Week 9 proved to be an eliminator for conference title contention and the College Football Playoff as key contenders fell. No. 14 Texas A&M added its name to the list of serious CFP hopefuls after shocking No. 8 LSU 38-23 in a game that could have major implications for the rest of the SEC season.
Elsewhere, Missouri removed its name off that same list after Alabama wiped the Tigers off the planet to the tune of 34-0 in Tuscaloosa. Ohio State and Texas showed some major cracks in bounce-back spots, while Oregon rolled. Boise State tightened its grip on the Group of Five race after outlasting UNLV.
The best part of the new 12-team College Football Playoff system is the sheer amount of games with real consiquences. They were felt in a big way in Week 9. Here are the biggest winners and losers of Week 9, including a death knell for some CFP hopefuls.
Winner: Texas A&M
Texas A&M has played games like this so many times before and fallen just short. There was the season opener against Notre Dame that went down to the wire. Last season, there were potential upsets against Ole Miss, Alabama and Tennessee. Since 2020, this program has been defined by coming just short in close games.
Well, welcome to the Mike Elko era. It’s a new Texas A&M. The Aggies zagged when LSU least expected it, inserting backup quarterback Marcel Reed to provide a running threat and scoring four straight touchdowns. The defense made LSU’s offense completely one-dimensional and forced three interceptions to ice the game.
Texas A&M holds sole possession of first place in the SEC standings, ahead of Texas and Georgia. The Aggies are the only undefeated team left in SEC play and have a clean shot at both the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff.
Loser: Bitter rivals
Michigan State had to watch Michigan win three straight Big Ten championships and a national title while the Spartans fired their coach for cause. Kansas put together its best roster in 15 years and finally looked poised to end Kansas State’s lengthy winning streak. Navy entered against Notre Dame ranked and Florida State tried to stay alive for bowl eligibility against Miami. Unfortunately, all ended in heartbreak.
The Spartans took Michigan to the limit, ultimately coming up short in the red zone with a chance to tie on the final drive. Unfortunately, Aidan Chiles couldn’t hit on fourth-and-5. Kansas led Kansas State with less than two minutes remaining, but KSU kicker Chris Tennant nailed a 51-yard field goal to pull off the win.
For Navy and Florida State, promising days turned into blowout losses to put a major dent in their plans. Sometimes, seasons are about one big game. This time, it didn’t pay off.
Winner: QB Brendan Sullivan, Iowa
After seven games, Iowa finally grew tired of the Cade McNamara experience and turned the keys over to athletic backup Brendan Sullivan. The swap was almost miraculous. Sullivan took a team down 7-3 in the second quarter and led a 37-0 run over the next two quarters.
The junior was inconsistent, only throwing for 79 yards and rushing for 41, but the threat of his run opened things up for star running back Kaleb Johnson to score three touchdowns. Iowa offensive coordinator Tim Lester has tried different approaches to get the most out of his limited personnel, but Sullivan just might be an answer heading into a key four-game stretch to end the year.
Loser: Kentucky
The conversation all year long has centered on Auburn and its total inability to recruit and develop quarterbacks at an SEC level. Well, a matchup against Kentucky can help settle the soul. Despite a win over Ole Miss, Kentucky has now made a compelling case as the worst team in the SEC after handing Auburn a 24-10 win — and disastrous offensive results were front and center. The Wildcats mustered only 224 yards, averaged 4.1 yards per play and made a quarterback change. Unfortunately, Gavin Wimsatt did no better than Brock Vandagriff, completing 3 of 10 passes with an interception.
It rode under the radar but Kentucky quietly invested heavily in its 2024 roster. Vandagriff was a former five-star recruit, while running back Chip Trayanum and wide receiver Raymond Cottrell were four-stars. There were serious expectations for the team this season. Instead, Kentucky is scraping the bottom of the barrel. Mark Stoops will never be fired (and shouldn’t), but serious questions should be asked about whether he’s in for this job long term. Remember, his brother, Bob, was nearly 56 when he retired from Oklahoma. Mark just hit 57.
Winner: Colorado
Do you believe yet? The Coach Prime circus has mostly quieted down. In its place has emerged a legitimately good football team. The Buffaloes outlasted a late comeback from Cincinnati to reach six wins and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016 behind 153 yards and two touchdowns from do-everything star Travis Hunter.
That said, it’s really the defense that has made strides, holding every opponent this season to 31 points or fewer. Deion Sanders came to Boulder promising big results, and the opportunity very well could be there in the home stretch. The rest of the Big 12 schedule is a combined 5-15 in conference play. While sweeping the games is highly unlikely, a pathway exists to 10 wins – really! At Colorado!
Loser: Ohio State
The Buckeyes survived a late challenge from Nebraska in a 21-17 win, but the script of the game should provide little confidence about the most talented roster in the country. Seven of Ohio State’s 10 full drives ended in four plays or fewer as the program rushed for only 64 yards on 31 carries in the first game without left tackle Josh Simmons.
Ohio State was a popular pick to win the national championship to start the year, but the performance was wildly concerning coming off the Buckeyes’ first loss of the season. Without Simmons, one of the season’s breakout players, Ohio State’s run blocking is lackluster. Nebraska was only able to convert one touchdown drive, but games ahead against No. 3 Penn State and No. 13 Indiana suddenly look far more complicated. With a loss on their record, Ohio State doesn’t have much leeway down the stretch.
More: Buckeyes can’t just rely on talent in Penn State showdown
Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi made some concessions when he decided to bring in fast-paced offensive coordinator Kade Bell. Against Syracuse, Narduzzi finally got a game built in his image. Pitt recorded three pick sixes off Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord and used their defense to suffocate the Orange on a day where the Panthers offense wasn’t at its best.
Suddenly, the Panthers are 7-0 heading into a major matchup against SMU that could have major ACC implications. This team was left for dead after a miserable 3-9 campaign in 2023, but Narduzzi is putting together another special season.
Loser: Missouri
Brady Cook managed to postpone the funeral for one week but it was an inevitability. The Tigers’ SEC and CFP chances are officially over after getting run out of the building 34-0 against Alabama. With Cook sidelined by injury after 12 pass attempts, backup Drew Pyne went into the game and threw three interceptions in a miserable performance.
The loss is wildly underwhelming for a Tigers program that came into the season with dreams of contending for a national championship. Missouri invested heavily in key transfers and retentions to stay in the mix. Whether because of inconsistent quarterback play, offensive line turnover or anything else, Missouri is a shell of its 2023 self. The 34-point loss only revealed what was always there. My colleague Will Backus believes Missouri’s title window has slammed shut.
Winner: Boise State
Ashton Jeanty is No. 3 in the Heisman betting odds at +320, according to DrafKings Sportsbook, but he was merely excellent instead of his usual otherworldly self against UNLV. Fortunately the rest of the Broncos team was up for the challenge. In one of the best Group of Five regular season games in years, the Broncos outlasted UNLV 29-24 to take control of the Mountain West championship race and stay alive in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.
Jeanty rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown, but was held to only 3.9 yards per carry against a physical UNLV defense. With him bottled up, it was quarterback Maddux Madsen who stepped up to the challenge. He responded by ripping off a 49-yard run and scoring two touchdowns in the win. Boise State has games against San Jose State and Oregon State remaining, but will be betting favorites for the rest of its regular season schedule.
More: Broncos pass tough UNLV test
Loser: Texas
The Longhorns survived a brutal test from Vanderbilt, escaping 27-24 after some chaos at the end. Desipte the victory, the game revealed some serious holes for the Longhorns. Quarterback Quinn Ewers threw multiple interceptions and the Longhorns averaged just 3.1 yards per carry. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia is a unique force to deal with, but he was able to cause some real issues for a usually salty Texas defense.
Most concerning, the Texas offensive line — billed as perhaps the best in the country — struggled for the second straight week. The Longhorns allowed nine tackles for loss and four sacks, nearly doubling Vanderbilt’s season marks in both categories. Everyone was hoping to see Texas rebound from its loss to Georgia with a decisive victory. Instead, the Longhorns are backsliding.
Saying Baylor needed a win over Oklahoma State was an understatement. Heading into the game, the Bears had not won a home Big 12 game since Oct. 22, 2022 — more than two calendar years ago. The last time Baylor won consecutive games was Nov. 5, 2022. Dave Aranda’s squad exorcised both of those demons by pulling away from Oklahoma State in a 38-28 victory in Waco. The Bears rushed for 343 yards and quarterback Sawyer Robertson scored four total touchdowns. There are more important games ahead, but the schedule opens up after beating Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in consecutive weeks. The Bears’ upcoming Big 12 opponents are a combined 6-10 in conference play right now. Baylor only needs to win two to mercifully return to bowl eligibility.
Read the full article here