THREE WEEKS REMAIN IN REGULAR SEASON
WEEK 12 GAME SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2024
Texas Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 SEC) at Arkansas Razorbacks (5-4, 3-3 SEC)
Series: TEX leads, 56-23-0
11 a.m. CT • ABC
Last: ARK, 40-21 (2021 at Fayetteville)
Fayetteville, Ark. • Reynolds Razorback Stadium (76,000)
SiriusXM: 137/190 – 380
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Record ………………………………………………….. Texas leads, 56-23
In Austin …………………………………………………………… Texas leads, 29-11
In Fayetteville …………………………………………………… Texas leads, 26-10 Neutral……………………………………………………………..Arkansas leads, 1-2
Pittman vs. Texas……………………………………………………………………. 1-0
Sarkisian vs. Arkansas ……………………………………………………………. 0-1
Current Streak ………………………………….. Arkansas, Won 2 (2021, 2014)
Last Meeting ……………………………………………….. Arkansas 40, Texas 21
Longest Texas Streak……………………………………… Won 14 (1894-1932)
Longest Arkansas Streak ………………………………….. Won 4 (1935-1938)
Largest Texas Win…………………………………Texas 54, Arkansas 0 (1894)
Largest Arkansas Win……………………………Arkansas 42, Texas 6 (1938)
Texas Longhorns Notes
THE OPENING KICKOFF
• The No. 3/3/5 Texas Longhorns (8-1, 4-1 SEC) travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for a clash with the Arkansas Razorbacks (5-4, 3-3 SEC) at 11 a.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 16, at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The game will broadcast on ABC with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Katie George (sideline) on the call. • Former Southwest Conference foes, Texas and Arkansas will meet for the 80th time in history and first time as Southeastern Conference members on Saturday. • UT leads the all-time series, 56-23, including a 26-10 series advantage in Fayetteville. • Last time out, the Longhorns defeated Florida 49-17 on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Austin to move to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in SEC play. • Texas’ nine-consecutive true road wins (not including neutral site contests) is the longest streak for the Horns since winning 15-straight road games from 2003-06. • UT boasts the fourth-most wins (956) in NCAA history. Texas holds an all-time record of 956-393-33 (.704). The Longhorns’ 956 wins are the second most by an SEC program following Alabama’s 972 victories. • 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). • 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 spent four weeks this season at No. 1 and have 49 overall appearances at No. 1 in the AP Poll.
HORNS VS. HOGS
• For the 80th time in history, Texas and Arkansas will face one another in a historic rivalry that dates back to 1894. Longtime former Southwest Conference foes, UT and the Razorbacks will square off for the first time as SEC members. • It’ll be just the seventh time Texas and Arkansas have tussled over the last 30 years. • The Longhorns lead the all-time series, 56-23, including a 26-10 mark in Fayetteville. Arkansas won the last meeting between the two teams with a 40-21 win in Fayetteville in 2021. • UT has won 21 of the last 30 meetings against the Hogs, dating back to 1968. • Texas has won six of the last 10 meetings in Fayetteville. • UT sports a 29-11 series advantage at home. • Texas and Arkansas played 60-straight times as Southwest Classic foes before the Razorbacks left for the SEC following the 1991 season. • The first-ever matchup between the Horns and Hogs took place in 1894 in Austin and resulted in a 54-0 Texas win. • Texas and Arkansas played one of the most storied games in the history of college football, dubbed “The Game of the Century” with President Richard Nixon at the game. Under head coach Darrell Royal, No. 1 Texas pulled out a 15-14 win over No. 2 Arkansas in Fayetteville to determine the 1969 National Championship. • The Longhorns won the series’ first 14 contests (1894- 1932) before Arkansas claimed its first victory (20-6) in Austin in 1932. • Texas and Arkansas have played 33 games that were decided by 10 points or fewer, with the Longhorns holding a 21-12 advantage.
A TEXAS WIN WOULD …
• Be Texas’ 957th all-time victory, the fourth-winningest program in college football history. • Give Steve Sarkisian his 81st victory as a head coach and 34th at Texas in his 130th career game as a head coach. • Stretch UT’s road winning streak to 10-consecutive games – the longest streak for Texas since winning 15-straight true road games from 2003-06. • Enhance Texas’ record to 9-1 on the season and 5-1 in Southeastern Conference play. • The Longhorns have won nine of their last 10 true road games, dating back to the 2022 season. • Since the start of the 2022 season, the Longhorns are 15-3 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium with its three losses coming against AP Top-5 ranked foes.
LAST TIME OUT
• Texas is coming off a 49-17 win vs. the Florida Gators on Saturday, Nov. 9, inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. • UT moves its all-time record vs. Florida to 3-0-1. The Horns are also 7-0-1 all-time against schools from the state of Florida while playing in Austin. Texas has outscored the Gators 94-24 over the last four meetings. • Ewers is the fourth SEC quarterback since 1996 with five touchdown passes of 20+ yards in a conference game, joining Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (Sept. 28, 2019), Georgia’s Joe Cox (Sept. 19, 2009) and Kentucky’s Jared Lorenzen (Nov. 10, 2001). • It was the second time in the last 25 years that Texas has had a player with 300+ passing yards and 5+ passing TDs (Quinn Ewers), and another player with 100+ rushing yards and 1+ rushing touchdown (Jerrick Gibson). The other was on October 9, 2021, when Casey Thompson and Bijan Robinson did so in a 55-48 loss to Oklahoma. • Ewers is the first Texas quarterback with four touchdown passes of 20+ yards in a game since David Ash also had four against New Mexico State on August 31, 2013.
Arkansas Razorbacks Notes
THE RUNDOWN
• Arkansas, one win away from clinching bowl eligibility for the fourth time in five seasons under head coach Sam Pittman, is set to host its third top-10 opponent of the year at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium when No. 3 Texas comes to town. Kickoff between the Hogs and third-ranked Longhorns is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, on ABC. • The 2024 campaign marks the first season in program history in which the Hogs play host to three top-10 foes at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas also hosted No. 4 Tennessee (W, 19-14 on Oct. 5) and No. 8 LSU (L, 34-10 on Oct. 19) in Fayetteville earlier this season. • QB Taylen Green has completed 161-of-263 (61.2%) passes for 2,214 yards and 11 touchdowns through nine games this season. A dual-threat quarterback, Green has also rushed for 411 yards and five scores on 95 carries (3.9 ypc) to help power Arkansas’ dynamic offense, which ranks fifth nationally in total yards per game (483.6) this season. Green ranks third in the SEC and 13th nationally in total offense, accounting for 291.7 yards of offense per game. • RB Ja’Quinden Jackson, the Razorbacks’ leading rusher, has missed the previous two games due to injury, but could return for Saturday’s clash against his former team. Jackson, who began his collegiate career at Texas as a quarterback before transferring to Utah and converting to running back, made his case as one of the nation’s best ball carriers with three 100-yard rushing games and three multi-rushing touchdowns performances through Arkansas’ first seven games of the season. The Utah transfer, who rushed for at least one touchdown in each of the first six games of the season, enters Saturday’s contest ranked third in the SEC in rushing yards per carry (5.7) and rushing touchdowns (10) and fourth in the conference in rushing yards per game (84.6) despite missing the past two games. • WR Andrew Armstrong has solidified himself as QB Taylen Green’s go-to target and as one of the nation’s top wideouts, leading Arkansas in receptions (55) and receiving yards (857) despite missing the season opener. Through his eight games played, Armstrong ranks first in the SEC and sixth nationally in receiving yards per game (107.1), first in the SEC in receptions per game (6.9) and second in the SEC in receiving yards (857). One of only six FBS pass catchers averaging 100-plus yards receiving per game this year, Armstrong enters Saturday’s contest with a catch in 36 consecutive games and multiple receptions in 31 straight games since his 2021 season at Texas A&M-Commerce. • DL Landon Jackson leads the Hogs in both tackles for loss (6.5) and sacks (4.5) through nine games on the year. The preseason All-American pass rusher, who also led Arkansas in tackles for loss (13.5) and sacks (6.5) during the 2023 campaign, is vying to become the first Razorback to lead the team’s defense in tackles for loss and sacks in consecutive seasons since Steven Conley, the program’s single-season sack leader (14.0 in 1995), did so in 1994-95.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (5-4) at Auburn Tigers (3-6, 1-5 SEC)
Series: AUB leads, 11-0
11:45 a.m. CT • SEC Network
Auburn, Ala. • Jordan-Hare Stadium (88,043)
SiriusXM: 374
SERIES HISTORY
• Auburn and ULM will be meeting for the 12th time since the first meeting in 1994, with all 11 previous games being played in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Auburn has won the 11 previous games by an average score of 45.1-9.3. The closest game was a 31-28 overtime Auburn win in 2012, while Auburn’s 73-7 victory in 2003 is tied for the largest margin of victory in Jordan-Hare Stadium history. The average score in the series is 43.9-11.2. ULM has been shut out twice in its games at Auburn, in 2004 and 2008. • Auburn holds a 41-5 all-time mark against current members of the Sun Belt Conference, with wins over Appalachian State (1-0), Arkansas State (4-0), Georgia Southern (2-0), Georgia State (1-0), Louisiana-Lafayette (4-0), ULM (11-0) and Southern Miss (18-5). All but three of those games were played in Auburn; the Tigers were 2-1 facing Southern Miss in Montgomery in 1946-48.
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks Notes
FIRST-AND-10 –
• The ULM football team (5-4, 3-3 Sun Belt) is set to begin a two-game road trip and will play Auburn (3-6, 1-5 SEC) for the first time since 2017 on Saturday (Nov. 16) at 11:45 a.m. on the SEC Network. The Warhawks are looking to snap a three-game losing streak after falling against Sun Belt foes Texas State, Marshall and South Alabama. The Warhawks are one win away from clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. ULM was bowl eligible in both the 2018 and 2013 seasons but did not participate in a bowl game. The lone bowl appearance in program history came following the 2012 season when the Warhawks fell to Ohio in the AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl. First-year head coach Bryant Vincent has directed one of the most exciting turnarounds in college football and guided ULM to a 5-1 record following a 38-21 homecoming victory over Southern Miss, which was ULM’s first win over USM in Malone Stadium. After the Golden Eagles trimmed ULM’s lead to 17-14 on a blocked field goal score in the third quarter, the Warhawks ripped off 21 unanswered points to lift the team to its third-straight SBC win. True freshman phenom running back Ahmad Hardy posted a season-high 121 rushing yards and crossed the goal line twice to lead ULM’s rushing attack. In his second start of his collegiate career, redshirt freshman quarterback Aidan Armenta tossed a pair of touchdown passes to James Jones and Julian Nixon and scored his first-career rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. Defensively, the Warhawks generated two takeaways from a forced fumble by Carl Fauntroy Jr. and an interception by Wydett Williams, Jr. The Warhawks secured its best start in the FBS era following a dramatic 21-19 victory over previously unbeaten James Madison on Oct. 5. ULM grinded out the win after scores from a 38-yard Ahmad Hardy rushing touchdown, a scoop and score forced by Earl Barquet Jr. and returned by Daniel Knudsen and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Aidan Armenta to Jake Godfrey. ULM started its conference slate with a 13-9 win at Troy with Hardy scoring the game’s lone touchdown in a defensive battle. Before falling on the road to No. 1/2 Texas, the Warhawks began the season with a 2-0 start after ULM defeated Jackson State 30-14 in week one, scoring the final 16 points of the game to seal the win. In week two, the Warhawks dominated UAB and shut out the Blazers in the second half while scoring 19 second-half points in a 32-6 home win, which was the largest margin of victory over an FBS opponent since the 2018 season. The ULM defense has held opponents to zero touchdowns in two games this season (UAB & Troy). • Saturday marks the 12th matchup between the Warhawks and the Tigers, with Auburn claiming all previous 11 matchups. The most recent game between the Warhawks and Tigers took place in 2017 when Auburn defeated ULM 42-14. ULM fell by just three points in the 2012 meeting by a 31-28 decision.
THE LAST TIME OUT – Texas State 38, ULM 17
(Nov. 9, 2024 in Monroe, La.) –
The ULM football team (5-4, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) was unable to overcome a 28-point first-half deficit and fell to Texas State (5-4, 3-2) on Saturday (Nov. 9) afternoon at Malone Stadium in Monroe, La. Ahmad Hardy finished above 100 rushing yards for the sixth time in his sensational freshman season and scored both of ULM’s touchdowns to bring his season total to nine and brought the Warhawks within two scores in the third quarter. Texas State scored 10 points and held the Warhawks to three in the final quarter to secure the win. “[I] give credit to our players for having the fight to get back in the game,” said ULM Football Head Coach Bryant Vincent. “We didn’t handle the conditions very well. We’re going to keep fighting.” James Jones added 30 yards as the Warhawks totaled 159 rushing yards on the day. Aidan Armenta completed 13 of 24 passes for 119 yards with his leading receiver being
Auburn Tigers Notes
• Auburn has scored in a school-record 151 consecutive games, dating back to the first game of the 2013 season, breaking the program record of 149 games set from 1980-92 • Auburn is tied for the national lead – with BYU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UTSA and Vanderbilt – with 10 players who have caught a touchdown pass this season • The Tigers are third nationally with 13 pass plays of least 40 yards on the year • KeAndre Lambert-Smith ranks 16th nationally and sixth in the SEC in yards per reception (19.32). His 156 yards vs. Arkansas was the 14th-best receiving game in Auburn history. His seven receiving touchdowns lead the SEC and are tied for 19th nationally • Auburn ranks 14th nationally in net punting (42.27) this season • Jarquez Hunter’s 278-yard rushing effort at Kentucky was the best by an FBS player this season and the fourth-best game in Auburn history, earning him national player of the week recognition • Jarquez Hunter (offense), Izavion Miller(OL) and Keldric Faulk (DL) earned SEC player of the week honors for their play against Kentucky • Auburn ranks 17th nationally in yards per completion (13.87). Auburn is 16th in the country averaging 6.73 yards per play, 14th nationally averaging 8.7 yards per pass attempt and 34th averaging 5.02 yards per rush • Two-time team captain Luke Deal is one of 20 semifinalists for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award and running back Justin Jones is a Burlsworth Trophy nominee.
IN NOVEMBER
• Auburn is 247-195-20 (.556) all-time in November. Auburn’s November home record is 107-43-5 (.706). Away from Auburn, the Tigers are 141-151-15 (.483) in November. The Tigers are 7-8-1 in all games played on November 2, 5-7 in SEC contests and 4-4 at home on that date.
ON OFFENSE
• Auburn has averaged 419.8 yards of total offense through nine games. That average would surpass every total offensive average except two in the last 10 seasons, the highest being 451.6 ypg in 2017. ›› Auburn has scored in 151 consecutive games, now the longest streak in school history. The Tigers are averaging 30.15 ppg (4,553 total points) during that stretch. Auburn was last shut out by No. 2 Alabama 49-0 in Tuscaloosa in 2012.
Murray State Racers (1-9) at Kentucky Wildcats (3-6, 1-6 SEC)
Series: UK leads, 2-0
1:30 p.m. ET • SEC+ / ESPN+
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
SiriusXM: 111/202
KENTUCKY VS. MURRAY STATE THE SERIES
• The two teams have only ever played each other twice in the all-time series, with Kentucky leading Murray State, 2-0. • Both contests were played in Lexington, as UK defeated MSU, 37-6, in 2003 and again, 48-10, in 2018.
Murray State Racers Notes
Kentucky Wildcats Notes
QUICK NOTES
• Coming off their second bye week of the season, the Wildcats will play host to in-state foe Murray State on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 1:30 p.m. ET. • Kentucky leads Murray State, 2-0, in the all-time series, which began in 2003. • Kentucky’s Director of Player Development, Dean Hood, was the head coach at Murray State for four seasons (2020-23). • Just before the bye week, Kentucky lost at No. 7/7 Tennessee, 28-18, which marked its third top10 opponent of the season, while one more remains on its schedule. • Thanks to Josh Kattus’ 27-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, it marked the first touchdown Tennessee has given up in the first quarter all season, which gave Kentucky momentum to start the game. • Following Ja’Mori Maclin’s successful two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter, UK was down by just a field goal, 21-18, with 13 minutes to go in the game. UT didn’t stretch its lead until touchdown rushing with four minutes left in the game. • UK has played its best football against top-10 teams this season, narrowly falling to No. 1/1 Georgia, 13-12, at home on Sept. 14, winning at No. 6/5 Ole Miss, 20-17, on Sept. 28 and losing at No. 7/7 Tennessee, 28-18, on Nov. 2. • Kentucky defeated No. 6/5 Ole Miss, 20-17, on the road on Sept. 28, which marked its highest-ranked triumph at an opponent’s SEC campus stadium in program history. It also marked UK’s highest-ranked triumph in the Mark Stoops era. • Dane Key, a junior wide receiver, who leads the team with 41 receptions for 630 yards in 2024, has made a steady rise up the career lists at Kentucky. • For his career he has 120 receptions – tied for 13th in program history – for 1,785 yards – now fifth in program history. • Of his 41 receptions, 13 have been 20 yards or more. • The Wildcat defense ranks in the nation’s top 25 in three categories – redzone defense (9th), fewest first downs allowed (10th) and punt return defense (13th). • All-American transfer linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson is leading the UK defense in total tackles (54). • J.J. Weaver, a graduate outside linebacker who sat out of the game at Tennessee on Nov. 2 because of an injury, has 37.5 career tackles for loss, which ranks third in school history. He needs 3.5 more to tie Josh Allen at No. 2 (41). His 21.5 career sacks rank fourth in school history, and he needs 2.0 more to tie Alvin “Bud” Dupree at No. 3 (23.5). • He recently named a Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award finalist and a Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award nominee, among numerous other honors. • Kentucky football head coach Mark Stoops is the longest-tenured active head coach in the SEC 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.
NONCONFERENCE COMPETITION
• The Wildcats have won their last 18 straight nonconference games in the regular season. • That streak is second in the nation behind Georgia (26). • UK has won 16 straight nonconference games at Kroger Field, dating back to the start of 2018. • Kentucky has won 21 of its last 23 nonconference games. • That stretch featured 16 straight nonconference wins, which was the longest active streak in FBS at the time, including four straight bowl wins. The streak began in the season opener on Sept. 1, 2018, and ended in the Music City Bowl game on Dec. 31, 2022.
HOME SWEET HOME
• In 2024, UK is in its 52nd season playing at Kroger Field, which was formerly named Commonwealth Stadium (1973-2016). • The Cats are 182-148-4 (.551) all-time in the stadium, including 46-32 (.589) under Mark Stoops.
Mercer Bears (9-1) at Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2, 4-2 SEC)
Series: ALA leads, 4-0
1 p.m. CT • SEC+ / ESPN+
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Bryant-Denny Stadium (100,077)
SiriusXM: 119/191
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: Fifth Meeting (Alabama leads, 4-0) In Tuscaloosa: Alabama leads, 4-0 Current Streak: Alabama, Won 4 Last Meeting: Sept. 11, 2021 – Tuscaloosa (W, 48-14) Series Notes: Alabama and Mercer will meet for the fifth time in series history when the two teams square off on Saturday afternoon. The Crimson Tide has won all four previous matchups, including the most recent pairing on Sept. 11, 2021, which finished at 48-14. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has never faced the Bears during his head coaching career, while Mercer head coach Mike Jacobs will be taking on the Tide for his first time.
Mercer Bears Notes
Alabama Crimson Tide Notes
BETTER IN NOVEMBER:
Including the Tide’s 42-13 win at then-No. 15/14/13 LSU on Nov. 9, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is now 33-2 (.942) as a head coach in the month of November. DeBoer’s November record includes a perfect 9-0 mark since 2022.
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 seven wins over Associated Press Top 25 teams, including the Tide’s 42-13 win at then-No. 14 LSU on Nov. 9, a 34-0 victory on Oct. 26 over then-No. 21 Missouri, and a 41-34 win on Sept. 28 over then-No. 2 Georgia to go with four wins a season ago. In 10 total contests against AP Top 25 foes across the last two seasons, Milroe has completed 64.8 percent (169-260) of his passes for 2,164 yards while accounting for 21 total touchdowns (10 passing, 11 rushing). He has accumulated 2,849 total yards in those matchups.
PILING UP THE POINTS:
Jalen Milroe has accounted for 29 total touchdowns in nine games of action this season, including 13 passing and 16 rushing. His 29 total scores lead the SEC and are the fourth-most in the FBS, while his 176 points are also tops in the conference and the fourth-best total in the country. Milroe’s 16 rushing scores are the second-most among quarterbacks in Division I, while his 13 passing touchdowns are tied for sixth-most in the SEC.
THROWING THE BOMB:
Through nine games this season, Jalen Milroe has completed 149-of-221 passes for 2,046 yards. Entering Alabama’s matchup with Mercer, Milroe is averaging 9.26 yards per pass attempt, the second-highest figure in the SEC and the eighth-best mark in the country. He has also accumulated 13.75 yards per completion which ranks third in the conference and 16th 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 22 starts the last two seasons, he is averaging 35.1 yards per passing touchdown, accumulating 1,263 total yards on 36 scores. This season alone, the Katy, Texas, native has thrown for 13 total touchdowns with all but one 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.
LSU Tigers (6-2, 3-2 SEC) at Florida Gators (4-5, 2-4 SEC)
Series: LSU leads, 34-33-3
3:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Last: LSU, 52-35 (2023 at Baton Rouge)
Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (88,548)
SiriusXM: 81 – 137/190
The LSU-Florida Series:
LSU leads 34-33-3 LSU has won 5-straight and 6 of the last 7 meetings with Florida, including last year’s 52-35 win in Tiger Stadium. The 5-straight wins in the series by the Tigers is LSU’s longest winningest streak in the 70-game series. In the last 20 meetings from 2004-2023, LSU is 14-6 against the Gators. Prior to that, in 20 games from 1984-2003, Florida posted a 15-4-1 mark against the Tigers. LSU is 15-16-3 all-time in Gainesville, which includes a 1-0 mark under Brian Kelly. LSU has topped the 40-point mark in 4 of its last 5 games with Florida, including a series high 52 points last year. Prior to scoring 42 points in a 42-28 win over the Gators in 2019, LSU had reached the 40-point mark only 1 time (48 in 1971) against Florida. Since scoring 42 points against the Gators in 2019, LSU has reeled off 37 points in 2020, 49 in 2021, 45 in 2022 and 52 last year. The 3 highest scoring games in the 70-game history between LSU and Florida have occurred over the past 3 years. The teams combined for a series-high 91 points in 2021 (LSU won 49-42), 80 points in 2022 (LSU won 45-35) and 87 last year (LSU won 52-35). LSU and Florida have met every year since 1971 and the Gators holds a 26-25-2 mark in the 53 games during that span. LSU and Florida were also cross-divisional opponents when the league adopted the divisional format in 1992.
LSU Tigers Notes
LSU Travels to Florida for Final Road Game of Regular-Season
LSU (6-3, 3-2 SEC) plays its final road contest of the regular-season on Saturday when the Tigers travel to face Florida (4-5, 2-4 SEC) at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Dave Pasch (pxp), Dusty Dovareck (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (sideline reporter) will call the action for ABC. LSU goes into the contest ranked No. 21 in the AP poll and No. 22 in the Coaches poll. LSU is coming off a 42-13 loss to Alabama last week, while Florida dropped a 49-17 decision to Texas. LSU has won five straight, and eight of the last 10 in the series. Last year’s 52-35 win by the Tigers in Tiger Stadium ran the LSU winning streak to five straight over the Gators, the longest for the program in the 70-game series. Six of the past seven games in Gainesville have been decided by one possession with the exception coming in 2022 when LSU won, 45-35. LSU coach Brian Kelly has led LSU to a 15-6 mark in SEC games, including a 7-4 mark in conference road games, since taking over in 2022. LSU enters the game averaging 30.6 points and 436.3 total yards per game (114.0 rushing, 322.3 passing). The Tigers lead the SEC and rank No. 11 nationally in third-down conversion percentage at 48 percent (59-of-122). Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 24.9 points and 367.3 total yards per game (150.8 rushing, 216.6 passing). Junior QB Garrett Nussmeier ranks No. 2 in the SEC in passing TDs (21), total offense (320.8), and passing yards per game (318.4). In 10 career starts, Nussmeier has thrown for at least 2 TDs 8 times and he’s topped the 300-yard mark 7 times, including 6 this year. In 9 games this year, Nussmeier has completed 235-of-375 passes for 2,866 yards, 21 TDs and 11 interceptions. Freshman Caden Durham leads the Tigers in rushing with 460 yards and 6 TDs on 81 carries. LSU has 4 players with at least 30 receptions led by WR Kyren Lacy (46-697-7) and TE Mason Taylor (43-419-2). LBs Whit Weeks (92 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Greg Penn (66 tackles) lead the Tiger defense. DEs Bradyn Swinson (8 sacks, 10.5 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
• LSU coach Brian Kelly is 2-0 vs. Florida and is looking to become the first coach in school history to beat the Gators in each of his first 3 meetings. • LSU brings a 5-game winning over Florida into Saturday’s contest. The 5-game winning streak over Florida is the longest for the Tigers in the 70-game history of the series. In the past 20 years from 2004-2023, LSU is 14-6 vs. Florida. Prior to that, Florida went 15-4-1 against LSU over a 20-year span from 1984-2003. • LSU is 23-2 under Brian Kelly when reaching the 30-point mark. LSU is 5-0 this year after going 10-1 in 2023 and 8-1 in 2022 when scoring at least 30 points in a game. LSU has won 12 straight games when scoring at least 30 points. • LSU is 7-2 in games immediately following a loss under Brian Kelly. The Tigers have lost back-to-back games only twice under BK – 2022 vs. Texas A&M in the regular-season finale and then lost to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game; 2024 vs. Texas A&M and Alabama. • LSU is 6-3 under Brian Kelly in November games (3-1 in 2022, 3-1 in 2023, 0-1 in 2024), and dating back to 2018, Kelly’s teams are 22-3 in games played during the month of November. • LSU leads the SEC and ranks No. 11 in the nation in thirddown conversion percentage at 48.4 (59-of-122). • QB Garrett Nussmeier ranks No. 2 in the SEC and in the Top 10 nationally in passing yards (No. 7 at 2,866), passing yards per game (No. 7 at 318.4), total offense (No. 9 at 2,887) and total offense per game (No. 8 at 320.8). He’s No. 12 nationally in passing TDs with 21. • In 10 career starts, Nussmeier has thrown for at least 2 TDs 8 times and topped the 300-yard mark 7 times, including 6 in 2024. He’s guided LSU to a 7-3 mark as a starter. • WR Kyren Lacy is tied for the SEC lead in TD receptions with 7. Lacy also leads the team with 3 100-yard receiving games this season (5-107 vs. South Alabama, 5-111-1 vs. Ole Miss, 5-106 at Texas A&M). • LSU’s offense features 4 players with at least 30 receptions led by WR Kyren Lacy (46-697-7). Others include: TE Mason Taylor (43-419-2), WR Aaron Anderson (39-641-4) and WR CJ Daniels (32-368-0). • TE Mason Taylor has caught a pass in 26 straight games and is the first player at his position in LSU history to catch 100 passes and have 1,000 receiving yards. Taylor has 117 career receptions for 1,181 yards and 6 TDs. • LB Whit Weeks ranks No. 2 in the SEC in tackles per game (10.2). He’s recorded double-digit tackles in 4 of LSU’s 5 conference games, including a career-best 18 in the win over Ole Miss and 17 vs. Alabama. • LSU has 28 sacks this year, ranking No. 4 in the SEC. DE Bradyn Swinson leads the Tigers with 8 sacks. • Since the start of the 2022 season, LT Will Campbell, RT Emery Jones and RG Miles Frazier have started on the offensive line together in 31 games (out of a possible 36 games). • LSU has allowed only 6 sacks all year, No. 1 in the SEC and No. 4 nationally.
LSU’s 5-Game Winning Streak Longest For Program In Series History
LSU’s 5-game winning streak, which began during the 2019 national championship season, is the longest for the Tigers during the 70-game series history. LSU won 4 straight games over the Gators from 1977-80. Florida snapped that streak in 1981 with a 24-10 win in Tiger Stadium since a 4-game winning streak it achieved from 1977-80. LSU has been able to rattle off 5 straight wins beginning with 2019, where Joe Burrow led his team to a 42-28 win in Tiger Stadium. Here’s a look at the last 5 wins during LSU’s winning streak:
Florida Gators Notes
THE OPENING DRIVE
• Week 12 marks the 71st meeting between Florida and LSU including the 35th matchup in Gainesville. • Florida holds a slim 16-15-3 lead in the series in Gainesville despite trailing overall, 33-34-3. • The two programs first met in Baton Rouge in 1937 (LSU 19, Florida 0), with the first matchup in Gainesville not coming until 1953 (Florida 21, LSU 21). • Over the last five meetings with LSU, Florida is averaging 487.4 yards per game and 326.2 passing yards per game. • The Gators have rushed for 100-plus yards vs. LSU in eight-straight games and in 12 of the last 13 meetings. • This is the third meeting between UF HC Billy Napier and LSU HC Brian Kelly as head coaches (more on Page 9). • Florida is the only team to have all five of its losses come against opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 15. • Meanwhile, the Gators’ next two games are against a pair of AP Top 25 teams in No. 21 LSU and No. 10 Ole Miss. • In last week’s loss, Florida became the first team to eclipse 300 total yards against Texas this season (329) and totaled 197 yards rushing – also the most against this the Longhorns this year. • The Gators have recorded a takeaway in six-straight games and have forced a turnover in eight of nine overall. • Among quarterbacks with at least 90 pass attempts this season, QB DJ Lagway (third, eighth – 169.3) and QB Graham Mertz (fifth, 15th – 164.1) both rank top-five in the SEC and top-15 nationally in passer rating. • Florida is one of four teams in the country with two qualified receivers averaging 18.0 yards per catch in WR Elijhah Badger (second – 23.3) and WR Chimere Dike (25th – 18.7), with the others being Ole Miss, Indiana and East Carolina. • Led by first-year senior analyst Joe Houston, Florida ranks sixth in the FBS in punt return average (17.33), eighth in net punting (44.08) and 59th in kick return average (20.33), and has been inside the top-13 all season in ESPN’s SP+ metric. • Florida enters Week 12 ranking eighth in the SEC and 41st in the FBS in passer rating (142.8). • In the Week 8 win over UK, Florida started a true freshman at both quarterback (Lagway) and running back (Jadan Baugh) for the first time in program history, and is one of two FBS programs to do so this season (Stanford). • C Jake Slaughter grades as the No. 9 center in the FBS (77.0) highlighted by the 14th-best pass block grade (84.2). • The Gators have allowed just 13 sacks all season, which is tied for second-fewest in the SEC and t-37th in the FBS. • Since the 2018 season, Napier ranks 15th in the FBS with 55 total wins, ahead of Mike Gundy (54), Sonny Dykes (52), Mike Norvell (51), and Mark Stoops (50) in that time, among others. • The Gators have won 16 of their last 22 games in The Swamp (including 11 of 16), but are 3-19 in their last 22 contests outside The Swamp and 3-14 in their last 17 true road games. • Florida boasts a 362-117-13 (.749) all-time record at The Swamp, holding the third-highest home winning percent- age in the nation since 1990 with a 181-38 (.826) record. » The Gators have outscored opponents, 8,171 to 3,590 in 219 games inside The Swamp since 1990, putting the average outcome at 37.3 to 16.4 (20.9 points). • Florida has scored in 457-consecutive games dating back to 1988 – an NCAA record and 53 games longer than any other college football team in the history of the sport (TCU, 404-straight games, active streak).
Missouri Tigers (7-2, 3-2 SEC) at South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3 SEC)
Series: MIZ leads, 9-5-0
4:15 p.m. ET • SEC Network
Last: MIZ, 34-12 (2023 at Columbia, Mo.)
Columbia, S.C. • Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559)
SiriusXM: 374 – 162/192
CAROLINA VS. MIZZOU:
Missouri has won the last five meetings to take a 9-5 lead in the all-time series with South Carolina. The teams have split six games in South Carolina evenly while the Tigers have won four of the six games in their home state. Mizzou also owns a pair of neutral site bowl game wins (the 1979 Hall of Fame Bowl and the 2005 Independence Bowl) over Carolina.
Missouri Tigers Notes
South Carolina Gamecocks Notes
QUICKLY:
It’s a top-25 matchup when the No. 23/23 South Carolina Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3 SEC) wrap up their regular season SEC slate this week by hosting the No. 24/21 Missouri Tigers (7-2, 3-2 SEC) on Saturday, Nov. 16. Game time is set for 4:15 pm ET at Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, S.C.
TROPHY HUNTING:
The winner of the South Carolina – Missouri football contest takes possession of the Mayor’s Cup, a trophy that goes to the winning team of the two SEC schools that call Columbia home. The Mayor’s Cup is one of three “trophy games” for South Carolina this season. They have already captured the Bonham Trophy for their win over Texas A&M and wrap up the regular season with the Palmetto Bowl trophy on the line when they travel to Clemson. South Carolina has never captured all three trophies in the same season. O
HOW WE GOT THIS FAR:
The Gamecocks are 6-3 overall and own a 4-3 mark in SEC play. All three of South Carolina’s losses have come to ranked opponents with two of setbacks not decided until 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 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 dropped their next 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 wrenching defeat in a 27-25 loss at No. 7/7 Alabama in Tuscaloosa. They have responded with three-straight conference wins, first a convincing 35-9 dismantling of Oklahoma in Norman then, after an off week, scoring the game’s final 27 points in a 44-20 win over No. 10/11 Texas A&M. They recorded their third-straight win and their second-straight win over a ranked opponent last week with a 28-7 drubbing at Vanderbilt to become bowl eligible for the third time in four years under head coach Shane Beamer. South Carolina and Louisville are the only three-loss teams in the country with a perfect record vs. opponents ranked outside the current AP Top-25.
IN THE RANKINGS:
With three-straight wins, South Carolina has moved into the top 25 in both the Associated Press and Coaches’ polls this week, checking in at No. 23 in both polls. It’s the first time the Gamecocks have been ranked in the A.P. poll since the final poll following the 2022 season when they were ranked 23rd. They have been ranked in the A.P.’s final poll 10 times in their history
WHAT’S AT STAKE:
It’s the annual battle for the Mayor’s Cup, as the two SEC schools that call Columbia home are set to play for the silver trophy, presented to the winning team.
IT JUST MEANS MORE:
Since Mizzou joined the SEC, the Tigers own a slim 7-5 advantage in the series. South Carolina won the first two SEC Eastern Division battles between the two schools, posting a 31-10 win in the Palmetto State in 2012, then pulling out an improbable 27-24 double-overtime victory in Missouri in 2013. In 2014, the Tigers overcame a 13-point deficit in the final seven minutes to squeeze out a 21-20 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium, then won by a 24-10 count at Memorial Stadium in 2015. The Gamecocks then won three-straight games from 2016-18 by scores of 31-21, 31-13 and 37-35, respectively. The Tigers have rebounded with five-straight wins of their own by scores of 34-14, 17-10, 31-28, 23-10 and 34-12. THE
LAST TIME THEY MET:
After a quick three-and-out on its first possession, 20th-ranked Missouri scored three touchdowns and added a field goal on its next four possessions to open up a 24-3 halftime advantage en route to a 34-12 win over the Gamecocks in Columbia, Mo. on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, securing the Mayor’s Cup for a fifth-consecutive year. It was the largest margin of victory in the series for either team. The Gamecocks had several scoring opportunities, getting into the red zone four times, but had to settle for a career-high four field goals from placekicker Mitch Jeter.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET HERE:
No. 25/25 South Carolina struggled to get anything going on either side of the ball in a 23-10 home loss to Missouri in the annual battle for the Mayor’s Cup on Oct. 29, 2022. After a quick three-and-out on its first drive, Missouri put together three-straight drives that went 15 plays and 96 yards for a touchdown; 10 plays and 84 yards for a touchdown, and 10 plays and 75 yards for a field goal, to open up a 17-0 advantage and the Tigers never looked back. Mizzou tallied 367 yards of offense, (just 113 after intermission), to 203 for Carolina and held the ball for 36:35 of the game. Brady Cook was 17-for-26 for 224 yards passing and added 53 yards on the ground on 11 carries for Mizzou. Spencer Rattler completed 20-of-30 passes for 171 yards for the Gamecocks. The loss snapped a Carolina four-game winning streak.
THE LAST GAMECOCK WIN:
In what has become known in South Carolina as the “Michael Scarnecchia Game,” the Gamecocks’ backup quarterback threw for three touchdowns in his only collegiate start and Parker White hit the game-winning 33- yard field goal with two seconds left to lift Carolina to a 37-35 victory over Missouri on Oct. 6, 2018, in Columbia, S.C. The Tigers had gone ahead 35- 34 on Tucker McCann’s career-long 57-yard field goal with 1:18 remaining, but Scarnecchia and the Gamecocks drove to the Missouri 16 where White nailed his third field goal of the game. The Gamecocks rallied from a 23-14 halftime deficit in a game that lasted more than five hours due to rain and lightning delays. Scarnecchia completed 20- of-35 passes for 249 yards. Missouri’s Drew Lock, the SEC’s passing leader, was held to 204 yards.
A South Carolina win over Missouri would…
• Snap a five-game losing streak to the Tigers and bring the Mayor’s Cup back to South Carolina. u Give the Gamecocks their seventh win of the season, two better than a year ago, and their third 7-plus win season in four years under Shane Beamer. • Give the Gamecocks their fifth SEC win of the season, something that has not happened since 2017 and has occurred just once since 2013. • Give the Gamecocks their third-straight win in as many weeks over a ranked opponent after eight-straight losses to teams ranked in the A.P.’s top-25 . • Extend their winning streak to four games, last accomplished in 2022, and extend their winning streak over SEC opponents to four games, last accomplished in 2012.
Tennessee Volunteers (8-1, 4-1 SEC) at Georgia Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2 SEC)
Series: UGA leads, 28-23-2
7:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Last: UGA, 38-10 (2023 at Knoxville)
Athens, Ga. • Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (93,033)
SiriusXM: 82 – 84
NOTING THE TENNESSEE-GEORGIA SERIES
• Georgia leads the all-time series, 28-23-2. It’s the 33rd consecutive season that these two teams are meeting, a streak that dates back to 1992. • This is just the 11th meeting between the Bulldogs and Vols in the month of November. • It’s the second straight Athens meeting where Tennessee goes into the game as the higher ranked team in the CFP rankings. • Georgia has won seven in a row in the series with all seven of those coming by double-digits. • This is the 18th game between the two where both teams are ranked in the AP Poll, and the Vols are 10-7 in those previous contests. It’s the third straight year that both teams are ranked at the time of the meeting. •Tennessee is looking for its first win over Georgia since Oct. 1, 2016, when Jauan Jennings hauled in a 43-yard Hail Mary from Joshua Dobbs as time expired, giving the Vols a 34-31 triumph in Athens. • Tennessee defensive line coach Rodney Garner served in the same role at Georgia for 15 seasons from 1998-2012 on Mark Richt’s staff. Garner also served an assistant head coach from 2005-12. The Bulldogs won five SEC East titles and two SEC titles during his tenure. • Also on Georgia’s staff at the time was Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez. Martinez was in Athens from 2001-09 (secondary) and was the defensive coordinator under Mark Richt from 2005-09. • Vols outside linebackers coach/special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler was the inside linebackers/defensive special teams coordinator on Richt’s Georgia staff from 2014-15. • A total of 235 miles separates the two campuses. • Head coach Josh Heupel is seeking his first win over Georgia. • A total of 18 Vols hail from the state of Georgia, including starters TE Holden Staes (Atlanta), DB Christian Harrison (Atlanta), LB Jeremiah Telander (Gainesville), DE Tyre West (Tifton) and DE Joshua Josephs (Kennesaw).
Tennessee Volunteers Notes
STORYLINES
TOP 15 MATCHUP IN ATHENS:
Tennessee and Georgia will clash as top 15 teams in a pivotal November contest at 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday. All four of the Vols’ games away from home this season have been ABC primetime. The Bulldogs have won a nation-best 28 in a row in Sanford Stadium, while the Vols are seeking their first victory there since the 2016 Hail Mary game. Tennessee, winners of four straight, is off to an 8-1 start for the second time in three years. The Vols are in a tie with Texas A&M for first place in the SEC standings at 5-1 with two league games remaining, while Georgia is in fourth at 5-2. UT is one of three teams with only one SEC loss, joining Texas A&M and Texas. The Vols hold a victory over current No. 9/9 Alabama. ESPN College Gameday will be on hand for this matchup for the second time in three years in addition to SEC Nation. UT is seeking nine victories for the third straight year under Josh Heupel, which would be a first for the program since five consecutive seasons from 1995-99.
FOUR STRAIGHT WINS:
RB Dylan Sampson rushed for a career-high 149 yards on 30 carries with a 33- yard touchdown run to lead Tennessee past Mississippi State, 33-14, on Homecoming. The National Player of the Year candidate went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season and 2,000 for his career. The Vols went over 200 yards rushing for the fifth time this season, finishing with 240 and 452 yards of total offense. UT’s defense held State to 3-of-13 on third down, marking the third straight game an opponent was held under 30 percent and the seventh time in nine games. Tennessee forced multiple turnovers for the fourth straight game as DE Jayson Jenkins forced a fumble and DB Boo Carter had an interception. The Vols registered four sacks and nine tackles for loss. WR Dont’e Thornton finished with three catches for 104 yards, including a 73-yard bomb from QB Nico Iamaleava in the second quarter. Iamaleava missed the second half due to injury. LB Arion Carter, the Vols’ leading tackler this season with 50, finished with a game-high seven. PK Max Gilbert was 4-of-4 on field goals with makes from 24, 38, 51 and 38 yards.
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 35-13 record and is 28-7 since the start of the 2022 season. The 28 wins since the start of 2022 are third-most in the SEC. Since 2018, he ranks sixth nationally among active FBS head coaches in victories with 63. Heupel has led the Vols to at least eight regular season wins in three straight seasons for the first time since 1995-2004 under Phillip Fulmer. Heupel has assured the Vols of finishing .500 or better in SEC play in now all four of his seasons at the helm. Heupel is 11-8 vs. ranked teams at UT, and his 11 wins are third nationally during that span behind Kirby Smart (18) and Kalen DeBoer (15). Heupel is seeking to become the first Tennessee coach to defeat Florida, Alabama and Georgia in the same regular season since Fulmer in 2004.
TOP 10 IN THE FBS:
Tennessee heads into the Georgia contest ranked in the FBS top 10 in 11 major categories: third-down defense (2nd – 24.2), yards per play allowed (3rd – 4.23), kickoff return defense (3rd – 12.3), red zone defense (5th – 66.7), total defense (5th – 271.6), scoring defense (5th – 12.6), rushing offense (7th – 235.1), tackles for loss (7th – 7.9), total offense (8th – 471.6), rushing defense (9th – 100.0) and first downs allowed (9th – 146). UT has yet to allow an opponent to reach the 20-point mark in nine games in 2024. The Vols have issued the fourth-fewest offensive touchdowns in the FBS this season with 12. Opponents have managed only one first-quarter touchdown this season on UT and only three first-half TDs (Alabama 2Q, Kentucky 1Q, Mississippi State 2Q).
Georgia Bulldogs Notes
We’re Back Finally Between The Hedges
Georgia (7-2, 5-2 SEC) returns to Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium Saturday for the first time since Oct. 12. The Bulldogs have played an SEC-low three home games where they are 3-0. Georgia went 2-2 on the road and 2-0 at neutral sites (Atlanta & Jacksonville). The Bulldogs now finish the regular season with three home games against Tennessee, UMASS and Georgia Tech. Last Saturday, Georgia played its final road game of the regular season, capping a stretch that saw it play at Kentucky, #4 Alabama, #1 Texas, Florida in Jacksonville and No. 16 Ole Miss. Both ESPN College Game Day and the traveling SEC road show “SEC Nation” will be in Athens this week for the matchup. On Oct. 19, the GameDay gang was in Austin for Georgia’s big win over then top-ranked Texas as well as the Alabama game in Tuscaloosa in September. SEC Nation was in Oxford last Saturday for the Georgia-Ole Miss game and in Jacksonville for the Florida contest. This marks only the seventh time in the regular season that GameDay and SEC Nation will visit the same game site and first time in 2024 Both crews were in Jacksonville in 2018 and in Athens for the UK game in 2021 and UT game in 2022. Last year, GameDay was in Athens for Georgia’s win over the Rebels. Georgia is 18-18 when GameDay is on site for a Georgia game including 7-2 in Athens. Georgia’s first appearance with the show came on Sept. 9, 1995, in Knoxville when unranked Georgia nearly pulled off the upset that day as No. 8 UT hung for a 30-27 win. The Bulldogs are 27-12 when SEC Nation is present including 8-3 in Athens. This crew last visited Athens for the 2023 Kentucky game as the Bulldogs posted a 51-13 victory.
Time To Bounce Back Again
In the Kirby Smart era, the Bulldogs are 14-3 after a loss and haven’t lost back-to-back games in the regular season since 2016, his first year at the helm. The last eight times Georgia has lost a game, it has won its next contest. Back in 2016, Georgia fell to Vanderbilt in Athens on Oct. 15 and then to Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 29. Georgia dropped its final two games of the 2018 postseason, falling to No. 1 Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and then were upset by No. 15 Texas in the Sugar Bowl. This season, Georgia lost at No. 4 Alabama and the next week beat Auburn in Athens. The Bulldogs will aim to bounce back from their road loss at No. 16 Ole Miss when it plays host to Tennessee. The Volunteers (8-1, 5-1 SEC) capped a 4-0 homestand with a 33-14 win over Mississippi State last Saturday. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava and the SEC’s leading rusher Dylan Sampson headline an offense that averages 37.6 ppg while the defense allows just 12.6 ppg. Sampson has rushed for 1,129 yards and 20 TDs. Edge rusher James Pearce Jr., anchors the defense with 7.5 TFL, 5.5 sacks and 27 stops while linebacker Arion Carter leads the team with 50 tackles.
SMART Football
*Georgia is riding a school record 28-game home winning streak dating to 2019, which leads in FBS. *Georgia’s 2024 Senior Class is an FBS-leading 49-4 (43-2 in the regular season) since 2021. The next best in this span belongs to Michigan (45-8) and Alabama (43-8). Georgia’s 2023 Senior Class set the school record at 50-4 with two national titles, an SEC crown plus went 6-0 in bowl/CFP games. *Georgia owns the nation’s longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons and has won its last seven matchups *With a 7-2 mark at this point, the Bulldogs have guaranteed that postseason streak will be extended. *The Bulldogs are aiming to reach the College Football Playoff (CFP) for the fourth time under Smart. The Bulldogs made the four-team field in his second season coming in 2017 and advanced to the National Championship Game after a thrilling overtime win over Oklahoma in a CFP semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Then, Georgia became the first team in the CFP era to win back-to-back national championships in 2021-22, beating Michigan and Alabama in 2021 and Ohio State and TCU in 2022.
2024 Offensive Numbers At A Glance
* Averaging 30.6 points/game (48th nationally) * 34-for-37 (92 percent) in the Red Zone with 25 TDs, 9 FGs, 3 TOs *Averaging 6.1 yards per play and 410.6 yards per game
New Mexico State Aggies (2-7) at Texas A&M Aggies (7-2, 5-1 SEC)
Series: TAMU leads, 1-0
6:45 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Bryan – College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
SiriusXM: 137/190
New Mexico State Aggies at Texas A&M Aggies
(SECN) 6:45 p.m.
New Mexico State Aggies Notes
PICK SIX
100 For the first time since 2016, a pair of Aggie backs finished with over 100 rushing yards. Mike Washington (153) and Seth McGowan (113) each eclipsed the century mark against WKU.
1 NM State carries a 1-33 all-time record against SEC opponents into this weekend. The Aggies’ lone SEC victory came last season when they knocked off Auburn 31-10 in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
331 NM State rushed for 331 yards its last time out to mark its highest single game rushing total of its last 32 games.
2 NM State came away with two interceptions against Western Kentucky to end its drought of four games without a forced turnover.
23 The Aggies currently have 23 players on their roster which hail from the Lone Star State. 4.5 NM State is currently averaging
4.5 yards per rush in CUSA games – a mark that ranks third among league opponents.
RUN AGGIES, RUN
NM State turned in its best rushing performance of the season as it tallied a total of 331 yards on the ground against Western Kentucky. This marks the Aggies’ highest single game total since Sept. 24, 2022, when they rushed for 357 yards against Hawaii. The attack which represents the most rushing yards in the last 32 games was led by the backfield duo of Mike Washington and Seth McGowan. Against the Hilltoppers, Washington compiled 153 yards on the ground to mark the first time since Nov. 27, 2021, that an Aggie rusher surpassed 150 yards rushing. Meanwhile, Seth McGowan added 113 rushing yards to signify the Aggies’ first game with multiple 100-yard rushers since Dec. 3, 2016, when Larry Rose III (170) and Conner Cramer (110) achieved this feat.
AGGIES V AGGIES
Saturday will mark the only meeting of the year between a pair of FBS programs which utilize the Aggie moniker. Aside from NM State and Texas A&M, Utah State is the lone program at the FBS level which uses the Aggie mascot.
RECORD AGAINST SEC OPPONENTS
NM State has collided with current SEC programs a total of 34 times in its history and following a win over Auburn in 2023, the Aggies now hold a 1-33 record against SEC foes. This will mark just the second time that the Aggies take on Texas A&M. Meanwhile, the Aggies most frequent SEC opponent in its history is Arkansas which they have seen a total of six times. Prior to last season, the Aggies were winless against SEC opponents, however, NM State walked into Jordan-Hare Stadium and earned a dominant 31-10 win over Auburn to claim its first-ever SEC victory.
RECORD AGAINST POWER FOUR OPPONENTS
NM State will enter Saturday’s matchup with a 16-125-2 all-time record against programs currently residing in one of the four “Power” conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC).
Texas A&M Aggies Notes
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Texas A&M and New Mexico State face off for just the second time after the Maroon & White took the first meeting 52-10 in 2016. • The Aggies boast one of the best rushing offenses in the nation, ranking 14th with 212.9 yards per game, while their 22 rushing touchdowns are good for 22nd in the country. • Junior RB Amari Daniels has played a key role in the Aggies’ success in the run game, ranking 16th in the SEC with 51.8 yards per game while his six rushing scores are good for ninth in the SEC. • The offensive line has controlled the battle in the trenches while clearing the way for A&M’s top-15 rushing attack, as the unit ranks second in the SEC and ninth nationally allowing 32.0 tackles for loss. • Texas A&M has been efficient in the red zone as it ranks second in the country and leads the SEC with a 97.1 conversion rate … The Aggies have scored on 33 of 34 trips, including 25 touchdowns. • The Maroon & White have disrupted the opposition’s aerial attack all season, registering their third game this season with multiple picks after tallying three against LSU … The Aggies’ 11 interceptions on the season are tied for third in the SEC and 19th nationally, while their 50 passes defended rank among the 17th in the country and third in the league. • Sophomore LB Taurean York paced the defense as of late, leading the team in tackles in each of the last three games, most recently tallying eight at South Carolina … York leads the the team with 54 tackles, good for 19th in the SEC. • Junior DL Nic Scourton has come on strong in league play, tallying 10.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks through six SEC games and has registered at least 1.0 tackle for loss in seven of the team’s nine games this season … He ranks 10th in the nation and third in the SEC with 12.5 tackles for loss on the season, while his 5.0 sacks are good for 11th in the league.
QUICK HITS
• The Aggies notched their best start in SEC play, boasting a 5-0 record for the first time since joining the league in 2012 and their best conference start since going 7-0 to begin Big 12 play in 1998. • With the wins over No. 8 LSU and No. 9 Missouri, Texas A&M stands as one of just two teams in the nation to take down two AP top-10 teams this season. • After three weeks away from action, sophomore QB Conner Weigman returned in Week 6, leading them to a big victory over top-10 Missouri, connecting on 18-of-22 passes for a season-best 276 yards. • Freshman QB Marcel Reed has led the Aggies to three victories in his three starts as well as three of A&M’s record five wins to start league play, sparking a 31-6 scoring spree in the second half to lift the Aggies past No. 8 LSU with three touchdowns of his own on the ground. • The Aggies have held their opponents to 100-or-fewer yards on the ground in five of the last six games, most recently limiting LSU to just 24 yards on 23 attempts … A&M has only allowed multiple rushing scores in a game twice this season and its nine touchdowns allowed this year rank 21st in the nation. • Junior DB Will Lee III has brought veteran leadership to the secondary and ranks 10th nationally with nine break ups while his 10 passes defended are the 17th-most in the country … He ranks fourth on the team with 33 tackles, 31 of which are solo takedowns which are good for 18th in the SEC. • Graduate K Randy Bond ranks 11th nationally with 16 made field goals this season while his 80 total points are good for 25th … Bond is just two field goals away from taking sole possession of fourth all-time at A&M, entering the game with 55 in his career. . • 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.
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 11th nationally and second in the SEC with 16 made field goals this season, after sending a pair of 50-plus-yarders through the uprights at South Carolina, including from a career-long 55 yards … His 80 total points land among the top-25 in the country and top-five league scorers. • Bond has posted double-digit points in a game 11 times in his career and four times this season, most recently tallying 10 points in the victory at Mississippi State by way of two field goals and four extra points. • The kicker has been climbing A&M’s all-time field goals made, extra points and scoring lists, ranking sixth with 55 career makes, seventh overall with 270 points and 10th with 105 made extra points. • Freshman P Tyler White has also elevated A&M’s special teams game this season, as he averages 45.3 yards on 31 punts in his first year as the team’s primary punter … White boasts a 62-yard long from the Notre Dame and has sent nine punts 50-plus yards. • White earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week in back-to-back weeks this season after landing seven of his nine punts inside the 15 and five inside the 10 against Arkansas and the following week averaged 46.3 yards per punt, pinning Missouri on its own 1 … White earned his third SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honor after booming three punts 50-plus yards down the field, landing four of his five punts inside the 20, and finishing the night with an average of 48.4 yards per boot, including a game-long 54 yards. • 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
Open: Ole Miss (8-2, 4-2 SEC); Mississippi State (2-8, 0-6 SEC); Oklahoma (5-5, 1-5 SEC); Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3 SEC).
