The air is getting colder, and the stakes are getting higher! College football in November means the postseason is around the corner and unlike most seasons, almost all conference races are still up in the air. We are in for a wild finish this year, with a number of massive matchups this week. Every little edge in these games can be the deciding factor, and finding these edges leads to us beating the sportsbooks. Injuries in college football can be the Wild West, but there is plenty of value to be found if you know how to look!
We’re in for a Saturday full of primetime matchups. In these big games, even the slightest edges on the football field matter. Unfortunately, we can’t have football without injuries, and the injury bug has arrived in full force. There are a number of key players with major injury concerns as we look ahead to the weekend slate. Here are the most impactful college football injuries heading into Week 12!
Here is everything you need to know regarding the BIGGEST injuries on both sides of the ball. However, injury news happens fast and can change quickly, so for the most up-to-date news and analysis, follow me on X @TheDegenDoc!
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Most Impactful College Football Injuries Heading Into Week 12
Players Ruled Out
Georgia RB Trevor Etienne
Missouri WR Mookie Cooper
LSU OL Garrett Dellinger
Boston College QB Thomas Castellanos – Transfer Portal
Utah QB Brandon Rose – OUT for season
Virginia S Antonio Clary – OUT for season
Brant Kuithe (TE) Utah Utes
Injury: Leg Injury
Injury Date: 11/9/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 10-12 months
Player Year: RS Senior
The Utah Utes fittingly kick off this college football Week 12 injuries article. The Utes have been decimated by injuries and it has completely derailed their season. It started with QB Cam Rising picking up two separate injuries and ultimately being ruled out for the season. The latest nail in the coffin came this past Saturday during the Holy War against archrival BYU.
Late in the game, star TE Brant Kuithe ran a route and suffered a dreaded non-contact leg injury. He was visibly frustrated and in pain on the field and it was later announced that he would be out for the season. Kuithe is the team’s most versatile playmaker as he is second on the team in receiving yards and leads the team in touchdowns. To make matters worse, Utah went on to lose the game and their QB2 Brandon Rose for the rest of the season too. A promising season for Utah quickly turned into an injury-riddled disaster.
Cam Skattebo (RB) Arizona State Sun Devils
Injury: Shoulder Injury
Injury Date: 11/2/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: Senior
Cam Skattebo is simply a player who is one of one. He is virtually the entire Arizona State offense this year as he leads the team in rushing by 700 yards and is second on the team in receiving. He also has a combined 13 touchdowns in just eight games. Thankfully for Arizona State fans, there is good news on this college football Week 12 injury report.
After missing last week’s game with a shoulder injury, Skattebo will play this week. He rejoined the team for practice to start the week and will be able to fight through the pain to make his way back on the field. Clearly this was a minor shoulder injury, likely an AC sprain, and him being able to return to practice early in the week bodes well for his overall health level. He may not be 100% on Saturday but Skattebo is a player who prides himself on toughness, and will do everything in his power to not come off the field.
Nico Iamaleava (QB) Tennessee Volunteers
Injury: Concussion
Injury Date: 11/15/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: RS Freshman
The biggest game this week is without a doubt Tennessee vs Georgia. This matchup is a big enough storyline itself, but it has been amplified by a massive injury question. Will Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava be able to play?
Tennessee’s QB1 was knocked out of the game last week and officially entered the concussion protocol. Unlike the NFL, this protocol is a bit more university dependent. A concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury after an indirect or direct blow to the head. Although the symptoms can be variable, it most often affects the concentration and processing time for a football player. This is especially crucial at the QB position where you need to process information quickly and make a decision. Typically, players will return in 1-2 weeks after the injury.
It is not uncommon for a player to not miss a game and return to the field in just seven days. It all comes down to their symptoms and how they respond to physical activity. Although Iamaleava is officially listed as questionable, it was reported that he practiced early in the week. This is a GREAT sign for his availabilty. Assuming he did not suffer a setback, i would classify the freshman as probable and expect him out their against Georgia. This is a mild reinjury risk following a concussion but we do not typically see a dip in production.
Connor Tollison (C) Missouri Tigers
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 11/15/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 10-12 months
Player Year: Junior
Despite dealing with major injuries throughout the season, the Missouri Tigers still control their own destiny in the SEC. This path to the SEC championship gets a little harder in Week 12 as they suffered a significant injury to one of the best centers in college football.
Junior Connor Tollison has started 34 games for the Tigers and is rated as one of the top interior offensive line prospects for the upcoming draft class. Unfortunately, he picked up a major knee injury and will be out for the rest of the season. Already dealing with QB injury concerns, adding in a brand-new center to the mix creates a recipe for disaster this weekend.
DJ Lagway (QB) Florida Gators
Injury: Hamstring Strain
Injury Date: 11/2/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Player Year: Freshman
The Florida Gators finally get some good news on the injury front this season. After senior QB Graham Mertz suffered a season ending injury a few weeks ago, the 5-star freshman DJ Lagway stepped in nicely at QB. Coming off an impressive performance against Kentucky, he faced a giant step up in talent against the Georgia Bulldogs. Through a valiant effort from his defense, Lagway had the Gators up 10-3 late in the second quarter before disaster struck for the Gator faithful.
On a designed QB run, he went to plant his foot around midfield and slipped causing his leg to extend out awkwardly. He immediately went down and had to be carted off the field while grabbing at his hamstring. He was quickly ruled out of the game and seemingly for the season based on his initial reaction and the way the medical staff handled the situation.
Despite being unable to return to the game, thankfully news came out this week that the hamstring strain was not as serious as initially feared. There are reports that Lagway even participated in practice in some capacity last week. While this is GREAT news for the Gators, there was never really a chance for him to play last week. Even in its mildest form, no hamstring strain is completely healed in one week. Hamstring strains also carry a high reinjury risk when not given enough time to heal.
Although unable to play last week, Gators fans get the next best thing, After practicing all this week, Lagway will make his return to the field and is expected to start at home against LSU. The freshman give the Gators a chance as home underdogs in the Swamp.
DJ Lagway will return for Florida against LSU and is expected to start on Saturday, Billy Napier announced on his radio show. He missed the Texas game last week with a leg injury he suffered against UGA. pic.twitter.com/51gegU41hz
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 15, 2024
Tez Johnson (WR) Oregon Ducks
Injury: Shoulder Injury
Injury Date: 11/2/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 2-4 weeks
Player Year: Senior
The Oregon Ducks are the number 1 team in the country and the last thing their fans want to see is their name on this Week 12 college football injuries article. However, I bring some good news. Senior WR Tez Johnson was knocked out of the game two weeks ago with a shoulder injury and seen in a sling post-game. Despite the optics not looking great, it’s been reported that the injury is NOT season ending.
Johnson will miss some time, already missing last week, but his season is not over. Oregon finishes the season with three games where they will be double digit favorites. This gives their best WR time to rest up and be ready for the post season. I would not be shocked if the next time we see Johnson is the Big Ten Championship game, which all things considered is not the worst situation.
Brady Cook (QB) Missouri Tigers
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 10/19/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 4-6 weeks
Player Year: RS Senior
This college football Week 12 injury report continues on with a Senior QB unlikely to suit up this week. Missouri QB Brady Cook pulled a move straight out of the movies a few weeks ago. He was injured early in the Auburn game, was taken to a local hospital for an MRI and somehow returned to the game and led his team to a comeback victory. Well my friends, adrenaline is a hell of a drug.
It has been reported that the Mizzou QB suffered a high ankle sprain which put his health for the rest of the season in doubt. A high ankle sprain refers to damage to the ligaments connecting the two bones in the lower leg. This syndesmosis is inherently a strong joint that requires a lot of force and damage to injure. This correlates to a typical recovery timeline of 4-6 weeks. This injury is much more serious than the normal low ankle sprain we think of when somebody rolls their ankle.
Despite the mobility limitations and elevated reinjury risk, Cook tried to play against Alabama the week following the injury. He was hit hard early in the game and quickly ruled out while also picking up a hand injury to go with the ankle. After missing last week, Cook is still viewed as doubtful for this week’s game against South Carolina. Cook is a warrior who will try to battle through injuries, but the medical outlook is not on his side. Good luck to Missouri fans with QB Drew Pyne this week…yikes.
Missouri at South Carolina Thursday injury report
QB Brady Cook is Doubtful pic.twitter.com/ZotvgG8Znf
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) November 15, 2024
