The College Football Playoff picture is about to get a whole lot clearer, and Week 9 is the last real proving ground before the selection committee drops its first Top 25 rankings on Tuesday.
That means every big win matters, every stumble matters, and style points are very much in play. The schedule may not be loaded with the kind of heavyweight showdowns that are coming next week, but this sport has a way of turning a quiet Saturday into a bracket-shifting mess in a hurry. Plenty of teams can still talk themselves into the field - and just as many can talk themselves right out of it.
Boise State gets one of the more interesting spots on the board, with Kellen Moore back on the blue turf for the unveiling of his statue. The current team will need some of that old magic to carry over, because Texas State brings a tough test as a new Pac-12 opponent.
Indiana also faces a game that could say plenty about its place in the race. Minnesota looks like the toughest opponent left on the Hoosiers’ Big Ten schedule, and the Gophers have a chance to spoil the reigning conference champions’ hopes of getting back to the league title game.
In Atlanta, the World’s Largest Domed Cocktail Party gives Florida another chance to prove the big win over Texas was the real thing. Year 1 under Jon Sumrall has the Gators in the CFP conversation, but this one will help answer whether they’re truly a contender or whether that Texas victory was the peak.
The Wildcats are off this weekend, but Tuesday’s committee rankings will still matter plenty in Lexington, Ky. After this kind of season, there will be real interest in where they land.
Alabama’s path feels like it may narrow to one game when the Crimson Tide head to LSU next Saturday after their off week. That trip looms large enough that it’s hard not to view it as the hinge point of their season.
BYU has to keep its eyes on the task at hand before the Holy War arrives next week. The Cougars return home for a brunch-time kickoff against Arizona State, and the Sun Devils are more than capable of making things uncomfortable.
Utah, meanwhile, gets a Cincinnati team that just knocked off Texas Tech. That upset could help keep the Utes from overlooking the Bearcats, though the setup still screams let-down or look-ahead with BYU waiting the following weekend.
Notre Dame’s rivalry game with Navy offers a useful tune-up before the mega-matchup with Miami. That one feels like the kind of game that could decide the Irish’s CFP fate.
UCLA gets Nevada at the Rose Bowl, a home date that should give the Bruins a chance to clean things up and prepare for a stretch run that is both difficult and winnable. Bob Chesney’s team has surprised enough to sit high in Tuesday’s committee rankings, something few would have predicted before the season.
Ohio State’s off week may have come at exactly the right time as the Buckeyes adjust to life without QB Julian Sayin. The trip to Los Angeles and a sold-out Coliseum should tell everyone a lot about what kind of team this really is.
Georgia should have a chance to start fast against Florida after having extra time to sit with that Auburn loss. The Bulldogs have heard enough about their issues, and their coaching staff knows every SEC game is going to be a battle.
Syracuse’s late win over North Carolina took some shine off this weekend’s trip to Chapel Hill, but it still sets up as a chance for an efficient win before the Orange head to South Bend to face Notre Dame. If Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney can hit their season averages against a Bill Belichick defense, that should also secure a trip to New York for the Heisman.
In Other News...
Boise State Heads Into Key Pac-12 Test With Two Big Offensive Losses
Boise States offense will have to adjust again this week, with the Broncos heading into their Pac-12 matchup against Texas State missing two key pieces up front and in the backfield. Sire Gaines was officially ruled out because of a leg injury, while Carson Rasmussen is also unavailable, leaving Boise State to shuffle its protection and run-game plans for a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Jason Steele is set to start at left guard in Rasmussens place, giving the Broncos a new look on the interior line as they try to keep the offense on schedule. There is at least some good news for Boise State, with wide receiver Ben Ford and tight end Austin Terry both available, but the absences of Gaines and Rasmussen still leave a noticeable gap in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State's Favorite Status Suddenly Feels Less Comfortable Than Expected
Boise State heads into its matchup with Texas State carrying the kind of profile that usually brings confidence with it. The Broncos are riding a six-game winning streak and opened as a 12.5-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook, a number that reflected both their recent form and the expectation that they would control the game on the ground. Even so, this is not the sort of opponent that lets a favorite get too comfortable, especially with both teams showing up near the top of the rushing charts.
Texas State brings a fast-moving offense and enough balance to make the Broncos pay attention on every series, with quarterback Brad Jackson and running back Torrance Burgess Jr. driving much of what the Bobcats do. Boise State coach Spencer Danielson has already pointed to the strengths on both sides of the ball that make this a tricky test, and the market has noticed too, with the spread tightening before kickoff. For a team that has spent the week looking like the safer play, this one suddenly has a little more edge than the opening number suggested. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Sent A Strong Late-Season Message To The Pac-12
Boise State made a loud late-season statement with a 4-0 win over Texas State, a result that locked up a spot in the Pac-12 Championship and kept the Broncos firmly in the title picture. After a scoreless opening half, Boise State found its rhythm and controlled the match from there, turning a tight game into a convincing road-like finish with all four goals coming after the break.
The defensive side was just as important, with Texas State managing only two shots on goal in the second half and Ava de Leest picking up her 10th shutout of the season. Now the Broncos have one more regular-season test in front of them, and the stakes are simple: a win over Washington State would give Boise State a share of the Pac-12 regular season crown. [Read more 🡒]