Peach State college football preview: Mercer, Fort Valley State, GMC, Georgia, Kennesaw State, Georgia State, and around the South and nation, with Central Georgia alums
12 p.m., Georgia Tech at Florida State, ACCN
Noles hope to show lessons learned against ‘lowly’ Tech
1 p.m., GMC at ASA-Miami
The Bulldogs are 6-1 as they head south for their second game against ASA Miami.
GMC cruised to a 39-0 win at home on Sept. 10, and have won their last two games, 31-7 and 20-3 over Louisburg and Gordon State.
The Bulldogs host College of DuPage next week in the home finale.
1 p.m., Charleston Southern at Kennesaw State, ESPN+
CSU’s Central Georgians: CB Kamron Smith, Veterans; LB Jake Lanford, Jones County; DE Deondre Kennedy, Veterans; OL Jack Rowland, Veterans; DL Tylon Chambers, Veterans
1:30 p.m., Mercer at VMI, ESPN+
The last time Mercer played VMI, the Bears expected a decent game in Macon.
VMI, though, hammered the Bears 45-7, the Keydets third straight win over Mercer. VMI came to town 4-2 and 2-1 and Mercer was 4-1 and 3-0.
This time, Mercer is 6-2 and 4-1 when it heads north for VMI (1-6, 0-4).
3 p.m., Old Dominion at Georgia State, ESPN+
ODU game notes
3:30 p.m., Georgia vs. Florida, CBS
Georgia ready for an improved Richardson
Napier’s lesson from Smart: No shortcuts to titles
Is Napier more Spurrier or Muschamp?
More the debate: Jacksonville or not?
Column: Another tradition in trouble
6 p.m., Savannah State vs. Fort Valley State, Henderson Stadium
The 53rd meeting between Savannah State and Fort Valley State will take place on neither campus or in either city.
Macon’s Henderson Stadium will welcome the SIAC rivals for the second time in a dozen years, FVSU taking a 41-10 win there in 2010.
The game is billed as the Central City HBCU Classic and it’s officially a home game for Savannah State.
Neither school released information about the change, simply adding it to their schedules, and there has been virtually no marketing from any of the parties involved. There’s no indication of any local group involved with the primary sponsor, the Black College Football Classic Series.
Tickets started at $20 but were cut in half late in the week. Festivities start at 1 p.m. with a battle of the bands at 1 p.m., with tickets at $20.
FVSU is 7-1 and 4-1 under first-year head coach Shawn Gibbs, and ranked third in the HBCU coaches Division II poll.
The 3-5/2-4 Tigers have lost more games this season than in the past two. They’re breaking in another new head coach in Aaron Kelton, Savannah State becoming his 11th employer. He spent two years at Shorter as head coach, going winless in two season as the program’s second head coach.
Savannah State’s Central Georgians: RB Shamarcus Poole, Washington County; WR Brent Carr, West Laurens; QB JT Hartage, Mary Persons; WR DaMarion Colbert, Upson-Lee; RB Jatavion Williams, Central; OL Cameron Brown, John Milledge; OL Desmond Jones, Mary Persons; TE Jalen Mathis, Washington County
Around the Southeast
Rare ranked showdown with No. 3 Tennessee and No. 19 Kentucky
No. 25 South Carolina heads to Missouri hungry
Missouri-South Carolina capsule
UNC takes division chase to Pitt
Wake Forest, Louisville are on win streaks
Auburn tries to end 3-game skid against Arkansas
Around the nation
Predictions: How bad can it get for A&M, ND, OU?
Ohio State ready for Penn State secondary
Gap between OSU and PSU is widening
Hot No. 7 TCU heads north to chilly WVU
More improvement priority for No. 8 Oregon vs. Cal
Michigan has lost two straight to Michigan State
Notre Dame the underdog at No. 16 Syracuse