Week 9 sees Ohio State’s playoff hopes wobble after a 30‑18 loss to USC, where the Buckeyes’ red‑zone woes, dropped passes and key penalties stalled a decent offensive showing from freshman QB Luke Fahey. With Oregon, Northwestern, Nebraska and Michigan remaining, the margin for error is razor‑thin. Meanwhile, Florida State fires Mike Norvell amid a 3‑5 start, adding to a coaching carousel that also includes Baylor, NC State and Maryland. Indiana, riding a stout defense, clings to an unbeaten record thanks to clutch overtime wins over Nebraska, Michigan and Minnesota, but offensive struggles hint the defense can’t carry the Hoosiers forever as they finish with USC, Washington and Purdue.
Ohio State looks to bounce back from a 30-18 loss at USC as Oregon arrives in Columbus on Nov. 4. The piece highlights five Buckeyes whose play will determine the outcome: QB Luke Fahey, who earned his first home start and must make smart decisions; RB Bo Jackson, who rushed for 121 yards against USC and can exploit Oregon’s modest 3.8‑yard average; OL Austin Siereveld, whose return to form is crucial against a Duck pass rush that’s already logged 19 sacks; DE Kenyatta Jackson Jr., the team’s top pass‑rusher with 20 pressures this season; and CB Jay Timmons, whose injury status could swing the secondary’s effectiveness. Their performances will be key to stopping Oregon’s potent aerial attack and securing a win.
Missouri faces its biggest test yet on Nov. 4, 2026 against Steve Sarkisian’s Texas Longhorns and Heisman hopeful Arch Manning. With the Tigers sitting atop all three polls, a win keeps them on the Playoff track, while a loss likely ends their 12‑team hopes. Texas, despite recent setbacks, boasts a 93% post‑game win expectancy and a defense ranked top‑5 against the pass and in overall success. The preview breaks down Missouri’s game plan: generate at least six explosive plays, convert roughly 40% of third‑downs, and aim for four points per scoring chance to counter Texas’s 2.9 points per opportunity. It’s a high‑stakes showdown that could define Mizzou’s postseason fate.
IRVING, Texas (Nov. 4, 2026) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today the names of the 20 Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) who will be recognized as part of the 2026 NFF Faculty Salutes Presented by Fidelity Investments®, honoring the significant contributions of faculty athletics representatives across the nation.
The BYU senior linebacker is one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award, presented annually by the Rotary Club of Houston.
Mountain West Connection launches its weekly bowl projections for the 2026 season, covering both Mountain West and Pac‑12 teams. The post outlines a messy tie‑in landscape, designating the Potato Bowl as the de‑facto MW champion slot while the Poinsettia Bowl serves as the Pac‑12 champion game. It lists projected bowl assignments—e.g., Hawaii Bowl for MW #2, Arizona Bowl for MW #3, and Guaranteed Rate Bowl for MW #1—and notes recent shifts, such as Wyoming moving ahead of UNLV and Boise State maintaining the top CFP spot despite a close loss. The analysis highlights potential upsets, like Texas State versus Oregon State, and invites reader comments on the evolving projections.
After a 38-35 loss to #1 Miami that exposed UNC's defensive woes, the Tar Heels focus on containing UConn quarterback Kalieb Osborne before their November 4 showdown. Osborne, a 6‑foot‑4 transfer from Toledo, has rushed 64 times for 460 yards and seven TDs, averaging over 7 yards per carry and ranking second in UConn’s rushing attack. While both teams boast similar passing stats (around 1,850 yards), Connecticut’s ground game ranks in the top 25 nationally, posing a new challenge for UNC’s average 4.2‑yard rushing defense. The Huskies have struggled against Power‑5 foes, but limiting Osborne—who excels against non‑Power‑4 foes—could be the key to breaking above .500.
Omosigho enters Week 10 as the CFB leader in forced fumbles, and ranks top-five in the Big Ten in sacks, TFLs, and tackles
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Fourth-year offensive linemen Trevor Lauck and Kade Pieper have been named 2026 Lombardi Award semifinalists.
Welcome to the league where this week Boston College has CFP aspirations….whoops sorry about that Eagles fans. Let’s get to this week’s ACC power rankings: ********************************************************************************************************* What did we get wrong this week?
After Colorado’s overtime win over Kansas State ended a five‑game skid, Deion Sanders’ future at CU remains secure thanks to a $26 million buyout. While his on‑field record sits at 19‑26, the former NFL star may be forging a more lasting legacy by building a minority‑rich coaching tree. Coordinators Brennan Marion and Chris Marve, ex‑NFL players Vonn Bell and Dante Carter, and former Jackson State star Rashad Davis are among the 11 minority coaches primed for head‑coach roles, with Marion even touted as Sanders’ possible successor. Past hires like Sean Lewis and Marshall Faulk have already moved on to head positions, suggesting Sanders is intentionally cultivating future leaders in college football.
ESPN's Paul Finebaum went after the latest CFP rankings on Wednesday.
Auburn week gave Arkansas athletics an opportunity to venture into territory it hadn't yet explored this season.
Paul Finebaum erupts on ESPN’s Get Up, calling Tuesday’s first College Football Playoff rankings “as discombobulated as I’ve ever seen.” He derides the committee’s puzzling placements—most notably Alabama’s high slot ahead of Tennessee, who beat them weeks earlier—suggesting the new emphasis on strength of schedule is skewing the list, with two‑loss teams outranking one‑loss foes. Finebaum predicts the rankings will shift after Alabama’s win over LSU, with the next poll due Nov. 10.
Jeff Brohm’s defensive overhaul began on Dec. 30, 2025, when he dismissed co‑defensive coordinators after Louisville ranked 16th in yards allowed. Rather than hiring experienced replacements, he promoted from within, leaving four staff spots vacant. Critics highlight his rapid turnover—five defensive coordinators in two years and three co‑coordinators in a single season—as a red flag. With the Cardinals’ defense now underperforming far below 2025 expectations, fans demand transparency on the staffing decisions before the 2027 season.
Corn Nation’s November 4, 2026 piece blasts Nebraska’s new coaching staff, calling head coach Matt Rhule and offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen inept. The author decries poor communication about the star quarterback’s injury, excessive analyst‑driven decisions, and an overstaffed “quality‑control” crew. He predicts a loss to Illinois, mocking Rhule’s recent press conference and comparing his tenure to Scott Frost’s failures. The rant also touches on broader concerns about NIL money and its impact on college football.
Rabbit Evans has turned last season’s injury setback into a breakout year, giving Utah a versatile defensive playmaker ahead of the Holy War.
The first CFP rankings drop as the SEC reshapes after Week 9. Georgia secures the top spot at 7‑1 (5‑1 SEC) with a 27‑8 victory over #17 Florida, highlighted by three defensive interceptions and multiple sacks from Chris Cole and teammates. Kentucky matches Georgia at 7‑1, while Alabama slips to 6‑2 after a bye. Ole Miss rallies with a 45‑15 win over Auburn, and Texas flashes a 31‑3 rout of Mississippi State behind Arch Manning’s three TD passes. Arkansas, LSU, and several others sit on bye weeks, leaving the conference race wide open.
Five years after Kansas hired Lance Leipold, the Jayhawks have swung from a nine‑win, bowl‑eligible high in 2023 to a 3‑5 start in 2026, sparking doubts about the program’s direction. Tim Riordan, former UB Bull Run editor, reflects on his 2021 interview with Leipold, discussing the coach’s flexible, program‑building reputation, the impact of the transfer portal, and the fallout from the Turner Gill hire. Riordan admits the results fall short of his expectations—he’d hoped for a steady 7‑8 win team with occasional 10‑win seasons—and questions whether Leipold can sustain success amid constant roster turnover. With Kansas needing three wins in its final four games to secure a bowl berth, the piece examines the future of Kansas football and Leipold’s tenure.
Coach Kyle Whittingham says Michigan’s defense will regain two key pass rushers—senior DE John Henry Daley and junior DE Dom Nichols—ahead of the Michigan State rivalry after a 21‑point loss at Rutgers. He also announces an open competition for the kicking job, noting sophomore Trey Butkowski’s 60% field‑goal rate. Freshman QB Tommy Carr earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week with 266 passing yards, a TD and two rushing scores, though he admits to missed deep throws to speedy receiver Andrew Marsh. Whittingham praises Carr’s film‑room work and stresses continual improvement as the Wolverines eye the Paul Bunyan Trophy.
ESPN700’s Week 9 CFP Resume Rankings rank teams solely by their strength of schedule, using a point system that rewards wins over ranked, Power‑4 and Group‑6 opponents while penalizing losses. Texas tops the list with 9 points (wins over Ohio State, Tennessee and Ole Miss), followed by Kentucky (7.5) and Miami (7). Ohio State, Indiana, Utah, Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama, Georgia, Texas Tech, BYU and others fill the top‑12, each earning points from marquee victories. The column also notes teams like Notre Dame (7‑1, 1 point) and Boise State (7‑1, 3 points) that are playoff‑eligible but sit outside the top‑12 resume ranking.
Syracuse football has buzz for 2027 4-star OT Sidney Rouleau, who visited last weekend and has decommitted from Michigan.
Tristan and I break down Oregon’s performance against Northwestern drive by drive, and look ahead to Ohio State.
The Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-3) travel to Huntington Bank Stadium on Nov. 7 to face unbeaten No. 5 UCLA (8-0). UCLA’s explosive ground game, led by senior running back Wayne Knight’s 680 yards and 12 touchdowns, averages 281.5 rushing yards per game, while its offense thrives under coordinator Dean Kennedy’s complex schemes. However, the Bruins lost starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava to a season‑ending knee injury, leaving backup Ty Dieffenbach struggling with sub‑60% completions and no rushing threat. Minnesota must rely on a game plan focused on stopping the run, as UCLA ranks 10th in run defense (87.2 yds/game) and 5th in scoring defense (13.4 ppg). With UCLA’s turnover‑heavy defense and Minnesota’s recent offensive woes, the preview questions whether the Gophers can crack the Bruins’ stout front.
Penn State’s 2027 and 2028 recruiting classes shine in high‑school playoffs as the Nittany Lions miss the college postseason. Four‑star tight end Cooper Terwilliger dominates a 47‑7 quarterfinal win for T.F. Riggs (SD) with three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, and his team heads to a semifinal versus Sturgis Brown. Four‑star receiver Landom Blum scores three touchdowns and racks up 199 yards for Woodbine (IA) in an eight‑man league, setting up a quarterfinal against Bishop Garrigan. Three‑star defensive lineman Carter Blattner records five tackles, a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks in Northern Highlands (NJ)’s opening win. Quarterback James Armstrong posts 2,000 passing yards, 29 TDs and 700 rushing yards en route to a 9‑1 season and a WPIAL berth. These prospects are gearing up for their next playoff games, offering a glimpse of Penn State’s future talent.