Today: Polling the media on Lane Kiffin's future, Josh Pate's Week 14 predictions, top games of the week, and the biggest CFP injustice ever.

~7.5 minute read (1,789 words)

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COACHING CAROUSEL

College football personalities predict Lane Kiffin's future

In the next few days, the Lane Kiffin Sweepstakes will finally be over. No one knows what the final Kiffhanger will be. Will Kiffin sit at a table and choose between Ole Miss, LSU, or Florida visors? Or maybe Kiffin will shoot off fireworks into the Oxford sky, spelling out a team's name.

Or maybe he'll just tweet his destination. Only Kiffin knows.

To get a read on what might happen, On3's Brett McMurphy surveyed more than 80 of the most plugged-in and influential figures in the college football media world for their predictions on where Kiffin will coach in 2026. The group ranged from ESPN anchors to national writers to major radio hosts.

Even three governors were invited to participate. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves offered a prediction that Kiffin would remain at Ole Miss. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry were apparently too busy governing to respond.

The results were overwhelmingly decisive. Out of more than 80 ballots, LSU earned 58 votes, making the Tigers the heavy favorite in the eyes of the industry. Ole Miss finished second with 17 votes, reflecting both optimism inside the state and acknowledgment of Kiffin's success in Oxford. Florida landed 5 votes, suggesting the Gators are viewed as a long shot. Steven Godfrey also cast one vote for Alabama. TBD if he knows something everyone else doesn't.

A handful of ballots went outside the college ranks. Tom Fornelli and Trey Wallace cast their votes for the Tennessee Titans. Where does Scott Van Pelt expect Kiffin to land? "No clue."

The takeaway is clear. Among the reporters, broadcasters, analysts, and insiders who cover the sport most closely, the expectation is that Lane Kiffin will be the next head coach at LSU. The process may be dramatic and unpredictable, but the consensus points strongly toward Baton Rouge as the final destination.

See how everyone voted here.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Josh Pate predicts Rivalry Week's biggest games

The final weekend of the regular season is the best the sport has to offer. Rivalry games carry added weight, and many come with major College Football Playoff implications. Josh Pate broke down four of the biggest matchups on Tuesday's edition of Josh Pate's College Football Show, offering his usual blend of model reads, gut feel, and a few opinions. Pate also has plenty of teams on upset alert this weekend, as Rivalry Weekend normally is one of the most chaotic of the year.

Here's how he sees this weekend unfolding.

No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan (+10)

Pate opened with The Game and reminded viewers of its most reliable trend. Since 2001, the winner of the rushing yard battle has claimed every meeting. On paper, many indicators point to Ohio State walking out of Ann Arbor with a win. Even so, Pate believes the rivalry's emotional weight matters more than the data. He is siding with Michigan based on the Wolverines' four-game winning streak in the series and does not think Ohio State's metrics erase that momentum.

Pate's prediction: Michigan wins outright.

No. 10 Alabama at Auburn (+6)

Jordan Hare Stadium always fuels tension, and Pate noted how uneasy Alabama fans become when the Iron Bowl heads to Auburn. The Tigers are 5-6 and still adjusting under interim coach D.J. Durkin, but the building itself is the storyline. Pate is not buying it. "I do not think Bama is getting punched out here," he said. He believes Alabama will settle in quickly, keep the environment from dictating the game, and punch its ticket to Atlanta.

Pate's prediction: Alabama takes care of business.

No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas (+2.5)

Pate expects this year's matchup to break from last season's script. He sees Texas A&M as the stronger, more stable team entering the rivalry game. "I think A&M will get the job done," Pate said. "They will win. And they will go to Atlanta to play for an SEC Championship." It would be A&M's first SEC title game appearance since joining the conference in 2012.

Pate's prediction: Texas A&M wins and covers.

No. 14 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Tennessee (-3)

Pate anticipates a pass-heavy game with Joey Aguilar and Diego Pavia taking advantage of two vulnerable secondaries. He expects fireworks and hinted at something bigger brewing for the Commodores. "I feel magic this week," he said. "I think Vandy is going to go in there and get the win. And I think they are going to make it hard on the Playoff committee."

Pate's prediction: Vanderbilt pulls the upset.

Read the full story.

NCAA FOOTBALL

Top games to watch in College Football rivalry week

Clark Lea, Lane Kiffin, Ryan Day, Mike Elko

The best week of the season is upon us. Rivalry Week is here, and Week 14 is loaded with top 25 matchups that will shape the College Football Playoff race. At least 20 games across FBS carry CFP implications, setting up a chaotic final weekend of the regular season.

Here are six of the biggest games of Week 14.

No. 7 Ole Miss at Mississippi State (Friday, Noon ET, ABC)

Lane Kiffin watch continues as Florida and LSU pursue the Ole Miss head coach. Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter released a statement Friday afternoon after meeting with Kiffin, noting that Kiffin plans to announce his future the day after the Egg Bowl. A win over Mississippi State would seal a College Football Playoff berth for Ole Miss, the first in program history.

No. 4 Georgia at No. 23 Georgia Tech (Friday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Georgia leads the all-time series 72–39–5 and has won the last four meetings. Last year, the Bulldogs rallied to beat Georgia Tech 44-42 in eight overtimes. This year, they are on track to make the CFP with a win over the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech fell to Pitt 42–28, dropping to 9–2 and hurting its ACC title hopes.

No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 16 Texas (Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

The Aggies travel to Austin in the second meeting since the rivalry was renewed in 2024. Texas escaped with a 17-7 win last year. Now Texas A&M arrives with a 10-0 record in Year 2 under Mike Elko. For Texas to stay alive in the 12-team CFP race, it must beat undefeated A&M on Black Friday. The Aggies are coming off a 48-0 win over Samford, while Arch Manning had six total touchdowns in a win over Arkansas.

No. 1 Ohio State at No. 15 Michigan (Saturday, Noon ET, FOX)

For four years running, Michigan has beaten Ohio State. The Buckeyes went on to win a national title last year after losing The Game. This year, they enter as the No. 1 team in the nation, touting an 11-0 record. Michigan enters winners of five straight with a 9-2 record. A win over Ohio State would probably vault the Wolverines into the College Football Playoff field. They're led by true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood.

No. 14 Vanderbilt at No. 19 Tennessee (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Vanderbilt is 9-2 and trying to make school history. A win over Tennessee would put the Commodores at 10-2 with a strong case for the CFP. Quarterback Diego Pavia has emerged as a Heisman contender with 3,585 total yards, but Vanderbilt must win in Knoxville to stay in the race.

No. 10 Alabama at Auburn (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Alabama is 9-2 and needs an Iron Bowl win to remain in CFP contention. Upset-minded Auburn is 1-1 under interim coach D. J. Durkin and welcomes the Tide into Jordan-Hare Stadium. Alabama leads the series 51-37-1 and has won five straight. A loss would eliminate the Tide from the playoff race for the second straight year under Kalen DeBoer.

See all 10 of the weekend's can't-miss games.

🚨Headlines

NCAA FOOTBALL

Wasserman: Miami is getting hit with the biggest College Football Playoff committee injustice ever

The College Football Playoff has faced controversy before, most notably in 2023 when unbeaten Florida State was left out in favor of one-loss SEC champion Alabama. That decision created lasting frustration in Tallahassee and highlighted a system that had four spots but five worthy teams. Someone was going to feel wronged no matter what the Committee chose.

What is happening now with Miami is different. This is not an impossible decision with no right answer. There is a clear, correct outcome, and the current CFP Committee has continued to select the incorrect one. Repeatedly.

Miami is 9-2 and ranked No. 12. Notre Dame is 9-2 and ranked No. 9. The Hurricanes own the head-to-head win. They also own a top ten victory over USC. The resumes are similar, and the cut line for the Playoff field sits directly between them. Yet the Committee continues to place Miami three spots behind the Irish without offering a compelling justification.

The expectation was that the gap would close as results accumulated, especially once both teams entered the same evaluation pod. Instead, Tuesday night's rankings revealed the same separation. Then CFP Committee chair Hunter Yurachek made it clear the discrepancy is not going to change. "Notre Dame and Miami, of course, you have the head-to-head, but that is only one data point," he said. He added that Notre Dame has been consistent on film and that the Committee is comparing both teams to others in that tier, including Alabama and BYU. The key message is that the comparison has already been made.

Miami still must beat Pittsburgh on Saturday, but the path seems predetermined. Even with another win, the Committee appears locked into its view. Projective metrics and strength of schedule data favor Notre Dame, and those numbers are carrying more weight than the result of the game the two teams played.

Notre Dame may look better. Many may believe the Irish are better. But the game happened on the field, and Miami won it. No projection or metric neutralizes that. By valuing perceived quality over head-to-head results, the Committee has stepped away from the guardrails that guided previous iterations.

The games are supposed to matter. They're what make this sport great. They should always matter. Always. That they don't this year is the biggest injustice this sport has seen in the modern era.

Read the full column from Ari Wasserman.

TRIVIA

Now here's a guy...

Below, you'll find 3 facts about a random college football player. You'll try to guess who the player is based on the facts. Let's go.

I led Mississippi State to its first-ever No. 1 ranking in 2014, and finished my college career as the program's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total offense.
I won two Egg Bowls and accounted for more than 1,000 total yards against Ole Miss in my career.
I've become an NFL Thanksgiving staple with multiple wins and more than ten touchdown passes on the holiday.

Answer at the bottom.

SHAREWORTHY