Nick Marshall returns for Auburn Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall will return from a one-game absence to start against No. 7 Texas A&M, but freshman Jeremy Johnson could also play a role in the offense, coach Guz Malzahn said Tuesday. Marshall, a junior college transfer, sat out Auburn's easy victory against Western Carolina to rest a knee injury suffered against Mississippi.
Vols expect Marlin Lane to play Tennessee running back Marlin Lane is expected to play Saturday against No. 11 South Carolina after missing one game with a foot injury. Linebacker Curt Maggitt, however, remains sidelined and might have to redshirt this season. Lane practiced during Tennessee's off week and worked out Tuesday in a green non-contact jersey. He has rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns on 45 carries this season.
Ex-Vanderbilt players get August trial A trial date has been set for two of four former Vanderbilt football players charged with raping an unconscious fellow student. Twenty-year-old Brandon Vandenburg and 19-year-old Cory Batey are scheduled to stand trial Aug. 11. Two other 19-year-old ex-players -- Brandon Banks and Tip McKenzie -- also are charged in the June 23 rape. Their case was separated from the other two players at a Wednesday hearing. All four have pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges and are all out of jail on bond. A fifth player, Chris Boyd, entered a conditional guilty plea last month to a misdemeanor charge for attempting to cover up the crime. If the 21-year-old successfully completes unsupervised probation, his record will be cleared.
Nick Saban: 'Made our league better Halfway through the 2013 season, sophomores Texas A&M and Missouri have just one loss between them, proving that bigger does mean better in the competitive Southeastern Conference. When the Aggies and Tigers began SEC play a season ago, few doubted the addition of the two schools would bring more television viewers to the league's games from Texas and Midwest. Still, there were questions about whether adding a pair of Big 12 teams would dilute the quality on the field in the mighty SEC, winner of seven straight football national titles. "It made our league better," Alabama coach Nick Saban said. Added Florida coach Will Muschamp, the former defensive coordinator at Texas: "It doesn't shock me at all." While some saw it coming, others have been a bit surprised by the quick ascension of the newcomers in the league standings. "Both Texas A&M and Missouri are much improved from when I was in the Big 12 at Oklahoma State," LSU coach Les Miles said. Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9835453/texas-aggies-missouri-tigers-add-sec-muscle
DE Myles Garrett opts for Aggies ESPN 300 DE Myles Garrett (Arlington, Texas/Martin), the nation's No. 7 player, announced his commitment to Texas A&M on Friday. Garrett chose the Aggies over Alabama, Ohio State, TCU and Florida State because he sees himself as a missing piece to Kevin Sumlin's squad.
Steve Spurrier wary of Volunteers South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier isn't ready to crown his team just yet. "We've not done enough to think we're hot stuff yet," Spurrier said. "We're not." South Carolina is coming off a 52-7 victory at Arkansas that represented its most dominant performance of the season. South Carolina gained 537 total yards against Arkansas while allowing only 30 yards passing. Spurrier realizes the 11th-ranked Gamecocks (5-1, 3-1 SEC) have a tricky test Saturday when they put their four-game winning streak on the line at Tennessee (3-3, 0-2). The Volunteers nearly stunned Georgia in its last game and scared the heck out of South Carolina in Columbia a year ago. "We know we've got to play well to beat Tennessee," Spurrier said. "We have to play really well." Tennessee is coming off a bye week, which gave the Vols extra time to study South Carolina. "They just played with a lot more effort the last game," Tennessee offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James said. "We all watched their film from earlier games, and we saw a different team against Arkansas." Read more http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9844129/not-hot-stuff
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix eligible to play Alabama starting safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has been reinstated from his two-game suspension after being notified by the NCAA that he is again eligible to play, the school announced Friday. Clinton-Dix, a junior, was suspended after accepting a loan of less than $500 from a member of the Alabama strength and conditioning staff, ESPN.com learned. The staffer, Corey Harris, was put on administrative leave for his involvement.
No. 1 Alabama silences struggling Arkansas Alabama didn't catch the upset bug that struck much of the Southeastern Conference. The top-ranked Crimson Tide looked perfectly robust in a 52-0 romp over struggling Arkansas on Saturday night, racking up 352 yards rushing, big plays and yet another stout defensive performance.
Vanderbilt overcomes 13-point hole to stun No. 15 Georgia Vanderbilt finally has its first upset of a Top 25 opponent under coach James Franklin, a win that had the Commodores singing with the band and dancing in the end zone. They also likely ended No. 15 Georgia's faint hopes of a trip back to the Southeastern Conference championship game for good measure, too. Jerron Seymour ran for a 13-yard touchdown with 2:53 left, and Vanderbilt rallied from a 13-point deficit by scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter Saturday for a 31-27 victory.
Ole Miss shocks No. 6 LSU on late field goal Mississippi's Andrew Ritter said his game-winning, 41-yard field goal felt good off his foot. Then he watched with dread as it started drifting right. By the time it reached the uprights, it was dangerously close. The senior held his breath. So did the rest of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It sailed through with about a foot to spare. The crowd exploded. It was the finishing touch on Mississippi's 27-24 upset victory over No. 6 LSU on Saturday night.
No. 24 Auburn batters Johnny Manziel, holds off No. 7 Texas A&M No. 24 Auburn didn't win a single Southeastern Conference game last season. So no one could blame running back Tre Mason for shedding a few tears as the final seconds ticked in the Tigers' 45-41 upset of No. 7 Texas A&M on Saturday.
Maty Mauk leads No. 14 Missouri past No. 22 Florida in 1st start No James Franklin, no problem for Missouri. Maty Mauk threw for 295 yards in his first career start and Andrew Baggett converted five field goals to help the No. 14 Tigers defeat No. 22 Florida 36-17 on Saturday and open a two-game lead in the loss column of the SEC East Division.
Connor Shaw won't need surgery South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier says quarterback Connor Shaw won't need surgery for his sprained left knee. But Shaw is unlikely to play when the 20th-ranked Gamecocks travel to No. 5 Missouri this weekend.
Vinnie Sunseri done for season Alabama starting strong safety Vinnie Sunseri will have surgery on his knee Tuesday and will miss the remainder of the season, coach Nick Saban announced Monday. Sunseri, a junior, was sixth on the team with 20 tackles coming into Saturday's game against Arkansas. He injured the knee covering a kickoff in the first half. He led the team with four pass breakups and two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.
Johnny Manziel still nursing shoulder Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said he's "hopeful" that sophomore quarterback Johnny Manziel will play when the No. 16 Aggies host Vanderbilt on Saturday. The Heisman Trophy winner suffered an apparent injury to his throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter of the Aggies' 45-41 loss to Auburn on Saturday. Manziel left the game and received treatment but returned to finish the game.
Aaron Murray: Todd Gurley a 'full go' Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said Tuesday he believes Todd Gurley will be a "full go" against Florida in two weeks after watching the tailback run plays in practice for the first time since spraining his left ankle. Gurley is the Bulldogs' leading rusher despite missing the last three games. Georgia lost back-to-back games to Missouri and Vanderbilt without Gurley and dropped out of the Top 25.
SEC to try targeting 15-yard penalty SEC coordinator of football officials Steve Shaw said Wednesday that he and commissioner Mike Slive share concerns about college football's controversial targeting penalties and will work this offseason to adjust the rule. Specifically, Shaw believes the sport's rules committee should address the 15-yard penalty that remains even after a targeting penalty is overturned by the instant replay official.
LB Jeremi Powell out for season Florida has lost yet another player to a season-ending injury. Coach Will Muschamp says backup linebacker Jeremi Powell tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Saturday at Missouri and will have season-ending surgery. He was injured trying to block a punt.
Patton Robinette to start for Vandy Patton Robinette will start at quarterback for Vanderbilt in place of the injured Austyn Carta-Samuels on Saturday when the Commodores play at No. 14 Texas A&M. Vanderbilt athletic department spokesman Larry Leathers confirmed Thursday that Robinette would start against the Aggies. The news was first reported by The Tennessean.
Noles will sit RB James Wilder Jr. Third-ranked Florida State will be without running back James Wilder Jr. on Saturday against North Carolina State.
