SEC and ACC Roundup: Texas Stuns LSU at the Wire, Georgia Rolls, Kentucky Falls to Florida
Saturday, November 14, reshuffled part of the College Football Playoff race. Texas won at LSU on the final play, Kentucky fell at home to Florida, South Carolina was routed at Arkansas, and Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Miami, Wake Forest and Notre Dame all held serve with varying degrees of comfort. Here is a game-by-game look at the key results in the SEC, the ACC and among the independents, alongside our Big Ten roundup.
Texas 22, LSU 21
Texas, sixth in the CFP rankings, rallied past LSU in Baton Rouge after trailing by 11 points in the second half. Arch Manning was intercepted three times and completed just 19 of 35 passes for 174 yards. Down 21-16 with 2 minutes, 19 seconds left, the Longhorns drove 58 yards in 12 plays, ending with Manning's 4-yard touchdown pass to Raleek Brown with three seconds remaining. Texas has won four straight and moves to 8-2 (5-2 SEC). LSU, in its first season under Lane Kiffin, falls to 6-4 and sees its playoff hopes fade.
The game turned on mistakes as much as on big plays. LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns to Jackson Harris, but he was also intercepted three times, each one by Texas safety Jelani McDonald, and the Tigers missed a 38-yard field goal just before halftime. Gianni Spetic's field goals of 41 and 50 yards brought Texas within 21-16 and set up the final drive. In front of 102,321 fans, the Longhorns won at Tiger Stadium for the first time since 1952.
Georgia 48, Missouri 21
No. 1 in the CFP rankings, Georgia gave Missouri no chance in Athens. Raylen Wilson intercepted the Tigers' first pass, and the Bulldogs led 31-0 midway through the second quarter. Gunner Stockton completed 18 of 24 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown and ran for another, while Nate Frazier scored three rushing touchdowns. Georgia is 9-1 and has beaten Missouri 11 times in a row. The Tigers, held to 286 yards, drop to 6-4.
Alabama 21, Vanderbilt 6
Alabama won without shining in Nashville. Keelon Russell threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns, the first to Marshall Pritchett six seconds before halftime and the next two to Lotzeir Brooks in the third quarter. The last one followed an 83-yard return by Dijon Lee Jr. on the restart. The Crimson Tide rushed for only 92 yards and committed two turnovers, but Vanderbilt, flagged 14 times, scored only on two field goals. Alabama moves to 8-2 (6-2 SEC), Vanderbilt to 4-6.
Florida 21, Kentucky 14
This was the upset of the day in the SEC. Kentucky, 11th in the CFP rankings, led 7-2 at halftime before giving way in the second half in front of its home crowd. Jadan Baugh first put Florida ahead after a strip of quarterback Kenny Minchey, then Aaron Philo scored the decisive touchdown on a 2-yard run with 9 minutes, 8 seconds left, followed by a two-point conversion. The Gators outgained the Wildcats 330 yards to 242 and stopped their final two drives. Kentucky, beaten for the second straight week, falls to 7-3 (5-3 SEC).
Philo finished with 119 passing yards and 102 rushing yards, and his go-ahead score capped a 14-play, 67-yard drive. The two-point conversion came on a trick play, a pass from receiver Kahleil Jackson to Dallas Wilson. Kentucky managed only 61 rushing yards. Florida (6-4, 4-4 SEC) is bowl eligible in the first season of Jon Sumrall, who beat his alma mater, and Baugh scored his 15th touchdown of the season, the most in the SEC.
Tennessee 22, Texas A&M 7
Tennessee, eighth in the CFP rankings, trailed 7-6 at halftime in College Station before its defense took over. The Volunteers held Texas A&M to 179 yards and intercepted two passes in the fourth quarter, one of them by TJ Metcalf. Cooper Ranvier made five field goals, tying the school single-game record, and Faizon Brandon threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to DaSaahn Brame to make it 16-7. Tennessee moves to 8-2 (5-2 SEC), while Texas A&M drops to 4-6 (1-6).
The Volunteers ran for 196 yards, led by DeSean Bishop (97) and Javin Gordon (78), and Texas A&M went three-and-out on its first four possessions of the second half. Tennessee has now won at least eight games in five straight seasons under Josh Heupel.
Arkansas 34, South Carolina 6
The other upset of the day came in Fayetteville. Arkansas forced four turnovers and beat South Carolina, 17th in the AP poll, to end a 10-game home losing streak in SEC play. KJ Jackson threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns, to Chris Marshall and Antonio Jordan, as the Razorbacks led 17-0 at halftime. Joker Johnson intercepted two passes and returned one 63 yards for a touchdown. South Carolina (6-4, 4-4 SEC), without receiver Nyck Harbor, saw its four-game winning streak end. Arkansas improves to 4-6 (2-5).
Jackson completed 15 of 24 passes and added 46 rushing yards, and the 34 points were the most Arkansas has scored in a conference game this season. South Carolina quarterback Cutter Woods threw for 271 yards on 43 attempts.
Auburn 41, Mississippi State 9
Auburn became bowl eligible for the first time since 2023 by overwhelming Mississippi State in Starkville. The Tigers recovered four fumbles in the first half and turned them into 24 points, with seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss along the way. Byrum Brown threw three touchdown passes, including a 42-yarder to Keshaun Singleton, and ran for a 1-yard score. Mississippi State, which used three quarterbacks, was held to 46 rushing yards. Auburn is 6-4 (4-4 SEC); the Bulldogs fall to 4-6 (2-6).
It was the first time Auburn scored at least 40 points in regulation in an SEC game since 2023, and its defense stopped Mississippi State three times on fourth down.
Ole Miss at Oklahoma: Moved to Sunday
One SEC game was not played on Saturday. Ole Miss at Oklahoma was moved to Sunday, November 15, at noon Central time, after a nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday kept the Rebels from flying to Norman. The SEC made the change over the objection of Oklahoma athletic director Roger Denny.
The SEC Race
Georgia leads the conference at 7-1, ahead of Alabama (6-2). Texas and Tennessee are 5-2, and Kentucky is 5-3. The top two teams in the final standings will meet in the SEC championship game. On Saturday, November 21, Georgia plays at South Carolina, Texas hosts Arkansas and Tennessee hosts LSU. Florida and Auburn both reached six wins, and bowl eligibility, this Saturday.
Miami 36, Duke 25
Miami took another step toward the ACC championship game by staying unbeaten in conference play (9-1, 7-0). Darian Mensah threw for 382 yards and a touchdown against his former team, and Cooper Barkate caught eight passes for 134 yards. Javian Mallory scored three times: on a 63-yard reception, then on runs of 2 and 39 yards in the fourth quarter. Duke stayed within reach behind Nate Sheppard, who ran for 131 yards and two touchdowns. The Blue Devils drop to 7-3 (4-3 ACC).
Wake Forest 49, SMU 7
Wake Forest sent a message in Dallas. The Demon Deacons, 13th in the CFP rankings, led 42-0 at halftime and gained more than 500 yards. Jake Dickert's team, days after his contract extension, has won its last six games by at least 20 points each, outscoring those opponents 313-38. Wake Forest moves to 9-1 (6-1 ACC) and stays right behind Miami. SMU falls to 7-3 (5-3).
Notre Dame 41, Boston College 7
One week after beating Miami, Notre Dame showed no letdown in South Bend. The Fighting Irish led 31-0 at halftime, with 287 yards to Boston College's 46 in the first half. Jonaz Walton ran for 141 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Fifth in the CFP rankings, Notre Dame improves to 9-1.
What to Take Away
The day's two losers in the playoff race are Kentucky and LSU, both beaten at home. South Carolina, routed at Arkansas, joins them. Texas, by contrast, added a marquee win to its résumé, and Georgia strengthened its hold on the top spot. In the ACC, Miami and Wake Forest remain one win apart, with the Hurricanes hosting Virginia Tech on Saturday, November 21.
Two Big 12 games finished later in the evening: Utah won 40-39 at Arizona, and Texas Tech won 52-27 at Oklahoma State. The next College Football Playoff committee rankings are expected on Tuesday, November 17.
