Big Ten control on the line in Week 9
From big games in the Big Ten and the SEC to a bit of Group of Five intrigue, there’s plenty to like in Week 9 of the college football season. Here’s what to watch:
Big Ten bragging rights: After this weekend, there won’t be much debate about who the two best teams in the Big Ten are.
On Saturday, No. 8 Michigan State hosts No. 6 Michigan, while No. 20 Penn State travels to Columbus to face No. 5 Ohio State. Only one of those teams can win its division, but given the lack of top contenders in the West, it’s safe to assume whoever emerges from the East will be the Big Ten champion — and a likely playoff participant.
After some early hiccups, Ohio State is the clear favorite. The Buckeyes have been dominant of late, outscoring their last three opponents by an average of 45 points per game to climb to No. 1 in ESPN’s SP+ rankings, an opponentand tempo-adjusted measure of efficiency. Against a Penn State offense that struggled to score from the 2-yard line in a nine-overtime loss to Illinois last weekend, the Buckeyes’ defense should be just fine.
That makes the annual in-state rivalry game between the Wolverines and Spartans that much more interesting. With Penn State dealing with questions surrounding coach James Franklin’s future during its two-game losing streak, Michigan and Michigan State have emerged as legitimate Big Ten contenders.
Possible last hurdle for Georgia: Outside of starting quarterback JT Daniels’ extended absence, the season has pretty much broken perfectly for No. 1 Georgia. The Bulldogs have the best defense in the country by a wide margin, the offense has done enough to win under backup Stetson Bennett and Alabama looks (somewhat) vulnerable. That’s what makes Saturday’s game against Florida so fascinating.
What’s usually a midseason hurdle in Jacksonville has become less daunting, thanks to the Gators’ struggles in coach Dan Mullen’s fourth season. Florida (4-3) is coming off a 49-42 loss to LSU and has yet to figure out its quarterback situation. If Georgia can win Saturday, all it has left on the schedule before a likely showdown with Alabama in the SEC championship game is Missouri, Tennessee, Charleston Southern and Georgia Tech, who are a combined 12-16 this season.
Ole Miss-Auburn fireworks: There might not be a more entertaining team in the country this season than Ole Miss, and there might not be a more entertaining venue for an SEC game than Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium. From the “Kick-Six” to the “Prayer at Jordan-Hare,” there have been some unforgettable moments when the Tigers play a big game at home. What does Saturday night have in store?
There’s plenty at stake, too. Ole Miss hasn’t finished a season inside the top 10 since 2015 and has won 10 or more games just once since 2003. If coach Lane Kiffin keeps this up, he might be the top candidate for some big-time openings in December.
More to a rivalry: There’s more bad blood between these in-state rivals than you might think. The Mustangs’ undefeated record only adds to the intrigue. The Cougars have won six straight since a season-opening loss to Texas Tech, averaging 38 points per game during that stretch. SMU’s Tanner Mordecai and Houston’s Clayton Tune are two of the best quarterbacks in the country and should light up the scoreboard in what Vegas thinks is basically a toss-up.
Wildcats making New Year’s plans: Thanks to a 6-1 start, Kentucky has a good chance to reach a New Year’s Six bowl game for the first time since 1993. The Wildcats’ groundand-pound offense facing off against Bulldogs coach Mike Leach’s Air Raid is an intriguing contrast of styles.
Getting defensive: If you like defense, this is the game for you. The over/under points total opened at 36.5 and has stayed there entering the weekend. According to gambling website Covers, there have only been 16 totals of 37 or less since 2010. Big Ten football, everyone.
Sooners looking to stay perfect: Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams continues to live up to the hype. The Sooners struggled as big favorites early last week against Kansas before Williams took over to deliver 35 second-half points. The Red Raiders just fired coach Matt Wells, so it’s anyone guess how they’ll respond Saturday.
Demon Deacons have earned your attention: If you haven’t paid attention to Wake Forest, just know that they scored 70 points in 17 minutes of possession time in last week’s wild win over Army. Quarterback Sam Hartman is piloting coach Dave Clawson’s offense to perfection, and it could lead to an ACC title. Now the question is whether Clawson decides to leave for a bigger job.