Le Journal

Quarterback is the most important position on the field in football, and it’s the position that has given Auburn the most issues in recent years.

It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship. NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest kicking things off for the 2026 College Football Playoff: 2026 College Football Playoff First-Round Game Matchup: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Alabama Crimson TideDate: Friday, Dec. 19, 2025Kickoff: 8 p.m. ETStadium: Memorial Stadium — Norman, Okla.TV: ESPN, ABC Game Overview The 2026 College Football Playoff kicks off with an outstanding matchup between No. 8 Oklahoma and No. 9 Alabama — the third ever rematch in the college football playoff. Oklahoma boasts back-to-back victories over Alabama, including a 24-3 victory that knocked them out of the playoff hunt in 2024 and a 23-21 victory earlier in 2025. It’s just the second season in which playoff games are played on campus, with all four home teams (Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame) taking home the victory in 2024. Team Overviews Oklahoma SoonersConference: SECHead Coach: Brent VenablesRecord: 10–2 Oklahoma might have been victorious in that matchup earlier this season, but these are two completely different teams this time around. John Mateer hasn’t been the same since undergoing thumb surgery on Sept. 24, finishing with a 12-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2025 after finishing with a 29-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2024. The Sooners have essentially been winning despite his efforts, as their defense has allowed just 13.9 points per game (7th of 136). Gentry Williams and Kendel Dolby were listed as out on the club’s availability report, however, so perhaps there are cracks starting to form. Alabama Crimson TideConference: SECHead Coach: Kalen DeBoerRecord: 10-3 Alabama did not look the part of a playoff team in their embarrassing 28-7 loss to Georgia in the 2025 SEC Championship Game. The Crimson Tide didn’t exactly get stomped when they faced Oklahoma earlier this season, however… Ty Simpson was able to throw the ball all over the place, with two ugly throws and one back-breaking interception really changing the perception of his performance once things turned out the way they turned out. The Crimson Tide will be without superstar pass-rusher LT Overton, but other than that, have gained health and some unfortunate — but helpful — experience in recent weeks. 87-YARD PICK SIX‼️@EliBowen12 | 📺 ABC pic.twitter.com/vzVDocagWz— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) November 15, 2025 Players to Watch OklahomaQB John MateerRB Xavier RobinsonWR Isaiah SategnaWR Deion BurksTE Jaren KanakDL R Mason ThomasDL Taylor WeinDB Eli BowenDB Peyton Bowen AlabamaQB Ty SimpsonWR Germie BernardWR Ryan WilliamsLB Deontae LawsonLB Yhonzae PierreDB Bray Hubbard Key Notes Oklahoma has a surprisingly decent all-time record against Alabama (5-2-1). The Crimson Tide were ranked No. 9 in the CFP Poll, but No. 11 in the AP Poll. The Sooners were ranked No. 8 in both. Alabama hasn’t lost to the same opponent twice in the same season since 1893, when they lost twice to the Birmingham Athletic Club. Betting Lines DraftKings Sportsbook: Oklahoma -1.5 | O/U 39.5FanDuel Sportsbook: Oklahoma -1.5 | O/U 40.5BetMGM Sportsbook: Oklahoma -1.5 | O/U 40.5 The Pick: Alabama ML More: Memphis vs. NC State: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2025 Gasparilla Bowl Preview

It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship. NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest serving as one of the longest-running games on the schedule: 2025 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl Matchup: Memphis Tigers vs. North Carolina State WolfpackDate: Friday, Dec. 19, 2025Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. ETStadium: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, Fla.TV: ESPN Game Overview The Gasparilla Bowl has been a staple on the bowl game schedule since 2008, though it has undergone several name changes since its debut season — St. Petersburg Bowl (2008-2009; 2014-2016), Beef ‘O’Brady’s Bowl (2010-2013), Gasparilla Bowl (2017-2025). Florida (2024), Georgia Tech (2023) and Wake Forest (2022) are the three most recent winners, with each cruising to double-digit victories. It’s time that we finally get a close one, though things do favor one side considerably. Team Overviews Memphis TigersConference: AmericanHead Coach: Reggie Howard (Interim)Record: 8–4 Memphis once looked like a favorite to land in the 2026 College Football Playoff, though it dropped three consecutive games to close the season against Tulane, East Carolina and Navy. Ryan Silverfield, the club’s head coach for each of the last six seasons, has led the program to four bowl game victories (2020 Montgomery Bowl, 2022 First Responder Bowl, 2023 Liberty Bowl, 2024 Frisco Bowl) but won’t be in attendance for this one as he moved on to take the head coaching job at Arkansas. Tigers quarterback Brendon Lewis, running back Sutton Smith and wide receiver Cortez Braham are the stars for an offense that scored 34.6 points per game (19th of 136) — so there’s still plenty of talent to keep the club competitive. NC State WolfpackConference: ACCHead Coach: Dave DoerenRecord: 7-5 NC State head coach Dave Doeren hasn’t been as successful in the postseason, entering this contest with losses in each of his last five bowl appearances — including one-score losses in 2021, 2022 and 2024. CJ Bailey (2,884 passing yards, 28 total touchdowns) and Will Wilson (nine rushing touchdowns) combine as one of the most lethal quarterback duos we’ve seen over the last couple of decades, with their combined skillset making the Wolfpack one of the best red-zone offenses in the FBS in 2025. .@WillWilson__ for three!#1Pack1Goal pic.twitter.com/Mv6R95etfT— NC State Football (@PackFootball) November 30, 2025 Players to Watch MemphisQB Brendon LewisRB Sutton SmithRB Gregory DesrosiersWR Cortez BrahamLB Sam BrumfieldLB DeMarco WardDB Kamari Wilson NC StateQB CJ BaileyQB Will WilsonRB Daylan SmothersTE Justin JolyLB Caden FordhamDB Devon Marshall Key Notes Memphis and NC State have never played each other. Betting Lines DraftKings Sportsbook: NC State -4.5 | O/U 58.5FanDuel Sportsbook: NC State -4.5 | O/U 58.5BetMGM Sportsbook: NC State -4.5 | O/U 58.5 The Pick: Under 58.5 More: Oklahoma vs. Alabama: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2026 College Football Playoff Preview

It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship. NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest upping the stakes: 2025 Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls vs. Western Michigan BroncosDate: Friday, Dec. 19, 2025Kickoff: 11 a.m. ETStadium: Brooks Stadium — Conway, S.C.TV: ESPN Game Overview The Myrtle Beach Bowl is relatively new on the schedule, but it has built quite the reputation as it often pits conference champions against one another out of the Group of Five. The Sun Belt Conference, Mid-Atlantic Conference and Conference USA essentially got together in order to give themselves a showcase game during bowl season, which is a great idea in theory but has often led to blowouts — including four-score victories for UTSA (2024) and Appalachian State (2020). Team Overviews Kennesaw State OwlsConference: Conference USAHead Coach: Jerry MackRecord: 10–3 Kennesaw State is coming off one of the most impressive single-season turnarounds in recent memory, following up their 2-10 finish in 2024 with an outstanding 10-3 finish in 2025 — just their second season in the FBS. Jerry Mack, in just his first season as head coach, signed a six-year contract extension after leading the program to its first Conference USA title victory in 2025. Owls quarterback Amari Odom leads the conference in completion percentage (66.8%) and has accounted for 2,385 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, while wide receiver Gabriel Benyard leads the conference with 898 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Western Michigan BroncosConference: Mid-AtlanticHead Coach: Lance TaylorRecord: 9-4 Western Michigan is as good defensively as anyone in the FBS. Nadame Tucker leads the entire country in tackles for loss (21.0) and sacks (14.5), while James Camden, Sefa Saipaia, Tate Hallock, Jarvarius Sims, Micah Davis, Josh Franklin and Tucker all have more than 50 tackles and multiple tackles for loss/sacks on the season. The Broncos have had 12 different players force turnovers in 2025, while the unit has given up just 18.2 points per game (14th of 136). 𝙃𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙩? 😤@Amar1Odom | #HootyHoo pic.twitter.com/7Ev19ppbgT— Kennesaw State Football (@kennesawstfb) December 10, 2025 Players to Watch Kennesaw StateQB Amari OdomRB Coleman BennettWR Gabriel BenyardDL Elijah HillDL Tylon DunlapLB Baron Hopson Western MichiganQB Broc LowryRB Jalen BuckleyDL Nadame TuckerDL Rodney McGrawS Tate Hallock Key Notes Western Michigan is undefeated when allowing fewer than 23 points (9-0). Kennesaw State lost just one game (Jacksonville State) after back-to-back losses at the beginning of the season to Wake Forest and No. 1 Indiana. Betting Lines DraftKings Sportsbook: Western Michigan -3.5 | O/U 48.5FanDuel Sportsbook: Western Michigan -3.5 | O/U 48.5BetMGM Sportsbook: Western Michigan -3.5 | O/U 48.5 The Pick: Under 48.5 More: Oklahoma vs. Alabama: Time, Date, TV Channel, 2026 College Football Playoff Preview