The Crimson Tide is out for a little vengeance, and the Auburn Tigers are in a critical rivalry game as their two talented young coaches renew a rivalry of their own from the American Conference. Meanwhile, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will be extremely raucous as a villain and his team enter the confines.

There will be several other meaningful SEC matchups, with all teams in action, along with some SEC versus non-conference games and a couple of key national matchups featuring heavyweights from the Big Ten, at least I thought so until last Saturday Night in Austin, competing against lighter-weight opponents.

Here’s a look at all of that, along with predictions and projections for the fluid landscape of the 12-team College Football Playoff, on White’s World Sports Confidential.

Last Week’s Record/Overall Record

Straight Up: 15-3, 39-7, 85%. ATS: 8-10, 21-25, 46%. O/U: 13-5, 28-18, 61%.

All game times are Central. All games on Saturday unless otherwise noted.

Florida State (1-1) @ No.10 Alabama (2-0)

Bryant-Denny Stadium, 2:30 P.M., ABC.

Bama by 18 1/2, 48 1/2

After a rough first half, I thought the Tide settled down, played superb defense and got the offense started cookin’. Running back Daniel Hill rushed for 104 yards on 18 carries, 5.8 attempt, with a long run of 31 yards and a TD in a 31-7 road victory over Kentucky. I liked what I saw in the second half.

I like the Tide to exact revenge on FSU on Saturday. I think this team believes that what happened last season at Doak Campbell was unacceptable.

Alabama 35, Florida State 10

Omar Mabson and the Tigers ran the … “heck” out of the ball last Saturday Night in Jordan-Hare. (Photo courtesy of Facebook).

Florida (2-0) @ Auburn (2-0)

Jordan-Hare, 6 P.M., ESPN

Florida by 1 1/2, 53 1/2

I loved the Tigers running game last Saturday, even though Alex was pretty upset about the effort against Southern Miss.

The Tigers rushed for 350 yards last Saturday night in a 43-8 victory over Southern Miss. They were led by Omar Mabson II’s 108 yards, Byrum Brown’s 88 and Jeremiah Cobb’s 85.

Florida has a solid team under first year coach Jon Sumrall, who renews a rivalry with Coach Golesh. Sumrall coached at Tulane and Golesh at South Florida the past several seasons. Sumrall and Tulane defeated Golesh and the Bulls 45-10 in New Orleans in 2024.

The Tigers special teams will have to be solid to corral Florida punt return man Vernell Brown III, who already taken two punts back to the house this season.

With that said, I always like the home crowd at Jordan-Hare and I love the DJ Durkin defense and the running game. Give me the Tigers in a slight upset.

Auburn 27, Florida 24

No. 7 LSU (2-0) @ No.8 Ole Miss (2-0)

Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, 6:30 P.M. ABC

LSU by 1 1/2, 57 1/2

What a blockbuster, with massive storylines. Kiffin returns to the place where he’s public enemy number one. The LSU availability report on the SEC website lists quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful, meaning there is a 25 percent chance he’ll play. But do you really trust that? It looks like more deception and sandbagging from Kiffin and the Bayou subterfuge machine.

Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacey are still in Oxford, so even if Leavitt starts, I like Chambliss, Lacey and the Rebels to get the better of LSU.

Ole Miss 31, LSU 27

UTSA (2-0) @ No. 1 Texas (2-0)

DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, 7 P.M. SEC Network+

Texas by 29, 58 1/2

Texas couldn’t even get it right after they defeated then-No.1 Ohio State in Austin last Saturday night. After a colossal choke job by Ryan Day, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, quarterback Julian “Just” Sayin and wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, Texas completed an impressive comeback from a 23-3 second half deficit to win 24-23.

While Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian look like heroes, Sarkisian blew off ABC’s Holly Rowe after the game without giving her the courtesy of an interview. Sarkisian just ran off and said “Hook’em” or something like that looking for his big buddy Matthew McConaughey, who wants to believe he’s a coach despite the fact that he’s all fiction.

Then, on Sunday, Manning posted some sort of spoof of Sarkisian snubbing Rowe. Real classy, Arch.

I’m still not a complete believer in Texas. I still doubt the team’s toughness. Ohio State is never tough under Ryan Day, so Texas defeating the Buckeyes wasn’t really about toughness.

The jury is still out on Texas, in my opinion. The Longhorns have purchased a lot of talent, but can Sarkisian and Manning really get it done when it matters? That’s still my biggest question about them.

Texas 42, UTSA 14

No.2 Georgia (2-0) @ Arkansas (1-1)

Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, 11 A.M. ABC

Georgia by 24 1/2, 54 1/2

Georgia is for real, but can Kirby Smart get it done when it really counts? Gunner Stockton and all that talent sure give him a shot. Smart is known for making questionable decisions in the clutch that can cost his teams crucial games, but the Dawgs are highly talented and physical. Arkansas, under first year coach Ryan Silverfield, has a ways to go before it is competitive in the SEC.

Georgia 45, Arkansas 14

Kentucky (1-1) @ No. 9 Texas A&M (2-0)

Kyle Field, College Station, 2:30 P.M. ESPN

A&M by 17 1/2, 50 1/2

Kentucky Coach Will Stein may want to rethink his arrogant comments at SEC Media Days that he’s the reason the Wildcats will excel. It was kind of shocking when he was asked why he thought Kentucky would be successful, and said, “Because of me.” Though Mike Elko’s shown a propensity to collapse in the postseason, he and his Aggies will teach Stein another lesson in life in the SEC. The former Oregon offensive coordinator will get it handed to him again.

A&M 35, Kentucky 14

Mississippi State (2-0) @ South Carolina (2-0)

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, 3:15 P.M. SEC Network

Gamecocks by 3 1/2, 58 1/2

I like LaNorris Sellers and Shane Beamer to just barely get by a much-improved Mississippi State team that went to Minnesota last Saturday and blasted the Golden Gophers, 38-13. I almost want to pick the Bullies and Jeff Lebby, but I’ll take the home-field advantage here.

South Carolina 31, Mississippi State 28

Kennesaw State (1-1) @ No. 15 Tennessee (2-0)

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, 6:45 P.M. SEC Network

Tennessee by 35 1/2, 59 1/2

Vols freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has been good so far, but the competition, Furman and a down Georgia Tech team, hasn’t been too strong.

Tennessee 49, Kennesaw State 14

Troy (2-0) @ No.20 Missouri (2-0)

Memorial Stadium, Columbia, Missouri, 6 P.M. SEC Net+

Missouri by 26 1/2, 50 1/2

I like Missouri to win but not cover.

Missouri 34, Troy 10

New Mexico (2-0) @ No.24 Oklahoma (1-1)

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman, 6:30 P.M. ESPN

Oklahoma by 20 1/2, 46 1/2

Another SEC team I like to win, but not cover. Brent Venables, offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and quarterback John Mateer were a disaster in 17-10 loss to Michigan at Ann Arbor. All three look like they’re out of their league right now.

Oklahoma 31, New Mexico 14

NC State (1-1) @ Vanderbilt (2-0)

FirstBank Stadium, Nashville. 11:45 A.M., SEC Network

Commodores by 3 1/2, 50 1/2

Five-star freshman Jared Curtis finally gets the start and bails Clark Lea out. This move could definitely change the trajectory of the Commodores program this season. Maybe Curtis can get Lea to six wins and a bowl game victory and more momentum with Curtis the centerpiece of the future.

This is a tough game for the Commodores on Saturday, however. They need to win these out of conference games because the conference ia a beast starting @ Auburn a week from Saturday, 9/26.

Vanderbilt 27, NC State 23

Good games Nationally

No. 16 SMU (2-0) @ No. 23 Louisville (1-1)

L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium, Louisville, 2:30 P.M., ESPN2

Louisville by 1 1/2, 59 1/2

I’m looking at a really solid game here, with SMU almost pulling it off. But the home-field advantage gets the job done. Two good teams.

Louisville 31, SMU 30

Friday

No. 22 Houston (2-0) @ No.13 Texas Tech (2-0)

Galaxy Stadium? Lubbock, Texas, 7 P.M., FOX

Texas Tech by 7 1/2, 51 1/2

Lubbock, we’ll have a problem. Taking the upset.

Houston 34, Texas Tech 31

Friday

No. 5 Miami (2-0) @ Wake Forest (2-0)

Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, 6:30 P.M., ESPN

Miami by 20 1/2, 55 1/2

Miami looks good, like a top-three team in the country, but the competition has been pretty light. I like’em to win and cover here, though.

Miami 42, Wake 17

Back to Saturday

Michigan State (2-0) @ No.3 Notre Dame (2-0)

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Indiana, 6:30 P.M., NBC

Notre Dame by 29 1/2, 52 1/2

Notre Dame, who knows yet? I like’em to win at home but not cover.

Notre Dame 42, Michigan State 17

West Virginia (2-0) @ No.25 Virginia

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina, 6:30 P.M., ACC Network

UVA by 9 1/2, 53 1/2

I love UVA, but I think this’ll be a tough game because Rich Rod is good at West Virginia.

Virginia 28, West VA. 24

Joke National Games

Western Kentucky (0-2) @ No. 4 Indiana (2-0)

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, 3 P.M., Peacock

Indiana by 44 1/2, 60 1/2

Indiana with its typical joke of a non-conference schedule. Come on, Cignetti!

Indiana 49, Western Kentucky 10

Kent State (1-1) @ No.6 Ohio State (1-1)

Ohio Stadium. 11 A.M. Big Ten Network

Ohio State by 52 1/2, 59 1/2

Ryan Day can win the cupcake games, but he hasn’t historically proven that he can defeat the better teams. I’m never sold on Day, even though he won it all two years ago. They spend more than anybody in college football.

Ohio State 58, Kent State 7

One more thing: Dan Lanning may be the most overrated coach in college football. He just can’t ever get it done when it matters. Oregon lost to Oklahoma State 39-31 last Saturday at Stillwater. Oklahoma State has a good new coach in Eric Morris from North Texas, but nearly all of his players are transfers. So, there is no excuse for that. Lanning proved again that he gags in the clutch.

Playoff as of today. It’ll change.

1. Miami 2. Georgia 3. Texas 4. Alabama 5. Notre Dame 6.Ole Miss 7. Texas A&M 8. Indiana 9. Ohio State 10. Houston 11. Virginia 12. Boise State

First Round. All games at the Higher-Seeded Team’s Home Stadium

Friday, December 18, 2026

No.5 Notre Dame over No.12 Boise State, 7 P.M. ESPN

Saturday, 12/19/26

No.6 Ole Miss over No.11 Virginia, 11 A.M. ESPN

No.10 Houston over No.7 Texas A&M, 2:30 P.M. TNT/truTV

No.8 Indiana over No.9 Ohio State, 6:30 P.M. TNT/truTV

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, 12/30/26, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Ole Miss over No.3 Texas

Friday, 1/1/27. All Three Other Quarterfinal Games

Goodyear Cotton Bowl, AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, 11 A.M., TNT/truTV

No.4 Alabama over Notre Dame

Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, 3 P.M., ESPN

No.2 Georgia over Houston

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, 7 P.M., ESPN

No.1 Miami over Indiana

Semifinals

Thursday, 1/14/27

Capital One Orange Bowl, Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Alabama over Miami

Friday, 1/15/27

Allstate Sugar Bowl, Caesars Superdome, N’Awlins, 6:30 P.M., TNT/truTV

Georgia over Ole Miss

National Championship Game

Monday, 1/25/27, Allegiant Stadium, Vegas, 6:30 P.M., ESPN/ABC

Alabama 24, Georgia 23

National Champion

The Alabama Crimson Tide

Most Valuable Player

Keelon Russell