Week 9 brought us a fairly boring daytime college football schedule.
And a nightcap you will never forget!
The playoff race tightened considerably with some wild results on Saturday night. The Aggies of Texas A&M are included in our Top 10 after storming back to beat LSU. Are the Tigers out? Maybe. The SMU Mustangs stayed in the playoff race with an overtime win over Duke that likely fell out of any playoff consideration. Penn State remained undefeated by ruining any slim playoff hopes Wisconsin had. The Buckeyes survived a scare from Nebraska to eliminate the Huskers.
TCU, trailing by 13 points midway through the fourth quarter, mounted a fourth-quarter blitz to eliminate rival Texas Tech. Notre Dame has eliminated Navy from the list of undefeated FBS teams (there are now eight undefeated teams remaining).
And then there are the Indiana Hoosiers, who shot to 8-0 for the first time in more than 50 years. Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns followed the loss to Georgia with a survival game at Vanderbilt, and Kansas fumbled a game away to rival Kansas State, which keeps its CFP and Big 12 title hopes alive.
On to the Top 10!
1. Oregon ducks
This week: Defeated Illinois 38-9
Next week: in Michigan
The top-ranked Ducks wasted no time against the Illini, jumping out to 14-0 and 21-3 leads and never really looking back. After the emotionally and physically draining win over Ohio State two weeks ago, Dan Lanning’s team has only tossed a shutout at Purdue and defeated a top-25 team at home. No team can make a better argument for first place.
2. Penn State Nittany Lions
This week: Defeated Wisconsin 28-13
Next week: vs. Ohio State
James Franklin’s team turned a one-point lead late in the third quarter into a two-touchdown victory after a pair of four-quarter scores. Running back Kaytron Allen had the seal score from 24 yards, adding to his strong performance: 11 carries and 86 yards. The Buckeyes next head to Happy Valley.
3. Georgia Bulldogs
This week: Goodbye
Next week: vs. Florida (Jacksonville)
Get your cocktails ready! The world’s largest outdoor cocktail party kicks off this Saturday between the Gators and Bulldogs in Jacksonville. Both teams got a bye for this, and Georgia needed it after a big emotional win in Austin, where they played their best game of the entire season. Can they keep the mojo going against a desperate Gators team?
4. Miami Hurricanes
This week: Beat FSU 36-14
Next week: vs. Duke
Mario Cristobal and the Hurricanes poured it on the 1-7 Seminoles. Cam Ward wasn’t the star this time. Running back Damien Martinez had 148 yards and two touchdowns, and Miami now hosts former coach Manny Diaz in an effort to move to 9-0 on the season.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
This week: Defeated Nebraska 21-17
Next week: at Penn State
The Buckeyes have real, real problems on the offensive line. They struggled in pass protection and didn’t open many holes for the running backs. Is this a cause for concern on the way to Happy Valley? Yes, that’s true. Ohio State still has Jeremiah Smith at receiver and he caught another touchdown on Saturday.
6. Clemson Tigers
This week: Goodbye
Next week: vs. Louisville
The Tigers have been beating people since the season-opening loss to Georgia in Atlanta. The path is pretty clear for a run to the ACC championship game, although undefeated Pitt looms in a few weeks. And don’t look now, but quarterback Cade Klubnik is putting up some of the best numbers in the country (260 yards passing per game, 20 touchdowns, 3 interceptions).
7. Indiana Hoosiers
This week: Defeated Washington 31-17
Next week: Michigan State
For the first time since 1967, the Hoosiers are 8-0. One of the best and most unlikely stories of 2024 college football continues to unfold. First-year coach Curt Cignetti didn’t need an explosive offensive performance in this one (IU had just 312 total yards). The defense got a pick 6 and held the Huskies to three third-down conversions.
8. Notre Dame fights the Irish
This week: Beat Navy 51-14
Next week: See you later
With six straight wins and three consecutive dominant victories, the Irish look more like the team that won at Texas A&M to start the year than the team that pulled off a dud against Northern Illinois. Quarterback Riley Leonard doesn’t have to be a hero in the air, as ND’s defense is loaded with talent. Leonard and Jeremiyah Love have combined for 17 rushing touchdowns.
9. BYU Cougars
This week: Beat UCF 37-24
Next week: See you later
The Cougars didn’t need a last-second comeback in this game and took a 17-0 lead in Orlando. Kalani Sitake’s team is 8-0 after winning five games all of last season. They get rest before the Holy War of November 9 in Utah.
10. Texas A&M Aggies
This week: Beat LSU 38-23
Next week: in South Carolina
Hello, Marcel Riet! The sophomore came off the bench to lead the Aggies back from a 10-point deficit to a two-touchdown win. Mike Elko is 5-0 atop the SEC standings in his first season and the road ahead is not. That difficult. The Aggies are a legitimate playoff team.
Failed: State of Iowa (10)
