Following NCAA changes to transfer rules and eligibility, the transfer portal has become massive over the past couple of years. The addition of NIL opportunities convinces players that there may be a better spot for them. There are currently over 1,200 college football players in the portal today. The portal can be a blessing or a curse, as 43% of all NCAA athletes don't land at a new school for their sport. We will be diving into the top college football quarterbacks in the transfer portal, who shouldn't have any issue finding their new homes. 

DJ Uiagalelei, Clemson

DJ Uiagalelei, one of the nation's top prospects when he started his career at Clemson University, entered the transfer portal after an underwhelming performance this past season. The junior, originally from Inland Empire, California, ended the regular season with a 31-30 loss to the University of South Carolina. Questions about transferring were brought up throughout the season, especially when he was benched after a disappointing first two possessions in the ACC Championship game against UNC-Chapel Hill, going 3-and-out twice in a row. However, his backup, Cade Klubnik, had a stellar performance, going 20-of-24 for 309 total yards and scoring two touchdowns, and that performance solidified Uiagalelei's transfer decision. Uiagalelei is expected to go somewhere out west and completed an unofficial visit to UCLA this past week. Other contenders for final destinations for the player with two more years of eligibility include Notre Dame, Oregon, and Arizona State.

Devin Leary, NC State

At the beginning of this past football season, Leary was projected to be a top quarterback in the ACC. However, a midseason injury, specifically a torn pectoral muscle on his right side, left him on the sidelines for the remainder of his season. The junior from New Jersey initially held a fourth or fifth-round NFL draft grade going into the season but has since decreased in rankings. He will now be a grad transfer student using his sixth year of eligibility. Leary, the ACC Preseason Player of the Year, generated a lot of buzz surrounding his passing game and ability to be a fantastic leader and play caller. He is a top-rated player in the transfer portal at this time. In the 2021 season, the year before his injury, he threw 35 touchdowns, racked up 3,433 passing yards, and had two rushing touchdowns of his own. It does not seem he will have a shortage of transfer options, and he has reportedly been in contact with Kentucky, Auburn, and Missouri. 

Grayson McCall, Coastal Carolina

One of the surprises of the transfer portal this season has been Grayson McCall, the rising senior and first-ever three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year. His entrance into the portal from Coastal Carolina comes after his former head coach Jamey Chadwell transferred to Liberty University to fill their head coaching position. The North Carolina native is one of the top players in the portal, who finished his Coastal Carolina career with 8,019 passing yards,78 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, a 70.4% pass completion rating, and averaged 10.3 yards per attempt. Often called "the most productive QB in the portal," McCall was a finalist for the Manning Award, a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, and was the conference Freshman of the Year. With numbers and awards like that, many schools are expressing interest, including Liberty, NC State, Auburn, Florida, and Oregon.

Hudson Card, Texas

With Arch Manning, one of the nation's top recruiting prospects, committed to the University of Texas, Texas football has depth in its offense that did not give Card a lot of future playing time. Card started five games during his three years with the Longhorns and made show promise within his performance, but he was benched this past season behind current starting QB Quinn Ewers. The Texas-raised quarterback will enter his next destination as a redshirt junior but has up to three years of remaining eligibility due to NCAA-granted waivers. The former ESPN top-40 recruit threw for 1,523 yards and 11 touchdowns in the past two seasons, on top of a very promising high school career. His top destinations appear to be TCU, Notre Dame, and Wisconsin, but his agility and high completion percentage have prepared him for many programs. 

Donovan Smith, Texas Tech

Smith, a native of Texas, entered the transfer portal with a couple more seasons of eligibility, and he was a pivotal contributor to Texas Tech's bowl eligibility this past season. The Red Raiders will face Ole Miss in the TaxAct Texas Bowl. The sophomore quarterback played 21 games for the Red Raiders, finishing his Texas Tech career with a 64.2% completion percentage, going 231/360 for 2686 yards, 19 touchdowns, and only 10 interceptions. Smith led the Red Raiders to a few wins throughout the season, including the thrilling overtime win against their rival Longhorns, but was eventually sent to the bench behind starting senior QB Tyler Shough. Despite some inconsistency issues with his performance, Smith will make a great addition to any program, and the top contenders right now include NC State, Notre Dame, Boston College, and Boise State. 

 

Ole Miss and Texas Tech will square off in the TaxAct Texas Bowl on December 28, 2022, at NRG Stadium. 

Texas Tech

The Red Raiders come to town with a 7-5 record after going 5-4 in Big 12 under first-year coach Joey McGuire. However, the team is coming off a three-game win streak and looking to finish the season strong. For Texas Tech, this was not their first rodeo: they had previously appeared in the Texas Bowl in 2015 and are eager to claim this victory this year.

Unfortunately, they will be without 1st team All Big 12 edge rusher Tyree Wilson as he suffered a season ending foot injury against Kansas. The Red Raiders will also be without their two-quarterback package against Ole Miss as QB Donavon Smith entered the transfer portal this past week. 

Texas Tech’s high-powered offense is averaging 459.5 total yards per game. They are led by QB Tyler Shough along with RB SaRodorick Thompson and freshman wide receiver Jerand Bradley. The Red Raiders are an impressive 7-1 over the past two years in games that Shough has started and finished. 

Ole Miss

Ole Miss comes down to the Texas Bowl for the first time in program history, following an 8-4 year and going 4-4 in the SEC. The Rebels are looking to turn things around and gain momentum into the offseason after losing 4 of their last 5. Head coach Lane Kiffin signed a 6-year contract extension in November, following rumors of him possibly filling the Auburn vacancy. 

Ole Miss this season is led by QB Jaxson Dart and SEC Freshman of the Year RB Quinshon Judkins. The team’s running attack is among the top in the nation averaging 261.6 yards per game. Running back Zach Evans (North Shore) is also a large part of the ground game. 

Prediction

The Ole Miss Rebels enter this game as 3.5-point favorites. Given the offensive dominance of both teams, it’s safe to say we can expect a very high scoring game. If Ole Miss can control the line of scrimmage with Evans, Judkins, and Dart, it could be a long night for the Red Raiders. However, Texas Tech fans could very well make this game a home field atmosphere, giving Kiffin and the team quite a challenge. Ole Miss being ranked as high as #7, before falling off to lose 4 of their last 5 concerns me. Both teams have a lot to prove and will bring a lot of energy to NRG on December 28th.

Final Score: Texas Tech 38 – Ole Miss 35

Monday night saw the announcement of the 2022 Heisman Trophy finalists: Georgia's Stetson Bennett, Caleb Williams of USC, TCU's Max Duggan, and Ohio State's C.J. Stroud. 

However, since some of the strongest contenders — Michigan RB Blake Corum and Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker — had their seasons cut short by injury, it's no surprise that sports experts and fans have flocked to social media to express their opinions on the nominees.

Many in the college football world feel the Heisman voting process is still faulty. 

Hooker guided Tennessee to a 10-2 record, propelling the Volunteers to the top of the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time.

In reality, the Volunteers remained in the hunt until late November, when a 63-38 defeat to South Carolina affected not only their CFP chances but also the season of QB Hendon, who suffered a torn ACL.

The same can be said for Michigan RB Blake Corum, who sustained a left knee injury against Illinois late in the first half.

Corum concluded his junior season with 247 attempts for 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns on 247 attempts. Except for Michigan's regular-season finale against Ohio State, he rushed for at least 100 yards in every conference game. 

The four quarterback finalists, including three participating in the College Football Playoff, will be in New York this Saturday for the annual event where they will announce the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner. 

As the season wraps ups, let's look at the top three 2022 Heisman Trophy nominees:

Ohio St. QB C.J. Stroud

The lone returning finalist from 2021, Stroud concluded this season with a completion rate of 70% after passing for 44 touchdowns in his debut year as a starter in 2021. In addition to having the highest passer efficiency rating in the league, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year is tied with Tune and Williams for the most throwing touchdowns in college football with 37.

USC. QB Caleb Williams

Williams has over 4,000 throwing yards this season and tied for the national lead with 37 touchdown passes. And this week, the USC QB was honored as the 2022 CBS Sports Player of the Year and 2022 CBS Sports All-Star. Williams scored 11 touchdowns in USC's last three games against UCLA, Notre Dame, and Utah, all against ranked opponents. Despite USC's elimination from the CFP on Friday following a defeat to Utah in the Pac-12 title game, Williams is still the betting favorite to win the award.

TCU. QB Mac Duggan

Duggan, who led TCU to a perfect regular season, passed for 3,321 yards, 30 touchdowns, and just four interceptions this season. As the quarterback of the lone FBS team to win every game against its league opponents, Duggan edges out the competition for the No. 2 spot. The Iowa senior will lead TCU against Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl, with the winner advancing to the national championship game.

There was, of course, another exciting weekend for fans. 

Several surprises occurred during Week 13, along with elaborate celebrations, emotional goodbyes, and a shift in the Heisman Trophy favorites. Thanksgiving Day, the last weekend of the regular season, began with a Mississippi State's victory over Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl. 

In return, the current College Football Playoff rankings altered again due to the losses of four top-10 teams (No. 2 Ohio State, No. 5 LSU, No. 8 Clemson, and No. 9 Oregon).

Despite his 349 passing yards, quarterback C.J. Stroud could not lead Ohio State to victory. As a result, Stroud departs Ohio State with a bittersweet legacy after the Buckeyes' 45–23 loss to archrival Michigan cost them the Big Ten championship. 

Although, despite the remarkable numbers he produced during his two years as Ohio State's starting quarterback - 7,775 passing yards and 81 touchdowns – many sports pundits believe the two defeats will define his reputation with the Buckeyes. 

While the defeat to Michigan dashed his Heisman Trophy prospects, the Ohio State quarterback is projected to be a top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

While the oddsmakers favored Clemson to win their rivalry against South Carolina, QB Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks had other plans. South Carolina followed up last week's 63-38 crushing defeat of No. 5 Tennessee by defeating No. 8 Clemson, 31-30, and ruining the ACC's playoff aspirations.

The game ultimately came down to the quarterbacks. 

Clemson's DJ Uiagaleli struggled significantly during the game, completing only 8 of 29 passes for one touchdown and 99 passing yards. Meanwhile, Rattler was again spectacular, completing 25 of 39 throws for 360 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a third. 

In the end, the QB outplayed the Tigers and led South Carolina to a 31-30 victory. ESPN Stats & Information reports that amid the lousy performance, the Gamecocks blitzed on 19 of 30 dropbacks, their highest blitz rate in a game since 2015.

As expected, the shocking win by Texas A&M against then-No. 5 LSU dropped the Tigers in the college football playoff rankings. After a 38–23 defeat at Kyle Field, LSU fell to No. 14 in the CFP rankings on Tuesday. The Tigers are scheduled to take on No. 1 Georgia in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game at Mercedez-Benz Stadium on CBS at 3 p.m.

Fans have entered championship week. 

Two of the four teams contending for a berth in the College Football Playoff already have a solid case regardless of the result of their championship games, thus the picture will finally take form as teams attempt to hoist their respective conference trophies after the weekend.

Here's a look at the AP's Week 13 top 25 rankings:

1. Georgia 
2. Michigan 
3. TCU
4. Southern California
5. Ohio State
6. Alabama
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Washington
10. Clemson
11. LSU
12. Utah
13. Kansas State
14. Florida State
15. Oregon
16. Oregon State
17. UCLA
18. Tulane
19. Notre Dame
20. South Carolina
21. Texas
22. UCF
23. UTSA
24. North Carolina
25. Mississippi State

As we enter Week 13 of the college football season, teams still fight for playoff positions and conference titles while others gear up for big rivalry games.

Despite an exciting regular season, the Tennessee Volunteers' prospects of advancing in the College Football Playoffs ended with a 63-38 loss to South Carolina in Columbia. However, Arkansas's 42-27 victory against Ole Miss was among the many shocking results in the SEC.

After a nail-biting victory against Baylor, No. 4 TCU advanced to 10-0 on the season and remained unblemished. With 6:38 left in the fourth quarter and behind 28-30, quarterback Max Duggan led an 11-play, 90-yard touchdown drive to trim the deficit to 28-26. 

In the end, it was Griffin Kell's 40-yard field goal that clinched the victory.

Despite formidable challenges inside their divisions, Georgia and Ohio State each came out on top, while USC won a thrilling Battle of Los Angeles and Alabama dispatched an FCS opponent. 

No. 3 Michigan barely stayed alive in the College Football Playoff race thanks to a tough test from Illinois. 

The Wolverines needed a fourth-quarter rally to escape a home shock loss after losing their top running back, Blake Corum, late in the second quarter. However, Jake Moody kept the Wolverines unblemished with four second-half field goals, including a 35-yard game-winner with nine seconds left.

As the season draws to a close, college football fans have plenty for which to be grateful during this holiday week. 

Four matchups between ranked opponents are kicking off the festivities, including two classic rivalries that will impact the College Football Playoff picture. 

On Saturday, Ohio Stadium will host a matchup of unbeaten teams between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan at noon, with the Buckeyes looking for vengeance after a 42-27 loss to the Wolverines last year. And at 3:30, in a heated in-state Pac-12 rivalry, No. 10 Oregon visits Oregon State.

Fans should anticipate an exciting final weekend of the regular season.

Here's a look at the AP's Week 12 top 25 rankings.

AP Top 25

1. Georgia 

2. Ohio State

3. Michigan

4. TCU

5. USC

6. LSU

7. Clemson

8. Alabama

9. Tennessee

10. Oregon

11. Penn State

12. Washington

13. Notre Dame

14. Utah

15. Kansas State

16. Florida State

17. UCLA

18. North Carolina

19. Tulane

20. Ole Miss

21. Cincinnati

22. Oregon State

23. Coastal Carolina

24. Texas

25. UCF

The race continues to heat up.

Although it may be too early to predict the 2022-2023 Heisman Trophy winner, there is still time to analyze the favorites and a few rising prospects after week ten. Three quarterbacks have separated this season from the pack: Tennessee's Hendon Hooker, Ohio State's C.J. Stroud, and USC's Caleb Williams Young. 

However, competition for the remaining two spots has been intense. Following their impressive performances in week ten, QB Bo Nix (Oregon), RB Blake Corum (Michigan), and QB Drake Maye (North Carolina) remain in the headlines. In addition, the Heisman hopes of many players, including then-No. 6 Alabama QB Bryce Young, were heavily affected by Saturday's surprising shocks, especially the 32-31 overtime loss to then-No. 15 LSU.

Let's examine the top six Heisman candidates entering week 11:

Ten. QB Hendon Hooker

In a 27-13 setback to No. 5 Georgia on Saturday at Sanford Stadium, Hooker and the Vols suffered their first defeat of the season. Georgia went into halftime leading 24-6 after the Bulldogs' defense had made six sacks of the quarterback and limited Tennessee to only two first-half points. Hooker's chances of winning the Heisman Trophy are probably down after he passed for less than 200 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Week 10 Result: Loss to Georgia, 27-13

Week 10 Stats: 23-for-33, 195 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT | 18 rushes, 17 yards

Ohio St. QB C.J. Stroud

At Northwestern, C.J. Stroud faced his stiffest challenge yet, as he struggled through windy and damp conditions. While the Buckeyes recovered to defeat the Wildcats 21-7, their starting quarterback had his worst game as a starter, completing only 10 of 26 passes for 76 yards. Stroud had career-lows in completion percentage and throwing yards but added a career-high 79 running yards as Ohio State's rushing attack accounted for all three touchdowns. Following Tennessee Hooker's loss to Georgia, sports commentators now replace Stroud as the Heisman favorite.

Week 10 Result: Win over Northwestern, 21-7

Week 10 Stats: 10-for-26, 76 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT | 6 rushes, 79 yards

USC. QB Caleb Williams

Caleb Williams and the Trojans beat the Golden Bears on Saturday to follow up their week 9 victory. The explosive quarterback threw 360 yards and four touchdowns in the clinching 41-35 triumph. Williams has contributed to at least 398 yards and at least five total touchdowns in USC's last three games. In addition, he's completed 204 of 316 passes for 2,742 yards and 287 rushing yards this season. With 28 touchdowns and one interception, he ties for third place in the nation.

Week 10 Result: Win over California, 41-35

Week 10 Stats: 26-for-41, 360 yards, 4 TD | 7 rushes, 38 yards, 1 TD

Michigan RB Blake Corum

This season, Corum's 1,187 yards and 16 touchdowns have placed Michigan back in the race for the College Football Playoffs. Saturday night, the RB contributed significantly to Michigan's 52-17 win against the Scarlett Knights by carrying the ball 20 times for 109 yards and two touchdowns. The explosive running back has topped the 100-yard mark in six consecutive games for the undefeated Michigan Wolverines, who are currently 9-0.  However, if Corum wants a strong chance of winning the Heisman Trophy, he must have a spectacular game against the Buckeyes to help the Wolverines reach the Big Ten championship game and move closer to a CFP spot.

Week 10 Result: Win over Rutgers, 52-17

Week 10 Stats: 20 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD

North Carolina QB Drake Maye

Also notable from week 10 is No. 15 North Carolina's 31-28 victory, which was led by another outstanding performance by quarterback Drake Maye, who ran for 74 yards and completed 26 of 37 throws for three touchdowns and 288 yards. With his other 31 touchdowns this season, Maye leads the nation in touchdowns. In addition, the rookie quarterback's 2,964 yards rank him fourth in the country.

Week 10 Result: Win over Virginia, 31-28

Week 10 Stats: 26-for-37, 293 yards, 2 TD | 16 rushes, 74 yards, 1 TD 

Oregon QB Bo Nix

Oregon defeated Colorado 49-10, with quarterback Bo Nix completing 20 of 24 throws for 274 yards and two touchdowns. Nix has accounted for the Ducks' last four touchdowns in six of Oregon's nine games this season. Following their latest win, the quarterback has amassed 2,495 passing yards and 22 touchdowns in addition to 457 rushing yards and 13 scores, extending the Ducks' winning streak to eight games in a row. Nix, the three-time PAC-12 offensive player of the week, tops all FBS players in throwing percentage and total touchdowns this season.

Week 10 Result: Win over Colorado, 49-10

Week 10 Stats: 20-for-24, 274 yards, 2 TD | 9 rushes, 16 yards, 2 TD | 1 catch, 18 yards, 1 TD

WEEK 10 AP TOP 25 Rankings

1 Georgia

2 Ohio State

3 Michigan

4 TCU

5 Tennessee

6 Oregon

7 LSU

8 USC

9 UCLA

10 Alabama

11 Ole Miss

12 Clemson

13 Utah

14 Penn State

15 North Carolina

16 Tulane

17 N.C. State

18 Texas

19 Liberty

20 Notre Dame

21 Illinois

22 UCF

23 Kansas State

24 Washington

25 Florida State

And then there were two, but after this week, there will be just one.

The most significant development of the past weekend was TCU's victory against Oklahoma State in overtime by scoring 43-40 to go to the Big 12 Championship Game as the favorite. 

The Horned Frogs are one of two surviving Big 12 teams with an undefeated conference record and the only remaining Big 12 with an unblemished season record.

The Longhorns joined Kansas, Kansas State, and Baylor in close-quarters warfare with Iowa State, resulting in a 24-21 win for the Longhorns. 

Quinn Ewers and Xavier Worthy connected on a fourth-and-goal from the three-yard line to complete the game-winning drive for Texas, which covered 75 yards and scored the game-winning touchdown.

A lot of teams have struggled to move the ball against the Cyclones, but it is of more concern that a struggling Iowa State offense gained over 400 yards against Texas.

The Wildcats gained a position despite having a bye week, but Kansas continued to fall. 

Kansas has not been overpowering in Big 12 action, winning Oklahoma, and Iowa State by a combined total of eight points and pulling away from Texas Tech in a fourth-quarter tie.

The Crimson Tide lost against a stronger team for the first time after coming close in previous games (at Texas and home against Texas A&M). 

For the first time since 2006 and under Nick Saban's direction, that team was Tennessee, who ripped apart the Tide secondary with alarming ease as Bama racked up a Saban-record 17 penalties.

It is easy to assume that last weekend's action-packed games have made fans even more excited for week 8.

Eight teams in the polls, including four in the top 10, were defeated over the weekend's historic slate of games, causing a significant shakeup in the rankings this week.

Here's a look at the AP's Week 8 top 25 rankings.

1.  Georgia (31 1st-place votes)

2.  Ohio State (17)

3.  Tennessee (15)

4.  Michigan

5.  Clemson

6.  Alabama

7.  Ole Miss

8.  TCU

9.   UCLA

10.  Oregon

11.  Oklahoma State

12.  USC

13.  Wake Forest

14.  Syracuse

15.  Utah

16.  Penn State

17.  Kansas State

18.  Illinois

19.  Kentucky

20.  Texas

 

One of the oldest college football rivalries in Texas, the 96th Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B again promises to be one of the top FCS games of the 2022 season. In their final season together in the Western Athletic Conference, the Sam Houston Bearkats and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks are back at NRG Stadium for possibly their last thrilling matchup. Following the 2022 season, Sam Houston will transition to Conference USA after spending 34 years in the Southland Conference with SFA and the last two seasons in the WAC. 

 

Led by Head Coach K.C. Keeler, the 2022 Bearkats are replacing 16 starters from an 11-1 team that reached the FCS quarterfinals a year ago. One of those new additions to the roster is QB Jordan Yates, a grad transfer from Georgia Tech, who started the season and currently leads the team with 195 yards on the ground and one rushing touchdown. 

 

Sam Houston is coming off its first win of the season after an opening day loss to Texas A&M in College Station. Against Texas A&M Commerce, the Bearkats won 27-17 with Yates scoring on a six-yard touchdown run before junior Keegan Shoemaker came off the bench to lead three scoring drives. RB Zach Hrbacek, a redshirt freshman from Troy, rushed for 131 yards on 19 carries (6.9 yards ave.) and a fourth-quarter touchdown to give the Kats a 24-10 lead, earning the WAC’s Offensive Player of the Week.

 

In contrast, SFA has a number of returning starters for this year’s matchup, including QB Trae Self, WR/Kick returner Xavier Gipson and WR Lawton Rikel. Both Gipson and Self have been named to the initial 2022 Walter Payton Award watch list, presented by Stats Perform to the national offensive player of the year in college football’s Division I subdivision. 

 

Colby Carthel, in his fourth season as head coach, is coming off a record-setting home opener and his first shutout at SFA. Last week, the Lumberjacks not only scored the most points in a WAC game in history in their 98-0 victory over Warner University, they also moved up to No. 14 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. Self was 12-for-14 for 266 yards and four touchdowns, while Gipson finished with six receptions for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Lumberjacks defense added a pair of touchdowns on fumble recoveries by senior defensive linemen Marje Smith and DE BJ Thompson. 

 

Last year’s BOTPW culminated in a dramatic comeback when Sam Houston overcame a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit to finish with a 21-20 victory over SFA. The Bearkats hold a 58-35-2 edge in the all-time series entering the 2022 matchup.

The 2022 Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B will kick off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 1, from NRG Stadium in Houston. The game will be televised on Bally Sports Southwest with radio broadcast of the game on SportsRadio 610 KILT-AM.

 

HOUSTON - As college football fans gear up for another action-packed weekend, let's review the stunning turn of events of week two and current rankings.

Without their primary quarterback, who left with a sprained collarbone late in the first quarter, the Longhorns could not come out on top against number one Alabama, succumbing 20-19.

Following their tight victory, the Crimson Tide slipped from the top in the AP Top 25, with Georgia capturing the position following a dominant performance against an FCS opponent Samford.

After losing to Appalachian State 17-14 on Saturday, things don't look good for Texas A&M.

The Aggies could not score four or less in six of their eight possessions. In terms of productivity, just one of these possessions resulted in a touchdown. The longest of these drives gained only 29 yards, and one ended up in the end zone.

Another top-10 team, No. 9 Baylor, loses in double overtime to No. 21 BYU 26-20 in a nail-biter.

During the second overtime drive, BYU held on to a goal-to-go scenario as quarterback Blake Shapin fired a fourth-down ball out of the back of the end zone to clinch the victory.

Texas Tech upset No. 25 Houston 33-30 in overtime in another Texas clash.

It was the last matchup between the longtime Southwest Conference rivals before the Cougars moved from the American Athletic to the Big 12 the following year.

As expected, this weekend is filled with exciting matches.

Baylor will face Texas State at 11:00 a.m., kicking off the day's games at McLane Stadium. The UH will then host Kansas at 3:00 p.m. Then, Texas Tech will travel to Carter-Finley Stadium at 6:00 p.m. to play NC State.

The Texas A&M matchup with Miami at Kyle Field is wrapping up the evening at 8:00 p.m.

 

College football rankings for Week 3 AP Poll

1 Georgia 2-0

2 Alabama 2-0

3 Ohio State 2-0

4 Michigan 2-0

5 Clemson 2-0

6 Oklahoma 2-0

7 USC 2-0

8 Oklahoma State 2-0

9 Kentucky 2-0

10 Arkansas 2-0

11 Michigan State 2-0

12 BYU 2-0

13 Miami 2-0

14 Utah 1-1

15 Tennessee 2-0

16 NC State 2-0

17 Baylor 1-1

18 Florida 1-1

19 Wake Forest 2-0

20 Ole Miss 2-0

21 Texas 1-1

22 Penn State 2-0

23 Pittsburgh 1-1

24 Texas A&M 1-1

25 Oregon 1-1

HOUSTON – This week marks the official start of college football, and football fans throughout the nation are ecstatic.

Fans in the Lone Star State are gearing up for two exciting matchups. Sam Houston will play Texas A&M on the road at Kyle Field on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. central on the SEC Network.in the first game. Then at 2:30 p.m., the University of Houston will take on the University of Texas at San Antonio in the Alamodome. 

All teams have fascinating storylines, such as returning quarterbacks attempting to reclaim their thrones, powerful offensive weapons, and high expectations for a successful season opener; thus, fans can anticipate a spectacular Saturday filled with college football.

No. 7 Texas A & M vs. SHSU

The Aggies and their 12th man will host the Bearkats, one of the most formidable FCS teams winning the FCS Championship during the 2020 season, on the first Saturday of college football action.

Sam Houston State finished the 2021 season with an 11-1 record; their only loss came in the quarterfinals of the playoffs against Montana State. The rising Bearkats, coached by Sam Houston State's longtime head coach K.C. Keeler, are aiming for a rise to FBS while joining Conference USA in 2023.

However, with the return of redshirt sophomore quarterback Haynes King, the Aggies' 2022 season is one of the most intriguing of the year. King hopes to retake his reign after suffering a devastating injury in the 2021 season opener against Kent State, where he threw for 292 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.

The Aggie's Wrecking Crew have their job cut out as they try to stop the explosive Yates, despite having one of the most profound and talented defensive line rotations in the nation, anchored by junior tackle McKinnley Jackson and sophomore EDGE Fadil Diggs.

Yates, the Bearkats' starting QB, is expected to make a splash on Saturday. Sports Reference reports that the Georgia Tech transfer completed 91 of 153 throws for 908 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions in seven games last season, making him a threat to rush and pick up yards at any moment like the Aggies' Haynes King.

Furthermore, the rising Bearkats have had a busy offseason. Adding nine FBS players via the transfer portal this season, including former 5-Star safety B.J. Foster and 2018 recruiting class wide receiver Al'vonte Woodard, both from the University of Texas.

To stop Bearkats’ QB Yates, Aggies’ head coach Jimbo Fisher and defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin must apply relentless pressure, squeeze the pocket, and rotate as many players as possible from their deep 2022 recruiting class.

The Aggies hope to get off to a solid start for the season thanks to the return of the King and the play of their talented defensive line, led by Walter Nolan, Shemar Stewart, and Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy.

An intriguing fact is that the Aggies have never lost to the Bearkats in their history, holding a perfect 12-0 record against them. The two teams last played in 2013, with the Aggies winning 65-28 behind an offensive explosion spearheaded by Johnny Manziel. 

No. 24 UH vs. UTSA

Houston’s head coach, Dana Holgorsen, hopes to repeat last year's tremendous success as the team prepares to join the Big 12 and enters this game with high expectations.

Last season, the Cougars won 12 games and came within one conference championship game. 

The Cougars' primary ambition this season is to win the conference crown, and their roster depth has sports commentators favoring them over the Roadrunners. 

In addition, the Roadrunners face one of the station's most explosive receivers and a potent passing game, which presents a formidable obstacle due to the disparity in their returning productivity.

Compared to their 13th-ranked returning offense, UTSA's 69th-ranked returning defense leaves a lot to be desired, and it's not apparent who will be defending against UH wide receiver Nathaniel “Tank” Dell and the other key matchups.

With 3,546 passing yards and 1,329 receiving yards between them in 2021, Houston senior QB Clayton Tune and junior WR Dell are one of two quarterback-wide receiver duos returning for the next season, hoping to build on the momentum of the previous season.

“Last year gave us a lot of confidence in what we can do and how we can play and win as a team, and I think that energy’s even higher this year,” Tune said. “We’re just scratching the surface.” 

He continued, “The one goal me and everybody on this team should have is to win a conference championship – get back there and win.” 

A recent recipient of the Herbie Award for Most Exciting Player, WR Dell accounted for about one-third of UH's catches while being a threat downfield with an average of 14.3 yards per reception and a target depth of 12 yards.

Despite this, No. 24 Houston is not entirely out of the woods.

In conjunction with the Cougars' struggle to produce on the road, the rising Roadrunners have lately performed well in the red zone.

In particular, they've scored 61% of the time in the red zone. Equally, UTSA's offensive front boasts four returning starters, and their defensive line should be active against the run, even if they cannot penetrate the backfield.

Last season, UTSA also finished 12-2 after a perfect 11-0 start, helping the team ascend to No. 22 in the rankings. However, after beating the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Conference USA title game, the Roadrunners lost the Frisco Bowl and ultimately fell to No. 24 San Diego State.

The Roadrunners are led by record-setting quarterback Frank Harris, who established UTSA single-season records for passing yards (3,177), completions (398), touchdowns (27), attempts (263), completion percentage (.661), passing efficiency (152.5), total offense (3,741), and touchdowns responsible (33), as well as the team's leading tackler over the past two seasons, Rashad Wisdom. Both have been selected as their respective conferences' preseason offensive and defensive players.

Sports commentators and analysts are predicting that the final score will be higher than the point spread, making this one of the most exciting games of the weekend.