Dillon Bates is one of the main reasons why Tennessee has the No. 2 recruiting class in the 247Sports recruiting rankings. Head coach Butch Jones has a talented group of linebackers coming to Knoxville, and the 4-star recruit is the top prospect among the group. Bates will become a beloved player on Rocky Top, as he is the son of former Tennessee and Dallas Cowboys safety Bill Bates. His skills and talent deserve a more in-depth look. Player evaluations are based on ...

After a season that ended in massive disappointment for Kentucky basketball, the 2013-14 season couldn't have higher expectations.  Despite having a preseason ranking in the Top Five, the 2012-13 version of the Wildcats dropped a first-round NIT game to Robert Morris, ending their season. Despite the awful season, Kentucky reloaded with an impressive recruiting class and is the preseason favorite to win the national title in 2013-14. Despite the talent on Kentucky's roster, no game is a ...

For Notre Dame to transform its BCS dreams into reality, all it must do is win out, though additional help certainly wouldn't do any damage. While the Irish must take care of business down the stretch against Navy, Pittsburgh, BYU and No. 5 Stanford to secure a BCS invitation, other FBS teams could aid head coach Brian Kelly and Co. in that endeavor. Notre Dame doesn't necessarily need outside help, but having these other teams come through ...

On Monday, Penn State announced it will be paying 26 victims of former coach Jerry Sandusky a total of $59.7 million in individual settlement agreements.  It marked an important public milestone on a long journey of healing. But money isn't everything, and Penn State president Rodney Erickson recognized that in a statement released on Monday (h/t to ESPN.com).  "We cannot undo what has been done, but we can and must do everything possible to learn from this and ensure it ...

It's finally time, you guys.  Time for the smack talk to get a little louder, time to relive the triumphs and heartbreaks of the past, and time to try to remember what weird trophy Iowa and Iowa State play for now (long live the Cy-Hawk).  Welcome to rivalry season! To kick things off, Michigan will travel to East Lansing to try to defend the Paul Bunyan trophy against a pesky Spartan squad, Georgia and Florida will battle ...

Heading into Saturday night's marquee ACC matchup, the No. 3 Florida State Seminoles and No. 7 Miami Hurricanes are both undefeated. But Florida State is the unquestioned team to beat, coming in as a three-touchdown favorite in many Las Vegas sportsbooks. The Hurricanes must play an absolutely perfect game on both sides of the field, and it starts all with winning certain matchups. From two player-vs.-player clashes to a collective clash, these matchups will be an important ...

Minnesota's 34-23 win over Nebraska in Week 9 was one of the biggest for the Gophers in recent memory. It also marked the first time since 1960 that the Huskers had lost to Minnesota, a win streak spanning 16 games.  Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has had some tough losses during his time in Lincoln. That was among the tougher ones to swallow. Iconic Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier, an outspoken critic of Pelini, again made his opinion ...

The Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators are both outsiders looking in at the SEC East race, but with plenty left to be decided, this rivalry game will once again bear significance thanks to its divisional implications.   Here’s what you need to know: Date: Saturday, Nov. 2 Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Place: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla. Television: CBS Radio: Georgia Bulldog Radio Network Spread: Georgia by 2.5, via 5DimesBegin Slideshow

South Carolina comes into this game riding high off last week's 27-24 two-overtime victory at previously unbeaten and No. 5-ranked Missouri. Avoiding a letdown will be paramount for a Gamecocks team that have played their way back into the SEC East chase. Things set up favorably for the Gamecocks, who have an off week next week before closing out the conference portion of their schedule at home against Florida. In fact, the Gamecocks are finished with the road. Remaining ...

It’s Georgia-Florida week, and both teams need a win on Saturday in order to stay in the race for the SEC East title. With the way both teams have looked this season, odds are that the game could get ugly just like it was last year. However, because of these teams being bitter rivals, there could be a moment where a play not only determines the outcome of the game but also goes down as a memorable ...