Week 9 College Football Playoff Update: Nine Teams Eliminated
Week 9 of the college football season just flipped the script on the College Football Playoff (CFP) race. Nine teams bowed out, and now it feels like two SEC giants have all but locked up their spots.
The playoff picture is starting to come into focus. If you want to dig deeper, here’s the original article on CBS Sports.
Contents
The Rise of Texas A&M
Is Texas A&M the best team in the SEC? That’s a hot topic right now, and honestly, they’ve given folks plenty to talk about.
The Aggies just put up 49 points on LSU and looked flat-out dominant. Sitting at 8-0, they’re the only undefeated team left in the conference.
Their roster is balanced—no glaring holes, really. It’s hard not to be impressed, even if you’re a skeptic.
Aggies’ Road to the Playoffs
Historically, Texas A&M has had a knack for stumbling mid-season. This year, though, they’ve shown some real backbone.
After a wobbly start against LSU, they pulled away and won convincingly. Next up? A road game at Missouri, then home against South Carolina, and the big rivalry clash with Texas.
Even if they drop a game or two, their playoff spot feels pretty safe right now. But hey, nothing’s guaranteed in college football.
Ole Miss: A Contender Despite Close Calls
Ole Miss is sitting at 7-1 and looking like a real playoff contender, too. Their wins have been close, but that Oklahoma victory was huge.
The rest of their schedule isn’t as scary as it could be—home games with South Carolina, Florida, and The Citadel, then the Egg Bowl at Mississippi State. If they finish 10-2, you’d have to think they’re in.
Key Players and Performances
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been clutch for the Rebels. His stats against Oklahoma weren’t eye-popping, but he made the plays when it mattered.
There’s still some chatter about Lane Kiffin’s quarterback rotation, though. Some folks love it, others aren’t so sure.
Iowa’s Playoff Hopes: A Long Shot
Iowa’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, but they’re not out yet. Their 41-3 win over Minnesota kept them in the mix, at least for now.
They’re 6-2 and would need to shock both Oregon and USC to have a real shot. Defense and special teams are their bread and butter, but the offense? Still a work in progress.
Upcoming Challenges
These next two games are make-or-break. Oregon might be struggling a bit, but they’re still dangerous.
USC is another tough hurdle. If Iowa manages to win both, maybe we’re having a different conversation next week.
Cincinnati: The Dark Horse
Cincinnati’s been flying under the radar, but they’re right there with a 7-1 record. They’re averaging 38.3 points a game, so scoring isn’t a problem.
Defense has stepped up, too—just look at their 41-20 win over Baylor. That BYU matchup on November 22 could be a playoff decider.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The Bearcats’ run game is their calling card. Brendan Sorsby at quarterback, plus Tawee Walker and Evan Pryor in the backfield, have kept them rolling.
The passing game, though, needs some work if they’re going to hang with the big dogs. Defensively, they’ve shown they can slow down good offenses, and that’s going to matter down the stretch.
Teams That Bowed Out
Some teams saw their playoff dreams end this weekend. Here’s the list:
- Arizona State (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big 12): Three losses in the Big 12? That’s not going to cut it for the playoff.
- California (5-3 overall, 2-2 ACC): Losing to Virginia Tech knocked them out of ACC Championship contention.
- Fresno State (5-3 overall, 2-2 Mountain West): Shut out by San Diego State, and now it’s an uphill climb.
- Illinois (5-3 overall, 2-3 Big Ten): With three losses, including a blowout, they’re done.
- Iowa State (5-3 overall, 2-3 Big 12): Home loss to BYU makes three conference losses. Too many teams ahead of them.
- LSU (5-3 overall, 2-3 SEC): Rough home loss to Texas A&M, and Alabama’s up next. That’s probably it.
- Minnesota (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten): Three losses, including a 38-point drubbing by Iowa. Not much left to hope for.
- Northwestern (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten): Loss at Nebraska gives them three overall and knocks them out of Big Ten title contention.
- Oklahoma (6-2 overall, 2-2 SEC): Ole Miss loss leaves them at 2-2 in the conference. Technically alive, but do you really see them running the table against that schedule?
Key Upcoming Games
Looking ahead, a handful of games could shake things up next week. Keep an eye on these:
- Navy at North Texas
- Vanderbilt at Texas
- USC at Nebraska
- Oklahoma at Tennessee
- Cincinnati at Utah
Current Playoff Rankings
Right now, these are the top teams in the playoff hunt:
- 1. Ohio State
- 2. Texas A&M
- 3. Indiana
- 4. Miami
- 5. Alabama
- 6. Oregon
- 7. BYU
- 8. Georgia
- 9. Ole Miss
- 10. Notre Dame
- 11. Georgia Tech
- 12. USF
The playoff race is getting wild. The next few weeks? Absolutely pivotal for these teams.
Want more details or just curious to dig deeper? Check out CBS Sports.
