Bleacher Report's College Football Ultimate Guide to Week 9
Beware the haunted house.
Consider this the applicable theme for Week 9 of the college football season.
Given the way the developments have unfolded in the first few months, one impulsive result after the next, a trap door here, a secret staircase there, it seems appropriate that actual football games will be decided on Halloween.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
There will be costumes, of course. The stadium shots throughout Saturday will be rife with body paint, masks and emotion. It will be strange, over the top and somehow comforting. Halloween and college football are conveniently paired: enigmatic, unpredictable and oddly compelling.
But back to that theme: Beware the haunted house.
Consider this a warning for the road teams headed to hostile environments. Lubbock, Texas, and Pullman, Washington—places that are naturally odd, a good kind of odd—will host their own spectacular Halloween parties. Others will attempt to mold black magic into positive results.
And Philadelphia, a city not known for its college football housing, will host the most important game of the weekend.
This is not your typical Saturday lineup, which might be unwelcoming for many. For others, including myself, this atypical lineup is cheered. Let’s get weird again dressed up like imbeciles.
So don your favorite costume and put a large bucket of candy out at your doorstep with that “Honor system! Take one, please” sign. Sure, this bucket will lie empty in your neighbor’s yard after the first adult-less child comes by. But you can’t worry about that. There are games that need tending to.
As for a preview of this week and a Halloween Candy Mock Playoff, let us dive into Week 9.
The Buffet: Previewing the Top 5 Games of Week 9
5. Oklahoma State at Texas Tech (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
On paper, this looks like a mismatch of epic proportions. One sideline scored 58 points last week in a victory; the other gave up 63 in a loss. But beyond the likely possibility of this game producing an exuberant amount of points, there’s a real possibility that Lubbock produces an epic tussle.
Let’s start with the good. Oklahoma State beat Kansas 58-10 on Saturday to stay unbeaten. The game got so out of hand that nine different Pokes logged carries. Oklahoma State quarterbacks, led by Mason Rudolph, completed 27 of their 36 passes for 381 yards and three touchdowns. It was easy, really.
Now, how about that bad. Having barely gotten by Kansas the week prior, Texas Tech lost by roughly 1,789 points against Oklahoma on Saturday. The score was actually 63-27, thanks in large part to four Pat Mahomes interceptions. It was an ugly game all around in a stretch of ugly for the Red Raiders, although Tech is not without talent.
Perhaps this is my finest WWE hype-man attempt. Perhaps Oklahoma State will stroll right in, dominate a team that has been dominated plenty over the past few weeks and be on its undefeated way.
Or maybe not. Tune in to find out.
4. North Carolina at Pittsburgh (Thursday, 7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)
By a show of hands, how many thought that North Carolina and Pittsburgh would be a combined 12-2 entering Week 9? Not many. Certainly not me.
Yes, this game is suddenly hugely important in the ACC. At 6-1 apiece and undefeated in conference play, Thursday night means quite a bit. (It’s also one of the better Thursday night games all season.)
Without running back James Conner, its most important player, Pittsburgh has still thrived in close games. The Panthers have won each of those games by a touchdown or less.
Keep this in mind: The Panthers' lone loss came to undefeated Iowa on a 57-yard field goal. Other than that, they have been perfect.
North Carolina knows a bit about streaking. Since losing the opening game to South Carolina—a game they could have certainly won—the Tar Heels have been perfect. While the offense is typically the story with this program in recent years, that is not the case thus far. Gene Chizik, now the defensive coordinator, has orchestrated a magnificent makeover.
This game won’t get the spotlight it deserves, but don’t let that cool your interest. Do yourself a favor and watch this one.
3. Florida vs. Georgia (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
They refuse to acknowledge this as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party these days, although it will always be the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Let that be known right now.
Yes, this lovely Jacksonville rivalry, regardless of record or current reputation, will always have a soft spot in our hearts. This year, despite a distinct lack of buzz over the game, there is a great deal at stake.
The Gators, coming off their first loss of the year back in Week 7 to LSU, are still in control of the SEC East. And although quarterback Will Grier was lost for the year, backup Treon Harris looked mighty capable in his 2015 debut.
Georgia’s last game was one it would rather not talk about. Unlike the two previous outings, the result was a win. But beating Missouri 9-6 at home does not exactly instill confidence heading into the second half of the season. Still, through all of the injuries and downs, the Bulldogs are only a game behind the Gators in the division.
At some point in the next few weekends, Georgia running back Sony Michel is going to explode on the scene. It’s only a matter of time. For Mark Richt’s sake, now would be as good a time as any.
While it may not be the most important cocktail party in the past decade, there are sneaky ramifications to be mindful of here. Plus, the whole party thing.
2. Stanford at Washington State (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Oh, this is going to be a strange game. With Washington State suddenly rolling and Pullman, Washington, hosting a game on Halloween night, the ingredients are all in place for regulated mayhem.
"It's probably on the scale of Woodstock as far as being a historic event where people gather,” Washington State head coach Mike Leach told reporters. “Statement for our generation, I think.”
This crowd will welcome one of the nation’s hottest teams. After losing to Northwestern in Week 1, Stanford has responded by demolishing everything in its way. The Cardinal didn’t pulverize Washington last week, but the game was in hand. Running back Christian McCaffrey, quickly becoming a name we should be talking about for the Heisman, finished with 300 more all-purpose yards. He’s become a machine.
"I'm at the point where I don't know what else I can say other than watch him, just watch him," Stanford head coach David Shaw told reporters after the game. "He's so quick, so explosive. The little guy never gets tired. He gets pounded, he gets hit, he gets blown up on a kickoff return and we want to sub him and take him out to see if he's OK and he comes over with a smile on his face."
The home team, however, suddenly has life. Yes, I’m talking about the team that lost to Portland State earlier this season. Washington State is now 5-2 thanks in large part to its quarterback. Sophomore Luke Falk has scored 29 touchdowns this season. He’s scored 17 in the last three weeks alone.
Falk is a force. But Stanford is playing one of the top three teams in the nation.
Let’s get weird on Halloween, shall we?
1. Notre Dame at Temple (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET, ABC)
When Notre Dame’s loaded 2015 schedule was released, we looked at all of the wonderful opponents and potential while breezing right past this game. We thought maybe, if all went according to plan, the Irish would be undefeated at this point.
There is indeed an undefeated team playing in this game, although it’s the home team. Temple, one of the great stories of the 2015 season, is still without a blemish.
That was almost not the case. Down for much of the game against East Carolina in Week 8, Temple needed 14 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 24-14 win.
This is not just a nice team and a good story; there is talent. If this is your introduction to Temple running back Jahad Thomas, you are in for a treat.
Of course, Notre Dame has its own lovely story brewing along with its own running back. Having converted from wide receiver because of injuries, C.J. Prosise has developed into one of the nation’s deadliest offensive weapons. And somewhat quietly, quarterback DeShone Kizer—also playing because of an injury—has looked more and more comfortable.
Notre Dame enjoyed a much-needed bye after squeezing past USC in Week 7. While there’s a talent gap between these two rosters, the atmosphere will be electric, and Temple is capable of pulling the upset.
(Haunted houses, remember.)
The No Good, Very Bad Game That Could Be Really, Really Fun: Tulsa at SMU (Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET, ESPN News)
There are four wins between these two teams, which is not exactly the sexiest way to sell a game out of the gate. Three of those wins belong to Tulsa, which just pushed Memphis for three quarters before the effort caved in. SMU, despite showing dramatic improvement over last year, still has only one win thanks in large part to an extremely taxing schedule.
But in terms of defense, this particular matchup has, well, almost none. Tulsa is ranked No. 118 in points allowed, while SMU is ranked No. 123. The result of this could be a buffet of touchdowns and points.
It will not be the cleanest game played all weekend. It could likely last nine hours. But if you’re looking for that game where the scoreboard might break, try this one.
Matchup of the Weekend: Laquon Treadwell vs. the Auburn Defense
Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell is required weekly viewing. His catch radius is essentially the state of Mississippi. And his athletic ability, now well beyond the nasty lower-leg injury that ended his 2014 season early, is hard to quantify.
So why on Earth would one provide this giant human net with some added motivation?
"Auburn CB Jonathan Jones, when asked about Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell: "He's just a regular receiver like everybody else."
— Tom Green (@AUBlog) October 27, 2015"
Bulletin-board material can be overrated. In the end, the game is going to happen and a player’s newfound anger won’t suddenly make him more explosive. Treadwell really doesn’t need that; he’s plenty terrifying as is.
Still, with this quote out in the open, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t completely fascinated as to what Treadwell has in store for the nation’s No. 74 passing defense.
The Halloween Candy Playoff Projection
College football has its own four-team playoff, which is lovely. We talk about it frequently here. But to celebrate Halloween, it’s time to seed Halloween candy instead. The committee is a grown man who has eaten a lot of candy.
Please note: Candy corn went 2-10, saw its coach get fired and finished last in the Halloween conference. This concludes our stance on candy corn.
No. 1 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups vs. No. 4 Peanut Butter M&M's
The No. 1 seed was not an easy decision, although Reese's Peanut Butter Cups certainly earned top honors. Peanut Butter M&M's, a severely underrated consumable, crashed the top four despite being overlooked all season.
No. 2 Twix vs. No. 3 Snickers
Two of the most reliable brands meet up in a game that would produce enormous ratings. While this particular matchup boils down to preference, both were no-doubt inclusions in the top four. The committee appreciates Kit Kat’s effort and understands its disappointment.
Twix would be my winner in this hypothetical candy playoff. Who would win for you? Leave your answer in the comment section below.
Parting Shot: Let’s Hire Miami’s Next Football Coach, Shall We?
We’re handing out treats, Miami. And today, I’m going to pass along coaching advice that is the equivalent of a King-Size Snickers.
Don’t bother paying a firm $500,000 to find your next head coach. Don’t bother pulling out your Rolodex of contacts and agents. Don’t bother being secretive with your private jets, trying to keep all interviews hidden from the rest of us.
Instead, do yourself an enormous favor and call Tom Herman, the current head coach of undefeated Houston and a future college football superstar. After you get him on the phone, hire him.
Yes, he lacks head coaching experience. Herman has been a head coach for less than a year, and he’s been navigating a collegiate sideline as a head coach for roughly two months. There’s no question that he’ll grow a great deal in this department in time. (He’s only 40.)
And yet, with his inexperience fully on the table, I can’t say enough about what a hire this would be. Already one of the nation’s elite recruiters, Herman could single-handedly alter the way talented Florida high schoolers view Florida schools. He could turn back the clock on Miami recruiting and push it closer to a place of comfort.
When he helped guide Ohio State to a national championship earlier this year, he was one of Urban Meyer’s main recruiting weapons. On top of that, look what he was able to do with an Ohio State offense playing its third-string quarterback.
Above all, however, Herman seems to have it. After I spoke with him over the summer regarding Houston, I was floored with his natural honesty and confidence. Those two don’t always mesh together for coaches; a little too much of one can doom the other. But even before Herman coached his first official game, you could sense that he was a natural fit for this kind of leadership. Early returns at Houston have certainly justified that.
Go get your swag back, Miami. Go hire a coach who studied under the best football mind in the country. Go hire the coach poised to change the Florida recruiting landscape. Go hire Tom Herman and don’t think twice about it.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
