College Football Players on the Hot Seat in Week 9

When push comes to shove, will these players get it done?

This weekend's college football games feature a number of big-time matchups, ones that will go a long way toward determining who makes the playoffs as well as which teams get into other notable bowl games. And while it's a team sport, we'd be lying if we didn't say that certain individual players will have more impact on the outcomes than others.

These players are on the hot seat, so to speak. How they play has a huge significance because a bad performance will be hard for their team to overcome. It could lead to loss, both in terms of the game itself and that player's job moving forward.

Here's our look at eight college football players with a lot riding on how they fare this weekend.

James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh

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This week's opponent: vs. Georgia Tech (Saturday, Oct. 25; 3:30 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

James Conner has had a monster year for Pittsburgh, rushing for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns. That came after a breakout performance in last season's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl win over Bowling Green, when he ran for 229 yards.

Yet Conner's numbers have dropped off over the last few games, with the 6'2", 250-pound sophomore averaging 86.7 yards per game the last three outings after amassing 699 yards (with nine TDs) during a 3-1 start for the Panthers. In order for Pitt to remain in the hunt for the ACC Coastal Division title, he needs to get back to his old running ways.

Conner has been Pitt's main offensive weapon this season, despite the presence of standout wide receiver Tyler Boyd for Chad Voytik to throw to. Conner has also lined up at defensive end, though his best value is in running the ball.

Pitt is one of three teams tied for first in the Coastal, and it has a relatively favorable schedule down the stretch with Georgia Tech and fellow Coastal leader Duke coming to Heinz Field these next two games.

Devin Gardner, QB, Michigan

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This week's opponent: at Michigan State (Saturday, Oct. 25; 3:30 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

A year ago, Devin Gardner led Michigan into East Lansing as the pilot of an offense that had averaged 48.3 points in its previous three games. Then he was sacked seven times, finishing with minus-46 rushing yards along with an interception in an embarrassing 29-6 loss to in-state rival Michigan State, and the Wolverines' offense has never been the same.

Gardner hasn't fared much better this season, averaging only 2.6 yards per carry as a rusher while throwing eight interceptions and losing his starting job in late September. Gardner only got it back because of injuries to Stephen Morris, but with Morris healthy again it's only a matter of time before Michigan coach Brady Hoke pulls his senior from the field.

Not exactly the best circumstances to have surrounding another trip to Michigan State, not with the Wolverines sitting at 3-4 and looking more and more like a team headed for their first losing record since 2009.

Taylor Kelly, QB, Arizona State

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This week's opponent: at Washington (Saturday, Oct. 25; 10:45 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

After missing three games because of a foot injury, Taylor Kelly is set to start for Arizona State this weekend in a key Pac-12 game at Washington. He led the Sun Devils to a 3-0 record before getting hurt, and as the quarterback for last year's South Division champs, coach Todd Graham said all along that Kelly would get his job back once healthy.

But because of how well Kelly's backup, junior Mike Bercovici, played during his absence, it doesn't mean the senior's job isn't guaranteed.

Bercovici went 92-of-146 for 1,243 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions, none in the last two games. He was picked off twice in the home loss to UCLA, then was perfect in wins over USC and Stanford, throwing a Hail Mary pass to beat USC and then completing 69.7 percent of his throws against a stout Stanford defense.

Kelly had thrown for 625 yards and six TDs before getting hurt, while adding 168 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground. Despite his time away, Kelly is still ASU's second-leading rusher.

Washington has one of the more aggressive defenses in the country, with 27 sacks and a ball hawk of a linebacker in Shaq Thompson, who has scored four defensive touchdowns. ASU is in the driver's seat for the Pac-12 South title by virtue of its win over USC but can't afford another loss at this point.

If Kelly were to struggle, he could easily get pulled for the hot Bercovici, and the Sun Devils could find themselves with an unwanted quarterback controversy.

Maty Mauk, QB, Missouri

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This week's opponent: vs. Vanderbilt (Saturday, Oct. 25; 4 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

Maty Mauk's job isn't in jeopardy, despite the quarterback coming off three straight horrible performances. But will that be the same if the sophomore struggles yet again, especially with Missouri facing the worst team in the SEC at home?

Mauk began 2014 on a very hot streak, throwing 14 touchdown passes with a pair of 300-yard efforts in Missouri's first four games. But since SEC play has begun, Mauk has completely fallen apart, at least based on his numbers, tallying a mere 249 yards with five interceptions and no touchdowns on 27-of-73 passing.

And Mizzou has won two of those games, including last week's 42-13 victory at Florida, in which Mauk went 6-of-18 for 20 yards with an interception.

"We know he can play, and we know he can play at a high level," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel told David Morrison of the Columbia Daily Tribune prior to the Florida game. "We've seen it before. It's not like we're hoping that this can happen. He's just going through some tough times a little bit. He certainly takes responsibility. He’s a good player. He has my 100 percent support."

Mauk has hardly left the field when the Tigers are on offense this season. Redshirt freshman Eddie Printz is the backup, but he's appeared in just two games with one pass attempt, an incompletion in the second game against Toledo.

Mizzou has managed to start 2-1 in the SEC despite Mauk's struggles, but after Vanderbilt the Tigers still have to face Kentucky and go to Texas A&M and Tennessee. At some point, Pinkel may need to pull the trigger.

Tyler Murphy, QB, Boston College

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This week's opponent: at Wake Forest (Saturday, Oct. 25; 3:30 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

Tyler Murphy is Boston College's offense. Not just the best part of it, he's pretty much it. And when he doesn't get going, the Eagles don't win.

Murphy, a Florida transfer who has thrived under coach Steve Addazio, is 21st in the country in rushing at 109.4 yards per game. He's scored eight times on the ground and averages 7.74 yards per carry, a big reason why BC has the nation's No. 9 rushing offense.

His passing numbers aren't nearly as impressive, though, as he's completing 54 percent of his throws and has six interceptions to go with five touchdowns and 109.7 yards per game. He doesn't have that to fall back on if he can't run, which is why BC has lost all three games where Murphy has been held under seven yards per carry.

Wake Forest isn't exactly a tough opponent, and BC has played better on the road than in Chestnut Hill. But the Demon Deacons do sport a solid defense and are looking for a breakout win under first-year coach Dave Clawson.

Cameron Sutton, CB, Tennessee

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This week's opponent: vs. Alabama (Saturday, Oct. 25; 7:30 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

Defensive backs tend to only get noticed when they make a big stop or give up a big play. Cameron Sutton has done more of the former this season, leading Tennessee with three interceptions along with four pass breakups and four tackles for loss.

The 6'1", 190-pound sophomore is usually tasked with defending the opponent's best wide receiver when in pass coverage, something he's yet to shy away from, according to Dustin Dopirak of the Knoxville News Sentinel.

"He covets every tough assignment and relishes the idea of taking on every one of the top SEC receivers on an island," Dopirak wrote.

Last week that was Ole Miss' Laquon Treadwell, who had an off night with only four catches for 43 yards, but next up is prolific Alabama wideout Amari Cooper. Cooper has been covered by some of the best in the country this year and has managed to have big games against the secondaries of Florida and Ole Miss, among others.

A lot of things have to go right for Tennessee to upset Alabama this weekend, and one of them is keeping Cooper from busting out. That job belongs to Sutton, who is arguably facing the most difficult assignment of his college career.

Bo Wallace, QB, Ole Miss

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This week's opponent: at LSU (Saturday, Oct. 25; 7:15 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

Will it be "Good Bo" or "Bad Bo" taking snaps for Ole Miss in Death Valley this weekend?

Bo Wallace's two-plus seasons with the Rebels have led to the senior developing a reputation for having big games but also making some boneheaded plays at critical moments. He's mostly avoided those miscues this season, as his team has started 7-0, which is why Wallace is ninth nationally in passing efficiency.

But some of the "Bad Bo" still pops up every now and then, like last week when he was just 13-of-28 in the 34-3 win over Tennessee. It had no impact on the game, but with the Rebels looking to stay unbeaten and facing a very hostile environment, there has to be some worry that Wallace is due for a bad game.

Coach Hugh Freeze doesn't seem concerned, though, telling reporters during the weekly SEC teleconference (h/t Jim Kleinpeter of NOLA.com) that "all quarterbacks have some games where they have interceptions" but noting that none of Wallace's six picks this year have been in conference play.

With an awesome defense, Ole Miss has gotten by so far without needing much offensive production. LSU is starting to come into its own, though, and could be the team that brings "Bad Bo" out of the shadows.

Travis Wilson, QB, Utah

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This week's opponent: vs. USC (Saturday, Oct. 25; 10 p.m. ET)

What's at stake

Utah is playing arguably its biggest game of the year on Saturday, one that could put the Utes in great position to win the Pac-12's South Division. It will turn to junior Travis Wilson to lead them on offense but will be hoping he performs much better than he has this season beforehand.

Wilson was named as the starter by coach Kyle Whittingham, getting picked over Kendal Thompson after replacing Thompson in the second half of Utah's double-overtime win at Oregon State on Oct. 16. He didn't set the world on fire in that relief performance, completing just five of 10 passes for 45 yards, and for the year he has completed only 56.8 percent of his passes for 833 yards.

Wilson has seven touchdowns and no interceptions, but he hasn't thrown a TD pass since Sept. 20 at Michigan. Injuries have contributed to his numbers, as has the fact that Utah has found a superstar running back in junior college transfer Devontae Booker (563 yards, five touchdowns in the past three games).

Not including a horrible performance at Boston College, USC is allowing only 3.29 yards per carry. That could minimize Booker's impact, as well as that of run-first Thompson if he were to replace Wilson. That means Wilson serves as Utah's most important offensive player in this key game.

All statistical information courtesy of CFBStats.com.

Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.