5 things to watch in Week 9: Judgment Day comes for Lincoln Riley, Buckeyes QBs

19459016 We’re frantically attempting not to look ahead. 19659001 The Nov. 7 college football slate, one that might include a half-dozen video games in between groups ranked in the AP Top 25, has actually been hyped considering that the summertime. Do not forget Halloween weekend. Offered the last 2 weeks– where 9 top-10 groups have actually lost– we are not taking any week for given. 19659002 There are 2 matches including groups ranked in the AP Top 25. No. 22 Arizona handles No. 13 Texas Tech at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN. No. 3 Georgia fulfills No. 17 Florida at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. The prime-time window includes matches in between No. 1 Miami and North Carolina on ABC and No. 2 Ohio State at USC on NBC. Here are 5 things to view in Week 9. MORE: 19459019 Choices versus the spread for Halloween slate 19659005 1. Lincoln Riley’s decisive moment at USC 19659006 USC coach Lincoln Riley is feeling the heat after a 24-7 loss at Wisconsin recently where the Trojans had -18 hurrying lawns. USC hosts Ohio State at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Trojans and Buckeyes have history, consisting of 7 Rose Bowl matches, however this is the very first head-to-head conference in between the schools as members of the Big Ten. 19659007 This likewise is the most crucial video game of Riley’s period. Ohio State is the determining stick for all Big Ten challengers, and the Trojans are 0-5 versus top-10 groups under Riley. A triumph vaults USC back into the College Football Playoff race with upcoming video games versus No. 4 Indiana (Nov. 14) and No. 7 UCLA (Nov. 28). A loss speeds up that hot-seat speak to brand-new levels. USC vs. top-10 challengers under Lincoln Riley. 19659009 DATE SCORE 19659011 Nov. 4, 2023 No. 5 Washington 52, No. 24 USC 42 Nov. 11, 2023 19659016 No. 6 Oregon 36, USC 27 19659017 19659018 Oct. 12, 2024 No. 4 Penn State 33, USC 30 19659020 Nov. 30, 2024 No. 5 Notre Dame 49, USC 35 19659023 Nov. 22, 2025 19659025 No. 6 Oregon 42, USC 27 19659027 MORE: 19459019 Tracking the training modifications in 2026 2. Ohio State’s brand-new QB– or QBs? 19659029 The Buckeyes’ quarterback circumstance likewise enters into focus without Julian Sayin. 19659030 Quarterbacks Luke Fahey, a freshman, and Tavien St. Clair, a redshirt freshman, remain in focus now, and Ohio State coach Ryan Day hasn’t revealed a starter. Day stated it is possible both quarterbacks will bet the Trojans. Day stated through The Athletic 19459033 19659032 Which quarterback will stick? The one that keeps a connection with Heisman Trophy front-runner Jeremiah Smith, who has 984 getting backyards and 12 TDs on 18.9 lawns per catch. The Buckeyes have actually not dipped into The Coliseum because Sept. 13, 2008– a 35-3 loss that resulted in Jim Tressel changing from Todd Boeckman to freshman Terrelle Pryor at quarterback.3. What will Jon Sumrall contribute to Florida-Georgia? 19659035 The Georgia-Florida competition pertains to Atlanta today, and it’s a possibility for first-year coach Jon Sumrall to alter the tenor of this competition. Georgia coach Kirby Smart is 7-2 versus the Gators. Florida coaches Steve Spurrier (11-1) and Urban Meyer( 5-1)likewise controlled this competition, however the Bulldogs have actually won the last 5 conferences by approximately 18 points per video game. 19659037 Can Sumrall alter that? Florida has triumphes versus No. 11 Texas and No. 12 Ole Miss and losses to No. 23 Missouri and South Carolina. The Bulldogs had a bye week after the 27-24 loss to Auburn in Week 7. Georgia hasn’t lost back-to-back regular-season video games considering that Smart’s very first season in 2016– when the Bulldogs lost to Vanderbilt and Florida as part of an 8-5 season. Gunner Stockton led the game-winning TD drive in the 4th quarter of a 24-20 success last season. MORE: 19459019 College Football Playoff forecast going into Week 9 19659040 4. Expense Belichick’s defense vs. Hurricanes Miami leads the FBS with 49 points per video game. Quarterback Darian Mensah leads the FBS with a 204.6 passer score, and receiver Malachi Toney has a FBS-best 66 receptions. 19659042 North Carolina lost 37-26 to No. 6 Notre Dame on Oct. 3. This will be the 2nd typical information point for the Hurricanes heading into that much-anticipated match with the Irish on Nov. 7. Miami beat Stanford 45-7. Notre Dame beat the Cardinal 58-7. 19659043 We’ll discover more here. Can Bill Belichick summon a tactical plan that keeps the Tar Heels close in the 4th quarter versus the Hurricanes? Miami leads all Power 4 schools in time of ownership. It will not be simple in Chapel Hill. 19659044 MORE: Which unbeaten group loses initially, Miami, Utah or UCLA? 19659045 5. More Big 12 mayhem? 19659046 The Big 12 has 4 groups with one loss or less– which is connected with the Big Ten for the most amongst Power 4 conferences. Texas Tech and No. 8 BYU tripped up on the roadway recently. Will No. 6 Utah squash the upset bug at Cincinnati today? 19659047 The Utes will attempt to establish the and a top-10 face-off versus the Cougars on Dec. 7, which must be the most-anticipated match in the series, perhaps ever. The Red Raiders’ match with the Wildcats seems like a playoff removal video game since the loser will have a challenging time infiltrating the Big 12 champion mix. Texas Tech does not play Utah or BYU, so this is a substantial home video game for the protecting Big 12 champs. 19659049 MORE: Pat McAfee doubles down on criticism of Utah fans 19659050 Power 4 groups with one loss or less CONF. 19659052 SCHOOLS Huge Ten UCLA (7-0), Ohio State (6-1), Indiana (7-1), Northwestern (6-1) 19659055 Huge 12 Utah (7-0), BYU (6-1), Texas Tech (6-1), Arizona (6-1) ACC Miami (7-0), Wake Forest (6-1), SMU (6-1) SEC Kentucky (7-1), Georgia (6-1) IND Notre Dame (6-1) 19659063 3 and out 19659064 – No. 25 Wisconsin (5-2) takes a trip to Iowa (5-2) in a Big Ten removal video game at 12 p.m. on Fox. This is the 100th conference in between the schools– and the Badgers hold a 49-48-2 benefit. Yep, it’s a coin-flip video game. 19659065 – No. 20 Northwestern (6-1) can hand Oregon (4-3) a 4th loss at 3:30 p.m. on CBS, which appeared unimaginable in August. How will the Ducks react in the house after shooting offending organizer Drew Mehringer and finding out quarterback Dante Moore (concussion) will not return this season? Previous Oregon coach Chip Kelly’s existence on the Northwestern sideline contributes to the drama. 19659066 – Clemson (4-3) dips into Florida State (3-4) at 7:30 p.m. ET on the ACC Network. This video game utilized to be a yearly rite of ACC supremacy. Which coach– Dabo Swinney or Mike Norvell– will be on a hotter seat Sunday early morning? Week 9 AP Top 25 schedule 19659068 Here is a take a look at the Week 9 schedule with AP Top 25 groups:. 19659069. RANK GROUP 19659071 CHALLENGER 19659072 TIME 19659073 TELEVISION 19659074 1 19659075 Miami (7-0) at North Carolina 7:30 p.m. 19659078 ABC 2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC 19659082 7:30 p.m. 19659083 NBC 3 19659085 Georgia (6-1) 19659086 vs. No. 17 Florida 3:30 p.m. 19659088 ABC 4 Indiana (7-1) vs. Minnesota 3:30 p.m. 19659093 CBS 5 19659095 Notre Dame (6-1) 19659096 at Navy 19659097 12 p.m. ABC 6 Utah (7-0) vs. Cincinnati 19659102 3:45 p.m. 19659103 ESPN 19659104 7 UCLA (7-0) vs. Nevada 4:15 p.m. 19659108 BTN 19659109 8 BYU (6-1) vs. Arizona State 3:30 p.m. Fox 19659114 9 Kentucky (7-1) Bye 19659117 19659118 19659119 10 Alabama (6-2) Bye 19659122 19659123 19659124 11 19659125 Texas (5-2) vs. Mississippi State 19659127 7:30 p.m. ESPN 19659129 12 19659130 Ole Miss (5-2) vs. Auburn 12:45 p.m. SEC Network 13 Texas Tech (6-1) vs. No. 22 Arizona 19659137 12 p.m. 19659138 ESPN 19659139 14 19659140 Wake Forest (6-1) 19659141 vs. Virginia 19659142 3:45 p.m. 19659143 ESPN2 15 LSU (6-2) Bye 19659149 16 19659150 Tennessee (6-1) 19659151 Bye 19659152 17 Florida (5-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia 3:30 p.m. ABC 19659159 18 Houston (6-2) 19659161 Bye 19 SMU (5-1) at Syracuse 12 p.m. ESPN2 19659169 20 Northwestern (6-1) at Oregon 19659172 3:30 p.m. 19659173 Peacock 19659174 20 Boise State (6-1) vs. Texas State 10 p.m. The CW 22 19659180 Arizona (6-1) 19659181 at No. 13 Texas Tech 19659182 12 p.m. TBD 23 Missouri (5-2) 19659186 at Arkansas 7:45 p.m. 19659188 SEC Network 19659189 24 19659190 Oklahoma State (5-2) at Iowa State 7 p.m. 19659193 FS1 25 19659195 Wisconsin (5-2) 19659196 at Iowa 19659197 12 p.m. 19659198 Fox 19659199