Nov 1, 2026 · 1h 35m
USC reshapes the playoff race as Week 9 contenders stumble
WEEK 9 INSTANT REACTION: USC Upsets Ohio State | Miami & Indiana Survive | Georgia Dominates | MORE!
Week 9 exposed how quickly playoff cases can change, with USC rising, Ohio State wobbling, and several contenders surviving rather than convincing.
- 1USC’s upset of Ohio State strengthens its playoff case while leaving the Buckeyes’ postseason path increasingly precarious.
- 2Indiana’s overtime escape and Miami’s narrow win raise questions about whether strong records outweigh mounting evidence of vulnerability.
- 3Georgia dominated Florida, while Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Oklahoma State intensified scrutiny around coaches and national rankings.
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USC’s rainy upset of Ohio State transforms the national playoff conversation and puts the Buckeyes’ postseason position in doubt.
The brief
USC stunned Ohio State in the rain, giving Lincoln Riley his first top-five win with the Trojans while exposing red-zone failures and freshman quarterback Luke Fahey’s struggles.
Miami and Indiana survived tense games, but the escapes sharpened questions about their playoff credentials, quarterback health, defensive reliability, and ability to sustain title ambitions.
Georgia overwhelmed Florida with elite defense, while Ole Miss and Texas Tech strengthened their cases through decisive wins built around Trinidad Chambliss and Tommy Castellanos.
The episode turns to coaching pressure: Nebraska’s familiar collapse, Wisconsin’s rivalry losses under Luke Fickell, and Florida State’s poor performance all fuel uncertainty.
The hosts close by projecting the new AP Top 25, balancing résumé against power rankings as Week 9 makes the final spots unusually difficult to fill.
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