RIVALRY WEEK IN THE SEC
WEEK 14 GAME SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2024
Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-9, 0-7 SEC) at Mississippi Rebels (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
2:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Series: UM leads, 65-47-6
Last: UM, 17-7 (2023 at Starkville)
Oxford, Miss. • Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (64,038)
SiriusXM: 83 – 84
INSIDE THE SERIES
120th All-Time Meeting Ole Miss leads 46-67-6 In Starkville: OM leads 23-15-2 In Oxford: OM leads 24-13-3 at Neutral Sites: OM leads 19-18 Most MSU Points: 65 (1915) Most OM Points: 51 (1972) Most Combined Points: 75 (2016, 2000) Largest MSU Win: 65-0 (11-06-1915) Largest Loss: 48-0 (11-25-1971) Current Streak: Ole Miss – 1 game Longest Winning Streak: 13 games (1911-1925) Longest Losing Streak: 6 games (1930-35 / 1947-52) When Both Teams are Ranked: 2-3-1 When MSU is Ranked: 6-5 When OM is Ranked: 4-11-1
Mississippi State Bulldogs Notes
Saturday Storylines
• Mississippi State and Ole Miss will meet for the 120th time on Friday. It’s tied for the 9th most meetings by two FBS schools in a single rivalry. • The last time Mississippi State and Ole Miss played the Egg Bowl on a Friday was in 2008. • Davon Booth leads the team in all-purpose yards with 1,153 (721 rushing, 124 receiving, 308 kick return). He ranks 3rd in the SEC in all-purpose yards. • Booth is 223 yards shy of cracking the top 10 list at Mississippi State for all-purpose yards in a single season. • Kevin Coleman Jr. leads the team with 68 catches. His 68 receptions this season rank 2nd in the SEC and are tied for 18th nationally. • Coleman has caught a pass in 28 straight games and has 5+ receptions in nine straight. • According to ESPN’s Football Power Index, Mississippi State’s strength of schedule ranks fifth toughest through week 13. • Mississippi State is the only SEC team with two players ranked in the top five of the conference in total tackles. Isaac Smith leads the way with 115, and Stone Blanton is second with 111. • This is the third straight season that Mississippi State has had two players with 100+ tackles. • Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in all 11 games this season. Ole Miss has received the opening kick in eight of 11 games this season. However, when either head coach has won the coin toss, both have elected to receiver the opening kickoff each time. • Coleman Jr. is five receptions shy of cracking the top 5 list for single-season receptions at Mississippi State. • Davon Booth leads the team in rushing yards (721), rushing touchdowns (5) and rushing yards per game (65.5). • Booth’s 721 rushing yards are the most by a Mississippi State player since 2019. They are also the sixth most in the SEC this season.
STATE NOTEBOOK
QUICK NOTES
• Mississippi State has scored in 55 consecutive games dating back to Oct. 21, 2020. • State has scored 11 offensive touchdowns of 30+ yards this season … It’s the most explosive play touchdowns for the Bulldogs since 2016 when they scored 16 times on plays of 30 or more yards. • Mississippi State has received the opening kickoff in all 11 games this season. State is 5-6 on the coin toss in 2024. • The Bulldogs have scored 15 offensive touchdowns in less than two minutes. They also have 14 scoring drives that have been 5 plays or less.
OFFENSE FINDING ITS STRIDE
• After averaging just 21.8 points per game in 2023, ranking 105th in scoring offense nationally, Mississippi State is averaging 26.9 ppg in 2024. • Mississippi State is averaging 21.0 points per game against teams ranked in the AP Top 25. State ranks 8th in the SEC, in scoring offense vs. AP Top 25 opponents. • In five games played in August and September, Mississippi State averaged 380.2 yards in total offense, ranking 12th in the SEC. In games played in October, State averaged 407.7 yards in total offense, ranking 6th in the SEC. • State’s passing offense improved greatly from August/September to October. In the first five games of the season, State averaged just 243.6 yards per game through the air (11th in the SEC / 56th in the FBS). In October, the Bulldogs averaged 285.7 yards per game through the air (4th in the SEC / 21st in the FBS). • 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.
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 14 of its 36 offensive touchdowns in five plays or less. • Of the Bulldogs’ 36 offensive touchdowns this season, they have scored 15 touchdowns in under 2 minutes, five touchdowns in under 35 seconds, and two touchdowns in under 15 seconds. • The Bulldogs average time of possession per game this season is 25:27. • State’s average TOP of 25:27 ranks 130th of 133 teams at the FBS level. It’s State’s lowest TOP since averaging 26:17 in 2015. • Mississippi State’s longest drive of the season has been 7:48 at #7 Tennessee. It resulted in State’s first points of the game. • Mississippi State has held the ball for over 30 minutes just twice this season (32:47 vs. Florida & 34:57 at #1 Texas). • Mississippi State’s time of possession vs. Missouri was 18:09, its lowest TOP total of the season. It was the third time this season that State has held the ball for less than 20 minutes, the others were at Arizona State (19:47) and UMass (19:11).
Mississippi Rebels Notes
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• This game will be the 121st meeting in one of the nation’s most-played rivalries … Ole Miss holds a 65-47-6 edge in the series dating back to 1901, including a 22-14-3 mark in Oxford (24-14-3 before vacated wins). • The original record is 65-49-6 in favor of Ole Miss … The Rebels had wins in 2012 & 2014 vacated due to NCAA ruling, while Mississippi State forfeited wins in 1976 & 1977. • This game will be the 97th “Battle of the Golden Egg,” as the two schools started playing for the trophy in 1927 … Ole Miss holds a 59-30-5 advantage in the “Egg Bowl.” • The Rebels are 37-13 under Lane Kiffin since 2021 and rank third among all SEC schools in wins in that span. • Ole Miss is 26-3 in its last 29 home games and 12-1 since the start of the 2023 season … At home since 2023, the Rebels are out-scoring opponents by 27.4 points and out-gaining them by 211.4 yards. • Ole Miss leads the SEC in 20 stats and tops FBS in seven, including passing (361.8 ypg), TFL (108) and sacks (49). • In SEC play, the Rebels own a total offense average (453.7) more than 40 yards better than any other team, are the only team averaging at least 300 yards passing (327.0) and own eight more sacks than any other team (36). • Ole Miss leads ESPN’s Game Control metric, ranks fourth in efficiency (86.5) and sixth in FPI (21.3). • Mississippi State (23.2) and Ole Miss (23.4) own the two fastest offenses in the SEC in seconds per play. • QB Jaxson Dart is 49 passing yards shy of Eli Manning’s career record 10,119. • Dart (3,732) owns more passing yards through 11 games than eight of the last 10 Heisman-winning QBs. • Suntarine Perkins and Princely Umanmielen both own 10.5 sacks, 2.0 shy of Ole Miss’ single-season record. • Outland Trophy finalist Walter Nolen is PFF’s top-rated SEC interior defensive lineman in run defense (No. 2 FBS).
LAST FIVE GAMES AGAINST MISSISSIPPI STATE
11/23/23 • Starkville, Miss. • #13 Ole Miss 17, Miss. State 10 Both defenses gave no quarter early on, but two key second-half scoring drives by the Rebel offense helped lift Ole Miss to a 17-7 victory over Mississippi State in a slugfest of an Egg Bowl. With both defenses in prime form, it came down to timing, and Ole Miss struck at the right moments with late touchdowns to Quinshon Judkins and Caden Prieskorn to push the Rebels over the top.
11/24/22 • Oxford, Miss. • Miss. State 24, #19 Ole Miss 22 Scoring was at a premium on a wet and cold Thanksgiving night at Vaught-Hemingway, with the Bulldogs coming out of Oxford with a ranked win following the defensive struggle. Ole Miss had a chance to tie with 1:25 to play after the second of Jaxson Dart’s passing TDs, but the twopoint try from Dart to Mingo fell short, giving State the victory.
11/25/21 • Starkville, Miss. • #9 Ole Miss 31, Miss. State 21 Ole Miss kept Mississippi State out of the end zone until 7:20 of the fourth quarter at Davis-Wade Stadium. By then, the Rebels held a commanding 24-6 lead and cruised to victory behind Snoop Conner’s two rushing TDs.
11/28/20 • Oxford, Miss. • Ole Miss 31, Miss. State 24 Ole Miss started fast and did just enough defensively to top Mississippi State and bring the Golden Egg back to Oxford. Matt Corral threw for 385 yards, 139 to Elijah Moore, as Ole Miss claimed an early lead and held on for four hard-fought quarters. Trailing a touchdown, the Bulldogs drove into Rebel territory on the final drive but ran out of time.
11/28/19 • Starkville, Miss. • Miss. State 21, Ole Miss 20 In one of the most dramatic finishes in Egg Bowl history, Ole Miss came up just one point shy of a win in Starkville. Matt Corral came off the bench to find Elijah Moore for a touchdown with just four seconds on the clock, but a PAT miss allowed the Bulldogs to escape with a one-point victory.
BULLDOG SCOUTING REPORT
Mississippi State comes into the 2024 Egg Bowl 2-9 overall and 0-7 in SEC play. Offensively, the Bulldogs are averaging 381.5 yards per game, with 235 yards through the air. True freshman, Michael Van Buren Jr., has taken over as MSU’s primary signal-caller after senior Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending shoulder injury vs. Florida. Van Buren Jr. has started seven games and has thrown for 1,606 yards and 10 touchdowns. His top receiver is Kevin Coleman Jr., who has hauled in 68 cathes for 814 yards and five touchdowns. Utah State transfer, Davon Booth, leads the Bulldog rushing attack with 721 yards and five TDs. On defense, MSU is giving up 462 yards per game, allowing opponents to rush for more than 213 yards per contest. The Bulldogs have given up 30 or more points in nine of their 11 games this season. Safety Isaac Smith and transfer Stone Blanton both rank top 10 nationally in total tackles, with 115 and 111 respectively
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (7-4) at Georgia Bulldogs (9-2, 6-2 SEC)
7:30 p.m. ET • ABC
Series: UGA leads, 71-41-5
Last: UGA, 31-23 (2023 at Atlanta)
Athens, Ga. • Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium (93,033)
SiriusXM: 84
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record (Streak): ………………………………GT trails 71-41-5 (Georgia: W6)
at Georgia Tech: ……………………………………………………………GT trails 26-39-4
at Georgia:…………………………………………………………………….GT trails 15-32-1
Neutral Sites: ………………………………………………………………………………..None
Last Meeting: ……………………No. 1 UGA 31, GT 23 (Nov. 25, 2023 – Atlanta, Ga.)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Notes
TOP STORYLINES
• Georgia Tech travels to Athens, Ga. for the 118th edition of Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate versus archrival and No. 6-ranked Georgia on Friday night. • This year’s matchup marks only the second time in the 118-game history of the Georgia Tech-Georgia rivalry — which dates back to 1893 — that the teams will square off on a Friday. The previous Friday matchup came on Nov. 25, 1994 in Athens. • While Georgia has won 18 of the last 21 matchups in the rivalry, the Yellow Jackets’ most recent success in the series has come in Athens, where Tech has won twice in its last four trips and three times in its last seven visits. • The Yellow Jackets are facing their third top-10 opponent of the season. Tech is 2-0 in its previous two matchups against top-10 teams — a 24-21 win over thenNo. 10-ranked Florida State in the season opener in Dublin, Ireland on Aug. 24 and a 28-23 triumph over then-No. 4 Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 9. The Jackets are one of only 12 unranked teams that have beaten a top-10 opponent this season, and the only unranked squad that has done it twice. • With a win on Friday, this season’s Yellow Jackets would become only the second team in Georgia Tech history with three wins over top-10 opponents in one season. The 1959 Jackets defeated No. 6 SMU (16-12), No. 6 Clemson (16-6) and No. 8 Tennessee (14-7) in three-consecutive weeks — Sept. 26, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10, 1959. • With seven regular-season victories (its most since 2017), Georgia Tech has clinched back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013 and 2014.
GEORGIA TECH FOOTBALL BY THE NUMBERS
2-0 – Georgia Tech is 2-0 this season against top-10 opponents — a season-opening 24-21 win over then-No. 10 Florida State on Aug. 24 in Dublin, Ireland and a 28-23 victory over then-No. 4 Miami (Fla.) on Nov. 9. The Yellow Jackets are one of only 12 unranked teams that have beaten a top-10 opponent this season, and the only unranked team that has done it twice. Tech is also only the ninth team in ACC history to knock off two top-10 opponents in the same regular season (Clemson – 1981, Florida State – 1993, Florida State – 1999, Florida State – 2000, Miami – 2004, Virginia Tech – 2004, Maryland – 2007, Florida State – 2013 and Georgia Tech – 2024).
2 – Georgia Tech is tied for second nationally in fewest sacks allowed this season (5 – .45/game). Army West Point leads the nation in fewest sacks allowed (4 – .40/game) but has attempted 264 fewer passes than the Yellow Jackets (Army – 78 pass attempts, GT – 342).
4 – The Yellow Jackets are one of only four ACC teams that rank in the top 50 nationally in both total defense (41st – 340.5 ypg) and total offense (46th – 414.7 ypg), joining the top three teams in the conference standings — No. 8/7 Miami and No. 9 SMU and No. 12 Clemson.
4 – QB Haynes King ranks No. 4 nationally (and leads the ACC) with a .725 completion percentage (139-of-194).
16 – Georgia Tech went 5-0 in games played at Bobby Dodd Staium at Hyundai Field this season, becoming the 16th Tech team to finish unbeaten and untied at Bobby Dodd since the stadium opened as Grant Field in 1913. This season’s Jackets were the first Tech team since 1999 and only the third since 1966 (1990 and ’99) to be unbeaten and untied at Bobby Dodd.
118 – Friday’s game is the 118th edition of the Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate rivalry between Georgia Tech and Georgia, the series began in 1893 and has been played every year since except 1894-96, 1901, 1908, 1917-24 and 2020. It is the 14th-oldest and tied for the 19th most-played series in NCAA Division I FBS. It is also the sixth oldest and tied for the 11th most-played in-state rivalry in FBS.
265/322 – Fr. QB Aaron Philo’s 265 passing yards in last Thursday’s 30-29 win over NC State were the most by a true freshman at Georgia Tech since Jeff Sims threw for 277 on Sept. 12, 2020 at Florida State. Philo’s 322 yards of total offense were the most by a true freshman at Tech since Sims had 326 against UCF on Sept. 19, 2020.
GEORGIA TECH ON FRIDAYS
• This week’s game marks only the 14th time in school history that Georgia Tech will play a regular-season game on a Friday. • The Yellow Jackets are 8-5 in regular-season games played on Fridays. • This season marks only the second time that Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate has been played on a Friday. On Friday, Nov. 25, 1994, Georgia defeated Georgia Tech, 48-10 in Athens, Ga. • Georgia Tech has also played six bowl games on Fridays, most recently last season’s 30-17 win over UCF in the Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, played on Friday, Dec. 22 in Tampa, Fla. The Jackets are 4-2 in bowl games played on Fridays, upping their overall Friday record to 12-7.
Georgia Bulldogs Notes
Aiming For Another Perfect Finish Between The Hedges
Georgia (9-2, 6-2 SEC) concludes a three-game home stretch to close out the regular season Friday when it plays host to in-state rival Tech (7-4, 5-3 ACC) at 7:30 pm on ABC. The Bulldogs look to retain the Governor’s Cup Trophy for the seventh straight year. The current winning streak in the series began in 2017, and the teams did not square off during the 2020 campaign when each played a conference-only schedule. This season, Georgia is 5-0 at home, 2-2 in true road games and 2-0 at neutral sites. The No. 10 (CFP) Bulldogs have won a school record 30 consecutive home games dating to 2019, and that is the longest active streak in the FBS. After going over a month without a home game, the Bulldogs returned to Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 16 and registered a 31-17 win over No. 7 Tennessee. Senior quarterback Carson Beck was 25-for-40 for 347 yards and accounted for three TDs, two passing and one rushing. The Bulldogs blanked the Vols in the second half for the second straight year and extended their winning streak in the series to a program-record eight straight. The Bulldogs finished the SEC with a 6-2 mark. Then, Georgia defeated UMass 59-21 last Saturday as Beck was 20-for-31 for 297 yards and 4 TDs while freshman Nate Frazier ran for a career-high 136 yards and three scores. The defense notched its first touchdown of the season when sophomore Gabe Harris Jr. had a sack/strip fumble that was scooped up by freshman Chris Cole and returned 28 yards. The Bulldogs are averaging 33.2 points per game (ppg) while allowing 18.5 ppg. Tech averages 27.9 ppg and has surrendered 23.1 ppg. Tech has rotated its quarterbacks with redshirt junior Hayes King and true freshman Aaron Philo both involved in the offense. In last Thursday’s home win over N.C. State, Philo’s 18-yard TD scamper with 22 seconds left lifted Tech past the Wolfpack 30-29 after State missed a 58-yard field goal for the win. Tech snagged a season-high three interceptions including a pick-six by former Bulldog E.J. Lightsey to set the tone in the first quarter. Tech has posted back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2013-14, and its signature win came over then No. 4 Miami (Fla.) 28-23 on Nov. 9.
SMART Football
*The Bulldogs are aiming for their fifth straight undefeated season at home and seventh in nine years under Smart. Georgia is 49-4 Between the Hedges in the Smart era. *Georgia has won 25 straight night games at home including 16-0 under Smart. The current streak of night victories at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium started in 2010 with a 42-34 win over Tech. *Georgia is 37-2 against non-conference teams in the Smart era. The only two losses have been to Texas 28-21 in the 2019 Sugar Bowl and 28-27 to Georgia Tech in Athens in his first season in 2016. *The Bulldogs have won 25 consecutive non-conference matchups. *Georgia’s 2024 Senior Class is an FBS-leading 51-4 (45-2 in the regular season) since 2021 and that’s a school record. The next best record in this span belongs to Michigan at 46-8. Georgia’s 2023 Senior Class held the previous school record at 50-4 with two national titles, an SEC crown plus went 6-0 in bowl/CFP games. *The Bulldogs have clinched their fourth straight appearance in the SEC Championship Game (SECCG) and seventh overall trip under Smart. It will face the Texas/Texas A&M winner in Atlanta on Dec. 7. In school history, Georgia has won the SEC title 14 times and is 4-7 in the SECCG. *Georgia owns the nation’s longest active bowl streak at 27 seasons and has won its last seven matchups. Now at 9-2, 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. *Currently, Georgia is No. 10 in the latest CFP top 25 rankings. They are released every Tuesday night until Selection Day on Sun., Dec. 8.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2024
Louisville Cardinals (7-4) at Kentucky Wildcats (4-7, 1-7 SEC)
Series: UK leads, 20-15
Noon ET • SEC Network
Last: UK, 38-31 (2023 at Louisville)
Lexington, Ky. • Kroger Field (61,000)
SiriusXM: 106/190
SERIES HISTORY:
BATTLE FOR GOVERNOR’S CUP
• The state rivals play for the Governor’s Cup trophy when the two program meet in Lexington on Saturday. • UK leads the all-time series 20-15. The Wildcats lead 9-5 in games played in Louisville and have won the last four encounters. • The Wildcats have won five of the past six meetings, including a 26-13-win last season. The two teams didn’t play against one another in 2020 for the first time since 1993. • Louisville is 10-10 all-time at Kroger Field and have won four of the last six on the road. Louisville did drop a 45-13 decision at Kroger Field in 2019 and last season’s loss. • The Wildcats are looking for the first six-game winning streak in the series since winning four in a row from 2007-2010. • The Governor’s Cup was created in 1994 as the trophy for the winner of the Kentucky-Louisville game. Donated by The Kroger Company at a cost of $23,000, the Governor’s Cup stands 33 inches tall and weighs 110 pounds. The trophy’s base and upright columns are hand-milled black marble. The glass components are optic-grade crystal. All metal parts are 23-karat, gold-plated brass. The cup itself is made of pewter with a 23-karat gold-plated finish. • The cup was designed by Kendall Costner and sculpted by James Corcoran of Bruce Fox, Inc. • The Kroger Company also is involved in supporting academic pursuits at the schools. Kroger is donating $10,000 to each school for each year the game is played.
Louisville Cardinals Notes
STORYLINES
Cards Close Regular Season at Kentucky:
The University of Louisville closes the 2024 regular season when it travels up the road to face Kentucky in the Governor’s Cup on Saturday at Kroger Field. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon on the SEC Network. Kentucky leads the overall series 20-15 and has won the last five games in the series. Louisville’s last win in the series came in Lexington during the 2017 season when the Cards won 44-17. Louisville is 10-10 all-time against the Wildcats in Lexington. Louisville is looking to finish the regular season with at least eight wins for the 24th time in school history.
Louisville Finishes the ACC Slate at 5-3:
The Cardinals closed their 2024 ACC schedule with a dominating 37-9 win over Pittsburgh at L&N Stadium. Louisville completed its ACC season with a 5-3 mark, its ninth conference winning percentage of .500 or better in 10 seasons as an ACC member. The Cardinals also won its seventh straight Senior Day game versus a conference opponent, not losing since a triple overtime setback to Connecticut in 2012. Head coach Jeff Brohm posted a winning conference record for the second-straight season and is 12-4 in his first two seasons. The Cardinals totaled 505 yards of total offense — the third time the team recorded 500 or more yards of total offense in a game. Tyler Shough threw for 293 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Isaac Brown rushed for 93 yards and a pair of scores in the win as the Cardinals finished their conference slate at 5-3. Linebacker Stanquan Clark picked off his first two career interceptions and Corey Thornton added another one in the win.
Defense Shuts Down Pitt in 37-9 Win:
After surrendering a 14-point lead in a loss at Stanford, the Louisville defense performed well in the Cards’ 37-9 win over Pitt on Saturday in the final home game of the season. Louisville limited Pitt to 265 yards of offense, including just 75 yards on the ground. Louisville, which entered the game with just three interceptions, matched its season output with three as Stanquan Clark picked up his first two career passes and Corey Thornton added his first at Louisville. Pitt’s quarterbacks combined to complete 19-of-35 passes for 190 yards and those three interceptions. Louisville’s intercepted passes by three different quarterbacks for the first time since a 1988 win vs. Memphis and forced three interceptions in a game for the first time since last year’s win versus Notre Dame.
DEFENDING L&N STADIUM UNDER JEFF BROHM
• L&N Stadium has returned as one of the toughest places to play in the country under head coach Jeff Brohm. • After snapping its two-game home losing streak, the Cardinals improved to 10-3 at L&N Stadium under Brohm. Louisville finished the 2024 season at 4-2 at home this season after dominating last season with a 6-1 record • Brohm’s teams are averaging 40.1 points per game since taking over the program, scoring over 50 points on three different occasions. • Louisville has scored more than 30 points in 11 of the 13 home contests under Brohm, including scoring 62 points in the 2024 opener against Austin Peay —the highest output by a Brohm coached team at home. Louisville scored 56 points twice in 2023 in wins over Murray State and Boston College. • Louisville is 123-48 (71.9) at L&N Cardinal Stadium since the start of the 1998 season.
BOWL ELIGIBILITY
• The Cardinals reached bowl eligibility for the fourth-straight season with the 33-21 win at No. 11 Clemson. Louisville has advanced to the post-season for a second season under Jeff Brohm and the fifth time in the last six seasons. • Louisville didn’t advance to a bowl during the 2020 COVID-19 season. • The Cardinals will be making their 27th appearance in a bowl and have posted a 12-13-1 record in bowl games. • Head coach Jeff Brohm will play in bowl for the ninth time in his career and has posted a 5-2 record. His 2022 Purdue team reached a bowl but he had already accepted the Louisville job.
10TH SEASON IN ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE
• Louisville finished its 10th season in the ACC, joining the league for the first time during the 2014 season. • Since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, the Cardinals have posted a 49-41 overall record, with a pair of 7-1 seasons over the course of its 10 seasons in the league, The Cards went 7-1 in 2016 under the prowess of Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and in 2023 when the Cards advanced to their first ACC title game. Louisville fell 16-6 to Florida State in Charlotte, • The Cardinals are 29-16 all-time at home in the ACC and had won eight consecutive league games at L&N Stadium before losing back-to-back games to SMU on Oct. 5 and Miami on Oct. 19. • Louisville is 21-25 on the road in ACC games after winning four of its last five league road games after the disappointing 38-35 loss at Stanford. The Cards are 3-1 in ACC play this season on the road. • The Cardinals are 5-15 against ranked teams from the ACC. Louisville’s last ACC win over a ranked opponent was a 33-21 win at Clemson on Nov. 2.
NOVEMBER RAIN
• Louisville will play its final game in November after hammering Pitt 37-9 at L&N Stadium on Saturday. The Cards are 165-176-5 all-time in November including a 102-81-2 at home and 63-95-3 on the road. • Head coach Jeff Brohm is 5-2 during the month of November at Louisville and his teams are 24-11 all-time.
Kentucky Wildcats Notes
QUICK NOTES
• The Wildcats will honor 17 players during Senior Day festivities Saturday. • Kentucky will close out the regular season by playing host to in-state rival Louisville at Kroger Field on Saturday for The Governor’s Cup. • It will mark the 36th meeting between the two teams. • Kentucky leads the all-time series, 20-15 and has won the last five meetings. • The series is tied in Lexington, 10-10. • The Wildcats defeated then-No. 9 Cardinals, 38-31, in rival territory in 2023. • At the time, it marked the highest Associated Press-ranked win of the Mark Stoops era and it tied for the eighth-highest AP-ranked victory in program history at the time. • The Cats’ reset those standards when they defeated No. 6/5 Rebels on Sept. 28 of this season. • Kentucky is coming off a loss to No. 3/3 Texas in Austin, Texas, 31-14. • Offensively, UK was led by freshmen in rushing (Jamarion Wilcox – 11 carries, 50 yards), receiving (Willie Rodriguez, three receptions, 53 yards) and passing yards (Cutter Boley – 10-of-18, 160 yards). • The Wildcats have won their last 19 straight nonconference games in the regular season, a streak that streak is second in the nation behind Georgia (27). • UK has won 17 straight nonconference games at Kroger Field, dating back to the start of 2018. • Kentucky has won 22 of its last 24 nonconference games. • Demie Sumo-Karngbaye, senior running back, is just 21 yards rushing from eclipsing 1,000 for his college career. • He leads the team with 118 carries for 535 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. • Dane Key, a junior wide receiver, who leads the team with 47 receptions for 715 yards in 2024, has made a big jump up the career lists at Kentucky. • For his career, he has 126 receptions – 13th in program history – for 1,870 yards – fifth in program history. He needs 219 yards to tie for fourth in program history. • Of his 47 receptions, 14 have been 20 yards or more. • The Wildcat defense ranks in the nation’s top 30 in five categories – Punt Return Defense (2.5 yards per return), Red Zone Defense (70.5 percent), Kickoff Return Defense (16.9 yards per return), Scoring Defense (20.4 points per game) and First Down Defense (192 allowed). • All-American transfer linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson is leading the UK defense in total tackles (62), despite missing the game against Murray State on Nov. 16. • 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 19 straight nonconference games in the regular season. • That streak is second in the nation behind Georgia (27). • UK has won 17 straight nonconference games at Kroger Field, dating back to the start of 2018. • Kentucky has won 22 of its last 24 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 183-148-4 (.552) all-time in the stadium, including 47-32 (.595) under Mark Stoops.
South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3, 5-3 SEC) at Clemson Tigers (9-2)
Series: CU leads, 73-43-4
Noon ET • ESPN
Last: CU, 16-7 (2023 at Columbia)
Clemson, S.C. • Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium (81,500)
SiriusXM: 160/192
CAROLINA VERSUS CLEMSON:
This is the 121st meeting between these two Palmetto State schools in a rivalry that dates back to 1896. The teams met every year from 1909-2019, making the Carolina-Clemson series the second-longest running consecutively-played series in college football behind only Minnesota–Wisconsin before the series was interrupted in 2020 due to COVID-19. The Tigers hold a 73-43-4 lead in the all-time series, including a 19-11-1 mark in Clemson and a 54-32-3 advantage in Columbia. South Carolina snapped a Clemson seven-game winning streak by winning in their last visit to Tigertown by a 31-30 score in 2022.
South Carolina Gamecocks Notes
QUICKLY:
A point in the South Carolina Education Lottery Palmetto Series, remaining in the conversation for an at-large spot in the 12-team CFP playoffs and state bragging rights are on the line when the No. 16/14 South Carolina Gamecocks (8-3, 5-3 SEC) wrap up their 2024 regular season schedule by traveling to Memorial Stadium (81,500) to face the #12/12 Clemson Tigers (9-2, 7-1 ACC) out of the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday, Nov. 30. The game is slated for a noon kick.
GETTING TO THE POINT:
The Palmetto Series points chase was rekindled in 2022. This year’s competition between South Carolina and Clemson is presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery. When the rivals face off this season, each school will earn points for a win with the overall winner taking home the Palmetto Series trophy and bragging rights. Started in 2015, the Gamecocks lead the overall Palmetto Series by a comfortable 5-1 margin. South Carolina has captured the first two points in 2024-25 behind wins from volleyball and women’s basketball. Both the men’s and women’s soccer matches ended in a tie and the women’s cross-country teams split a pair of events. Next up is men’s basketball, scheduled for Dec. 17 in Columbia.
SEASON SNAPSHOT:
The Gamecocks are 8-3 overall and finished with a 5-3 record in SEC play. All three of South Carolina’s losses came 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. With quarterback LaNorris Sellers sidelined in the second half, 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 five-straight wins, including four-straight conference victories – 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 pounded No. 24/25 Vanderbilt 28-7 in Nashville to become bowl-eligible for the third time in four years under head coach Shane Beamer, then recorded their third-straight win over a ranked opponent in as many weeks with a heart-stopping 34-30 win over No. 24/21 Missouri. South Carolina extended its winning streak to five-straight with a 56-12 rout of FCS Wofford last Saturday in Columbia. Clemson will be the seventh ranked opponent South Carolina will face this season, and the fourth in the last five weeks.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET:
South Carolina scored the only offensive touchdown in the game, a one-yard run by Luke Doty, but Clemson’s defense proved to be too much as the Tigers posted a 16-7 win in Columbia on Nov. 25, 2023. The Gamecocks could muster just 169 yards of total offense in the contest. Khalil Barnes returned a fumble 42 yards in the game’s first series and Jonathan Weitz added three field goals for Clemson.
THE LAST TIME THEY MET HERE:
The Gamecocks overcame a 14-point deficit to defeat No. 7 Clemson, 31-30 in the final regular season game of the 2022 season on Nov. 26 in Clemson. Spencer Rattler completed 25-of-39 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns, Antwane Wells Jr. had nine catches for 131 yards and two scores and Mitch Jeter hit the go-ahead field goal with just under 11 minutes left in the contest. Marcellas Dial was the SEC Defensive Player of the Week after recording an interception and three pass breakups. He allowed just one catch for 11 yards while being targeted 11 times. But the star of the game may have been Carolina punter Kai Kroeger, who averaged 53.7 yards on seven punts, pinning the Tigers deep in their own territory several times. The Carolina defense held Clemson to just 336 yards of offense, including 99 through the air, and forced three turnovers.
A South Carolina win over Clemson would…
• Give the Gamecocks their ninth win of the season, their high mark since posting a nine-win campaign in 2017. • Extend the Gamecocks winning streak to six games, last accomplished in 2013. • Give the Gamecocks a school-record fourth win over a ranked opponent this season. They have defeated three ranked opponents in a season seven times, most recently in 2022. • Give the Gamecocks four true road wins on the season for the first time since 2006 and for just the fourth time in school history. They have already won at Kentucky, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt.
TROPHY HUNTING:
The Gamecocks are looking to capture their third trophy of the season. They collected the Bonham Trophy with a 44-20 win over No. 10/11 Texas A&M, then defeated No. 24/21 Missouri, 34-30, to bring the Mayor’s Cup to South Carolina. The Palmetto Bowl trophy is on the line this week. South Carolina has never captured all three trophies in the same season.
ROAD WARRIORS:
The Gamecocks have logged a trio of impressive SEC road wins this season, all by at least three touchdowns, posting a 31-6 victory at Kentucky, winning in a 35-9 rout at Oklahoma and knocking off 24th-ranked Vanderbilt 28-7, holding all three of those opponents to under 10 points. They recorded three conference road wins for the first time since 2011 when they won at Georgia, Mississippi State and Tennessee en route to an 11-2 mark overall and a 6-2 SEC record. They have won four true road games just three times in school history – 1968, 1994 and 2006.
Clemson Tigers Notes
STATE SUPREMACY
Clemson has a winning record against all 12 opponents it has faced from the state of South Carolina. The Tigers are 219-65-13 (.759) all-time against Palmetto State foes, including one game against Marines from Port Royal in 1909 and one against the temporary Camp Sevier cantonment in 1918.
AT HOME IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
Clemson has been right at home in non-conference contests at Memorial Stadium in recent years, going 31-1 in its last 32 non-conference home games. Clemson had won 26 straight prior to a one-point loss to South Carolina in November 2022. Previously, Clemson’s longest unbeaten streak (including ties) in non-conference home games was a 20-game unbeaten streak from 1978-84 that saw ties against Boston College and Georgia interrupt winning streaks of 12 games, four games and two games. Since joining the ACC as a charter member in 1953, Clemson is 133-33-4 at home against opponents from other conferences. That includes a 41-4 mark in nonconference games at Death Valley under Head Coach Dabo Swinney
RANKED MATCHUPS IN SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s game will be the seventh time in the soon-to-be 121-game history of the Clemson/South Carolina rivalry that the two teams will meet while both ranked in the AP Top 25. There have been two additional games in series history that have been between ranked teams according to other polls. No. 15 Clemson earned a 29-10 win in 1988 against a South Carolina squad that was unranked in the AP Poll but 25th in the Coaches Poll; No. 4 Clemson also earned a 34-10 win in 2017 against a South Carolina team that was unranked in the AP Poll but ranked 24th in the College Football Playoff rankings. Clemson’s most recent win in the series with both teams ranked in the AP Top 25 was in 2000 in a game best known for Rod Gardner’s 50-yard reception — known in Clemson lore as “The Catch II” — to set up a game-winning field goal. Clemson’s opportunities for ranked matchups in the series have been limited. Prior to this Saturday’s game, Clemson has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in 36 games in series history, while South Carolina has been ranked in the AP Top 25 in only 11 of those contests.
SERIES TIDBITS
Four Clemson quarterbacks have started and defeated South Carolina at least three times, Steve Fuller (1976- 78), Homer Jordan (1980-82), Charlie Whitehurst (2002-05) and Deshaun Watson (2014-16). Whitehurst is the only quarterback in the series to start four straight victories. – The visiting team won seven years in a row between 1991-97. – Clemson has a record of 54-32-3 in Columbia, including wins in its last five visits. – Clemson entered the 2015 game ranked No. 1 in the nation. It marked the first time either team was ranked No. 1 entering the contest. Clemson won, 37-32, in Columbia. It marked the first of a five-game span in the series in which Clemson ranked in the Top 5. – Clemson has a 16-9 record against South Carolina when the game is played the Saturday after Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving Day. The only game played on Thanksgiving was the 1963 contest that was moved from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to Thanksgiving due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Tennessee Volunteers (9-2, 5-2 SEC) at Vanderbilt Commodores (6-5, 3-4 SEC)
Series: UT leads, 80-33-5
11 a.m. CT • ABC
Last: UT, 48-24 (2023 at Knoxville)
Nashville, Tenn. • FirstBank Stadium (28,934)
SiriusXM: 119/191 – 381
NOTING THE SERIES
•Tennessee and Vanderbilt are meeting for the 118th time in a series that dates to 1892. The two teams have played every year since 1945. •The Vols lead the all-time series, 80-32-5 on the field and 78-32-5 in terms of NCAA record. Note: The wins in 2019 and 2020 during Jeremy Pruitt’s tenure were vacated by the NCAA Committee on Infractions ruling in July 2023. • Tennessee has captured 35 of the last 41 meetings on the field, including five in a row. •The 80 on-field wins and 78 NCAA wins mark the second most in program history over one opponent, only behind Kentucky – 85, 84. • Vanderbilt’s last win in the series was on Nov. 24, 2018, in Nashville by a score of 38-13. • The last nine matchups have all been decided by double-digits. •Josh Heupel is 3-0 vs. the Commodores as UT head coach, outscoring them 149-45. The Vols put up at least 45 points in all three and won all three by at least 24 points. •The last Nashville meeting in 2022 secured Tennessee’s first 10-win regular season since 2003. The Vols rushed for 362 yards in that rain-soaked game, including the first career 100-yard game from then-freshman Dylan Sampson, who had a career-long 80- yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter as part of a 131-yard effort. •Heupel was also 2-0 vs. Vanderbilt as an assistant coach when he offensive coordinator at Mizzou from 2016-17. •The two schools are separated by 180 miles down I-40. •The Vols and Commodores are meeting in the final week of the season for the 65th time. Tennessee is 55-8-1 on the field in those meetings. The last time the two teams did not play to close a regular season – outside of the 2020 COVID-shortened season – was 2013. • The first meeting between the two teams occurred on Oct. 21, 1892, in Nashville, though the Vols’ first win in the series didn’t occur until Nov. 7, 1914.
Tennessee Volunteers Notes
REGULAR SEASON FINALE:
No. 7/8 Tennessee is vying for its second 10-win regular season in two years and its first College Football Playoff berth as it travels to face Vanderbilt at noon ET/11 a.m. CT Saturday in the regular season finale for both teams. It marks the first time that the now 118-time matchup features an ABC broadcast. The Vols sit in a tie with Texas A&M for third place in the SEC standings, while Vanderbilt is in 11th place. UT was picked to finish seventh at SEC Media Days. The Vols aim for six SEC victories for the second time in three years under Josh Heupel. UT posted a 10-2 regular season mark and a 6-2 SEC slate in 2022. Tennessee is seeking its 16th 10-win regular season, while Heupel is trying to become just the third coach in UT history with multiple 10-win regular seasons, joining Phillip Fulmer (six times in 17 years) and Gen. Robert Neyland (five times in 21 years). Tennessee won over current No. 13 Alabama. Both Vols’ losses came on the road in ABC night environments and came down to the fourth quarter (current No. 6 Georgia) or final possession (Arkansas). UT has played the most night games away from home among SEC teams this season (4), and the Vanderbilt game is the Vols’ first day road game of the year.
PERFECT AT HOME:
Tennessee closed out a perfect 7-0 home slate and stretched its non-conference win streak to 14 games with a 56-0 blowout of UTEP last Saturday in Neyland Stadium. QB Nico Iamaleava was 17-of-23 (73.9%) for 209 yards and career-best four touchdown passes with no picks. Three of Iamaleava’s four touchdown throws came in the second quarter and gave the Vols a 28-0 halftime advantage. The Vols rushed for 241 yards, including 77 from RB Dylan Sampson on 11 carries. Sampson broke the UT single-season record for total touchdowns scored (22) and points scored (32) on a 14-yard run in the first quarter. He added to his already school-record 11th straight game with a rushing score. WR Bru McCoy, on his Senior Day, hauled in a pair of touchdown passes from Iamaleava – an 18-yarder in the second quarter and a 7-yarder in the third. DE James Pearce Jr. racked up a career-best 2.5 sacks, and the Vols finished with a season-high 15 tackles for loss, the most in the Josh Heupel era. DB Jermod McCoy, a Thorpe semifinalist, and DB John Slaughter each had interceptions. DB Boo Carter had a team-high six tackles and 61 PR 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 36-14 record and is 29-8 since the start of the 2022 season. The 29 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 64. Heupel has led the Vols to three straight seasons of at least nine wins for the first time since Phillip Fulmer did it in five straight seasons from 1995- 99. Heupel and Georgia’s Kirby Smart are the only active SEC coaches with a three-or-more-year streak secured so far this season. Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer (8) and LSU’s Brian Kelly (7) could still reach the mark.
TOP 10 IN THE FBS:
Tennessee heads into the Vandy contest ranked in the FBS top 10 in nine major categories: kickoff return defense (3rd – 13.0), scoring defense (4th – 13.1), third-down defense (5th – 28.8), yards per play allowed (5th – 4.33), total defense (6th – 284.3), tackles for loss (6th – 8.0), rushing defense (6th – 98.8), red zone defense (7th – 71.9) and rushing offense (9th – 227.5). The Vols lead the SEC in third-down defense, kickoff return defense and rushing offense. Tennessee and Army are the only teams in the nation with a top 10 rushing offense and rushing defense. UT is the only SEC team to hold 10 of its 11 opponents under 20 points. The Vols have issued the fifth-fewest offensive touchdowns in the FBS this season with 16. Opponents have managed only one first-quarter touchdown this season on UT (Kentucky).
Vanderbilt Commodores Notes
STORYLINES NEXT UP
• Vanderbilt hosts in-state rival Tennessee on Saturday to close out the regular season. With Tennessee coming in at No. 7 in the AP Top 25, the game will mark Vanderbilt’s eighth this season against a team either ranked or receiving votes in the poll. • Tennessee will be Vandy’s fourth top-10 opponent. The Dores fell to No. 7 Missouri in overtime, beat top-ranked Alabama and fell to No. 5 Texas by three points. • The Commodores will be looking for their first win in the series since 2018. Vanderbilt is going to a bowl game for the first time since the 2018 season and is looking for one more victory in its final game to finish above the .500 mark for the first time since 2013.
LAST TIME OUT
• Vanderbilt was defeated 24-17 at LSU on Saturday. • Diego Pavia hit Quincy Skinner Jr. for a 63-yard touchdown on Vandy’s first offensive play of the game. Vandy had not scored on its first offensive play since Sept. 15, 2012 vs. Presbyterian. • Randon Fontenette registered 10 total tackles, a career high. • Jesse Mirco had a punt of 50 yards or more for the fifth consecutive games. Mirco also ran for nine yards to convert a fourth down, his third career rushing attempt and second longest career run. • After making a 47-yard field goal, Brock Taylor is 10-for-10 on field goals in the last seven games. His 17 makes this fall is the second most by a Commodore in a season. • Vandy’s defense has recorded a sack in 10 of 11 games this season. The special teams unit has downed a punt inside the opponent‘s 10-yard line in eight straight games.
DOMINANT DIEGO
• Diego Pavia’s 16 passing touchdowns is seventh in the SEC, top-50 in FBS. The 16 touchdowns are tied for sixth most by a Commodore in a season. On the ground, Pavia has led the team in rushing six times this fall. • Pavia is responsible for 136 points this fall, sixth-most in the SEC and 42nd in FBS. His 245.5 yards of total offense per game ranks eighth in the SEC. • Pavia ranks ninth in the SEC with 671 rushing yards, most among quarterbacks. • He has been named one of 16 semifinalists for the 88th Annual Maxwell Award, as well as one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award. • His performance in the win over top-ranked Alabama on Oct. 5 landed him SEC Offensive Player of the Week. He was also named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week and the Maxwell Award Player of the Week. • Pavia piloted a deadly efficient offense in 2023 while leading New Mexico State to 10 wins. He ranked among the top-35 in FBS in passing touchdowns, points, passing yards per attempt and passing efficiency last season. In addition, Pavia ranked fifth among FBS quarterbacks in Pro Football Focus’ Elusive Rating.
SPECIAL PLAYS, SPECIAL PLAYERS
• Vanderbilt is first in the SEC and seventh in FBS with 16.2 yards per punt return. • Vanderbilt’s special teams efficiency of 72.8 ranks second among FBS programs according to ESPN’s FPI. • Jesse Mirco is averaging 47.8 yards per punt on the season, best in the SEC and third in FBS. • Mirco was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 4) after averaging 52.9 yards on a career-high eight punts at Auburn. • Brock Taylor drilled a program-record 57-yard field goal at Missouri on Sept. 21. Taylor has five makes of 50 or more yards this season, making him the first player on record to accomplish the feat at Vanderbilt. • Taylor has been named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week twice this season. His 17 field goals are second-most by a Commodore in a season. • In the win over Alcorn State, Martel Hight became the first Dore with 100-plus punt return yards since Jonathan Krause on Nov. 24, 2012 at Wake Forest (110 yards). Hight’s punt return for a touchdown was the first since Krause’s in that contest. • Hight is now the first Commodore to have 100-plus punt return yards in a season since the 2019 campaign, reaching the mark in just two games
BOWLING ON THE PLAINS
• Vanderbilt defeated Auburn 17-7 on Nov. 2 to collect its first win at Jordan-Hare Stadium in its 10th visit all-time. • With their sixth win, the Commodores became bowl eligible for the first time since 2018. • The Commodores defeated both Alabama and Auburn in the same season for the first time since 1955. • The Dores held the Tigers to seven points, fewest versus a Power 4 opponent since Kansas State in 2017 and fewest against an SEC opponent since Missouri in 2015. • Jesse Mirco finished the game with eight punts for 423 yards. His average of 52.9 yards per punt was second-best by a Vandy punter (min. five att.) in a single game. Mirco was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. • Diego Pavia became the 13th starting quarterback since 2004 to defeat both Alabama and Auburn in the same season.
Auburn Tigers (5-6, 2-5 SEC) at Alabama Crimson Tide (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
Series: ALA leads, 50-37-1
2:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Last: ALA, 27-24 (2023 at Auburn)
Tuscaloosa, Ala. • Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium (100,077)
SiriusXM: 160/192 – 81
SERIES HISTORY
• In this 89th Iron Bowl, Auburn and Alabama will meet for the 77th consecutive year since 1948. Auburn trails the overall series by a 37-50-1 record. Auburn leads the Iron Bowl 17-14 when the game is played on campus; the series is tied 7-7 in games played in Tuscaloosa and the Tigers lead 10-7 in games played at Auburn. Before 1989, the series was primarily played in Birmingham (Alabama leads 36-20-1) and Montgomery (series tied 2-2 there).
Auburn Tigers Notes
IRON BOWL
• Auburn (5-6, 2-5 SEC) concludes its 2024 regular season facing No. 13 Alabama (8-3, 4-3 SEC) on Saturday, November 30, in a 2:30 p.m. CT game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa televised by ABC. • In all-time SEC play, Auburn holds a 340-278-18 mark (.549) back through 1933. In SEC games played in Auburn, the Tigers are 146-72-6 (.665) all-time; away from Auburn, the Tigers are 194-205-12 (.487) overall in SEC play. • Auburn has a record of 53-71-7 in regular-season finales since 1892.
IN NOVEMBER
• Auburn is 249-195-20 (.558) all-time in November. Auburn’s November home record is 109-43-5 (.709). Away from Auburn, the Tigers are 141-151-15 (.483) in November. The Tigers are 10-7-1 in all games played on November 30, 7-3-1 in SEC contests and 8-7 away from Auburn on that date.
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Auburn has scored in a school-record 153 consecutive games, dating back to the first game of the 2013 season, breaking the program record of 149 games set from 1980-92 ›› The ULM and Texas A&M contests are the first time in school history the Tigers have had a 100-yard rusher (Jarquez Hunter) and two 100-yard receivers (Cam Coleman, KeAndre Lambert-Smith) in consecutive games • KeAndre Lambert-Smith ranks ninth nationally and third in the SEC in yards per reception (20.60). His 156 yards vs. Arkansas was the 14th-best receiving game in Auburn history. His eight receiving touchdowns lead the SEC and are tied for 23rd nationally • The Texas A&M-Auburn four-overtime game was the longest game involving an FBS team this season and the Tigers’ first four-overtime victory in program history ›› Cam Coleman is the 247 Sports national true freshman of the week for his 7-reception, 128-yard, 2 TD performance against Texas A&M, his second consecutive 100-yard game • Jarquez Hunter’s 278-yard rushing effort at Kentucky was the best by an FBS player this season and the fourth-best ever at Auburn, earning him national player of the week honors • Coleman (freshman) and Hunter (offense) were SEC players of the week vs. Texas A&M • Auburn had zero penalties in the ULM game for the first time since at least 1996. The Tigers are one of eight FBS teams to play a penalty-free game this season ›• Auburn ranks 13th nationally in yards per completion (13.91). Auburn is 12th in the country averaging 6.71 yards per play, 12th nationally averaging 8.8 yards per pass attempt and 32nd averaging 4.96 yards per rush
Alabama Crimson Tide Notes
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 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 32 total touchdowns in 11 games of action this season, including 15 passing and 17 rushing. His 32 total scores lead the SEC and are the eighth-most in the FBS, while his 194 points are also tops in the conference and the eighth-best total in the country. Milroe’s 17 rushing scores are the second-most among quarterbacks in Division I, while his 15 passing touchdowns are tied for eighth-most in the SEC.
THROWING THE BOMB:
Through 11 games this season, Jalen Milroe has completed 171-of-263 passes for 2,396 yards. Entering Alabama’s matchup with Auburn, Milroe is averaging 9.11 yards per pass attempt, the second-highest figure in the SEC and the eighth-best mark in the country. He has also accumulated 14.01 yards per completion which also ranks second in the conference and is 10th 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 24 starts the last two seasons, he is averaging 34.7 yards per passing touchdown, accumulating 1,321 total yards on 38 scores. This season alone, the Katy, Texas, native has thrown for 15 total touchdowns with all but two scores 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.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
BUILT FOR THE BEDNARIK:
Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell was named a semifinalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, the Maxwell Football Club on Nov. 12. Campbell is one of 20 semifinalists for the Bednarik, awarded to the best defensive player in college football. Three finalists for the Bednarik will be publicized on Tuesday, Nov. 26 with the 2024 winner chosen on Thursday, Dec. 12 at the ESPN College Football Awards Show. Past Crimson Tide winners of the Bednarik include Jonathan Allen (2016), Minkah Fitzpatrick (2017) and Will Anderson Jr. (2022).
CERTIFIED SAFETIES:
Safety Bray Hubbard has accumulated 44 tackles, including one tackle for loss (-2 yards), to go with two pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble. Hubbard’s 87.9 overall Pro Football Focus grade is the sixth-highest mark in Division I. Fellow safety Malachi Moore is responsible for 66 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss (-6 yards), five pass breakups, two interceptions, two quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles, one sack (-3 yards), and one fumble recovery. Moore has earned an overall PFF defensive grade of 86.1, the 11th-best figure among FBS safeties. Hubbard and Moore are the only safety duo in the country ranked in top-11 by Pro Football Focus.
CAN’T FORGET DOMANI:
Cornerback Domani Jackson is responsible for 40 tackles, including two tackles for loss (-2 yards), to go with two interceptions, five pass breakups and one forced fumble in 11 games. Jackson has been recognized by Pro Football Focus for his support at the line of scrimmage, with his 89.3 run defense grade standing out as the seventh-best grade in the nation.
KEENAN III UP FRONT:
Defensive lineman Tim Keenan III has posted 5.5 tackles for loss (-18 yards) and 1.5 sacks (-10 yards) as part of his 33 total stops this season. The Crimson Tide’s interior defender has also contributed one pass breakup and one quarterback hurry in his 11 games. Keenan III’s 84.8 overall Pro Football Focus grade is sixth-best among interior defenders, while his 90.1 run defense grade is also the sixth-best mark in the country.
CREATING CHAOS:
The Crimson Tide has forced 25 total turnovers (11 fumbles, 14 interceptions) in its first 11 games, the most in the SEC and the second-most in Division I. Alabama is one of just three teams to have forced at least 25 turnovers in 2024. Over the past six games, the Tide has forced 17 takeaways (eight fumbles, nine interceptions), tied for the most forced turnovers in the country in that span.
MARGIN FOR VICTORY:
Alabama currently leads the SEC with a +11 turnover margin, which also stands as the fourth-best mark in the FBS.
BUCKLING DOWN:
Through 11 games, the Crimson Tide defense is allowing just 17.5 points per game, good for fourth in the SEC and 11th nationally. Over the last four contests, Alabama’s defense has surrendered just 9.2 points per game.
TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS, TURNOVERS:
Alabama has forced at least one turnover in 121 of the last 138 contests (dating back to the start of the 2015 season). During the current run, Alabama has forced 220 turnovers (139 interceptions, 81 fumbles) and returned 43 of those miscues for touchdowns.
CAGED THE TIGERS:
The Crimson Tide’s 34-0 win over then-No. 21/17 Missouri on Oct. 26 stands as Alabama’s first conference shutout since Oct. 31, 2020, when UA held Mississippi State off the scoreboard in a 41-0 victory
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
BIG LEG BURNIP:
James Burnip has maintained his consistent form through 11 games. Called upon for 45 punts, Burnip has produced 17 punts of 50-plus yards, with 16 boots pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. Burnip’s 45.1 yards per punt is the 14th-best figure in the country and ranks fifth in the SEC. Pro Football Focus has awarded Burnip a 88.2 punting grade this season, the third-best mark in the SEC and the fourth-best figure in the FBS.
SEMIFINALIST FOR THE GUY:
Burnip was named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, the Augusta Sports Council announced on Nov. 15. Burnip is one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, presented each year to the top punter in college football. Three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 26 with the winner announced during the ESPN College Football Awards Show on Thursday, Dec. 12. Alabama has never had a Ray Guy Award winner in its history.
BIG GAME JAMES:
Burnip was named to the Ray Guy Award’s “Ray’s 8” list on Oct. 28 for his showing during Alabama’s 34-0 win over then-No. 21/17 Missouri. Burnip was called upon for five punts, averaging 49.2 yards per punt with a long of 54 yards. The recognition was Burnip’s fourth this season by the voting body, as the redshirt senior was also named the Ray Guy Punter of the Week on Sept. 17 for his punting prowess during UA’s 42-10 win at Wisconsin on Sept. 14. Burnip was also selected to the “Ray’s 8” list following his performances against South Carolina on Oct. 12 and Western Kentucky on Aug. 31.
IT ENDS HERE:
The Alabama punting unit is currently allowing just 0.71 yards per return, the top mark in all of Division I.
Arkansas Razorbacks (6-5, 3-4 SEC) at Missouri Tigers (8-3, 4-3 SEC)
Series: MIZ leads, 11-4
2:30 p.m. CT • SEC Network
Last: MIZ, 48-14 (2023 at Fayetteville)
Columbia, Mo. • Faurot Field (62,621)
SiriusXM: 106/190 – 119/191
SERIES BUSINESS – ARKANSAS
Series record………………………………………………………………..11-4
In Columbia, Mo. …………………………………………………………….6-0
In Fayetteville, Ark. …………………………………………………………2-2
At neutral site………………………………………………………………….3-2
Most MU points ………………………………………………….50 (2020)
Most UA points …………………………………………………..48 (2020)
Combined points…………………………..98 (MU, 50-48, 2020)
Biggest MU win…………………………………….38 (38-0 in 2018)
Biggest UA win……………………………………..25 (28-3 in 2015)
Current streak…………………………………………………………..MU W2
Arkansas Razorbacks Notes
Games notes not available.
Missouri Tigers Notes
TIGERS CONCLUDE REGULAR SEASON AGAINST ARKANSAS
University of Missouri football closes out its 2024 regular season slate with Senior Day on Saturday (Nov. 30) in the latest installment of the Battle Line Rivalry, presented by Shelter Insurance, against Arkansas on Faurot Field. The Tigers (8-3, 4-3 SEC) and Razorbacks (6-5, 3-4 SEC) will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on SEC Network and Tiger Radio Network.
FIRST AND TEN – STORYLINES
• Missouri, which holds an 11-4 series edge, enters Saturday’s game seeking its third-straight win over Arkansas and its ninth victory over the Razorbacks in 12 Southeastern Conference meetings. • Mizzou’s senior class has compiled 31 victories over the last four seasons, including a 22-5 record on Faurot Field. • Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz notched his 36th win at Mizzou with the Tigers’ victory at Mississippi State last Saturday; He enters the regular-season finale one win away from matching Dan Devine’s program record for wins through the first five seasons of a Mizzou head coaching tenure. • MU is seeking its first undefeated home season since it went 6-0 on Faurot Field in 2010; The Tigers also have a chance to make history with a win on Saturday to finish 7-0 at home for the first time in program history. • Heading into the game, the Tigers have won nine-straight home contests dating back to an Oct. 21, 2023 win over South Carolina; that nine-game home streak ranks as the eighth longest nationally and the third longest in the SEC. • Mizzou’s defense ranks among the nation’s best in several statistical categories, including first downs allowed (5th), 3rd down percentage (6th), passing yards allowed (18th), total defense (21st) and scoring defense (22nd). • DE Johnny Walker Jr. brings the nation’s longest active sack streak into Saturday’s game, with at least 0.5+ sacks in five-straight contests (dating back to Oct. 19 vs. Auburn). • With his 68-yard fumble return for a touchdown last Saturday at Mississippi State, S Daylan Carnell became the first Tiger to score a defensive TD in three consecutive seasons since S William Moore returned an interception for a touchdown in four-straight seasons from 2005-08. • The Tigers lead the SEC and rank seventh nationally in average time of possession (33:08) while also ranking second and tied for 15th, respectively, in fewest turnovers lost (9). • QB Brady Cook (8,558) ranks fourth on the Tigers’ all-time passing yardage list and enters Saturday’s game 241 yards behind Brad Smith for the No. 3 spot on MU’s career chart. • WR Luther Burden III (2,252) is 63 yards shy of breaking into the Tigers’ all-time top five for receiving yards; The junior has recorded a reception in 33 consecutive games, which is tied for the second-longest streak in Mizzou history. • Burden III ranks third in the SEC in receptions per game (5.45), while RB Nate Noel’s 5.30 yards per carry is tied for the fifth best yards per rush average in the conference.
ARKANSAS AT A GLANCE
• Missouri has dominated the Battle Line Rivalry with Arkansas, winning nine of the last 11 meetings dating back to the Tigers’ 38-7 rout in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1, 2008. • In spite of the lopsided record in favor of Mizzou, the Tigers have claimed several close victories over the Razorbacks since joining the SEC in 2012; Including its vacated 2016 win in Columbia, MU has picked up wins decided by seven points or less in five of its eight victories in the series over the same stretch. • In their nine wins over Arkansas since the 2007 season, the Tigers have averaged 36.0 points per contest, while allowing an average of just 20.3 ppg.
THE DRIVE FOR NINE
• The Tigers enter their final regular-season contest with the opportunity to make history by securing their ninth victory. • Missouri’s 11-2 season just a year ago represented the ninth time in program history – and the first since 2014 – the Tigers reached the nine-win mark. • A ninth victory this season would give MU back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time since 2013-14 and for just the third time in program history (2013-14 & 2007-08).
Oklahoma Sooners (6-5, 2-5 SEC) at LSU Tigers (7-4, 4-3 SEC)
Series: LSU leads, 2-1-0
6 p.m. CT • ESPN
Last: LSU, 63-28 (2019 at Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl CFP Semifinal)
Baton Rouge, La. • Tiger Stadium (102,321)
SiriusXM: 119/191 – 106/190
OU-LSU SERIES HISTORY
• Oklahoma trails the head-to-head series with LSU 2-1, with all three contests coming in bowl games. The first matchup came in front of 82,000 fans at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2, 1950, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans. In a contest that featured only 18 combined first downs (10 by OU), Bud Wilkinson’s No. 2 Sooners outgained the ninth-ranked Tigers 360-159 in total yardage in a 35-0 win to finish with an 11-0 record and register its fifth shutout of the season. It still stands as the largest margin of victory in a bowl game in school history. Fullback Leon “Mule Train” Heath rushed 15 times for 170 yards, including a bowl-program record 86-yard touchdown. Heath also scored on a 34-yard run. Running back George Thomas scored OU’s first two touchdowns, catching a 34-yard pass from halfback Lindell Pearson and rushing for a 5-yard score, both in the second quarter. The game was marred by an early week incident in which a former LSU player was caught spying on OU practice. It was the only time in Wilkinson’s OU career he publicly blasted an opponent. The outcome marked the Sooners’ 21st straight victory. They won their first national title the following season. • The programs’ second meeting again came in the Sugar Bowl, this time at the Louisiana Superdome and serving as the BCS National Championship Game to cap the 2003 season. Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma squad, which was No. 1 in the BCS rankings, entered the game as the nation’s top-scoring offense. It managed just two touchdowns, though, in a 21-14 loss to Nick Saban’s No. 2 Tigers. OU’s defense was also strong, surrendering just 312 yards on the night (64 came on a non-scoring play on LSU’s first snap). Tiger defensive end Marcus Spears returned an interception 20 yards for a TD on the first series of the second half for a 21-7 lead before the Sooners made a charge. Kejuan Jones scored on his second 1-yard rush of the night to make it 21-14, and OU later drove to the LSU 12 before missing on four straight pass attempts, the last one with 2:46 left. The crowd was the largest in Superdome history at the time. • No. 1 LSU controlled the 2019 College Football Playoff Semifinal matchup at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, downing fourth-ranked OU 63-28. Behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrows, the Tigers jumped out to 35-7 lead and outgained the Sooners 692 yards to 322. Burrows completed 29 of 39 passes for 493 yards and seven touchdowns. OU QB Jalen Hurts passed for 217 yards and rushed for 43, including two TDs. LSU went on to win the national title by beating second-ranked Clemson in the title game, 42-25. Current OU head coach Brent Venables was Clemson’s defensive coordinator.
Oklahoma Sooners Notes
OPENING KICK
• Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) wraps up its 2024 regular season when it takes on LSU (7-4, 4-3) on Saturday at 6 p.m. CT at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. The game will be televised by ESPN with Tom Hart, Jordan Rodgers and Cole Cubelic announcing. • Saturday’s contest will mark the first between Oklahoma and LSU in the regular season. The previous three meetings were in bowl games. • Oklahoma has won 17 of its last 21 regular season finales. Thirteen of those 21 games were on the road, with OU posting a 10-3 record. • An Oklahoma victory over LSU would clinch the Sooners’ 25th winning season in the last 26 years. OU’s only non-winning season since 1999 came in 2022 (6-7). Boise State is the only program with winning seasons every year from 1999-2024. • OU is the only program nationally that has played seven games against teams ranked in this week’s AP Top 25. The Sooners’ FBS opponents this season own a combined 72-38 record. • Since the end of World War II (1946 season to present), OU leads all programs with 706 wins while LSU ranks 11th with 596. • 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.
KEY STORYLINES
• Oklahoma and LSU rank fifth and 13th, respectively, in all-time winning percentage. Oklahoma owns a 950- 346-53 (.724) all-time record while LSU is 850-438-47 (.654). The Sooners have played 1,349 games and the Tigers have played 1,335. • Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables has faced LSU three times, all as a defensive coordinator in bowl games, and is 1-2 in those meetings. As co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in the 2003 season Venables’ Sooners lost 21-14 in the Sugar Bowl, which served as the BCS National Championship. In his first year as Clemson’s defensive coordinator in 2012, his squad posted a 25-24 win in the Peach Bowl in Atlanta. And in the 2020 CFP National Championship (2019 season), LSU won 42-25 in New Orleans. • After averaging just 112.1 rushing yards per game over the season’s first seven contests, the Sooners are averaging 226.8 rushing yards over the last four outings. That includes a 257-yard performance (5.1 yards per carry) against No. 7 Alabama on Saturday — the most rushing yards allowed by the Crimson Tide in 26 games. Similarly, opponents registered 38 sacks in the first eight games (average of 4.8). Since surrendering 18 combined sacks against South Carolina and Ole Miss (school-record nine each), OU has given up just four sacks over the last three games (1.3 average). • Since being reinserted into the lineup early in the contest against South Carolina five games ago, sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold has completed 79 of 123 passes (64%) for 773 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions and has rushed for 231 yards. u True freshman running back Xavier Robinson didn’t play until the sixth game of the season and has only played in five contests but has emerged as one of OU’s top offensive weapons the last three outings. The 6-0, 226-pounder got his first six career carries against Maine on Nov. 2 and ran for 29 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for 41 yards. At Missouri the next game he ran nine times for 56 yards (eight carries came in the fourth quarter of a tight contest). And against Alabama on Saturday, Robinson carried 18 times for 107 yards and two TDs (all career highs) and caught a career-high four passes for 20 yards. He is averaging 5.9 yards per carry on the year, a team high among players with at least 30 rushes. • Senior Danny Stutsman, who ranks fourth in the SEC with his 100 tackles and 9.1 tackles per game, has 367 career stops to rank ninth in Oklahoma history (eighth among linebackers). He needs 13 to tie linebacker Tyrell Peters (1993-96) for the No. 8 spot. Stutsman’s 35.5 career tackles for loss rank him seventh among OU inside linebackers (needs 0.5 to move into the top five and 1.5 to move into the top four). • Oklahoma ranks sixth nationally by permitting just 2.9 yards per rush on the season. The Sooners have been even more stout over the last five games, allowing only 2.6 yards per carry. Four of those five opponents are ranked in this week’s AP poll. Ole Miss’ long run vs. OU was nine yards, Missouri’s was 10 yards and Alabama’s was 11. LSU ranks 107th nationally by rushing for 117.5 yards per game and 88th by averaging 4.1 yards per carry. • In the Sooners’ six wins this season they have outscored opponents 77-9 off turnovers. In their five losses they have been outscored 58-7 off turnovers. LSU has been outscored 38-31 off turnovers this season. • Since the start of the 2023 campaign, OU is 13-0 when it wins the turnover battle (5-0 this year) and 2-7 when it loses it (0-5 this year). LSU has committed 14 turnovers this season and is -2 in turnover margin. It is 4-0 when it wins the turnover battle and 1-3 when it loses it. • LSU has won 16 of its last 17 night-games at Tiger Stadium, and since the start of the 2000 season is 111- 16 (.874) in home night contests (18-4 since the start of the 2020 season). LSU is 14-1 in home night games under head coach Brian Kelly, with the only defeat coming Nov. 9 against Alabama, 42-13. • OU has featured a different starting offensive line in eight of its 11 games this season, and 11 Sooners have started at least one contest. Febechi Nwaiwu (right guard) has started all 11 games. Other starters have been Jacob Sexton (four starts at left tackle and four at left guard), Michael Tarquin (three games at left tackle and four at right tackle), Heath Ozaeta (six games at left guard), Troy Everett (started the last five games at center), Logan Howland (five games at left tackle), Branson Hickman (four games at center), Jake Taylor (four games at right tackle), Spencer Brown (three games at right tackle), Joshua Bates (two games at center) and Geirean Hatchett (one game at left guard; out for the year). OU’s starters the last three games have been Howland at left tackle, Ozaeta at left guard, Everett at center, Nwaiwu at right guard and Brown at right tackle.
LSU Tigers Notes
LSU Closes Out Regular Season Against Tiger Stadium First-Timer Oklahoma
LSU (7-4, 4-3 SEC) closes out the 2024 regular season on Saturday, hosting SEC newcomer Oklahoma (6-5, 2-5 SEC) at 6 p.m. ion Tiger Stadium. ESPN will televise the contest with Tom Hart (pxp), Jordan Rodgers (analyst) and Cole Cubelic (sideline reporter) on the call. The game marks Oklahoma’s first trip to Tiger Stadium and will be just the fourth all-time meeting between two of college football’s winningest programs. LSU is 2-1 against OU, beating the Sooners 21-14 in the BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans and 63-28 in the 2019 CFP Semifinals. OU’s win over LSU came in the 1950 Sugar Bowl (35-0). LSU is 18-2 in its last 20 games in Tiger Stadium and the Tigers are 14-1 at night in Death Valley under third-year coach Brian Kelly. Kelly is 16-7 in SEC regular-season games at LSU, which includes an 9-2 record in Tiger Stadium. LSU enters the game averaging 28.6 points and 435.3 total yards per game (117.5 rushing, 317.7 passing). The Tigers lead the SEC and rank No. 5 nationally in third-down conversion percentage at 50 percent (80-of-159). Defensively, the Tigers are allowing 24.4 points and 359.4 total yards per game (144.7 rushing, 214.6 passing). Junior QB Garrett Nussmeier ranks No. 2 in the SEC in TD passes (23), passing yards per game (314.36), and total offense (310.9). Nussmeier, who has 12 career starts, has completed 290-of-459 passes for 3,458 yards, 23 TDs and 11 interceptions. LSU’s offense features 3 players with at least 50 receptions led by WR Kyren Lacy (55-825-8). Others include TE Mason Taylor (52-518-2) and WR Aaron Anderson (52-778-5). RB Caden Durham leads all freshman running backs in the SEC in yards with 613. LBs Whit Weeks (102 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks) and Greg Penn (70 tackles) lead the Tiger defense. DEs Bradyn Swinson (50 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 12.0 TFL, 10 QB hurries, 2 FF) and Sai’vion Jones (33 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 6.5 TFL, 8 QB hurries, 2 FF, 1 FR) have the most impact plays for the Tiger defense.
QUICK NOTES
• Dating back to November of 2021, LSU has won 16 of its last 17 night games in Tiger Stadium. The only loss during that span came to Alabama on Nov. 9 of this year. LSU is 14-1 under Brian Kelly in night games in Tiger Stadium. • 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 leads the SEC and ranks No. 5 in the nation in third-down conversion percentage at 50 percent (80-of-159). LSU converted 8-of-13 third-down opportunities against Vanderbilt. • QB Garrett Nussmeier ranks No. 2 in the SEC and in the Top 10 nationally in passing yards (No. 7 at 3,126), passing yards per game (No. 7 at 312.6), and total offense per game (No. 9 at 309.4). Nussmeier is tied for the SEC leading and ranks No. 9 nationally in passing TDs (22). • In 12 career starts, Nussmeier has thrown for at least 2 TDs 8 times and topped the 300-yard mark 8 times, including 7 in 2024. He’s guided LSU to an 8-4 mark as a starter. • WR Kyren Lacy ranks in the Top 10 in the SEC in TD receptions (No. 1 with 8), receiving yards (No. 4 with 825), and receptions (No. 5 with 55). 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 39 receptions led by WR Kyren Lacy (55-825- 8). Others include: TE Mason Taylor (52-518-2), WR Aaron Anderson (52-778-5) and WR CJ Daniels (39-456-0). • TE Mason Taylor has caught a pass in 28 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 126 career receptions for 1,280 yards and 6 TDs. • LB Whit Weeks ranks No. 3 in the SEC in tackles per game (9.3). He’s recorded doubledigit tackles in 4 of LSU’s 7 conference games, including a career-best 18 in the win over Ole Miss and 17 vs. Alabama. Weeks has 102 tackles • 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 33 games (out of a possible 38 games). LSU is 24-9 in those games. • LSU still remains atop the SEC in sacks allowed with 13.
LSU Hosts Oklahoma In Tiger Stadium For First Time Ever on ESPN
LSU closes out the regular season on Saturday when SEC newcomer Oklahoma visits Tiger Stadium for the first time. LSU improved to 7-4 overall and 4-3 in SEC action last week with a 24-17 win over Vanderbilt. Oklahoma ran its record to 6-5 overall and 2-5 in league play with a 24-3 win over Alabama last week. Kickoff for Saturday’s contest is 6 p.m. on ESPN.
Florida Gators (6-5, 4-4 SEC) at Florida State Seminoles (2-9)
Series: UF leads, 37-28-2
7 p.m. ET • ESPN2
Last: FSU, 24-15 (2023 at Gainesville)
Tallahassee, Fla. • Doak S. Campbell Stadium (79,500)
SiriusXM: 160/192
Series Information
Series Record……………………………….Florida leads, 37-28-2
In Gainesville…………………………………Florida leads, 22-13-1
In Tallahassee…………………………………………….Tied, 14-14-1
When Both are Ranked…………Florida State leads, 12-10-1
When Both are Top-10 Teams…..Florida State leads, 8-5-1
Games Decided by 3 Points or Less………Florida leads, 6-1
Games Decided by 7 Points or Less…….Florida leads, 13-9
Florida’s Longest Winning Streak………9 games (1968-76)
Florida’s Longest Losing Streak………….5 games (2013-17)
Current Streak………………………………………….FSU, 2 games
Biggest Florida Win………49-0, Dec. 1, 1973, in Gainesville
Biggest Florida Loss…. 17-52, Nov. 26, 1988, in Tallahassee
Florida Gators Notes
THE OPENING DRIVE
• Florida and FSU match up for the 68th time in the 30th all-time meeting between the two teams in Tallahassee. • The all-time series dates back to 1958 with the Gators owning a 37-28-2 lead and wins in three of the last five. • In that span, Florida has outscored FSU, 158-121 (7.4 PPG), while outgaining the Noles, 2,052 to 1,612 (88.0 YPG). • Florida is averaging 410.4 total yards including 181.2 yards rushing across the last five meetings. • Across 16 meetings dating back to 2007, only four games in the UF-FSU series have been decided by single-digit points, which surprisingly includes each of the last three contests (2023, 2022, 2021, 2014). • Florida is coming off back-to-back upset wins over AP Top 25 opponents (No. 21 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss) as an unranked team for the first time since Oct. 11-18, 2003 (No. 6 LSU, No. 11 Arkansas) – first time accomplished in two home games. • The win over Ole Miss marked UF’s first home victory as a double-digit underdog and UF’s second-largest upset win overall in the last 45 seasons (behind topping No. 16 LSU as a 14-point road dog in 2016). • Of the 34 upsets by unranked teams so far this season, Florida is one of six with multiple wins vs CFP top-25 teams. • Florida (6-5) has clinched its 49th bowl appearance in program history. • The Gators have gone bowling in six of the last seven seasons, and in nine of the last 11. • Florida finished the campaign winning four-straight games in The Swamp, outscoring opponents by 57 total points. • This is the third meeting between UF HC Billy Napier and Florida State HC Mike Norvell as head coaches. • Florida is the only FBS team to have all five of its losses come against opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 20. • The Gators have recorded a takeaway in eight-straight games and have forced a turnover in 10 of 11 overall. • Florida is 4-1 in games started by true freshman QB DJ Lagway, with the lone loss being to No. 2 Georgia, which the Gators led prior to Lagway departing due to injury. • Lagway leads all FBS quarterbacks with a 97.3 passing grade on deep throws (20-plus yards) this season. • Florida started a true freshman QB and RB in Lagway and RB Jadan Baugh for the second-time in program history in Week 12 and is now 2-0 with the only two FBS wins this season while starting a true freshman backfield. • Week 14 is the fifth time a UF true freshman QB will start vs. FSU. However, Lagway is going for the first-such win. • Florida is one of three teams in the country with two qualified receivers averaging 18.0 yards per catch in WR Elijhah Badger (fourth – 22.2) and WR Chimere Dike (22nd – 18.9), with the others being Ole Miss and East Carolina. • Led by first-year senior analyst Joe Houston, Florida ranks seventh in the FBS in net punting (43.16), 15th in punt return average (14.91) and 48th in punt return defense (5.85), and has been inside the top-13 all season in ESPN’s SP+ metric. • Florida has allowed just 16 sacks, grading as the 13th-best pass blocking team in the nation with an 80.4 PFF grade. • C Jake Slaughter grades as the No. 5 center in the FBS (79.6) and has the seventh-best run block grade (77.7). • Since 2018, Napier is tied for 12th in the FBS with 57 total wins (10th among active HCs), ahead of Kyle Whittingham (55), Mike Gundy (55), Sonny Dykes (55), Mike Norvell (53), and Mark Stoops (51) in that time, among others. • The Gators have won 18 of their last 24 games in The Swamp (including 13 of 18), but are 3-19 in their last 22 con- tests outside The Swamp and 3-14 in their last 17 true road games. • Florida has scored in an NCAA-record 459-consecutive games dating back to 1988.
DEFENSIVE NOTEABLES
• Florida forced a turnover on downs inside the redzone twice vs. Ole Miss for the first time since Sept. 24, 2016 at Tennessee. • With 17 takeaways this season, UF has more than doubled its takeaways (seven) from last season. » Ten of the turnovers gained have been by underclassmen, led by Aaron Gates & Bryce Thornton with three each. • UF has 11 interceptions this season, tripling its total (three) from last season. This is the most INTs for Florida since 2019 (16). • The Gators have held its opponent to zero points on the opening drive in each of the last five games. • The Ole Miss Rebels tied for their lowest point total (17) all season against the Gators in Week 13. • Against No. 21 LSU, UF only allowed 16 points, its fewest in SEC play this season and second-lowest in FBS competition. • The UF defense had its best stretch of outings from Week 5-8, allowing 13, 20 and 23 points. • In back-to-back weeks, Florida held UCF and Tennessee (both top-five in total offense and rushing offense at the time) to current season lows in both categories. » The Gators shut out the Vols in the first half (second time for UT this season), as Tennessee did not reach the red zone. • Against Kentucky, the Florida defense posted three interceptions, its most in a game since Nov. 28, 2020 vs. the Wildcats. » It also tied for the total amount of interceptions (three) the Gators had all of last season. • The UF defense posted three interceptions in back-to-back games vs. Kentucky and Georgia for the first time since Sept. 14, 2019 vs. Kentucky (three) and Sept. 21, 2019 vs. Tennessee (three). » Since 1996, the Gators are sixth nationally in interceptions with an SEC-leading 423.
Florida State Seminoles Notes
NOTES TO KNOW
» Florida State wraps up its 2024 season by hosting in-state rival Florida on Saturday night. The Seminoles and Gators first played in Tallahassee in 1964, and the all-time series is tied 14-14-1 in games played in the state capitol including a 45-38 FSU win in 2022. » FSU ranks 1st in ESPN’s Special Teams Efficiency rankings with an efficiency rating of 78.4, nearly six points higher than the country’s 2nd-ranked team (Vanderbilt, 72.8) and 12.5 points higher than the No. 2 ACC team (Stanford, 65.9). » Alex Mastromanno’s average of 49.1 yards per punt is 1st nationally, and Mastromanno also leads the country in 50+-yard punts with 28. He has by far the most 50-yard punts with one or fewer touchbacks this season as the next-closest punter has 19. Florida State ranks 2nd in the country and 1st in the ACC with a net punting average of 45.25 yards per punt. » Ryan Fitzgerald is the only kicker in the nation still perfect on field goals with at least 12 attempts this season. He is also one of three kickers in the country with five made field goals from at least 52 yards – converting from 59, 56, 54, 53 and 52 yards this season – and the only kicker in FSU history to make three career field goals from at least 54 yards. He has matched the FSU single-season record with five 50-yard field goals and is one of five kickers nationally with five 50-yard field goals in 2024. » Florida State is the only team in the ACC and one of two nationally with a kickoff return touchdown in each of the last three seasons. Samuel Singleton Jr., extended FSU’s streak to three straight years with a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown to open the second half at Duke. Last year, Deuce Spann had a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown at home against the Blue Devils, and in 2022 Trey Benson recorded FSU’s first kickoff return touchdown since the 2013 season when he returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a score against Boston College. » Luke Kromenhoek made his first collegiate start in last week’s win and was 13-of-20 passing for 209 yards with three touchdowns while adding 31 rushing yards. Kromenhoek is the only true freshman in FSU history to pass for three touchdowns in his first start, and his 71-yard touchdown pass to Ja’Khi Douglas on the first play of the second half is the 2nd-longest completion by a true freshman in program history and longest by an FSU true freshman since 1976. » The Seminoles are tied for 3rd in the nation with five blocked kicks this season, courtesy of four field goals and one punt block, after blocking one field goal vs. Cal, one at SMU and two vs. Clemson and adding a punt block at Duke. Florida State is one of only two teams in the country to block at least one kick in four different games against P4 conference opponents, and its four-game streak with at least one blocked kick between the SMU and Duke games is the longest nationally this season. FSU’s 14 blocked kicks under Mike Norvell are tied for 7th nationally and 2nd among P4 conference programs since the start of the 2020 season. » Florida State is tied for 7th nationally with 19 successful 4th-down conversions this season. The Seminoles have converted at least one 4th down in nine games this year, including a 7-yard pass from Brock Glenn to Kyle Morlock to extend a drive that resulted in a field goal at Notre Dame. FSU converted four 4th-down attempts against both Clemson and Miami and is one of three P4 conference teams with at least four 4th-down conversions in multiple games this season. » FSU has started nine different offensive line combinations through 11 games this season, the most in the country in 2024 and the most by Florida State since at least 2000. Ten offensive linemen have made at least one start, the most for FSU in one season since 2019. Last year, in 14 games, Florida State started four offensive line combinations and eight different offensive linemen. » Florida State’s 2024 schedule is ranked as the 5th-toughest in the nation according to the NCAA. FSU’s opponents have a cumulative .678 winning percentage.
Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC) at Texas A&M Aggies (8-3, 5-2 SEC)
Series: TEX leads, 76-37-5
6:30 p.m. CT • ABC
Last: TEX, 27-25 (2011 at College Station)
Bryan – College Station, Texas • Kyle Field (102,733)
SiriusXM: 82 – 84
SERIES HISTORY
Overall Record ………………………………………………..Texas leads, 76-37-5
In Austin …………………………………………………………Texas leads, 46-13-1
In College Station ……………………………………………Texas leads, 25-22-2 Neutral……………………………………………………………….Texas leads, 5-2-2
Elko vs. Texas…………………………………………………………………………. 0-0
Sarkisian vs. Texas A&M…………………………………………………………. 0-0
Current Streak …………………………………………………Texas, Won 1 (2011)
Last Meeting ……………………………………………..Teaxs 27, Texas A&M 25
Longest Texas Streak……………………………………… Won 10 (1957-1966)
Longest Texas A&M Streak…………………………………… Won 6 (1984-89)
Largest Texas Win…………………………….. Texas 48, Texas A&M 0 (1898)
Largest Texas A&M Win…………………… Texas 10, Texas A&M 42 (1985)
• In the regular-season finale, Texas and Texas A&M will renew their rivalry in College Station in this year’s edition of the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown. where the Longhorns won the last meeting, 27-25, in 2011. • Texas leads the overall series, 76-37-5, including 25-22- 2 in College Station. • The Horns and Aggies will meet on the gridiron for the 119th time in history and first time in the last 13 years on Saturday. • They had been in the Southwest Conference together from 1915-95, followed by the Big 12 from 1996- 2011. • Texas and Texas A&M had played every year from 1915 to 2011 until Texas A&M left the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference. • The Longhorns have also won nine of the last 12 overall contests since 2000. • Texas has won five of the last six matchups in College Station since 2000. • The series dates back to 1894 when UT captured a 38-0 victory in Austin.
Texas Longhorns Notes
COTTON HOLDINGS LONE STAR SHOWDOWN
• The No. 3/3/3 Texas Longhorns (10-1, 6-1 SEC) travel to Bryan-College Station, Texas, to clash with the No. 20/19/15 Texas A&M Aggies at 6:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 30, at Kyle Field. The game will broadcast on ABC with Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (reporter) on the call. • The Longhorns are alone atop the SEC standings and a spot in the conference championship game in year one comes down Texas at Texas A&M on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT/ABC) • Saturday will be the 119th meeting in series history between the Longhorns and Aggies and first since 2011 when Texas defeated Texas A&M, 27-25, • Last time out, Texas defeated Kentucky, 31-14, on Nov. 23 inside Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The Horns finished 6-1 at home during the 2024 regular season. • Texas is the only team in the nation with eight wins vs. FBS opponents that are .500 or better. • Texas’ 10-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. It also doubles as the longest active streak in the FBS. • UT boasts the fourth-most wins (958) in NCAA history. Texas holds a record of 958-393-33 (.705). The Longhorns’ 958 wins are the second most in an SEC program following Alabama’s 958 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.
A TEXAS WIN WOULD …
• With a win, Texas will stretch its series lead vs. Texas A&M to 77-37-5. • Extend UT’s road winning streak to 11-consecutive games – its longest true road game winning streak since 2003-06 when the Horns won 15 in a row during that span. • Secure Texas’ 26th win against Texas A&M in College Station. • Be Texas’ 959th all-time victory, the fourth-winningest program in college football history. • Give Steve Sarkisian his 83rd victory as a head coach and 36th at Texas in his 132nd career game as a head coach. • Texas would finish the regular season 11-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play for the second-consecutive year.
TEXAS AT NO. 3 IN CFP RANKINGS
• Texas football is at No. 3 in this week’s College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings released on No. 19. It ties for the highest CFP ranking in program history. The Longhorns have nine-consecutive top-10 CFP rankings, dating back to Oct. 31, 2023. Texas debuted at No. 5 in the first CFP rankings on Nov. 5 -It was the program’s highest-ever spot in the first week of CFP rankings. Texas has been in the top-25 in each of the last 12 CFP rankings and has 25 overall appearances with its highest appearance at No. 3 in both 2023 and 2024. The Longhorns are currently ranked No. 3 in the Associated Press and US LBM Coaches Poll. UT made its first CFP appearance in 2023 after facing the No. 2/2/2 Washington Huskies in CFP semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Longhorns climbed from No. 7 in the penultimate 2023 CFP ranking to No. 3 on Selection Day.
SARK’S STAMPEDE
• Under head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns are 24-4 in their last 28 games with their only four losses coming against top-12 teams. • In Sarkisian’s first 22 games as head coach at Texas, UT went 11-11. • Since the start of the 2023 season UT is 22-3 with the only three losses against AP top-12 ranked foes. • Following the 31-14 win in UT’s home regular season finale on Nov. 23, Texas is 17-3 at home over the last three seasons with its only three losses to top-5 ranked foes (No. 5/4 Georgia on Oct. 19, No. 1/1 Alabama in 2022 and No. 4/4 TCU in 2022). • Texas has won 13 of its last 14 conference matchups, dating back to Oct. 21, 2023.
Texas A&M Aggies Notes
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• The historic rivalry returns in the regular season finale as Texas A&M and Texas face off for the first time since 2011 … The two teams are once again conference foes and have split the last six meetings. • Dual-threat QB Marcel Reed has regained his role as the starter and recently connected on a career-high three touchdown strikes while racking up a season-best 297 yards at Auburn … The freshman adds six rushing scores and 49.0 yards per game on the ground, good for third among SEC signal callers. • The rushing attack has been a strength for the Aggies all season as they rank 17th with 208.4 yards per game, while their 26 rushing touchdowns are good for 21st in the country. • Junior RB Amari Daniels has played a key role in the Aggies’ success in the run game throughout the year, ranking 13th in the SEC with 58.2 yards per game and eighth with eight rushing scores, including a 71-yard dash to the end zone against New Mexico State. • The offensive line has controlled the battle in the trenches while clearing the way for A&M’s top-20 rushing attack, as the unit ranks 17th nationally and second in the SEC allowing 44.0 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 95.6 conversion rate … The Aggies have scored on 43 of 45 trips, including 33 touchdowns. • Sophomore LB Taurean York has led the team in tackles in four of the last five games, most recently registering his second double-digit tackles game this year with 10 takedowns at Auburn … York leads the team with 65 tackles, good for 19th in the SEC. • Junior DL Nic Scourton has been a force in league play, tallying 10.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks through seven SEC games and has helped lead a defense that ranks 17th in the country with 78.0 TFL … He ranks 14th in the nation and third in the SEC with 14.0 tackles for loss on the season, while his 5.0 sacks are good for 18th in the league.
QUICK HITS
• Junior WR Noah Thomas is coming off his best performance in league play in his career after racking up a career-high 124 yards on five catches at Auburn … He scored on back-to-back drives, including a career-long 73-yard touchdown reception … His six touchdown catches this year are good for eighth among SEC receivers. • The Maroon & White have disrupted the opposition’s aerial attack all season, ranking fifth in the country with 50 pass breaks and 24th with 12 interceptions on the season. • Junior DL Cashius Howell and Albert Regis have been menaces for opponent’s passing games, ranking second and third on the team with six and five breakups, respectively … Howell has had at least one breakup and one hurry in a game five times this season, while his total pass breakups are good for 17th in the SEC … Regis ranks 20th in the league in breakups and has batted down three pass in the last two outings. • Senior DB BJ Mayes registered his third interception of the year, coming up with a deflected pass in the third quarter at Auburn … Mayes, along with sophomore DB Marcus Ratcliffe, ranks fifth in the SEC in the category. • Junior DB Will Lee III has brought veteran leadership to the secondary and ranks third in the SEC with nine breakups on the year while his 10 passes defended are the fifth-most in the SEC. • Graduate K Randy Bond ranks ninth nationally with 19 made field goals this season and his 98 total points are good for 15th … Bond recently notched the 12th game of his career with double-digit points, adding two field goals and five extra points at Auburn. • With the wins over No. 8 LSU and No. 9 Missouri, Texas A&M stands as one of four teams in the nation to take down two AP top-10 teams this season.
