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November is here! This doesn’t just mean the leaves are changing colors. What it really means is the football being played just means that much more. With the expanded playoff format and number of massive upsets this season, there is still plenty to be decided in the 2024 quest for a National Championship.
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 10!
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 10 28k4d
Players Ruled Out 1r5m1l
Florida WR Eugene Wilson
Clemson WR Tyler Brown
Kentucky RB Chip Trayanum
Iowa QB Cade McNamara
Washington TE Quentin Moore
Georgia RB Branson Robinson
Utah WR Money Parks – OUT for season
Michigan QB Jack Tuttle – Medically Retired
Drew Allar (QB) Penn State Nittany Lions 1d13b
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 10/26/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: Junior
Let’s kick off this college football Week 10 injury report with one of the biggest injuries, in the BIGGEST game. The #4 Ohio State Buckeyes head to Happy Valley to take on undefeated #3 Penn State. There are plenty of storylines in this game but there are none bigger than the Nittany Lion QB situation.
On the road last week in Wisconsin, Penn State was staring both a deficit and the loss of their starting QB at half. QB1 Drew Allar picked up a knee injury in the first half and was ultimately ruled out by the team despite staying in full uniform. This opened the door for Sophomore QB Beau Pribula to come in and lead a comeback to save Penn State’s national title hopes.
Despite being ruled out last week, it appears one week may be all the time Allar needs to return to the field. He was called a game time decision by head coach James Franklin early in the week. The injury appears to be a mild MCL sprain which would allow him to play through some discomfort this week. An MCL sprain refers to damage to one of the major stabilizing ligaments in the new. The MCL especially plays a role in lateral movement. The good news is that the MCL has the best healing potential of all the knee ligaments and fast recovery times.
With optimism from the injury prognosis side, the Penn State beat writers are also optimistic. Allar was reportedly moving well at practice this week and participating in all his usual ball carrying drills with the RBs. With a lot of signs pointing in the right direction, I would call Allar probable to play at this point.
Eli Holstein (QB) Pittsburgh Panthers 4co40
Injury: Undisclosed “Injury”
Injury Date: 10/26/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 3-7 days
Player Year: RS Freshman
This next Week 10 college football injury, may have never really been an injury at all. The Pittsburgh Panthers are absolutely rolling this season off to an impressive 7-0 start. Their latest outing was especially impressive as they dominated Syracuse from the opening kick en route to a 41-13 victory. The Panthers were firing on all cylinders last Thursday and about the only thing that went wrong was their star QB leaving the game late due to an apparent injury.
Holstein took himself out of the game after a run and seemingly appeared to be pointing to his face or head area. Pitt fans received an initial sigh of relief when head coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters that the QB would be fine in his postgame interview. This should have been fairly cut and dry but that’s not the way Narduzzi rolls. He later came out on Monday and told reporters that they we have to “wait and see” on Holstein’s status as he was dealing with an undisclosed injury.
Ultimately, and somewhat surprisingly, Narduzzi did confirm on Wednesday that Holstein was cleared and will start on Saturday against SMU. This was likely more smoke & mirrors than a true injury for the Pitt QB.
Kevin Jennings (QB) SMU Mustangs 3d5q5t
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 10/26/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: RS Sophomore
Flipping over to the other side of this ACC primetime matchup, SMU also comes into Week 10 with QB injury concerns. Despite playing the entire game against Duke in their comeback OT victory, Jennings was listed as questionable early in the week due to a knee injury.
The expectation was always that Jennings will play, but the questions surround around just how he will look when he’s out there. This expectation was confirmed this morning as he has been medically cleared and will be the QB1 for Saturday.
Regarding how the injury will affect his ability, I do think the injury is relevant. He took a hard shot to his knee and was clearly limited and hobbled in practice this week. Jennings being able to utilize his legs in and out of the pocket is such a huge part of his game. This knee injury will present an extra challenge for him to deal with this weekend. Ultimately, Jennings will play and be able to move around, but to think he will be 100% in this game is hard to believe.
SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings has been cleared medically for the Top 20 clash with Pittsburgh this weekend and will start for the Mustangs on Saturday night, coach Rhett Lashlee told ESPN. He’d been questionable with an undisclosed injury. pic.twitter.com/phQVoZ423U
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 1, 2024
Ja’Quinden Jackson (RB) Arkansas Razorbacks 6l1h3n
Injury: Ankle Injury
Injury Date: 10/19/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 3-4 weeks
Player Year: Senior
The Arkansas Razorbacks will look to pull of the upset this week at home as #19 Ole Miss comes to town. They will have to do it without their Senior RB1 Ja’Quinden Jackson. Jackson transferred in from Utah in the offseason and has been the lead back this season, both in production and carries.
This will be the second straight game Jackson as missed as he’s been banged up most of the season. He re-aggravated his ankle injury a couple weeks ago against LSU and has been unable to return to the field since.
Losing your starting RB is never good news, but the Razorbacks will be getting back fellow RB Rodney Hill this week. They also have three other players who have rushed for over 100 yards this season, including their dynamic QB Taylen Green. Although a loss, this offense did just put up 58 points and almost 700 yards last week without Jackson in the lineup.
Tre Harris (WR) Ole Miss Rebels 666i42
Injury: Undisclosed Injury
Injury Date: 10/19/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Player Year: RS Senior
Arguably the best receiver in the country was off the field last week and his status is questionable heading into an SEC conference matchup. Ole Miss standout WR Tre Harris has been mesmerizing this season with his smooth releases and ridiculous catches. He sat out of the game against Oklahoma last week and is officially listed as questionable this week.
Unfortunately, without knowing the nature of the injury, it is bit tough to predict the chances he plays this week. This will have to be an injury we monitor all the way up until kickoff. What I can say is that Harris has been in and out of the lineup all year dealing with different ailments. Despite being banged up, Harris was led the nation in receiving yards up until last week when he was out of the lineup. If Harris is active, it’s a massive boost for the Rebs.
Diego Pavia (QB) Vanderbilt Commodores 1m663n
Injury: Undisclosed Injuries
Injury Date: 10/26/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Player Year: Senior
The man, the myth, the legend. This Week 10 college football injuries article is blessed enough to have Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia make an appearance. Thankfully, it is mostly to highlight just how much of a gamer this guy is. At 5-3 with a win over #1 Alabama, Pavia is leading Vanderbilt to its best season in decades. He leads the team in both ing and rushing by a wide margin and despite taking hit after hit, he keeps going.
In a valiant effort against #5 Texas last week, Pavia took a beating as the talent gap became clear in the trenches. Despite taking a ton of hits and getting banged up, Pavia announced he will play this week. It sounds like he’s more hurting than injured, and he will be able to play through the pain. A tougher player than most, Pavia is one of the few QBs I would trust to perform in this situation.
Kurtis Rourke (QB) Indiana Hoosiers 6g664f
Injury: Thumb Surgery
Injury Date: 10/19/2024
Expected Recovery Timeline: 2-3 weeks
Player Year: RS Senior
The Indiana Hoosiers have hands down been one of the most impressive teams this season. Not only have they been winning games, but they have been doing so in DOMINATING fashion. They are one of only two teams in the country to not be trailing for a single second this college football season. However, a major reason for this miraculous turn around caps off this Week 10 college football injuries article.
Veteran QB Kurtis Rourke picked up a thumb injury during the team’s rout of Nebraska two weeks ago. He was quickly ruled out of the game and the injury required surgery early last week. The good news here is that he has a realistic return date of this week. Hand and finger injuries come with a very wide range of recovery timelines, meaning a return in just two weeks is not unheard of.
Sophomore QB Tayven Jackson stepped in irably last week to get Indiana the victory with College GameDay in town, but its time for QB1 to return. Head coach Curt Cignetti announced Thursday that Kurtis Rourke will start against Michigan State this week. Will him being cleared to play, his grip strength was deemed good enough to operate and handle the ball. I’m optimistic here for Rourke, but he will have to prove that the injury won’t affect how he handles the ball in this game.
NEWS: Indiana HC Curt Cignetti announced quarterback Kurtis Rourke will start against Michigan State on Saturday.https://t.co/liXnlaQC0v pic.twitter.com/vaEAGJURgT
— On3 (@On3sports) October 31, 2024
