Former UCLA signee Cordell Broadus wished his dad, Snoop Dogg, a happy birthday Tuesday via Instagram and said he started playing football for his father's love.

Broadus, a four-star recruit in the class of 2015, left the team before the season began.

I played football for my father because I thought that was the only way he would love me & be apart of my life. It took me 12 years to realize he loves Cordell Broadus the person not Cordell Broadus the football player. The best day of my life was when I heard those exact words; I love you dad hope you have a great birthday

UCLA said Broadus was leaving the team in August to "pursue other passions in life." He had not reported to UCLA's fall camp.

Broadus' decision to choose UCLA over USC was big news in February when he signed with the Bruins given Snoop's love of the Trojans. The pair's relationship and Broadus' recruiting experience was filmed for an ESPN docu-series.

Broadus was the No. 27 WR recruit in the class of 2015 according to Rivals. He played at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas for now-UNLV coach Tony Sanchez.

For more UCLA news, visit BruinSportsReport.com.

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Jalen Watts-Jackson didn’t realize the enormity of his play at the end of the Michigan-Michigan State game until he was lying in a hospital bed, post surgery.

“It first hit me after I got surgery. My family came, and I was just in my room, the hospital room by myself, looking at ESPN,” Watts-Jackson said in his first meeting with the media since Saturday’s game. “And they just kept playing it back and kept playing it back. I'm like, ‘Wow, like, that really happened.’”

Watts-Jackson was the main figure in one of the most exciting plays in Michigan football history. Michigan punter Blake O’Neill dropped a snap with 10 seconds remaining. He still tried to get the ball off and had it blocked by Michigan State defenders. Watts-Jackson picked the ball up and ran it 38 yards into the end zone.

But as Watts-Jackson explained Wednesday, that run wasn’t as exciting to him as it was to everyone watching. Instead, it was stressful and ultimately painful.

“I knew I couldn't be tackled, or (we) didn't have time to kick a field goal or whatnot,” Watts-Jackson said while sitting wheelchair in a news conference at Spartan Stadium, “and I started running.”

Watts-Jackson said he was biting so hard on his mouthpiece that he couldn’t direct his blockers to hold off Wayne Lyons, the only Wolverine in the way. Michigan State’s Jermaine Edmondson blocked Lyons while Watts-Jackson darted inside and headed toward the end zone.

However, from behind, Michigan tight end Jake Butt caught Watts-Jackson and both tumbled into the end zone.

“I was actually going to dive into the end zone before I got tackled, because I didn't know if I was going to make it or not and who was behind me,” Watts-Jackson said. “After that, it was pretty much pure pain.”

Watts-Jackson fractured his hip on impact and laid on the ground writhing in agony while his teammates all came to congratulate him.

“I saw LT, Lawrence Thomas, come over and he was like, ‘Bro, you won us the game,’” Watts-Jackson said of the moments after the score. “And he was trying to get me up. And I was like, ‘Bro, my hip, my hip.’ And he (put his arms out) to try to keep people back, and next thing I know, he was face-to-face with me, and it was like a pile. I was yelling like, ‘Get them off of me! Get them off of me!’ It felt like I was under there for an hour.”

Watts-Jackson was carried off the field on a stretcher and taken to U-M hospital. Doctors popped his hip back in place and he underwent surgery Sunday to repair the fracture. When he got out of surgery, ESPN was still playing the replay and Watts-Jackson’s phone had frozen because of all the text messages and calls.

When Watts-Jackson returned to East Lansing from Ann Arbor, teammates were making jokes, telling him the school was going to make a statue for him.

“It's crazy that 10 seconds that take you from just being on a team or people acknowledging that you guys won the game to people tweeting you and text-messaging you, Facebooking, saying you're a legend, you're a hero,” Watts-Jackson said. “Like I saw on ESPN Le'Veon (Bell’s) reaction, and I just was laughing. It was crazy.”

For more Michigan State news, visit SpartanMag.com.

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Mike Freeze is no longer a part of the TCU football team.

The freshman linebacker started the Horned Frogs' first game of the season against Minnesota. He took a leave of absence for personal reasons after the game and hasn't returned. He said he won't be coming back, either. From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram:

“I made some great friends at TCU and I believe our friendships will last forever,” Freeze said via Facebook messenger. “I’d also like to say that I have the upmost respect for Coach Patterson. It just turned out that TCU wasn’t a good fit for me. I wish the Frogs the best.”

Freeze said he plans to play elsewhere, but has not been granted his release from the TCU football program.

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When saying that Freeze had left the team, coach Gary Patterson said "I had nothing to do with it" and that Freeze's absence was not related to any disciplinary reasons.

Freeze had seven tackles in the season opener for TCU. His leave of absence came a day after the school announced Sammy Douglas, another starting linebacker for TCU, was out for the season.

He was a three-star recruit in the class of 2015 from Graham, Texas, despite missing his senior season because of a shoulder injury. He had enrolled early at TCU.

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Houston coach Tom Herman said he doesn't hear many good reasons why Houston's stadium isn't full for its home games.

Herman made the following comments on his radio show. The first-year head coach has Houston undefeated and in the top 25. At this rate, the Cougars are in the running for a berth in a New Year's Six bowl game.

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Herman's Cougars are No. 5 in the country in total offense with nearly 555 yards per game. The former Ohio State offensive coordinator, despite being a half-season into his first FBS head coaching job, has already been mentioned as a top candidate for Power Five coaching vacancies. That's how impressive Houston's season has been so far. The Cougars have beaten Louisville on the road and its five other opponents by two touchdowns or more.

We admit Herman has a point; if there's ever a time for fans to be enthused about Houston football, this is it. And Houston's stadium isn't massive; TDECU stadium seats just over 40,000 people. But as we've said before, the challenge of getting fans to games is universal and not limited to Houston. HDTVs and cheap beverages are top competition vs. the in-stadium experience. At least Herman isn't complaining about fan support for a team that is hanging around at the bottom of its conference.

Maybe Houston will sell out the stadium in Week 9. While Halloween evening isn't an optimal gametime, the Cougars host Vanderbilt, a member of the SEC. Even with Vanderbilt's struggles, a big win would be a statement for Houston.

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We're on iTunes. Check us out here and subscribe or simply listen in the player above or click here.

Whoaaaaaa..... we're halfway thereeeeeeee. In the 2015 regular season.

Join Nick Bromberg and Graham Watson to live on a prayer in this week's podcast. We try to figure out the cannibalism that is the Pac-12 South, wonder who the most overrated team so far in the SEC is and again ask ourselves the question of who the No. 1 team in the country is.

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Arizona State's cleats against Oregon will be a tribute to a former Arizona State football player.

Adidas unveiled the "Dark Ops Collection" cleats on Thursday. The Sun Devils will wear the Pat Tillman-inspired cleats on October 29. Tillman played at Arizona State before he moved on to the NFL.

There are two types of cleats. The description below is for the first picture.

Engineered for playmakers, designed to showcase style. The lightweight Dark Ops 2016 adizero 5-Star 5.0 upper is constructed from a durable, flexible canvas – similar to military accessories and footwear. Embroidered stripes pay tribute to the insignia found on elite forces uniforms, and stitching reinforced with KEVLAR® provides durability and strength. The 5-STAR FRAME, featuring a plate reinforced with KEVLAR®, is the optimum blend of lightweight, strength and traction. This cleat has a unique lacing system, a 5-Star Frame for optimum traction and is reinforced with the legendary strength of DuPont™ KEVLAR®.

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Both cleats will also have the a "PT-42" logo on the tongue of the cleats and include a camo sock liner with a gold Adidas logo. The gold logo, according to the shoe company, is not about advertising itself but rather "representing the gold outline of the U.S. Army Rangers patch and U.S. flag patch."

Tillman was a safety for the Arizona Cardinals when he quit playing football to enlist in the military. He was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan in 2004. Shortly after his death, the Pat Tillman Foundation was established to provide education scholarships for veterans.

For more Arizona State news, visit ASUDevils.com.

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North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora has reached a decision regarding the playing statuses of two suspended defensive backs.

Fedora announced Wednesday that freshman Mike Hughes has been reinstated and will play against Virginia on Saturday. Additionally, Fedora told reporters that sophomore M.J. Stewart will be reinstated on Sunday after the UVA game.

UNC announced last week that the two were indefinitely suspended for violating team rules. Neither played against Wake Forest.

“Based on everything that I know at this time, it’s the appropriate action,” Fedora said, per the Associated Press.

The suspensions stemmed from their alleged involvement in an altercation earlier this month. Both were charged with misdemeanor assault.

From the Associated Press:

The altercation took place early Oct. 4 - less than a day after UNC had won at Georgia Tech in Atlanta for the first time since 1997 - at the address of a fraternity house, according to a police incident report. That report listed two victims who resided there, though arrest warrants filed last week for each player listed only one victim.

Hughes was charged with assault inflicting serious injury for punching the victim and breaking his nose, knocking him unconscious and causing a concussion as well as lingering health issues, according to an arrest warrant.

Stewart was charged with assault and battery for punching the victim ''several times in the face,'' according to an arrest warrant.

Stewart is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday while Hughes’ will appear in court on Nov. 19. Per the Associated Press, Fedora said the outcome of their court appearances could “possibly” impact their statuses with the team down the line.

Stewart, a starter, has 20 tackles and three interceptions this season while Hughes has registered three tackles in five games.

UNC improved to 5-1 with its win over Wake Forest last weekend. The Tar Heels host the Cavaliers at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday. 

For more North Carolina news, visit TarHeelIllustrated.com.

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Hey look, it's another Alabama-themed car at Talladega.

Kyle Larson, the driver of the No. 42 Target Chevrolet, is running a different paint scheme in each of the final 10 races of the 2015 Sprint Cup Series season. The rotation is inspired by Target's plaid marketing push this fall, so Larson's plaid-inspired paint scheme for Sunday's race is houndstooth to honor the Crimson Tide.

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Clint Bowyer drove an Alabama car at Talladega in the spring of 2012 after the Tide won the 2011 BCS Championship.

Larson won't be the only driver honoring an SEC team at Talladega on Sunday. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is a big Ole Miss fan and his driver's helmet for the weekend is designed like an Ole Miss football helmet. It looks pretty damn good.

Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze drove the pace car at Talladega earlier in the year.

Maybe Stenhouse and Larson will have a bet during the race. We'd laugh if Stenhouse finished 43rd and Larson finished 37th or if Stenhouse beat Larson by six positions.

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Texas’ Oct. 10 upset victory over Oklahoma had some implications in the locker room of the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Bucs defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, an Oklahoma letterman, made a friendly bet with teammate Henry Melton, a Texas product. As a result of the Longhorns’ 24-17 win, McCoy had to wear Texas gear while meeting with reporters on Thursday.

He wasn’t very happy about it.

Melton even had McCoy do some pushups while the UT fight song played in the background. That’s cold.

For more Texas news, visit Orangebloods.com.

For more Oklahoma news, visit SoonerScoop.com.

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BYU linebacker Sione Takitaki won’t play again this season.

Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced Thursday morning that Takitaki has been suspended for the rest of the season for violating team rules. Takitaki was previously suspended for the season opener against Nebraska after being hit with theft charges.

According to the Salt Lake Tribune, Takitaki accepted a plea deal in the case last week and pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor theft. The other theft charge in the case was dismissed.

BYU police said Takitaki stole a track jacket and soccer apparel while working as a janitor at Smith Fieldhouse, the school’s volleyball and gymnastics arena. He was identified via surveillance footage and later returned the stolen clothing.

Takitaki, a sophomore, recently moved into a starting role for the Cougars. In six games, Takitaki totaled 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks, including eight tackles and a half sack in last week’s win over Cincinnati. 

Takitaki has had multiple disciplinary issues during his time at BYU. He was briefly dismissed from the team in the summer of 2014 after getting in a fight, but Mendenhall allowed to return after a team vote. He was also suspended for one game last season for missing a practice.

The Cougars, now 5-2 after beating Cincinnati, host winless Wagner (0-6) on Saturday. 

For more BYU news, visit CougarNation.com.

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Uga IX, Georgia's beloved Bulldog mascot that is known to his friends and fans as “Russ,” is officially retiring, the school announced Thursday.

Russ is 11 years old and has appeared at 63 total games from 2009-2014.

Uga X, know as “Que,” will formally be introduced as Georgia’s new living mascot at the Georgia-Georgia Southern football game on Saturday, Nov. 21.

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“Uga is cherished by University of Georgia fans worldwide,” university president Jere W. Morehead said. “We are grateful for Russ’s dedicated service, and we look forward to welcoming Que as our new mascot.”

All of Georgia’s mascots have come from the Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler family of Savannah, Ga., since 1956. Que has spent three months auditioning for the role of the Bulldogs’ new mascot and has enjoyed all seven football games already this season.

“We are thrilled to have Que join our long line of mascots and he has already proven to be up to the task of serving as our official mascot,” athletics director Greg McGarity said in a statement.

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Temple is 7-0 for the first time in school history.

After squeaking out a 24-14 win against East Carolina on Thursday, the Owls made history and guaranteed it would remain in the Top 25 for yet another week.

The win was the Owls' first as a ranked team since prior to World War II.

Yeah, it’s been a long time and it did not come easy.

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The Owls were down 14-10 until quarterback P.J. Walker found receiver Robby Anderson for a 23-yard score to take a 17-24 lead with 3:31 remaining in the game.

The Owls blocked a punt on East Carolina’s next drive and turned it into a 14-yard touchdown run by Jahad Thomas.

The Owls have seven wins for just the fourth time since 1980.

The win means the undefeated Owls will host Notre Dame next weekend for a chance to keep their record perfect. The two teams have only met once — a 28-6 Notre Dame win in 2013 — and the Irish are 6-1 heading into a bye this week.

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A Thursday night game between East Mississippi Community College and Mississippi Delta Community College was called before halftime because of a bench-clearing brawl.

According to the Associated Press, the fight (video: here) occurred late in the first half with EMCC leading a 48-0.

East Mississippi had a 48-0 lead over Mississippi Delta in the final minute of the first half when both benches cleared and a fight ensued.

An East Mississippi receiver was tackled out of bounds late in the first half. The player was shoved back to the ground while out of bounds, which instigated the fight.

The Commercial Dispatch’s Scott Walters, who was at the game, described the wild scene in a flurry of tweets.

After the situation calmed down, Walters said “athletic and game officials” met at midfield along with coaches, athletic directors and law enforcement before the game was eventually called due to “violent ejections.”

EMCC head coach Buddy Stephens said after the game that the bad blood between the two sides started when an EMCC manager was injured before the game by a Delta player.

EMCC is ranked No. 3 in the country in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association rankings. 

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LSU head coach Les Miles has stayed in touch with Sid Ortis, a 16-year-old with cancer he personally invited to the LSU-Auburn game in September.

According to Al.com, Ortis’ condition has worsened and he has moved from the hospital to hospice care at his Mountain Brook, Ala., home. Miles gave him a call on Wednesday and the two discussed Saturday’s game against Western Kentucky. Miles also said he would help Ortis get to the LSU-Alabama game on Nov. 7 if possible.

From Al.com:

As Miles lauded Western Kentucky's running back, Sid did what few probably have the nerve to do, and that is interrupt the coach mid-sentence. "We have a decent running back also,'' Sid told the coach, at which point Miles laughed and said, "We have a really good running back, not decent, we have a great one."

Miles, who previously told Sid ""Life is not how long you live, but how well you live it," told the teen today, "When you get to Heaven, save a spot for me." Sid told him he hoped to live long enough to watch the Alabama vs. LSU game in Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7. Miles said he would help Sid get to the game if possible, and Sid's parents, Scott and Lynn Ortis, are all for that.  "If he's alive and up for it, we'll take him wherever,'' Lynn Ortis said. "Sid gets whatever he wants right now."

Ortis was diagnosed with bone cancer in Aug. 2014 after feeling tightness in his knee after a basketball camp. When his parents took him to get it checked out, he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. He underwent chemotherapy and had his knee and part of his femur replaced.

Doctors later found spots on his lung, which revealed an aggressive form of cancer. With Ortis out of medical options, the family made the decision to take him home on Sunday.

"I was really scared about coming home, but it's been the best thing we ever did," said Lynn Ortis, his mother. "It's been beautiful. There's been so much peace here."

Miles gave Ortis his cell phone number and told him he could call or text any time. Miles also told Ortis that he would call in a few days to check in on him. 

“It perked Sid up and he felt good,” said Scott Ortis, Sid’s father. “It’s just neat that he cares, and he does. It’s pretty cool.”

For more LSU news, visit TigerBait.com.

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With the first half of the 2015 college football season completed, it’s time to take a look back at the first seven weeks and examine some of the new stars across the nation. Breakout players are hard to predict in the preseason, but the emergence of new stars are a huge boost for a team’s win total or the opportunity to compete for a playoff spot. 

Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey and Houston quarterback Greg Ward are two of college football’s top breakout players from the first half of 2015, and both show no signs of slowing down. McCaffrey has elevated the Cardinal’s offense since the opening week loss to Northwestern, while Ward could help the Cougars earn the Group of 5 bowl spot in one of the New Year’s Six bowls.

Expect to see more stars and standouts emerge over the next seven weeks of action, but here’s a look at 10 breakout players from the first half of 2015.

Luke Falk, QB, Washington State

It should be no surprise a Mike Leach-coached quarterback is posting huge passing totals. After starting the final three games last year, Falk stepped into the full-time role this spring and ranks as one of the Pac-12’s top quarterbacks midway through the 2015 season. The sophomore has completed 235 of 325 throws for 2,371 yards and 21 scores. Falk also recorded at least three games of 400 passing yards or more this season, while his 72.3 completion percentage ranks second nationally. 

Related: College Football 2015 Midseason Awards

Charles Harris, DE, Missouri

The rapid development of Harris is another example of why Missouri’s line coach Craig Kuligowski is one of the top defensive assistants in the nation. The Tigers entered 2015 looking to replace Shane Ray and Markus Golden at end, but Harris has eased any concerns this coaching staff had at defensive end. Through seven contests, Harris has recorded 29 tackles (12.5 for a loss), five sacks, four quarterback hurries and one forced fumble. 

Willie Henry, DT, Michigan

Henry is just one of a handful of players having a standout year for Michigan’s defense. The Wolverines are giving up only 9.3 points per game and rank second nationally by holding opponents to 3.45 yards per play. Henry accumulated 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for a loss in his first two years of playing time in Ann Arbor and has already exceeded those totals seven games into 2015. The junior has 19 tackles (nine for a loss), six sacks and two pass breakups.

Related: Predictions for Every Week 8 Game

Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M

Kirk is another dynamic addition to Texas A&M’s high-powered offense, and the Arizona native is arguably the nation’s top true freshman midway through the 2015 season. Kirk leads the team with 39 catches for 609 yards and four scores, while his per game average (101.5) is the best in the SEC. The freshman is also second in the conference with an average of 195 all-purpose yards per game. 

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford

Stanford’s run of six consecutive 1,000-yard rushers ended last season, but the Cardinal will start a new streak in 2015 with the emergence of McCaffrey. The sophomore is one of the nation’s top all-purpose performers, averaging 253 total yards per game and 8.9 yards per touch. McCaffrey has 844 rushing yards and five scores through the first six games of 2015.

Carl Nassib, DE, Penn State

Despite the loss of Deion Barnes and C.J. Olaniyan, the Penn State defensive staff felt confident in its defensive ends this offseason. So far, that prediction is holding true. Nassib is one of the nation’s top overall defensive performers in the first half of 2015, recording 35 tackles (15.5 for a loss), 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. The senior is a former walk-on and only had 19 career tackles entering the 2015 season.

Related: Top 15 Games for the Second Half of 2015

Ejuan Price, DE, Pittsburgh

New coach Pat Narduzzi is already making an impact on Pittsburgh’s defense. The Panthers are holding opponents to 21.7 points per game, 5.04 yards per play and lead the ACC with 22 sacks. Headlining the rush off the edge at defensive end for Narduzzi is Price, who has registered 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for a loss through the first six games. Additionally, Price has 13 tackles, one blocked kick and one forced fumble in 2015.

C.J. Prosise, RB, Notre Dame

A season-ending knee injury to Tarean Folston in the opener against Texas pushed Prosise into the No. 1 role. The Virginia native converted from receiver to running back after the 2014 campaign and entered this fall with just 10 career rushing attempts. Through seven games, Prosise has ensured there was no drop in production from Folston. The junior has rushed for 922 yards and 11 scores and caught 18 passes for 219 yards and one touchdown. Prosise’s 11 rushing touchdowns is tied for sixth nationally. 

Greg Ward, QB, Houston

New Houston coach Tom Herman is widely regarded as one of the top offensive minds in college football. Under Herman’s direction, Ohio State’s offense never missed a beat last season after injuries sidelined Braxton Miller and J.T. Barrett, forcing Cardale Jones to start the final three games of 2014. Ward showed promise last season, and the junior has thrived under Herman’s watch and developed into one of the top Group of 5 quarterbacks. Ward has passed for 1,524 yards and nine scores in 2015 and rushed for 631 yards and 14 touchdowns. The junior’s 359.2 total yards per game average ranks seventh nationally.

Marcus Williams, S, Utah

Williams had his share of ups and downs as a true freshman for the Utes last season, but the sophomore is on pace to finish 2015 as one of the top safeties in the Pac-12. After six games, Williams ranks fourth on the team with 29 tackles but leads the Utes with four interceptions. The sophomore also has five passes defended and one fumble recovery. Williams is a key cog in a Utah secondary that held Arizona State without a passing score in last week’s win and has limited the last four teams on its schedule to less than 55 percent completion percentage.

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Watch for more rankings, previews and predictions from the good folks at Athlon here on Dr. Saturday. And don't forget to follow @YahooDrSaturday and @AthlonSports for all your college football information.

UCLA might have won last night’s game against Cal, but that victory might have cost the program three more star players.

Running back Paul Perkins, linebacker Isaako Savaiinaea and receiver Devin Fuller all left the 40-24 win against Cal win various injuries. Perkins reportedly had a knee injury, Savaiinaea suffered an injury to his foot and Fuller had his head squashed during a tackle, which resulted in a neck injury.

All three were removed from the game and none returned.

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Coach Jim Mora offered little update following the game except: “They’re not good. They’re not good.”

Perkins appeared to be on his way to a fantastic day with 11 carries for 73 yards and two catches for 13 yards before he was injured in the second quarter. Fuller was second in receiving with seven catches for 100 yards and two scores.

Savaiinaea is just another injury in an already beaten up defense. The team already lost three defensive starters, including linebacker Myles Jack, who suffered a knee injury and withdrew from school to concentrate on rehab and his pending professional career. Defensive lineman in Eddie Vanderdoes and cornerback Fabian Moreau also suffered season-ending injuries. Linebacker Deon Hollins missed Thursday’s game with a knee injury.

Offensively, the Bruins were without backup running back Nate Starks, who missed the game with concussion symptoms.

Still, the Bruins prevailed and kept their hopes for a Pac-12 South title alive. Much of that success was because of freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, who set a school record by completing 34 passes for 399 yards and three touchdowns.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak and gives the Bruins (5-2) some hope for a successful season, especially with games against Colorado, Oregon State and Washington State next on the schedule before games against Utah and USC to finish the regular season.

We’ll update this post as soon as more is known about the injuries suffered against Cal.

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There are always a few weeks during the season where the schedule isn’t pretty.

This is one of those weeks.

There’s only one game bewteen ranked teams and both of those teams are coming off tough losses.

Still, there are a few games worth highlighting and a lost of upset potential across the board.

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Game of the week:
No. 3 Utah at USC, 7:30 p.m. ET
These two teams are trending very different directions.

Utah is 7-0 and has its eyes on a Pac-12 title and one of the coveted spots in the College Football Playoff. USC has lost its last two contests and its head coach and is struggling to make something positive out of what is already a disappointing season.

USC’s offense rolls into this game beaten up on the offensive line and could be missing receivers Darreus Rogers and Steven Mitchell Jr. The Utah defense is plus-12 in turnover margin, which will be key against quarterback Cody Kessler, who has thrown four interceptions in the past two games.

Utah’s offense goes through running back Devontae Booker, who struggled last week (despite what his numbers say), but still ranks third in the conference with 130.5 yards rushing per game.

USC coach Clay Helton said his team is hoping to make its second half of the season better than the first and there would be no better start than dampening Utah’s shot at the College Football Playoff.

Game to Watch:
No. 15 Texas A&M at No. 24 Ole Miss, 7 p.m. ET
This game definitely would have looked a lot better had A&M not lost to Alabama and Ole Miss not loss to Memphis, but this game still has a lot of meaning as both teams try to keep pace ion the SEC West race.

On it’s face, this game pits two strong offenses and against two defenses that have struggled of late. However, Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen is looking to get back on track after dismal performances a week ago. Allen threw three pick-six’s to the Alabama defense and overall, A&M committed four turnovers, which is more than it had in its previous four games combined.

Ole Miss likely will be without star defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and safety Trae Elston, who are both dealing with concussions.

Oddly, this is A&M’s first true road game of the season. The Aggies have lost four of their last six SEC road games.

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Kansas State at Texas, noon ET
This is Texas’ first game since it’s big win against Oklahoma two weeks ago and coach Charlie Strong’s first chance to see if that victory actually sparked something in his team or if it was just an aberration.

Kansas State would appear to be the best next opponent simply because of the thrashing the Wildcats took at the hands of the Sooners last week. However, this Kansas State team is better than that result would suggest and Texas might be in for a bit of a struggle to get its third win.

The key for Texas will be stifling Kansas State defensive pressure and for the Longhorns defense to contain the play of quarterback Joe Hubener, who had his worst game of the season against OU.

While it might be easy to think Texas will blow out the Wildcats, this game probably will be more similar to Kansas State’s contests against Oklahoma State and TCU, which both went down to the wire.

Channel surf through…

No. 25 Pittsburgh at Syracuse, noon ET: This game will be all about how Pitt handles being at the top of the ACC Coastal and in the Top 25 for the first time five years. The defense has been tough all year, which should stifle a Syracuse offense that has struggled with injury and consequently with consistency. Pitt has won nine of the last 10 meetings in this series.

Indiana at No. 7 Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ET: Michigan State’s win against Michigan might have been the most dramatic in the series and people haven’t stopped talking about it for a week. Now how do the Spartans move forward? There’s still a lot on the line for Michigan State and Indiana is coming off a disappointing overtime loss to Rutgers. This is a Indiana team that doesn’t play a lot of defense, but it can score. If Michigan State has any hangover from last weekend, this game could get interesting.

Western Kentucky at No. 5 LSU, 7 p.m. ET: We’ve all enjoyed watching LSU running back Leonard Fournette run all over opponents this season and this game shouldn’t be much different. However, the struggle for LSU might be containing a Western Kentucky offense that’s averaging 535.4 yards per game and 44 points per game. This isn’t exactly an upset watch, but it could be an unexpectedly fun game to watch.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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Mississippi State will reportedly be without one of its best defensive players for the rest of the season.

According to the Clarion-Ledger, cornerback Will Redmond suffered a torn ACL and is unlikely to return to the field this season. Mississippi State has not commented on the situation and head coach Dan Mullen deflected the question during his Thursday night radio show.

“We don’t talk about injuries in our program,” Mullen said. “You want to find out about our program, buy a ticket and show up on Saturday.”

Redmond has 25 tackles and leads the Bulldogs with two interceptions this season. After sitting out his first year on campus in 2012, Redmond combined for 74 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions in 2013 and 2014.

Tolando Cleveland and Cedric Jiles, both juniors, are the top candidates to fill the void left by Redmond’s injury. Cleveland has 24 tackles and a sack this season while Jiles has totaled 10 tackles.

The Bulldogs (5-2, 1-2 SEC) host Kentucky (4-2, 2-2 SEC) on Saturday evening. 

For more Mississippi State news, visit BulldogBlitz.com.

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A 4-6 week made us 33-31-6. Let's keep this train above .500.

Auburn at Arkansas (OVER 51), Noon ET: The Razorbacks are six-point favorites in this game. Anyone want to pick that game? We certainly don't. It's why we're going with the over. Each team's defense has been exploited at times and Auburn has scored 30 or more in the last two weeks. Yes, those games were against San Jose State and Kentucky, but we're looking for progress here.

Houston (-22) at UCF, Noon ET: Just a shade over three touchdowns for this game? What are we missing here? Houston has been one of the nation's most impressive teams and has a prolific offense. Meanwhile, UCF is a dumpster fire and is giving up nearly 392 yards per game on defense despite not playing a team anywhere close to the caliber of Houston's. The free beer for UCF fans continues another week.

Boston College at Louisville (-8), 12:30 p.m. ET: This game has one of the lowest over/unders of the week at 37. It's a testament to the defenses ... OK, and Boston College's offense. BC is 0-4 in the ACC this year and has been outscored 60-24 in those four games. Yes. 60-24. Six points a game. Louisville has given up 17 offensive TDs all season. This may not be a fun game to watch.

Tennessee at Alabama (-15), 3:30 p.m. ET: The Tide should roll in this game. Yes this is a pun and now we hate ourselves. Alabama quarterback Jacob Coker is improving with every game, something that can't necessarily be said for Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs. The erratic Tennessee passing game will have to be accurate for the Vols to have a chance. Otherwise, well, Texas A&M quarterback Kyle Allen can explain what could go wrong.

Texas Tech (+14) at Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m. ET: Are the Sooners headed for a valley after the high of beating Kansas State last week? After beating West Virginia at home, the Sooners looked incompetent against Texas. We're going for a bit of a letdown here, though we like Oklahoma to win outright. Oh, if you haven't heard already, Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield used to play at Texas Tech.

Missouri at Vanderbilt (UNDER 37), 3:30 p.m. ET: This line was as low as 34 at the open. How so? Because both of these offense are just pitiful. And both defenses may be underrated. Would we be surprised to see something resembling the 0-0 in regulation slugfest between Wake Forest and Virginia Tech last year? Not at all. Missouri wins. But it's going to be uglier than the BC-UL game.

UConn at Cincinnati (-12.5), 4:30 p.m. ET: Cincy's optimism is gone. Last week's loss to BYU was the third of the season for the Bearcats, who have also fallen to Temple and Memphis. UConn should be no obstacle. The Cincinnati offense is head and shoulders above UConn's, and while the Huskies could get a stop or two, it won't be enough to keep up.

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Florida State (-6.5) at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. ET: The Yellow Jackets have fallen off a cliff. After a 2-0 start and a top-15 ranking, Georgia Tech has lost five straight games. Its offense has scored the second-most points in ACC play (to Florida State) but the defense has given up the most points in the conference. Here's where we sound the warning on FSU, however. The Seminoles have been incredibly turnover fortunate so far by not throwing an interception or having a fumble. Turnover luck can normalize quickly.

Texas A&M (+6) at Ole Miss, 7 p.m. ET: The Rebels are getting the benefit of the homefield advantage here. Does anyone thing A&M is six points worse? Ole Miss' running game is a few notches below Alabama's; we're not confident the Rebels can exploit what Alabama did. Texas A&M may not win, but the Aggies keep it close in what could be a rainy night in Oxford.

Utah (+3.5) at USC, 7:30 p.m. ET: It's not often you see a top-three team as a road underdog to an unranked team. That's the weirdness that's the Pac-12 South this year. USC has the talent to win this game, but as the Trojans are the more talented team, Utah has been the far more efficient one. We're going with efficiency here, though the upset wouldn't be too crazy.

NOT-LOCKS OF THE WEEK

Nick Bromberg (2-5): Toledo at UMass (OVER 63.5), 3 p.m. ET: After going with the anti-Graham pick last week and winning, I'll give her a break. It's time for MACtion. Both Toledo and UMass have explosive offenses. The Rockets need to score often to stay relevant (and undefeated). UMass's defense won't put up too much resistance. How about a 40-30 scoreline or so?

Sam Cooper (2-5): Florida State (-6.5) at Georgia Tech, 7 p.m. ET: Georgia Tech's season has been a disaster so far (now 2-5) and I don't expect that to change against unbeaten Florida State. Everett Golson has quietly had an excellent season after transferring from Notre Dame while Dalvin Cook continues to carve up defenses even with a nagging hamstring injury. There's no way the Seminoles have a letdown game with that matchup with Clemson (also undefeated) looming. 

Graham Watson (0-6-1): Toledo (-14) at UMass: Don’t usually like a double-digit favorite on the road, but UMass is a bad team and Toledo has way too much for which to play. It also helps that Toledo relaxed a bit against Eastern Michigan last week and found itself down early against a weaker team. That’s a lesson learned and one that won’t be repeated against the 1-5 Minutemen.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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When Pitt takes road trips in the future, the Panthers are only going to be playing Power Five opponents.

Athletic director Scott Barnes said Thursday that Pitt will continue to play teams that aren't in the Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and ACC. It's just that the Panthers will only play them at home.

“We will not continue to play home-and-home with Group of Five schools,” Barnes said on The Fan Morning Show via CBS Pittsburgh. “We will play them at our place as part of our scheduling plan. We will not play home-and-home.”

The stance means the Panthers will likely be disposing of a road trip to Marshall in 2020 and a game against Cincinnati in 2024. But hey, who knows about the Cincinnati game. Maybe the Bearcats will be in a Power Five conference by then. Or maybe we won't even have the Power Five and Group of Five designations for college conferences at that point.

Barnes' stance comes as Power Five conferences have added mandates that their teams play at least one non-conference game against a Power Five opponent per season. And while it makes sense for Pittsburgh, it's a stance that could hurt non-Power Five teams if other athletic directors follow suit with the idea.

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Having a big team come to a non-Power Five team's stadium can be a draw for fans. And an important source of revenue. A widespread adoption of Barnes' idea could create a type of college football class warfare where non-P5 teams struggle to find decent home games to fill their schedules.

Barnes, who arrived at Pitt earlier this year from Utah, also said that the school would like to continue its series with Penn State. But Penn State games could come at the expense of the renewed Backyard Brawl with West Virginia. Pitt and West Virginia, annual rivals since the teams moved conferences, are starting up the rivalry game in 2022.

Pitt has a series starting in 2016 with Penn State that ends in 2020.

“It looks like that may be delayed until towards the end of that Backyard Brawl series,” Barnes said. “We continue to have conversations. We would, in a perfect world, love to play every year…our desire is to play Penn State every year. Given the circumstances, we have moved forward with adding the Backyard Brawl, and then working diligently again to renew Penn State later.”

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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