On what appeared to be a go-ahead touchdown at first glance in the second quarter, Smith was hit just before he crossed the goal line by defensive back Brandyn Hillman. Upon the hit, the ball was dislodged momentarily, and as it was jostled Smith crossed the goal-line and his foot hit out of bounds.

A lengthy review of the play followed, with broadcasters Gus Johnson and Joel Klatt initially seeming confused. Replay, however, showed the ball wobble late. Rules analyst Mike Pereira was wishy-washy about what the call was, saying it appeared to be close.

In the end, the touchdown was upheld, much to the chagrin of the Michigan fans in the Big House.

The touchdown put Ohio State up 10-6 in the first half, as the Buckeyes look to snap a four-game losing streak in The Game.

Linebacker Jaishawn Barham, the standout Wolverine defender, headbutted a referee late in the first quarter of ‘The Game’ and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct. The flag handed Ohio State an automatic first down after previously being held to a third-and-goal try from Michigan’s 5-yard line.

Barham appeared to conversate with one of the referees before attempting to show what an Ohio State player did after a Michigan tackle for loss on second down. Regardless, those kinds of mistakes can be costly.

Barham remained in the game and Ohio State was held to a field goal after being called for a false start on fourth-and-1 from the Wolverines’ 1-yard line.

The fourth-year senior entered the game with 31 total tackles and four sacks this season, along with four pass deflections and a forced fumble. The second-year transfer from Maryland has 12 sacks across his career.

Michigan was lucky to get away with only allowing three points after the mistake gave Ohio State an automatic first down. Still, the Wolverines led 6-3 at the end of the first quarter and are looking to win their fifth consecutive game against the Buckeyes.

The Golden State Warriors will be without Stephen Curry against the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday due to a quad contusion and muscle strain.

Stephen Curry was seen limping off the court after a series of collisions during the fourth quarter in a 104-100 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. The first incident occurred when Curry attempted to take a charge against Rockets guard Amen Thompson but was knocked down, resulting in a blocking foul being called against him. Shortly afterward, Curry drove toward the basket for a layup and fell to the court, clearly in pain and forcing him to exit the game in the final minute.

After undergoing an MRI, the Warriors confirmed that Curry avoided any serious injuries. He is currently dealing with a quad contusion and a muscle strain, and he will be re-evaluated in a week.

Pelicans: How to watch Warriors vs. Pelicans

Date: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV channel: NBC Sports Bay Area
Live stream: Watch this game on Fubo
Live stream: Watch this game on Peacock
Location: Chase Center (San Francisco, California)

Days after the Detroit Lions announced Frank Ragnow would be un-retiring to rejoin the team, the brakes have been pumped in the ‘Motor City.’

The Lions announced that Ragnow will not be rejoining the Lions after failing a physical. A Grade 3 hamstring strain will keep the former Detroit center on the sidelines for the remainder of the 2025 season.

‘Frank Ragnow reported to our facility yesterday and went through the normal process of meetings. Unfortunately, during the routine meeting with our medical team, Frank failed his physical.

‘The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season. For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions.’

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said in a Nov. 29 Zoom meeting that Ragnow’s future in 2026 has not been discussed.

On Nov. 26, the Lions activated Ragnow from the reserve/retired list, clearing the way to rejoin the Lions. He retired earlier in 2025 after spending seven seasons with the team.

Ragnow, 29, was widely considered to be one of the best centers in football during his playing days. A 2018 first-round pick, Ragnow was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time second-team All Pro.

The Lions were defeated by the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, sending them to 7-5 and still battling for a potential wild-card spot as the season’s playoff race heats up.

Why did Frank Ragnow retire?

‘I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m feeling good but I’m not and it’s time to prioritize my health and my families future,’ Ragnow wrote. ‘I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t. I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.’

Ohio State football ended its four-game losing skid against arch rival Michigan on Saturday, Nov. 29.

The No. 1-ranked Buckeyes emerged victorious with a 27-9 win over the No. 15 Wolverines from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ohio State (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) clinched a spot in the Big Ten championship against No. 2 Indiana with the victory.

Deemed ‘The Game,’ the matchup had favored the Wolverines over the past several seasons. However, Ohio State earned its first win since 2019 ― and the second under coach Ryan Day ― over the Wolverines.

Dating back to last season, Ohio State has won 16 straight since losing to Michigan at Ohio Stadium last season.

Stream Ohio State vs. Michigan live with Fubo (free trial)

Michigan jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, which included an interception ― just of the fifth of the season ― thrown by Julian Sayin. However, it was all Buckeyes from there. The defense limited the Wolverines to 163 total yards of offense, with just 39 yards in the second half. Bryce Underwood finished 8-of-18 passing for 63 yards and an interception.

Julian Sayin had a strong day for the Buckeyes, finishing 19-of-26 passing for 233 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Carnell Tate led OSU with five receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown.

USA TODAY Sports brought you updates, stats and highlights of the Week 14 clash between rivals Ohio State and Michigan. Catch up here:

Ohio State vs Michigan score

Ohio State vs Michigan live highlights

Ohio State vs Michigan score: Buckeyes 27, Wolverines 9 (Final)

Ohio State defeats Michigan 27-9 to end 4-game losing streak to Wolverines

Ohio State defeats Michigan 27-9 to end a four-game losing streak to their biggest rival. It’s the first win since 2019 over the Wolverines.

Davison Igbinosun intercepts Bryce Underwood

Bryce Underwood’s pass is intercepted by Davison Igbinosun and that should do it. Ohio State takes over on its own 48-yard line with 2:33 remaining and Michigan out of timeouts.

Jayden Fielding field goal extends Ohio State lead over Michigan

Jayden Fielding hits a 23-yard field goal to extend the Ohio State lead to 27-9 with 8:10 left in the game. The scoring drive is 20 plays for 81 yards and takes 11:56 off the clock.

Impressive drive for the Buckeyes to add points and bleed time off the clock.

End of third quarter: Ohio State 24, Michigan 9

Ohio State enters the fourth quarter with a 24-9 lead. The Buckeyes are driving near midfield when the final quarter commences.

Julian Sayin throws third TD pass of game

Julian Sayin and Carnell Tate connect on a 50-yard touchdown to extend the Ohio State to 24-9. Tate got wide open and Sayin hit him in stride for the score.

The scoring drive is two plays for 57 yards and lasts 45 seconds for the Buckeyes.

Second half underway between Ohio State-Michigan

Ohio State starts the second half with the ball.

Ohio State-Michigan halftime stats

Ohio State leads Michigan 17-9 at halftime

The Buckeyes are halfway to ending a four-game losing skid vs. Michigan, leading 17-9 at halftime. Julian Sayin has two touchdown passes, to Jeremiah Smith and Brandon Inniss, in the opening half.

Julian Sayin TD pass to Brandon Inniss before halftime

Julian Sayin gets his second touchdown throw of the first half on a 4-yard pass to Brandon Inniss to push the OSU lead to 17-9 with 16 seconds left in the half. Ohio State gets the ball out of halftime as well.

The scoring drive is 11 plays for 87 yards and takes 5:08 off the game clock.

Michigan scores another field goal

Michigan settles for its third field goal, as Dominic Zvada hits a 49-yard field goal to cut the Ohio State lead to 10-9 with 5:24 left in the first half. Zvada has field goals from 45, 25 and 49 so far today.

The scoring drive is 11 plays for 54 yards and takes 6:17 off the game clock.

Jeremiah Smith TD gives Ohio State lead

Julian Sayin hits Jeremiah Smith for a 35-yard touchdown down the sideline to give Ohio State a 10-6 lead with 11:44 left in the second quarter. Smith ran a great route to get open against single coverage and breaks away for the score. It’s the 11th touchdown of the season for Smith.

The scoring drive is 10 plays for 63 yards and takes 5:49 off the game clock.

End of first quarter: Michigan 6, Ohio State 3

Three field goals and 15 minutes later, Michigan leads Ohio State 6-3 after one quarter of play in Ann Arbor. Both teams have 85 total yards of offense.

Bryce Underwood is 1-of-3 passing for 10 yards, while Julian Sayin is 4-of-7 for 37 yards and an interception.

Ohio State settles for field goal after long drive

A false start on fourth-and-1 from the Michigan 1-yard forces Ohio State to settle for a field goal to cut the Michigan lead to 6-3 with 4:33 left in the first quarter.

The scoring drive goes 11 plays for 69 yards and takes 5:09 off the game clock. A Julian Sayin touchdown run was overturned after being ruled as a touchdown on the play prior to the false start.

Michigan adds second field goal after turnover

Following the interception by Julian Sayin, Michigan settles for a 25-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada to push the Wolverines’ lead to 6-0 with 9:42 left in the first quarter.

The scoring drive is six plays for 38 yards and takes 2:40 off the game clock.

Jyaire Hill picks off Julian Sayin

Jyaire Hill picks off a pass from Julian Sayin intended for Jeremiah Smith. Michigan starts its second drive from the Ohio State 39-yard line. That was just Sayin’s fifth interception of the year.

Dominic Zvada gets Michigan on board first

This year’s Ohio State-Michigan game starts how last year’s game ended: With a field goal from Dominic Zvada. This one is from 45 yards out to give the Wolverines a 3-0 lead with 12:37 left in the first quarter.

Jordan Marshall opens the game with a 36-yard run to give Michigan the scoring opportunity. The scoring drive is six plays for 45 yards and takes 2:23 off the game clock.

Michigan to start game on offense

Ohio State wins the coin toss and defers to the second half. Michigan will receive and open the game on offense. The Buckeyes will defend the South end zone.

Pregame

‘College GameDay’ picks for Ohio State-Michigan

Here’s a look at how the ESPN ‘College GameDay’ crew picked to win the Ohio State-Michigan matchup:

Desmond Howard: Michigan
Nick Saban: Ohio State
Pat McAfee: Ohio State
Aidan Hutchinson: Michigan
Kirk Herbstreit: Ohio State

Big Ten tiebreaker scenarios for Ohio State, Michigan in Week 14

The matchup for the Big Ten championship game next week is still up for grabs. Indiana clinched one spot with a win over Purdue on Friday, Nov. 28. Here’s how Ohio State and Michigan can clinch a spot.

Ryan Day record vs Michigan

Ryan Day has led Ohio State to a national championship, but fans are still clamoring for him to win ‘The Game.’ Day has a 1-4 record against the Wolverines.

Revisiting Ohio State-Michigan brawl after Wolverines 2024 flag-planting

Last year’s Ohio State-Michigan matchup ended with a game-winning kick from the Wolverines’ kicker Dominic Zvada. Following the upset win, Michigan players planted a flag at the midfield ‘O’ at Ohio Stadium, resulting in a brawl.

What time does Ohio State vs Michigan start?

Date: Saturday, Nov. 29
Time: Noon ET
Where: Michigan Stadium (Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Ohio State and Michigan will kick off at noon ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

What TV channel is Ohio State vs Michigan on today?

TV channel: Fox
Livestream: Fox Sports app | Fubo (free trial)

The Buckeyes vs. Wolverines Week 14 Big Ten matchup will be broadcast on Fox. Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst) and Jenny Taft (sideline reporter) will have the call of the game.

Streaming options for the game include the Fox Spotts app and Fubo, which carries Fox and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Stream Ohio State vs. Michigan live with Fubo (free trial)

Ohio State vs Michigan predictions

Ehsan Kassim, USA TODAY Sports: Ohio State 27, Michigan 18

The Wolverines put up a great fight, but it is not enough against an Ohio State team that has more talent across the board. The final score is closer than it looks, as the Wolverines score their lone touchdown with three minutes left.

Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: Ohio State 27, Michigan 20

Michigan’s offense has started to click the past two weeks, picking up nearly 500 yards at Northwestern and scoring 45 against Maryland, its most in league play all year. The Wolverines have had the Buckeyes in a mental pretzel for half a decade, but there’s a reason OSU is the top team in the land. The pick is subject to change given the health of OSU stars Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, both of whom are questionable at this point, but the Buckeyes have a lot of firepower either way. It’s all or nothing for U-M. A win and the Wolverines are almost certainly in the College Football Playoff. A loss? It’s probably going back to Florida for a bowl game. Michigan is trending up but has not showed the ability to stay with the big dogs (Oklahoma and USC) that have enough talent to keep up on every play.

‘The recent years have shown Michigan to hold a psychological edge in the series. How else to explain last year’s inexplicable disaster for the Buckeyes? But even if the Buckeyes’ bitter rival poses a mental block to overcome this week, it’s too difficult to dismiss the obvious advantage at Ohio State. No one else in the nation has been as dominant between both sides of the ball this year, and while the Buckeyes might not be at full strength at wide receiver, they’ve been No. 1 for good reason. The losing streak ends in Ann Arbor.’

Ohio State football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Ohio State’s schedule in 2025, including past scores and future available kickoff times and TV channel information:

Saturday, Aug. 30: No. 2 Ohio State 14, No. 1 Texas 7
Saturday, Sept. 6: No. 1 Ohio State 70, Grambling State 0
Saturday, Sept. 13: No. 1 Ohio State 37, Ohio 9
Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 27: No. 1 Ohio State 24, Washington 6*
Saturday, Oct. 4: No. 1 Ohio State 42, Minnesota 3*
Saturday, Oct. 11: No. 1 Ohio State 34, No. 17 Illinois 16*
Saturday, Oct. 18: No. 1 Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 0*
Saturday, Oct. 25: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 1: No. 1 Ohio State 38, Penn State 14*
Saturday, Nov. 8: No. 1 Ohio State 34, Purdue 10*
Saturday, Nov. 15: No. 1 Ohio State 48, UCLA 10*
Saturday, Nov. 22: No. 1 Ohio State 42, Rutgers 9*
Saturday, Nov. 29: at No. 15 Michigan * | Noon ET | Fox (Fubo)

* Denotes Big Ten game

Michigan football schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Michigan’s schedule in 2025, including past scores and future available kickoff times and TV channel information:

Saturday, Aug. 30: No. 14 Michigan 34, New Mexico 17
Saturday, Sept. 6: No. 24 Oklahoma 24, No. 13 Michigan 13
Saturday, Sept. 13: No. 22 Michigan 63, Central Michigan 3
Saturday, Sept. 20: No. 20 Michigan 30, Nebraska 27*
Saturday, Sept. 27: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 4: No. 20 Michigan 24, Wisconsin 10*
Saturday, Oct. 11: USC 31, No. 15 Michigan 13*
Saturday, Oct. 18: Michigan 24, Washington 7*
Saturday, Oct. 25: No. 24 Michigan 31, Michigan State 20*
Saturday, Nov. 1: No. 21 Michigan 21, Purdue 16*
Saturday, Nov. 8: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 15: No. 17 Michigan 24, Northwestern 22
Saturday, Nov. 22: No. 17 Michigan 45, Maryland 20*
Saturday, Nov. 29: vs. No. 1 Ohio State* | Noon ET | Fox (Fubo)

* Denotes Big Ten game

New York Islanders forward Kyle Palmieri, who picked up an assist as he limped off the ice during Friday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers, made that play on a torn ACL, the team said.

He will have surgery and miss six to eight months, the Islanders announced Saturday, Nov. 29.

Palmieri went down behind the Philadelphia net in the second period after getting tangled up with Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale. He struggled to get to his feet as the play went to the other end. But the Islanders broke it up and Flyers player Emil Andrae backed into his defensive zone with the puck.

Palmieri, heading slowly to the bench, stripped the puck and passed to Jonathan Drouin, who fed Emil Heineman for a goal. Palmieri continued off the ice and went to the dressing room with assistance, never returning to the game.

Kyle Palmieri injury update

The Islanders said Palmieri would have surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee. He will miss six to eight months, knocking him out of the rest of the regular season and possibly all of the playoffs.

‘That was a crazy play by (Palmieri),’ Islanders coach Patrick Roy said. ‘I mean, c’mon, you hurt yourself and being able to make that play was pretty impressive. It showed the character that he has and the person that he is.’

Palmieri had been the Islanders’ reigning ironman, playing 223 consecutive games. He was tied for first on the team with 12 assists and tied for second with 18 points in 25 games.

It’s time for war in WWE − WarGames that is.

One of WWE’s premier events takes its annual spot on Thanksgiving weekend with Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 taking place in San Diego.

The second-longest running premium live event behind WrestleMania, Survivor Series is headlined by the WarGames matches, which involves two teams squaring off inside a steel cage that contains two rings together. While those bouts will take center stage, the night also belongs to John Cena, as he wrestlers in the penultimate match of his career − and it involves championship gold on the line.

Here’s what to know for Survivor Series: WarGames 2025:

When is WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025?

Survivor Series 2025 takes place Saturday, Nov. 29.

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames start time 2025

The event begins at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. The preshow for Survivor Series begins at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

Where is WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025?

Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 takes place at Petco Park in San Diego, California, home of the San Diego Padres. It’s the first Survivor Series to be held outdoors.

Stream Crown Jewel on ESPN

How to watch WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025

Survivor Series: WarGames will stream on ESPN’s streaming service. Viewers can sign up for a subscription to the site here, which starts at $29.99 a month.

ESPN’s service is available through select cable and TV packages, including:

DIRECTV
Fubo TV
Hulu + Live TV
Spectrum
Verizon FiOS

If your cable or TV package includes ESPN streaming service, you can figure out how to activate it here. The event will also be shown at select movie theaters nationwide.

Internationally, Survivor Series will be available on Netflix in most markets.

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 preshow: how to watch

The preshow for Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 will be available to watch on ESPN, as well as WWE social platforms like YouTube and TikTok.

WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 match card

Matches not in order

Men’s WarGames match: Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Roman Reigns, Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso vs. Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Brock Lesnar, Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre
Women’s WarGames match: Rhea Ripley, Iyo Sky, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair and AJ Lee vs. Asuka, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, Lash Legend and Becky Lynch
Women’s World Championship match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Nikki Bella
Intercontinental Championship match: John Cena (c) vs. Dominik Mysterio

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN – Speaking in the afterglow of his team’s senior day win against Wisconsin almost two weeks ago, Curt Cignetti admitted he struggles in the moment for perspective.

That a man in his position finds it difficult to “step back” — his words — “and think about what we’ve accomplished here” is understandable. Yet that perspective came easier Friday night, as Cignetti’s Indiana football team clinched its first appearance in the Big Ten championship game with a 56-3 rout of rival Purdue at Ross-Ade Stadium painted crimson by the very success Cignetti can’t allow himself to soak in for fear of the complacency it might feed.

In that same monologue delivered earlier this month, Cignetti allowed for himself the best advice he could give his fans now too. Words that frame perfectly these heady, historic days for the program Cignetti has turned into the national force he said he would.

“It’s been fun,” Cignetti said. “Let’s have more fun.”

For Indiana, these are the glory days. They may yet last awhile. None endure forever. Best enjoy these while they do.

Each week brings another first since, or never before, this season a race to rewrite as much of the record book as possible. Last season was the whirlwind rise, the season when nothing could go wrong because too much had gone right. But this one will be remembered forever.

The hows and whys of Friday night won’t matter to anyone not of an Indiana persuasion. Fans get another year to bathe in a dominant rivalry showing, and this was certainly that. But on the field, No. 2 IU is chasing something far greater than an Old Oaken Bucket.

Whatever happens across the next eight days, or the next six weeks, this season has changed so much about Indiana for the foreseeable future. Maybe for good.

And while Cignetti and his players have the big prizes now firmly in their sights, there should be nothing wrong with stopping for a moment to appreciate seasons like these will in their own way last forever.

“First team in Indiana history to go 12-0 in the regular season,” Cignetti said. “That’s absolute. Whatever happens from here, this team will always be the first team.”

On the topic of those hows and whys, Cignetti will still have enjoyed them Friday.

He said postgame he felt the Hoosiers (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) hadn’t “improved” in the weeks leading up to wins over Penn State and Wisconsin.

“We asked our guys to do more,” he said.

To the naked eye, Indiana appeared worn down, by the physical demands of six-straight weeks without a break, plus the mental and emotional toll of chasing a season that’s a lot more rare than most fans realize.

Cignetti suggested there had been just five Big Ten teams to complete a 12-0 season since 2000. It was too late, too dark and too cold for anyone to do the research to either confirm or disprove his claim. (Editor’s fact check: Big Ten teams to go 12-0 in the regular season since 2000 included 2015 Iowa; 2017 Wisconsin; Ohio State in 2002, 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2019; Michigan in 2022 and 2023; and 2024 Oregon.) The fundamental point remained anyway.

Even this kind of perfection is difficult. Arguably more so in the portal era. That difficulty was reflected in less-than-its-best IU performances across recent weeks.

Not this one.

Indiana led 28-3 at halftime and just loped away from there. The Hoosiers rushed for 355 yards. Four players found the end zone on the ground. By the end, Indiana had freshman handing off to freshman and still pounded its way through an overrun Purdue (2-10, 0-9) defense.

And when the Hoosiers were through, they celebrated retaining the Bucket with Cignetti, with their fans, with each other. There was, Cignetti admitted, a fair bit of cigar smoke hanging in the visitors’ locker room late Friday night.

“There’s a lot of celebrating going on in that locker room right now,” he said. “They’re having a good old time. But they also understand they get to enjoy it for 24 hours. They understand, it’s a great night for Indiana.”

That’s his general rule: Twenty-four hours to enjoy a win, then it’s on to the next thing.

The Hoosiers will need at least that long to start properly scouting their Big Ten championship game opponent — we won’t know who they’ll play Dec. 6 until sometime Saturday, depending upon results in Ann Arbor and potentially Seattle.

As for its own path to Indy, IU left no doubt.

“We wanted to walk out of this game with an exclamation point, and not a question mark,” Cignetti said, “and we did.”

His team walked out with more than that. As Indiana’s team buses pulled away Friday, they did so with history onboard.

Not just a footnote, or a new career best. But the kind of thing that lasts forever, stamped in bronze and frozen permanently in the memory of a fan base now living through the best days of its program’s existence.

For Indiana football, these are most certainly the glory days. Cignetti had those 12-0 Big Ten teams at the ready when he referenced the number. Michigan here, Ohio State there. Oregon last year.

“Indiana, now,” Cignetti said, adding his trademark wink. “Add them to the list.”

Add them to the list. Forever. It can get better than this, but not by much.

Want more Hoosiers coverage? Sign up for IndyStar’s Hoosiers newsletter. Listen to Mind Your Banners, our IU Athletics-centric podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the latest on IndyStar TV: Hoosiers.

The biggest question surrounding Lane Kiffin is his future at Ole Miss.

Perhaps the second biggest question is, if Kiffin were to announce his departure from the Rebels, would the Ole Miss administration allow him to coach in the College Football Playoff? Following Friday’s win over rival Mississippi State, the Rebels are a shoo-in for the 12-team playoff field.

Nick Saban, who employed Kiffin at Alabama, suggested Ole Miss should allow Kiffin to coach the Rebels during the playoff run. He also opened up about what he thinks is going into Kiffin’s thought process about switching jobs.

‘I think they should let Lane coach his team, number one,’ Saban said on ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’. ‘But I think Lane’s decision is going to come down to one thing. And that thing is just what Marty said: ‘Where is the place that I can recruit the best players?’

‘And I think one of Lane’s apprehensions is that he’s had to use the portal to build his team at Ole Miss each year. And at LSU he probably could recruit better talent and then supplement his team by need with the portal. And that’s probably the dilemma that he has, as well as his loyalty to his team that he’s coaching now, that he wants to be able to continue to coach. So this is a tough thing to have the right answer to.’

Fellow ESPN analyst agreed with Saban that Ole Miss should let Kiffin coach in the CFP, but admitted it’s a tricky situation.

‘The tricky part is the year Ole Miss is having. Forgetting Atlanta and the SEC Championship, this team is the team you don’t wanna play in the CFP right now,’ Kirk Herbstreit said. ‘So I think if you’re in charge at Ole Miss and if Lane decides to go elsewhere, I think you need to set your emotions to the side. You need to look at 2025 and this team with their coach and give them a chance to finish this run. Whoever that might be.

‘That’s the tricky part here. I think there’s no doubt if you talk to the players, some of them have come out and said, ‘We want our coach to coach us to the end.’ So I think Ole Miss’s administration is put in a very tough spot. Because if he were going to stay at Ole Miss — Eli Drinkwitz is already re-upped. Clark Lea is re-upped. Don’t you think we would’ve already seen he’s re-upping and staying at Ole Miss?

‘So there’s chances are he’s going to Baton Rouge. I think Ole Miss has to accept that and look at this as a magical year. You’ve never done what you’re doing right now. Let Lane Kiffin — if he leaves — and these players finish the run this year.’

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Paul Finebaum thinks an SEC team should make the College Football Playoff.

After Texas’ marquee win over Texas A&M on Nov. 28, the conversation has turned back to out-of-conference scheduling and if Texas should get a Week 1 mulligan after its loss to Ohio State to open the season. The Longhorns (9-3, 6-2 SEC) knocked off the last undefeated team in the SEC to end their regular season in the Lone Star Showdown.

Outside of the Buckeyes, Texas has lost to Florida and Georgia this year, with wins over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt to offset. According to SEC Network analyst Finebaum, Texas’ wins outweigh the losses, and if the Longhorns are left out, it would be unfairly punishing them for scheduling a tough out-of-conference game to open the year.

What did Paul Finebaum say about Texas to CFP?

Finebaum vehemently backed up Texas coach Steve Sarkisian’s assertions it would be bad for college football to leave Texas out of the playoffs, and he threw some digs at Curt Cignetti’s Indiana — whose scheduling tendencies have been controversial — in the process.

‘I think that Sarkisian makes a (relevant) point and it’s really about the first game,’ he said. ‘Texas decided to go to Ohio State and play a meaningful game in one of the biggest games of the year in college football. Had they played Kennesaw State which Indiana played or Oklahoma State, one of the worst teams in the country which Oregon played or some of these other competitors… They wouldn’t be in this situation. They had the bad loss to Florida but they have the significant wins which overcome that. So I think they’re gonna be penalized for doing the right thing and that’s wrong. And in my mind, Texas belongs in the College Football Playoff, even with that record.’

To date, no three-loss team has ever made the College Football Playoff, although it’s only Year 2 of the 12-team system.

Finebaum’s desk-mate Roman Harper presented the other side of the argument.

‘I go opposite,’ Harper said. ‘I think you can’t lose to Florida on the road, and unfortunately I thought they picked a good game vs Ohio State. I think you play these games because those early games give you so much leverage down the road if you do win that game. And ultimately I don’t think the committee wants to put a three-loss SEC team in… Yet. I think they wanna wait and see if Alabama gets in. And if Alabama loses the SEC Championship game, that would be their three-loss team in.’

Though Harper brings up Alabama, the bigger question mark will be Vanderbilt. Texas owns the head-to-head over Vanderbilt, but the Commodores (9-2, 5-2 SEC) play a huge game against Tennessee on Nov. 29. The outcome of that game could also set off a chain reaction in the rankings, as Vanderbilt seeks its first CFP appearance.