Week 9 featured thrilling comeback wins and highly competitive matchups. This wasn’t the strongest slate of the season, but it provided plenty of implications for the rest of the season.
1. Texas A&M Remains Unbeaten in SEC Play
The only undefeated team in the SEC still remaining is the Texas A&M Aggies. They faced off against the only other team that was also undefeated in conference play, the LSU Tigers. The Aggies, in their first season under head coach Mike Elko, started off with a home loss to Notre Dame but have gone 7-0 since, emerging as one of the biggest surprises in college football. They were down 17-7 at halftime but dominated in the second half, outscoring LSU 31-6. The Aggies are poised to make a run for the playoffs and have a strong chance at playing in the SEC title game.
2. Notre Dame Spoils Navy’s Undefeated Season
After stumbling against Northern Illinois at home, Notre Dame has looked nothing short of dominant. This continued in Week 9 when they faced off against undefeated Navy at MetLife Stadium. Notre Dame has been very effective running the ball this season, and their defense has been stellar. Riley Leonard has led the way on the ground alongside Jeremiyah Love. Head coach Marcus Freeman has struggled with upset games in his tenure, but he has also won a number of big games. The expanded playoff will be a huge benefit to Notre Dame, giving them a much better chance. The Irish, barring any upsets, will likely be playing in the playoff in a few months
3. Ohio State Fends Off Nebraska
Ohio State was down by 3 points when they took over with 10 minutes left in regulation. Will Howard and Quinshon Judkins led a run-heavy drive to put the Buckeyes ahead 21-17, ultimately securing the game by this score. The Ohio State offense will need to bounce back in a big way this week as they face the 3rd-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. Championship teams find ways to win, and that’s what the Buckeyes did. Ryan Day, still in search of a national title, has the players to do it this year, and his coaching ability will be tested. They need to win this upcoming game against Penn State, as they have already lost once. If the Buckeyes can win in Happy Valley this upcoming Saturday, they will be on track to make the Big Ten championship game.
4. Texas Hangs on to Beat Vanderbilt
Coming off of a disappointing 30-15 loss to Georgia in their previous contest, the Longhorns faced a tough road test at Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt, having knocked off Alabama earlier in the season, is not the Vanderbilt of the past and has been a tough out. Texas took a 21-10 lead into halftime and was ultimately outscored 14-6 in the second half but still held on. Just like Ohio State, championship teams find ways to win these games. The Longhorns appear to be in a bit of a mid-season slump, but if they can continue to hang on, they will reach the playoff. Quinn Ewers threw two interceptions but still had a strong game and appeared to be close to regular form. “Agent 0,” Anthony Hill, had another standout performance on defense for the Horns, helping to stop the always-tough Diego Pavia. The Longhorns will remain on a playoff berth track as long as they can win out their remaining games.
5. Louisville Storms Back to Get Back in the Win Column
The Louisville Cardinals have had an up-and-down season, underperforming their fairly high preseason expectations. The Cards were down 20-7 at halftime of their game on Friday night before rallying to win 31-27. Another strong performance from Tyler Shough and freshman running back Isaac Brown highlighted the win. Ja’Corey Brooks also added 120 yards through the air as the game’s leading receiver. The Cards were backed against the wall and responded. Even with Caullin Lacy’s decision to redshirt, head coach Jeff Brohm found a way to battle back and beat a tough Boston College team. The Cardinals’ faithful hope these efforts will continue for the rest of the season.
