2024 College Football Games of the Week: Week 9

2024 College Football Games of the Week: Week 9

The college football season has been amazing thus far as there is no juggernaut this year. Every team seems beatable and there might not be a team still undefeated by the end of the regular season. There is no colossal game between two top-five-ranked teams like there have been the past few weeks. However, there are plenty of competitive games in week 9 as there are five ranked vs ranked matchups. Also, the non-group of four race for the one likely CFB playoff spot has some key matchups this week. Ultimately, it should be another exciting week of college football. Here, are the 2024 college football games of the week for week nine.

Honorable Mentions: No. 20 Illinois @ No. 1 Oregon, No. 22 SMU @ Duke, No. 5 Texas @ No. 25 Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech @ Virginia Tech

5) No. 17 Boise State @ UNLV (10:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN)

There is a phenomenal Friday night matchup in week nine so the five spot goes to Boise State vs UNLV. This game should be a shootout as the over-under is set at 65.5. This is Boise State’s hardest remaining game on the team’s schedule. RB Ashton Jeanty is one of the front runners for the Heisman Award. Also, he is on Pace to break Barry Sanders’ single-season rushing yards record. However, UNLV is top 20 in CFB in rushing defense and they only concede just over 100 yards a game. 

Furthermore, the UNLV offense can compete with the Broncos. The Rebels are averaging 41 points in their last five games. QB Hajj-Malik Williams’ connection with WR Ricky White lll is among the best in college football. This game should be an exciting offensive explosion among two of the Mountain West’s best teams. Also, one of these teams has a real chance of being the one non-group of four team in the college football playoffs.

4) No. 12 Notre Dame @ No. 24 Navy (12 noon, ET, ABC/ESPN+)

Who would have thought this game would be this important before the season started? Notre Dame has bounced back after their terrible upset against NIU with five straight wins. Also, don’t look now but the Fighting Irish are starting to get things going on offense. The Notre Dame defense has been fantastic this year and they will need their best effort yet against the high-powered Navy offense.

Navy is one of the best surprises of the 2024 college football season. The Midshipmen offense is 4th in college football in scoring and tied for 1st in Red Zone scoring. Navy has scored 23 touchdowns on 24 trips to the Red Zone. QB Blake Horvath has been amazing through the air and on the ground this season. It will be interesting to see if Navy can keep their offense going against an elite Notre Dame defense. This game will give Navy their biggest win of the season or it will give Notre Dame another huge ranked win on their résumé. 

3) No. 3 Penn State @ Wisconsin (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock)

I think this is one of the most underrated games of the week 9 slate. No. 3 Penn State has a tough task ahead of them before they face No. 4 Ohio State next week. The Nittany Lions are undefeated but this is the type of trap game that they have lost in past years. Penn State has struggled recently but they can quite all the doubters with a win here which would set up a colossal matchup against the Buckeyes.

However, Wisconsin has been playing terrific football as of late. The Badgers have outscored their last three opponents 117-16. The offense with QB Braedyn Locke has been clicking so there is a real upset opportunity at Camp Randall this week. I expect this game to close but I think we could see another top 5 upset in this 2024 college football season, which has been filled with them. 

2) No. 21 Missouri @ No. 15 Alabama (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+)

This game has huge implications for both teams. Alabama’s season is essentially on the line because another loss will knock them out of college football playoff contention. Also, Missouri’s best chance to make the CFB playoff will be to make the SEC Championship game and they will need a win here in week 9. 

Both teams have disappointed this season and a win this week could right some of those wrongs. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe and head coach Kalen DeBoer need to get the offense back on track against a beatable Tigers defense. However, Missouri’s offense can take advantage of an Alabama defense that has struggled all year. This matchup is truly a make-or-break game for both programs to try to save their respective seasons.

Game of the Week: No. 8 LSU @ No. 14 Texas A&M (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+)

The game of the week in week nine is a fun SEC matchup. LSU has been terrific after a week one loss to USC. The LSU offense is carrying the team, which is similar to past Brian Kelly Tigers teams. QB Garrett Nussmeier is the X-Factor in this game but he will face his toughest task of the season. 

This Texas A&M team has a strong defensive identity that is in the top 20 in points allowed. However, the offense has been hit or miss this year. Luckily, the Aggies are coming off two solid offensive games heading into this matchup. QB Conner Weigman has turned it on and found success in the passing game admittedly against two lesser SEC defenses the past two weeks. However, the Aggies will have home-field advantage and help from the 12th man at Kyle Field. These are the only teams undefeated in SEC conference play and a win here will set up the winner for a strong chance to play in the SEC Championship game. These were the 2024 college football games of the week for week nine.

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