS QB duos with 700-plus passing yards apiece (alongside Texas). • Led by first-year senior analyst Joe Houston, Florida ranks fifth in the FBS in punt return average (19.63), ninth in net punting (43.86), and 34th in kick return average (22.86), and has been inside the top-13 all season in ESPN’s SP+ metric. • WR Chimere Dikeranks first in the SEC and second in the FBS in yards per punt return (19.6), owning a long of 35 yards. • Florida enters Week 8 ranking 19th in the FBS in passer rating (161.3) and 39th in passing offense (261.0). • C Jake Slaughter grades No. 8 in the FBS in pass blocking (85.2) and No. 21 overall (73.9) out of 290 FBS centers. • The Gators have allowed just eight sacks on the season, which ranks t-40th in the FBS and fifth in the SEC. • Since the 2018 season, Napier is tied for 13th in the FBS with 54 total victories alongside Lane Kiffin and Mike Gundy. He has more wins than Mario Cristobal (53), Mike Norvell (51), Sonny Dykes (50) and Mark Stoops (50) in that time. • The Gators have won 15 of their last 21 games in The Swamp (including 10 of 15), but are 3-17 in their last 20 contests outside The Swamp and 3-13 in their last 16 true road games. • Florida boasts a 361-117-13 (.748) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the third-highest home winning percentage in the nation since 1990 with a 180-38 (.826) record. » The Gators have outscored opponents, 8,123 to 3,570 in 218 games inside The Swamp since 1990, putting the average outcome at 37.3 to 16.4 (20.9 points). • Florida has scored in 454-consecutive games dating back to 1988 – an NCAA record and 54 games longer than any other college football team in the history of the sport (TCU, 400-straight games, active streak).

TRIPLE THREAT IN THE 2024 RECEIVING ROOM

• Through six games, six different UF wide receivers and eight total Gators have caught a TD. • The trio of receivers Elijhah Badger, Chimere Dike and Eugene Wilson III is perhaps the best in the SEC. • Badger (19.8) and Dike (18.6) rank fifth and sixth in the SEC in yards per catch while Wilson III sits 33rd (12.6). • Florida is the only SEC team with two qualified receivers averaging more than 18.0 yards per catch. • Badger ranks 12th in the SEC with 69.2 receiving YPG while Dike ranks 15th with 58.8 YPG. • They represent one of four SEC wide receiver duos averaging over 55.0 YPG apiece (Ole Miss, LSU, Mizzou). • Badger leads UF in 376 receiving yards (13th in SEC) and is tied with Dike with a team-high 19 receptions. • In Week 7 at UT, Dike led UF in receiving yards (76) for the second-straight week (88 vs. UCF). • Dike caught a 27-yard TD with 0:29 remaining in the fourth quarter at Tennessee to tie the game at 17-17. • Meanwhile, Badger recorded a reception for the 32nd-consecutive game, which ranks t-10th in the FBS. • TE Hayden Hansen had a career-high three receptions for a total of 40 yards at Tennessee. • TE Arlis Boardingham scored the first TD of the game with a 13-yard catch from Mertz in the third quarter. • It was Boardingham’s second touchdown of the season including his second in the last three games. • Badger, Dike and Boardingham are all tied for the team lead in receiving TDs with two. • WR Tank Hawkins set career highs with a team-high seven receptions for 60 yards receiving in Week 6. • UF returned four of its top-five receivers in terms of receptions AND yardage in 2024: Wilson III (61 for 538), Boardingham (26 for 289), WR Kahleil Jackson (21 for 251) and RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (30 for 236). • Florida had two 100-yard receivers vs. Samford in Wilson III (6 catches, 141 yards) and Badger (3 catches, 123 yards) for the first time since Nov. 19, 2022 at Vanderbilt (Daejon Reynolds & Justin Shorter).

MONTRELL JOHNSON JR.’S BACKFIELD

• Entering with four rushing TDs on the season, RB Montrell Johnson Jr. carried 12 times for 85 yards (7.1 YPC) before exiting the game in the second half in Week 7. • Florida has rushed for 494 combined yards against MSU, UCF and TENN the past three games (164.7 YPG). • However, Florida had its 12-game streak with a rushing TD snapped in Week 7 at Tennessee. • Florida has scored a rushing TD in 25 of 31 games in the Napier era. • Through six games, Johnson Jr. leads Florida with 373 rushing yards on 5.3 yards per carry. • Johnson Jr. ranks 11th in the SEC in rushing YPG, t-10th in rushing TDs and 12th in yards per carry. • Johnson Jr. owns 31 career rushing TDs (19 at UF), which is the most of any active SEC rusher. • He has totaled 33 multi-purpose TDs (21 at UF: 19 rushing, two receiving). • In Week 4, UF rushed for a season-high 226 yards, eclipsing 200-plus yards for the first time this season. • Johnson Jr. rushed for 100 yards for the ninth time in his career and for seventh time as a Gator in Week 1. • Johnson Jr. is tied for eighth in the SEC (sixth among RBs) with 19 rushing touchdowns since 2022, including third among active SEC rushers. • Last season, Johnson Jr. led UF in carries (152) and net rushing yardage (817) for the second-straight year.

OFFENSIVE GRAB BAG

Over the last five seasons (2020-24), Florida ranks 13th in the P5 and seventh in the SEC with 445.9 YPG. • Since 2018, UF ranks eighth in the P5 in passing efficiency (153.2) and 14th in TD-INT ratio (2.86). • In Week 4 at MSU, the Gators eclipsed 400 yards for the 14th time since the start of 2022 (second of 2024). • With 226 yards at MSU, UF rushed for 200 yards 18 times since 2021 including 12 occasions in the Napier era. • Florida has scored 40 points 10 times in 44 games from 2021-24 including six times in the Napier era. • Florida has scored 30 points 21 times in 44 games from 2021-24 including 15 times in the Napier era.

Open: Ole Miss (5-2, 1-2 SEC)