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CFB: Week 13 Conference Notes – Mountain West Conference

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Friday, November 25 TV/Digital Time
Utah State at Boise State* CBS 10 a.m. MT

New Mexico at Colorado State* CBS Sports Network 1:30 p.m. MT

Wyoming at Fresno State* FS1 7 p.m. PT

Saturday, November 26 TV/Digital Time
Hawai‘i at San José State* Spectrum/Team1Sports App 12:30 p.m. PT

Nevada at UNLV* MWN 3 p.m. PT

Air Force at San Diego State* CBS Sports Network 6 p.m. PT

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Dating back to the 2019 season, the Mountain West has won 19 games against autonomous-5 opponents, including 16 against the Pac-12. This is the most wins in that time span amongst all non-autonomous-5 conferences.

• The Mountain West produced the first non-automatic-qualifying FBS team into a
BCS bowl game (Utah – 2005 Fiesta Bowl) and into the College Football Playoff
(Boise State – 2014 Fiesta Bowl).

• After Wyoming’s double-overtime victory over Tulsa on Sept. 3, and Air Force’s win against Navy on Oct. 1, the Mountain West now has a 17-11 record against opponents from the American Athletic Conference.

• Nevada senior safety Bentlee Sanders is a semifinalist for the 2022 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, the only DB from outside the Autonomous-5 to earn a spot on the list.

• Nevada senior running back Toa Taua has rushed for 3,850 yards in his career, the fourth-most among active FBS players. On Nov. 19, Taua moved into fifth all-time in MW history.

• Nevada senior place-kicker Brandon Talton set the Mountain West record for career field goals made on Nov. 12 vs. Boise State, kicking No. 65 in the second quarter.

• San José State senior linebacker Kyle Harmon has racked up 426 total tackles in his career, the fourth-most all-time in MW history. UNLV’s Adam Seward (2001- 04) sits in third place on the list at 433 career tackles.

• Fresno State senior quarterback Jake Haener has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 26 consecutive games, beginning on Oct. 24, 2019. This is tied for the league record with Carson Strong (Nevada) and Derek Carr (Fresno State).

• Over the last 18 seasons, the MW has captured the Bowl Challenge Cup five times and owns the third-best win percentage in bowl games among the 10 FBS conferences (.583), trailing only the SEC (.621) and Sun Belt (.593).

2022 MW FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Boise State will host Fresno State in the 2022 MW Football Championship Game, which will be played on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. MT and the game will be televised on FOX for the third-consecutive year. The Broncos and Bulldogs have met on three previous occasions in the MW Football Championship Game, with Boise State owning a 2-1 advantage.

BOWL ELIGIBILITY
Air Force (8-3), Boise State (8-3), Fresno State (7-4), San Diego State (7-4), San José State (6-4), Utah State (6-5) and Wyoming (7-4) have all earned bowl eligibility.

• Air Force is bowl eligible for the 13th time in 16 seasons.

• The Broncos are bowl eligible for the 25th consecutive season, the third-longest active streak nationally, trailing just Ohio State and Georgia.

• Fresno State is bowl eligible for the second-consecutive season.

• San Diego State is bowl eligible for the 13th straight season.

• SJSU head coach Brent Brennan is the first Spartan head coach to go to two bowl games since Claude Gilbert in 1986 & 1987.

• Utah State is bowl eligible for the second-straight season under Blake Anderson.

• The Cowboys are postseason bound for the sixth time in seven season.

CFB: Week 13 Conference Previews – American Athletic Conference (AAC)

WEEK 13 PREVIEWS

FRIDAY, NOV. 25 • NOON • ABC
TULANE at CINCINNATI
Nippert Stadium (40,000/UBU Speed Series 55-M)
Cincinnati, Ohio
Television
ABC
Roy Philpott, Andre Ware and Paul Carcaterra
Tulane Radio Cincinnati Radio
KVDU-FM 104.1 WLW-AM 700
SiriusXM 103/202/965 SiriusXM 390/980

THE GAME
Friday’s game will be the 19th meeting between Tulane and Cincinnati in a series that dates to 1909 … The Green Wave holds an 11-7 series lead, but Cincinnati has won all four matchups under The American’s banner, including a 31-12 decision last year in New Orleans … Tulane’s last win against the Bearcats was a 35-17 victory in 2002.

19/20 TULANE
9-2, 6-1 American
Head Coach
Willie Fritz (Pittsburg State ’83) 40-45, seventh season at Tulane 211-114, 25th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Tulane bounced back from its first conference loss with a solid 59-24 win against SMU last Thursday in New Orleans … The win put Tulane in position to play in a conference championship game for the first time in program history … A win against Cincinnati would put The American Championship in New Orleans … Tulane leads The American in scoring defense (19.5 ppg) … QB Michael Pratt has completed 174 of 266 passes for 2,219 yards and 20 touchdowns with four interceptions … RB Tyjae Spears has 996 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, ranking third in The American in rushing (90.6 ypg) … Six players have at least 20 receptions … LB Dorian Williams has 93 tackles with 6.5 tackles for loss and an interception, while LB Nick Anderson has 88 stops with 5.5 tackles for loss.

21/21 CINCINNATI
9-2, 6-1 American
Head Coach
Luke Fickell (Ohio State ’97) 56-17, sixth season at Cincinnati 62-24, seventh season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Cincinnati takes a three-game winning streak into the regular-season finale as the Bearcats bid for a fourth straight appearance in The American Championship … Cincinnati has won its last 32 games at Nippert Stadium and trails only Clemson (40) for the longest active home winning streak … QB Ben Bryant has passed for 2,731 yards and 21 touchdowns, but Bryant left Saturday’s game against Temple with a foot injury … QB Evan Prater has completed 72% of his passes (18 of 25) in limited action … RB Charles McClelland has rushed for 777 yards and six touchdowns … LB Ivan Pace Jr., who was named as an Associated Press mid-season All-America selection, has 107 tackles with 19.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks and a forced fumble.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26 • 1 P.M. • ESPN+
EAST CAROLINA at TEMPLE
Lincoln Financial Field (69,596/Natural Grass)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Television
ESPN+
Richard Cross and Taylor McHargue
East Carolina Radio Temple Radio
WNCT-FM 107.9 WPEN-FM 97.5
SiriusXM 391/981

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 19th meeting between East Carolina and Temple in a series that began in 1982 … The series is tied at 9-9 following back-to-back wins by the Pirates … East Carolina was a 45-3 winner in Greenville last season behind three touchdown passes by QB Holton Ahlers and two rushing TDs by RB Keaton Mitchell.

EAST CAROLINA
6-5, 3-4 American
Head Coach
Mike Houston (Mars Hill ’94) 20-24, fourth season at East Carolina 100-49, 12th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
East Carolina gained bowl eligibility with its Oct. 28 win at BYU, but the Pirates look to snap a two-game slide in their regular-season finale … East Carolina dropped a 42-3 decision to Houston last Saturday in its final home game … QB Holton Ahlers has thrown for 3,094 yards and 20 touchdowns and lead all active FBS players in passing yards (13,313) and total offense (14,712) … Ahlers ranks 16th on the NCAA FBS career passing chart … RB Keaton Mitchell leads The American in rushing at 110.3 yards per game and 1,103 rushing yards … WR Isaiah Winstead has 75 receptions for 950 yards and three touchdowns, while WR C.J. Johnson has nine TDs … LB Jeremy Lewis has 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss, while S Julius Wood leads the team with 71 tackles to go with two interceptions.

TEMPLE
3-8, 1-6 American
Head Coach
Stan Drayton (Allegheny ’93) 3-8, first season

Notes
Temple has dropped back-to-back games heading into its season finale after the Owls fell 23-3 to Cincinnati last Saturday … The Owls had scored 90 points in its previous two games before being held to a field goal against the Bearcats … Freshman QB E.J. Warner has completed 223
of 380 passes for 2,501 yards and 13 touchdowns with 11 interceptions in his rookie season … RB Edward Saydee has rushed for 575 yards and five TDs … WR Jose Barbon leads the team with 758 receiving yards on 59 catches … LB Layton Jordan has scored three defensive touchdowns … Jordan has 51 tackles with 18.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … LB Jordan Magee has a team-high 82 tackles … Temple leads The American with 37 sacks and has allowed a conference-best 10 sacks.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26 • 3:30 P.M. • ESPN2 OR ESPNU
MEMPHIS at SMU
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas
Television
ESPN2 OR ESPNU
TBD
Memphis Radio SMU Radio
WKIM-FM 98.9 KTCK-FM 96.7
SiriusXM 389/979

THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 15th meeting between Memphis and SMU in a series that dates to 1976 … Memphis holds a 10-4 series lead following last year’s 28-25 victory … The home team has won the last three meetings … Memphis has won seven of the nine American Athletic Conference matchups.

MEMPHIS
6-5, 4-4 American
Head Coach
Ryan Silverfield (Hamden-Sydney ’03) 20-17, third season

Notes
Memphis looks to close the regular season with three straight wins after the Tigers clinched bowl eligibility with a 59-0 victory against North Alabama last Saturday … The Tigers went 4-1 out of the chute before suffering a four-game slide the preceded back-to-back wins in the
home stretch … Memphis is bowl eligible for the ninth consecutive season … QB Seth Henigan has completed 238 of 372 passes for 2,988 yards and 18 touchdowns with seven interceptions … TE Caden Prieskorn has 42 receptions for 548 yards and a team-high six touchdowns and is one of five Memphis players with at least 300 receiving yards … RB Jevyon Dukcer has a team-high 380 rushing yards, while RB Asa Martin has 356 yards … LB
Xavier Cullens has a team-high 92 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.

SMU
6-5, 4-3 American
Head Coach
Rhett Lashlee (Arkansas ’08) 6-5, first season

Notes
SMU saw a three-game winning streak end with a 59-24 setback at Tulane last Thursday … The Mustangs had won four of their previous five games to secure bowl eligibility in Rhett Lashlee’s first year as head coach … SMU leads The American in scoring (38.8 ppg) and total offense (484.9 ypg) … QB Tanner Mordecai has thrown for 3,078 yards with 29 touchdowns in 2022 … WR Rashee Rice has 83 receptions for 1,208 yards and nine touchdowns and is the national leader in receiving yards (109.8 ypg) … Rice is a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver… RB Tyler Lavine has a team-high seven rushing touchdowns … DE Nelson Paul has 5.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss. … S Nick Roberts, who has played at South Florida and Louisiana-Monroe, has a team-high three interceptions.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26 • 7 P.M. • ESPN2
UCF at SOUTH FLORIDA
Raymond James Stadium (65,857/Natural Grass)
Tampa, Florida
Television
ESPN2
Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang
UCF Radio South Florida Radio
WYGM-FM 96.9 WHPT-FM 102.5

THE GAME • THE WAR ON I-4
Saturday’s game will be the 14th meeting between The American’s two Florida-based institutions … UCF has won the last five matchups to take a 7-6 series lead after the Bulls had won six of the first eight games … UCF took last year’s meeting in Orlando 17-13 … The Bulls’ last win in the series was a 48-31 decision in Tampa in 2016.

25/rv UCF
8-3, 5-2 American
Head Coach
Gus Malzahn (Henderson State ’90) 17-7, second season at UCF 94-45, 11th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
UCF was in position to host The American Championship Game if the Knights won their final two games, but Navy came away with a 17-14 win in Orlando last Saturday … The Knights’ hopes of playing in the championship game now hinge on a win against South Florida … UCF is ranked ninth nationally in total offense (497.7 ypg) and fifth in rushing offense (249.5 ypg) … The Knights rank second nationally in red zone defense (65.9%) … QB John Rhys Plumlee and QB Mikey Keene have both seen significant action in recent weeks … Plumlee has 715 rushing yards and nine touchdowns and has thrown for 2,122 yards and 12 TDs … WR Ryan O’Keefe has 61 catches for 645 yards and four touchdowns … DE Tre’mon Morris-Brash has 11.0 tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.

SOUTH FLORIDA
1-10, 0-7 American
Interim Head Coach
Daniel Da Prato (Louisiana-Monroe ’04) 0-2, first season

Notes
South Florida fell 48-42 at Tulsa last Saturday in the Bulls’ second game under interim head coach Daniel Da Prato … The Bulls look to end a nine-game slide … The lone win in 2022 was a 42-20 victory against Howard … The Bulls have faced four teams that have been ranked in the top 25 this season (BYU, Florida, Cincinnati, Tulane) and will close the 2022 season on Black Friday against No. 25 UCF … The Bulls got a lift form the play of QB Byrum Brown against Tulsa … Brown made his first career start and completed 21 of 25 passes with three touchdowns, completing 21 consecutive passes to start the game … RB Brian Battie, an NCAA consensus All-America pick as a return specialist last year, has rushed for 1,042 yards and seven touchdowns … The defense is led by LB Dwayne Boyles, who has 101 tackles and two forced fumbles.

SATURDAY, NOV. 26 • 7:30 P.M. • ESPNU
TULSA at HOUSTON
TDECU Stadium (40,000/Synthetic)
Houston, Texas
Television
ESPNU
Beth Mowins, Kirk Morrison and Stormy Buonantony
Tulsa Radio Houston Radio
KXBL-FM 99.5 KPRC-AM 950
SiriusXM 389/979 SiriusXM 384/974

THE GAME
Saturday’s 46th meeting between Tulsa and Houston in a series that began in 1950 … The Cougars hold a 26-19 series lead and have won three straight against the Golden Hurricane after a 45-10 victory in Tulsa last season … Tulsa’s last victory was a 45-17 win in 2017 … Tulsa has not won in Houston since 2012.

TULSA
4-7, 2-5 American
Head Coach
Philip Montgomery (Tarleton State ’95) 42-53, eighth season

Notes
Tulsa snapped a three-game slide with a 48-42 win against South Florida last Friday … The Golden Hurricane had scored a combined 23 points in its previous two games, but broke out offensively behind the play of freshman QB Braylon Braxton … Braxton completed 20 of 27 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown and had two rushing TDs against the Bulls in his second career start … WR Keylon Stokes has 69 receptions for 1,177 yards and seven touchdowns and is averaging 107.0 yards per game (fourth nationally) … Stokes has 3,727 career yards and ranks second on The American’s career receiving chart and is the conference’s career leader in all-purpose yards (3,727) … S Bryson Powers and LB Justin Wright both have 94 tackles … Wright has 9.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions.

HOUSTON
7-4, 5-2 American
Head Coach
Dana Holgorsen (Iowa Wesleyan ’93) 26-19, fourth season at Houston 87-60, 12th season as collegiate head coach

Notes
Houston has won five of its last six games after the Cougars took a 42-3 win at East Carolina last Saturday … The Cougars played three overtime games in their first five contests, going 1-2 in those games … The Cougars are tied with UCF in The American standings and are still officially in the hunt for a spot in the conference championship game, but would need favorable results on the field and in Sunday’s computer rankings to have a shot … QB Clayton Tune has passed for 3,459 yards and 35 touchdowns, four shy of The American’s single-season record … WR Nathaniel Dell has 94 receptions for 1,193 yards and 14 TDs and is a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist … LB Donavan Mutin has 73 tackles with 4.0 tackles for loss … DE D’Anthony Jones has 6.0 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss.

CFB: Week 13 Conference Notes – American Athletic Conference (AAC)

THIS WEEK
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Tulane at Cincinnati *
Time: Noon
Series: Tulane leads, 11-7
Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2021 (Cincinnati, 31-12)

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26
East Carolina at Temple *
Time: 1 p.m.
Series: East Carolina leads, 10-91
Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2021 (East Carolina, 45-3)

Memphis at SMU * or
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series: Memphis leads, 10-4
Last Meeting: Nov. 6, 2021 (Memphis, 28-25)

UCF at South Florida *
Time: 7 p.m.
Series: UCF leads, 7-6
Last Meeting: Nov. 26, 2021 (UCF, 17-13)

Tulsa at Houston *
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Series: Houston leads, 26-19
Last Meeting: Oct. 1, 2021 (Houston, 45-10)

  • American Athletic Conference game
    All times Eastern

WEEKLY HONORS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michael Pratt • Jr. • QB • Tulane
Pratt figured in six touchdowns to lead Tulane to a 59-24 win against SMU, keeping the Green Wave tied for first place in the American Athletic Conference standings entering the final week of conference play. Pratt was an efficient 9-of-14 for 141 yards and three touchdowns and added 70 rushing yards on 10 carries with three TDs on the ground before coming out of the game with the Green Wave ahead 56-14. Pratt ranks second in The American in pass efficiency (157.29) and has thrown only four interceptions — the fewest of any starting quarterback in the conference.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
John Marshall • Sr. • LB/S • Navy
Marshall, who plays the striker position for Navy, set a school record with 4.0 sacks to go with 10 tackles and a forced fumble that set up the game-winning field goal in a 17-14 win at No. 17/18 UCF. Marshall had all four sacks in the second half as the Midshipmen held the Knights scoreless on their final five possessions. Marshall leads The American with a school-record 10.5 sacks in 2022.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Coe • Sr. • K • Cincinnati
Coe scored 11 points, going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts with two PATs in Cincinnati’s 23-3 win at Temple, keeping the Bearcats tied for first place in the conference standings. Coe was good from 28, 38 and 24 yards, extending his streak to nine straight successful field goal attempts and becoming the most accurate kicker in program history at 81.8%. Coe has hit 18 of 22 field goals this season, ranking second in The American in made field goals.

HONOR ROLL
Nathaniel Dell • Sr. • WR • Houston
Had nine receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown in a 42-3 win at East Carolina. Averaged 19.6 yards per reception.

Eddie Lewis • Sr. • WR • Memphis
Had 155 all-purpose yards with 2 touchdowns (one receiving, one punt return) in win against North Alabama.

Daba Fofana • So. • FB • Navy
Rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries in a 17-14 win at No. 17/18 UCF. Set up the Midshipmen’s first TD with a 46-yard run.

Byrum Brown • Fr. • QB • South Florida
Completed 21 of 25 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing TD against Tulsa in
his first career start. Completed 21 consecutive passes to start the game.

Deneric Prince • Sr. • RB • Tulsa
Rushed for 220 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in a 48-42 win against South Florida.

What’s At Stake
The winner of Friday’s game between Tulane and Cincinnati will host the American Athletic Conference Championship Game Dec. 3. The visiting team in the championship game — either Cincinnati, Tulane, UCF or Houston — will be determined following this week’s results.

Everyone Wins
Since the start of the 2014 season, all 11 American Athletic Conference teams have been ranked at least once in the Associated Press top 25 poll. The American, the ACC and the Big 12 are the only FBS conferences that have had each member ranked since 2014.

Conference Call
The American will finish the regular season with a combined 9-3 record against non-autonomous FBS conference opponents in 2022.

Rank And File
The American has three AP top-25 teams entering Week 13 (No. 19 Tulane, No. 21 Cincinnati, No. 25 UCF). The only other leagues with at least three ranked teams are the Pac-12 (six), the SEC (four), the Big Ten (three), the Big 12 (three) and the ACC (three).

Big Three
The American has three ranked teams for the 21st week since the conference’s formation in 2013.

Play On
The American Athletic Conference will have seven bowleligible teams in the 2022 season (UCF, Cincinnati, Tulane, East Carolina, SMU, Houston, Memphis).

Home Sweet Home
Cincinnati has won 32 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (40) for the nation’s longest active home field winning streak.

Road Sweet Road
Houston is 10-2 in its last 12 road games.

Top Of The Charts
East Carolina QB Holton Ahlers has set The American’s career passing yards and total offense records. Houston QB Clayton Tune holds the conference’s career record for touchdown passes.

Career Passing Yards

  1. 13,313 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)
  2. 11,381 Clayton Tune, Houston (2018-)
  3. 10,782 Dane Evans, Tulsa (2014-16)

Career Total Offense

  1. 14,712 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)
  2. 12,544 Clayton Tune, Houston (2018-)
  3. 12,418 Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati (2018-21)

Career Touchdown Passes

  1. 99 Clayton Tune, Houston (2018-)
  2. 90 Brady White, Memphis (2018-20)
  3. 89 Holton Ahlers, East Carolina (2018-)

Leaderboard
Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell’s 56 wins are a program record and the most by an American Athletic Conference coach since the league’s formation in 2013.
Catching On
The American Athletic Conference has three of the 12 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which goes to the nation’s top receiver — SMU WR Rashee Rice, Tulsa WR Keylon Stokes and Houston WR Nathaniel Dell. The American is the only conference with three Biletnikoff Award semifinalists.

Marshall Plan
Navy LB/S John Marshall set a school record with 4.0 sacks in the win at UCF. Marshall has a school-record and conference-leading 10.5 sacks this season.

Multi-Talented
Tulsa WR Keylon Stokes enters Saturday’s game against Houston with an American Athletic Conference-record 5,415 career all-purpose yards and 3,727 receiving yards (second).

Career All-Purpose Yards

  1. 5,270 Keylon Stokes, Tulsa (2018-)
  2. 5,320 Malcolm Perry, Navy (2016-19)

Career Receiving Yards

  1. 3,949 James Proche, SMU (2016-19)
  2. 3,727 Keylon Stokes, Tulsa (2018-)

Pencil It In
Memphis QB Seth Henigan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 22 games of his collegiate career.

Made The Cut
SMU QB Tanner Mordecai was chosen as one of 21 semifinalists for the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback.

Flip The Field
Memphis P Joe Doyle is second nationally in punting average (46.9 yards), while Cincinnati P Mason Fletcher is third (46.8). Fletcher was chosen as one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter.

My Specialty
Memphis K Chris Howard is one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.

21-Pass Salute
South Florida QB Byrum Brown made his first career start and completed his first 21 passes against Tulsa, with three touchdowns. His 21 completions to start the game were the most by an FBS player since Brent Stockstill of Middle Tennessee State completed 22 straight against
Alabama A&M in 2016.

Best Behavior
Navy is the least-penalized team in the nation. The Midshipmen average 3.5 penalties and 28.3 yards per game.

Any Way You Want It
Navy is 2-0 this season in games in which the Midshipmen have not completed a pass.

Line In The Sand
UCF ranks second nationally in red zone defense. The Knights have limited opponents to 65.9% effectiveness in the red zone.

Halfway There
Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr. was chosen as an Midseason All-America selection by the Associated Press, Sporting News and The Athletic. SMU WR Rashee Rice was a second-team Midseason All-America choice of The Athletic.

Draft Cards
The American matched its best showing in the NFL Draft with 19 players selected in 2022. Two American players — Cincinnati CB Ahmad Gardner at No. 4 and Tulsa OT Tyler Smith at No. 24 — were chosen in the first round, while The American had 10 players taken in the first two days of the draft, surpassing the league’s previous high of six players.

Mark Your Calendars
Cincinnati’s selection to the CFP Semifinal in the 2021 season marked the seventh time in the nine-year history of The American that the league has had a team in a Bowl Championship Series or CFP New Year’s Six bowl.

The American in CFP/New Year’s Six Bowls
2013 UCF 52, Baylor 42 (Fiesta Bowl)
2015 Houston 38, Florida State 24 (Peach Bowl)
2017 UCF 34, Auburn 27 (Peach Bowl)
2018 LSU 40, UCF 32 (Fiesta Bowl)
2019 Penn State 53, Memphis 39 (Cotton Bowl)
2020 Georgia 24, Cincinnati 21 (Peach Bowl)
2021 Alabama 27, Cincinnati 6 (CFP Semifinal/Cotton Bowl)

TALKING POINTS

UCF
8-3, 5-2 American
@UCF_Football
Last: Lost to Navy, 17-14
Next: Nov. 26 at South Florida (ABC)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..481.0 …………………. 2nd
Total Defense………………………….354.4 …………………..3rd
Scoring Offense ……………………….33.9 …………………..5th
Scoring Defense ………………………. 19.7 …………………. 2nd
• UCF was limited to 314 yards of offense and only 84 rushing yards in the loss to Navy.
• QB John Rhys Plumlee passed for 107 yards before QB Mikey Keene threw for 123 yards and a touchdown in the second half against Navy.
• WR Javon Baker had six receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown against the Midshipmen.
• The Knights had possession for only 20:24 against Navy.
• UCF needs a win against South Florida to remain in contention for a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game. The Knights hold head-to-head tiebreakers with both Cincinnati and Tulane in the event of a two-team tie for second place.

CINCINNATI
9-2, 6-1 American
@BearcatsFB
Last: Won at Temple, 23-3
Next: Nov. 25 vs. Tulane (ABC)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..397.8 …………………..8th
Total Defense………………………… 323.6 ……………………1st
Scoring Offense …………………………31.7 …………………..6th
Scoring Defense ………………………. 19.7 …………………. 2nd
• Two quarterbacks combined to throw for 257 yards and a touchdown in the win at Temple.
• QB Ben Bryant left the game in the first half with a foot injury and was replaced by QB Evan Prater, who went 12-for-17 for 127 yards.
• The Bearcats have won 32 consecutive games at Nippert Stadium, trailing only Clemson (40) for the nation’s longest home winning streak.
• The Bearcats held Temple to 1-for-11 efficiency on third down.
• A Cincinnati win against Tulane would put the Bearcats in The American Championship game for the fourth consecutive season and would mark the third straight championship game at Nippert Stadium. The Bearcats have won the last two American titles.

EAST CAROLINA
6-5, 3-4 American
@ECUPiratesFB
Last: Lost to Houston, 42-3
Next: Nov. 26 at Temple (ESPN+)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..452.2 …………………..4th
Total Defense…………………………394.9 ………………….. 7th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 29.2 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 25.3 …………………..5th
• RB Keaton Mitchell rushed for 129 yards on 14 carries, but was the lone offensive highlight for the Pirates against Houston.
• Mitchell registered his fifth consecutive 100-yard game.
• QB Holton Ahlers had 182 passing yards against Houston, giving him 3,094 yards for the season.
It was Ahlers’ third consecutive 3,000-yard season.
• Mitchell is the first East Carolina player with consecutive 1,000-rushing-yard seasons since Tay Cooper in 2012 and 2013.
• The Pirates did not commit a penalty against Houston, finishing without a penalty for the first time since the 2012 New Orleans Bowl against Louisiana.

HOUSTON
7-4, 5-2 American
@UHCougarFB
Last: Won at East Carolina, 42-3
Next: Nov. 26 vs. Tulsa (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..459.7 …………………..3rd
Total Defense………………………… 429.9 …………………..9th
Scoring Offense ………………………..37.8 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Defense ……………………… 33.2 …………………..8th
• QB Clayton Tune went 32 of 44 for 435 yards and four touchdowns in the win at East Carolina.
• Tune extended his American Athletic Conference career record for touchdown passes (99).
• WR Nathaniel Dell had nine receptions for 176 yards and a touchdown against East Carolina, giving him 34 receptions and four TD catches in the last three games.
• Houston is 13-2 in its last 15 American Athletic Conference games.
• The Cougars have gone 10-2 in their last 12 road games.

MEMPHIS
6-5, 3-4 American
@TigersAthletics
Last: Defeated North Alabama, 59-0
Next: Nov. 26 at SMU (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..419.0 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………….367.2 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 35.5 …………………..3rd
Scoring Defense ………………………26.8 …………………..6th
• QB Seth Henigan passed for 218 yards and a touchdown in the win against North Alabama.
• Henigan has thrown at least one touchdown pass in all 22 games of his collegiate career.
• Memphis did not allow North Alabama to cross its own 44-yard line.
• The Tigers gained bowl eligibility for the ninth consecutive season with its sixth win of the season. Memphis has the ninth-longest active
bowl streak among NCAA FBS teams.
• Memphis registered its first shutout since a 63-0 win against SMU in the 2015 season.

NAVY
4-7, 4-4 American
@NavyAthletics
Last: Won at UCF, 17-14
Next: Dec. 10 vs. Army (CBS)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………..335.5 ………………….11th
Total Defense…………………………356.0 …………………..4th
Scoring Offense ………………………..22.4 …………………10th
Scoring Defense ……………………….24.7 …………………..5th
• FB Daba Fofana rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries as Navy picked up 248 rushing yards in the win at No. 17/18 UCF.
• LB John Marshall set a school record with 4.0 sacks against the Knights. Marshall also set Navy’s single-season record with 10.5 sacks
• Navy, which had 16 sacks last season, has set a program record with 32 sacks with one game remaining.
• The Midshipmen did not complete a pass in the win against UCF, marking the second time this season that Navy won without completing a pass (Temple).
• Navy has two weeks off to prepare for the annual Army-Navy game, which will be played in Philadelphia.

SOUTH FLORIDA
1-10, 0-7 American
@USFFootball
Last: Lost at Tulsa, 48-42
Next: Nov. 26 vs. UCF (ESPN2)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….386.6 …………………..9th
Total Defense………………………….513.8 ………………….11th
Scoring Offense ………………………..27.0 …………………..9th
Scoring Defense ………………………40.8 ………………….11th
• QB Byrum Brown completed 21 of 25 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, but it wasn’t enough to push South Florida past Tulsa.
• Brown completed his first 21 passes against Tulsa, the most by an FBS player since Brent Stockstill of Middle Tennessee State completed 22 straight against Alabama A&M in 2016.
• RB Brian Battie rushed for 169 yards and a touchdown against Tulsa, giving him four consecutive 100-yard games.
• WR Sean Atkins had nine receptions for a career-high 115 yards and a touchdown against the Bulls.
• LB Dwayne Boyles had 11 tackles against Tulsa, giving him a career-high 101 stops in 2022.

SMU
6-5, 4-3 American
@SMU_Football
Last: Lost at Tulane, 59-24
Next: Nov. 26 vs. Memphis (ESPN2 or ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….484.9 ……………………1st
Total Defense…………………………446.6 …………………10th
Scoring Offense ……………………….38.8 ……………………1st
Scoring Defense ………………………35.0 …………………10th
• QB Tanner Mordecai threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns, but the Mustangs fell on the road against No. 21 Tulane.
• SMU was undone by five turnovers (two interceptions, three lost fumbles) against the Green Wave.
• Mordecai ranks second on SMU’s career touchdown passes chart (68), trailing only Ben Hicks’ total of 71 from 2016-18.
• LB Jimmy Philips Jr. would tie SMU’s career record for games played if he plays in the Mustangs’ regular-season finale and bowl game. That would tie Hayden Howerton (2017-21) with 59 career games.
• WR Rashee Rice has at least one reception in 29 career games, good for fourth among active players.

TEMPLE
3-8, 1-6 American
@Temple_FB
Last: Lost at Houston, 43-36
Next: Nov. 19 vs. East Carolina (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense…………………………. 342.9 …………………10th
Total Defense…………………………..377.2 …………………..5th
Scoring Offense ………………………..21.4 ………………….11th
Scoring Defense ……………………….27.9 …………………..6th
• Temple registered five sacks against Cincinnati, but the Bearcats were limited to three points and 202 yards on offense.
• The Owls lead The American with 37 sacks and have allowed the fewest sacks of any team in the conference (10).
• LB Layton Jordan had 2.5 sacks against Cinicnnati, giving him a team-high 9.0 sacks this season. Jordan ranks second among American Athletic Conference players.
• QB E.J. Warner passed for 167 yards and was 21-for-36, but was intercepted twice against Cincinnati.
• The Owls were 1-for-11 on third down against the Bearcats.

TULANE
9-2, 6-1 American
@GreenWaveFB
Last: Defeated SMU, 59-24
Next: Nov. 25 at Cincinnati (ABC)
American Ranks
Total Offense……………………………419.1 …………………..5th
Total Defense………………………….336.7 …………………. 2nd
Scoring Offense ………………………..35.1 …………………..4th
Scoring Defense ……………………….19.5 ……………………1st
• QB Michael Pratt figured in six touchdowns (three rushing, three passing) in Tulane’s win against SMU.
• RB Tyjae Spears rushed for 121 yards on 13 carries against SMU. Spears turned in his fifth consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards.
• Tulane has six American Athletic Conference wins for the first time. The six conference wins are the most for the Green Wave since the 1998 team won six Conference USA games.
• Pratt moved into third place on Tulane’s career chart with his 61st career touchdown pass.
• The Green Wave would clinch a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship Game with a win at Cincinnati.

TULSA
4-7, 2-5 American
@TulsaFootball
Last: Defeated South Florida, 48-42
Next: Nov. 26 at Houston (ESPNU)
American Ranks
Total Offense………………………….393.8 …………………..8th
Total Defense…………………………396.6 …………………..8th
Scoring Offense ………………………. 28.2 …………………..8th
Scoring Defense ……………………… 32.5 …………………..8th
• QB Braylon Braxton, making his second career start, passed for 302 yards and a touchdown and added two rushing TDs in the win against South Florida.
• Tulsa had a 300-yard passer (QB Braylon Braxton), a 200-yard rusher (RB Deneric Prince) and a 100-yard receiver (WR Keylon Stokes) in a game for the first time in program history in the win against South Florida.
• Stokes set The American’s career all-purpose yards record (5,415), passing former Navy QB Malcom Perry (5,320 yards).
• Stokes moved into second place on The American’s career receiving chart (3,727 yards).
• Stokes has registered seven 100-yard games this season.

Week 12 Injury Report — Monday

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BUFFALO BILLS at DETROIT LIONS on Thanksgiving
BUFFALO BILLS
 The Bills did not practice Monday. The Monday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 MondayLB Tremaine Edmunds (groin, heel), DE A.J. Epenesa (ankle), C Mitch Morse (elbow, ankle), DE Gregory Rousseau (ankle)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayQB Josh Allen (right elbow), G David Quessenberry (ankle)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayCB Kaiir Elam (ankle), S Damar Hamlin (neck), CB Cameron Lewis (forearm), S Jordan Poyer (elbow)
 
DETROIT LIONS
 The Lions did not practice Monday. The Monday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 MondayG Evan Brown (ankle), DE Charles Harris (groin), G Jonah Jackson (illness), CB Jeff Okudah (concussion), DE Josh Paschal (knee), C Frank Ragnow (foot), WR Josh Reynolds (back)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayWR D.J. Chark (ankle)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayLB Malcolm Rodriguez (elbow), RB D’Andre Swift (shoulder, ankle)
 
NEW YORK GIANTS at DALLAS COWBOYS on Thanksgiving
 NEW YORK GIANTS
 The Giants did not practice Monday. The Monday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 MondayTE Daniel Bellinger (eye), G Joshua Ezeudu (neck), C Jon Feliciano (neck), CB Adoree’ Jackson (knee), WR Richie James (knee), CB Fabian Moreau (oblique), T Tyre Phillips (neck)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayT Evan Neal (knee), S Jason Pinnock (jaw)
 
DALLAS COWBOYS
 The Cowboys did not practice Monday. The Monday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 MondayLB Anthony Barr (hamstring), DE Tarell Basham (illness), DE Dante Fowler (illness), DT Johnathan Hankins (illness), CB Kelvin Joseph (illness), DE Demarcus Lawrence (foot), LB Micah Parsons (knee, ankle)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayRB Ezekiel Elliott (knee), DT Osa Odighizuwa (knee)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayCB Trevon Diggs (ankle)
  
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS at MINNESOTA VIKINGS on Thanksgiving night
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
 The Patriots did not practice Monday. The Monday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 MondayC David Andrews (thigh)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayLB Anfernee Jennings (back), CB Marcus Jones (ankle), WR DeVante Parker (knee), LB Josh Uche (hamstring), T Isaiah Wynn (foot)
 
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
 The Vikings did not practice Monday. The Monday practice report is an estimation.
Practice Report
    DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
 MondayCB Andrew Booth (knee), T Christian Darrisaw (concussion)
 
    LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayCB Akayleb Evans (concussion), DE Za’Darius Smith (knee), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (calf)
 
    FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
 MondayWR Justin Jefferson (toe)

2022 Thanksgiving Day Preview and Capsules

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For generations of Americans, the tradition of Thanksgiving Day and NFL football are historically intertwined.

On Thanksgiving in 1925, a crowd of 36,000 – then the largest in professional football history – watched the CHICAGO BEARS play the CHICAGO CARDINALS to a scoreless tie at Wrigley Field. In 1934, the DETROIT LIONS and the defending world champion Bears squared off on Thanksgiving in the first NFL game nationally broadcast, with NBC radio on the call.

This year, the three holiday games will be aired to millions across the country and around the world as the National Football League honors Pro Football Hall of Famer JOHN MADDEN with the inaugural “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration,” a yearly, multi-faceted remembrance of the late great icon’s indelible legacy. 

The inaugural “John Madden Thanksgiving Celebration” will feature special broadcast tributes as CBS, FOX and NBC will create their own segments dedicated to the football legend. 

For more information on the National Football League honoring John Madden, click here

Since 2006, the NFL has scheduled three Thanksgiving Day games each year. This year’s triple-header is the third season since 2006 to feature five teams with a winning record, joining 2014 and 2011. 

The first game showcases the BUFFALO BILLS traveling to Ford Field to face the DETROIT LIONS (12:30 PM ET, CBS). The Bills are playing their second-consecutive game in Detroit after their Week 11 contest against Cleveland, originally scheduled to be played at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, was moved to Ford Field due to a weather emergency in western New York last week. The late-afternoon game marks the 45th consecutive Thanksgiving Day contest hosted in Dallas, as the DALLAS COWBOYS welcome the NEW YORK GIANTS to AT&T Stadium (4:30 PM ET, FOX). The holiday concludes at U.S. Bank Stadium as the NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS visit the MINNESOTA VIKINGS. (8:20 PM ET, NBC). 

GAMENETWORKLOCAL TIMEEASTERN TIME
Buffalo Bills (7-3) at Detroit Lions (4-6)CBS12:30 PM ET12:30 PM
New York Giants (7-3) at Dallas Cowboys (7-3)FOX3:30 PM CT4:30 PM
New England Patriots (6-4) at Minnesota Vikings (8-2)NBC7:20 PM CT8:20 PM


The Lions will play their 83rd Thanksgiving Day game dating back to 1934, while the Cowboys will play in their 55th since 1966. The New York Giants will play their 14th game while Buffalo will play its 11th game on the holiday. The Vikings are appearing on Thanksgiving for the ninth time while the Patriots will play in their sixth Thanksgiving game. All six teams have appeared on Thanksgiving at least one time since 2012.

The Thanksgiving Day records of the teams playing this Thursday:

TEAMWONLOSTTIED
Buffalo Bills541
Dallas Cowboys31221
Detroit Lions37432
Minnesota Vikings620
New England Patriots320
New York Giants643


BUFFALO (7-3) at DETROIT (4-6
): Thursday’s matchup marks the third Thanksgiving Day meeting between the Bills and Lions, with Detroit winning each of the first two contests. On November 25, 1976, the Lions earned a 27-14 win as GREG LANDRY and DAVID HILL connected for two touchdowns. Detroit also defeated Buffalo, 35-21, on Thanksgiving in 1994 as Pro Football Hall of Famer BARRY SANDERS rushed for one of his eight career Thanksgiving touchdowns.

Thursday marks the 11th regular-season meeting between the two franchises, with Buffalo holding a 6-4-1 series advantage. In their last meeting, Week 15 of the 2018 season, quarterback JOSH ALLEN rushed for a touchdown and threw a go-ahead 42-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ 14-13 victory.  

Week 12 will mark Buffalo’s third appearance on Thanksgiving in the past four seasons. On November 28, 2019, the Bills defeated Dallas, 26-15, with two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) from Allen and two sacks from defensive tackle ED OLIVER. Last year on the holiday, Allen threw four touchdown passes, including two to tight end DAWSON KNOX and one to wide receiver STEFON DIGGS, in Buffalo’s 31-6 win at New Orleans.

Last week, Buffalo earned a 31-23 victory over Cleveland as Allen threw his 21st touchdown pass of the season. Since entering the NFL in 2018, he has 159 career combined passing and rushing touchdowns (124 passing, 35 rushing), tied with PATRICK MAHOMES (159) for the third-most by a player in his first five seasons in NFL history. Diggs recorded his eighth touchdown reception of the year in Week 11 and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards (1,033) for the fifth-consecutive season.

Linebacker VON MILLER has six sacks in five road games this season and has 10.5 sacks in 12 career games on Thursday. In Week 11, linebacker MATT MILANO became the first player since RYAN SHAZIER (Week 2, 2015) with at least 10 tackles (12), three tackles for loss, one sack and one fumble recovery in the same game. Defensive tackle ED OLIVER had a career-high three tackles for loss last week and aims for his third in row on Thanksgiving with at least half a sack and a pass defensed. 

In Week 11, Detroit defeated the New York Giants, 31-18, for its third-consecutive win. Running back JAMAAL WILLIAMS had three rushing touchdowns in the win and became the fourth player since 2000 with multiple rushing touchdowns in at least five of his team’s first 10 games of a season, joining SHAUN ALEXANDER (six games in 2005), Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (six in 2006) and PRIEST HOLMES (five in 2003). He leads the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns this season.

Last year on the holiday, quarterback JARED GOFF completed 21 of 25 pass attempts (84 percent), the highest single-game completion percentage on Thanksgiving in NFL history. He has a passer rating of 100-or-higher in three of his past four home starts and has two-or-more touchdown passes in eight of his past nine home games. Wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN led the team with seven receptions last week and has at least seven catches in six of his past seven home games.

Last week, rookie defensive lineman AIDAN HUTCHINSON recorded an interception and fumble recovery and became the second player (LESLIE O’NEAL – 1986) since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic with at least five sacks (5.5) and two interceptions (two) in his first 10 career games. Rookie safety KERBY JOSEPH registered his third interception of the season in Week 11 and is the only rookie with at least three interceptions (three) and two forced fumbles (two). 

NEW YORK GIANTS (7-3) at DALLAS (7-3): The Giants and Cowboys meet for the 121st time since 1960, with Dallas holding the all-time regular-season series advantage, 72-46-2, including wins in 10 of the past 11 meetings. The two clubs previously met on Thanksgiving in 1992 (November 26), with the Cowboys earning a 30-3 win behind two third-quarter touchdowns from Pro Football Hall of Famer EMMITT SMITH. Thursday marks the second meeting this season between the NFC East rivals. Dallas defeated New York, 23-16, in Week 3 on Monday Night Football with a go-ahead touchdown reception from wide receiver CEEDEE LAMB in the fourth quarter.

Last week, New York Giants quarterback DANIEL JONES passed for a season-high 341 yards and had two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). He has a passer rating of 90-or-higher in three of his past four road starts. Running back SAQUON BARKLEY leads the NFC with 1,163 scrimmage yards this season and has three rushing touchdowns in four road games in 2022. He recorded 126 scrimmage yards (81 rushing, 45 receiving) and a rushing touchdown in Week 3 against Dallas and has at least 100 scrimmage yards in two of his three career games at Dallas.

Defensive lineman LEONARD WILLIAMS has at least five tackles in three of his past four on the road and has 3.5 sacks in his past three games against the Cowboys. Defensive lineman DEXTER LAWRENCE registered his sixth game this season with at least five tackles in Week 11, tied for the most such games among defensive linemen in 2022. Linebacker JAYLON SMITH recorded 516 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 20 passes defensed and nine sacks in 68 games over five seasons (2017-21) with Dallas.

Dallas defeated Minnesota, 40-3, last week and is the only NFC team to score at least 40 points twice this season. In five career starts on Thanksgiving, Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT has 1,393 passing yards and nine touchdowns (seven passing, two rushing) with a 98.4 rating and can surpass DANNY WHITE (1,545) for the fourth-most passing yards by a quarterback on the holiday all-time. He has 21 touchdowns against five interceptions for a 100.1 rating in 11 career starts against the Giants.

Running back TONY POLLARD had a career-high 189 scrimmage yards (109 receiving, 80 rushing) and two touchdown receptions in Week 11 and became the fourth player since 1990 with at least 75 rushing yards, 100 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in a single game, joining JOEY GALLOWAY (November 12, 1995), TODD GURLEY (December 24, 2017) and Pro Football Hall of Famer LADAINIAN TOMLINSON (December 7, 2003). On Thanksgiving in 2021, Pollard recorded a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, the third-longest touchdown ever scored on the holiday, trailing only interception-return touchdowns of 102 yards by BOB SMITH in 1949 and 101 yards by BRYANT WESTBROOK in 2000.

Running back EZEKIEL ELLIOTT recorded his 14th-career game with two rushing touchdowns last week. He has 488 scrimmage yards (97.6 per game) and four rushing touchdowns in five career Thanksgiving games. Elliott has 10 touchdowns (nine rushing, one receiving) in 11 career games against the Giants and aims for his sixth in a row against New York with a touchdown.

Dallas enters Week 12 with the league’s top ranked scoring defense (16.7 points per game) and leads the NFL with 42 sacks this season. The Cowboys are the only team with four players each having at least five sacks in 2022 – MICAH PARSONS (10 sacks), DORANCE ARMSTRONG (seven), DEMARCUS LAWRENCE (six) and DANTE FOWLER (five) – and each of the four recorded at least one sack in Week 11.

Parsons registered his eighth-career game with at least two sacks, tied with SHAWNE MERRIMAN (eight games) and Pro Football Hall of Famer REGGIE WHITE (eight) for the second-most such games by a player in his first two NFL seasons since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic. Only ALDON SMITH (nine games) has more.

Cornerback TREVON DIGGS has 10 passes defensed and three interceptions in five career games against New York and aims for his fourth in a row against the Giants with an interception.

NEW ENGLAND (6-4) at MINNESOTA (8-2): New England leads the all-time series against Minnesota, 9-4, including wins in five consecutive matchups. The Patriots have scored at least 45 points in each of their past two Thanksgiving appearances (2010 and 2012) and are 3-1 on the holiday under head coach BILL BELICHICK

New England defeated the New York Jets, 10-3, in Week 11 as rookie defensive back MARCUS JONES recorded a game-winning 84-yard punt-return touchdown with five seconds remaining, the first punt-return touchdown in the NFL this season. Jones is the sixth player to record a game-winning punt-return touchdown in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime since 1970, joining PATRICK PETERSON (November 6, 2011), DESEAN JACKSON (December 19, 2010), BRIAN WESTBROOK (October 19, 2003), TAMARICK VANOVER (October 9, 1995) and WALTER STANLEY (November 27, 1986).

Quarterback MAC JONES completed 23 of 27 pass attempts for a career-high 85.2 completion percentage last week. He has at least one touchdown pass in seven of his past eight road starts and aims for his third in a row overall without an interception. Running back RHAMONDRE STEVENSON ranks tied for fifth among all running backs with a career-high 41 receptions this season and needs 73 scrimmage yards for his first-career 1,000-yard season.

The Patriots are the only team in the league this season to allow three points or fewer multiple times and can become the first team since 2000 to allow three-or-fewer points in three consecutive games within a single season. New England enters Week 12 allowing 16.9 points per game, the fewest among all AFC teams. Linebacker MATTHEW JUDON has at least 1.5 sacks in three of his past four and leads the NFL with a career-high 13 sacks this season. 

Minnesota quarterback KIRK COUSINS has 691 passing yards (345.5 per game) and five touchdowns against one interception for a 110.8 rating in two career Thanksgiving starts. Running back DALVIN COOK needs 55 scrimmage yards for his fourth-consecutive 1,000-yard season and aims for his third in a row on Thursday with at least 170 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver JUSTIN JEFFERSON has 4,109 career receiving yards and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer RANDY MOSS (4,163 receiving yards) for the most receiving yards by a player in his first three seasons in NFL history. 

Linebacker ZA’DARIUS SMITH has 22 sacks in 22 career primetime games while linebacker DANIELLE HUNTER has 6.5 sacks in six career Thursday games. Cornerback PATRICK PETERSON ranks third in the NFL this season with 12 passes defensed. Safety HARRISON SMITH has a pass defensed in five of his past six games and aims for his third in a row with at least six tackles. 

CFB: Week 13 Conference Notes – Big 10 Conference

WEEK 13 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, NOV. 25
NEBRASKA at IOWA
4 p.m. | BTN

SATURDAY, NOV. 26
RUTGERS at MARYLAND
Noon | BTN

MICHIGAN at OHIO STATE
Noon | FOX

PURDUE at INDIANA
3:30 p.m. | BTN

ILLINOIS at NORTHWESTERN
3:30 p.m. | BTN

MINNESOTA at WISCONSIN
3:30 p.m. | ESPN

MICHIGAN STATE at PENN STATE
4 p.m. | FS1

All times Eastern

BIG TEN. BIG NEWS.
• Entering Week 13, two teams in the East Division and three teams in the West Division remain in contention for berths into the 2022 Big Ten Football Championship Game presented by Discover. Remaining scenarios for all five teams can be found below:

EAST DIVISION
Michigan
• Clinches the East Division title outright AND earns a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a win over Ohio State

Ohio State
• Clinches the East Division title outright AND earns a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a win over Michigan

WEST DIVISION
Illinois
• Clinches a share of the West Division title AND earns a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a win, AND losses by Iowa AND Purdue Iowa

• Clinches at least a share of the West Division title AND earns a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a win

• Clinches a share of the West Division title AND earns a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a loss, AND losses by Illinois AND Purdue

Purdue
• Clinches a share of the West Division title AND earns a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game with a win, AND a loss by Iowa

• Minnesota and Wisconsin have officially been eliminated from contention for a berth into the Big Ten Football Championship Game, but can still clinch a share of the West Division title.

• The 2022 Big Ten Football Championship Game will be played at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium and will be televised nationally on FOX. The winner will earn the Amos Alonzo Stagg Championship Trophy and a chance to play in one of the six bowls that comprise the College Football Playoff, including the Rose Bowl Game.

• Two of the nation’s four remaining undefeated FBS teams call the Big Ten home, as Michigan and Ohio State are both 11-0. This weekend marks the 118th meeting between the Wolverines and Buckeyes and the first time since 2006 that the pair have met in The Game with matching 11-0 records.

• Three Big Ten teams appear in the AP Poll this week, highlighted by two of the top three teams. Ohio State leads the conference at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Michigan and No. 11 Penn State, while Illinois, Iowa and Purdue are each receiving votes. The College Football Playoff will release its latest top 25 rankings on Tuesday, Nov. 22. The Big Ten boasted three teams included in the CFP’s third rankings of the season, which were released on Nov. 15.

• Michigan and Ohio State are the only two FBS teams in the country with top-10 rankings in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Wolverines rank second defensively (11.7 points per game) and ninth offensively (39.4 points per game), while the Buckeyes rank second offensively (46.5 points per game) and 10th defensively (16.9 points per game).

• Four additional Big Ten teams rank in the top 25 in terms of scoring defense: Illinois (3rd, 13.1 points per game), Minnesota (3rd, 13.1 points per game), Iowa (5th, 13.5 points per game) and Penn State (14th, 18.2 points per game).

• Illini running back Chase Brown leads the nation with 1,582 rushing yards this season, with 903 of those yards coming after contact. He also leads the nation in all-purpose yards (1,779) without having return duties. Against a defensive unit leading the nation in rushing defense (72.7 yards per game), Brown ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns at No. 3 Michigan. He was just the third running back to rush for over 140 yards at Michigan Stadium during Jim Harbaugh’s tenure (2015-), joining Ohio State stars J.K. Dobbins (2019) and Ezekiel Elliott (2015).

• Nine Big Ten schools – Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin – have clinched bowl berths by reaching six victories on the season. The Big Ten will continue to feature the largest bowl lineup in conference history, and the full list of Big Ten postseason destinations can be found on page five.

• Iowa’s Jack Campbell was named a finalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy on Oct. 26. Now in its 33rd year, the Campbell Trophy is presented annually to the nation’s top football scholar-athlete. The full list of Big Ten postseason awards candidates can be found on page three.

• This season’s Playoff Semifinals will take place Saturday, December 31, 2022, at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl and Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The Los Angeles region will host the College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, January 9, 2023, at SoFi Stadium. The College Football Playoff matches the No. 1 ranked team vs. No. 4, and No. 2 vs. No. 3 in semifinal games that rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and Rose Bowl Game.

CFB: Week 13 Conference Notes – Big 12 Conference

THIS WEEK IN THE BIG 12

Friday, November 25
Baylor at Texas (ESPN) 11:00 a.m.
Series: UT leads 79-28-4
Last Meeting: BU won 31-24 at home on October 30, 2021.

Saturday, November 26
West Virginia at No. 22 Oklahoma State (ESPN2) 11:00 a.m.
Series: OSU leads 9-4
Last Meeting: OSU won 24-3 at WVU on November 6, 2021.

Iowa State at No. 4 TCU (FOX) 3:00 p.m.
Series: TCU leads 8-5
Last Meeting: ISU won 48-14 at home on November 26, 2021.

Oklahoma at Texas Tech (FS1) 6:30 p.m.
Series: OU leads 23-6
Last Meeting: OU won 52-21 at home on October 30, 2021.

Kansas at No. 15 Kansas State (FOX) 7:00 p.m.
Series: KU leads 65-49-5
Last Meeting: K-State won 35-10 at KU on November 6, 2021.

All times are listed as Central unless noted.
Rankings are listed as CFP and will be updated on Tuesday

CONFERENCE NEWS & NOTES
TCU is the first Big 12 team to start 11-0 since Texas started at 13-0 in 2009. The Horned Frogs are designated as Team A in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship and will occupy the South bench.

The Big 12 hasn’t had a team finish undefeated in conference play since Oklahoma in 2016.

The second spot in the Championship Game will come down to the final weekend of games. Kansas State can clinch the spot with a win or a Texas
loss. Texas can clinch with a win and a K-State loss as UT would hold the tiebreaker based on the head-to-head result.

TCU is one of just four undefeated teams along with Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State. TCU’s five wins over ranked opponents equal the combined total of the other three (Georgia – 2, Ohio State – 2, Michigan – 1).

TCU has beaten eight teams currently .500 or better while the other undefeated teams each have six wins.

No. 4 TCU, No. 15 K-State and No. 22 Oklahoma State were in the third CFP Rankings (Nov. 15). Updated rankings are released on Tuesday evenings.

The Big 12 is the only conference that has 80% of teams bowl-eligible: Baylor, Kansas, K-State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas and Texas
Tech.

The Big 12 has eight bowl-eligible teams for the first time since 2017 and the 12th season in Conference history. It is the fourth time since the Big 12 has competed as a 10-team league.

The Big 12 is one of just two leagues (SEC) in which every team has at least four wins.

A Big 12 television partner pregame show has originated from a Conference game eight times in seven games this season.

The Big 12 leads all conferences in scoring (32.4 ppg), total yards (431.3) and rushing yards (177.7) while it is third in passing yards (253.5) and pass completion pct. (62.7).

The Big 12’s average home attendance is up over 4,100 from the final 2021 season average. With a week left to play, an average of 59,162 spectators have attended the 60 home games. Last year’s final average was 55,017

Every Big 12 team is averaging over 79 percent of stadium capacity and 50 percent of teams are over 100 percent of capacity. The Big 12 has five of the 11 teams nationally that are averaging over stadium capacity.

Home teams have a 22-17 advantage in on-campus Big 12 games, although road teams won four of the five matchups on Nov. 19. Oklahoma State joins TCU as the only teams undefeated in home games this season.

Eighty percent of Big 12 teams have had a starting quarterback miss game time due to injury: Baylor, Kansas, K-State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas and Texas Tech.

The Big 12 concluded regular season non-conference games with a .833 (25-5) win percentage, which is second in the FBS while the five losses are tied for the fewest. Every Big 12 team finished with a winning record and the win percentage is the highest since going .900 (27-3) in 2011.

RB Richard Reese broke the Baylor freshman rushing record, previously held by Shock Linwood (2013). He has rushed for 908 yards on the year.
Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV tied Aaron Hunt (Texas Tech 1999-02) for most sacks in Big 12 history with 34.

The Jayhawks have rushed for at least 100 yards in 10 games this season for the first time since 2008.

Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman earned his 100th career victory. He is one of 28 active FBS head coaches to reach the 100-win mark, including one of 15 who are currently at Power 5 schools.

Oklahoma has secured bowl eligibility for the 24th straight season. OU’s 23- year bowl streak is the second longest nationally and the longest in program history.

Oklahoma State safety Jason Taylor II had an interception, a fumble recovery and tied a career-high with 11 tackles against Oklahoma.

RB Kendre Miller has a rushing score in all 11 games this year, the second-longest streak to begin a season in TCU history. LaDainian Tomlinson ran for a touchdown in all 12 games in 2000.

Texas had a 200-yard rusher (Bijan Robinson) and 100-yard rusher (Jonathon Brooks) for the second time in program history and first time
since 1968.

In its 14-10 win over ISU, Texas Tech’s defense allowed the fewest points in a Big 12 game since topping No. 24 TCU, 20-10, in the 2013 conference opener.

In the game against K-State, West Virginia recorded its third defensive touchdown of the season, the most since 2017 (3).

The Big 12 Football Weekly Show presented by Old Trapper Beef Jerky is available at 7 p.m. CT each Wednesday through November 30 on Big 12
Now on ESPN+. Chuckie Kempf and Harold Kuntz host the program, which features highlights from previous games, analysis and previews. A media
panel will also make predictions for each week’s games.

CBB Men’s Preview: Northern Illinois at Sam Houston State

The Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team will take on Sam Houston on Tuesday, Nov. 22, in the Rocket Mortgag; e Fort Myers Tip-Off at Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. Game time against the Bearcats is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT, a free live stream will be available at FSWBucs.com, along with the radio broadcast on 94-9 WDKB in DeKalb and The Varsity Network app.

Last time out, NIU fell at Georgia Tech, 68-50, despite Zarique Nutter’s (Newark, N.J./Clarendon College) first career double-double with 18 points and 15 rebounds. Nutter’s 15 boards are the most by a Huskie since March 5, 2019, when Lacey James grabbed 19 at Central Michigan.

Nutter is one of three Huskies scoring in double figures, led by Keshawn Williams (Chicago Heights, Ill./Tulsa) at 16.3 points per game. David Coit (Columbus, N.J./Atlantic Cape CC) is averaging 15.3 points per contest while Nutter is averaging a double-double at 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Williams and Coit are also tied for the team lead with 3.0 assists per contest.

Tuesday and Wednesday’s games continue NIU’s eight-game road swing that will see the Huskies travel approximately 16,000 miles while playing in seven states and three time zones. The trip began with last week’s game at Georgia Tech.

Sam Houston comes to Florida with a 4-0 overall record after winning at Utah, 65-55, last time out (Nov. 17). The Bearkats also have a victory at Oklahoma this season. Que Grant leads Sam Houston in scoring at 13.3 points per game.

This will be the second all-time meeting between NIU and Sam Houston. The Bearkats won the only previous meeting, 80-73, on Nov. 30, 2001, in Milwaukee, Wis., at Marquette’s Blue and Gold Coca-Cola Classic. Last season, the Huskies and Bearkats were both part of The Jacksonville Classic but did not face each other.

NIU will face either Long Island or South Dakota on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at the Rocket Mortgage Fort Myers Tip-Off. The third-place game will take place at 10 a.m. CT while the championship game is slated for 12:30 p.m. CT.

CBB Men’s Preview: USC at BYU

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The USC Trojans (3-1) are facing the BYU Cougars (3-1) in a first-round game at the Battle 4 Atlantis held in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in The Bahamas on Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. PT.  The game will air on the ESPN2 with Kevin Fitzgerald and Carolyn Peck calling the action.  

COMING ATTRACTIONS — USC is bringing in the No. 6 ranked men’s basketball recruiting class for the 2023-24 seasons, according to Rivals.com.  Leading the way is 247Sports.com No. 1 overall recruit point guard Isaiah Collier from Atlanta, Ga.  His teammate from Wheeler High in Marietta, Ga., forward Arrinten Page, the No. 55 player overall according to ESPN.com, has also signed an NLI to continue their collaboration in L.A.  Rounding out the class is the No.53 overall player according to On3.com guard Silas Demary Jr. from North Carolina.

FACING BYU — USC will open play in the Battle 4 Atlantis facing BYU (3-1) on Nov. 23 at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. BYU is coming off an 87-73 home win over Nicholls on Nov. 19.  BYU also has wins at home over Idaho State (60-56) and Missouri State (66-64), with its lone loss coming at San Diego State (82-75).  BYU has three players averaging in double figures, led by sophomore forward Fousseyni Traore at 12.5 points per game.  USC is 8-3 all-time against BYU, winning the last four meetings.  USC won the last meeting 79-53 on  Dec. 1, 2020 at the Legends Classic in Uncasville, Conn. 

ON DECK AT THE BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS —  The second game for the Trojans will be a Thanksgiving contest on Nov. 24 against either Butler (3-1) or Tennessee (2-1) and the final game on Nov.  25 will be against one of four teams: Dayton, Kansas, NC State and Wisconsin.  The combined record of the eight teams competing at the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament is currently 25-5.

IT STARTS WITH DEFENSE — USC held Mount St. Mary’s to 36.8 percent shooting and has held all four opponents this season to under 40 percent shooting.  USC held 22 of its 34 opponents during the 2021-22 season to under 40 percent shooting. USC held the opposition to a 39.0 shooting percentage during the season, 14th in the country.  USC held its first 12 opponents during the 2021-22 season under 40 percent shooting in each game and to a combined 35.2 shooting percentage, which was second in the country.  The Trojans were the first team in the last 15 seasons to hold its first 12 opponents to under 40 percent shooting in each game. 

PETERSON & ELLIS RECEIVE PRESEASON RECOGNITION — USC fifth-year guard Drew Peterson was named to The Sporting News 2022-23 Preseason All-America third team.  He was also named to the Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Watch List.  Both Peterson and senior guard Boogie Ellis were named to the 2022-23 Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference first team.

BLOCK PARTY 2023 — USC has 29 blocks in the first four games of the 2022-23 season, led by Joshua Morgan’s 16 blocks.  USC is currently tied for sixth in the country with an average of 7.2 blocks per game. Morgan is tied for fourth in the country with his 16 blocks.  Morgan had 7 blocks vs. FGCU on Nov. 7 which tied him for fifth on USC’s all-time single game blocks list

World Cup Preview: Belgium at Canada

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Up until recently, Belgium was sitting in the no.1 place in the FIFA World Rankings, which explains just how strong this team is. It also explains why Belgium is seen as a huge favorite against Canada on Wednesday. Roberto Martinez’s boys are priced at -200, but the odds were even shorter only a few days ago.

The reason behind the odds move is that the bettors have realized the CanMNT is a force to be reckoned with. We all know the Canadians can be very good on the pitch, but will they be good enough on Wednesday to snatch a point(s) off Belgium?

Belgium vs Canada Odds
Match-Winner
Belgium -200
Draw +333
Canada +550
Goals Over/Under
Over 2.5 -139
Under 2.5 +110
*Odds taken from Sports Odds Direct on Monday, November 21.

When, Where, and How to Watch?
Place: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar
Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Time: 2:00 PM ET
How to Watch: FOX/Telemundo

Belgium Might be a Dream Team Past Its Prime
One may argue that the Belgium national soccer team has more superstars on the roster than any other team competing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Real Madrid’s forward Eden Hazard is their captain.

The vice-captain is Jan Vertonghen, an ex-Tottenham player who’s now playing for Anderlecht. The third captain is Manchester City’s midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who’s widely considered the best playmaker on the planet. Further, the man between the posts is Thibaut Courtois, the recipient of the 2022 Lav Yashin Trophy – the award for the best goalkeeper in the world.

The trouble is that all of these guys are over 30. In fact, Belgium’s projected starting XI against Qatar has seven players who are above 30. The other four aren’t much younger either. Romelu Lukaku, for instance, is 29.

Knowing all this, one may assume that Belgium players are past their prime. They might be, but they do have the experience needed to do well in big tournaments. That said, we expect them to do very well against Canada.

Canada’s Squad is a Combination of Youth and Experience
Canada’s captain Atiba Hutchinson is turning 40 in February. However, he’s got plenty of younger teammates who are expected to do all the hard work.

The best example is Canada’s biggest star Alphonso Davies, whose job in Qatar will be to cover the entire left side of the pitch. In Bayern, his role is the left-back, but with the CanMNT, his more of an attacking-minded winger.

Jonathan David is another player whose job is going to be to create goal chances, and the same goes for Canada’s all-time top scorer, Cyle Larin. With these guys in the top three, Canada does stand a good chance of scoring against Belgium. The big question is whether the CanMNT can outscore the Red Devils?

Belgium vs Canada Prediction
This is going to be one high-scoring affair as both teams are great in the offence. Belgium will be the team in possession of the ball for most of the match, but we’re certain Canada will create plenty of chances via counter-attacks.

Some of those might get in! Still, we do think it’s very unlikely the CanMNT will score enough to get anything out of this game.