Week 7 brings a slate loaded with heavyweight games, and this is the kind of Saturday that can redraw the College Football Playoff race in a hurry. Nebraska, Indiana, Missouri and the playoff format itself all sit in the spotlight as the weekend opens with more uncertainty than answers.
Start with Oregon, where the quarterback picture is still a mess. Dylan Raiola, Akili Smith Jr. and Brock Thomas are all in the mix after Raiola’s rough outing turned into a 17-15 loss to UCLA, with Thomas putting up the more encouraging numbers after stepping in.
Nebraska walks into that uncertainty as a tougher team than the Bruins by ESPN’s Bill Connelly’s SP+ metric, and the Huskers also come in with fresh motivation after losing to Indiana. Oregon’s seven-point spread edge looks vulnerable here, especially with Nebraska’s strong secondary waiting to make life miserable for whichever quarterback the Ducks choose.
Anthony Colandrea is expected to deliver a clean day at quarterback, and that should be enough for Nebraska to keep pushing toward a CFP berth.
Indiana gets its own chance to shake up the top of the sport when it faces Ohio State. The Buckeyes’ offensive line has already shown cracks this season, and now it will be missing starter Austin Siereveld.
That is a dangerous setup against an Indiana defense that ranks third nationally with 20 sacks, behind only Tennessee and LSU. Julian Sayin is expected to feel that pressure throughout the day, much like he did in the Big Ten championship, when Indiana sacked him five times.
Add in a strong showing from Indiana’s receivers, and the Hoosiers have a path to slip past Ohio State and leave Ryan Day’s team with very little breathing room.
Ole Miss also enters the weekend under pressure at a spot that should be its strength. Pete Golding’s defense has not exactly been airtight, with 392.4 yards per game allowed - a mark better than only Florida in the SEC.
Missouri visits with a quarterback who has both a reason and a resume to make the Rebels pay: Austin Simmons. He lost his job a season ago to Trinidad Chambliss, had not thrown an interception before last week’s pick against Texas A&M, and still averages 239 yards per game even after that off day.
If Simmons has another rough one, Missouri’s defense looks good enough to carry the Tigers and strengthen their case as CFP contenders.
And then there’s the other big conversation hovering over the entire day: a 24-team CFP. That subject figures to pop up everywhere Saturday, but don’t expect much real pushback on air.
Networks have every incentive to talk up the idea, especially with ESPN likely needing to spread CFP inventory to other channels if the field expands next year. If there’s a viral moment, it may come from whichever commentator is willing to say what plenty of fans are thinking.
Pat “Rat” McAfee, Sean McDonough and Robert Griffin III all stand out as possibilities to be that voice.
In Other News...
Missouri Suddenly Has A Growing Problem Before Its Biggest Game
Missouris injury report is becoming harder to ignore at exactly the wrong time, with multiple players currently dealing with injuries and the wear showing up as the Tigers head toward their biggest game. The timing makes the upcoming bye week look less like a luxury and more like a badly needed reset, especially for a team trying to stay sharp while managing a growing list of health concerns.
Across the athletic department, there was at least one bright spot as Missouri soccer took down Ole Miss 3-0, with Emily Derucki scoring the opening goal. The football side, though, remains the more pressing storyline, and the broader conversation has started to tilt toward how much production Missouri can keep getting from its available players, along with the added attention around former Tigers running back Lacy finding success at Ole Miss. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Heads To Oxford With Key Roles Suddenly Up For Grabs
As No. 13 Mizzou heads to Oxford for a matchup with No. 9 Mississippi, the Tigers are carrying more than just the usual road-game uncertainty. Several key roles are suddenly in flux because of injuries, and that kind of late-week movement can ripple through both the offense and defense as the Tigers try to keep their game plan intact.
Tight end Brett Norfleet and linebacker Jeremiah Beasley are doubtful to play, which could open the door for other players to see expanded snaps at two spots that matter in very different ways. On the other side of the ball, defensive end Darris Smith is probable to return, a welcome development if Mizzou needs more life in its pass rush against Mississippis quarterback. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Just Added Another Guard Worth Watching In Dennis Gates' Plan
Missouris future backcourt got another boost with the addition of Devin Cleveland, a four-star combo guard from Chicago who has committed to the Tigers in the 2027 basketball recruiting class. Cleveland picked Mizzou over other finalists including TCU and Michigan, giving Dennis Gates another nationally regarded perimeter piece to work with as he keeps building out the roster for the long term.
The appeal with Cleveland is not just the recruiting win, but the fit. The scouting report in the article points to a guard with a useful blend of skill, size and versatility, the kind of player who can help Missouri keep stacking options in the backcourt and add another layer to Gates plan. For a program trying to stay ahead of the curve, landing a prospect with that kind of profile is the sort of move that can matter well beyond the day he signs. [Read more 🡒]