The Bum's Week # 13 College Football Rated Games - Trends - News !!

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'Spoiler role' among Huskers' motivations vs No. 3 Hawkeyes
November 23, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) The stakes for Friday's Iowa-Nebraska game are sure to punch up this young border rivalry.

Third-ranked Iowa is unbeaten and has a legitimate shot to make the College Football Playoff if it wins in Lincoln and in the Big Ten championship game the following week. The Cornhuskers would love nothing more than to ruin Iowa's magical season while winning a sixth game to clinch bowl eligibility.

''It adds another level, that's for sure,'' receiver Lane Hovey said. ''There are a lot of different motivations coming into this game on why we want to win. The spoiler role just adds another dimension to it.''

Nebraska has won three of four games against Iowa since joining the Big Ten in 2011. Before that, the teams had met only six times since 1979.

In a conference that relishes trophy games, Nebraska and Iowa were designated rivals and put in the same division because of their geographical proximity. A supermarket chain with stores in both states sponsors what has become known as the Heroes Game, which honors citizens who have performed heroic acts.

Other than in 2012, when Nebraska earned a spot in the Big Ten title game by winning at Iowa, the outcome of this game has yielded mostly bragging rights for the winner.

This year the stakes are much higher, with Iowa (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) enjoying one of the best seasons in program history and Nebraska (5-6, 3-4) bouncing back from a 3-6 start to now having a chance at .500 if it can knock off a second top-10 opponent in a month.

''We've been looking forward to it,'' quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. said. ''We wanted them to be undefeated coming in just like we wanted Michigan State to be undefeated. We want to prove that our record doesn't say anything about the team we have. Yeah, we lost some close games, a lot of close games. We are a very good football team. We just have to put it all together and when we do, it shows.''

Nebraska coach Mike Riley lauded the playmaking ability of Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard, a strong contender for All-Big Ten honors, and the Hawkeyes' stout defensive line. He said special teams will be crucial because he expects field position to decide the game.

Though in his first year at Nebraska, Riley recognizes a good rivalry brewing.

''I think our guys are excited for the opportunity to play in a big game against a good team and prove what we can do,'' Riley said. ''Everybody's obviously aware of the ramifications for them. For our guys, my sense is they want to play and win, and whatever motivates them, it's really about us more than anything.''

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No. 7 Baylor still in Big 12 chase with 3rd QB and help
November 23, 2015

WACO, Texas (AP) While needing some help and probably about to use its third different starting quarterback, No. 7 Baylor still has a chance to win its third consecutive Big 12 title.

A win over previously undefeated Oklahoma State kept the Bears (9-1, 6-1) in the Big 12 race, and depending on the outcome of other games around the nation, maybe still in position for a playoff spot.

''We do like the fact that it's late in the season, and we're still in the hunts - with an s,'' coach Art Briles said Monday. ''We know it's hard for everybody to look at you and you to deliver week after week after week. ... Of course, we haven't done anything yet and haven't finished. But at least up to this point, we're still standing pretty solid.''

The Bears first have to win Friday night at No. 15 TCU (9-2, 6-2), when sophomore Chris Johnson likely gets his first career start for Baylor after throwing two touchdowns in relief of injured freshman starter Jarrett Stidham in a 45-35 win at Oklahoma State last Saturday.

Since a tiebreaker will be used and no more co-champions are declared in the Big 12, Baylor could become the champ again by winning its last two games - against TCU, then Dec. 5 at home against Texas - and if No. 9 Oklahoma State (10-1, 7-1) wins Saturday night at home over No. 5 Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1), the team that gave Baylor its only loss less than two weeks ago.

''After that OU game, we felt a lot of people were writing us off as a team and a contender,'' senior linebacker and leading tackler Grant Campbell said. ''We wanted to prove people wrong this past week taking down an undefeated team in Stillwater. Our goals have not changed.''

Stidham was already dealing with a sore back before the Oklahoma State game. He banged his throwing (right) hand early Saturday, then right before halftime had his leg rolled up on in what was initially described as an ankle injury.

Briles said Monday that it was more an issue of the bone in his lower leg and termed Stidham as ''very questionable'' to play against TCU. The coach also said he was uncertain about Big 12 rushing leader Shock Linwood because of a knee and ankle issue.

Stidham has started Baylor's three games since junior Seth Russell, then the top-rated FBS passer, got hurt Oct. 24 and had season-ending neck surgery.

Johnson, who had been working as a receiver since before the season, was then moved back to quarterback to prepare as Stidham's backup. Johnson was 5 of 10 for 138 yards and the two TDs against Oklahoma State, even though his practice reps before that had been with the second-teamers and not the regular starters.

Briles said the Bears were starting the week preparing for Johnson to start Friday, and that they had options for backups.

''It's an opportunity to get more in-sync with those guys,'' Johnson said. ''It's a little different having to just jump in there in the middle of a game with those guys without having practiced with them much. Getting some time with them will help out a lot.

After Stidham was an early enrollee last January, went through spring drills and earned the backup role, Johnson was moved to receiver late in preseason practice. Johnson completed his only four passes for 45 yards last season, and has three catches for 37 yards this year.

''He's extremely confident. He has great ability out there,'' standout left tackle Spencer Drango said. ''It feels like we've had the same quarterback (each week) since we started.''

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Fisher: No. 14 Florida Stare, No. 10 Florida very similar
November 23, 2015

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) As Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher prepares for Saturday's game against No. 10 Florida, he sees a mirror image of his own squad.

''It's funny how that evolves. That wasn't planned, I promise you, by either one of us,'' Fisher said on Monday. ''One of the key roles as a coach is identifying who you are and what each team is. And (Florida coach Jim McElwain has) done a great job of that.

''It's ironic that we are very similar, we really are.''

The 14th-ranked Seminoles (9-2) and Gators (10-1) have both been successful with strong defenses and power running games. Both are also young on offense and have used multiple quarterbacks. That is quite a change in a rivalry that has been dominated by quarterbacks and strong passing games.

Saturday's game marks the 16th time in the regular season that both teams have met and been ranked in the top 15 but it's only the third since 2001. Florida has a 4-3-1 edge when it has been the higher-ranked squad.

Fisher and McElwain both were offensive coordinators under Nick Saban - Fisher at LSU and McElwain at Alabama. Fisher said that his dealings with McElwain have been limited because he coached at Colorado State after leaving Alabama.

Fisher has said his team has learned a lot about itself since a 23-13 loss at Clemson on Nov. 7 but the biggest indicator will be against Florida. The Seminoles have been a different team on the road. They are 2-2 away from Doak Campbell Stadium and are averaging just 16.8 points, which is third worst in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Florida State posted a 14-0 win at Boston College on Sept. 18 and beat Wake Forest 24-16 on Oct. 3. But it saw its 28-game ACC win streak end at Georgia Tech on Oct. 24 and fell at Clemson two weeks later.

One difference is the offensive consistency under Sean Maguire.

The junior has started at quarterback three of the past four games and took over the job for good after Everett Golson committed three turnovers during the first half of the Nov. 14 game against North Carolina State. Maguire has directed scoring drives on 11 of 15 series the past two weeks.

Fisher said Maguire's performance in last Saturday's 52-13 win over Chattanooga was ''outstanding''.

Maguire's first road start came against Clemson but he thinks that now having the experience of playing in adverse surroundings will make him less tentative this week.

''I just think everyone getting that big game out of the way, not just my first experience on the road but there were a lot of guys who haven't played in such a hostile environment,'' Maguire said. ''People will be a little more relaxed and just go play.''

Another area that should benefit from the game at Death Valley is the offensive line, which had six penalties (three false starts, three delay of games). With playing the same five linemen the past two weeks, the penalties have been reduced.

Since falling out of contention for the Atlantic Coast Conference title, Fisher has placed more of an importance on beating Florida and winning the ''state title.'' In a state where beating the rivals carries major recruiting implications, Fisher is 10-1 against Miami and the Gators.

The Seminoles have won four of the past five. A win though would mark only the third time in the series that the Seminoles have beaten the Gators three straight years or more.

Besides state bragging rights, the Seminoles needs a win to keep their hopes of making a New Year's six bowl intact. They are 14th in the College Football Playoff rankings but North Carolina, which will face Clemson in the ACC championship game, is expected to climb up after beating Virginia Tech in overtime last Saturday. Florida's CFP hopes are still very much alive as it will face Alabama in the SEC Championship on Dec. 5.

''We want to be the best team in the state. That's definitely important to us,'' Florida defensive back Brian Poole said. ''A lot of us play with those guys and did camps with those guys, so it's like we're playing against our friends and stuff like that.''

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Rudock has rewarded Harbaugh's faith in him at Michigan
November 23, 2015

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) Jake Rudock was scanning the country earlier this year, looking for a place to play while taking steps toward his goal of being a pediatric heart specialist.

At Michigan, he got both.

Rudock, a graduate transfer from Iowa, became a starting quarterback for the 12th-ranked Wolverines (9-2, 6-1 Big Ten) this season and is working on a master's degree in kinesiology.

He will likely have to play well for Michigan to beat No. 8 Ohio State (10-1, 6-1) for the first time since 2011 and just the second time in 12 years on Saturday at the Big House.

If Rudock makes more plays than mistakes, he will be following a recent trend.

After a rocky start in which Rudock was among the nation's leaders in turnovers, he has validated Jim Harbaugh's faith in him by flourishing during the team's four-game winning streak despite taking some hard hits.

''Tough as a $2 steak doesn't do it real justice,'' Harbaugh said Monday. ''He has been a godsend for our football team.''

Rudock beat out Shane Morris, who had played in 10 games the previous two years, to be the No. 1 QB during Harbaugh's debut season as the leader of the program he starred for at the same position.

Through the first two games, Rudock had six turnovers and only one player had more at the highest level of college football.

Harbaugh steadfastly stuck by him, though, saying the competition wasn't even close to have a conversation about making a change.

''When you hear your coach standing up for you like that, it gives you so much confidence,'' Rudock said in an interview with The Associated Press while sipping on a smoothie and holding a thick playbook. ''I could just focus on improving and not looking over my shoulder.''

Rudock has been at his best when Michigan needed him most, coming off a heartbreaking loss to Michigan State on a botched punt. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes and just three interceptions over the last four games while completing 69 percent of his passes and averaging 293 yards passing.

Harbaugh, a star signal caller with the Wolverines in the mid-1980s and a solid starter in the NFL, is regarded as a QB guru. He helped groom Andrew Luck for the league while he coached him at Stanford and played a key part in the success Colin Kaepernick had in San Francisco.

Now, he is turning a relatively pedestrian QB into a standout.

One of the reasons Rudock wanted to play at Michigan was because his high school coach heard Harbaugh had his eye on him while he was leading the 49ers.

''When coach Harbaugh was at San Francisco, Jake was on the board (of NFL prospects) because of his intelligence,'' said George Smith, who coached Rudock at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and assisted him during his search for a school to transfer to this year. ''Now, I've got three NFL scouts talking to me about how well he manages a game. The thing people don't seem to talk about is how tough he is. I talked to him the day after he took a brutal hit in Minnesota and he said it felt like he got hit by a truck.''

Rudock was knocked out against the Golden Gophers with what Harbaugh called a torso injury, then bounced back to play in the next week's win against Rutgers. The following game, he set a school record with six touchdown passes and threw for a career-high 440 yards against Indiana.

Along the way, Harbaugh publicly said Rudock has developed into an NFL-caliber quarterback.

''I was surprised that he would come out and say something like that,'' Rudock said. ''I was like, `Wow. All the work is paying off.' It was a tough transition coming here as the new guy who is supposed to lead, but it has definitely worked out.''

The 22-year-old Rudock is an elder statesman among his teammates, and he's referred to as ''dad,'' by his fellow quarterbacks.

''The QBs are kind of like `Mean Girls,''' Michigan center Graham Glasgow said. ''They talk about girls and stuff, they gossip. He doesn't want to be bothered by that. He's all business, all time.''

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No. 19 Ole Miss, No. 23 Mississippi State set for Egg Bowl
November 23, 2015

OXFORD, Miss. (AP) Mississippi quarterback Chad Kelly didn't need many words to describe Saturday's highly anticipated Egg Bowl against rival Mississippi State.

''We're good,'' Kelly said. ''And they're good.''

And in the 112 years this rivalry has been played, that's actually pretty rare. When No. 19 Ole Miss (8-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) travels to face No. 23 Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3) in Starkville, it will be just the sixth time that both teams are ranked for the in-state rivalry.

For Ole Miss, the stakes might be even higher on Saturday. If Auburn beats Alabama earlier in the day in the Iron Bowl, the Rebels can advance to the SEC title game with a win against the Bulldogs.

Coach Hugh Freeze said that's a nice incentive to have in late November, but fighting for the Egg Bowl will be plenty of motivation regardless what happens between the Tide and Tigers. Ole Miss won 31-17 last season in Oxford.

''We'll have to play our best in Starkville Saturday night against a really, really good football team,'' Freeze said.

One of the most intriguing parts of this particular Egg Bowl is it features arguably the league's two best quarterbacks.

Kelly has thrown for a league-high 3,504 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound junior is a huge reason why the Rebels are leading the league in scoring with more than 40 points per game.

Mississippi State isn't far behind, averaging about 35 points per game. Prescott has thrown for 3,159 yards and 23 touchdowns, including a whopping 508 yards and five touchdowns in a 51-50 win against Arkansas last week.

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior also leads the team with 478 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Freeze said Prescott will be a handful to deal with on Saturday.

''They have one of the most tremendous leaders that we've seen in this conference in Dak'' (Prescott), Freeze said. ''He's a great player, a great leader, a winner, competes at a high level and gives that offense a chance to be really special at times.''

Kelly said he met Prescott at the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana over the summer and the two have a friendly rivalry and plenty of mutual respect.

''Both of us are on a mission to be great quarterbacks, and I know we're both going to give it our all each and every time we're out there,'' Kelly said. ''We have to stay focused, and it will be a great game.''

Since the teams appear fairly equal, one advantage sticks out: Mississippi State is at home.

The home team has won 10 out of the last 11 in the series. Ole Miss hasn't won in Starkville since 2003, which was Eli Manning's senior season.

This will be the first Egg Bowl for Kelly, who grew up in Buffalo, New York. He said he expects Saturday's atmosphere to be intense and full of Mississippi State's

''I've never really been around a cowbell before or seen a cowbell except on TV watching the games,'' Kelly said. ''I'm just a kid from Buffalo who's never heard a cowbell in Buffalo. I'm anxious to get out there and see the crowd, feel the crowd. It's going to be fun.''

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Tennessee defense beating up on weak offenses late in season
November 23, 2015

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A weak late-season schedule has given Tennessee's defense an opportunity to flex its muscles.

Tennessee has allowed a total of eight points over its last two games and is on pace to end the season with its best scoring defense of the post-Phillip Fulmer era. The Volunteers (7-4, 4-3 SEC) are chasing their first five-game winning streak since 2007 on Saturday when they host Vanderbilt, the lowest-scoring Football Bowl Subdivision program.

''It gives us a good idea of where we're at and what we're doing right,'' safety Brian Randolph said. ''We have confidence in ourselves and our game plan. We're all just playing together.''

Tennessee followed a 24-0 victory over North Texas with a 19-8 triumph over Missouri last week, the first time since 2006 that the Vols have held two straight opponents to single digits. Only a Missouri touchdown in the final 10 minutes of Saturday's game prevented Tennessee from producing back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 2002.

''We'll keep preparing like we've been preparing and hopefully we can get a shutout next week,'' linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin said after the Missouri game.

That's certainly possible against Vanderbilt, which averages just 14 points per game and has been shut out in two of its last four contests. That continues the pattern of Tennessee's late-season schedule.

Each of Tennessee's last four opponents rank 96th or below among all FBS teams in scoring - Kentucky (96th), South Carolina (110th), North Texas (123rd) and Missouri (125th). The only FBS teams averaging fewer points per game than Missouri are Kent State and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee beat Missouri by stifling freshman quarterback Drew Lock, who went 13 of 30 for 135 yards with an interception. Tennessee could face a second straight freshman quarterback Saturday in Vanderbilt's Kyle Shurmur, who has started four of the Commodores' last five games.

After giving up 25.7 points per game through the first half of the season, the Vols have allowed just 14.4 points per game over their last five contests. They've allowed 20.5 points per game overall, their lowest average since the 2008 team gave up 16.8 points per game.

''We're able to generate more second-and-long, third-and-long situations,'' Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. ''Anytime you can create third-and-long situations, it becomes advantageous for you. I think staying ahead of the sticks, improving our tackling, swarming to the football, all those things, the small details (have improved). It's always the little things that nobody sees that add up to the big things everyone sees.''

The Vols certainly have come a long way since the start of the season. Tennessee was 3-4 earlier this year because it its inability to protect leads. They fell to Oklahoma and Arkansas after leading 17-0 in both games. They were up 27-14 in the fourth quarter of a 28-27 loss at Florida and also led in the final quarter of a 19-14 loss at Alabama.

Now they're shutting opponents down.

''We had that analogy where you're digging for gold,'' Randolph said. ''You may hit the shovel 100 times and you need to hit it 101 times and you've got the gold. We've been looking at that. You don't quit. You never know. You could be right there.''

NOTE: Jones said defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt would be honored with the rest of the seniors before the Vols' final home game Saturday. The Vols haven't ruled out the possibility of seeking a sixth year of eligibility for Maggitt if he doesn't return this season. Maggitt redshirted in 2013 and hasn't played since injuring his hip in mid-September.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BGSU at BALL 07:00 PM

BGSU -22.0 TRIPLE PLAY

U 75.0 TRIPLE PLAY


OHIO at NIU 07:30 PM

NIU -13.5 BLOW OUT

O 58.5 TRIPLE PLAY

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Prescott gets last chance at Egg Bowl
November 24, 2015

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Dak Prescott is already the owner of 38 Mississippi State records and 22 victories as the starting quarterback during a superb career that's widely viewed as the best in school history.

Now there's one more thing he'd like to accomplish before leaving Starkville: Winning the Egg Bowl against rival Mississippi in his final home game.

''It's exciting, it's humbling and it's something I've been looking forward to,'' Prescott said. ''It's a big-time game.''

The Egg Bowl is always a big deal in Mississippi, but this one features even a little more drama.

For one thing, both teams are good. When No. 19 Ole Miss (8-3, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) travels to face No. 23 Mississippi State (8-3, 4-3) on Saturday, both teams will be ranked during the Egg Bowl for just the sixth time.

There also should be some superb quarterback play.

Ole Miss first-year starter Chad Kelly leads the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns, leading a Rebel offense that's averaging more than 40 points per game.

But Kelly will be an Egg Bowl neophyte on Saturday in what likely will be a hostile environment. Prescott's name is already prominent in the game's lore.

It was two years ago in Starkville when an injured Prescott came off the bench in the fourth quarter to rally the Bulldogs past Ole Miss for a 17-10 overtime win.

That was the moment that Prescott truly became a star in Starkville. Over the next two years, his consistently stellar play has turned him into one of most prolific quarterbacks in league history.

A few of the highlights:

- He's been responsible for 107 touchdowns during his career, which trails only Florida's Tim Tebow, Georgia's Aaron Murray and Florida's Danny Wuerffel in SEC history.

- His 11,153 total offensive yards rank fifth behind Murray, Tebow, Florida's Chris Leak and Georgia's David Greene. He'll pass Leak and Greene on Saturday with a good game.

- He led Mississippi State to a 10-win season in 2014. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history and stayed in the top spot for five weeks.

Prescott considered leaving for the NFL in the offseason, though opinions about his professional potential are mixed. He's said a big reason for his return is he wanted to win one more Egg Bowl after the Bulldogs lost 31-17 to Ole Miss in Oxford last season.

''It's pure excitement knowing I came back for this reason,'' Prescott said. ''From the time I got here, everything goes into this week. Last year, this year, everything boils down to this.''

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has said that Prescott's presence in the program can't be measured by numbers alone. He said Prescott has also been invaluable as the face of the Bulldogs and representing the program with class during the past four years.

On Saturday, Bulldog fans will get one more chance to see him play at Davis Wade Stadium.

''I'm guessing when they announce him for senior night, it'll probably be really loud,'' Mullen said. ''I bet he'll get a pretty good ovation. All of our fans will show him their appreciation for all that he's done.''

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OSU lacking punch with Michigan next
November 24, 2015

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Fans in a chilly and wet Ohio Stadium on Saturday got to see a two-quarterback system work - not to perfection, but good enough to defeat a ranked opponent.

Unfortunately for Ohio State, that tandem of Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry played for Michigan State, and the replacements for the injured Connor Cook led the Spartans to a 17-14 upset of the Buckeyes.

It wasn't supposed to be that way for the No. 9 Buckeyes (10-1, 6-1 Big Ten), who play at No. 12 Michigan on Saturday.

Ohio State, coming off its College Football Playoff championship, had an abundance of talent, especially at quarterback, where the two-headed monster of J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones was going to crank out 50 points a game.

Instead, the Buckeyes were held to 132 total yards and five first downs. Their two touchdown drives totaled 38 yards and their scoring average dropped to 34.4, 36th in the nation.

Afterward, Heisman Trophy hopeful running back Ezekiel Elliott criticized the coaches for giving him the ball only twice in the second half and 12 times total for 33 yards.

The game was yet another step in a season-long attempt by the team to set its identity. Jones, the better deep-ball thrower, has started eight games. Barrett, more comfortable with the read-option, has started three of the past four - he was suspended against Minnesota after a receiving a citation for driving while impaired.

Center Jacoby Boren said Ohio State's best game offensively was Barrett's first start, a 49-7 win against Rutgers on Oct. 24.

''I don't know if there's any one solution,'' he said. ''As a group we need to take ownership. Everyone that's out there playing has to reflect on themselves and look at what they can do better to help the team.''

Left tackle Taylor Decker knows what the Buckeyes must do.

''Our downhill run game with tempo is something we're good at, but it's not something you can do all the time,'' he said.

Michigan State did what a lot of times are trying against Ohio State, stack the box and force the Buckeyes to throw. With an experienced offensive line that has been subpar in pass blocking and no consistent deep threat, Ohio State can be throttled if Elliott doesn't carry the load.

But he can't do it alone.

Ohio State was outmuscled up front against the Spartans. After getting the ball on a turnover at the Michigan State 32 in the second quarter, the Buckeyes needed 10 plays to score, with Elliott going in from the 1 on the last of his eight carries on the drive.

He was a phantom after that. The combination of the elements and the stout Spartans defense was stifling, leaving Barrett as the team's leader rusher with 44 yards on 15 rushes. Meanwhile, the Spartans duo of O'Connor and Terry totaled 16 runs for 50 yard and added a combined 91 yards through the air.

''(The Spartans) were keying on the best player on the field, Zeke Elliott,'' Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. ''But hindsight, feed him. He has a way of making yards.''

Against Michigan, Ohio State will need to spread the field and get H-backs Jalin Marshall and Braxton Miller and wide receiver Mike Thomas more involved. The Wolverines (9-2, 6-1) feature a defense that is second nationally in total yards (263.1 per game) and sixth in scoring (14.9).

Michigan tight end Jake Butt doesn't expect the Elliott flap to be an issue.

''I think you see a bunch of guys that are passionate about winning over there,'' he said. ''They're going to get that squared away.''

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USC expects 3 key players back vs. UCLA
November 24, 2015

LOS ANGELES (AP) Southern California tailback Tre Madden, guard Viane Talamaivao and freshman defensive back Marvell Tell are all expected to return from injury Saturday against No. 22 UCLA.

Interim coach Clay Helton gave encouraging updates on all three players Tuesday as the Trojans (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12) began their week of preparation for their annual crosstown showdown with the Bruins (8-3, 5-3). The winner will also claim the Pac-12 South title.

Madden has been limited for the past month by a knee injury, carrying the ball just once in the Trojans' last five games. He began the season as their starting tailback.

Talamaivao is a starting guard who sat out last week's loss at Oregon with a knee injury.

Tell has missed four straight games after breaking his collarbone.

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Texas Tech at Texas
November 24, 2015

While the NFL grabs the spotlight on Thanksgiving Day, college football features an intriguing Big XII matchup for the final regular season Thursday night game. Texas Tech and Texas have had some very competitive games vs. the top of the Big XII, but ultimately both have had somewhat disappointing seasons and this will be a key late season game for both sides. Here is a look at the Thanksgiving night matchup in the Big XII.

Match-up: Texas Tech Red Raiders at Texas Longhorns
Venue: Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas
Time/TV: Thursday, November 26, 7:30 PM ET – FS1
Line: Texas -1½, Over/Under 72½
Last Meeting: 2014, Texas (-4½) 34-13 at Texas Tech

In Charlie Strong’s first season at Texas, the Longhorns wound up just 6-6 in the regular season before a lopsided Texas Bowl loss against Arkansas. From 2005 to 2009, Texas went 58-8 with a national championship under Mack Brown as the bar was raised high for the program and it will be difficult to consistently get back to that level. This season started with Texas winning just one of the first five games of the season, but the Longhorns do have one of the biggest wins of the season in the Big XII being the only team to beat Oklahoma. At 4-6, Texas needs to win this week and next week at Baylor to get a bowl invite with Texas only missing a bowl game once in the past decade in a 5-7 season of 2010.

Texas has had some close calls as they lost to California by a single point and lost by just three against Oklahoma State in a bizarre finish, but lopsided losses to Notre Dame, TCU, and Iowa State are more memorable to the fan base that has quickly put Strong on the hot seat. He was rumored to have entertained taking the Miami position and with many openings around the country, Strong will have options if he considers leaving the high pressure in Austin or if his contract is terminated. There is no buyout, but Texas will be on the hook for the duration of his contract in that scenario, still some $15 million while Strong would be responsible for paying the remainder of his assistants contracts if he chooses to leave.

The issues for Texas this season have been on both sides of the ball. While the running game has been productive, the passing game has never developed behind a split of two mobile quarterbacks, Jerrod Heard and Tyrone Swoopes. They have combined for nearly 900 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, but just over 1,500 passing yards and only eight touchdowns through the air. The leading receiver for Texas has just 413 yards, which is less than a third of the production of the Big XII’s top receivers.

Texas has allowed 429 yards per game, but on a pretty respectable 5.5 yards per play as the defense has been capable this season despite the marginal results. It has not been a consistent group as five times Texas has been out-gained by more than 100 yards including getting out-gained by over 200 yards by Notre Dame, TCU, and Iowa State with the deficits mainly coming in the passing game. The Texas defense will be tested by a Texas Tech offense that is one of the most productive units in the nation, gaining over 588 yards per game on 7.1 yards per play.

Texas Tech has scored over 46 points per game this season and unlike Texas, the Red Raiders are in line for a bowl bid at 6-5 on the season. Given that last season Texas Tech went 4-8, it has been a step-forward season but following a 3-0 start that included an upset win at Arkansas, the 3-5 Big XII campaign has been disappointing. Texas Tech came close in games with top tier teams TCU and Oklahoma State with blown late leads, but ultimately the Red Raiders only have wins over the bottom three teams in the conference.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes has posted huge numbers for the Red Raiders this season as he should eclipse 4,000 passing yards this week and he has thrown for 31 touchdowns against 13 interceptions while also rushing for nine touchdowns and over 400 yards on the ground. Mahomes is the son of the former MLB pitcher of the same name and as just a sophomore he could be on the Heisman watch list next season. While the Red Raiders are known as one of the top passing teams, running back DeAndre Washington has gained nearly 1,300 yards on the ground this season while most Mahomes targets go to Jakeem Grant who has 78 receptions for over 1,000 yards.

Texas won 34-13 last season in one of the better performances of the season for the Longhorns. That was actually the first game in which Mahomes started and played substantially in as last season’s starter Davis Webb was injured the previous week. Mahomes actually left the game due to injury as well as another quarterback with a professional athlete father Vincent Testaverde made his only Red Raiders appearance to complete the game. Swoopes played the entire game at quarterback for the Longhorns last season, with Texas doing most of the damage on the ground with 241 rushing yards. Despite the 21-point final margin, it was a seven-point game into the fourth quarter as it was a bit of a misleading final score with only an 88-yard edge for Texas and it was a season low passing game for Texas Tech with just 225 yards splitting between the back-up quarterbacks.

Historical Trends: Texas has won and covered in each of the last five meetings and the last S/U win for Texas Tech came in Lubbock in 2008. Texas Tech has not won in Austin since 1997 with the Longhorns winning 14 of the last 16 meetings overall. Texas has been at least a three-point favorite in every meeting since 2004, though since 1980 Texas is just 14-17 ATS as a favorite in this series despite covering in the past five instances. Texas is on a 6-12-1 ATS run since 1994 as a favorite of three or fewer points. Texas Tech is just 20-24 ATS as an underdog since 2007, but they are on a 14-7 ATS run as an underdog of three or fewer points since 1993.

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Oklahoma up to 3rd, Iowa 4th in playoff rankings; ND 6th
November 24, 2015

Oklahoma moved into third and Iowa was fourth in the new College Football Playoff rankings as Notre Dame slipped to No. 6.

Clemson and Alabama remained the top two teams in the third-to-last committee rankings.

The Sooners (10-1) seem to be in solid shape with only one game left in their season. Oklahoma will play at Oklahoma State on Saturday with a chance to win the Big 12. The Cowboys dropped to 11th after losing its first game of the season. The committee does not seem to be hung up on the Sooners' October loss to Texas.

''They have performed at a high level since then, so they've overcome that loss with their play on the field and the success they've had and the wins they've accumulated, with now six wins over teams with .500 or better records,'' committee chairman Jeff Long said.

Long said the committee took into account that Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield sat out the second half against TCU. When Mayfield was playing, Oklahoma was in control of the game, Long said.

Notre Dame (10-1) also plays its last game of the season Saturday, a possible resume-builder against Stanford, which is ninth in the rankings.

Unbeaten Iowa (11-0) and No. 5 Michigan State (10-1) can setup a possible playoff play-in game in the Big Ten championship if both win this weekend.

What else you need to know about the latest rankings as the season hits the final two weeks:

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OU IS NOT TCU

Last season TCU was third in the second-to-last playoff rankings and slipped to sixth in the final rankings, behind Ohio State and Baylor.

That has Big 12 fans understandably wondering if the league is setup for another fall from No. 3 even if the Sooners take care of business on Saturday in Stillwater.

It is not the same situation. Oklahoma is in better position. Here's why:

Last season the committee liked TCU more than Baylor all season, despite the Bears beating the Horned Frogs in October. In the very last rankings, when Baylor's and TCU's schedule were almost identical, the committee finally honored the head-to-head result and placed Baylor ahead of TCU.

That can't happen this season. The Sooners loss was the Texas and with the Big 12 now using head-to-head tiebreakers, they would be the conference's one true champion.

Baylor's very weak nonconference schedule also left it susceptible to being slighted by the committee last season. The Sooners have no such problem, with a win against Tennessee (7-4) on the road to their credit.

If committee members were looking for a reasonable alternative to Baylor on championship weekend before the final rankings last year, they found it in Ohio State. The Buckeyes' 59-0 victory against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game with a backup quarterback was maybe the most impressive performance of the season by any team.

Notre Dame would be in the role of Ohio State this season, but it's not quite the same. First off, the Irish don't have the extra game to make a last and lasting impression with the committee on championship weekend.

Stanford and Oklahoma State are similar opponents.

Last season TCU finished with a weak Iowa State team. Baylor faced a good Kansas State team at home, posted a solid win, but still was being dragged down by its nonconference schedule and a loss at West Virginia, which finished in the middle of the Big 12.

Unless the Irish can do to the Cardinal what the Buckeyes did to the Badgers, it would be hard for the committee to explain reversing course on the Sooners at this point.

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BIG TEN vs. NOTRE DAME

When Ohio State was unbeaten, it looked as if the final spot would come down to Notre Dame or the Big 12 champion.

Now it looks as if the Irish's path to the playoff goes through the Big Ten. The Irish could be blocked without an upset or two in the Big Ten over the next couple weeks.

Michigan State plays Penn State on Saturday and Iowa is at Nebraska. If both win, that sets up a Big Ten championship game with unbeaten Iowa against Michigan State at 11-1. Again, unless Notre Dame posts some type of monstrous blowout of Stanford, jumping ahead of the Big Ten champ looks very difficult.

The Irish might be able to get some help from their rivals. If USC can beat UCLA on Saturday to win the Pac-12 South, the Trojans would play Stanford for the Pac-12 title. Also, Navy can play for the American Athletic Conference championship if it beats Houston on Saturday. The success of Trojans and Midshipmen would enhance two of Notre Dame's best wins.

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LURKING

Stanford and Baylor looked done a couple of weeks ago when they both lost on the same Saturday night.

A couple weeks later both are lurking and the two could combine to make a fascinating decision for the committee.

An Oklahoma loss and a Notre Dame loss could leave Baylor (9-1) and Stanford (9-2) vying for the last spot as conference champions. This might not bode well for the Big 12, again. Stanford's schedule strength would certainly trump Baylor's and could give the committee ample reason to look past the number in the loss column - which it has shown it is more than willing to do.

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Dantonio: QB situation could be up in the air until game day
November 24, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) It wasn't until the start of last weekend's game that the severity of Connor Cook's injury became obvious for anyone watching.

Michigan State managed to upset Ohio State without its star quarterback, but now Spartans fans have to wait out another week without knowing whether Cook can contribute.

''I would assume that things are moving forward. It's hard to assess those things until you get to game day,'' coach Mark Dantonio said. ''It hinges on very small things, I think.''

With Tyler O'Connor and Damion Terry both taking snaps, the Spartans beat Ohio State 17-14. It was one of the most remarkable victories of Dantonio's tenure, considering how valuable Cook has been this season, but as well as Michigan State rallied around its backup quarterbacks, the sixth-ranked Spartans would like their top passer to be healthy and in the lineup when they host Penn State this weekend with the division title on the line.

None of the three quarterbacks were available to reporters Tuesday, and even if they had been, it's not clear how much useful information they would have provided. In the middle of last week, Cook said his injured shoulder was fine and he was ready to face Ohio State. He ended up not playing at all.

Michigan State managed to turn that game into a tense, low-scoring affair. O'Connor completed only seven passes and Terry completed only one, but those two combined for 50 yards rushing as the Spartans hurt Ohio State a bit with some option-based runs.

Dantonio said the change in the offensive approach wasn't because of who was at quarterback. He cited the rainy weather.

''We don't create packages for guys. They're in our system. They need to grow within our system,'' Dantonio said. ''It's not like these guys only run these plays. They need to grow within our system. I think our game plan last week was a little more predicated on weather as much as anything else.''

O'Connor has only attempted 23 passes this season and Terry has thrown seven, so it's not clear how much the Spartans will be able to open up the offense this weekend even if the weather is better. Michigan State can wrap up a spot in the Big Ten championship game with a victory, but a loss would eliminate the Spartans from the conference title race.

Michigan State was No. 5 in the playoff committee's new ranking Tuesday night, so the Spartans have to feel encouraged about their chances to qualify if they win this weekend and then beat Iowa in the Big Ten championship game. They'll have a much better chance of doing that if Cook is close to full strength.

If he can't play or is limited, suddenly every game looks dicey. Offensive coordinator Dave Warner said if a player is coming back from an injury, he'd like to take that into account in play calling if at all possible.

''You want to keep your guy out of harm's way,'' Warner said. ''From a protection standpoint, you always try and stay out of third-and-longs, but when you get third-and-longs, obviously that's when people can pin their ears back a little bit.''

What made last weekend's victory so impressive was that Cook's backups had hardly played at all this season, so even if the Spartans knew all week that Cook might not be able to play, they still didn't have much time to adjust.

Warner, however, downplayed any preparation difficulty. He insists O'Connor and Terry need to be able to run the same offense Cook does.

''I don't think we change a whole lot,'' Warner said. ''We're going to run a very similar offense regardless of who's behind center. Might pick and choose a little bit in the pass game and the option game or whatever, but for the most, it's our offense and we're going to roll with it.''

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Injuries to star players piling up in Pac-12
November 24, 2015

PHOENIX (AP) Not long after his team's loss to its biggest rival, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez got a little emotional while talking about the Wildcats' litany of injuries this season.

''When a coach says those things it sounds like excuses, but the reality is that it has been a challenge since week one,'' he said after the 52-37 loss to Arizona State on Saturday. ''I told the team in the locker room, if nothing else they showed they had some competitiveness today.''

Rodriguez and the Wildcats are not alone.

Injuries are a part of football, but this season the violence seems to have claimed an inordinate amount of big-name players.

Here's a rundown of some of the more prominent Pac-12 players to suffer serious injuries this season:

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Scooby Wright, Arizona. If there was one injury that set the Wildcats back the most, it was to Wright. He was an All-American last season, swept every major national defensive award and was the unquestioned leader of Arizona's defense. This season, Wright finished with eight total tackles in two games as Arizona scrapped to become bowl eligible. Wright tore cartilage in a knee in the opener and missed two games after having surgery, then injured his foot the first game back. He hasn't played since, but is hoping to be ready for Arizona's bowl game. Wright's backup, Cody Ippolito, also tore his ACL before the season started and third stringer Haden Gregory missed a month with a knee injury.

Myles Jack, UCLA. Strong and agile, he had the ability to fight off linemen and the quickness to cover receivers in the open field. He also was UCLA's go-to back in short-yardage situations as a hard-to-bring down fullback. But Jack only lasted three games this season before being knocked out by a season-ending knee injury. He's only a junior, but withdrew from school to concentrate on rehabilitation and to get ready for the NFL draft.

Devontae Booker, Utah. The senior running back gave the Utes offensive balance, ranking second in the Pac-12 in rushing touchdowns and third in rushing yards through the first 10 games. But when he suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee against Arizona on Nov. 14, it left a huge void. Utah had 307 total yards last week in a 17-9 loss to UCLA that dropped it out of the Pac-12 South race and out of the AP Top 25. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said last week that Booker will not recover in time for any bowl game, either. He leaves Utah as the school's third-leading career rusher with 2,773 yards.

Byron Marshall, Oregon. Marshall led Oregon in rushing in 2013 and receiving last season, so the Ducks were hoping to rely heavily on him this season. He ended up playing four games before suffering a serious knee injury against Utah. The Ducks struggled with him out and quarterback Vernon Adams dealing with a hand injury, but have played better the last half of the season after Adams healed. Marshall could apply for a medical hardship waiver and return next season.

Sefo Liufau, Colorado. With 2,418 passing yards this season, the junior was 13 shy of setting the school's career mark. He'll have to wait until next season now after a sack against Southern California on Nov. 13 left him with a broken left foot. Liufau's injury is expected to take six to eight months to heal and he expects to be back in Boulder.

Luke Falk, Washington State. The Pac-12's leading passer was carted off the field after taking a blow to the head against Colorado last Saturday. Cougars athletic director Bill Moos told a radio show this week that Falk's injury did not appear to be season-ending, so there is a chance he could play in this week's Apple Cup game against Washington.

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Tech Trends - Week 13

THURSDAY, NOV. 26

Matchup Skinny Edge


SOUTH FLORIDA at UCF
Taggart on 9-2 spread run this season. UCF just the opposite at 2-9 vs. line TY and 2-10 last 12 since late 2014. Knights no covers first five in Orlando TY.
USF, based on team trends.


TEXAS TECH at TEXAS
Horns 3-1-1 vs. lien at Austin TY compared to 0-4 as pure visitor. TT no covers last five or SU wins last six in series, though Kingsbury 9-5 last 14 on board.
Slight to Texas, based on series trends.


FRIDAY, NOV. 27

Matchup Skinny Edge


MARSHALL at WESTERN KENTUCKY
Herd 9-4 vs. line last 13 away from home. Revenge vs. WKU for dealing Herd its only SU loss last season. Tops 5-1 vs. line last six at Bowling Green, though just 1-3 vs. line last four overall this season.
Slight to Marshall, based on team trends.


IOWA at NEBRASKA
Hawkeyes have covered last 5 as visitor since late 2014. Ferentz has also covered eight straight as visiting chalk. Huskers just 2-4 vs. line at home TY but is 2-1 as dog and Riley had many good dog marks at OSU (25-12 from 2008-13 before fading to 1-5 in role LY).
Iowa, based on team trends.


MIAMI-FLA. at PITT
Pitt 1-4 vs. line at Heinz Field TY and 3-8 last eleven vs. spread at home, but did win at Miami LY. Canes just 2-8 last ten as dog.
Slight to Pitt, based on team trends.


UMASS at BUFFALO
Buff fading no covers last 3 or 4 of last 5 TY. Bulls still 6-2 as home dog since 2013, however. UB won last 3 and covered last 2 vs. Mass. Minutemen 1-5 vs. line last six TY, and 1-5 last six vs. spread away. Last Mass MAC game?
Buffalo, based on team and series trends.


KENT STATE at AKRON
Very nearby teams. Kent 12-3 vs. spread last 15 as MAC visitor (2-1 TY), and is 4-1 SU last five vs. Zips. Bowden only 2-6-1 last nine vs. spread at InfoCision.
Kent State, based on team trends.


TROY at GEORGIA STATE
Road team 8-1-1 vs. line in GS games this season, though Panthers 4-0-1 vs. spread last four. Troy has covered last 4 on road TY.
Slight to Troy, based on team trends.


WESTERN MICHIGAN at TOLEDO
Rockets 8-1-1 vs. line TY after BG win. Rockets have won last 5 SU in series but only 2-2 vs. line last four. Broncs 6-5 vs. line TY and 10-4 last 14 as visiting dog
Toledo, based on team trends.


EASTERN MICHIGAN at CENTRAL MICHIGAN
CMU has won and covered last three meetings. Chips 8-2-1 vs. line TY, 21-9-1 last 31 on board. EMU no covers last 6 or 8 of last 9 TY.
CMU, based on team and series trends.


MISSOURI at ARKANSAS
Hogs 5-2 SU and vs. line last seven TY, and Bielema on 16-7 spread run since early 2014. Pinkel 3-8 vs. line TY.
Arkansas, based on recent trends.


NAVY at HOUSTON
Navy 8-2 vs. line TY, 8-3 last 11 as dog. Mids 24-9 as visiting dog since 2006. UH no covers last three this season, and while road spread mark sparkles, Cougs only 4-9 vs. spread at their new home stadium since it opened last season.
Navy, based on team trends.


TULSA at TULANE
Tulsa 5-0 vs. line away TY, 8-1 last nine in role, and road team 10-1 vs. line in Tulsa games TY.
Tulsa, based on team trends.


WASHINGTON STATE at WASHINGTON
Apple Cup! Leach has covered last eight this season and is 13-3 vs. spread last 16 as visitor.
WSU, based on team and "totals" trends.


OREGON STATE at OREGON
Civil War! OSU no SU wins in Civil War since 2007, just 3-7 vs. line last ten vs. Ducks. Beavs 4-19 vs. spread since 2014. Ducks have won and covered five in a row TY.
Oregon, based on team trends.


BOISE STATE at SAN JOSE STATE
First meeting since WAC days of 2010. Boise 1-4 vs. line last five TY, 2-3 vs. line away. Spartans 4-1 vs. spread as host TY, 6-3 last nine as home dog.
Slight to San Jose, based on team trends.


BAYLOR at TCU
Patterson 4-1 vs. line against Briles the past five seasons.
Slight to TCU, based on team trends.