CLEMSON @ #20 LOUISVILLE; 7:30 PM ET (FRIDAY); ESPN: Clemson, of course, has almost dropped completely off the national college football radar in the wake of a sub-.500 season. However, the Tigers remain very much on the draft radar as they still have a number of top prospects for the 2026 draft. DT Peter Woods (#11, 6-3, 310), for example, is still being considered to be a top 5-10 prospect for the upcoming draft, while DE TJ Parker (#3, 6-3, 260) isn’t all that far behind despite the fact that neither has had a particularly dominating year. Meanwhile, CB Avieon Terrell (#8, 5-11, 180) is one of the top 2-3 prospects at the position with some first-round potential of his own, while WR Antonio Williams (#0, 5-11, 190) and LT Blake Miller (#78, 6-5, 315) are solid second-day candidates. Ironically, Louisville, which IS still very much in the national playoff picture, likely won’t have anywhere near the same impact at the upcoming draft, but do have at least one top prospect in big-play WR Chris Bell (#0, 6-2, 220).
#11 OKLAHOMA @ #4 ALABAMA; 3:30 PM ET; ABC: Needless to say, this is a critical late-season SEC match-up between two teams that are currently in the 12-team CFP field. Its also something of a critical head-to-head match-up between the 2nd and 3rd ranked QBs in the 2026 class behind Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza in John Mateer (#10, 6-1, 225) of Oklahoma and Alabama’s Ty Simpson (#15, 6-2, 210), although both have a year of eligibility remaining and could return to school.
However, whatever Simpson’s ultimate decision, the Tide look to be in decent shape to extend their current record streak of 16 years in a row with at least one first-round pick at the upcoming draft. LT Kadyn Proctor (#74, 6-6, 365), for example, is currently considered to be a top-10-15 prospect, while DE LT Overton (#22, 6-5, 280), a prototype 3-4 DE, LB Deontae Lawson (#0, 6-1, 230) and NT Tim Keenan (#96, 6-2, 320) are each among the top 2-3 candidates at their respective positions and have at least some later first-round potential of their own. Same for veteran WR Germi Bernard (#5, 6-1, 205), who has emerged as a big-play target this year as he’s averaged over 18 yards per catch and a TD per game so far this year. Fot its part, the Sooners could field one of the most dynamic pass rushes in college with a group of edge rushers led by R Mason Thomas (#32, 6-2, 250)
#10 TEXAS @ #5 GEORGIA; 7:30 PM ET; ABC: Georgia has dominated the draft in recent years, but the Bulldogs don’t necessarily have any first-round locks at least for this year. LB CJ Allen (#3, 6-1, 235) and DT Christen Miller (#52, 6-3, 310), though, are currently rated among the top 2-3 prospects at their respective positions and would likely figure in the late first round mix if they did opt to leave school, but they’re both 3rd year juniors at somewhat lower-value positions. CB Daylen Everette (#6, 6-0, 190) could also get some late first-round consideration, while the Bulldogs boast one of the more interesting WR rooms featuring transfers Zachariah Branch (#1, 5-10, 180), the former USC speedster who doubles as one of the most electric kick returners in the country, and rangy Noah Thomas (#5, 6-5, 205), who comes over from Texas A&M.
If the Longhorns are to hang with the Bulldogs on the road, they’ll need a big game from QB Arch Manning (#16, 6-3, 220), who seems to have found his stride of late after a very shaky start to the campaign, although he still seems to be a longshot to enter the upcoming draft. However, even if Manning doesn’t enter the upcoming draft the Longhorns still have some very good players to watch in this game including MLB Anthony Hill (#0, 6-2, 240), like UGA’s Allen is one of the top 2-3 prospects at the position, and OG DJ Campbell (#52, 6-2, 325), one of the top interior OL prospects in the country, while CB Malik Muhammad (#5, 6-0, 190), OLB Trey Moore (#8, 6-3, 250) and S Michael Taafe (#16, 6-0, 190) a reproductive mid-round candidates.
