Saturday Down South
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ESPN places Kentucky on CFP bubble watch after Week 10 loss
After a 34-6 defeat to Tennessee, Kentucky’s CFP hopes tumble as ESPN’s College Football Playoff rankings drop the Wildcats from a No. 6 debut. ESPN’s Football Power Index now gives Will Stein’s team a 36.5% chance to make the playoff, placing them on the bubble as the last SEC contender. Despite a strong strength of schedule and wins over South Carolina, LSU and Oklahoma, Kentucky cannot afford a third loss. Reporter Heather Dinich ranks them No. 10 in her bracket, meaning they must beat Florida, Missouri and Louisville to stay alive for an at‑large spot.
Rutgers reportedly decides on Greg Schiano’s status for 2027
Rutgers confirms head coach Greg Schiano will return for the 2027 season, marking his 19th year with the Scarlet Knights after a 2-7 campaign and back-to-back losing seasons. Despite the recent slump, Schienna remains the program’s winningest coach with 101 victories and a historic 2006 11‑2 run. The decision follows meetings with Athletic Director Keli Zinn and a candid post‑loss apology after a 31‑10 defeat at Wisconsin. Rutgers now faces Nebraska on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
Kirby Smart delivered intense, incredible NSFW speech before Georgia took the field against Ole Miss
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart fired an intense, profanity‑laden pregame speech before the Bulldogs took the field at Ole Miss on Nov. 10, 2026. In the tunnel he warned, “You can run, but you can’t hide, motherfu**er,” urging his players to settle the score after Ole Miss knocked Georgia out of the previous season’s CFP. The rallying words sparked a dominant performance, with Georgia building a 28‑0 halftime lead and cruising to a 42‑7 win. The victory sets up a clash with Missouri in Athens on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Paul Finebaum shares why he likes 24-team Playoff
Paul Finebaum backs the College Football Playoff’s shift to a 24‑team format starting next season, citing the new 5‑year, $1.7 billion CFP‑ESPN deal. He welcomes the removal of automatic Notre Dame berths and conference championship games, arguing the expanded field will create NFL‑style storylines, wild‑card matchups, and heightened fan engagement. Finebaum predicts debates over home‑field advantage and regional pairings will make late‑November college football as compelling as the pro game, even as he remains a traditionalist at heart.
Predicting every SEC team’s final record after Week 10
After Week 10, Saturday Down South predicts the SEC standings through the season’s end. Georgia (8‑1) climbs to an 11‑1 finish and a likely CFP spot, while Alabama (7‑2) is projected at 10‑2 after its 31‑13 win at LSU. Kentucky (7‑2) and Tennessee (7‑2) are slated for 9‑3 finishes, and South Carolina (6‑3) heads to 8‑4. LSU (6‑3) drops to 8‑4, Ole Miss (6‑3) to 9‑3, and Arkansas (3‑6) falls to 3‑9. Auburn (5‑4) and Florida (5‑4) each land at 7‑5, Mississippi State at 5‑7, Missouri at 7‑5, and Oklahoma at 6‑6. The outlook highlights each team’s remaining schedule and key matchups that could shift these projections.
Tennessee AD negotiated mock collective bargaining agreement with Vols basketball team
University of Tennessee athletic director Danny White has piloted a mock collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the men’s basketball team, aiming to set clear spending limits amid uncertainty over the Protect College Sports Act. The draft CBA includes a hard salary cap and floor, postseason revenue sharing, a freshman pay scale, transfer portal timelines, a legal tampering window, strict eligibility rules and penalties for violations. Guard Tyler Lundblade highlighted incentives to retain upperclassmen, while freshmen would face rookie-like proving periods. White plans to replicate the process with the football program, and Athletes.org has posted the mock term sheet online. The Vols host Tennessee State Friday at 7 p.m. ET.
SEC stat leaders: Week 10
Week 10 of the SEC delivered standout individual performances amid four ranked‑on‑ranked games. LSU’s Sam Leavitt led all passers with 380 yards but no touchdowns in a 31‑13 loss to Alabama, while Texas quarterback Arch Manning posted 297 yards and three TDs in a 31‑23 win over Missouri. On the ground, Texas A&M’s Rueben Owens II rushed for a conference‑high 137 yards in a 17‑9 defeat, and Tennessee’s DeSean Bishop tallied 109 yards and two scores on 25 carries in a 34‑6 rout of Kentucky. Georgia’s Talyn Taylor exploded with 140 yards and three touchdowns on just four receptions, propelling the Bulldogs to a 42‑7 victory over Ole Miss. These leaders highlight the week’s top passing, rushing and receiving stats across the SEC.
5 craziest stats from Week 10 in the SEC
Week 10 in the SEC delivered five jaw‑dropping stats. Georgia shattered Ole Miss’s 16‑game home streak with a 42‑7 rout, amassing 481 total yards and 295 on the ground. Kentucky, after four games with only five giveaways, turned the ball over three times in a 34‑6 loss to Tennessee despite out‑gaining the Volunteers. Alabama pulled off a 31‑13 win at LSU while being out‑gained by 172 yards, thanks to flawless ball security and a 21‑point fourth‑quarter surge. Georgia’s first‑half dominance is historic—230‑57 scoring margin and a 108‑14 first‑quarter edge this season. These wild numbers underscore the SEC’s unpredictable drama.
Georgia’s national title path: 3 ideal matchups, 3 teams to avoid
Georgia reasserts its playoff dominance with a 42-7 win over Ole Miss after an upset loss to Auburn. With likely CFP seeding, the Bulldogs eye three ideal opponents—Wake Forest, Tennessee and BYU—whose styles favor Georgia’s strengths. Conversely, they hope to avoid Miami, Alabama and Notre Dame, each posing serious threats in a 12‑team bracket. The article breaks down why the matchups matter as the CFP top 25 rankings debut Tuesday.
ACC program dismisses 4 staff members amid woeful showing in conference play
Georgia Tech fires four coaches — defensive coordinator Jason Semore, defensive ends coach Kyle Pope, offensive line coach Allen Mogridge and wide receivers coach Jafar Williams — as the Yellow Jackets slump to a 2-7 record and last place in the ACC. Defensive backs coach Vinnie Sunseri assumes play‑calling duties, while former NFL star DeAndre Hopkins joins as receivers coach and other assistants shuffle roles. Head coach Brent Key says the shake‑up aims to improve the final three games, after a recent 44-17 loss to Louisville and a lone conference win over Duke. The next test is at Clemson on Saturday.
Josh Hubbard becomes 4th Mississippi State player to eclipse 2,000 career points
Senior guard Josh Hubbard joins Mississippi State’s elite 2,000‑point club during a 98-57 win over Jackson State, finishing with 14 points and three of six 3‑pointers. He becomes the Bulldogs’ fourth player to surpass the mark, behind Jeff Malone (2,142), Bailey Howell (2,030) and Quinndary Weatherspoon (2,012). Hubbard, a 21‑year‑old who averaged a career‑high 22.1 points last season and earned third‑team All‑SEC honors, now eyes the school’s all‑time scoring record. The Bulldogs next face Xavier in West Virginia on Nov. 13.
Jon Sumrall reveals he tried to retain Kentucky-bound Jordan Castell, Aaron Gates this past offseason
Florida coach Jon Sumrall admits he tried to keep defensive backs Jordan Castell and Aaron Gates, who both transferred to Kentucky under new head coach Will Stein. Castell leads the SEC with a career‑high four interceptions and 68 tackles, while Gates records seven passes defended and 21 tackles this season. Both are key to a Kentucky team tied for second in the SEC with Alabama. The Gators face the Wildcats Saturday at 6:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, after Kentucky’s 38‑7 victory in last year’s meeting.
Arch Manning shrugs off ties to Louisiana ahead of LSU matchup: ‘It’s not about me’
Texas quarterback Arch Manning downplays his New Orleans roots ahead of the crucial Week 11 clash with LSU in Baton Rouge, calling the game “not about me.” After rallying the Longhorns to a 7‑2 record with a 28‑of‑38, 297‑yard, three‑TD performance against Missouri, Manning stresses he has no family legacy at LSU. The showdown, slated for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, could serve as a College Football Playoff eliminator for the loser.
Jon Sumrall refuses to name starting QB for Week 11 at Kentucky
Florida head coach Jon Sumrall keeps the Gators' quarterback dilemma a mystery ahead of the Week 11 road clash at Kentucky. After a 5-4 start and a disappointing 10‑of‑22, 133‑yard, two‑interception performance by Tramell Jones Jr. against Oklahoma, Sumrall refuses to name a starter, noting Jones “did not play well enough on Saturday.” Both Jones and Aaron Philo remain in the mix as the Gators face a 7‑2 Kentucky squad fighting for a CFP berth.
Greg Sankey’s dig at announcers ‘mostly’ aimed at Aaron Murray, per report
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey told Paul Finebaum on Monday he’s “very disappointed” with certain broadcasters for criticizing officials, and sources say his barb was aimed chiefly at former Florida quarterback‑turned‑analyst Aaron Murray. Murray, who was in the booth for the Florida‑Oklahoma matchup, earlier took issue with a controversial Texas‑Mizzou call that turned a would‑be incomplete pass into a fumble, sparking a 21‑0 Texas surge to win 34‑20. Sankey’s remarks highlight the league’s frustration with media commentary on officiating.
Mike Elko says Aggies’ run game had ‘the best performance of the year’ vs. South Carolina
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko praised the Aggies’ rushing effort in a 17-9 loss to South Carolina, calling it the season’s best run performance. The team logged 206 yards on 43 carries, with Reuben Owens hauling in 137 yards on 19 attempts. Despite scoring only nine points, Elko highlighted the achievement and dismissed speculation about changing the offensive coordinator. With bowl eligibility still at stake, the Aggies look to build on the ground game before hosting Tennessee next week.
Kirby Smart evaluates Mizzou QB Austin Simmons: ‘He can do it all’
After a dominant win over Ole Miss, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart weighs in on Missouri’s quarterback Austin Simmons ahead of the Bulldogs’ visit to Athens. Smart praises Simmons’ accuracy, arm strength, quick release and baseball-like timing, calling him an elite player who "can do it all." He cites Simmons’ 5‑of‑6, 64‑yard performance as a backup at Ole Miss in 2024 and notes the Tigers’ solid run game and talented receivers. Smart stresses respect for the confidence Simmons brings to the upcoming matchup.
Steve Sarkisian refrains from speaking on 24-team Playoff: ‘I’ve got bigger fish to fry’
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian declines to comment on the College Football Playoff’s expansion to 24 teams, saying he has “bigger fish to fry.” Focused on the Longhorns’ current push, Sarkisian noted the decision rests with higher-ups. Texas sits 7‑2 overall, 4‑2 in SEC play after a Week 10 win over Missouri, ranked No. 7 and poised to rise after Kentucky’s loss. The Longhorns still face tough games against LSU, Arkansas, Texas A&M and a potential SEC championship, keeping their margin for error razor‑thin.
Ole Miss receives hefty fine from SEC for fans throwing trash on the field against Georgia
The SEC fines Ole Miss $250,000 after fans tossed debris onto the field during their 42-7 loss to Georgia on Nov. 4, delaying the second quarter of the Week 10 matchup. The conference says the thrown cans and plastic bottles violated its sportsmanship, game‑management and alcohol‑availability policies, though it has not yet suspended the university’s alcohol sales. The penalty underscores SEC enforcement of fan behavior amid a rout that left the Rebels stunned on the field and in the stands.
Kentucky TE accuses Tennessee of pumping crowd noise following 28-point loss
After a 34-6 drubbing by Tennessee in Week 10, Kentucky tight end Mikkel Skinner claims the Volunteers pumped artificial crowd noise on third‑down plays to drown out the Wildcats. Skinner says the stadium’s speakers “were pumping fake crowd noise,” a charge echoed in his social‑media post. Kentucky’s offense sputtered, managing just six points—the lowest output of the season—while incurring seven penalties for 50 yards. Despite the setback, coach Will Stein still eyes a College Football Playoff berth as Kentucky prepares next for a struggling Florida opponent, then Missouri and Louisville.
Mike Elko asked about long-term confidence in Holmon Wiggins: ‘That’s a stupid question’
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko deflects questions about his long‑term confidence in offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins, calling the query “stupid” after a 4‑5 season and a 17‑9 loss to South Carolina. The Aggies, once CFP contenders, now rank 13th in the SEC in total offense and sit in the bottom half for scoring, passing and red‑zone efficiency. Quarterback Marcel Reed’s decline and a looming matchup against Tennessee’s top defense heighten scrutiny of Wiggins’ future.
Former Georgia DT Jordan Davis traded to AFC contender, per report
Defensive tackle Jordan Davis, the former Georgia star and 2022 first‑round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, is headed to the Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Jacksonville, sitting 6‑2 and atop the AFC South, gives the Eagles a 2027 first‑rounder and a 2029 second‑round pick for Davis. The trade comes as Philadelphia endures a seven‑game losing streak, while the Jaguars load up on defense ahead of a potential first Super Bowl. Davis, a 2021 unanimous All‑American who helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LVIII, will join a rising Jags squad.
Kirby Smart reacts to SEC ending championship game: ‘Times are changing’
Kirby Smart reflects on the SEC Championship’s swan‑song as the conference prepares to retire its title game after the 2026 season, a change driven by the upcoming 24‑team College Football Playoff. Smart praised the event’s history, venue and fan impact, but emphasized that “times are changing” and the league must adapt. He noted that everyone “kind of knew” this shift was coming. Georgia, now 8‑1 overall and 6‑1 in SEC play, remains the favorite to capture the final SEC crown before the new playoff format takes over.
Tennessee sacks leader to miss remainder of season with knee injury, per report
Tennessee defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby, the Vols' sack leader with seven sacks, will miss the rest of the 2026 season after a knee injury suffered in the win over Kentucky. Coach Josh Heupel could not provide an update at the time, and writer Austin Price confirmed the season-ending status on Monday. Despite the loss, Tennessee boasts depth on the line—Xavier Gilliam and Mariyon Dye have combined for 11 sacks, and the Volunteers lead the nation with 39 sacks overall. The team now turns its focus to an upcoming road game at Texas A&M as they chase a College Football Playoff berth.
Cole Cubelic shares takeaways for every SEC team after Week 10
Cole Cubelic breaks down Week 10’s SEC shake‑up, highlighting Alabama’s 31‑13 road win over LSU that keeps the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes alive while the Tigers drop to 6‑3. Georgia dominates Ole Miss in Oxford, propelling the Bulldogs to an 8‑1 record and the top spot in the AP Poll. Tennessee easily dispatches Kentucky, preserving its two‑loss status, and Texas beats Missouri, handing the Tigers their third loss. Cubelic also notes Auburn’s needed conference win, Texas A&M’s solid pressure showing, and Vanderbilt’s road victory, offering detailed player and scheme insights for each team.
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