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After impressive Georgia win, there’s no denying Lane Kiffin is a legit ball coach

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After impressive Georgia win, there’s no denying Lane Kiffin is a legit ball coach


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There important results in Week 11 of the college football season that will shake conference and playoff races. Matt Hayes analyzes four hot topics from Saturday’s games.

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1. First Down: Lane Kiffin, the ball coach

Don’t take the bait. Don’t focus on the fall of Georgia and the undoing of the best program in college football ― and ignore the rise of Lane Kiffin.

Because there’s no denying it now: Kiffin is a legit ball coach.

“We planned for this game all year,” Kiffin said while Ole Miss fans stormed the field moments after a stunning 28-10 whipping of Georgia.

It’s not that Ole Miss became the first team in 53 games not named Alabama to beat Georgia. It’s not that the win left the Rebels with a clear road to the College Football Playoff.

It’s that Kiffin, long the college football coaching outcast because of how his career began – not how it has developed – got his first mega win in the big, bad SEC. Forget about the top-five win against Oregon in 2011 as the USC coach, this is different.

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This is a victory that underscores the five-year buildout that until Saturday had been equal parts the school record for single season wins (11 in 2023), and a handful of ugly losses to SEC heavyweights Alabama, LSU and Georgia. In fact, it was the loss to Georgia last season – a humiliating 35-point defeat – that paved the way for this season of change.

That 52-17 loss to the Dawgs was the worst of Kiffin’s career, and – fair or not –further solidified him as the coach who couldn’t win big games. Never mind that he was building at Ole Miss, a perennial underachiever in the meatgrinder conference.

You’re judged on what you do in the SEC, not what you say or post on X. And Kiffin wasn’t earning it.

So he pushed all-in this offseason, and the Georgia game was his now or never. He told the Ole Miss NIL collectives he needed cash to compete, and he got it.

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He built the roster from the inside out through, focusing on the lines of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and adding key pieces through the transfer portal. The plan was simple: run the ball on offense, affect the quarterback on defense.

He convinced offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and play caller Charlie Weis Jr., to stay in Oxford, instead of taking more money from Florida coach Billy Napier to run the Gators’ offense.

And here we are: the Rebels lead the nation in sacks (46), and are No. 2 in the nation in total offense. Ole Miss is two improbable fourth-down completions in late losses to Kentucky and LSU from an unbeaten season.

Ole Miss gave up 611 yards in last year’s 52-17 loss to Georgia, and gave up 245 Saturday. The Rebels didn’t get a sack in last year’s game, and got five this time around – and forced three turnovers.   

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Now Ole Miss is two wins – at Florida and home against rival Mississippi State – from reaching the CFP as an at-large selection (watch how high the Rebels jump in this week’s CFP poll), and could play in the SEC championship game with a little help.

There’s no denying it now: Kiffin is a legit ball coach.

UP AND DOWN: Georgia’s loss leads Week 11 winners and losers

2. Second Down: Deion and the CFP

You know it, I know it. This thing is destined for Deion Sanders and the CFP: the biggest personality in the sport, and the new 12-team playoff.

A match made in television heaven.

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We’ve seen everything in a wild Big 12 race, and now we’re primed (pun intended) for a remarkable one-season turnaround. It’s all setting up for Colorado coach Deion Sanders to lead the Buffs to the Big 12 championship game – and one game away from the playoff

Not just any spot – an automatic qualifier spot, which comes with a coveted first-round bye. That means more Prime, all the time.  

From losing eight of nine games to finish the 2023 season, to controlling its destiny in the Big 12 race, Colorado needs wins against Utah, at Kansas and against Oklahoma State – the Buffs will be favored in all three games — to complete a remarkable turnaround.

An improbable run from a team that couldn’t protect star quarterback Shedeur Sanders in September, and couldn’t get off the field defensively for the first six weeks of the season.

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But after Saturday’s 41-27 win at Texas Tech, it’s clear the Buffs have figured it out. CU went into the toughest place to play in the Big 12, and forced three turnovers (and didn’t give up a turnover), and had six sacks.

The Buffs won despite rushing for only 60 yards, and committing 14 penalties for 106 yards. They won because they consistently made plays on offense when they needed it, and got stops (and got off the field) against a Texas Tech offense that last week rolled the best defense in the conference (Iowa State).

That can only mean one thing: more Prime, all the time.

3. Third Down: Kurtis Rourke, Heisman candidate

He doesn’t have the numbers of Cam Ward or Ashton Jeanty, or the efficiency of Dillon Gabriel, or the big-play game of Travis Hunter.

But if you’re looking for an impactful player in the thick of the CFP race, a player who has elevated a program from the depths of the Bowl Subdivision cellar to an unbeaten season, it’s time to take a long look at Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke.

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A sixth-year senior transfer from Ohio, Rourke made big throws again Saturday, this time in a 20-15 win over Michigan to give the Hoosiers their first 10-win season in program history. History.

Rourke threw for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and now has a TD/INT ratio of 21/4 in nine games. But strong performances against Michigan, Michigan State and UCLA are one thing. Playing big at Ohio State in two weeks is the bar.

If Rourke has a big game and leads Indiana to an upset of the Buckeyes, watch how quickly momentum turns in his favor in the Heisman race. He’ll go from a fun novelty leading a team that really doesn’t have a signature win, to a Heisman front-runner with arguably the best win of any team in the CFP race.      

4. Fourth Down: Miami meltdown burns ACC

Look beyond another Miami loss to double-digit underdog Georgia Tech, and look directly at the ACC race to the CFP.

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And how Miami’s 28-23 defeat Saturday all but ends the ACC’s chances of getting a second team in the 12-team playoff. Unless the remainder of November is full of upsets, it’s likely only one ACC team is part of the field.

The conference is watered-down, the star power outside of the Hurricanes is limited and the resume for any potential playoff contender consists of wins against the worst Power Four conference in the game. The ACC’s best chance at getting more than its champion in the CFP was SMU winning out and beating undefeated Miami in the ACC championship game.

The easiest way to explain it: Miami’s best resume win will be the ACC championship game. So will SMU’s. So will Pitt’s, and Clemson’s.

See the trend?

“You can’t sugarcoat it,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said in his postgame press conference. “We didn’t do a good enough job.”

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And that has left the Canes (9-1 overall, 5-1 ACC) with no more CFP wiggle room. They’ll go from the projected ACC champion in last week’s CFP poll, to potentially falling behind two-loss SEC teams and outside the top 10 in this week’s poll.

Miami’s schedule is among the easiest in the Power Four, and SMU isn’t far behind – though the Mustangs’ schedule is slightly better with a three-point home loss to Big 12 leader Brigham Young. This is how quickly it can turn in the CFP race.

Miami has gone from the thrill-a-minute team with the Heisman Trophy favorite (Ward) leading second half comebacks, to the team giving up an average of 31.6 points in six ACC games — with no room for error the rest of the season.

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





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Georgia football-UMass live updates, score, analysis and injury news for Week 13 game

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Georgia football-UMass live updates, score, analysis and injury news for Week 13 game


The No. 10 Georgia football team will take on the UMass Minutemen in a Week 13 college football game. Below you can find live updates, analysis, the latest injury news and the score.

Georgia is 8-2 on the season while UMass is 2-8. UMass parted ways with its head coach this week.

Georgia football-UMass live updates, score, analysis for Week 13 game

10 a.m. ET: Georgia football will honor its senior class on Saturday when the Bulldogs take on the UMass. The ceremony will take place prior to Saturday’s game, with festivities starting at 12:23 p.m. ET.

As for the injury front, look for Georgia to be without a few skill players in running back Trevor Etienne and wide receiver Dillon Bell. Etienne is dealing with a rib injury that forced him to miss last week’s game against Tennessee.

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Bell left the Tennessee game with an ankle injury. His injury is not expected to force him to miss significant time.

Look for two freshmen to step up in their place. At running back Nate Frazier will once again carry the load for Georgia. He has a rushing touchdown in each of the past three games.

At wide receiver, Nitro Tuggle will look to build off his game against Tennessee.

“Nitro’s responded well. He’s worked hard. He had a good practice today,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “I think he gained some confidence from that because he went against a really good defense and he did some nice things. But, I mean, he goes against a good defense every day in practice, and there’s times that he’s been frustrated. I mean, he would tell you openly that he wants to play. He wants to help. All freshmen want to play.”

With Georgia being a massive favorite, the Bulldogs will look to get some young players some reps this weekend. Georgia also has a quick turnaround, as it faces Georgia Tech on Friday.

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The Yellow Jackets played on Thursday, beating NC State 30-29.

Georgia football injury report against UMass

  • Earnest Greene — shoulder — questionable
  • Micah Morris — ankle — questionable
  • Dillon Bell — ankle — out
  • Roderick Robinson — toe — out
  • Branson Robinson — knee — out
  • Joseph Jonah-Ajonye — foot — out
  • Trevor Etienne — ribs — out

Georgia football-UMass game time for Week 13 game

The Georgia football-UMass game is set for a 12:45 p.m. ET kickoff

Georgia football-UMass TV channel for Week 13 game

The Georgia football-UMass game will air on the SEC Network. Dave Neal and Max Starks will be calling the game.

How to stream Georgia football-UMass game for Week 13

You can watch the Georgia football-Tennessee Tech game online via the WatchESPN app. Click here to watch the game.

Georgia football-UMass odds for Week 13 game

The Georgia football team is a 42.5-point favorite over UMass. The over/under is 55.5.



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What channel is Marquette vs Georgia on Saturday? Time, TV schedule, streaming, odds

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What channel is Marquette vs Georgia on Saturday? Time, TV schedule, streaming, odds


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So Marquette men’s basketball fans, your Golden Eagles are ranked No. 15 in the country and coming off of a dominant 76-58 victory over No. 6 Purdue.

You can’t wait to watch the next game, right?

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Do you want the bad news or the worse news first?

The bad news is the Marquette-Georgia game on Saturday morning is only available through a sports streaming service.

The worse news is that it’s going to cost most viewers about $20 to watch the game.

Because the Marquette-Georgia game in the Bahamas is not a Big East, SEC, ESPN or Fox sponsored event, the game is only available through the streaming service FLO Sports. It doesn’t offer a free trial and regular subscriptions cost $19.99 a month. There’s a discount for students.

Marquette and Georgia are 5-0 heading into Saturday, but the Golden Eagles have played a tougher schedule.

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Here’s how to watch and listen to the game:

What channel is Marquette vs Georgia on today?

  • Stream: You can stream the game through FLO Sports, which requires a subscription. Subscriptions start at $19.99 a month. A student subscription costs $9.99 a month.
  • Announcers: Evan Stockton (play-by-play) and Lexi Ayala (analyst) are calling the action.

Marquette vs Georgia time today

  • Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
  • Time: 10 a.m. CT

The Marquette vs. Georgia game starts at 10 a.m. at Imperial Arena in Nassau, Bahamas.

How can I listen to Marquette vs Georgia on the radio?

  • The game’s on ESPN Milwaukee WKTI FM-94.5 in Milwaukee, plus WCUB 980 AM in Two Rivers, WDLB 1450 AM in Marshfield, WSCO 95.3 FM/1570 AM in Appleton and WSCO 99.1 FM in Oshkosh.
  • Steve “Homer” True (play-by-play) and Tony Smith (analyst) will call the game.

Is Marquette vs Georgia on SiriusXM Radio?

Yes, the Marquette broadcast is on Channel 390. The Georgia broadcast is available on the Sirius app.

Marquette vs Georgia odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday

  • ODDS: Marquette -6.5
  • O/U: 152.5

Marquette Golden Eagles basketball schedule 2024-25

All times Central

  • Nov. 4: Marquette 102, Stony Brook 62 | Box score | 1-0
  • Nov. 8: Marquette 82, George Mason 63 | Box score | 2-0
  • Nov. 11: Marquette 70, Central Michigan 62 | Box score | 3-0
  • Nov. 15: Marquette 78, Maryland 74 | Box score | 4-0
  • Nov. 19: Marquette 76, Purdue 58 | Box score | 5-0
  • Nov. 23: vs. Georgia in Nassau, Bahamas, 10 a.m.
  • Nov. 27: Stonehill, 8 p.m.
  • Nov. 30: Western Carolina, 1 p.m.
  • Dec. 4: at Iowa State, 7 p.m.
  • Dec. 7: Wisconsin, 12:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 14: at Dayton, 6 p.m.
  • Dec. 18: Butler, 8 p.m.
  • Dec. 21: at Xavier, 11 a.m.
  • Dec. 31: at Providence, 5 p.m.
  • Jan. 3: Creighton, 8 p.m.
  • Jan. 7: Georgetown, 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 14: at DePaul, 6 p.m.
  • Jan. 18: Xavier, 1 p.m.
  • Jan. 21: at Seton Hall, 7 p.m.
  • Jan. 24: Villanova, 6 p.m.
  • Jan. 28: at Butler, 7:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 1: UConn, 7 p.m.
  • Feb. 4: at St. John’s, 5:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 8: at Creighton, 1 p.m.
  • Feb. 11: DePaul, 7:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 18: Seton Hall, 8 p.m.
  • Feb. 21: at Villanova, 6 p.m.
  • Feb. 25: Providence, 6 p.m.
  • March 1: at Georgetown, 7 p.m.
  • March 5: at UConn, 7:30 p.m.
  • March 8: St. John’s, TBA
  • March 12-15: Big East tournament, New York
  • Record: 5-0



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Wynk THC seltzer coming to stores across Georgia. Here’s what we know

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Wynk THC seltzer coming to stores across Georgia. Here’s what we know


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This Thanksgiving, want something a little different to wash down your meal? If so, there’s a new beverage you might like to try.

On Wednesday, Wynk announced the statewide debut of its THC-infused seltzers. According to the company’s news release, Wynk delivers a refreshing social experience with a balanced 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD using high-quality manufacturing standards.

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The drink comes in a variety of flavors including “Black Cherry Fizz,” “Lime Twist,” “Juicy Mango,” and “Tangerine.” They come in 7.5 oz cans with 2.5mg of THC and CBD and 12 oz cans with 5mg of each. The prices are as follows:

  • 6-Pack: 2.5mg $24.99; 5mg $35.99
  • 12-Pack: 2.5mg $44.99; 5mg $67.99
  • 24-Pack: 2.5mg $89.99; 5mg $129.99

Products like these may be legally sold due to Congress legalizing hemp production in the 2018 Farm Bill, according to a press release on Georgia’s Hemp Farming Act. Hemp is a cannabis plant that naturally contains small amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9 THC, along with other natural cannabinoids that may be used for medicinal purposes. Under Georgia’s new legislation, products that contain these kinds of ingredients are restricted those 21 and older.

Wynk is being sold in a variety of stores across Georgia like Chevron, Circle K, and BP. To find your nearest store that sells it, go to drinkwynk.com/find-in-stores.



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