Week 9 arrives with plenty to sort out across college football, and the Halloween slate is packed with games that could shake up conference races and the playoff picture.
The biggest spotlight falls on Texas Tech at Arizona, a matchup with major Big 12 implications. The Red Raiders are suddenly in a tight spot after losing at Cincinnati, and they cannot afford to stumble again.
Arizona, meanwhile, has a chance to make a statement of its own. The winner of this one gains an inside track in the Big 12 title race and the College Football Playoff.
The loser is left chasing.
Georgia’s trip to Florida brings the kind of rivalry tension that always makes this game worth circling. The Bulldogs are coming off a loss to Auburn, while Florida enters with two losses but also fresh momentum after its win at Texas. The question is which Florida team shows up: the one that gave up 83 combined points to South Carolina and Missouri, or the one that swarmed Arch Manning.
Cincinnati gets another big-stage opportunity after knocking off Texas Tech last Saturday, and Utah is the next team trying to handle the Bearcats. The Utes just moved into first place in the Big 12 after beating Houston, but this is the kind of spot where a team can get tripped up right after a big win. Cincinnati can run the ball well, and that makes this one especially tricky.
Ohio State’s offense is the other major watch point, especially with Julian Sayin out of the lineup. Jeremiah Smith gives the Buckeyes a major lift, but they’ll need more than one star against a USC defense that has been generous under Lincoln Riley and is coming off a bad loss at Wisconsin.
Texas also lands on the must-watch list with Arch Manning back in rhythm after the win over Ole Miss. If Kamario Taylor were available, the matchup would carry even more juice, but he is out for the year with an injured toe. Even so, Manning’s performance matters here as the Longhorns try to keep their playoff hopes alive.
In Other News...
Ohio State Just Got Troubling News Before USC's Passing Test
Ohio States secondary took a hit this week as Jay Timmons was downgraded from questionable to doubtful ahead of the matchup with USC. The Buckeyes have leaned on Timmons for several critical plays this season, and his status now casts a shadow over a defense that is already bracing for a major passing challenge.
If Timmons cannot go, Ohio State is expected to turn to Jermaine Matthews Jr. and Cam Calhoun to help fill the void. Against a Trojans offense that should test the back end early and often, the Buckeyes may have to adjust on the fly without one of their more reliable defensive backs. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Tavien St. Clair Question Fans Feared
Tavien St. Clair was supposed to be part of Ohio States long-term answer at quarterback, but the picture has shifted in a hurry. With true freshman Luke Fahey stepping in for the injured Julian Sayin, St. Clair is now working as the backup, a development that has changed the conversation around the room and around his place in the program.
For a player once viewed as the future at the position, the move naturally raises bigger questions about what comes next. Ohio State still has time to sort through the quarterback depth chart, and there are several possible paths ahead, but nothing has been settled yet, leaving St. Clairs status one of the more intriguing storylines to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Suddenly Has A Bigger Problem Than One Road Loss
The loss at USC was jarring enough on its own, but the bigger concern for Ohio State may be what it revealed about the Buckeyes offense away from home. With backup quarterback Luke Fahey making the start in Los Angeles, Ohio State managed only one touchdown while USCs defense spent much of the night in the backfield, piling up tackles for loss and sacks and making every drive feel like a grind.
USC also delivered the kind of explosive play that can flip a marquee game in a hurry, with Mark Bowmans 70-yard catch-and-run helping the Trojans pull away in a 30-18 win over the No. 2 Buckeyes. For Lincoln Riley, it was his first top-five victory with USC, and for Ohio State it leaves a far more uncomfortable question than the final score: whether this was just a bad road night or a sign of a deeper issue the Buckeyes have to solve fast. [Read more 🡒]