Chaos Week in College Football: Grit, Guts, and Overtime Glory

Week 9 delivered a rollercoaster of emotion across the college football landscape, as ranked teams flirted with disaster and underdogs bared their teeth. Texas clawed back from the brink in a thriller against Mississippi State, erasing a 17-point hole before Ryan Niblett’s electric 79-yard punt return lit up the stadium and backup QB Matthew Caldwell sealed it in overtime. Alabama danced with danger in Columbia, trailing late before Germie Bernard’s late touchdown and Deontae Lawson’s forced fumble rescued the Crimson Tide from a near-upset. Even Michigan, usually machine-like, had to muscle its way past a fiery Michigan State squad, pounding the rock for 276 yards to assert control in the rivalry.

Meanwhile, BYU made a statement of its own, rallying from a sluggish start to throttle Iowa State behind true freshman Bear Bachmeier’s breakout performance and a pair of defensive daggers. Across the board, Week 9 was a test of survival—favorites scraped by, contenders flexed when it mattered most, and chaos reigned just enough to keep the playoff picture on edge. It was a weekend where grit outshined glamour, depth defined destiny, and every snap felt like a season teetering on the edge of heartbreak or glory.

Key Highlights from the Week

  • Indiana Hoosiers 56, UCLA Bruins 6 — Cornerback Aiden Fisher picked off the first pass of the game and returned it 25 yards for a score, setting the tone. QB F. Mendoza threw for 168 yards and 3 TDs, RB Hemby ran for 81 yards and 2 TDs.

  • Texas A&M Aggies 49, LSU Tigers 25 — The Aggies dominated from start to finish, showing why they’re a top-contender.

  • Alabama Crimson Tide 29, South Carolina Gamecocks 22 — Alabama leaned on key plays late: WR/RB hybrid Germie Bernard burst for a 25-yard touchdown with 34 seconds remaining; LB Deontae Lawson forced a pivotal fumble in the closing moments.

  • Washington Huskies 42, Illinois Fighting Illini 25 — Washington asserted dominance with a clean game and multiple scoring bursts; Illinois couldn’t keep up.

  • Tennessee Volunteers 56, Kentucky Wildcats 34 — QB Joey Aguilar threw for 396 yards and 3 TDs while RB DeSean Bishop ran for two scores; Tennessee capitalized on early turnovers to launch a blow-out.

  • North Dakota State Bison 38, South Dakota State Jackrabbits 7 — The No. 1 Bison dismantled No. 2 Jackrabbits, snapping a long home-winning streak and making a major statement. NCAA.com

Notable upsets / near-upsets:

  • Alabama had to fight off a very real upset bid from South Carolina.

  • Some ranked teams showed vulnerability (per winner/loser recap) even if they didn’t lose.

Look Great for Game Day!

What Happened this Past Weekend - Week 9

1. Texas Longhorns vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

Key Details

  • Texas (ranked #22) rallied from a large fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime and win 45-38 OT.

  • The Bulldogs led by as many as 17 in the 4th quarter.

Standout Plays / Players

  • Ryan Niblett returned a punt 79 yards late in the 4th quarter to tie the game and force overtime.

  • Backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell came in and threw the game-winning TD in overtime.

  • Starter Arch Manning had to leave injured. He had thrown two 4th-quarter TD passes earlier.

Why This Mattered

  • A dramatic comeback win that keeps Texas’s hopes alive and avoids a damaging loss.

  • Highlighted how special teams (punt return) and depth (a backup QB stepping up) can swing a game.

2. Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks

Key Details

  • Alabama escaped with a 29-22 road win over South Carolina.

  • South Carolina led late and had Alabama struggling for much of the second half. ESPN.com

Standout Plays / Players

  • Germie Bernard scored the go-ahead touchdown: a 25-yard run with 34 seconds remaining.

  • Deontae Lawson forced a fumble in the closing minutes that set up Bernard’s score.

  • South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers threw for 222 yards and ran for 67, and had the Gamecocks up 22-14 with under 3 min to play.

Why this mattered

  • Alabama avoided what would have been a major upset, showing resilience in the clutch.

  • It underlines that even elite programs can be dangerously close to upset without closing well.

3. Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans

Key Details

  • Michigan won 31-20.

  • They leaned heavily on the rushing attack: 276 yards and all four touchdowns on the ground.

Standout Plays / Players

  • Jordan Marshall had a 56-yard touchdown rush with under three minutes left to seal it.

  • Justice Haynes contributed strongly: a pair of third-quarter scores.

  • Michigan held MSU to just 97 rushing yards.

Why This Mattered

  • A rivalry game that Michigan dominated on the ground, helped sustain their season momentum.

  • Showed how controlling the run game and finishing drives can win big matchups.

4. BYU Cougars vs. Iowa State Cyclones

Key details

  • BYU rolled to a 41-27 win, though they trailed by two possessions in the first half.

  • They dominated the latter stages, outscoring Iowa State 31-3 from just before halftime onward.

Standout plays / players

  • Bear Bachmeier (true freshman QB) had the best performance of his season.

  • Defensive takeaway plays: e.g., Faletau Satuala intercepted and returned one for a TD; Evan Johnson sealed the game with another interception.

Why this mattered

  • BYU remains undefeated, and this game showed they can close dominant wins even when challenged early.

  • For Iowa State, it may signal a step back in their playoff hopes.

Auburn Tigers

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This Weekend's Schedule - Week 10

  • Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions — Saturday, Nov 1 | 12:00 p.m. | FOX

  • Indiana Hoosiers at Maryland Terrapins — Saturday, Nov 1 | 3:30 p.m. | CBS / Paramount+

  • Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators (in Jacksonville, FL) — Saturday, Nov 1 | 3:30 p.m. | ABC

  • Vanderbilt Commodores at Texas Longhorns — Saturday, Nov 1 | 12:00 p.m. | ABC

  • Texas Tech Red Raiders at Kansas State Wildcats — Saturday, Nov 1 | 3:30 p.m. | FOX

  • Miami Hurricanes at SMU Mustangs — Saturday, Nov 1 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN

  • Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Boston College Eagles — Saturday, Nov 1 | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN

  • Michigan Wolverines vs. Purdue Boilermakers — Saturday, Nov 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Big Ten Network (BTN)

  • Louisville Cardinals at Virginia Tech Hokies — Saturday, Nov 1 | 3:00 p.m. | The CW

  • Cincinnati Bearcats at Utah Utes — Saturday, Nov 1 | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN

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The Ones NOT to Miss This Week!!

1. Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Penn State Nittany Lions

  • Why it’s huge: Ohio State, ranked No. 1 and dominant on both sides of the ball, hosts a Penn State squad that’s under pressure to revive a season slipping away.

  • What to look for: Can Penn State slow OSU’s stingy defense (allowing only ~6 points per game) and avoid the kind of collapse that would doom its Big Ten title hopes? Or will Ohio State assert its dominance and stamp its playoff résumé?

  • Stakes: The loser will be in a precarious spot for both the Big Ten title and the Playoff picture.

2. Georgia Bulldogs vs. Florida Gators

  • Why it’s huge: A storied SEC rivalry game with national ramifications. Even if Georgia enters the underdog role in terms of pressure, Florida will be looking for the upset on a neutral field.

  • What to look for: Does Georgia avoid a letdown against an unranked opponent and hold up its national title case? Can Florida shock and shake up the league by knocking off one of the blue-bloods?

  • Stakes: For Georgia, this is about staying elite. For Florida, it’s a chance to reboot their season and rival-game credibility.

3. Michigan Wolverines vs. Purdue Boilermakers

  • Why it matters: While maybe not as headline-heavy as a top-five clash, this game is still important — Michigan has to keep momentum and avoid any trap game. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Michigan Stadium on the BTN.

  • What to watch: Michigan’s defense and run-game dominance versus Purdue’s resilience and any potential upset spark.

  • Stakes: A slip here would raise questions about Michigan’s playoff readiness; a clean win reinforces their status.

Tennessee Volunteers

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Yellow Jackets!!!

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