At the start of the college football season, the Week 11 rivalry matchup between Alabama and LSU looked to be one that could impact the SEC standings and who might have a chance at playing in Atlanta come the first week of December.

That no longer stands to be true, as the No. 4 Crimson Tide have won seven straight and are tied for first in the SEC standings, while the Tigers are no longer ranked, have lost three of their last four and are well out of conference championship game contention.

The 90th meeting between Alabama and LSU is set to take place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

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

Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Ty Simpson, Alabama was slotted in as the No. 4 seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff field in the first CFP rankings unveiling by the CFP selection committee on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The Crimson Tide’s CFP resume is highlighted by its four straight top-25 ranked wins against Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri and Tennessee.

Saturday’s game is the first time LSU will take the field in the post-Brian Kelly era, as the Tigers fired Kelly after a poor Week 9 loss to Texas A&M. It will be Frank Wilson serving as LSU’s interim head coach on Saturday, while Garrett Nussmeier will look to salvage the season by steering the Tigers’ offense back on track in hopes of becoming bowl eligible.

USA TODAY Sports is bringing you live updates, highlights and scores from Saturday’s SEC rivalry game between Alabama and LSU. Follow along:

Alabama vs LSU football live score

This section will be updated during the game

Alabama vs LSU football live updates

Fourth quarter: Alabama 20, LSU 9

Alabama forces fumble

Yhonzae Pierre comes up with his second big play of the night, and this time it results in a turnover. The Alabama linebacker came around the side and knocked the ball out of the hand of Michael Van Buren for the fumble at the end of a sack, which was recovered by London Simmons.

Alabama takes over on offense.

Alabama extends lead with FG

Conor Talty redeems himself from an earlier miss in the game with a successful 44-yard field goal to push Alabama’s lead over LSU to a two-score game, at 20-9. It’s the first points for the Crimson Tide since Ty Simpson connected with Ryan Williams for a 13-yard touchdown just before halftime.

Alabama now leads LSU 20-9 with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Alabama punts

Alabama has gone cold on offense, as Kalen DeBoer sends out the punt unit for the second time in the Crimson Tide’s last three drives. The Crimson Tide’s defense got some help from its special teams unit, however, as the ball is spotted at LSU’s own 2-yard line.

LSU cuts deficit to one score with FG

LSU is not going away that easily.

The Tigers make it a one-score game at 17-9 against Alabama with 10:28 remaining in the fourth quarter after Damon Ramos makes the 37-yard field goal attempt. LSU had made it all the way down to the Alabama 7-yard line, but a false start penalty and a 10-yard sack on Michael Van Buren sent the Tigers backwards.

An important drive is coming up for Ty Simpson and Alabama’s offense after Simpson turned the ball over on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Alabama sacks Michael Van Buren

LT Overton comes up with the second sack of the night for the Alabama defense on first-and-goal from the 12-yard line, as he sacks Michael Van Buren for a loss of 10 yards to make it second-and-goal from the Crimson Tide’s 22-yard line.

LSU sacks Ty Simpson, forces fumble

LSU opens the fourth quarter with its first takeaway on defense, as Harold Perkins sacks Ty Simpson and forces the ball out of the hands of the Alabama quarterback. The Tigers linebacker recovers his own forced fumble and gives the ball back to Michael Van Buren and the LSU offense deep in Alabama territory, down 17-6.

Alabama takes lead over LSU into fourth quarter

Fours up in Tuscaloosa, as Alabama takes a 17-6 lead over LSU into the fourth quarter. The Crimson Tide will start the fourth quarter with a second-and-9 at their own 48-yard line following a 1-yard carry from Daniel Hill.

Alabama is 15 minutes away from picking up its eighth consecutive win of the season. Ty Simpson is 17 of 28 passing for 244 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Van Buren is 2 of 4 for 16 yards since he came in for Garrett Nussmeier during LSU’s last drive.

End of third quarter: Alabama 17, LSU 6

LSU false start forces to punt

LSU’s communication struggles on offense continue on fourth-and-1, as offensive lineman Bauer Sharp jumps before the snap. The 5-yard penalty sends Michael Van Buren and the Tigers’ offense off the field, and sends a punt unit on.

It’s the second big communication error by the Tigers in as many plays, and kills a drive that showed a slight pulse from LSU’s offense after Garrett Nussmeier was benched.

Michael Van Buren takes over for Garrett Nussmeier

As the LSU offense heads back onto the field, the Tigers do so with a new quarterback, as backup quarterback Michael Van Buren is in for Garrett Nussmeier.

Alabama sacks Garrett Nussiemer, LSU hits FG attempt

Alabama dials the pressure on third-and-8 with the three-man rush to Garrett Nussmeier, who was sacked for a loss of 14 yards by Yhonzae Pierre. Nussmeier attempted to get away from the rush, but he turned in the wrong direction and into the diving hands of Pierre.

Nussiemer’s sack sends out the LSU field goal unit. The Tigers cut their deficit to 17-6 after Damian Ramos hit the 44-yard field goal attempt. LSU has yet to score a touchdown on the night.

Nic Anderson injury update

LSU will be down a man at wide receiver, as Nic Anderson is carted off the field after being tended to by LSU trainers on the sidelines. Anderson appeared to have gone down weirdly at the conclusion of a 16-yard catch when he was tackled by two Alabama defenders.

End of first half: Alabama 17, LSU 3

Alabama vs LSU halftime stats

Here’s a look at how Alabama and LSU stack up statistically at halftime, with the Crimson Tide holding a 17-3 lead:

Total yards: Alabama 244, LSU 131
Passing yards: Alabama 210, LSU 76
Rushing yards: LSU 55, Alabama 34
Yards per play: Alabama 7.4, LSU 4.9
Third downs: Alabama 2-6, LSU 2-7

Alabama scores quick TD before halftime

Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb is in his bag.

One play after Ty Simpson connected with Lotzier Brooks for a 53-yard catch on the deep route, the Heisman Trophy candidate finds Ryan Williams in the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass. It’s an impressive drive by Alabama, as Simpson threw back-to-back dots into the hands of his receivers to get points on the board before halftime.

The scoring drive was three plays for 66 yards and took just 34 seconds of game time.

Alabama misses field goal attempt

Alabama is unable to extend its lead over LSU to two scores, as Conor Talty’s 26-yard field goal attempt goes wide left. It’s an important series coming up for the Crimson Tide’s defense, as they will look to get a stop to keep their seven-point lead intact as LSU begins the second half with the ball.

Aaron Anderson injury report

ESPN’s Molly McGrath reports that LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson hyperextended his left elbow on the Tigers’ previous offensive drive and that LSU’s medical staff has put a brace on his elbow. He is expected to return to the game.

Daniel Hill TD puts Alabama in front

The first touchdown of the night goes to Alabama and Daniel Hill, who fights his way through a group of LSU defenders to get into the end zone. It’s a 4-yard rushing touchdown for the sophomore running back, and his second rushing score of the season.

The big play of the drive was a 33-yard pass down the left side of the field on second-and-3 when Simpson found his tight end, Josh Cuevas, in stride. The scoring drive was seven plays for 75 yards and took 3:02 off the game clock.

It’s 10-3 Alabama with 9:25 remaining in the second quarter.

LSU ties game with 37-yard FG

Wilson elects to take the field goal out of the injury timeout on the field for Aaron Anderson. Damian Ramos hits the 37-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3 against Alabama with 12:27 remaining in the second quarter.

Both teams have exchanged field goals in the first half, as both teams’ offenses continue to settle in.

LSU facing fourth down decision

LSU interim head coach Frank Wilson faces an early big decision: go for it on a fourth-and-2 at the Alabama 20-yard line or take the field goal. Before heading off the injury tent, Aaron Anderson caught a 7-yard pass from Garrett Nussiemer to make it fourth-and-short for the Tigers.

End of first quarter: Alabama 3, LSU 0

Alabama gets on board with field goal

Despite the good starting field position, Alabama goes backward, setting up a 45-yard field goal attempt from kicker Conor Talty. His kick is true, however, sailing through the middle to give the Crimson Tide the first points of the game.

Alabama forces turnover

What looked like a huge LSU chunk play on third-and-5 from the Tigers’ 11 instead turns into a turnover, courtesy of the Alabama defense. Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green punched the ball out of tight end Bauer Sharp and recovers it deep in LSU territory.

Alabama punts

The Crimson Tide get a nice chunk play off a 33-yard connection between Ty Simpson and Germie Bernard out to the Alabama 39-yard line, but follow that up with three straight incompletions (including two throwaways) to end the drive. Following a 40-yard punt by Blake Doud, LSU will take over at its own 7-yard line.

LSU misses field goal attempt

Another bend-don’t-break effort by Alabama’s defense sets LSU up with a field goal attempt from the Crimson Tide 13-yard line. But Tigers kicker Damian Ramos, who entered the game 14 of 17 on field goal attempts, kicked it wide right to negate the scoring opportunity.

Alabama turns ball over on downs

Alabama tries to catch LSU off guard with a fake on fourth-and-1, as Jam Miller takes the direct snap, but LSU linebacker West Weeks is all over it and tackles Miller for no gain. It was an interesting play-calling sequence by the Crimson Tide, as they called three consecutive run plays.

LSU takes over at its own 39-yard line.

Alabama starts on offense

After LSU won the toss and deferred the opening kickoff to the second half, Alabama gets its night started on offense with a 25-yard kickoff return from Lotzeir Brooks. Underway in Tuscaloosa!

Pregame

Dave Roberts at Alabama-LSU game

World Series champion manager Dave Roberts is in attendance for Alabama vs. LSU in Tuscaloosa. According to The Tuscaloosa News’ Colin Gay, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager is friends with Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer.

Ryan Williams status vs LSU

Ryan Williams looks to be a go against LSU. The Crimson Tide sophomore was removed from the final SEC injury report, which was released 90 minutes before the game on Saturday, Nov. 8, after being listed as ‘probable’ on the previous three.

What was Alabama football ranked in first CFP ranking?

Who is LSU football’s interim head coach vs Alabama?

Ty Simpson Heisman Trophy odds 

The first-year Alabama starting quarterback enters his Week 11 start vs. LSU with the third-best odds on BetMGM ( +350) to win the 2025 Heisman Trophy. 

What time does Alabama vs LSU start?

Date: Saturday, Nov. 8
Start time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Alabama vs. LSU will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 8 from Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

What TV channel is Alabama vs LSU on today?

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

Alabama vs. LSU will be broadcast nationally on ABC in Week 11 of the 2025 college football season. Sean McDonough and Greg McElroy will broadcast the game from the booth at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with Molly McGrath reporting from the sidelines.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

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

How to watch college football on ESPN, ABC without YouTube TV

Disney-owned channels such as ABC and the ESPN family of networks are no longer available on YouTube TV after it and Disney were unable to agree to new contract terms.

One way college football fans who subscribe to YouTube TV can stream games on Disney-owned channels is via Fubo, which carries ABC and the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Alabama vs LSU predictions

Colin Gay, The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 32, LSU 21

‘Who knows what LSU could look like with interim coach Frank Wilson? With two weeks to prepare for Alabama, the Tigers could lead with one of the better pass offenses and pass defenses in the SEC. But, especially facing an Alabama pass rush that is finding its footing, and the best passing offense that it has faced all season, LSU has a tall task, one that should continue the Crimson Tide’s SEC success.’

Chase Goodbread, The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama 23, LSU 17

‘A lower-scoring affair could be in order. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier has struggled to be effective behind an underperforming offensive line. A full house at Bryant-Denny Stadium won’t make it any easier for him. But it likely won’t be an easy night for Alabama’s offense, either.’

Alabama schedule 2025

Here’s a look at Alabama’s 2025 schedule, including past scores and available kickoff and TV channel information:

Saturday, Aug. 30: Florida State 31, Alabama 17
Saturday, Sept. 6: Alabama 73, ULM 0
Saturday, Sept. 13: Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14
Saturday, Sept. 20: BYE
Saturday, Sept. 27: Alabama 24, No. 5 Georgia Tech
Saturday, Oct. 4: Alabama 30, No. 16 Vanderbilt 14 *
Saturday, Oct. 11: Alabama 27, No. 14 Missouri 24 *
Saturday, Oct. 18: Alabama 37, No. 11 Tennessee 20 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: Alabama 29, South Carolina 22 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 8: vs. LSU * | 7:30 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. No. 12 Oklahoma * | 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Eastern Illinois | 2 p.m. ET | SEC Network+
Saturday, Nov. 29: at Auburn *

* Denotes SEC game

LSU schedule 2025

Here’s a look at LSU’s 2025 schedule, including past scores and available kickoff and TV channel information:

Saturday, Aug. 30: LSU 17, No. 4 Clemson 10
Saturday, Sept. 6: LSU 23, Louisiana Tech 7
Saturday, Sept. 13: LSU 20, Florida 10
Saturday, Sept. 20: LSU 56, Southeastern Louisiana 10
Saturday, Sept. 27: No. 13 Ole Miss 24, LSU 19 *
Saturday, Oct. 4: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 11: LSU 20, South Carolina 10 *
Saturday, Oct. 18: No. 17 Vanderbilt 31, LSU 24 *
Saturday, Oct. 25: No. 3 Texas A&M 49, LSU 25 *
Saturday, Nov. 1: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 8: at No. 4 Alabama * | 7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 15: vs. Arkansas * | 12:45 p.m. ET | SEC Network (Fubo)
Saturday, Nov. 22: vs. Western Kentucky
Saturday, Nov. 29: at No. 12 Oklahoma *

* Denotes SEC game

Texas Tech’s football success is attributed to head coach Joey McGuire, who brings a high school coaching mentality to the program.
The team, built with significant financial backing from boosters, has become a national contender by acquiring key players through the transfer portal.
McGuire has successfully managed a roster of high-profile transfers, creating a unified and disciplined team.

LUBBOCK, TX – Lost here in the wild well blowout of cash, ground zero for the excess of big money college football, is a high school football coach.

You’re damn right Joey McGuire is, unapologetically.

Week after week, rout after rout, with every win that brings No. 9 Texas Tech closer to blue-blood programs and conferences that run college football, the dichotomy of it all quietly overflows like the black gold that built this moment.

“I’m a high school coach who coaches college football, not the other way around,” McGuire told me in the spring, when this dangerous $25 million Frankenstein roster was being built. “And it has prepared me for anything.”

The best team money can buy won again Saturday, this time a 29-7 emasculation of previously unbeaten No. 8 Brigham Young. But don’t get lost in the narrative. 

While cold, hard cash brought elite players to this prairie town in the middle of nowhere, a tough Texan who built his coaching chops at a left-for-dead high school job and has never forgotten it, who still drives that same white pickup truck from all those years ago, is the guy who makes it all work. 

All of those personalities. All of those mercenaries on one-year, prove-it deals. All of that locker room uncertainty, where the green and greed of the game wrestles daily with straight jealousy.

While so many are still figuring out this thing, still complaining about “sustainability” and the end of the game as we know it, McGuire has a 600-pound gorilla growing with each week, looking more like an elite SEC or Big Ten team with every rout, every statement. 

‘We have another gear,’ McGuire said after the Red Raiders polished off another how you like me now victory. ‘We can play even better.’

Students started camping out for this game a week ago, while ESPN rolled its ‘College GameDay’ production trucks all the way to West Texas for the first time in years. The place was electric, the moment wasn’t too big, and this too big to fail team kept steamrolling everything in its path like one of those haboob dust storms that suffocate the plains.

Texas Tech has won nine games this season, all nine by at least 22 points. The Red Raiders have a defense that rivals any in the nation, including those at Ohio State and Indiana and any SEC team you want to bring to the argument. 

Texas Tech ran for almost 200 non-sack yards, and held BYU — which was averaging 216 rushing yards a game — to just 67 yards on 27 carries. The Red Raiders did what McGuire’s state title teams at Cedar Hill High School in suburban Dallas did, where it’s toughest team wins.

They ran the ball, they stopped the run. Then meticulously eliminated any doubt.

They did what he promised when he was introduced as coach in 2021, when nothing seemed to be working for more than a decade ― since Mike Leach was run off because a player went public with allegations of mistreatment (which were never proven). There may as well have been a curse on the program.

Tommy Tuberville, Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Wells. All tried to recreate the magic of Leach, none succeeded. 

Until the high school coach stepped in, and instead of declaring love for the past, made a declarative, defining statement. 

“I can tell you this,” McGuire said that day, “We are going to play defense.”

Because when all else fails in high school football, when nothing seems to be working, you play defense. Toughest guy wins.

By the time it was long over, as Texas Tech was playing coverage and protecting 26-0 lead, BYU finally reached its fifth play — fifth play! — in Texas Tech territory with nine minutes to play. The rest of what played out was inconsequential.

BYU ran 65 plays, 11 of which were in Texas Tech territory.

‘One thing that makes this team different is we can rely on defense,’ McGuire said. ‘To win at a high level anywhere, you have to play defense.’

That’s why McGuire, with the help of billionaire booster (and former Texas Tech offensive lineman) Cody Campbell, zeroed in on defense this offseason. The roster needed impact players, and the staff identified who fit from the transfer portal — and Campbell made it happen.

The best team money can buy continues to be a bear investment.

There’s no better defensive line in the nation, the group that has defined this pay for play season of championship or bust. They’re all transfers, including star edge rushers David Bailey and Romello Height, and interior tackles Lee Hunter and A.J. Holmes. 

Three of the four starters in the secondary are transfers, including sticky corners Dontae Balfour and Brice Pollack. Then there’s linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who transferred from Virginia and arrived in Lubbock in 2021 as an H-Back — before McGuire saw a linebacker. 

Now he’s arguably the best defensive player in the game. Or, what the heck, a legit Heisman Trophy candidate.

‘I’ve never had more fun playing football,’ Rodriguez said. ‘We are so close, this team. We love each other. Each and every one of us.’

The development of Rodriguez, the perfect example of what can be, is the backbone of what McGuire has accomplished in four seasons. The undeniable example of what happens when everyone is pulling the same way, when the process isn’t superseded by egos. 

When harmony in the locker room translates to a well-orchestrated symphony on the field. When it’s not throwing money at a problem, it’s fixing what’s broken with smart investments.

Texas Tech is one of the least penalized teams in the Big 12, and is plus-10 in turnover ratio. The Red Raiders don’t make mind-numbing mistakes, don’t put themselves in precarious spots with poor decisions. 

They’re a well-oiled machine that continues to get better, and more dangerous, in the shadow of blue blood programs that continue to ignore them. Or complain about them.

Texas Tech is where Indiana was last season, the outlier that made those in the exclusive club anxious from the unknown. Except this time, it’s one step further.

Indiana is a flagship member of the Big Ten. Texas Tech may as well be a college football vagabond, a bit player in an afterthought ‘Power’ conference trying to get its nose under the big top tent.

Don’t get mad at them for finding a way. Don’t ignore their breakout season because it doesn’t look like it should.

The SEC and Big Ten made these rules. See how they like it when Campbell and his partners at Double Eagle start shoveling oil money at the problem.

‘A lot of it is making sure you’re doing business with the right kind of people,’ Campbell said. ‘Joey has done a really good job, and has everyone believing in what we’re doing. That’s why it has worked ― because of how he runs the program.’

Ask anyone involved in this unusual and wildly unsettling process of private NIL deals. It’s an absolute crapshoot.

Texas Tech is everything it shouldn’t be with a team full of big-money transfers in the player empowerment era of the game. Marrying all of those personalties, all that need for playing time, with an existing roster, is next to impossible.

Or maybe it isn’t. Maybe at some point it becomes as much about the coach as the $25 million spent to win a championship.

‘From the first day we met (McGuire), he told us to trust him, we would get here,’ said Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, who has played the last month of the season with a hairline fracture in his lower leg.

A Lubbock native, Morton wakes every Sunday and it’s difficult to walk. He’s hurting, and says he practically lives in the training room. He’s trying every medical option and rehab available.

He’s not missing this ride. Not after he grew up here, not after everything McGuire promised is right in front of them.

‘The whole city deserved this,’ Morton says.

Late in another impressive win, after Texas Tech further distanced itself from the Big 12 and moved closer to the heavyweights in the Big Ten and SEC, former Tech star Patrick Mahomes was shown on the big screen at the stadium. 

He waved his arms, and the sellout crowd of 60,000 went wild. 

This isn’t the old days at Texas Tech. It’s the new world of college football, where money means everything. 

With the right coach. 

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow m on X at @MattHayesCFB.

Texas A&M’s Mike Elko becomes a model for schools making coaching hires.
The Aggies’ victory over Missouri strengthens their case for a top College Football Playoff ranking.
As Texas A&M offense thrives, Collin Klein is emerging as a potential head coaching candidate.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Only one school can hire Lane Kiffin. That’s if he leaves at all.

From Gainesville to Baton Rouge, covetous college football fans wonder whether their school can land Kiffin. That’s an understandable wish.

That still leaves a handful of name-brand programs making hires who won’t be named Kiffin. Athletic directors ought to ask themselves: Is there another Mike Elko for the taking? Someone in the mold of Texas A&M’s coach who might not be the flashiest pick, but who’s got the stuff to be a dynamite choice?

Hiring coaches is an inexact science. It’s a glorified shot in the dark. As No. 3 Texas A&M continues its undefeated march toward the College Football Playoff after a 38-17 thumping of No. 17 Missouri, remember that the Aggies nearly screwed this up. They got far down the road toward hiring Kentucky’s Mark Stoops before that plan got reeled back at the 11th hour.

The Aggies recalibrated toward Elko. We hear a lot about fit in the hiring process, but nothing fits better than winning. Elko, a New Jersey native, an Ivy League graduate, a former Duke coach who’d worked under the fired Aggies coach whom he replaced, has hit the fast track to becoming best fit for the Texas A&M headset since R.C. Slocum.

Who knew?

Aggies fans who peppered the Stoops trial balloon with birdshot would say they knew.

Texas A&M gives CFP committee something to consider

Elko’s latest triumph won’t go down as his crowning achievement, but the total body of work should give the CFP committee something to think about next week, in light of Indiana’s struggles in a win at Penn State.

Bump Texas A&M up to No. 2? There’s a case for it. That case is backed by strength of schedule, even if this win came against an opponent masquerading as a ranked team.

Injuries forced Missouri to start its third-string quarterback, and the Tigers’ pass game became theoretical, not practical.

Representatives from the Citrus and Gator bowls were on hand to witness Tigers freshman Matt Zollers complete 7-of-22 passes. A Florida bowl game becomes the best-case destination for a Missouri team that once harbored longshot playoff aspirations.

Missouri’s silver lining? Three losses in the past four games make Eliah Drinkwitz a less attractive candidate for higher-profile programs. Drink up, Tigers. He’s yours to enjoy.

Mike Elko keeps Aggies pointed toward SEC championship game

In this all-three-phases victory by Texas A&M, the Aggies’ defense supplied a strip-sack, and the punt team beautifully executed a fake to move the chains on a scoring drive.

My only criticism of Elko? Perhaps that fake should have been kept in the back pocket for the Texas game later this month.

Those are the nits you’re left to pick when a coach is 9-0 in his second season.

Elko has a program that perennially underachieved, compared to its vast wealth of resources, punching up to its weight. If you’re waiting for the bottom to fall out, your wait endures. With South Carolina and Samford up next, go ahead and write the Aggies into the playoff bracket, in Sharpie. It’s just be a question of seeding now.

The Aggies continued their revelation of offense served by Elko. A defensive coordinator by trade, he’s unleashed Marcel Reed. Inadequate quarterback development became a consistent bugaboo of Jimbo Fisher’s underachieving teams. No more.

Reed’s efficient, workmanlike outing against a determined Missouri defense won’t wow the Heisman Trophy voters, but his 20 completions were plenty to keep the Aggies marching toward the SEC championship game.

And every school that’s hiring a coach in this zany turn of the coaching carousel must take inspiration from Texas A&M.

Two years ago, the Aggies admitted defeat on the Fisher experience and paid $77 million to be rid of an all hat, no cattle coach. That forkover of buyout bucks became seed money that resulted in Elko.

When the Aggies hired Fisher, they awarded him a plaque with a blank space for him to fill in the year of his first national championship team at Texas A&M. Think Elko might be able to get his hands on that old relic? Don’t rule it out. He’s exceeding just about every expectation for a program finally living up to the hype.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

Things haven’t gone to plan for LSU football quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, and he may have hit his lowest point with the Tigers on Saturday, Nov. 8 against Alabama.

Nussmeier, a Heisman Trophy candidate entering the season, was benched by interim coach Frank Wilson in the third quarter against the Crimson Tide for sophomore Michael Van Buren. The projected first-round pick entering the season entered the matchup having lost three of his last four games before his coach, Brian Kelly, was fired.

Nussmeier hasn’t looked himself this season after passing for an SEC-leading 4,052 yards in 2024. LSU spent big in the transfer portal ahead to get him weapons to throw to in 2025, but it hasn’t paid off.

Here’s what to know of Van Buren, a backup quarterback with rare starting experience in the SEC.

Who is LSU backup QB Michael Van Buren?

Van Buren, a sophomore transfer from Mississippi State, started eight games for the Bulldogs last season as a true freshman.

Van Buren showed flashes of potential in 2024, passing for 1,886 yards with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions, adding five rushing scores. He threw for three touchdowns in back-to-back games against Georgia and Texas A&M last season.

Michael Van Burn 247 rating

A four-star recruit in 2024, Van Buren flipped his commitment from Oregon to Mississippi State in 2023 after Jeff Lebby was hired by the Bulldogs. He opted to transfer ahead of the 2025 season after Blake Shapen returned for Mississippi State.

Van Buren was the No. 15-ranked quarterback and No. 239 player nationally in 2023, according to 247Sports’ Composite rankings. He attended St. Frances Academy High School and hails from Bowie, Maryland.

Van Buren led St. Frances, a high school powerhouse, to the 2022 high school national championship against IMG Academy, although IMG opted out of the game.

Michael Van Buren stats

Here are Van Buren’s year-by-year stats in college.

2024 (Mississippi State): 140 of 256 passing (54.7%) for 1,886 yards with 11 touchdowns to seven interceptions; 69 carries for negative-12 yards with five touchdowns
2025 (LSU): 13 of 16 passing (81.3%) for 172 yards with two touchdowns; nine carries for 23 yards with a touchdown

The Winter Olympics are several months away, but the U.S. women’s hockey team is showing good signs against archrival Canada in the Rivalry Series.

The USA won 6-1 on Saturday, Nov. 8 in Buffalo, two days after winning 4-1 in the opening game in Cleveland.

They have been getting balanced scoring – and a lot of it.

The first game was the Abbey Murphy (three goals) and Taylor Heise (four points) show.

Saturday night was the Hilary Knight show as the U.S. captain and four-time Olympian had a hat trick.

Murphy played a role again by intercepting a clearing attempt from Canada goalie Kayle Osborne and feeding Kelly Pannek for the second goal of the game.

So did Heise, who faked a shot and made a drop pass on a goal by Hayley Scamurra.

Laila Edwards, 21, had an impressive goal and two assists on Saturday to give her four points in two games.

Canada has been limited to one goal in each game. Gwyneth Philips made eight saves in the first period to keep the game scoreless and allowed only a goal to Marie-Philip Poulin.

“We saw a lot of great production between Hilary Knight’s hat trick and a strong showing from Laila Edwards, anchored by a strong performance in net,’ USA coach John Wroblewski said. ‘We look forward to building off these two games in December and beyond.”

The series will take a break before resuming in Edmonton, Alberta, on Dec. 10 and 13. The Olympics are in February.

USA TODAY provided live updates from the second game of the Rivalry Series. Here are the highlights:

USA vs Canada highlights

Final score: USA 6, Canada 1

The Americans have outscored Canada 10-2 in the first two games of the Rivalry Series. The USA has back-to-back hat tricks: Abbey Murphy in Game 1 and Hilary Knight in the second game.

Hilary Knight hat trick

Canada pulled Kayle Osborne for an extra skater. Hilary Knight scores an empty-netter for her third goal of the game. 6-1 USA.

USA’s Hayley Scamurra scores

Taylor Heise fakes a shot and makes a drop pass to Hayley Scamurra, who scores before her hometown fans to make it 5-1.

USA’s Hilary Knight scores again

Knight scores her second power-play goal of the night. She’s alone near the crease and tucks in a solid cross-ice pass from Laila Edwards.

USA back on power play

Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin is called for boarding.

USA’s Laila Edwards scores

Laila Edwards takes advantage of a Renata Fast turnover, skates into the zone, does some nice stickhandling and rips an even nicer shot for a 3-1 U.S. lead.

USA pressing

After being outshot all game, the USA now leads 26-24 in shots.

Third period underway

2-1 USA.

Tracking the Olympic roster

USA Hockey is expected to release its rosters for the Olympics and Paralympics at the end of December or early January.

There are 30 players on the Rivalry Series roster, which means U.S. women’s coach John Wroblewski will have to cut seven players. But don’t ask him about it, because he’s not anywhere close to deciding which seven players won’t make the cut.

“A week ago, Layla and Kirsten Simms weren’t even practicing at Wisconsin. They weren’t going to be here,” he said after Thursday’s game. “So we’ve really got to pump the brakes on any speak of when we’re going to trim things down.”

Edwards and Simms suffered knee injuries last month. They returned for Wisconsin’s games against Minnesota last weekend, and both scored in the Badgers’ 7-2 win Saturday. Simms also had two assists while Edwards had one.

Edwards had an assist on the Americans’ first goal Thursday night while Simms assisted on the last goal.

End of second period: USA 2, Canada 1

Both teams connect on the power play, with their Olympic veterans and captains getting the goals. Hilary Knight gave the USA a 1-0 lead and after Kelly Pannek connected, Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin cut the U.S. lead to 2-1. Cayla Barnes made a great defensive play late to disrupt a scoring chance from Canada’s Sarah Fillier.

Shots are 22-18 Canada through two periods.

USA power play

Julia Gosling is called for holding. The USA already has a power-play goal in this period. Canada kills this one off. Kirsten Simms was stopped in close.

Canada gets one back

Marie-Philip Poulin scores off a pass from Renata Fast 14 seconds into a power play. That cuts the U.S. lead to 2-1.

USA scores again

Abbey Murphy intercepts goalie Kayle Osborne’s clearing attempt behind the net and feeds Kelly Pannek, who scores before Osborne can get back into position. 2-0 USA.

Hilary Knight gives USA the lead

The USA moves the puck around well on the power play. Megan Keller’s point shot is stopped, but Hilary Knight knocks in the rebound. Laila Edwards gets the secondary assist.

USA power play

Micah Zandee-Hart is called for holding.

Canada power play

Hayley Scamurra is called for holding. Canada was 1-for-3 on the power play in the opening game. USA kills it off. It has a couple short-handed chances.

Second period underway

Scoreless. USA is on the power play, but Canada kills off the remainder.

End of first period: USA 0, Canada 0

Not a lot of great chances in that period. Shots went high on a couple breakaways. Shots were 8-4 Canada, but the USA will have a little more than a minute of carry-over power play at the start of the second period.

USA power play

Renata Fast is called for interference for knocking Laila Edwards into goalie Gwyneth Philips. The net goes off the moorings and Philips’ mask comes off. Despite that, someone from Canada takes a shot near Philips, who is not happy.

Canada chance

Laura Stacy shoots high on a breakaway.

Abbey Murphy chance

Murphy breaks in from the blue line but her backhander goes high. She had a hat trick in the opener.

Game underway

Game 2 of the Rivalry Series has started. Gwyneth Philips in net for the USA. Kayle Osborne is in net for Canada.

When do the U.S. women and Canada play?

Game 2 of the Rivalry Series between the USA and Canada is at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov 8.

Where is the game being played?

The game is at Key Bank Center in Buffalo, New York

Where can I watch the USA-Canada Rivalry Series?

The game will air on NHL Network.

How can I stream the USA-Canada Rivalry Series?

Fubo and certain Sling TV packages carry NHL Network. Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers. 

Watch Rivalry Series on Fubo

Team USA lineup

Team Canada lineup

Hot streak for Team USA

The U.S. women’s victory Thursday night was their third in a row against Canada, their longest streak since winning four in a row in 2023. That streak started in the title game of the world championships in Brampton, Ontario, where Hilary Knight had a hat trick to lead the Americans’ 6-3 win.

Fun fact: Neither team has ever swept the Rivalry Series.

Why is US-Canada women’s hockey rivalry so heated?

Canada and the United States are the dominant teams in the women’s game, and no one else (yet) comes close.

The teams have played each other in the final at every Olympics and world championships but two, with Canada winning five of the seven Olympic gold medals and 13 of the 24 world titles. But the U.S. women have won two of the last three world championships, including an overtime thriller in Czechia in April.

Abbey Murphy, Harvey and Heise had goals in regulation for the Americans before Tessa Janecke scored the game-winner on a tap-in.

Canada leads the Americans in all-time meetings (108-84-1). But the United States has bragging rights for winning gold in the first Olympic women’s hockey tournament, beating Canada 3-1 at the Nagano Games in 1998.

Homecoming game

“The Cleveland Queen” had a night to remember.

Laila Edwards, who grew up in Cleveland Heights, had an assist on the first U.S. goal Thursday night. She also drew the loudest cheers when she was introduced as a starter, and Hilary Knight handed over ceremonial puck drop duties to her.

The day before the game, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. was spotted wearing Edwards’ jersey.

“This has definitely been a very special couple of days that I’m going to remember forever,” said Edwards, who had not played in her hometown since her sophomore year in high school. (She went to a Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, New York to play hockey.)

“It’s been super fun and I’m sad it’s ending,” she added.

Saturday’s game will be a homecoming for veteran forward Hayley Scamurra, who grew up in Buffalo, and Haley Winn, who is from Rochester, which is about an hour away.

What is the Rivalry Series?

Now in its sixth season, the Rivalry Series features the U.S. and Canadian women’s national teams. This year’s edition consists of four games, the first two in the United States and the last two in Canada.

The Americans won the opener in Cleveland 4-1. After Saturday night’s game in Buffalo, the Rivalry Series will wrap up with games Dec. 10 and 13 in Edmonton, Alberta.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – Lionel Messi and Inter Miami will play in a decisive Game 3 against Nashville SC in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Chase Stadium.

With the series tied at 1-1, Messi and Inter Miami are staring at playoff elimination in the opening round for the second straight season.

It’ll be the fourth straight match between both clubs, but a trip to the MLS conference semifinals remains on the line. The winner will face FC Cincinnati, which beat Columbus Crew 2-1 in Game 3 earlier Saturday.

Here’s everything you need to know, and stay tuned for live updates from USA TODAY Sports:

Inter Miami 2, Nashville 0: Messi scores second goal (39’)

Messi has a brace, scoring his second goal just before halftime on an assist from 19-year-old Argentine Mateo Silvetti.

Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Baltazar Rodriguez misses shot (32’)

Inter Miami performed a set piece in the 32nd minute: Messi sent a pass to Rodriguez, who was just off the mark on his shot from outside the box.

Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Messi’s free kick hits Najar (30′)

Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Messi nutmegs Edvard Tagseth (19’)

The crowd erupted when Messi pulled off a nutmeg on Nashville’s Edvard Tagseth in the 19th minute. The exchanges from both players after the sequence was comical, too.

Inter Miami 1, Nashville 0: Messi scores goal (10’)

Ten minutes in, and No. 10 has scored: Messi connects on a left boot into the lower right corner of the net to give Inter Miami an early lead.

Inter Miami 0, Nashville 0: Why is Luis Suárez not playing?

Inter Miami will play without Uruguayan striker Luis Suárez, who was suspended for the match and fined after for kicking Nashville’s Andy Najar in Game 2. He was seen on the Inter Miami bench during the opening minutes of the game broadcast.

Inter Miami 0, Nashville SC 0: We’re underway (1′)

The match has begun shortly after 8:15 p.m. ET.

Messi arrives for Game 3

What time is Game 3 between Inter Miami vs. Nashville?

The match begins at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT, 9 p.m. in Argentina) at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Where to watch Inter Miami vs. Nashville Game 3 on TV/live stream?

The match will be available on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV.

Is Messi playing tonight?

Yes, Messi is a starter and will play tonight.

Inter Miami vs. Nashville starting lineups

Mateo Silvetti, a 19-year-old who played on Argentina’s runner-up Under-20 World Cup team, earned the start in place of Suarez on the front line for Inter Miami alongside Messi, Tadeo Allende and Baltazar Rodriguez.

Inter Miami vs. Nashville prediction

Inter Miami 3, Nashville 2: Inter Miami prevails with a brace and an assist by Messi at home, but don’t expect Nashville to just bow away so easily. –Safid Deen

Who does Inter Miami-Nashville winner play next in MLS playoffs?

The winner of Inter Miami-Nashville series will face No. 2 FC Cincinnati, which beat No. 7 Columbus Crew 2-1 in Game 3 earlier Saturday. Cincinnati would host No. 3 Inter Miami or No. 6 Nashville, whichever advances, in the conference semifinals.

Inter Miami vs. Nashville recent matches

Saturday will be the fourth match in as many weeks between Inter Miami and Nashville.

Decision Day:Messi had a hat trick in a 5-2 win for Inter Miami at Nashville on Oct. 18 to end the regular season.
Game 1: Messi scored twice with an assist in a 3-1 home win for Inter Miami on Oct. 24.
Game 2: Messi scored in the final minutes, but Nashville won 2-1 at home on Nov. 1. Nashville broke an 11-game winless streak against Inter Miami in the victory.

Messi’s upcoming schedule with Inter Miami, Argentina

Messi was called up by Argentina to participate in a November 14 friendly against Angola in the African country. The match occurs during the Nov. 10-18 FIFA international window. It’s possible Messi will travel for the match, even if Inter Miami advances to the next round of the playoffs.

MLS Cup playoff schedule

Nov. 22-23: Conference semifinals
Nov. 29-30: Conference finals
Dec. 6: MLS Cup Final

Inter Miami vs. Nashville betting odds

Here are the betting odds for tonight’s match during regulation, according to BETMGM.

Inter Miami: -165
Draw: +350
Nashville: +340
Over/under goals: 3.5 goals

Morris, a sixth-year senior at his fourth school, has been a vital part of the No. 11 Cavaliers’ resurgence this season. Virginia (8-1, 5-0 ACC) trailed Wake Forest 10-6 at halftime after losing Morris and is in jeopardy of losing its undefeated conference mark.

Morris entered the game with 2,069 yards with 12 touchdowns to five interceptions this season. The son of former Arkansas head coach Chad Morris also has 208 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the year.

Morris started his career at Oklahoma before transferring to TCU, North Texas and now Virginia for his final year of eligibility.

Here’s what to know of Morris’ injury, as Virginia looks to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive.

Chandler Morris injury update

Morris took a big hit in the second quarter of the Virginia-Wake Forest game on Nov. 8, and was knocked out of the game.

Morris scrambled for 6 yards and was met by two Wake Forest defenders as he slid, in a play that looked like it could’ve been targeting. The Demon Deacons’ defender was instead given a 15-yard personal foul penalty.

Morris was down on the field for a few moments before walking off to the sideline on his own. He then went to the locker room and didn’t return to the game in the first half.

He won’t be returning for the second half, either, according to multiple reports.

Maybe all Oregon needed was just a little extra motivation.

The Ducks’ ears perked up when College Football Playoff selection committee slotted them at No. 9 in the first rankings of the season.

They listened further when Kirk Herbstreit tried told Pat McAfee that Iowa wasn’t going to lose a November home game to a ranked opponent, something the Hawkeyes have excelled in.

Haven’t people learned not to give Oregon coach Dan Lanning extra motivation?

Lanning and the Ducks made a statement, narrowly beating No. 24 Iowa 18-16 to reaffirm its status as a playoff contender.

It was far from the flashy, dominant win we’ve grown accustomed to seeing Oregon pull off. But even though the Ducks didn’t pummel the Hawkeyes to death, it’s just as impressive of a win.

Oregon was without leading receiver Dakorien Moore and tight end Kenyon Sadiq was hobbled. Gary Bryant Jr., another important receiver, left early in the contest. The pressure was on for Dante Moore and company to execute against one of the best passing defenses in the country.

Instead, the Ducks flexed their muscles and reminded the committee its defense is up there with one of the best. 

“I guess that’s what they call Big Ten football,” Lanning said. “What an unbelievable game.”

Sure, the Iowa offense isn’t much to brag about, but Oregon’s defense was able to carry the day when the explosive offense was subdued. 

An errant snap on a punt by Iowa in the first quarter led to a safety. Oregon recovered a fumble in its own territory to prevent an Iowa score.

But the defense could only hold on for so long. Iowa scored a touchdown to take a one-point lead with 1:51 left in the game.

That’s when the offense did just enough. Dante Moore used precision passing and was able to lead the Ducks into field-goal range.

Then they needed with the leg of Atticus Sappington, who drilled it from 39 yards with three seconds left for his third field goal of the day to secure the win.

“Unbelievable job of our players in those moments,” Lanning said.

Don’t be fooled by the offensive struggles. Oregon has proven it can play a tough brand of football.

It was just the type of win Oregon needed. Ask Indiana how its trip to Iowa City went, when it scored a season-low 20 points and won by just five points.

It’s the best win of the season, after the Penn State victory lost some its luster thanks to the downfall of the Nittany Lions. Before the game, Oregon’s only win against a team above .500 was against 5-4 Northwestern. 

The Ducks will return home to play Minnesota. After that comes what could be a playoff elimination game against Southern California. Then there’s the season finale, where the same stakes could be on the line on the road against rival Washington. 

If its future opponents are able to keep up, that would give Oregon important victories at the most-important time of the season.

That should be more than enough to impress the committee to not just make the playoff, but give them the possibility of hosting a first round game, meaning someone will have to go into Austen Stadium to advance into the quarterfinal.

No. 2 Indiana football has survived.

The Hoosiers remain undefeated after an incredible last-minute touchdown from Omar Cooper Jr. to stay undefeated and avoid the upset of Penn State with a 27-24 win.

One of the best teams in the country, Indiana had mostly breezed by its opponents in easy fashion for several dominant victories, but it took all 60 minutes for the Hoosiers to get the upper hand for good against a Nittany Lions team that has not found its footing all season.

While Saturday, Nov. 8 started out looking like the Hoosiers would once against cruise to a win, Ethan Grunkemeyer and Nick Singleton managed to make it a game in which the Nittany Lions held a 24-20 lead with under two minutes left.

Penn State’s national title aspirations were wiped away with a five game losing streak that included the firing of coach James Franklin and a season-ending injury to Drew Allar.

Going against Indiana, it was expected to be another loss that would put the Nittany Lions on the brink of missing out on bowl eligibility. 

Midway through the third quarter, it looked like that would happen when Indiana jumped out to a 20-7 lead.

But the Nittany Lions didn’t fold. The defense clamped down and the offense did just enough to score 17 consecutive points and take the lead with less than seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

Starting at its own 20-yard line with no timeouts and less than two minutes remaining, Indiana marched down the field thanks to accurate throws from quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

On third and goal, Penn State brought the blitz against Mendoza, and he somehow was able to find Cooper Jr. in the back of the endzone, who barely got one foot down to secure the touchdown and take the lead. Review upheld the call as a miraculous catch, and Indiana recaptured the lead.

Penn State was unable to score in the final seconds to tie or take the lead again.

Now, Indiana moves to 10-0 and remains in great position to win the Big Ten title and be a top four seed in the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers also secured their first back-to-back 10-win seasons.

The win was also a historic one for the program, marking the first time Indiana has won at Beaver Stadium. It was previously 0-13 on Penn State’s home field.

As for the Nittany Lions, they have now lost six consecutive games and are on the brink of being eliminated from bowl game consideration. At 3-6, Penn State is also winless in conference play.

The Nittany Lions were closed to snapping a streak that was a stain on Franklin’s tenure. Penn State entered the game with 14 straight losses to teams ranked in the top five, the last victory coming in 2016 at home against Ohio State.

Now the streak gets pushed to 15, and Indiana’s title hopes remain well intact.

(This story was updated to add a video)