Saturday Dawg Chow (11/29): The calm before the storm

Today is the final big Saturday of college football until the playoffs kick off on December 19.

The day brings some key matchups, including:

• Michigan will look to continue its dominance of Ohio State, which hasn’t beaten the Wolverines since 2019.

• No. 12 Miami is desperate to keep its playoff hopes alive with a win against No. 22 Pittsburgh.

• No. 14 Vanderbilt and quarterback Diego Pavia are trying to make a case to be this year’s version of Arizona State and running back Cam Skattebo, as the Commodores face in-state rival No. 19 Tennessee.

• The marquee game of the day arrives this evening, with the 90th edition of the Iron Bowl as No. 10 Alabama gets a final tune-up against Auburn before heading into the playoff.

All of today’s action is just a prelude to the biggest event in the football landscape, of course, which is Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders making his home debut on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

That is still a day away, so for now, let’s run through the latest news and notes about the Browns and the NFL in today’s edition of the Saturday Dawg Chow.

• Browns may get some extra help from the weather against the 49ers (Thomas Moore) – San Francisco QB Brock Purdy has struggled when the weather turns bad. The Browns will be happy to see that continue.

• Browns vs. Niners in Week 13: Weather forecast says snow is not the only problem (Jared Mueller) – Weather could play a huge role in the Cleveland Browns vs. San Francisco 49ers in Week 13, including snow, rain, and wind.

• Cleveland Browns fans grade Shedeur Sanders first start: A, B, C, D, or F? (Chris Pokorny) – Cleveland Browns fans are split on what grade Shedeur Sanders earned with his first start.

• Shedeur Sanders’ first home start has everyone hyped up (Thomas Moore) – From Joel Bitonio to the Kelce brothers, everyone is excited to see what the rookie QB can do against the 49ers.

• Browns vs. 49ers: Cleveland’s rookie X-factor could save the day in week 13 (Matthew Wilson) – Not many teams have the type of player who can consistently slow down 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, but Cleveland does.

• 2025 Pro Bowl voting: 3 Browns who deserve the nod (Matthew Wilson) – Cleveland has quite a few players who deserve to be recognized.

• With Joe Burrow back, revisiting the Browns, Bengals Joe Flacco trade (Jared Mueller) – With Joe Burrow returning from injury, what do Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns get out of the Joe Flacco trade.

• Browns vs. 49ers: Week 13 Need to Know (Thomas Moore) – Cleveland is home on Sunday in what could be a tough weather game. Here is everything you need to know about the tilt.

• Browns rally around Shedeur Sanders’ big plays, personality (ESPN) – Cleveland Browns veteran Myles Garrett was watching intently on the sideline when he saw Shedeur Sanders sprint to his right to evade an all-out blitz late in Sunday’s Week 12 win against the Las Vegas Raiders. As Sanders uncorked a deep ball down the field, Garrett tracked the arching pass with a bewildered look on his face. When the ball fell into the hands of rookie wide receiver Isaiah Bond for a 52-yard gain, Garrett put his right hand on his head in disbelief.

• Browns DC Jim Schwartz’s long history with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan adds intrigue to Sunday (cleveland.com) – For Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, this is one of the hardest weeks on the job.

• Myles Garrett sees sack mark as something ‘we’re going to knock down’ (Beacon Journal) – It’s not if, but when, for Browns All-Pro Myles Garrett. That’s the way he looks at the NFL single-season sack record.

• Dylan Sampson stays positive amid negative, capitalizes on opportunity vs. Raiders (Browns Zone) – Dylan Sampson never lost confidence. Not when his playing time dwindled, and his touches nearly disappeared. Not when he finished three games with negative rushing totals. Not when some observers questioned whether the undersized rookie running back had a future in the NFL, despite playing barely half a season.

• Bucs expect Baker Mayfield to start Sunday against Cardinals (Tampa Bay Times) – Injured quarterback Baker Mayfield spent the week expecting to be fine, but it wasn’t until Friday that he finally gave coaches the proof they were looking for.

• The winners and losers of NFL Thanksgiving Day football (The Ringer) – Toyotathon Jordan Love returned against Detroit, the Cowboys earned yet another big victory and increased their playoff chances, and the NFL’s schedule-makers scored their own win.

• Lamar Jackson looks like a shell of himself. And he’s ticked off about it (The Athletic) – Lamar Jackson returned to his corner locker, sat down and allowed himself a brief moment. He stared toward the ground, seemingly collecting his thoughts. He then got up and dressed quickly.

• Bears make a statement, bully Eagles in 24-15 win (Chicago Sun-Times) – The Chicago Bears bullied the defending Super Bowl champion into submission, adding their shade of blue to Black Friday, in a 24-15 win that stands as the most profound statement by the franchise this decade.