There were a lot of questions going into the season at wide receiver but they proved to be a strength, not a weakness for the Sooners.
Going into the 2023 college football season, there were a ton of question marks surrounding the wide receiver room. The Sooners lost several of their top guys in receiving yards the year prior, like [autotag]Marvin Mims[/autotag] and [autotag]Brayden Willis[/autotag]. Theo Wease went to Missouri via the transfer portal. It was a young group aside from Drake Stoops.
But during the season, the wide receiver room proved to be a strength of the team. They didn’t have anyone really emerge as a No. 1 type of guy until [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] was featured heavily at the end of the year, but they had a lot of No. 2 type of guys which you can win with.
It’s also a room that could return a lot of production in 2024, making that unit arguably the best on the team heading into the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Without further adieu, let’s take a look at how they did based on my preseason expectations.
The SEC Network will release the 2024 SEC schedule on Wednesday, Dec. 13, as Texas A&M will know their future matchup times and dates.
Prepare for the 2024 SEC season, folks, as the impending matchups will finally receive a time and date, as new Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko will lead the Aggies on the field for the season-opening home matchup vs. Notre Dame on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Back in June, SEC Network revealed every SEC team’s conference schedule, as the East and West conferences will be eliminated starting in 2024, and the top two finishers will face each other in the SEC Championship.
On Thursday, it announced that the totality of the SEC schedule would be revealed on Wednesday, Dec. 13, as the Aggie’s season finale matchup vs. Texas in the reincarnation of the Lone Star Showdown, reportedly occurring on Saturday, Nov. 30.
For the Aggies, when I say favorable, I’m referencing the fact that both Alabama, Ole Miss, and Georgia are not on the schedule, and if Elko can keep this roster intact coupled with adding players through recruiting and the transfer portal, as former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s lack of activity in the portal over the bulk of his Aggie career greatly hindered in-season production.
Here is every SEC team Texas A&M will play in 2024:
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWireĀ on Twitter, and like our page onĀ Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions.Ā Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.
The Browns can put themselves back in the driver’s seat with a win
While the Cleveland Browns saw their playoff probability drop nearly 20 percent after a loss to the Denver Broncos, they can put themselves right back in the driver’s seat with a bounce-back win in Los Angeles against the Rams this weekend.
According to Sumer Sports, the Browns can see their playoff probability jump back up to 87 percent if they can find a way to sneak out a win against the Rams on the road. Sumer has been higher on the Browns than metrics like ESPN’s Football Power Index have been despite the loss and their suboptimal quarterback situation.
Looking likely to start their fourth quarterback on the season given rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is still in the concussion protocol, the Browns will look to make a run down the stretch with 38-year-old former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco.
If head coach Kevin Stefanski can continue to pull out wins like he has been, he will find himself with a new contract at season’s end.
Welcome to the 25 SKOL’s of Christmas! This series will reminisce on 25 different moments, players, etc. that brought Vikings fans joy
Welcome to the 25 SKOL’s of Christmas!
In a similar vein to how Freeform has done the 25 days of Christmas, we will look back at different moments in Vikings history to bring a little extra joy to you this holiday season.
It’s that simple. The holidays can be a trying time for some people and we want to put a smile on people’s faces by reminiscing about some truly joyous times in Vikings history.
On the first SKOL of Christmas, the Vikings gave to me: Randy Moss in the NFL draft.
Here is Mel Kiper Jr. breaking down the Randy Moss selection from the 1998 NFL Draft. pic.twitter.com/iLqsx92RlK
We all know the story with Moss. He was never overlooked based on talent, but rather his off-the-field issues. Things were well documented, including getting dismissed by Bobby Bowden at Florida State. His talent could have had him in the top five of the 1998 NFL draft, but the issues he had crushed his draft stock.
The Dallas Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones had told Moss they were going to select him but they passed and took pass rusher Greg Ellis out of of North Carolina instead. That led to the infamous Thanksgiving day game where he torched the Cowboys for 163 yards and three touchdowns on three catches.
The Vikings were in an interesting spot at the time. If they didn’t come back from a 19-3 deficit and beat the New York Giants in the 1997 wild card game, head coach Dennis Green likely gets fired after a turbulent season that saw his book get released and trash ownership.
Green saw something in the young Moss and thought that he could take a receiving corps that had two 1,000-yard receivers in Cris Carter and Jake Reed to a new level. Green also thought that they had the support system to help him get there and, as Moss put it, fit in.
Randy Moss after getting drafted by the #Vikings in 1998
Once he joined the Vikings, the rest is history. He changed things for the Vikings, including being the catalyst for not only two NFC Championship Game appearances in his first three years, but also the best scoring offense in NFL history to that point in 1998.
Probably the most impressive accomplishment for Moss was that the Green Bay Packers drafted defensive backs with their first three draft picks (Antuan Edwards, Mike McKenzie, Fred Vinson) and he changed the game completely.
Even though his time was short-lived with the Vikings only appearing in 113 games, he arguably saved Vikings’ football as the team never had a blacked-out game again. He also made a lot of those in my generation Vikings fans for life and brought a special kind of joy to the fanbase that we haven’t seen since.
Sit back and enjoy the joyful memories that Moss brought us, and also enjoy a nearly 10-minute clip of Moss catching 40+ yard touchdown passes.
Not every player has a 10-minute career highlight video.
Transfer portal season is among us, and one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks is set to hit the market. Is there a chance that he ends up at Auburn?
Transfer portal season is upon us, and Auburn football could be shopping for a quarterback.
Auburn brought in Michigan State quarterback [autotag]Payton Thorne[/autotag] from the portal during the spring window. It took him a while to get adjusted to Auburn’s scheme under [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag], but he found a groove during the back half of the schedule.
He ended the regular season with 1,657 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. He also flashed his running ability by rushing for 520 yards on 125 attempts. As Freeze continues molding a championship team, will Thorne be the guy to get them there the fastest? That is a question that should be answered during the upcoming transfer portal window that runs from Dec. 4 to Jan. 2, 2024.
It has yet to be seen if Auburn will look to add another starter, or will bring in another quarterback to add depth. While we wait for Freeze’s mindset to unfold, Auburn has been linked to several quarterbacks already including Washington State’s Cameron Ward and Duke’s Riley Leonard.
There is one quarterback, however, that would be considered a home run if Auburn were to land his signature.
[autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag], a three-year starter at quarterback for SEC foe Arkansas, announced his intention to enter the transfer portal following the Razorbacks’ season finale against Missouri last Friday. CBS Sports’ Dean Straka revealed several predictions as to where Jefferson could end up, with one destination being Auburn. Straka says that Jefferson could provide an upgrade to Auburn’s quarterback room following the Tigers’ 6-6 season.
Auburn could also upgrade at quarterback after going a pedestrian 6-6 in coach Hugh Freeze’s first season, even after adding former Michigan State starter Payton Thorne via the transfer portal last offseason.
Jefferson had a great five-year campaign at Arkansas where he passed for 7,911 yards and 67 touchdowns. He was also known as a great presence in the run game. He ended his Arkansas career by rushing for 1,876 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Jefferson’s dual-threat ability is attractive, and he has also drawn comparisons to Auburn Heisman Trophy winner [autotag]Cam Newton[/autotag] due to his talent and his 6-3, 247-pound frame.
The only drawback is his eligibility. Jefferson spent five total seasons at Arkansas, meaning that his next stop would be a one-year deal. The good news for Auburn in that regard is that having one season of Jefferson would allow a season of development for incoming freshman [autotag]Walker White[/autotag], who is expected to be a vital piece of future Auburn offenses.
The 30-day transfer portal window will be nothing short of entertaining, and it will be interesting to see how Auburn constructs its 2024 roster to compete for an SEC championship.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire onĀ X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions.You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__
What could be a special 2025 class for LSU added another blue-chip prospect on Thursday night.
Four-star linebacker [autotag]Keylan Moses[/autotag], a Baton Rouge native who attends University Lab High School on LSU’s campus, committed to the Tigers over a list of high-profile offers that included Texas, Florida, Oregon and Tennessee.
The younger brother of former Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses, Keylan Moses ranks as the No. 176 player in the 2025 class, per On3’s industry rankings. His commitment to LSU doesn’t come as much of a surprise as the Tigers were the heavy favorite to land him.
āPeople tell me that Iām meant to be there,ā Moses toldĀ On3. āWhen you look at my game, itās how I play. People say Iām an LSU Tiger. They think Iām an LSU Tiger and thereās nothing more to itā¦ Itās the swagger, the confidence, everything is LSU, LSU, LSU. Iām so, so, so good with the guys over there on the team. Iām cool with them and Iām basically one of them because I go to school on campus. Itās unfair for everyone elseā¦ Itās meant to be in a lot of ways. I sit back and look, and itās the place for me.
āI real-deal love Louisiana. I love LSU and I love everybody there. Frank (Wilson)Ā is a big part of it. Growing up around them when he was around Les Miles, he was aĀ bigĀ part of Dylanās recruitment. Heās basically family now. I literally call him Uncle Frank ā thatās how close we are.ā
šØBREAKINGšØ 2025 4-star LB Keylan Moses has committed to LSUšÆ
With Moses’ addition, LSU’s six-man 2025 recruiting class ranks fourth nationally per On3. That group is headlined by five-star Texas receiver [autotag]Dakorien Moore[/autotag].
Contact/Follow usĀ @LSUTigersWireĀ on Twitter, and like our page onĀ FacebookĀ to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.
Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno
Will the Philadelphia 76ers get over the hump to be a real challenger to their Atlantic Division rival Celtics any time soon?
Can the Boston Celtics stay afloat atop the NBA’s 2023-24 Eastern Conference standings with star big man Kristaps Porzingis out for the near-term future with a (thankfully) minor calf injury? And will the Philadelphia 76ers get over the hump to be a real challenger to their Atlantic Division rival Celtics any time soon?
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey recently weighed in on both questions ahead of the Sixers trip to TD Garden on Friday night to face Boston for the third time this season on the most recent episode of the CLNS Media “Cedric Maxwell” podcast. He also provides the latest on the Kelly Oubre hit and run situation and what the Philadelphia Police Department had to say about it.
Take a look at the clip embedded below to learn everything you need to know about what is going on with the Sixers ahead of Fridays’ tilt.
The detractors are quickly losing their excuses to why they are denying how magical a season Prescott is having. | From @KDDrummondNFL
Dak Prescott has done it again. For the sixth straight game since the Dallas Cowboys took their bye week, Prescott has put on an absolute show for his fanbase. In Thursday’s 41-35 victory, Prescott threw for three touchdowns on 299 passing yards, starting the game off in familar fashion.
For in all six of those games, Prescott had at least two passing touchdowns in the first halves, getting the offense off on the right foot. In most of the contests, the defense has matched his intensity, but not in Week 13. The defense didn’t show much of a pulse in the win until the final three drives, putting Prescott in a position where he had to orchestrate an offensive response over and over.
And that he did, in spectacular fashion. His numbers should’ve actually have been better as he lost two sure touchdowns to drops and a rushing touchdown to a holding penalty where he likely would’ve scored anyway.
All in all, it was a strong feather in his cap and one that will temporarily silence his dwindling number of critics and detractors, who were hanging on by fingernails to reasons why Prescott isn’t playing the best ball out of every NFL player at the moment. Playing huge when his defense isn’t giving him big leads and points? Check. Willing his team to win against a playoff-caliber opponent? Check. What’s the next hurdle that will pop up?
Here’s a look at several reactions on Twitter to his performance.
Georgia football expert previews and the predicts the 2023 SEC Championship
The SEC Championship has a long-standing of being one of the premier conference championship matchups and the 2023 version between the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs and the No. 8 Alabama Crimson Tide is sure to deliver another epic matchup.
Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs are currently riding a 29-game winning streak and are searching for a three-peat as national champions.
Nick Saban and the Tide will have the opportunity they normally do not have and that is to try and play the role of the spoiler while also moving closer to a birth in the College Football Playoff.
Letās take a look at this weekās edition of āBehind Enemy Linesā with James Morgan of UGA Wire.
The Browns are two practices in this week as they prepare for the Rams. Myles Garrett has yet to practice and all signs point to Joe Flacco.
We now sit just two days away from the Week 13 matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Rams. And as the Browns continue to practice at UCLA as they stayed out west after their game in Denver, they have yet to see defensive end Myles Garrett return to the field. In addition to Garrett, all signs point toward veteran quarterback Joe Flacco getting the start on Sunday as rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson is still in the concussion protocol.
The Browns, if Flacco does indeed get the start, can become the first team in nearly a decade to find a way to win with four different quarterbacks in the same season. The 2015 Houston Texans were the last team to do so, and they found a way to sneak into the playoffs as a result.
