Coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado road warriors did it again, this time at Texas Tech in another hostile environment on national television.

They beat the Red Raiders, 41-27, boosting their quest to crash the Big 12 Conference championship game and earn a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

It was their fourth straight win on the road and came with more big performances from Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders and the Colorado defense.

Hunter, the cornerback-receiver, enhanced his Heisman Trophy campaign with nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.

Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback and son of Deion, completed 30 of 43 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

In the meantime, the Colorado defense came up with seven sacks, an interception and two fumble recoveries. The Buffaloes also mostly shut down the Red Raiders after falling into a 13-0 first-quarter deficit in front of an announced crowd of 60,229 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.

The Buffaloes (7-2) entered the game ranked 20th in the playoff rankings and tied for second place in the Big 12 with Iowa State. But after Iowa State lost Saturday at Kansas, 45-36, the Buffaloes now control their own destiny in the Big 12.

They have three regular-season games remaining, starting next week, when they host Utah in a Big Noon game on Fox.

It’s quite a contrast from two years ago, when the Buffs finished 1-11, prompting the hiring of Sanders in December 2022. Sanders’ record in two seasons at CU is now 11-10.

Tech got 137 yards rushing on 31 carries from running back Tahj Brooks but fell to 6-4 on the season. 

The Colorado defense sealed it at the end when the Buffaloes swatted the ball loose from Tech quarterback Behren Morton in his own end zone, leading to a 6-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Colorado safety Shilo Sanders with 51 second left.

Here are the highlights of the game:

Colorado vs. Texas Tech highlights

Texas Tech makes it a one-score game

Uh-oh Colorado. The Buffaloes let Texas Tech cut the lead to 34-27 with 2:12 left but recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt by the Red Raiders. Colorado now just needs to run out the clock after getting the ball at midfield.

Tech made it close on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Jalin Conyers, who raced down the left sideline and pulled the ball down for the score. It was quarterback Behren Morton’s second touchdown pass of the day.

Tahj Brooks breaks Texas Tech rushing record

Texas Tech senior running back Tahj Brooks just set a school career record for rushing yards when he made a 25-yard gain in the fourth quarter against Colorado. He broke the previous school record of 4,219 set by Byron Hanspard in the 1990s. The run gave Brooks 124 yards for the game but Tech still trailed Colorado 34-20 in the middle of the fourth quarter.

Buffs extend lead in fourth quarter

Colorado now controls its own destiny in its quest for the Big 12 championship and is up 34-20 with 9:46 left in the fourth quarter at Texas Tech. The Buffaloes extended their lead with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Alejandro Mata after getting an interception to set up the 24-yard scoring drive from linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green, a transfer from Charlotte.

Colorado has scored on six of its last seven possessions. If the Buffs can hold on, they will be alone in second place in the Big 12 standings behind BYU after Iowa State lost Saturday at Kansas.

Chippy, emotional game winding down

Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire took the microphone early in the fourth quarter to address the home crowd in Lubbock.

“Stop throwing stuff on the field!” McGuire said.

Debris had been coming down from the crowd, and it wasn’t just the traditional tortilla tosses. Much of the trash thrown from the crowd has ended up on the Colorado sideline.

Colorado held a 31-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Big opportunity for Colorado after Iowa State loss

Kansas beat Iowa State Saturday, 45-36, creating a big opportunity for Colorado. The Buffaloes entered their game at Texas Tech Saturday tied with Iowa State for second place in the Big 12 with a 4-1 record in league play.

Now that Iowa State has lost another Big 12 game, the Buffs control their own destiny in their quest to get into the Big 12 championship game Dec. 7. A win against Tech would put the Buffs no worse than alone in second place with three regular-season games remaining after this.

BYU started the day atop the Big 12 standings with a 5-0 league record.

Colorado had a 31-20 lead at Tech at the end of the third quarter.

End of third quarter: Colorado 31, Texas Tech 20

A fake punt attempt by Texas Tech backfired in a big way for the Red Raiders. Facing fourth down and 5 at their own 31-yard line, the Red Raiders attempted a pass out of a punt formation and threw the ball incomplete.

As a result, Colorado took over at the Tech 31 yard-line and needed just four plays to score a touchdown and take a 31-20 lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter.

The touchdown came from two-way star Travis Hunter, who caught a second-down pass from Shedeur Sanders and raced down the left sideline for the 24-yard score.

Hunter has six catches for 95 yards. Colorado has scored on five straight possessions.

Colorado retakes the lead

Colorado is rolling on offense now and just took a 24-20 lead after getting a 5-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders to receiver Will Sheppard.

Sanders lofted the ball in the right corner of the end zone, where Sheppard, a transfer from Vanderbilt, reeled it in to cap a 73-yard scoring drive with 4:25 left in the third quarter.

The Buffaloes have scored on their last four possessions after punting on their first four.

Sanders has completed 21 of 30 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns.

Texas Tech retakes the lead

Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks took a fourth-down pitch and scored from 2 yards out to help the Red Raiders retake the lead, 20-17, with 7:52 left in the third quarter against Colorado.

Both teams have scored touchdowns to open the second half.

Brooks now has 21 carries for 45 yards as he seeks to break the school record for all-time rushing yardage.

Tech went nine plays for 66 yards on that drive to score its first points since the first quarter.

Colorado takes the lead

Colorado took its first lead of the game on its first possession of the second half after quarterback Shedeur Sanders scored a touchdown on a 7-yard rush up the middle. The Buffs lead 17-13 with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

Sanders has completed 16 of 25 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown, to go along with his rushing touchdown.

Colorado’s defense has held Texas Tech scoreless on its last four drives and has held top running back Tahj Brooks to just 35 yards on 17 carries.

Colorado has now scored 17 unanswered points after Tech opened the game with 13 unanswered points.

Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn injured

Fox Sports reported that Colorado receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is questionable to return to play after suffering a lower body injury. It’s not clear what happened. But Horn is one of Colorado’s top receivers, ranking third on the team in catches before Saturday with 33. He did not record a catch Saturday vs. Texas Tech.

Halftime score: Texas Tech 13, Colorado 10

Colorado shook off some early rust to build some momentum and cut Texas Tech’s lead to 13-10 at halftime. The Buffaloes punted on their first four possessions of the game and fell into a 13-0 hole but scored on their final two possessions of the second quarter, capped by a 25-yard field goal with 30 seconds left in the half.

Tech had a chance to answer after that but missed on a 53-yard field goal.

After two quarters of play, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter has three catches for 51 yards on offense. On defense, he had an interception nullified by an offsides penalty in the second quarter.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders drove the Buffaloes to the Tech 8-yard line on their final drive of the first half but was hurried and threw an incomplete pass on third down, leading to the 25-yard field goal by Alejandro Mata.

The Buffs get the ball first after halftime.

Colorado cuts lead to 13-7

The Buffaloes finally scored on their fifth possession of the game, getting a 23-yard touchdown pass from Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester. Sanders found Wester for a short pass before Wester streaked down the left sideline to help cut Texas Tech’s lead to 13-7 with 7:33 left before halftime.

The Buffaloes had punted on their first four possessions but now have some momentum.

Shedeur Sanders is 8-of-13 passing for 89 yards.

End of first quarter: Texas Tech 13, Colorado 0

Tech has scored on three straight possessions to start the game while Colorado has punted on three possessions to start the game. After one quarter of play, the Red Raiders lead 13-0.

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has completed just 3 of 7 passes for 27 yards.

“We just gotta calm down,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders told Fox television after the first quarter.

If this keeps up, it could be a huge opportunity lost for Colorado. Iowa State is losing against Kansas. If the Cyclones lose, the Buffaloes would control their own destiny in their quest to get into the Big 12 championship game. They entered the game tied with Iowa State for second place in the Big 12 with 4-1 records in league play.

Texas Tech is now up 13-0

The Red Raiders have scored on each of their first three drives of the game and are now up 13-0 in the first quarter after another field goal from Gino Garcia, this time from 39 yards.

By contrast, Colorado has started off sluggishly and has punted on its first two possessions of the game after taking last weekend off.

Tech quarterback Behren Morton is 6-for-9 passing for 115 yards and one touchdown to start the game.

Tech takes 10-0 lead

Texas Tech kicker Gino Garcia split the uprights with a 53-yard field goal, giving the Red Raiders a 10-0 lead with 7:04 left in the first quarter. Tech has scored on its first two drives of the game, while Colorado has had the ball only once and punted.

Tech quarterback Behren Morton has completed four of six passes for 86 yards and a touchdown so far.

Travis Hunter tucks away a tortilla

Colorado coach Deion Sanders had some questions earlier this week about Texas Tech’s tradition of throwing tortillas at games. In the first quarter, Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter found one on the field, picked it up and appeared to tuck it in his pants.Tech leads 7-0 in the first quarter.

Texas Tech leads 7-0

Texas Tech is fired up and has scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead with 13:50 left in the first quarter. The Red Raiders went 54 yards in four plays to score, capping the drive with a 17-yard touchdown catch from receiver Jalin Conyers. J’Koby Williams started things off with a 46-yard kickoff return to near midfield.

Colorado got the ball after that but punted after going only eight yards in six plays.

When is the Colorado-Texas Tech game?

Kickoff is at 4 p.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 9 from Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas.

How to watch Colorado-Texas Tech game

The game will be broadcast on Fox and also is available on Fubo.

Watch Colorado vs. Texas Tech on Fubo

Can Travis Hunter win the Heisman Trophy?

Another big game today by him on offense, defense or both would further propel his candidacy for the award. He currently is the odds-on favorite to win it, according to BetMGM, ahead of Miami quarterback Cam Ward.

Hunter missed the second halves of two games this season with a shoulder injury but an off week last week helped him heal. His attendance on two national pregame shows last week on Fox and ESPN also boosted his profile.

Colorado coach Deion Sanders said he even would vote for Hunter to the win the trophy over Sanders’ quarterback son Shedeur, who also is a Heisman candidate.

“Travis gets my vote,” Sanders said on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show Saturday in Lubbock.

Shilo Sanders court hearing

Colorado safety Shilo Sanders, son of coach Deion Sanders, had an important hearing in his bankruptcy case Thursday in Denver. He was not required to attend and did not as he prepared for Saturday’s game at Tech. His attorneys made arguments on his behalf as he tries get out of more than $11 million in debt related to an incident in 2015.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

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Tennessee starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not return for the Volunteers to start the second half of their Week 11 SEC game against Mississippi State Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.

Iamaleava was on the receiving end of a big hit delivered by Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith at the end of a 7-yard run late in the first half. ESPN reported on its broadcast that is when Iamaleava suffered the injury. Iamaleava returned briefly for Tennessee’s next drive to close the second quarter but did not reappear after halftime.

It wasn’t the only pressure Mississippi State applied to Iamaleava, despite Tennessee’s success against the Bulldogs’ defense before halftime.

Iamaleava was ruled out for the remainder of the game with an upper body injury. Backup quarterback Gaston Moore started the second half for the Vols, who had built a 20-7 lead to begin the third quarter. Iamaleava was 8-of-13 passing for 174 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. 

Tennessee was ranked No. 7 in the first College Football Playoff rankings and remains in contention to play in the SEC championship game. The Volunteers will face Georgia next week after the Bulldogs lost to Ole Miss Saturday. Iamaleava’s status for that game suddenly looms large.

A pseudo-College Football Playoff elimination game headlines the Week 11 college football schedule, as No. 11 Alabama travels to Death Valley to take on No. 13 LSU.

With both teams coming off bye weeks, the Crimson Tide (6-2 overall, 3-2 in SEC) will take on the Tigers (6-2, 3-1 in SEC) at 7:30 p.m. ET in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in front of an expected sold-out crowd at Tigers Stadium.

The stakes are high for both teams in Saturday’s SEC top-15 showdown, as they both enter the contest with two losses on their season. The quarterback play and matchup will be one to watch, as LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe have combined for nine interceptions in their last three games.

The Crimson Tide came in at No. 11 in this Tuesday’s first set CFP rankings, while the Tigers came in at No. 15 — three spots out from making the 12-team field. A win Saturday for LSU would likely enter the Tigers into the CFP bracket and remove the Crimson Tide from it.

With that, here are live updates, scores and highlights from Saturday’s SEC showdown between Alabama and LSU:

Watch Alabama vs. LSU football live with Fubo (free trial)

Alabama vs LSU score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Alabama vs LSU live updates

(This section was updated with new information)

Fourth quarter: Alabama 35, LSU 6

Jalen Milroe scores 72-yard touchdown

Jalen Milroe adds the dagger in this one and it came on a big play, as the Alabama quarterback breaks off down the right sideline for a 72-yard touchdown. Milroe’s score is his fourth of the night. Huge night from Milroe. 

Third quarter: Alabama 28, LSU 6

Alabama leads LSU after three quarters

The Crimson Tide is one-quarter away from picking up a signature and important win on its season, as Alabama leads LSU 28-6 heading into the fourth quarter. 

Alabama sacks Garrett Nussmeier to force fourth down

Alabama picks up another sack on Garrett Nussmeier, this time coming on a combo sack from Jihaad Campbell and DaShawn Jones. Tigers are forced to punt the ball, giving the Crimson Tide the ball back at its 15-yard line.

Jalen Milroe scores third touchdown of night

Jalen Milroe records the touchdown hat trick as he takes one into the house along the left sideline for a 19-yard score. Alabama now leads LSU 28-6 with 5:05 remaining in the third quarter.

LSU fans throw trash on field after penalty

Saturday’s Alabama-LSU game was delayed briefly after LSU fans threw trash onto the field. The throwing of debris came after a face mask penalty was called against the Tigers, after what looked to be a sack on Jalen Milroe. ABC broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit called the LSU fans throwing trash onto the field ‘clowns.’ 

Garrett Nussmeier throws interception in end zone

LSU’s best offensive drive of the night results in an interception, as Alabama’s Deontae Lawson picks off Garrett Nussmeier in the end zone on second-and-4. Alabama takes over at its own 20-yard line after the touchback. It is the first career interception for Lawson.

LSU driving

LSU opts to go for it on fourth-and-4, and Nussmeier completes a 13-yard pass for a first down. Nussmeier then throws a 20-yard pass to Kyren Lacy on the next play to put the Tigers at Alabama’s 5-yard line.

LSU starts second half with ball

After deferring the opening kickoff to the second half, LSU will get the ball first in the third quarter as the Tigers face a 21-6 deficit to No. 11 Alabama.

First half: Alabama 21, LSU 6

Alabama leads LSU at halftime

Two quarters down, two quarters to go in Baton Rouge, as Alabama takes a 21-6 lead into halftime against No. 13 LSU. Crimson Tide dominated in all areas in the first half, as Kalen DeBoer’s squad finished with 236 total yards of offense compared to the Tigers’ 150 yards.

Jalen Milroe scores second TD of game

Alabama cashes in on LSU’s turnover, as Jalen Milroe keeps it himself and runs it up the middle for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. With the score, Jalen Milroe surpasses former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts for most rushing touchdowns in a single season. A great first half by Alabama.

Alabama comes up with fumble

Well, the Crimson Tide get the ball back quick as Jihaad Campbell knocks the ball out of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s hand. Alabama takes over at the LSU 32-yard line. 

LSU makes fourth down stop

Jam Miller is unable to pick up the yard he needs for a first down on fourth-and-1. Big stop by LSU’s defense down 14-6 with 3:36 remaining.

LSU settles for field goal

Another big stop by Alabama’s defense forces LSU to settle for the 43-yard field from Damian Ramos, which brings the score to 14-6 with 8:26 remaining in the first half. A holding penalty on LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell came to hurt the Tigers’ momentum on offense.

Alabama allows three big plays in a row

LSU regains possession after the Alabama punt and gains 54 yards in three plays, as Nussmeier hits Mason Taylor for a 26-yard gain before Zavion Thomas runs for 12 yards and Nussmeier throws to Josh Williams for 16 yards. Tigers with the ball on their own 48-yard line.

Alabama forced to punt after delay of game

The Crimson Tide get called for a delay of game before its field goal attempt. The penalty takes Alabama out of field goal range and forced to punt, which infuriated Kalen DeBoer on the sideline. Brutal penalty for Alabama as the rain continues to come down.

Alabama starts 5-for-5 on third downs

Facing a third-and-9 and a potential punt, Jalen Milroe finds Jam Miller in the middle of the field for an 11-yard catch-and-run to pick up the first down. The Crimson Tide is 5 for 5 on third downs to start the game.

LSU forced to punt

Tigers can’t find momentum on their second drive, as the Crimson Tide forces LSU to punt the ball to open the second quarter. Alabama gets the ball back at the LSU 48-yard line after a 28-yard return from Ryan Williams.

First quarter: Alabama 14, LSU 3

Alabama holds 11-point lead after Q1

Alabama takes a 14-3 lead into the second quarter after LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier completes a 7-yard pass to Mason Taylor on the final play of the first quarter. The Crimson Tide had possession for 11 minutes in the opening frame, compared to the Tigers’ 2:39 time of possession.

Justice Haynes runs in for TD

The Crimson Tide puts together back-to-back touchdown-scoring drives as Justice Haynes runs it into the end zone from the LSU 1-yard line. Haynes’ score puts Alabama up 14-3 over LSU and caps off a 15-play drive for 75 yards and 7:04 of the game clock.

LSU takes field goal on first drive

After great field position to open up its first drive of the night, LSU is forced to settle for a 23-yard field goal from kicker Damian Ramos. The big play of the drive came from running back Caden Burham, who broke off for 45 yards on the Tigers’ first play of the drive. Durham’s 45-yard carry was the longest run Alabama has given up this season.

Zavion Thomas returns kickoff for 50 yards

Great start for LSU on offense, as Zavion Thomas takes the kickoff at the tip of the end zone and returns it for for 50 yards. Tigers start at their own 50-yard line.

Alabama’s Jalen Milroe opens game with touchdown

Alabama strikes first as Jalen Milroe breaks free on a quarterback keeper for a 39-yard rushing touchdown. Real nice play by Milroe, who had to escape from the pocket and pressure from LSU’s defense. It was an eight-play drive for 75 yards that took 4:11 off the game clock.

Pregame

LSU wins toss, Alabama gets ball first 

The Tigers win the coin toss and defer to the second half. Alabama will take the field on offense first. We’re seconds away from kickoff in this SEC top-15 showdown.

Ryan Williams with LSU-colored nails

Alabama’s star freshman receiver is sporting LSU-colored nails for Saturday’s game, which includes yellow, purple and green.

Kalen DeBoer arrives at stadium 

Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer has walked onto the field for his pregame walk-around. DeBoer will look to lead Alabama to its second signature win of the season on Saturday against the 13th-ranked LSU Tigers.

CFP rankings for Week 11

Here’s a look at what the CFP top 25 looked like in Tuesday’s CFP rankings unveiling: 

Alabama and LSU are bolded

Oregon (9-0)
Ohio State (7-1)
Georgia (7-1)
Miami (9-0)
Texas (7-1)
Penn State (7-1)
Tennessee (7-1)
Indiana (9-0)
BYU (8-0) *
Notre Dame (7-1)
Alabama (6-2)
Boise State (7-1)
SMU (8-1)
Texas A&M (7-2)
LSU (6-2)
Ole Miss (7-2)
Iowa State (7-1)
Pitt (7-1)
Kansas State (7-2)
Colorado (6-2)
Washington State (7-1)
Louisville (6-3)
Clemson (6-2)
Missouri (6-2)
Army (8-0)

LSU defense ranks top in country in sacks 

The Tigers have recorded 26 sacks in their last six games, while having 28 total on the season. That’s third in the SEC and ranks 10th in the country. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe has been sacked 11 times in the Crimson Tide’s last five games.

Alabama football CFP rankings 

The Crimson Tide was ranked as the No. 11 team in the College Football Playoff top 25 rankings and the No. 11 seed in the 12-team CFP bracket in Tuesday’s rankings unveiling.

Entering Saturday’s game at LSU, Alabama has a 61.6% chance of making the CFP according to ESPN’s College Football Power Index. 

Alabama-LSU ‘College GameDay’ picks 

Here’s who the ESPN “College GameDay” crew and guest pickers Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne picked:

Desmond Howard: LSU
Pat McAfee: LSU
Paul Skenes and Livvy Dunne: LSU
Nick Saban: Alabama
Lee Corso: LSU
Kirk Herbstreit: Abstained, calling game for ABC

LSU football home win streak 

The Tigers bring an impressive 14-game win streak at Tiger Stadium that dates back to the 2022 season into Saturday’s critical SEC showdown against Alabama, per LSU’s game notes. LSU is also 13-0 under Brian Kelly in night games at Tiger Stadium.

Alabama vs LSU time today

Date: Saturday, Nov. 9
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Death Valley (Baton Rouge, La.)

What channel is Alabama vs LSU game on today?

TV channel: ABC
Streaming: ESPN app | ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)

Alabama vs. LSU will be broadcast nationally on ABC. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will call the game from the booth at Tigers Stadium, with Holly Rowe reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Alabama vs LSU history

Series record: Alabama leads 56-27-5
Alabama’s last win: 2023 (W, 42-28)
LSU’s last win: 2022 (32-31)

Alabama vs LSU predictions

Colin Gay, The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 31, LSU 28

‘Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes will hang in the balance at Tiger Stadium. And while Nussmeier will have his share of opportunities for big plays, his aggressiveness should come back to bite him against a ball-hawking Alabama defense. Paired with a quarterback in Jalen Milroe who is in desperate need of a get-right game like the one he had against LSU in 2023, the Crimson Tide’s CFP hopes should remain alive after Saturday night even if it’s by no means dominant.’

Cory Diaz, The Daily Advertiser: Alabama 17, LSU 13

‘This game will be much lower scoring than most people think. While LSU will be improved in defending a running QB, I think Milroe makes just enough plays in the second half to lift the Tide.’

Alabama vs LSU betting odds

Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Friday, Nov. 8:

Spread: Alabama -3
Over/under: 58.5
Moneyline: Alabama (-145) | LSU (+120)

Alabama vs LSU injury updates

Injury report reflective of Thursday’s SEC availability report:

Alabama

DB Keon Sabb — Out
WR Cole Adams — Out

LSU

S Jordan Allen — Out
LB Harold Perkins Jr. — Out
WR Kyle Parker — Out
RB John Emery Jr. — Out
RB Trey Holly — Out
OL Thomas Crawford — Out
DE Princeton Malbrue — Out
OL Kobe Roberts — Out
LB Jake Ibieta — Out
OL Tyree Adams — Out
OL Garrett Dellinger — Out
DT Jacobian Guillory — Out
WR CJ Daniels — Questionable
LB West Weeks — Questionable
DT Kimo Makane’ole — Probable

Alabama vs LSU weather update

The forecast for Saturday in Baton Rouge is Isolated Thunderstorms, with a high of 83 degrees, according to The Weather Channel. Rain shows are expected to happen in the evening, with scattered thunderstorms arriving overnight. The chance of rain at night in Baton Rouge is 60%.

Alabama football 2024 schedule

Here’s a look at Alabama’s schedule in 2024, including past results and scores:

Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Western Kentucky (W, 63-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. USF (W, 42-16)
Saturday, Sept. 14: at Wisconsin (W, 42-10)
Saturday, Sept. 21: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. No. 2 Georgia * (W, 41-34)
Saturday, Oct. 5: at Vanderbilt * (L, 40-35)
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. South Carolina * (W, 27-25)
Saturday, Oct. 19: at No. 7 Tennessee * (L, 24-17)
Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. No. 23 Missouri * (W, 34-0)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: at No. 13 LSU *
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Mercer
Saturday, Nov. 23: at Oklahoma *
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Auburn *
Record: 6-2 overall, 3-2 in SEC play

* Denotes SEC game

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LSU football 2024 schedule

Here’s a look at LSU’s schedule in 2024, including past results and scores:

Sunday, Sept. 1: vs. No. 23 USC (L, 27-20
Saturday, Sept. 7: vs. Nicholls (W, 44-21)
Saturday, Sept. 14: at South Carolina* (W, 36-33)
Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. UCLA (W, 34-17)
Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. South Alabama (W, 42-10)
Saturday, Oct. 5: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. No. 9 Ole Miss* (W, 29-26, OT)
Saturday, Oct. 19: at Arkansas* (W, 34-10)
Saturday, Oct. 26: at No. 14 Texas A&M* (L, 38-23)
Saturday, Nov. 2: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. No. 11 Alabama*
Saturday, No. 16: at Florida*
Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Vanderbilt*
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Oklahoma*
Record: 6-2, 3-1 in SEC play

* Denotes SEC game

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No. 4 Miami was unable to recapture its late-game magic and lost 28-23 at Georgia Tech, muddying the race for the College Football Playoff and ACC championship with three weeks left in the regular season.

After escaping upset efforts by California, Virginia Tech, Louisville and Duke, the Hurricanes scored with six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to draw within five points but were unable to take the lead in its final possession that started with under two minutes left.

With the Hurricanes at their own 19-yard line and facing second down after an incompletion, quarterback Cam Ward looked downfield against a three-man rush that eventually collapsed the pocket and sacked the senior, forcing a fumble recovered by the Yellow Jackets.

Georgia Tech has won two in a row in the series. Last year, Miami could’ve taken a knee with under a minute remaining to secure a 20-17 but ran the ball and fumbled. The Jackets scored on a 44-yard touchdown pass with two seconds left.

This is the Jackets’ second top-10 win on the year, joining a victory against then-No. 10 Florida State in the season opener. They piled up 271 rushing yards to keep control of the ball and leave Miami’s potent offense on the sideline.

Ward had 348 yards and three touchdowns, giving him multiple scores in every game but one since transferring from Washington State. For Tech, Haynes King returned after missing nearly a month and had 125 yards of total offense, including 93 rushing yards on 20 carries, and two scores. Haynes shared snaps with freshman Aaron Philo, who had 67 passing yards and a touchdown.

No lead had felt safe against Miami all season, thanks in large part to Ward’s heroics. He entered Saturday with seven touchdowns and just one interception in the fourth quarter this season for a 203.4 quarterback efficiency rating.

The loss prevents the Hurricanes’ first 10-0 start since 2017. In the ACC, Miami owns that head-to-head tiebreaker with Louisville and a comparative edge against No. 23 Clemson thanks to the Tigers’ loss to the Cardinals, so the defeat still keeps the Hurricanes on track for the ACC championship game. The only team still unbeaten in conference play is No. 13 SMU.

But losing to the Yellow Jackets raises the possibility that a loss in December to the Mustangs, for example, would knock Miami out of the at-large playoff mix in favor of a contender from the Big Ten or SEC. The Hurricanes have four wins against opponents currently with a winning record but none against teams in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll. Louisville was No. 22 in this week’s debut playoff rankings.

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Alex Ovechkin’s 2024-25 season is full of milestones.

He’s playing in his 20th season in the NHL and the Washington Capitals are celebrating their 50th anniversary.

And if things continue to go well this season, Ovechkin can reach a milestone once thought unreachable.

Ovechkin, 39, entered this season needing 42 goals to break Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894 career goals, which has stood since 1999. The Capitals star, who had 42 goals two seasons ago, has scored 10 times this season, including eight in his last eight games.

“It’s not a question of if he’s going to break the record,’ Gretzky, now a TV analyst on TNT, said during a recent broadcast. ‘It’s a question of when is he going to break the record, which is great for the game. It’s positive and he’s been a classy player for our sport for so many years.’

If Ovechkin falls short this season — he scored 31 goals last season — he has one more season left on his contract.

Here’s where Ovechkin stands in his chase of Gretzky’s goal record:

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have?

Ovechkin has 863 career goals.

How close is Alex Ovechkin to Wayne Gretzky’s goal record?

Ovechkin needs 32 goals to break Gretzky’s record.

How many goals does Alex Ovechkin have this season?

Ovechkin has 10 goals and eight assists in 14 games. He didn’t hit 10 goals until his 45th game last season. He’s on pace for 58 goals this season.

What did Alex Ovechkin do in his last game?

One day after his five-game goal streak ended, Ovechkin scored twice on five shots in Saturday’s 8-1 win against the St. Louis Blues. Both goals were scored from the left faceoff circle. The first was the eventual game-winner. On the second goal, the Capitals got the puck back to him after his shot was stopped by goalie Jordan Binnington.

When is Alex Ovechkin’s next game?

Ovechkin plays Wednesday, Nov. 13, at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has 44 goals in 59 career games against the Maple Leafs.

Alex Ovechkin career goal breakdown

Even strength: 544, third overall

Power play: 314, a record

Short-handed: 5

Game winners: 131, second overall

Empty net: 58, a record

How did Alex Ovechkin fare last season?

He had an uncharacteristically slow start, including a 14-game goal drought. But he started picking up after the All-Star Game, scoring in six of seven games with another stretch of eight goals in five games and finished with 31. By picking up his 18th 30-goal season, he broke the record he shared with Hall of Famer Mike Gartner. Ovechkin broke Gretzky’s record for empty-net goals and moved into second place all-time with 19 consecutive 20-goal seasons. He also improved to 129 game-winning goals, leaving him six behind record-holder Jaromir Jagr.

Who are the NHL’s top all-time goal scorers?

The top 20 NHL all-time goal scorers have all topped 600 goals and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby can join them this season. All of the players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, except Ovechkin, Crosby and Jagr, who is still playing in Czechia.

1. Wayne Gretzky,  894 goals in 1,487 games

2. Alex Ovechkin, 863 goals in 1,440 games

3. Gordie Howe, 801 goals in 1,767 games

4. Jaromir Jagr, 766 goals in 1,733 games

5. Brett Hull, 741 goals in 1,269 games

6. Marcel Dionne, 731 in 1,348 games

7. Phil Esposito, 717 goals in 1,282 games

8. Mike Gartner, 708 goals in 1,432 games

9. Mark Messier, 694 goals in 1,756 games

10. Steve Yzerman, 692 goals in 1,514 games

11. Mario Lemieux, 690 goals in 915 games

12. Teemu Selanne, 684 goals in 1,451 games

13. Luc Robitaille, 668 goals in 1,431 games

14. Brendan Shanahan, 656 goals in 1,524 games

15. Dave Andreychuk, 640 goals in 1,639 games

16. Jarome Iginla, 625 goals in 1,554 games

17. Joe Sakic, 625 goals in 1,378 games

18. Bobby Hull, 610 goals in 1,063 games

19. Dino Ciccarelli, 608 goals in 1,232 games

20. Jari Kurri, 601 goals in 1,251 games

21. Sidney Crosby, 598 goals in 1,288 games

Phoenix Suns All-star Kevin Durant will be re-evaluated in two weeks after suffering a left calf strain in Friday’s 114-113 win over the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center.

Durant was grabbing at his left calf during a timeout before checking into the game with 7:39 remaining. He scored a team-high 26 points in leading Phoenix (8-1) to a seventh straight win.

In Year 18, Durant is averaging 27.6 points on 55.3% shooting as he’s hitting 42.9% from three. Posting five 30-point games this season, Durant is also averaging 6.6 rebounds and 3.4 assists this season.

The Suns resume play Sunday against the Sacramento Kings (5-4) at Footprint Center before going on a four-game road trip starting Tuesday at the Utah Jazz (1-7). Based on the injury timetable, Durant will miss the road trip during which the Suns play Utah, Sacramento, Oklahoma City (8-1) and Minnesota (6-3).

Durant missed all five Team USA exhibition games going into the 2024 Paris Olympics with a right calf strain, but returned for the group phase and played in every game during the 6-0 run to gold. He scored 23 points in his return game against Serbia, hitting his first eight shots fueled by a 5-of-5 effort from three.

All things Suns: Latest Phoenix Suns news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

He has dealt with a right calf injury in the 2019 playoffs with the Golden State Warriors. He later suffered a right Achilles injury in the NBA Finals that sidelined him for the remainder of the 2019 postseason and the entire 2019-20 season with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Dallas Cowboys are getting one of their star defenders back for a big Week 10 matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Edge rusher Micah Parsons, who had missed the last four games with a high ankle sprain, is set to make his return to Dallas’ defensive front on Sunday, according to ESPN. It’s a welcome bit of good news for the Cowboys after Saturday reports indicated quarterback Dak Prescott would likely undergo season-ending surgery.

Parsons sustained the injury in the Cowboys’ Week 4 clash with the New York Giants on ‘Thursday Night Football,’ the same game in which Dallas lost fellow defender DeMarcus Lawrence to a mid-foot sprain.

In the weeks since losing two of their top pass-rushers, the Cowboys have dropped to 25th in the league in pass-rush win rate. Dallas is winning 36% of its pass-rush reps so far this season, according to ESPN Analytics.

Despite missing four games, Parsons is still the Cowboys’ leader in quarterback pressures with 21 and is tied for sixth on the team with one sack. He will make his return to Dallas’ defensive front on Sunday after limited participation in three practices this week.

All things Cowboys: Latest Dallas Cowboys news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.

Parsons will be tested immediately as he takes on an Eagles offensive line that has been one of the best pass-blocking units in the NFL.

Week 11 of the college football season was marked by a pivotal clash between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ole Miss Rebels, the game set to have a significant impact on the College Football Playoff rankings.

The Rebels had a solid first half, despite an early scare involving their starting quarterback, Jaxson Dart. After throwing an interception and suffering a brutal sack from Georgia Bulldogs defenders, Dart limped to the locker room with a left ankle injury. The interception allowed Georgia to score first and take an early lead. However, the Rebels quickly responded with backup quarterback Austin Simmons stepping in for Dart.

Simmons’ impressive performance led the team down the field, resulting in a touchdown that tied the game. Dart soon returned and helped maintain the momentum, allowing the Rebels to extend their lead as they headed into halftime.

Ole Miss began the second half with momentum, as Dart connected with Antwane Wells Jr., who then ran into the end zone for the first touchdown of the half. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and the offense struggled in the second half with three turnovers as Ole Miss secured a 28-10 victory.

The final result will shake up the College Football Playoff rankings, with the Bulldogs expected to slide down and the Rebels expected to move up.

Georgia vs. Ole Miss highlights

FINAL: Ole Miss 28, Georgia 10

Coach Lane Kiffin earns one of the biggest wins of his coaching career as the Rebels defeat the Bulldogs. The fans have stormed the field.

It was the first time Georgia lost to a team other than Alabama since November 2020.

The result will likely impact the latest College Football Playoff rankings when it’s released next week.

Georgia continues to give up the football

Carson Beck has turned the ball over again, this time just two plays into a fourth-quarter drive. Ole Miss’s Princely Umanmielen sacked the quarterback for a six-yard loss while forcing the fumble. Suntarine Perkins recovered the ball for Ole Miss.

The Rebels converted the turnover into points with a 32-yard field goal to lead Georgia 28-10 with 1:10 left in the game.

Ole Miss adds more points to lead

Kicker Caden Davis made a 24-yard field goal to seal a 10-play, 68-yard drive that took four minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter. The Rebels lead Georgia 25-10 with 3:22 left in the fourth quarter.

Carson Beck turns the ball over

Ole Miss safety John Saunders Jr. may have put the game out of reach. He intercepts Georiga quarterback Carson Beck’s pass on fourth-and-10 with 7:22 left in the fourth quarter.

Ole Miss leads Georgia 22-10 after three quarters

The Rebels have the lead after the first three quarters. Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN before the start of the fourth quarter that the Bulldogs would need three or four solid offensive drives and a turnover on defense to have a chance to win the game.

Georgia fumbles, Ole Miss recovers

Quarterback Carson Beck connects with Nate Frazier, but Rebels’ Zxavian Harris forces a fumble, and the ball is recovered by Walter Nolen. The Rebels will begin at the Mississippi 29-yard line.

Ole Miss responds with a touchdown

The Rebels started the second half strong, with quarterback Jaxson Dart connecting with Cayden Lee for a 26-yard gain. Following a trick play, Dart found Wells Jr., who ran 10 yards into the end zone for a touchdown. Ole Miss now leads Georgia 22-10 with 6:10 remaining in the third quarter.

Georgia comes out hot after halftime

The Georgia Bulldogs advanced down the field with a notable 29-yard pass from Carson Beck to Cash Jones, which helped them gain momentum. Despite this push, the Bulldogs were only able to settle for a field goal, narrowing the deficit against Ole Miss to 10-16 with 9:44 remaining in the third quarter.

Ole Miss leads into halftime

The Ole Miss Rebels dominates the first half against the Georgia Bulldogs and leads 16-7 heading into halftime.

Davis nails another field goal

The Rebels’ kicker Caden Davis successfully made a 53-yard field goal, extending Ole Miss’s lead against Georgia to 16-7 with 2:55 remaining in the second quarter.

Ole Miss adds three more

With 12:12 left in the second quarter, Ole Miss’s kicker Caden Davis successfully kicked a 43-yard field goal, extending the lead to 13-7 against Georgia.

Squirrel on the field

A furry creature wanted to join the game and ran past both the offense and defense, causing a pause in play. The squirrel decided it had enough and ran to the water station on the Georgia sideline to grab a drink.

Ole Miss force Georgia to punt

Georgia’s quarterback Carson Beck connected with London Humphreys, but Humphreys was unable to maintain possession of the ball, resulting in the Bulldogs being forced to punt. Brett Thorson then punted the ball for 48 yards, and Michah Davis of the Rebels returned it for two yards to Mississippi’s 23-yard line.

Rebels settle for a field goal

Starting quarterback Jaxson Dart returns to the game after limping to the locker room and picks up where backup quarterback Simmons left off, finding Priskorn for a 26-yard gain for the first down. Dart ultimately could not find the endzone and Ole Miss settled for three points. Ole Miss leads Georgia 10-7 with 3:01 left in the first quarter.

Georgia forced to punt

An illegal formation penalty was called after Trevor Etienne rushed for 11 yards to the Georgia 25-yard line, resulting in a no-play and a five-yard penalty added. The Bulldogs were unable to recover from this setback and were forced to punt on fourth down and 15 yards to go.

Ole Miss answers with a touchdown

Quarterback Austin Simmons comes out strong and connects with Ulysses Bentley IV, who runs nine yards straight into the end zone to even the score. Ole Miss 7, Georgia 7, with 6:53 left in the first quarter.

Austin Simmons enters as Rebels QB

Backup freshman quarterback Austin Simmons entered the game in place of Dart and quickly energized the offense. He connected with Wells Jr. for an 11-yard gain, securing the first down. Simmons then found Wright for another 11 yards, resulting in yet another first down. On a crucial 4th and 1 play, Simmons made a bold pass to Lee, gaining 12 yards and giving the Rebels another first down.

Georgia strikes first

The Bulldogs capitalized on the momentum, and Nate Frazier ran in for two yards to get on the board first. Georgia leads Ole Miss 7-0 with 10:32 left in the first quarter.

Dart limps to the locker room

According to ESPN, Jaxson Dart headed to the locker room after taking a hard sack from Chaz Chambliss and Christen Miller that seemed to injury his left ankle in the first few minutes of the game.

Dart throws interception

Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was sacked on second down and limped off the field after throwing an interception on third down. Dan Jackson returned the interception for 13 yards to the Mississippi 21.

When is Georgia vs. Ole Miss game?

The kickoff for Saturday’s game between No. 2 Georgia and No. 12 Ole Miss is 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local) from Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.

How to watch Georgia vs. Ole Miss game

The Week 11 game between No. 2 Georgia and No. 12 Ole Miss will be broadcast on ABC. The game can also be streamed on ESPN+.

Catch Georgia vs. Ole Miss and more college football with ESPN+

College football Week 11 schedule, Top 25

Here are the kickoff times and TV info for Top 25 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll. (All times are Eastern): 

Florida Gators at No. 5 Texas Longhorns, ABC, noon
No. 4 Miami Hurricanes at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, ESPN, noon
Purdue Boilermakers at No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes, FOX, noon
No 19 Army Black Knights at North Texas Mean Green, ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
No. 2 Georgia Bulldogs at No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels, ABC, 3:30 p.m.
No. 19 Iowa State Cyclones at Kansas Jayhawks, FS1, 3:30 p.m.
No. 17 Clemson Tigers at Virginia Tech Hokies, ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
Michigan Wolverines at No. 10 Indiana Hoosiers, CBS, 3:30 p.m.
No. 24 Colorado Buffaloes at Texas Tech Red Raiders, FOX, 4 p.m.
South Carolina Gamecocks at No. 25 Vanderbilt Commodores, SEC Network, 4:15 p.m.
Mississippi State Bulldogs at No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers, ESPN, 7 p.m.
Maryland Terrapins at No1 Oregon Ducks, Big Ten Network, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 13 LSU Tigers, ABC, 7:30 p.m.
Florida State Seminoles at No. 8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, NBC/Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
Oklahoma Sooners at No. 22 Missouri Tigers, SEC Network, 7:45 p.m.
Nevada Wolf Pack at No. 14 Boise State Broncos, FOX, 8 p.m.
Virginia Cavaliers at No. 23 Pittsburgh Panthers, ACC Network, 8 p.m.
Washington Huskies at No. 7 Penn State Nittany Lions, Peacock, 8 p.m.
No. 9 BYU Cougars at Utah Utes, ESPN, 10:15 p.m.
Utah State Aggies at No. 20 Washington State Cougars, CW, 10:30 p.m.

College football picks Week 11

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ expert picks for all of Saturday’s ranked Week 11 games. 

Ohio State vs. Penn State odds, line

The Georgia Bulldogs are the favorites to defeat the Ole Miss Rebels in Saturday’s college football matchup, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top college football betting apps in 2024 offering the top NCAA football betting promos and bonuses in 2024. 

Spread: Georgia (-3) 
Moneyline: Georgia (-135); Ole Miss (+115) 
Over/under: 54.5 

Where is College GameDay for Week 11? 

Georgia vs. Ole Miss all-time record 

The Georgia Bulldogs have played the Ole Miss Rebels 44 times since their first matchup in 1940. Georgia leads the all-time series with a 33-10 record; Ole Miss has a home record of 6-13 against Georgia.

In their most recent encounter in 2023, the Bulldogs won 52-17 in Athens, Georgia.

College Football Fix podcast 

As we look ahead to Week 11, we expect significant changes in next week’s College Football Playoff release, which will include two important SEC matchups. Georgia at Mississippi and Alabama at LSU. How will these games unfold, and which other matchups might influence the playoff standings?

Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg of USA TODAY Sports discuss these topics and more in this week’s version of the College Football Fix.

Week 11 college football games you can’t miss 

Jordan Mendoza takes a look at the games that truly matter this week.

‘The initial reveal of the College Football Playoff rankings may have caused some surprises or frustrations, and while fans have to remember there’s still plenty of football left to make one of the coveted spots, the first reveal set the path teams have to go down. As a result, the critical November games become even more important for some.’

US LBM Coaches Poll 

The US LBM Coaches Poll for Week 11 is out after some unexpected results last week, and the top five looks slightly different from the preseason version. Here is how the top-25 shapes out ahead of Saturday’s action. — Eddie Timanus 

College football bowl projections 

The final full month of the season is where business picks up for the contenders, and the pressure to win can lead to unexpected results. There’s sure to be more changes ahead. Here is a look at the College Football Bowl Projections ahead of Saturday’s Week 11’s action. — Erick Smith 

College football Re-Rank 1-134 

Ohio State replaces Georgia, Penn State drops, and Indiana, Brigham Young and SMU continue to move up in this week’s USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-134.— Paul Myerberg 

College football overreactions from Week 10

It’s easy to get emotional after a weekend of highs and lows. Here at Overreaction HQ we try to take a bird’s-eye view of the playoff landscape to determine who has a realistic path to cracking the final top 12. But if it’s your team that just took a disheartening loss, you’re pretty despondent right now. — Eddie Timanus 

College football 2024 season predictions 

The experts at USA TODAY Sports offer predictions for the season ahead, including which 12 teams will make the College Football Playoff. Who wins the national championship? 

Scooby Axson: Ohio State 
Jordan Mendoza: Oregon 
Paul Myerberg: Georgia 
Erick Smith: Georgia 
Eddie Timanus: Ohio State 
Dan Wolken: Ohio State 

How many teams in College Football Playoff 2024? 

In the 2024-25 season, 12 teams will qualify for the College Football Playoff. The top five conference champions will earn automatic bids. The remaining seven highest-ranked teams will complete the 12-team field.

How does College Football Playoff format work? 

The 12 participating teams in the College Football Playoff bracket will be the five conference champions ranked highest by the CFP selection committee, and the next seven highest-ranked teams.

The four highest-ranked conference champions will be seeded one through four and receive a first-round bye. The fifth conference champion will be seeded where it was ranked or at No. 12 if it is outside the top 12 in the CFP rankings. Non-conference champions ranked in the top four will be seeded beginning at No. 5.

‘Because of this,’ the CFP warns on its website, ‘the seeding, 1 through 12, could look different than the final rankings.’

When College Football Playoff rankings come out 

The second of six College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 12, after Week 11 games.

How to watch College Football Playoff rankings show 

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 8:30-9 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Stream: Fubo

Watch the CFP Rankings Show on ESPN with a Fubo subscription

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