College Football Picks 2025: Week Eleven

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Current Picks Record: 52-38

Upset: 3-8

Superdogs: 5-3

Locks: 5-6

(#7) BYU Cougars @ (#8) Texas Tech Red Raiders

Line: Texas Tech -10.5

O/U: 52.5

It's the most important game of the year for the Big 12 this weekend, with the undefeated BYU Cougars traveling to Lubbock to take on a Red Raider team with just one loss to their credit. The winner not only sets themselves up as the clear favorite in the league, but positions themselves on the inside track to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

Even without star tailback Tajh Brooks, who graduated over the offseason, the Texas Tech offenses has not skipped a beat in 2025. They've averaging nearly 44 points per contest, riding a balanced and productive unit to success. At the heart of it is veteran quarterback Behren Morton, who appears fully healthy again after suffering through an injury-plagued October. Injuries have been an unfortunate theme throughout much of Morton's career, but he's arguably the best in the Big 12 when healthy. His health will be extra important down the stretch, as the Red Raiders lost high-quality backup Will Hammond for the season. Morton looked good in his return against Kansas State, and it does help that the rest of this offense is full of playmakers. Cameron Dickey and Ja'Koby Williams have more than made up for the absence of Brooks on the season in this backfield, while the pass-catchers include five different players who have all eclipsed 300 yards. It's not even just the explosiveness or speed you'll notice with this Texas Tech offense, either. They have worked hard to build up the lines of scrimmage through the portal, and it's become a very physical, hard-nosed football team. Against a BYU defense that has long been known for it's physicality, this has the looks of a really feisty, hard-hitting contest. This Cougar defense has been the epitome of bend-not-break this season, letting up tons of yardage, but making plays when it matters most. Texas Tech may be the best offense they've seen yet, which sets up quite the challenge.

It's amazing in many different ways that BYU has reached the month of November with a perfect record, but the offensive success may be the most surprising. This is a group that lost their starting quarterback, Jake Retzlaff, when he was kicked off the team and transferred to Tulane mere weeks before the season. Bear Bachmeier, with no experience, has stepped in and put together a magical season. Bachmeier isn't a player who is going to step back and zip it all over the field to the tune of 300 yards. But, he's a truly gritty quarterback who does enough to put his team in position to win. He's particularly dangerous with his legs, with 408 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground to this point. Texas Tech did shut down dual-threat Devon Dampier in their game against Utah earlier in the year, but Bachmeier's a bit of a different runner. He may not have Dampier's speed or athleticism, but he's a real slippery runner that will demand attention all game long from the Red Raiders. Bachmeier is flanked by a real capable tailback in ultra-reliable L.J. Martin, with the pair combining for one of the best rush offenses in the conference. It is shaping up to be quite the battle between this BYU rushing offense and Texas Tech's front seven. I'll be the first to admit, I was skeptical the Red Raiders and their money was going to be enough, but they've completely changed the tenor of this defensive front. This a relentless front seven that is as disciplined as you'll find in college football today. They're going to force Bachmeier into tighter windows and tougher decisions than he's had to make for much of the season, and it's on the road. We may still see the Bachmeier magic, but there's going to have to be even more than usual in this one.

BYU has been an awesome story, but it's not unfair to say they likely should have multiple losses. It's not complete luck, this team has performed when it has mattered most, but someone is going to catch them. Texas Tech is the best team, top-to-bottom in the conference, and I think they have more than enough to finally give the Cougars their first loss of the fall.

The Pick: Texas Tech, 24 BYU, 20

(#3) Texas A&M Aggies @ (#22) Missouri Tigers

Line: Texas A&M -6.5

O/U: 48.5

Old Big 12 foes clash in Missouri over the weekend, albeit with different goals. Texas A&M, off to their best start in decades, is out to prove they are a legitimate National Title contender by adding another ranked win to their resume. Missouri is on the outside looking in when it comes to the College Football Playoff race, but has a chance to change their entire season with a home upset.

Still riding high after a 49-point outburst against LSU, Texas A&M's offense is aiming to keep the momentum going on the road. Quarterback Marcel Reed has been the real deal, throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and adding 349 with his legs. He's still incredibly young, so the bad decisions still sprout up, but he's shown significant improvement so far this season and his dual-threat ability is a constant headache for opposing defenses. He's benefitted greatly from who the Aggies landed in the portal, as Mario Craver and K.C. Concepcion have been among the best receivers in the SEC this season. Craver is the more traditional perimeter receiver, but when you factor in Concepcion's ability to impact games on special teams, this duo becomes downright terrifying. In the backfield alongside Reed, Rueben Owens II and Le'Veon Moss have been an impressive duo themselves, although Moss is likely still out for this game stemming from an ankle injury suffered in the Florida game. The Aggies didn't need Owens quite as much in the LSU game as you may expect, but if Reed is contained by this Missouri defense, they'll need the tailback to make his presence felt. This is a good Missouri defense, but one prone to the big play. If Reed can take care of the ball and not turn it over, this team should be in good position to keep putting points on the board. 

Missouri's season took a turn in the Vanderbilt game. Not only did they come up short against the Commodores, starting QB Beau Pribula was lost for the season. With backup Sam Horn also injured, the Tigers turned to freshman Matt Zollers, who looks to be the starter for this game. Zollers actually looked pretty good considering the circumstances against Vanderbilt, and has now had a week to prepare for this contest. But, this A&M defense is a different animal completely - the Aggies will let up yardage, but this is one of the best teams in the nation when it comes to third down defense. Taurean York at linebacker and defensive linemen Cashius Howell (9.5 sacks on the season) lead an aggressive group that is going to apply the pressure on Zollers constantly. Missouri's offensive line has held up well on the season, but this is arguably the best front seven they've seen to this point. The Tigers are also going to need a big day from Ahmad Hardy, their star tailback. Hardy has been having a monster season as this team's workhorse, but it's been no secret teams have sold out to stop the run. There was no better example of that than Alabama, who limited Hardy to 52 yards on 12 carries, and forced a then-healthy Pribula to beat them through the air. With a young quarterback, Missouri may have to be creative with how they get Hardy the ball and scheme their other weapons open.

I'm always a bit hesitant to take teams fresh off a massive victory, like A&M's win over LSU two weeks ago. This has the feels of a classic letdown spot, but the absence of Pribula makes me hesitant to predict the upset. Zollers may still surprise, but this is not the ideal matchup for a freshman QB making the first start. I think the Aggies win in a game that may get just a bit ugly.

The Pick: Texas A&M, 31 Missouri, 21

Other Picks

(#9) Oregon Ducks @ (#20) Iowa Hawkeyes -- I'm always interested in the upset factor when it comes to Top 10 teams coming to Kinnick. But, the Hawkeyes have been an unlucky charm for me this fall - the Ducks come away with the victory.

The Pick: Oregon, 27 Iowa, 13

LSU Tigers @ (#4) Alabama Crimson Tide -- What once looked like a possible SEC Championship Game preview almost feels like a foregone conclusion at this point. The Crimson Tide have been through the gauntlet and have made it to the other side. I think this battle-tested team has little issues with a Tiger team now led by an interim staff.

The Pick: Alabama, 38 LSU, 24

(#2) Indiana Hoosiers @ Penn State Nittany Lions -- I keep waiting for a potential Indiana slip-up, but the Hoosiers look to be a well-oiled machine. Penn State still has talent, they are a better team than what the record may indicate, but I can't pick against Indiana right now.

The Pick: Indiana, 34 Penn State, 20

(#23) Washington Huskies @ Wisconsin Badgers -- Rumors out just today are that Luke Fickell is likely to be back next season in Madison. Something tells me that isn't going to change the product on the field. Washington rolls on the road.

The Pick: Washington, 30 Wisconsin, 14

Upset: Northwestern Wildcats @ (#19) USC Trojans -- Friday night games can always get a bit strange, and this one has that energy. USC won a thriller over Nebraska last week, but Northwestern is a better team than most may realize. This feels like a game where the Wildcats muck it up into an ugly Big Ten game, and find a way to win.

The Pick: Northwestern, 24 USC, 21

Superdog (covers > 21 point spread): Navy Midshipmen (+27) @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish -- Navy may have suffered their first loss of the season a week ago, and going into South Bend is not an ideal follow up. However, the Irish have struggled at times to stop the run, and the triple-option can close the talent gap.

The Pick: Notre Dame, 35 Navy, 17

Lock of the Week: Vanderbilt Commodores (-6) vs. Auburn Tigers -- Interim coaches do tend to make things a bit strange, and the fact of the matter is that Auburn's defense is still elite. However, the offense is just such a disaster, I don't see them keeping up with a Commodore team that has scared on everyone they've played.

The Pick: Vanderbilt, 24 Auburn, 10

College Basketball Preview 2025-26: Top 25

Braden Smith, Purdue

1. Purdue Boilermakers -- The ever-steady Purdue Boilermakers are about as consistent as you can find in today's world of college basketball but they have their sights set on even loftier goals in 2025-26: a National Title. The stars all seem to be aligning, with the roster full of veterans who have all played with each other for several years, plus a Big Ten that is wide open beyond the projected top two. Braden Smith is back as the floor general and should be in the hunt for National Player of the Year honors, while shooting guard Fletcher Loyer and big man Trey Kaufman-Renn provide plenty of scoring punch alongside him. Matt Painter and staff further bolstered the roster through the portal by bringing one of the most well-rounded big men on the market in South Dakota State's Oscar Cluff. Cluff is so much more than the traditional back-to-the-basket post we've become accustomed to under Painter, with a well-rounded and versatile offensive game. If he can acclimate quickly with Smith and company, Purdue should have more than enough firepower for what should be a special season in West Lafayette. 

2. Duke Blue Devils -- The Blue Devils lost a pair of Top 5 NBA Draft selections over the offseason, including the reigning National Player of the Year. They then watched their top transfer portal target, Washington State's Cedric Coward, stay in the Draft after a strong Combine. Despite all that, Duke seems to be one of the best bets to hoist the National Title in 2026 after coming up short last year. Such is the luxury of being arguably the sport's premier brand. Cameron Boozer is expected to take over Cooper Flagg's role as the freshman phenom on the roster, as the 6'9" forward from Miami has all the offensive attributes to immediately be one of the best players in the country in Year One. He's flanked by several other highly touted true freshman, including his twin, Cayden, and wing Nikolas Khamenia. However, beyond just the newcomers, it's the holdovers that may make all the difference on this Duke team. Isaiah Evans is ready for his breakout moment after showing real flashes off the bench last season, while Caleb Foster is hoping for a resurgence after seeing his role diminished a year ago. And down low, Maliq Brown has proven his worth as a top-notch defender and force on the glass whose importance goes far beyond the stat sheet. The blend of experience and star power provides Jon Scheyer the clear ACC fronrtunner, and all the ingredients to bring home the first National Title to Durham in a decade, and his first as head man.

3. Florida Gators -- Todd Golden and company brought a National Title back to Gainesville for the first

College Football Picks 2025: Week Ten

Brendan Sorsby, Cincinnati

Current Picks Record: 47-34

Upset: 3-7

Superdogs: 4-3

Locks: 5-5

(#17) Cincinnati Bearcats @ (#24) Utah Utes

Line: Utah -10.5

O/U: 54.5

They still have not received the national attention they deserve, prior to his week, but Cincinnati finds themselves in great position in the Big 12 Title race and as a bonafide CFB Playoff contender. The Bearcats are 7-1 and their lone loss came in the season-opener, against Nebraska at a neutral site. Yet, this week will tell us a lot about just how legit the Bearcats are, as they travel to Salt Lake City to meet up with Utah. Fresh off a blowout win over Colorado, the Utes are hoping for their own resume-boosting victory in front of the home crowd.

This is a genuinely good Cincinnati offense, a unit that is averaging over 38 points per contest, with a nice mix of pass and run. Quarterback Brendan Sorsby has really taken off after a couple up-and-down seasons, with over 1,800 yards through the air and 20 touchdowns to just one interception. The stats alone would be impressive, but it's Sorsby's feel for the game that stands out at you when watching this Cincinnati team. He doesn't turn the ball over, he gets the ball out quick and doesn't take sacks, and he plays with the poise of a veteran college football quarterback. He's benefitted from a solid supporting cast that may not have a ton of star power, but is quite solid. Evan Pryor and Tawee Walker have been an excellent 1-2 punch in the backfield alongside Sorsby, while Cyrus Allen and big-play threat Caleb Goodie do damage on the perimeter. With that being said, Pryor has been ruled out for this game, robbing the Bearcats of a key piece who just simply moves the chains. It may not force this team to completely overhaul their gameplan, but Sorsby may be asked to do even more, and Walker is going to have to carry the load even more so than he has through the first nine weeks. Utah's defense does pose an interesting challenge for this Bearcats team. We've just come to expect the Utes and their physical nature to be a differentiator in this conference, and this is a team that does have real athletes in this front seven. Yet, they've been pushed around in both of their losses, albeit to a pair of really good teams in BYU and Texas Tech. It does feel like they own the edge in the trenches in this game, but it felt like that was supposed to be the case in past games, and hasn't always been. Interestingly enough, Utah's pass defense, which was my main concern for the team entering the season, has been arguably their greatest strength. They're fourth in the nation in pass defense yardage allowed, and seem to have the right combination on the back-end to slow down Sorsby and company.

There have been some notable ups-and-downs for this Utah offense over the course of the season, but last week was certainly a highlight. With starting QB Devon Dampier out, the Utes had their most complete offensive game of the season, gaining 587 yards and dropping 53 points on the Colorado Buffaloes. Freshman Byrd Ficklin was a complete surprise, leading the team in passing and rushing despite entering the game with just nine career pass attempts. Dampier is expected to play this Saturday as he was not listed on Utah's injury report, but could that be a negative? It's easy to overreact to one game, and Dampier has still proven his worth, but you do have to wonder how Utah's offense will react to such an impressive performance. With Dampier in, the Utes may take the occasional shot down the field in a way they didn't really with Ficklin, but this is still a run-oriented offense. Dampier's legs are always a factor, and Wayshawn Parker has had an impressive season as their lead back. Don't be surprised if we still do see plenty of Ficklin, who has been used in a lot of packages throughout the fall to this point. What I may be most excited for this Utah team is the battle in the trenches, especially these Ute blockers against Cincinnati's defensive front. Caleb Lomu and Spencer Fano are two surefire future NFL tackles, while Dontay Corleone is one of the best interior D-Linemen anywhere in the country, even if he's been held in check for much of this season. This is not going to be one of your old Big 12 games that resembled basketball scores - this has the looks of a physical, low-scoring affair to me.

The Pick: Utah, 28 Cincinnati, 20

(#9) Vanderbilt Commodores @ (#20) Texas Longhorns

Line: Texas -3.5

O/U: 46.5

College Football Picks 2025: Week Nine

Marcel Reed, Texas A&M

Current Picks Record: 42-30

Upset: 3-6

Superdogs: 4-2

Locks: 4-5

(#3) Texas A&M Aggies @ (#20) LSU Tigers

Line: Texas A&M -2.5

O/U: 49.5

Not since the days of the Southwest Conference have the Texas A&M Aggies been ranked as high as No. 3 in the land, but Mike Elko has the program rolling in his second season at the helm. The Aggies are 7-0, with an impressive win over Notre Dame in the non-conference to boot. However, it's the next five games that will really tell us what this team is truly about, with three ranked teams lurking in road games. First up is the reeling LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge.

Texas A&M relied heavily on their ground game throughout the Jimbo Fisher years and into the debut campaign of Elko, but this 2025 edition has shown some real big-play ability. Quarterback Marcel Reed has grown up quickly, leading a balanced and consistent group. Reed's legs have always been there, but his downfield passing has taken off this fall and he's shown a real poise and command of the offense that was there in spurts last season. Of course, it helps that the Aggies hit on two of their receiver targets in the portal in NC State transfer K.C. Concepcion and Mississippi State's Mario Craver. The duo has been the fuel of this passing attack all season - they've combined for 69 receptions and over 1,000 yards, while no other Aggie has over 11 catches on the year. Craver in particular has really come into his own as this team's deep threat, a YAC weapon who has formed quick chemistry with Reed. With that being said, this LSU secondary is not the same group we've become accustomed to in the last couple years. This is a legitimate SEC secondary with true difference-makers for coordinator Blake Baker. It's a unit that includes my midseason Jim Thorpe Award winner, Mansoor Delane, who has become absolutely shutdown over the last few weeks. I have a feeling he'll match up early and often with either Craver or Concepcion, which should give us some awesome tape. In fact, this entire LSU defense has been downright good for much of the season, with the Ole Miss being the primary exception. But even in that game, they surrendered lots of yardage, but were still in the game late by holding the Rebels to just 23 points. This entire defense has really taken off under Baker and should be ready for the balance A&M is able to create. Even with Whit Weeks appearing to be sidelined for this game, this looks to be the greatest defensive challenge A&M Has seen yet this fall.

While the defense has been a strong point, it remains baffling to me just how bad this LSU offense has looked all season long. They brought back a supposed Heisman contender at quarterback in Garrett Nussmeier, a rising sophomore at tailback in Caden Durham, and they spent big money in the portal over the offseason to upgrade the receiver corps. It has simply not come together in any effective way - the Tigers are averaging just 25.9 points per contest. I'm still under the belief that Nussmeier, while inconsistent, is a much better QB than we've seen this season and I see real opportunity for him against this A&M defense. After all, this Aggie defense did give up nearly 300 yards to C.J. Carr and Notre Dame in just his second start of his career earlier this fall, even with the improvements they've made since. It's the complete lack of any type of running game that has been the sore spot for LSU much of this season. Durham has barely been able to get anything going, and none of the other options in the rest of the backfield have fared much better. To be fair, Durham hasn't been 100 percent much of this season, but it does feel like this team has to change up something in a big way if they want to have some semblance of success running the ball. The offensive line has been a primary source of problems after replacing four starters from last season and this A&M front is not an easy matchup to get things rolling again. Play-caller Joe Sloan has tried to disguise the rushing issues with the short passing game, which has been a painful watch. What I'd like to see most from LSU, and what I think we may finally see, is more aggressiveness on this side of the ball. It does feel like Brian Kelly is coaching for his job over the next month-plus now - will we see him act like it? This team has all the talent to be significantly better, and I don't see what they have to lose in this type of game.

The SEC race the final month-and-a-half of the season is going to be a wild one, and I think we're going to see the league really beat itself up. A&M is a very good football team, but I think someone, or potentially multiple teams, catches up to them down the stretch. This is such a difficult conference to stay atop of, and Death Valley is a different beast entirely. While LSU may not be inspiring a ton of confidence lately, I think this team figures things out for the Saturday night upset.

The Pick: LSU, 34 Texas A&M, 28

(#8) Ole Miss Rebels @ (#13) Oklahoma Sooners

Line: Oklahoma -5.5

O/U: 51.5

College Football Midseason Awards 2025

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

It feels only yesterday when Iowa State and Kansas State opened up the 2025 college football campaign in Dublin, Ireland. But with November right around the corner, the reality is that the season is already at its halfway point. There's still so much left to unfold but as we gear up for the season's second half, it feels like the right time to honor the teams and players that have made the first half so special.

Projected National Champion: Ohio State Buckeyes

As boring as it may be to pick the reigning National Champion and nation's current No. 1 team in this spot, Ohio State feels like they've separated themselves from the pack to this point in the fall. Julian Sayin has proven to be an upgrade at the quarterback position, with plenty of help from Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate Jr., but it's the defense that is the greatest change for this Buckeye team. Even if after sending an entire slew of players to the pros last spring, Ohio State has been even better on that side of the ball under the tutelage of first-year coordinator Matt Patricia. The Buckeyes have allowed just 41 points over their first seven games, the lowest total from a defense through their first seven in over three decades. It's a trend that bodes well for this team's chances at a potential National Title repeat - the last four teams that have allowed fewer than 50 points during their first seven games of the season have all advanced to the National Championship game. But beyond just the product on the field, Ohio State has one of the easiest paths of any team in contention for a National Title. With Penn State falling apart, the only ranked team the Buckeyes face the rest of the way is the Michigan Wolverines. It's hard to imagine this team not entering the Big Ten Championship Game undefeated and setting themselves up for a bye in the College Football Playoff, which they didn't have last year.

Others in Consideration: Alabama Crimson Tide, Indiana Hoosiers, Texas A&M Aggies, Oregon Ducks, Georgia Bulldogs, Miami Hurricanes

Projected Playoff Field: 

1 Ohio State Buckeyes -- There's no Indiana or Oregon looming in the regular season this year, meaning Ohio State has a clear path to an undefeated regular season. Even if they slip up along the way, this team has built enough of a resume to still be firmly in the hunt for a bye this year.

2 Alabama Crimson Tide -- Since the season-opening loss to Florida State, Alabama has been on an absolute tear. Both sides of the ball seem to be getting better each and every week, and the Crimson Tide have made it through the most difficult part of their schedule. They are the team to beat in an SEC that has a lot to be figured out the rest of the way.

3 Indiana Hoosiers -- The road win over Oregon in impressive fashion asserted Indiana as a legitimate National Title contender, but now the goal for the Hoosiers is to continue the momentum. Fortunately not a single ranked foe remains on their regular season schedule and all three of their road games are against teams trending downwards. We very well could see a 12-0 Indiana facing a 12-0 Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game. 

College Football Picks 2025: Week Eight

Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss

Current Picks Record: 37-26

Upset: 2-5

Superdogs: 4-2

Locks: 4-4

(#5) Ole Miss Rebels @ (#9) Georgia Bulldogs

Line: Georgia -7.5

O/U: 54.5

While there is still so much left to be figured out in the SEC race, Ole Miss finds themselves in great position as near the home stretch of October. The Rebels are off to a 3-0 start in the league, with an impressive win over LSU. But now is when we learn just how good this team really is, with back-to-back road games against ranked foes, starting with the mighty Georgia Bulldogs in Sanford Stadium.

It's not an exaggeration to say the entire trajectory of the season for Ole Miss changed when Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss took over as starting quarterback. Sophomore Austin Simmons was expected to be the team's breakout star, but injuries forced Chambliss into a larger role, and neither he nor the Rebels have looked back since. He finds himself in the Heisman conversation at the season's midway point, leading an always-explosive Rebel offense. The ability of Chambliss to create with his legs, even more so than Jaxson Dart the last several years, has forced defenses into quite a bind. If they sell out to contain him, there are enough weapons on the perimeter for this offense to win on big plays alone. The personnel around him certainly helps - this may not be the best Ole Miss receiver corps since Lane Kiffin took over, but it certainly feels like the deepest. Harrison Wallace III and Deuce Alexander have been the top pass-catchers, but the emergence of Dae'Quan Wright at tight end, and the abundance of weapons beyond that trio give this offense so much explosiveness and big play potential deep into games. It creates an interesting matchup for a Georgia defense that has been good so far this year, but not quite at the standard we've come to expect from Kirby Smart coached teams. It just doesn't feel like this Bulldog defense has the usual collection of stars we've come to expect, and they've suffered more breakdowns on the back-end than is usual. Yet, my greatest key to the game may come on third down, where Ole Miss is Top 20 in the country, while Georgia has struggled to get off the field. If Georgia can win the most important downs, and limit the magic Chambliss is able to create, they absolutely can win at home. But, Lane and the rest of this Rebels team have been on fire for so much of the season, they have to be relishing the opportunity for another massive victory.

It's been all about balance for the Georgia offense so far this season. Quarterback Gunner Stockton has made some big throws but he hasn't been putting up gaudy stats, instead playing a brand of football that feels reminiscent of the Jake Fromm team back in 2017. That has always been the bread-and-butter for Kirby, setting things up with the run and doing just enough through the air to come out victorious. The thing is, the rush offense has been very unlike Georgia over these last couple years, even if it does appear to be gathering some momentum in recent weeks. Redshirt freshman Chauncey Bowens has taken over as the lead back and given this ground game some much-needed pop, but consistency remains an issue. He looked the part against Alabama, rushing for 119 yards and a score, but has been held in check in recent weeks. Is this the matchup to get him rolling again? Sophomore Nate Frazier, who I had pegged as a breakout candidate, has been quieter than expected early on, managing just 24 yards on ten carries last week in the Auburn win. I'm not even sure the rushing issues are solely to blame on the backs - the offensive line hasn't been quite as good and expected, and it does feel like teams have been willing to stack the box against Stockton. He's going to have to make some big throws in this game, which we've seen do before, with the Tennessee game coming to mind right away. But, can Stockton make those throws more regularly, throughout the contest? If so, this team might just have what they need to open things up and give Ole Miss a defensive challenge they haven't quite had for much of the season.

It has not felt like a vintage Georgia team up to this point in the season - they could easily have three losses at this point. But, as Kirby's teams often do, they have found ways to win games. I sort of feel like that's how this one will play out, too. They've had an entire year to prepare for an Ole Miss team that embarrassed them a season ago, and this Georgia staff is still one of the best in the country. They should have the right defense schemed up to contain Chambliss and if the offense can find some semblance of explosiveness, I like their chances even more.

The Pick: Georgia, 31 Ole Miss, 28

(#11) Tennessee Volunteers @ (#6) Alabama Crimson Tide

Line: Alabama -8.5

College Football Picks 2025: Week Seven

Dante Moore, Oregon

Current Picks Record: 34-20

Upset: 2-4

Superdogs: 4-1

Locks: 4-3

(#7) Indiana Hoosiers @ (#3) Oregon Ducks

Line: Oregon -7.5

O/U: 55.5

Until they're knocked off their pedestal, Ohio State remains the team to beat in the Big Ten. However, both Oregon and Indiana are breathing right down their necks inside the league - and one will assert themselves as the top challenger after this weekend. Oregon's resume took a slight hit with Penn State's shocking loss last weekend, but the Ducks remain formidable. On the other side, Indiana has looked even better than last fall, and would love nothing more than a signature win in Autzen Stadium.

Indiana got a much-needed week off this past Saturday after surviving a scary trip to Iowa City the week prior. There wasn't anything necessarily pretty about the Hoosier win over the Hawkeyes, but they're the type of wins you have to have sometimes in this conference. The offense, especially the passing game, has been playing tremendous ball, thanks in large part to the addition of Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza has been the downfield passer Kurtis Rourke wasn't a year ago, giving this team real verticality in what they can do to opposing defenses. Elijah Sarratt and company have been quite the complements out wide, arguably the best group of pass-catchers Oregon has seen up to this point in the young season. My question is for the Hoosiers comes with their running game, which had a rough outing against Iowa (2.7 YPC) and faces quite the test in Oregon here. Not having a ton of success against Phil Parker's defense is a common concern, but we saw just how effective the Duck front can be when they shut down Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton for much of their matchup with Penn State. Oregon has always had talent, but it feels like this year's defense is playing at an entirely different level with their instincts and how quickly they can swarm to the ball. Mendoza has been a great quarterback to this point in the season, but have we seen him need to carry an offense in a hostile road environment quite like this? The last time he faced the Ducks, his Golden Bears were shredded to the tune of 63-10 in a game in which he was fairly quiet, going 18-34 for 177 yards. Obviously this Indiana is a much different breed than 2023 Cal, but I'd argue this Oregon defense is also at a different level. 

Following last season, it was the expectation that Oregon's offense was going to be led by wide out Evan Stewart, who spurned the NFL for another year in Eugene, and Tulane transfer Makhi Hughes at tailback. This offense has been even better than expected - with neither of those making any sort of impact. Now, to be fair, Stewart has been hurt and may not return at all this fall, while the Hughes situation remains baffling to me. He's barely seen in the field and the expectation now is that he will likely redshirt and play elsewhere in 2026. That hasn't been an issue for Will Stein and the Ducks, who are averaging 47 PPG with a very balanced offense. Quarterback Dante Moore has been tremendous taking control of this offense from veteran Dillon Gabriel, and the rest of the supporting cast is full of playmakers. Freshman receiver Dakorien Moore has been a sensation, tight end Kenyon Sadiq is a matchup problem, and this may be the deepest stable of running backs anywhere in the country. It's become so clear just how much of a machine Dan Lanning and his staff have built here. Their second and third players on the depth chart are so much better than most teams in this league, and in the country. You add it all behind a strong offensive line, it's no surprise Oregon dropped 30 points and 424 yards against the highest paid defensive coordinator in the nation in Happy Valley two weeks ago. But, what separates this offense to me, and what may hurt Indiana the most in having to defend them? How well they take care of the football. Lanning is an aggressive coach, but this offense makes the most of every possession, and their depth allows them fresh legs later into ball games. For an Indiana team that has relied so heavily on earning the turnover advantage during the Curt Cignetti years, if they can't force Moore into a mistake or two, it's going to be difficult to keep up.

Indiana has answered a lot of doubters who thought 2024 was a fluke, and this is most certainly a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. Yet, Oregon just feels like a machine at this point, and you have to play them at home. The Hoosiers will still give a battle, but I think the Ducks pull away in the second half and leave the weekend with a comfortable victory.

The Pick: Oregon, 34 Indiana, 17

(#8) Alabama Crimson Tide @ (#14) Missouri Tigers

College Football Picks 2025: Week Six

Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Current Picks Record: 28-17

Upset: 2-3

Superdogs: 3-1

Locks: 3-3

(#3) Miami Hurricanes @ (#18) Florida State Seminoles

Line: Miami -4.5

O/U: 53.5

Miami - Florida State has long been one of the fiercest rivalries in college football, but rarely has it had such implications in recent times. Despite a loss to Virginia last week, Florida State is hoping to continue their turnaround from last season's 2-10 mark and challenge for an ACC Title. Miami may have even loftier goals - such as a National Title. A loss here will not necessarily run either of their chances, but victory would go a long way in furthering their ambitions as we hit the month of October.

It's been all about the rushing attack for Florida State early on in the season, as Gus Malzahn has engineered the nation's second best rushing offense to this point in the fall. The Seminoles are currently averaging over 336 yards per game on the ground, thanks to dual threat QB Tommy Castellanos and a deep backfield that includes Gavin Sawchuk, Ousmane Kromah, and Samuel Singleton Jr. It's so effective because it doesn't rely on just one piece - Malzahn is a magician at scheming up complex packages that get his guys into space. There's also the chance the Seminoles could be getting an important piece back to this backfield, as Roydell Williams has a chance to return this week after missing their last three games. He went down with injury in the opener against Alabama, but is the most experienced rusher on this roster. This Florida State rushing attack does set up an interesting battle with this Miami Hurricane defense. With coordinator Corey Hetherman, this side of the ball for Miami may be among the most improved units in the entire country. The front seven in particular sets the tone, with Rueben Bain Jr. the alpha in the room. Bain shouldn't be expected to contribute too much as a run defender, but his constant pressure as an edge rusher has given this Hurricane defense a real edge to it all season long. If the Florida State offensive line isn't up for the challenge and Miami can control the line as they have so far this season, you can imagine this team building an early lead and playing ball control the remainder of the game. We are going to need to see Castellanos throw the ball, which he hasn't necessarily needed to for much of the early season. This Miami defense is a whole different challenge than Alabama was - they're healthier, better coached, and relentless. This is going to need to be a vintage Gus coaching performance if Florida State is to put points on the board.

For the Miami offense, it's been all about balance over the course of the first five games of their season. Quarterback Carson Beck may not be Cam Ward, but he hasn't needed to be, instead providing the Hurricanes a competent, reliable signal-caller to run the show. He's benefitted from some really nice talent around him, with Mark Fletcher Jr. rumbling on the ground, while true freshman sensation Malachi Toney and transfer C.J. Daniels make things happen on the perimeter. What really sets Miami apart, however, is the offensive line. This is a peak Mario Cristobal offensive line, one loaded with future NFL talent, depth, and overwhelming ferocity. They have looked the part so far this fall, even against tough competition like Notre Dame and Florida, so they should not be surprised by this Florida State front. And, it's hard to know how good the Seminole defense really is, anyways. They played great football against Alabama and against mediocre competition over the next few weeks, but then allowed 440 yards and 46 points to Virginia last Friday. The Hurricanes aren't as explosive as an offense as the one on the other sideline, but I'm not sure they need to be. As long as Beck continues to take care of the ball and make the right decisions, this can be a very methodical and productive group. Their ability to control the trenches puts them at an immediate advantage over just about everyone on their schedule.

Heading into Doak Campbell Stadium will of course be a significant challenge for this Miami team, but one they should be prepared for. This team has the pieces to take the Seminole crowd out of the game early on, and then play a ball control game the rest of the way with the way they control the lines of scrimmage. As long as Cristobal doesn't make any wacky late-game decisions, an unfortunate tendency of his, I like Miami's chances to keep their perfect record intact.

The Pick: Miami, 27 Florida State, 20

(#16) Vanderbilt Commodores @ (#10) Alabama Crimson Tide

UPDATED: College Football Coaching Carousel 2025 Predictions

G.J. Kinne, Texas State

(Updated 10/14/25)

Less than two months into the 2025 college football season, the coaching carousel has begun spinning. A total of eight programs are out searching for their next head coach, with Penn State's dismissal of James Franklin sending shockwaves across the college football landscape. With several other potential big-name gigs set to open, we could see a potentially chaotic carousel this fall and winter. Who do I see taking over at each current vacancy or potential opening? It's time for some speculation.

Current Openings

Arkansas Razorbacks

(Fired Sam Pittman)

Few coaches in college football entered this fall under as much pressure as Sam Pittman. After a 4-8 record in 2023 originally put his job in jeopardy, a resurgent 2024 at 7-6 earned him another year. But ultimately, three straight losses ended his time as Arkansas head coach after five-plus seasons in charge. Pittman was a bit of an unconventional hire, but he did return the program to respectability after the disastrous two-year run of his predecessor, Chad Morris. In fact, his nine-win campaign in 2022 was just the second time in a decade the Razorbacks had reached or surpassed the eight-win plateau. However, it just felt like the program had reached its peak under his leadership, and a new direction was necessary. He concludes his Arkansas tenure with a 32-34 overall record and 14-29 mark in the SEC.

Hired: Rhett Lashlee, SMU Head Coach

Any SEC job that opens is going to be an attractive one, but I am curious to see how Arkansas is perceived compared to others on the market. The program has resources, but they've struggled mightily over the last decade-and-a-half, since the first Bobby Petrino tenure (who is now their interim head coach). It's also a school that is committed to building winners in basketball and baseball, so it is fair to wonder how serious they are in building a winner on the football field.

With all that being said, it does feel like a job a name like Rhett Lashlee, current SMU head coach, would be interested in. Sure, SMU is now a power conference job and has plenty of money to throw around, but the fate of the ACC is an uncertain one. Moving into the SEC would be attractive alone, but Lashlee is also an Arkansas native and alum of the university. It could be a natural stepping stone for a coach who progressed up the career ladder fairly quickly and has now proven himself as a head coach. Lashlee has seen Arkansas as a winner - he was a grad assistant on the 2006 team that went 10-4 and went to the SEC Championship Game. The opportunity to return to his roots and take over this program has to be a very difficult one to pass up.

Others to Watch: Bobby Petrino (interim HC); Jon Sumrall (Tulane HC); Ryan Silverfield (Memphis HC); Gus Malzahn (Florida State OC); Barry Odom (Purdue HC); Tyson Helton (Western Kentucky HC); Barry Lunney Jr. (Illinois OC)

Oklahoma State Cowboys

(Fired Mike Gundy)

College Football Picks 2025: Week Five

Ty Simpson, Alabama

Current Picks Record: 23-13

Upset: 2-2

Superdogs: 3-1

Locks: 1-3

(#6) Oregon Ducks @ (#3) Penn State Nittany Lions

Line: Penn State -3.5

O/U: 51.5

We learned a lot about the Big Ten last weekend, when Michigan escaped with a win over Nebraska and Indiana took it to Illinois. Yet, both those games pale in comparison to the matchup in primetime Saturday night. Two undefeated teams, Penn State and Oregon, square off under the lights in Happy Valley in what could be a Big Ten Championship Game preview. It feels like the entire month for both these teams has been building to this game, and we should have a good one to highlight Week Five.

Both teams have ran through a buttery soft non-conference slate to this point, which is especially true of Penn State. The Nittany Lions have beaten Nevada, FIU, and Villanova en route to their 3-0 start, all comfortable victories. It's hard to take anything significant from any of those wins - the Nittany Lions rolled without much issue, but they likely held a lot back on both sides of the ball knowing Oregon was later in the month. Quarterback Drew Allar has been fine, but nothing particularly special. The thing is, he hasn't needed to be, as Penn State has held a clear advantage in talent against every time they've faced, and been able to ride the two-headed backfield of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen to success. That will obviously not be the case against the Ducks. This is a front seven with a bunch of future NFL guys, built in the mold of the SEC defenses we used to see back in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This is going to be an absolute war at the line of scrimmage, and it may come down to whether Allar can make the big throws. In fact, that seems to be a consistent theme of Allar's career up to this point. He's won a lot of games, put up impressive numbers, and is widely considered among the best in the nation. But, it feels like he hasn't had a true breakout game on the big stage against an elite defense. Oregon would provide that moment, but he does need help from his receivers out wide. Trebor Pena has been a helpful addition but will need to elevate his play, as will Kyron Hudson. I am curious if Penn State has more tricks up their sleeve than just those two. Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is a creative guy, and used tight end Tyler Warren in a bunch of unique ways last fall. Do we see Penn State break out something new we haven't seen yet this fall? This would certainly be the game to do it in.

It's been smooth sailing for Oregon to this point, too, and they do have a Big Ten to their credit already after taking down Northwestern on the road. Quarterback Dante Moore has been absolutely dealing up to this point in the year and has garnered early Heisman attention. No Evan Stewart has been no problem, with Dakorien Moore stealing the show out wide, but there are an abundance of options here. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq is a matchup nightmare, and Malik Benson and Gary Bryant Jr. are proven veterans providing plenty of spark of their own. The ground game has been interesting - Makhi Hughes was expected to be the alpha after coming over after a huge year at Tulane, but he's been quiet early. Instead, it's been Jayden Limar, Noah Whittington, and Dierre Hill Jr. getting the bulk of action so far. You do wonder if that has more to do with the fact most of the early action for Oregon so far has been in blowouts, or if that's how this backfield is going to shape out the rest of the season. Has Hughes also been not 100 percent? Either way, the Ducks are all operating behind an elite offensive line, giving playcaller Will Stein all the toys he needs to engineer some real magic on this side of the ball. Yet, this is going to be a fascinating chess match between Stein and his opponent on the other side, Penn State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles. Knowles is one of the truly elite defensive minds in the game today, and he completely flummoxed Oregon in last year's Rose Bowl while at Ohio State. With the Nittany Lions, he has a defense that may not have the star power of last year's Buckeyes, but has ample experience. They're going to throw a lot at Moore and company, a quarterback who really has not played in this type of environment in primetime before.

I feel like a broken record throughout the month of September, but it's true - we simply don't know that much about either of these teams just yet. Sure, they've beaten up on inferior teams and looked pretty dang impressive while doing so. But, this type of game, in Happy Valley with so much talent and future NFL players on the field? It's completely different. Penn State hasn't quite looked as crisp as Oregon early, but they do get the home crowd behind them and the Knowles factor is a decisive one. You know he's been preparing for months for this exact game, eager to deploy the right scheme to slow down Moore and the Ducks. I think the Nittany Lions turn this one into a bit of a slow-paced, almost ugly type of football game and lean on their power-run game the other way to lead them to victory.

The Pick: Penn State, 24 Oregon, 21

(#17) Alabama Crimson Tide @ (#5) Georgia Bulldogs