College Football Week 12: No.4 Bama plays host to No.11 OU in a critical SEC/National contest; UGA-Texas in major tilt; Other key SEC and National matchups; Playoff Predictions, Version 10

Number 4 Alabama faces another colossal challenge as the 11th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners invade Bryant-Denny Stadium/Saban Field Saturday at 2:30 P.M.on ABC. Can Ty Simpson keep up his stellar play? He and the Tide offense wasn’t so prolific last Saturday Night however. LSU’s defense had something to do with it. Simpson was 21 of 35 for 277 yards and a TD. Pretty decent, but not a dominant performance. He did what was necessary though and the Tide offense got a lot of help from its defense. Simpson has completed 198-of-296 passes, 67%, for 2,416 yards with 21 TDs against only 1 int. He’s also rushed for 2 TDs. And the Tide will need every yard it can get on the ground against a stone wall that is the Oklahoma rushing defense, which is 4th in the country in rushing defense allowing only 82 yards per game. Simpson and the Tide didn’t have their best performance against LSU last Saturday Night, winning 20-9, but it was just enough to, as Jerry Garcia said, “Get By.” Ryan Grubb will have to be creative in how he gets Jam Miller and Daniel Hill the ball in space. Short passes into the flat may be the running game along with Simpson scrambles. The run blocking needs to be a lot better and so do Miller and Hill. I like Kevin Riley still. He can add something to the running game and he’s good at catching the ball out of the backfield. Ty may have to pass a lot though, but he does have the highly capable targets in the stellar Germie Bernard (41 receptions, 605 yards, 6 TDs), Ryan Williams (36-528, 4 TDs), Lotzeir Brooks (20-322), Isaiah Horton (24-208, 5 TDs) and tight end Josh Cuevas (24-261,3 TDs). The Tide may have to do enough that way and rely on its defense, which has been extremely effective lately.Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green, the Colorado graduate transfer, who had an excellent game against LSU last Saturday Night, posting 5 tackles, 1 for loss of 3 yards, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was a dominant player. The Tide’s great linebacker, Deonte Lawson, led the defense with nine tackles. Linebacker Justin Jefferson added 7 tackles, and safety Keon Sabb recorded five stops. It’s a collective effort by the Tide defense that is tied for fourth in the country in turnover margin with North Texas and Notre Dame. The Tide has posted 8 interceptions and 8 fumble recoveries. Southern Miss leads the country in turnover margin, Indiana is second and UConn is third. Alabama is fourth with North Texas and Notre Dame. This group is doin’ work. They’ll need that terrific work ethic to stop John Mateer and what was a good but now is just a decent OU offense. Mateer, the Washington State transfer, has dropped off lately after starting the season off fast. But R Mason Thomas ( 6 1/2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) and a formidable Sooners defense will present a big challenge for Simpson and the Tide.

Auburn and Vanderbilt are the only two SEC teams off this Saturday after putting on an offensive clinic last Saturday afternoon at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville in a 45-38 Commodores’ victory. Diego Pavia, Ashton Daniels and the superb Cam Coleman were the catalysts for their respective teams. But some other guys really stepped it up for each team as well. Pavia completed 25 of 33 passes for 377 and 3 TDs, and added 112 yards on the ground and a 6. Daniels, in his second start, was terrific also, completing 31-of-44 for 353 and 2 sixes (and I don’t mean Bud Light, Joseph). He also rushed for 89 yards and 3, sixes. What a performance by the senior transfer from Stanford. He’s solidified his role as the starter for the Tigers for the rest of this season, though the Tigers face an interesting decision with Daniels as he can only play one more game to secure his redshirt for next season and play a fifth year. He wants to come back as of now, and the Tigers have games with Mercer and the Crimson Tide left. The decision is pretty cut and dried to me. Coach DJ Durkin, who, along with offensive coordinator Derrick Nix, had the offense clicking, should play freshman Deuce Knight or Jackson Arnold against Mercer and save Daniels for Alabama. Seems like a pretty clear and obvious decision. The tremendous Coleman pulled down 10 passes for 143 yards and a six against the Dores, and was completely unstoppable. Eric Singleton Jr. added 11 receptions for 102 yards and a six himself. Another player to add in there was running back Jeremiah Cobb, who rushed for 112 yards. The Dores defense and the normally stellar Auburn defense both struggled to stop the opposing offenses all afternoon. The key play of the game was with a minute and a half left and Vanderbilt with the ball on the Tigers’ 21, 4th and one, the broadcast indicated, but really fourth and a yard and a half, with the score knotted up at 38. The decision for the Commodores was to either go for it or kick. I was thinking kick originally. Clark Lea thought differently. Bama Golf immediately texted me saying, “Come on, DW. You gotta kick here. Geez.” I was in agreement with Bama at the time. Interestingly, my wife, Beth, said immediately when it was fourth and a yard and a half, “You gotta go for it.” Well, Pavia tried the left side and didn’t get it. I know what Coach Lea’s thinking was. It was, “My secondary can’t cover Cam from Modern Family, and certainly not this force of nature who is Cam Coleman.” I ended up agreeing with the decision to go for it, but not the play call. I would have liked to have seen Pavia roll out to his left, the wide side of the field, and have the run-pass option, throwing to either stellar tight end (preferably) Eli Stowers (12-122) or wide out Junior Sherrill (4-75, 1 TD). But Offensive Coordinator Tim Beck put it in Vanderbilt’s best player’s hands. Beck’s good, but I disagreed with that decision. It worked out for the Commodores, but could have really cost them. Meanwhile, Auburn’s defense had problems with the Dores’ no huddle offense in the second half, which was Beck’s idea, and a good idea at that. Still, the Tigers made a huge stop on fourth and a yard and a half. In overtime, Pavia put the Commodores up 45-38 (with the extra point) on a six yard pass to tight end Cole Spence. Auburn had one last chance on fourth down at the Vanderbilt 14, but the Commodores put a bigger cornerback on Coleman and doubled him with a safety and survived the great Coleman and the Tigers as they covered it well as the pass from Daniels fell incomplete. A lot of people liked what they saw out of Durkin’s first effort. He was so focused on all the obligations of being a head coach last week, including the pretty much overwhelming media obligations, that he didn’t have enough time to spend on his specialty, the defense. He looks a like a potential candidate for the head job along with Jon Sumrall of Tulane. Who knows what’s going on with Lane? The argument for keeping Durkin is you can keep players, which is a strong one. He didn’t have very much success at Maryland and was heaped in controversy as a player died on the practice field while he was head coach. He eventually was fired. But we’ll see.

Meanwhile Pavia, along with Simpson, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, A&M’s Marcel Reed and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton, are the Heisman leaders right now in my book. Pavia has completed 191-of-273 passes, 70%, for 2,410 yards, 21 TDs against 5 ints. He’s also rushed for 613 and 7, sixes. Strong case for him along with Simpson.

And Mendoza led Indiana on an improbable last minute drive to survive and advance at Penn State. He connected with Omar Cooper Jr. on a 7 yard TD pass with 36 seconds left in the game to lead the Hoosiers to a come from behind 27-24 victory in a key playoff game for Indiana. Cooper Jr. did one of the best end zone toe taps you’ll ever see. Mendoza has completed 181-of-254, 71%, for 2,342 yards, 26 TDs against 5 ints. He’s also rushed for 240 yards and 5 TDs for the 10-0, 7-0 (Big Ten) second-ranked Hoosiers. He’s had a heckuva season.

The great Reed of third ranked A&M has completed 157-of-252, 62% for 2,193 yards, 19 TDs against only 6 ints. He’s also added 378 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. The Aggies are 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the SEC with games versus South Carolina this Saturday at Kyle Field, and Texas at Kyle Field as well to close out the season on Friday, 11/28, at 6:30 P.M. on ABC, which, depending on upcoming results, should have major playoff implications. Superb numbers by all four guys. The race for the Heisman continues. I’m not ready to crown a winner yet until the conclusion of the regular season; the week before the conference championship games commence. I’ll give you my take then.

Them 5th ranked Dawgs are in a tremendous matchup with No. 10 Texas, and Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton is another player on my Heisman list. Stockton has been awesome lately, and for the year, he’s completed 179 of-258, 69%, for 2,040 yards, 15 TDs against only 2 ints. He’s also rushed for 321 and 7 TDs. So, impressive numbers by these guys. Simpson, Pavia, Reed, Stockton and Mendoza are my leaders. Arch Manning has been talking with Ty this week about Georgia, and Simpson was also getting intel from Arch on OU. They are good friends, according to Simpson. Should be a riveting QB matchup in Athens. Georgia has a major edge in the running game with Nate Frazier, who rushed for 184 last Saturday against Mississippi State, which included a 58 yard 6, and freshman Chauncey Bowens, who’s also stellar. Stockton is a terrific scrambler. Arch runs well too. Texas has an excellent defense and is tough to run on, so Stockton will have to get stuff done through the air, for sure. Very nice slate this weekend in week 12 of College Football. Here are my predictions.

Record

Last Saturday: SU: 12-2, Overall: 113-38, 75%; ATS: 5-9; 72-79, 48%; Over/Under: 6-8; 79-72, 52%.

All times Central. Most games Saturday except for a couple Friday. All Rankings are Playoff Rankings

No. 11 Oklahoma (7-2, 3-2) @ No.4 Alabama (8-1,6-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium/Saban Field

2:30 P.M.

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly

Crimson Tide by 6 1/2, 45 1/2

Looking at more of a defensive battle in this contest. The Sooners are at the Tide then host Missouri and LSU to finish off the season. The Tide has this major test, then home versus Eastern Kentucky? Always a kick in before the Iron Bowl Then they’re @ the Auburn Tigers on Saturday, 11/29, with kickoff either at 2:30 or 6:30 P.M. Wow, Jordan-Hare on a Saturday afternoon, or even worse for the Tide, Saturday night. Now that’s a challenge. But great competitors like that. Both teams will be amped. It could be great to be an Auburn Tiger that night or better to be a Crimson Tide. But the Crimson Tide needs to be completely locked in this Saturday if they want to enhance their playoff prospects.

Crimson Tide 23, Oklahoma 16

No. 10 Texas (7-2, 4-1) @ No. 5 Georgia (8-1, 6-1)

Sanford Stadium, Athens, GA.

6:30 P.M.

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Dawgs by 6 1/2, 50 1/2

I like Gunner and Arch to have solid games, but Kirby and the Sanford Stadium crowd push Georgia over the top

Georgia 31, Texas 24

Florida (3-6, 2-4) @ No.7 Ole Miss (9-1, 5-1)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, OxVegas

6 P.M.

ESPN

Bob, Louis, Kris

Rebels by 13 1/2, 54 1/2

I love what Lane has done in Oxford. I don’t know why he would want to leave. Auburn, LSU and Florida are all prestigious jobs, but he’ll get an extension from Ole Miss worth probably 2 or 3 mill more a season for what 8 to 10 more years? Not too shabby. And the Rebels’ faithful are fully invested in the NIL/Revenue sharing and transfer portal mechanisms. He’s got all he needs to be elite in Oxford. He and his wife have reconciled, which is super, and they’re back together, he’s become a very pious guy, which is also a good thing. His daughter is an undergrad at Ole Miss. He’s got it going. I think he can win it all in Oxford, which, of course, is a major goal of his as well. I like Lane and the Rebels to keep “matriculating” this Saturday. Honestly, I don’t know why they are so low in the Playoff rankings. If they take care of business the rest of the season with a week off next Saturday, and @ Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl on Friday, 11/28 at 11 A.M., most likely on ABC, as the only obstacles in the way, they’ve got a shot at a first round bye. They may not win the conference, but if they win out, I’d like to see the Rebels in the top 4. Playoff rankings from the committee and my personal rankings further down below, but please keep reading.

Ole Miss 31, Florida 16

South Carolina (3-6, 1-6) @ No.3 Texas A&M (9-0, 6-0)

Kyle Field, College Station, TX.

11 A.M.

ESPN

Dave, Dusty, Taylor

A&M by 19 1/2, 50 1/2

I don’t like what Mike Elko, Marcel Reed and their team are doing. I love what they’re doing. The Aggies march on in their spectacular season.

A&M 31, South Carolina 10

New Mexico State (3-6) @ No. 23 Tennessee (6-3)

Neyland Stadium, KnoxVegas

3:15 P.M.

SEC Network

Dave, Fozzy, Morgan

UT by 39 1/2, 61 1/2

The Vols keep their outside shot for a Playoff spot alive. It isn’t looking great for Tennessee, but you never know with chaos possibly ensuing in these upcoming Saturdays.

Tennessee 56, NMSU 10

Arkansas (2-7, 0-5) @ LSU (5-4, 2-4)

Tiguh Stadium, Baaton Rouge

11:45 A.M.

SEC Network

Taylor, Matt, Alyssa

Bengal Tiguhs by 5 1/2, 57 1/2

This is a coaches’ sweepstakes game. Arkansas is also looking for a new head man. Don’t see Bobby Petrino getting the job. LSU has Jon Sumrall on its radar along with others. MB reported last Friday that Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield is the leader in the clubhouse at Arkansas. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeirer, who started out the season as one of the leaders for the Heisman, is relegated to the bench in favor of Mississippi State Michael Van Buren, who shows promise. Tough year for Nuss.

LSU 34, Arkansas 24

Tennessee Tech (10-0) @ Kentucky (4-5)

Kroger Field, Lex

12:30 P.M.

SECN+

Kentucky By 21 1/2, 52 1/2

The Wildcats went to Auburn 2 weeks ago and won, 10-3, and then last Saturday, they blasted Florida, 38-7. Their running backs were superb against Florida. Dante Dowdell rushed for 104 yards and a 65 yard 6, and the great Seth McGowan added 92 yards and 2 sixes. They keep matriculating as they try to earn bowl eligibility with games @ Vanderbilt and @ Louisville to close out the season, which are no bargains as they say about Birmingham East Course. I think they’ll win Saturday, but they might be looking ahead a little and Tennessee Tech is undefeated and good. It’ll be closer than anticipated.

Kentucky 35, Tennessee Tech 17

Mississippi State (5-5, 1-5) @ Missouri (6-3, 2-3)

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO.

6:45 P.M.

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Mizzou by 6 1/2, 51 1/2

The Bullies have very much improved under Jeff Lebby in his second season at the helm even though their SEC record doesn’t show it. It’s tough when you’re in your second year of a rebuilding job in this conference. They have played some close games against SEC top level teams including Tennessee and Texas. I like the Tigers at home, but I like Lebby to keep his team on an upward trajectory.

Missouri 31, Mississippi State 23

National Slate

UCLA (3-6, 3-3 Big Ten) @ No.1 Ohio State (9-0, 6-0)

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

6:30 P.M.

NBC

Noah, Todd, Kathryn

Buckeyes by 31 1/2, 47 1/2

I know you just play who’s in front of you, but come on Day/Ohio State!

Buckeyes 42, Bruins 7

Wisconsin (3-6, 1-5, Big Ten) @ No.2 Indiana (10-0, 7-0)

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN.

11 A.M.

Big Ten Network

Indiana by 28 1/2, 43 1/2

Some of these Big Ten games are a joke for Ohio State and Indiana. Still bullish on the Hoosiers, however. They went to Oregon and won and that says a lot.

Indiana 34, Wisconsin 10

No. 9 Notre Dame (7-2) @ No.22 Pittsburgh (7-2)

Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA.

11 A. M.

ABC

Fighting Irish by 12 1/2, 53 1/2

I like this to be a highly competitive game for most of it with the Irish pulling away in the fourth quarter.

Notre Dame 35, Pittsburgh 24

UCF (4-5, 1-5) @ No. 6 Texas Tech (9-1, 6-1 Big 12)

Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX.

2:30 P.M.

FOX

Red Raiders by 24 1/2, 48 1/2

The Red Raiders pulled off a statement victory last Saturday when they blasted the, at the time, No.7 BYU Cougars 29-7. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has made his case for a defensive Heisman Trophy winner with a team leading 88 tackles, 3 interceptions and a nation leading 7 forced fumbles with two recovered. The guy’s good. Real good, as the Riffs said to the Warriors in The Warriors.

Texas Tech 42, UCF 10

Friday

Clemson (4-5, 3-4 ACC) @ No.20 Louisville (7-2, 4-2)

L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium? ‘Ville

6:30 P.M.

ESPN

Anish,Andre, Carc

Louisville by 2 1/2, 51 1/2

The ACC is an absolute cluster. It could be Louisville, Miami, Georgia Tech, Virginia even Duke and some others. I’ll give you my playoff pick from the ACC below. Like ‘Ville to keep its hopes alive.

Louisville 28, Clemson 24

Also Friday

Minnesota (6-3, 4-2 Big Ten) @ No. 8 Oregon (8-1, 5-1)

Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR.

8 P.M.

FOX

Oregon by 25 1/2, 43 1/2

Dan Lanning and his Ducks have played some difficult games. @ Penn State, when Penn State was in the top 5 and still loaded with talent, They played Indiana at home, which they lost, and @ one of the toughest places to play in the country, Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, against the Iowa Hawkeyes. It was a game they won, 18-16. They’re a very good squad.

Oregon 35, Minnesota 7

Playoff

The Top 12 teams, as selected by the Committee, are: 1. Ohio State, 2. Indiana, 3. A&M, 4. Alabama, 5. Georgia, 6. Texas Tech, 7. Ole Miss, 8. Oregon, 9. Notre Dame 10. Texas, 11. Oklahoma, 12. BYU . Utah is No. 13, Vanderbilt is No.14, Miami is No.15, Georgia Tech is No.16. USC is No.17, and some of those guys on the ESPN Selection Show were singing USC’s praises. I’m not seeing it. Eighteen is Michigan. No. 19 is Virginia. And No.20 is Louisville. I’ve got a little different leaderboard at this stage.

My top 12 teams are: 1. Texas A&M. Like their “SEC” resume the most. 2. Alabama, 3. Georgia, 4.Ohio State, 5. Ole Miss, 6. Texas Tech, 7. Indiana 8. Oregon, 9. Notre Dame 10. Texas 11.Georgia Tech 12. Tulane-went to Memphis and came away victorious, 38-32. South Florida couldn’t do that and North Texas and James Madison? Come on.

First Round

No.5 Ole Miss over No.12 Tulane

No.6 Texas Tech over No.11 Georgia Tech

No.7 Indiana over No. 10 Texas

No.8 Oregon over No.9 Notre Dame

Quarterfinals

Cotton Bowl, Wednesday, 12/31/25 6:30 P.M. CT, ESPN

No.1 A&M over No.8 Oregon

Orange Bowl, Thursday, 1/1/26, 11 A.M. CT, ESPN

No.3 Georgia over No.7 Indiana

Rose Bowl, Thursday, 1/1/26, 3 P.M. CT, ESPN

No.6 Texas Tech over No. 4 Ohio State

Sugar Bowl, Thursday, 1/1/26, 7 P.M., ESPN

No.2 Alabama over No.5 Ole Miss

Semifinals

Fiesta Bowl, Thursday, 1/8/26, 6:30 P.M. ESPN

Texas A&M 23, Texas Tech 21,

Chick fil-A-Bowl, Friday, 1/9/26, 6:30 P.M., ESPN

Georgia 21, Alabama 20

National Championship Game, Monday, 1/19/26

Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL., 65,326

6:30 P.M.

ESPN

Going to go back to the well and take Kirby and the Dawgs.

Georgia 27, Texas A&M 24

National Champion: Georgia

Enjoy the games.