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Two straight wild Saturdays have turned the 2026 college football season into a grand ol', unpredictable mess.
Yet the trick is to predict those very games every week! What a treat.
During the last two slates, 15 ranked teams have fallen—including seven losses to unranked opponents. There are a whole lot of those matchups on the Week 9 docket, so more chaos may be looming.
Georgia's annual clash with Florida and Arizona's trip to Texas Tech are the headliners of October's final weekend.
Rankings are based on the AP Top 25.
Top Matchups for Week 9
1 of 11
No. 22 Arizona (6-1) at No. 13 Texas Tech (6-1), Noon ET
Utah is the lone unbeaten team atop the Big 12 standings, but four others hold one-loss records in conference play. Two of them, Arizona and Texas Tech, are poised for a key game in Lubbock. Bailing on Tech after a setback at Cincinnati may be an overreaction, especially since Arizona's defense has been vulnerable on the road. Simultaneously, this feels like a matchup where one turnover will swing the result.
Prediction: Texas Tech 30, Arizona 27
No. 17 Florida (5-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia (6-1), 3:30 p.m. (in Atlanta)
Florida has become a bit of a roller coaster, wrecking Ole Miss before two lopsided losses to Missouri and South Carolina, then storming back at Texas. Box of chocolates and all that. Georgia is the safe option, but UF clearly is dangerous enough to make it interesting—if the right version of the Gators shows up.
Prediction: Georgia 31, Florida 23
No. 20 Northwestern (6-1) at Oregon (4-3), 3:30 p.m.
Ah, yes, the uncomfortable context of a surprising Top 25 team against a once-popular, now-flailing preseason favorite. Northwestern's run-first offense is a serious threat. Oregon just yielded 225 yards on the ground in a loss at Illinois. NU's path to a victory is clear. However, the Ducks—despite their unexpected flaws—have played well defensively at home. Ugly, yet a win for Oregon.
Prediction: Oregon 21, Northwestern 19
No. 1 Miami (7-0) at North Carolina (4-3), 7:30 p.m.
Never underestimate a conference road game, especially at night. Underdogs love little more than a prime-time upset. Miami, which has surrendered too many explosive plays lately, must avoid mental lapses in a loud stadium. North Carolina is last in the nation with four 30-plus-yard gains. There's not much reason for that to change. But if UNC threatens to stun Miami, check that category first.
Prediction: Miami 34, UNC 24
No. 2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
Same underdog qualifier here. The bigger challenge for Ohio State, though, is that the offense will play its first game without QB Julian Sayin. USC's general inconsistency prevents a pick in the Trojans' favor, but we're all simply guessing how OSU's new QB—whether it's Luke Fahey as expected or Tavien St. Clair—will perform on a cross-country trip in his starting debut.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, USC 22
ACC Games
2 of 11
Virginia (4-4) at No. 14 Wake Forest (6-1), 3:45 p.m. ET
Since a 3-1 start to the campaign, Virginia has stumbled out of ACC contention. The main problem is a slumping offense, particularly a passing attack that has failed to reach 200 yards in four straight games. Wake Forest, which has ceded only 6.1 yards per pass attempt, should be able to capitalize on that trend.
Prediction: Wake Forest 33, UVA 20
No. 19 SMU (6-1) at Syracuse (3-4), Noon
Prediction: SMU 31, Syracuse 23
Cal (3-5) at North Carolina State (3-4), Noon
Prediction: NC State 28, Cal 20
Boston College (4-3) at Duke (5-2), Noon
Prediction: Duke 29, BC 24
Stanford (4-4) at Louisville (4-3), 3:15 p.m.
Prediction: Louisville 38, Stanford 17
Clemson (4-3) at Florida State (3-4), 7 p.m.
Prediction: FSU 24, Clemson 19
No. 1 Miami (7-0) at North Carolina (4-3), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Miami 34, UNC 24 (Top Matchups)
Georgia Tech (2-5) at Pitt (5-3), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Pitt 27, Georgia Tech 23
Big Ten Games
3 of 11
No. 25 Wisconsin (5-2) at Iowa (5-2), Noon ET
First to 20? Expect two stout defenses and a barrage of punts in this rivalry tilt. As USC just learned, Wisconsin is fully capable of winning on the strength of takeaways and favorable field position. Iowa also committed four turnovers in its recent loss at Minnesota. At home, though, Iowa holds a slight edge.
Prediction: Iowa 20, Wisconsin 13
Illinois (4-3) at Maryland (2-5), Noon
Prediction: Maryland 27, Illinois 24
Michigan (4-3) at Rutgers (2-5), 12:30 p.m.
Prediction: Michigan 28, Rutgers 10
Minnesota (5-2) at No. 4 Indiana (6-1), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Indiana 31, Minnesota 13
No. 20 Northwestern (6-1) at Oregon (4-3), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Oregon 21, Northwestern 19 (Top Matchups)
Nevada (3-4) at No. 7 UCLA (7-0), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: UCLA 33, Nevada 10
Purdue (3-4) at Penn State (3-4), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Penn State 31, Purdue 20
No. 2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC (6-2), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Ohio State 27, USC 22 (Top Matchups)
Washington (4-3) at Nebraska (5-2), 8 p.m.
Prediction: Nebraska 29, Washington 24
Big 12 Games
4 of 11
No. 6 Utah (7-0) at Cincinnati (5-2), 3:45 p.m. ET
On the heels of ending Texas Tech's perfect record, Cincinnati gets a crack at undefeated Utah. To spring the upset, the Bearcats need their defense to make timely stops again. The unit had been mediocre all season but snatched three takeaways and yielded one red-zone touchdown in four tries against Tech. While impressive, it's also probably not sustainable for this unit.
Prediction: Utah 30, Cincinnati 23
Baylor (4-3) at UCF (4-3), Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: UCF 28, Baylor 20
No. 22 Arizona (6-1) at No. 13 Texas Tech (6-1), Noon
Prediction: Texas Tech 30, Arizona 27 (Top Matchups)
Kansas State (4-3) at Colorado (2-5), 2 p.m.
Prediction: Kansas State 27, Colorado 24
Arizona State (4-3) at No. 8 BYU (6-1), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: BYU 31, ASU 17
Kansas (3-4) at TCU (3-4), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: TCU 26, Kansas 14
No. 24 Oklahoma State (5-2) at Iowa State (3-4), 7 p.m.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 37, Iowa State 24
SEC Games
5 of 11
Auburn (4-3) at No. 12 Ole Miss (5-2), 12:45 p.m. ET
Following a surprising win at Georgia, Auburn proceeded to lose 38-17 at home against LSU. Sure, of course. The variance of this Auburn team is striking—and makes the Tigers awfully difficult to trust. Ole Miss still hasn't had a turnover-free game, but the Rebels should be able to out-offense Auburn.
Prediction: Ole Miss 33, Auburn 24
No. 17 Florida (5-2) vs. No. 3 Georgia (6-1), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Georgia 31, Florida 23 (Top Matchups)
South Carolina (4-3) at Oklahoma (4-3), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: Oklahoma 23, South Carolina 20
Mississippi State (4-3) at No. 11 Texas (5-2), 7:30 p.m.
Prediction: Texas 34, Mississippi State 17
No. 23 Missouri (5-2) at Arkansas (3-4), 7:45 p.m.
Prediction: Missouri 27, Arkansas 21
American Games
6 of 11
Florida Atlantic (5-2) at North Texas (5-2), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: North Texas 43, FAU 31
Tulane (3-4) at Charlotte (1-6), Friday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: Tulane 27, Charlotte 16
No. 5 Notre Dame (6-1) at Navy (2-5), Noon
Prediction: Notre Dame 45, Navy 10
UAB (4-3) at South Florida (5-2), Noon
Prediction: USF 24, UAB 13
Temple (2-5) at East Carolina (3-4), 3 p.m.
Prediction: East Carolina 31, Temple 23
Army (5-2) at Memphis (6-2), 8 p.m.
Prediction: Memphis 32, Army 24
Conference USA Games
7 of 11
Delaware (3-4) at Western Kentucky (3-4), Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET
Prediction: WKU 33, Delaware 27
Sam Houston (1-6) at Missouri State (2-5), Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Prediction: Missouri State 31, Sam Houston 21
Kennesaw State (1-6) at Middle Tennessee (4-3), Wednesday, 7 p.m.
Prediction: MTSU 27, Kennesaw State 20
Jacksonville State (5-2) at New Mexico State (3-4), Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Prediction: Jax State 24, NMSU 23
Florida International (3-4) at Liberty (6-1), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Liberty 30, FIU 17
MAC Games
8 of 11
Kent State (3-5) at Sacramento State (1-7), Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: Kent State 24, Sac State 17
Bowling Green (2-6) at Western Michigan (5-3), Noon
Prediction: WMU 31, BGSU 20
Mountain West Games
9 of 11
Connecticut (4-3) at Air Force (5-2), 3 p.m. ET
Prediction: Air Force 28, UConn 27
UTEP (1-6) at North Dakota State (6-2), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: NDSU 34, UTEP 10
New Mexico (6-1) at San Jose State (4-4), 4 p.m.
Prediction: New Mexico 31, SJSU 13
Nevada (3-4) at No. 7 UCLA (7-0), 4:15 p.m.
Prediction: UCLA 33, Nevada 10
Northern Illinois (0-7) at UNLV (4-3), 10:30 p.m.
Prediction: UNLV 35, NIU 7
Pac-12 Games
10 of 11
Colorado State (3-4) at Utah State (2-5), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Utah State 38, CSU 30
Washington State (1-7) at San Diego State (3-5), 7 p.m.
Prediction: SDSU 27, Washington State 20
Texas State (4-3) at No. 20 Boise State (6-1), 10 p.m.
Prediction: Boise State 37, Texas State 23
Oregon State (5-2) at Fresno State (4-3), 11 p.m.
Prediction: Oregon State 30, Fresno State 26
Sun Belt Games
11 of 11
Troy (3-4) at James Madison (7-1), Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Prediction: JMU 37, Troy 14
Marshall (4-3) at Old Dominion (2-6), 1 p.m.
Prediction: ODU 24, Marshall 23
Coastal Carolina (2-5) at Georgia State (4-3), 2 p.m.
Prediction: Georgia State 31, Coastal Carolina 24
Louisiana Tech (5-2) at South Alabama (4-3), 3 p.m.
Prediction: LA Tech 34, South Alabama 27
Southern Miss (2-5) at Louisiana-Monroe (1-6), 3:30 p.m.
Prediction: Southern Miss 28, ULM 23
Appalachian State (5-2) at Georgia Southern (3-4), 6:30 p.m.
Prediction: App State 28, Georgia Southern 26
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