Around the world of college football at 9:15 a.m. Central time, a little less than two hours before the first games kick off around the nation…
- Colorado safety Shilo Sanders is doubtful for the Buffaloes’ home game against No. 8 Southern Cal today with what his coach (and dad) Deion Sanders said was a kidney injury (Sources – Colorado safety Shilo Sanders doubtful vs. USC). Colorado was already without former top recruit / defensive back / wide receiver Travis Hunter, out for a second game due to a lacerated liver he suffered in Colorado’s win over archrival Colorado State.
- Does number one-ranked Georgia finally get a test today at 2:30 p.m., on CBS, at Auburn? Likely not, but sooner or later, the Bulldogs are going to face better competition than Ball State, an overmatched South Carolina team, and a young Auburn squad on its third head coach (Hugh Freeze) in four seasons. Georgia quarterback Carson Beck hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire. The offense struggled at home against South Carolina before finally coming alive for a win, and the Bulldogs are only scoring touchdowns 68 percent of the time they get into an opponent’s red zone.
- Is Kentucky really 5-0? They are, and host No. 22 Florida today. The Wildcats are averaging 38 points a game. Florida allows only 13 1/2 points a game. Something’s giving at UK today.
- Hope some of you on the East Coast are staying up to watch Washington quarterback Michael Penix, whose team is back in action at 9 p.m. (Central) Saturday night at Arizona. Huskies are 4-0, Arizona 3-1, and the Wildcats are the latest team to try and slow the Indiana transfer.
Penix, originally from Tampa, Florida, has completed 103-of-138 passes he’s attempted this year (darn near 75 percent) for 1,636 yards (leads the nation), 16 touchdowns (leads the nation) and just two interceptions. He’s averaging 11.9 yards per completion, and has only been sacked once in four games played.
- This is something to watch: Deontae Lawson, sophomore middle linebacker for No. 12 Alabama and pretty much the quarterback of the Crimson Tide’s defense, is out at least today against Mississippi State with an ankle injury, and may miss longer, according to ESPN.com’s Chris Low (Alabama’s Deontae Lawson out vs. MSU, may miss games, per sources).
Lawson, the Tide’s second-leading tackler, was injured in the first half of last week’s 24-10 win over Ole Miss.
Another sophomore, Jihaad Campbell, will start in place of Lawson today.
- Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec is expected to be back in the lineup for the Panthers on Saturday in their game against Virginia Tec (Source – Pittsburgh to start QB Phil Jurkovec vs. Hokies). Jurkovec was hurt against North Carolina in a play in the second quarter that was flagged for targeting.
Jurkovec is a sixth-year senior who has been around: he’s played at both Notre Dame and Boston College.
The Panthers are 1-3, as is Virginia Tech.
- Can No. 11 Notre Dame overcome the letdown of last weekend’s last-second loss at home to Ohio State, and beat No. 17 Duke on the road today? Might not be easy. The Blue Devils’ home field advantage has already helped them take down Clemson in week one, and Duke is undefeated.
- Neither Texas A&M nor Arkansas is ranked, but the two former Southwest Conference rivals – now SEC West Division rivals – meet today at AT&T Stadium, where they’ve been playing every year for almost a decade.
And in those matchups, the Aggies have won six of nine.
A&M will go with Max Johnson, the son of former Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson, against the ‘Hogs at QB after starter Conner Weigman was diagnosed with a season-ending foot injury.
