#5 MISSISSIPPI (6-0) at #9 GEORGIA (5-1); 3:30 PM ET; ABC: Top-ten match-up should give some sense just how real the unbeaten Rebels are when they play at Georgia Saturday afternoon. We’ll also get a sense just how real is Rebs’ QB Trinidad Chambliss (#6, 6-0, 200), arguably the best player in college football whom the vast majority of the country has never heard of, much less seen play. Chambliss spent 4 years at DII Ferris State where, in fact, he barely played until last season when he led the Bulldogs to the division’s national championship, along the way earning DII All-America honors before transferring to Ole Miss this past winter. At Ole Miss he has emerged as one of the more exciting dual-threat QBs in the country, although at barely 6-feet even, he may be a better prospect for the Canadian league than the NFL. In fact, the Rebel to watch in this game, at least for the upcoming draft, is probably DT Zxavian Harris (#51, 6-7, 330), a massive guy with some athleticism, who is starting to get some buzz from NFL personnel people. At the same time, LB Suntarine Perkins (#4, 6-2, 220), who has played LB, ER and S at times in his college career, is a terrific college player, but might have trouble finding a position fit at the next level.
Of course, Chambliss and company will face a truly defining test against Georgia, which for example has pretty much dominated the draft so far this decade with 55 players selected since 2021, the most of any program and #2 (Alabama with 44) not all that close. And almost assuredly Georgia is going to add to that total this coming April, although the Bulldogs don’t necessarily have any first-round locks. 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, 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, along with veteran Colbie Young (#8, 6-3, 215).
#11 TENNESSEE (5-1) at #6 ALABAMA (5-1); 7:30 PM ET; ABC: There is an interesting development in the NFL’s search for the top QB/potetial top pick overall for the 2026 draft. With the rest of the class still trying to sort itself out, there is something of a growing buzz that Bama’s Ty Simpson (#15, 6-2, 210) just might be that guy. Simpson is actually in his 4th year at Alabama, but this is only his first as the Tide starter, but he has made the most of it completing over 70% of his pass attempts including 16 for TDs against just one pick as the Tide has rebounded nicely from that season opening game loss at Florida State. Simpson, though, will have at least another year of eligibility after this season so there is no guarantee that he’d even contemplate turning pro this winter. 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 and have at least some later first-round potential. 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.
There is also an interesting QB story at Tennessee where former Vols’ star Nico Iamaleava bolted for greener pastures at UCLA this spring in a dispute over NIL payments only to be replaced by former UCLA QB Joey Aquilar (#6, 6-3, 225) who was displaced when Iamaleava arrived in LA. And Aquilar has been solid enough completing 65% of his passes, including 14 for scores, although he does have a few too many picks (5) to date and is still more of a fringe NFL prospect. The Vols, though, do have a couple of rising stars that could figure early at the 2026 draft in WR Chris Brazzell (#17, 6-4, 200), a rangy, big-play threat who is averaging almost 17 yards per catch this fall, as well more than a TD per game, and ER Josh Josephs (#19, 6-3, 240). who already has 4 sacks to his credit.
#20 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (5-1) at #13 NOTRE DAME (4-2); 7:30 PM ET; NBC: Feels like this has been the first time that Trojans-Irish annual shoot-out has mattered in a while as both teams are currently ranked. However, while the Irish are on national TV pretty much every week, this is probably USC’s first big national game of the year. And that’s something of a shame as the Trojans come to South Bend with one of the most prolific offences in the country led by emerging junior QB Jayden Maiava (#14, 6-3, 230), the third leading passer in college football, although to date he hasn’t gotten much respect from pro scouts. That’s not the case, though, with WR Makai Lemon (#6, 5-11, 195), the 2nd leading receiver in the country who has started to show up as a top 10-15 prospects on a lot of teams boards around the league. Lemom combines with fellow WR Ja’Kobi Lane (#8, 6-3, 200), the Trojans big-play threat who is averaging over 21 yards per reception this fall and has some second-round potential of his own, while rangy LB Eric Gentry (#18, 6-5, 225), a very versatile guy who can both get into the backfield and cover, and S Kamari Ramsey (#7, 6-0, 205) head the defence.
