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Traylor, UTSA want record-setting crowd for Conference USA Championship Game

Roadrunners host North Texas Friday, 6:30 p.m. at Alamodome

SAN ANTONIO – Jeff Traylor did not mince words at his postgame press conference Saturday evening.

UTSA’s third-year head coach had just seen his resilient squad complete a thrilling and historic comeback to defeat UTEP 34-31. The Roadrunners finished the regular season with a 10-2 overall record including a perfect 8-0 mark against Conference USA opponents, a first in program history. Over the past two seasons, only four college football programs have a better overall record than UTSA’s 22-4 mark: Georgia (26-1), Michigan (24-2), Ohio State (22-3) and Alabama (23-4). Additionally, the team finally broke back into the AP Top 25 over the weekend at No. 23 overall and moved up a spot in the latest AFCA Coaches Poll to No. 24.

Even with all of that success, Traylor was laser-focused on the challenge ahead: hosting North Texas in their second straight Conference USA Championship Game at the Alamodome. Saturday’s victory happened in front of 26,061 fans, the fourth-largest crowd this season, and the fans made their presence felt multiple times during UTSA’s remarkable comeback.

Traylor wants a much larger crowd on Friday night.

“It’s got to be like tonight times two for us to have a competitive chance,” Traylor said. “We worked hard to get that home-field [advantage]. We can’t waste it, man. We cannot waste it. We need to get this place packed.”

How To Watch C-USA Championship Game

The Roadrunners defeated Western Kentucky 49-41 in the title game last season in front of 41,148 people, one of the largest crowds in program history. They nearly equaled that crowd size with 37,526 fans for their season-opening triple-overtime loss to then-No. 25 Houston on September 3. Since then, attendance at the Alamodome has averaged roughly 25,000 people per game. UTSA hasn’t had a crowd larger than 50,000 since a still-record 56,743 fans attended the Roadrunners’ first-ever home game in 2011. The team knows how impactful a large crowd can be.

“I just think about last year, the last championship game against Western Kentucky,” linebacker Trey Moore said. “The Alamodome was really rocking that game, and it helped us. If [the fans] can come to this game, it will give us an edge. I really believe that. If y’all can make it out, make it out.”

UTSA vs North Texas Live game

“We should be shooting for the record,” Traylor said. “I mean, come on. This is the second consecutive championship at home. This is hard to do, man. I don’t know what we have to do, but we’ve got to get 50,000 people in there. Whatever it takes, we’ve got to get them here.”

Saturday’s victory over UTEP was UTSA’s ninth straight win and their sixth game decided by a single possession this season. The Roadrunners are 5-1 in those contests, including a dramatic 31-27 victory over North Texas in the Alamodome back on October 22. There’s no question this year’s UTSA team has shown they can perform in crunch time, but the mood in UTSA’s locker room is very different following their latest great escape.

“We’re treating this last game like a loss,” Harris explained. “You can tell the guys weren’t happy, even though we won. We’ve got a lot to clean up, at least on the offensive end, before we go out there and play North Texas. They’re a good team. The emotions are going to be very high, especially since it’s a championship game. And it’s a rematch. There’s a lot of history between us two, but we’ve got to keep our heads and go out there and play football like we know how to.”

How To Watch UTSA vs North Texas Live game

The Roadrunners will have to battle the Mean Green without several key contributors. Wide receiver De’Corian “JT” Clark, who caught the game-winning touchdown against UNT, is already out for the season after suffering a leg injury in UTSA’s 44-38 overtime victory over UAB. Running back Brenden Brady, who carried the ball 19 times for 112 yards and two touchdowns against UNT, suffered an arm injury during UTSA’s win over UTEP and will miss the title game. Tight end Gavin Sharp suffered an ugly leg injury in the UTEP game as well, adding to a list of eight one-time starters who will not suit up on Friday.

Kickoff in the Alamodome between No. 23 UTSA and North Texas is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Tickets are available right now online at Ticketmaster or in-person at the Alamodome Box Office.

UTSA vs. North Texas: How to watch the C-USA Championship online, live stream info, game time, TV channel | December 2

The C-USA Championship Game is between the No. 23 UTSA Roadrunners (10-2) and the North Texas Mean Green (7-5) on December 2, 2022. Kickoff is at 7:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network .

The Roadrunners head into the matchup after winning 34-31 over the UTEP Miners in their last outing on November 26. The Mean Green are coming off of a 21-17 win over the Rice Owls. In that matchup with the Miners, Frank Harris had 382 yards on 16-of-22 passing (72.7%) for the Roadrunners, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Kevorian Barnes carried the ball 15 times for 55 yards (3.7 yards per carry). He also had two receptions for 28 yards. Tykee Ogle-Kellogg led the receiving charge against the Miners, catching four passes for 142 yards and one touchdown. Austin Aune put up 203 passing yards while going 16-for-29 with two touchdowns and no interceptions for the Mean Green against the Owls. Ikaika Ragsdale carried the ball 17 times for 122 yards (7.2 yards per attempt) with one touchdown. In the passing game, he added five catches for 59 yards and one touchdown. Jyaire Shorter collected one catch for 45 yards (on three targets), with one touchdown.

Read below where we dig deep into all of the info you need before this contest starts, including how to watch on TV.

College football odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 1:52 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

UTSA vs. North Texas Game Info

• Game Day: Friday, December 2, 2022
• Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
• Location: San Antonio, Texas
• Stadium: Alamodome
• TV Channel: CBS Sports Network
• Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

UTSA vs. North Texas Betting Info

• Spread Favorite: UTSA (-8.5)
• Moneyline: UTSA (-325), North Texas (+259)
• Total: 68 points

OFFER: Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!

2022 SEC Championship Game: Georgia vs. LSU clinched as two of last three national champions meet in Atlanta

At least one College Football Playoff berth will likely be decided at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The 2022 SEC Championship Game participants are now official as Georgia and LSU on Saturday each clinched berths into the game following critical wins over Mississippi State and Arkansas, respectively. Winners of two of the last three College Football Playoff National Championships, the Bulldogs (2021) and Tigers (2019) will meet on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with a return to the CFP likely on the line for at least one of the programs.

No. 1 Georgia (10-0, 7-0 SEC) beat Mississippi State 45-19 on the road thanks to another impressive performance by its defense. It held the vaunted Air Raid attack of MSU coach Mike Leach to just 310 total yards and pulled away with four touchdowns in the second half.

UGA coach Kirby Smart’s crew has won the SEC East and made the SEC Championship Game in five of the last six years. It lost last season’s contest 41-24 to Alabama but got revenge on the Crimson Tide on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis when the Dawgs won their first national championship since 1980.

No. 7 LSU (8-2, 6-1 SEC) topped Arkansas 13-10 on the road in chilly conditions to take care of its part of the equation. The Tigers then sat back and watched the No. 9 Tide hold on to a 30-24 win over No. 11 Ole Miss, which clinched the SEC West for LSU given it has head-to-head wins over both programs.

In Year 1 under coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers lost their opener to Florida State when they missed a game-tying extra point with no time on the clock. Their lone SEC defeat came on Oct. 8 when they fell 40-13 to Tennessee. Since then, quarterback Jayden Daniels has emerged as one of the SEC’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. has made a case to be an All-American selection as a freshman.

LSU has claimed its first SEC West title since 2019 when quarterback Joe Burrow and the Tigers beat Georgia in Atlanta en route to their first national championship since 2007. Will it be the Dawgs going back-to-back or the Tigers attempting to keep them out of the four-team CFP altogether? 

We will find out on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Atlanta when the 2022 SEC Championship Game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET and airs live on CBS.

UGA football vs. LSU in SEC Championship: Kickoff time, TV channel, betting line & more

The Georgia Bulldogs play the LSU Tigers on Saturday in the SEC championship game. Here’s how to watch or listen to the game.

What time do the Georgia Bulldogs play the LSU Tigers?

Kickoff: 4 p.m ET., Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Capacity 75,000)

Where can I watch the Georgia Bulldogs play the LSU Tigers on TV?

Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Gary Danielson (analyst) and Jenny Dell (sideline) will have the call on CBS. That’s 46 on Direct TV in Atlanta and 46 and 6366 on Dish. It is 4/704 on Spectrum Cable in Athens and Atlanta.

Streaming options for Georgia-LSU

The game can be seen via live stream on the CBS Sports app and CBSSports.com and with a Paramount+ subscription.

Radio for Georgia vs. LSU

Scott Howard (play-by-play), Eric Zeier (analyst) and D.J. Shockley (sideline) will have the Georgia Bulldog Sports network call on 106.1 FM and 960 AM in Athens, 750 AM and 95.5 FM in Atlanta, 580 AM and 95.1 FM in Augusta, 1400 AM and 104.3 FM in Savannah or online at georgiadogs.com. It can be heard on SiriusXM channel 84, 138 or 190.

Betting: Over/under & point spread

As of Monday, Georgia is a 17 1/2-point favorite, according to Tipico Sportsbook.

The over/under is 50 1/2.

The money line is not listed.

Series history

LSU leads 18-13-1 including 2-0 vs. Kirby Smart. The Tigers are 3-1 against Georgia in the SEC championship game, winning in 2003, 2011 and 2019 and losing in 2005.

Twitter follows

Follow Banner-Herald UGA beat writer @marcweiszer for UGA updates and @KokiRiley for LSU updates. You can follow the team’s official accounts at @GeorgiaFootball and @LSUfootball

2022 SEC Championship Game: Georgia vs. LSU clinched as two of last three national champions meet in Atlanta

At least one College Football Playoff berth will likely be decided at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The 2022 SEC Championship Game participants are now official as Georgia and LSU on Saturday each clinched berths into the game following critical wins over Mississippi State and Arkansas, respectively. Winners of two of the last three College Football Playoff National Championships, the Bulldogs (2021) and Tigers (2019) will meet on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with a return to the CFP likely on the line for at least one of the programs.

No. 1 Georgia (10-0, 7-0 SEC) beat Mississippi State 45-19 on the road thanks to another impressive performance by its defense. It held the vaunted Air Raid attack of MSU coach Mike Leach to just 310 total yards and pulled away with four touchdowns in the second half.

UGA coach Kirby Smart’s crew has won the SEC East and made the SEC Championship Game in five of the last six years. It lost last season’s contest 41-24 to Alabama but got revenge on the Crimson Tide on Jan. 10, 2022, in Indianapolis when the Dawgs won their first national championship since 1980.

No. 7 LSU (8-2, 6-1 SEC) topped Arkansas 13-10 on the road in chilly conditions to take care of its part of the equation. The Tigers then sat back and watched the No. 9 Tide hold on to a 30-24 win over No. 11 Ole Miss, which clinched the SEC West for LSU given it has head-to-head wins over both programs.

In Year 1 under coach Brian Kelly, the Tigers lost their opener to Florida State when they missed a game-tying extra point with no time on the clock. Their lone SEC defeat came on Oct. 8 when they fell 40-13 to Tennessee. Since then, quarterback Jayden Daniels has emerged as one of the SEC’s top dual-threat quarterbacks, and linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. has made a case to be an All-American selection as a freshman.

LSU has claimed its first SEC West title since 2019 when quarterback Joe Burrow and the Tigers beat Georgia in Atlanta en route to their first national championship since 2007. Will it be the Dawgs going back-to-back or the Tigers attempting to keep them out of the four-team CFP altogether? 

We will find out on Saturday, Dec. 3 in Atlanta when the 2022 SEC Championship Game kicks off at 4 p.m. ET and airs live on CBS.

Georgia football-LSU live updates, injury news, practices notes for 2022 SEC Championship Game

The Georgia Bulldogs will take on the LSU Tigers in the 2022 SEC Championship Game. Below you can find live updates about the week, injury news and practice notes for the game.

This will be the fifth time Georgia and LSU have met for the SEC championship. LSU won the last time back in 2019, winning 37-10.

Georgia football-LSU live updates, practice notes for 2022 SEC Championship Game

11:30 a.m. Monday update: Georgia coach Kirby Smart will speak with the media, as will offensive tackle Warren McClendon, Chris Smith and Ladd McConkey.

• “Really talented team. Always had respect for Brian Kelly’s teams. They do a great job in all areas. He knows how to run a program. He’s been tremendous.”
• “This is an incredible atmosphere. It’s a great venue and the SEC office does a great job putting on a tremendous event.”
• “Our goal is 35 or 38. We base that on college football history. You want to be No. 1 scoring offense, if you can hit that you’ll usually be near that.”
• “I do think the resilience has shown through. I don’t have an explanation as to why we don’t play with consistency. We haven’t really had consistency or performance of this year compared to I think last year’s team.”
• “Momentum is a really thing. Shooters are that way in basketball. Hitters are that way in baseball. Kickers are like that in football, defenses too. You try to find the thing that makes you more consistent.”
• “I think he’s played well. He’s done what we’ve asked him to do. He’s had a couple of decisions he’d like to have back. He also has some really incredible plays.” — Smart on Stetson Bennett.
• “By this time of year, they’re no longer young. They’ve got two tackles that aren’t really freshmen anymore. That’s what you’re trying to do in winning and SEC championship.”
• “He’s a groin issue. He’ll be back this week at practice.” — Smart on De’Nylon Morrissette.
• “It’s about putting a number on the wall. You don’t belittle those. They’re hard to come by. Winning a Southeastern Conference championship is extremely impressive. I think our players take a lot of pride on that.” — Smart on winning the SEC.
• “He has a quality of toughness about him.” — Smart on Tate Ratledge.
• “I’ve been proud of how our guys have done. Pur

5 p.m., Sunday update: Georgia coach Kirby Smart and LSU coach Brian Kelly will speak to reporters to preview Saturday’s game.

• “It’s the next game. For us it’s been about the next one all year. The great teams worry about the next one more than the last one. That’s what we’re trying to be, is a team that worries more about the next one than the last one.” — Smart on the SEC championship game.
• “We’re worried about winning the SEC championship. That’s the most important thing on our agenda, is to have an opportunity to do something that rarely gets done. I mean, it’s tough to win an SEC championship. I’ve been part of this league for a long time. I have almost as many national championships as I do SEC championships. They’re really hard to come by. We’re focused on LSU.” — Smart on not looking ahead.
• “He was a tremendous leader that all the players had a lot of respect for. He embodied toughness. He was a guy that never shied away from contact. All the guys on the team respected him. He was almost a unanimous captain. Had the most votes we’ve had at the time for a captain. He was a great leader. He’s a great young man.” –”Smart on Azeez Ojulari, whose brother BJ plays for LSU
• “We had good leadership last year, and we’ve got good leadership this year. If you have good leadership, then you’ve got an opportunity to grow and get better. This group was not where it needed to be in the spring. We had some long days in spring practice. But they filled in the holes nicely that we needed. They’ve improved throughout the year.” — Smart on the GEorgia defense.

The Bulldogs will take on the LSU Tigers on Saturday. Georgia enters the game with a 12-0 record and looking to do something last season’s team could not do. That would be win the SEC championship.

Georgia will be facing off against Kelly and the Tigers. LSU is entering the game coming off a puzzling loss to Texas A&M but do not expect that result to lead Georgia to overlook the Tigers.

LSU is one of just two SEC teams Kirby Smart has not beaten and Kelly has experience against Smart at Georgia. While Smart is 2-0 against Kelly, both of those contests were one-score games.

“He’s an incredible coach. He was an incredible coach when he was at Notre Dame and he’s an incredible coach at LSU,” Smart said. “He came to this league because he wanted an opportunity to play the best and get opportunities to go to the playoffs and win SEC championships. He’s at a storied place that’s got a lot of tradition and history.”

This is the fifth time in six seasons Georgia will play for an SEC championship. But Georgia has only won one of the previous trips, coming back in 2017 against Auburn. The Bulldogs lost 41-23 last season in Atlanta against Alabama.

LSU’s loss sucks much of the College Football Playoff intrigue from the game, as Georgia is one of three unbeaten teams. There is a very real chance we know the four College Football Playoff teams by the time the game starts, as No. 4 USC plays No. 12 Utah on Friday evening. Georgia lost this game last year and still made the College Football Play

Georgia vs. LSU: How to watch the SEC Championship online, live stream info, game time, TV channel | December 3

The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs (12-0) play the No. 11 LSU Tigers (9-3) in the SEC Championship Game on Saturday, December 3, 2022.

The Bulldogs head into the matchup after winning 37-14 over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in their last game on November 26. The Tigers’ last game ended in a 38-23 loss to the Texas A&M Aggies. In that matchup with the Yellow Jackets, Stetson Bennett had 135 yards on 10-of-18 passing (55.6%) for the Dawgs, with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also carried the ball five times for 21 yards. Kenny McIntosh totaled 86 rushing yards on 12 carries (7.2 yards per carry), scoring one touchdown on the ground. He added two catches for 91 yards. Brock Bowers had five receptions for 20 yards (4.0 per catch) and one touchdown against the Yellow Jackets. Jayden Daniels went 21-for-35 with 189 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions for the Tigers against the Aggies. He also rushed 12 times for 84 yards. In that matchup, John Emery Jr. had a nine-carry, 55-yard game (6.1 yards per attempt) with three touchdowns. He tacked on three receptions for 11 yards . Malik Nabers collected seven catches for 69 yards (on nine targets).

We give more details below, and that includes how to watch this game on TV.

College football odds courtesy of Tipico Sportsbook. Odds updated Tuesday at 1:52 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.

Georgia vs. LSU Game Info

• Game Day: Saturday, December 3, 2022
• Game Time: 4:00 PM ET
• Location: Atlanta, Georgia
• Stadium: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
• TV Channel: CBS
• Live Stream: fuboTV (Watch for free)

Georgia vs. LSU Betting Info

• Spread Favorite: Georgia (-17.5)
• Moneyline: Georgia (-972), LSU (+623)
• Total: 51 points

OFFER: Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!