College football's Week 9 saw only one top-10 team fall, as No. 2 Ohio State lost at USC, while other contenders like No. 1 Miami and No. 4 Indiana survived close calls. Meanwhile, SEC powers No. 3 Georgia, No. 11 Texas, and No. 12 Ole Miss secured comfortable victories.
Top Contenders Graded
CBS Sports handed out grades for every team with national championship odds of +3000 or better. LSU (+850) and Alabama (+950) were off this week.
No. 1 Miami (B-): The Hurricanes escaped North Carolina 38-35 thanks to a late strip sack by Marquise Lightfoot, but the defense has allowed over 400 yards in three straight games.
No. 2 Ohio State (D): Freshman quarterback Luke Fahey made his first start in a 30-18 loss at USC. The Buckeyes surrendered explosive plays early and struggled with penalties and situational execution.
No. 3 Georgia (B): The Bulldogs dismantled rival Florida 27-8, forcing turnovers and tallying 11 tackles for loss. The rushing attack gained 217 yards, though quarterback Gunner Stockton averaged a season-low 4.4 yards per attempt.
No. 4 Indiana (C): The Hoosiers needed overtime to beat Minnesota 23-16 amid special teams miscues and a quarterback change. Indiana's defense remains strong, but offensive consistency and special teams need improvement.
No. 5 Notre Dame (B): The Fighting Irish pulled away late for a 35-13 win at Navy. The offense averaged 7.2 yards per play with 25 first downs, helping the defense adjust to the option attack.
No. 6 Utah (A): Utah dominated Cincinnati 49-25, leading 42-6 at halftime with two defensive touchdowns. The Utes delivered a stress-free performance ahead of a showdown with BYU.
No. 11 Texas (B): The Longhorns crushed Mississippi State 31-3. Arch Manning was sacked five times and fumbled once, but the defense dominated against a Bulldogs team missing starting quarterback Kamario Taylor.
No. 12 Ole Miss (A-): The Rebels rolled past Auburn 45-15, piling up a season-high 30 first downs and 224 rushing yards. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss added 65 rushing yards and a touchdown, though the secondary remains vulnerable.
