Yet again, the college football scene this past week was electric to say the least. We saw a number of highly anticipated SEC showdowns, stellar defensive play and explosive offensive showcases. Here are some of week nine’s greatest upsets, top performances by players and marquee matchups for the coming week.
Biggest Upsets
No. 14 Texas A&M 38, No. 8 LSU 25
After trailing in the second half, Texas A&M Coach Mike Elko decided to pull starting quarterback Connor Weigman from the game and insert freshman Marcel Reed into action. The move paid off, as Reed rushed for three touchdowns, propelling the Aggies to victory over a highly touted LSU Tiger squad. Despite dropping their first contest of the season to Notre Dame, the Aggies bolster an impressive undefeated record in the Southeastern Conference, being the only undefeated team remaining.
Kennesaw State 27, Liberty 24
Under the reign of Head Coach Jamey Chadwell, the Liberty Flames have been a powerhouse in Conference USA, setting incredible records every season. In what should have been an easy win, Liberty fell to the winless Kennesaw State Owls. The Owls balanced offensive attack proved to be the difference maker in the contest, in which three different players scored a touchdown. Kicker Austin Welch drilled two field goals to ice the game for the Owls. Kennesaw State improved to 1-6 while Liberty fell to 5-1.
Tulsa 46, UTSA 45
After being down 35-7 at halftime, the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes exploded for 39 points in the second half to complete a comeback win against the favored UTSA Roadrunners. Tulsa backup quarterback Cooper Legas completed 16 of 31 passes for 333 yards and a whopping five touchdowns. Although both teams now hold a 3-5 record, this could be a crucial win for Tulsa in their search for their first bowl game since 2021.
Top Performances
Travis Hunter, Colorado
In a week nine win over Cincinnati, the Heisman hopeful Travis Hunter put up incredible numbers on both sides of the ball. At wide receiver, Hunter hauled in nine passes for 153 yards and a pair of touchdowns from star quarterback Shedeur Sanders. At cornerback, Hunter broke up a career-high four passes. Not to mention, he played a total of 132 snaps throughout the game, a merely improbable statistic.
Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina
The North Carolina defense was dominant in its 41-14 win over Virginia, recording 10 sacks. Leading this charge was edge rusher Kaimon Rucker, who found himself in the Cavalier backfield on almost every single play. Rucker recorded a team-high 3.5 sacks in the contest, helping the Tar Heels improve to a 4-4 record on the season.
John Mateer, Washington State
It’s only right that I include at least one quarterback on this list, which Washington State quarterback John Mateer will find himself on, having had a game. In a matchup against the Aztecs of San Diego State, Mateer accounted for all four Cougar touchdowns, throwing for two and running for another two. He completed 19 of his 27 passes for 257 yards, leading the Cougars to a 29-26 win.
Games to Watch
No. 4 Ohio State (6-1) at No. 3 Penn State (7- 0): Saturday – Noon
After a stunning loss to Oregon a few weeks ago, quarterback Will Howard and the Ohio State Buckeyes will be looking to redeem themselves in a heated Big 10 rivalry game against Penn State at Beaver Stadium. Although cruising to an undefeated 7-0 record, starting quarterback Drew Allar left last week’s game against Wisconsin early with an injury. Penn State Head Coach James Franklin recently said that Allar will be a game-time decision, which backup Beau Pribula may have to be the signal caller this week.
No. 1 Oregon (8-0) at Michigan (4-3): Saturday – 3:30 p.m.
Since joining the Big 10, the Oregon Ducks have swiftly cruised to an undefeated 8-0 record, led by Oklahoma transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Although Michigan is having a less-than-stellar season for their traditional standards, playing Oregon at home is a huge advantage, as the Big House is an environment unlike any other. Ultimately, seeing how Michigan defensive coordinator Wink Martindale’s defense holds up to Oregon’s explosive aerial attack will be a must-see clash.
No. 18 Pittsburgh (7-0) at No. 20 SMU (7-1): Saturday – 8:00 p.m.
Pittsburgh has had an incredible season so far, putting up impressive numbers on offense while displaying a stout, high-pressure defense. On the other hand, SMU has also been nothing but impressive all season, seamlessly transitioning from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). After narrowly escaping with an overtime win over Duke last week, the Mustangs will look to continue this momentum to stun the undefeated Pittsburgh Panthers.