Week 14 is conference championship week, featuring 10 championship games across Friday evening and Saturday. The reduced slate means there is less college football injury news than usual, but the biggest news involving games this week includes SMU losing their starting quarterback for the season, Florida State has uncertainty for its starting QB, and Alabama could be without its top running back.
Georgia still has some significant questions with injuries amongst their receiving corps, but in more positive news, SMU is hopeful to get some RBs back in action, while Iowa expects two wide receivers to return.
Below you’ll find the QB situations to be watching for as well as notable running back, wide receiver and tight end college football injury news to keep an eye on for this week’s games.
Please note that this post may be continually updated through early Saturday morning.
Key Players to Watch
SMU QB Preston Stone suffered a broken bone in his lower leg last week and will miss the remainder of the 2023 season. He has passed for 3,197 yards with 28 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 2023. Kevin Jennings is expected to start against Tulane in Stone’s absence. Jennings has completed 18/24 passes this season for 224 yards and three TDs, playing in six games but not attempting more than six passes in any game so far.
Alabama RB Jase McClellan left the game in the fourth quarter last week and was seen leaving the stadium on crutches. Nick Saban said he had tweaked a foot injury and was day-to-day at the start of the week. Then on Thursday Saban called him questionable adding that he had not done much in practice. There are unconfirmed reports he has not practiced this week and is unlikely to play. McClellan leads Alabama in rushing this season with 166 carries for 803 yards and six TDs. If McClellan is unable to go, next in line would likely be Roydell Williams (94/497-4), followed by Jamarion Miller (31/167-1) and Justice Haynes (21/137-2). Alabama plays Georgia in the SEC title game.
Quarterback Battles
The following are teams that have not announced starters for this week, or situations where the starter could be impacted by injury concerns. Where “OR” is shown it represents a co-starter situation on the team’s depth chart for this week.
- Florida State – Tate Rodemaker started last week with Jordan Travis out for the season (leg), but Rodemaker left the game in the 4th quarter after taking a hit to the head but was able to return, Brock Glenn briefly replaced him. Rodemaker is reported to have been limited in practice this week, doing more work in individual drills, a potential gameday decision on Saturday. If he cannot go then Glenn is the likely starter.
- SMU – Preston Stone is out for the season (leg), Kevin Jennings is expected to start
College Football Injury News
New and/or notable injuries and statuses for skill position players are listed here, for long-term/season-long injuries or for others you may not see listed visit the Unabated CFB news page to search by player or team.
Quarterbacks
- Maalik Murphy, Texas – Probable (shoulder), backup was injured on the sideline last week, was practicing this week.
- Tate Rodemaker, Florida State – GTD (head), left the game but returned last week, reported to not have been a full practice participant this week and will be a gameday decision.
- Preston Stone, SMU – Out for the Season (leg), suffered a broken bone in his lower leg last week.
- Jordan Travis, Florida State – Out for the Season (leg)
Running Backs
- CJ Baxter, Texas – Probable (hip), left the game in the 3rd quarter last week, but postgame Steve Sarkisian made it sound precautionary, and he has not been mentioned in the injury reports during press conferences this week.
- Shaadie Clayton-Johnson, Tulane – Questionable (undisclosed), has not played since week 10.
- Elijah Collins, Oklahoma State – Questionable (ankle), has not played since week 11.
- Jaylan Knighton, SMU – Probable (undisclosed), expected back this week after being dinged in week 12.
- LJ Johnson, SMU – Probable (undisclosed), expected back this week after a DNP in week 13.
- Jase McClellan, Alabama – Questionable (foot), called day to day at the start of the week, on Thursday Nick Saban said he had not done much in practice.
- Nate Noel, App State – Questionable (undisclosed), DNP in week 13, postgame last week it was said he wanted and tried to play but wasn’t able to go.
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
- TE Brock Bowers, Georgia – Questionable/GTD (ankle), dressed and warmed up but did not play last week, status uncertain as of Thursday.
- Kaleb Brown, Iowa – Probable (undisclosed), practiced this week and should be ready to go after leaving the game last week.
- Gary Bryant, Oregon (Friday) – Probable (lower body), should be available this week after leaving the game in week 13.
- Destyn Hill, Florida State – Questionable (undisclosed), DNP last game, observed practicing this week.
- Jha’quan Jackson, Tulane – Probable (ankle), called hopeful to play at the start of this week, then on Friday it was confirmed he will return, his first action since week 10.
- Lawrence Keys, Tulane (Friday) – Out (foot), not expected again this week.
- Gage Larvadain, Miami OH – Gametime Decision (lower body), called questionable at the start of the week, then called a GTD on Thursday. Last played in week 11.
- Ladd McConkey, Georgia – Questionable (ankle), did not dress last week, status uncertain as of Thursday.
- Chase Penry, Boise State – Questionable (undisclosed), has been inactive last three games, is not on the depth chart.
- Rara Thomas, Georgia – Questionable (foot sprain), did not dress last week, called day to day.
- Diante Vines, Iowa – Probable (undisclosed), practiced this week and should be ready to go, last played week 10.
- Hykeem Williams, Florida State – Questionable (lower body), did not dress last week, last played week 8.
- Xavier Worthy, Texas – Probable (lower body), called good to go after leaving the game and returning several times last week.
Reminder: the college football injury news information on this list relies upon reputable reporters and sites rather than rumors or sources inside and around programs. When there is strong speculation about an update but it has not been confirmed by verified sources, that is noted (this will be rare).
We strive to provide the most accurate and timely college football injury news and other information possible, but updates should be considered unofficial unless officially released by the team. Some teams and coaches do intentionally withhold information or provide comments with the intent to mislead.
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