RADIO
We were hoping for some good contests in Week 9. While there were a few, none of the big games turned out to be close. With this said, let us look at a few games that could have some playoff significance.
Ohio State defeated Wisconsin with its defense. Georgia defeated Florida with its entire team and USC beat Cal by pure luck.
On the other hand, Kansas was the biggest winner by taking down the number 6 Oklahoma Sooners. While this will not get Kansas a playoff berth, it will all but eliminate Oklahoma. Now, we are going to the games.
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Week 9 Biggest results:
(23)Kansas 38, (11)Oklahoma 33|
It was just a few years ago that Kansas AD Travis Goff had to get people into the stadium in Lawrence during an upset of Oklahoma with a radio announcement announcing free tickets for the rest of the game. This week, the stadium was rocking, and the fans finally saw that upset. An upset that has shown how far Kansas has come.
After this win, Kansas, who is 6-2 on the season, is eligible for a bowl game for the second season in a row. This is only the second time in the history of the program this has occurred. The other being 2007 and 2008. A magical run that saw the Jayhawks get to the Orange Bowl. Not only has Kansas had a remarkable season, but it has also done so without QB Jalon Daniels. The Big 12 preseason player of the year.
Daniels, who has had chronic back issues all season has moved aside and redshirt senior Jason Bean has taken over. He has taken the Jayhawks to even new heights and with remaining games which include state rival Kansas State, he could lead them to a Big 12 title game.
For Oklahoma, the promise of the season after defeating Texas has faltered with this loss. Brent Venables, who has done a wonderful job in recovering from a lost season in 2022, will have more work to do this offseason as Oklahoma takes its team to the SEC. With an extremely easy schedule, the Sooners were expected to only have a tough time against Texas.
Instead, it was the Kansas Jayhawks who finally caught the Sooners after being taken to the edge by UCF. It will now need to rebound and win out for any chance to make the playoffs. This includes the final edition of Bedlam. A game which is taking place on Saturday in Stillwater. And a game that caused Lincoln Riley to head west to USC. It has worked out great for both parties. LOL. A loss Saturday and Oklahoma might want to consider benching Dillon Gabriel in favor of talented freshman Jackson Arnold.
Gabriel is not the future in Norman. Arnold is. With the Oklahoma move to the SEC coming, it would be a wonderful opportunity to get Arnold some much-needed reps before starting anew in 2024. No one likes to give up on a season. but planning should take precedence over finishing third in the Big 12 on the Sooners' way out.
(7)Oregon 35, (18)Utah 6|
Could Oregon match the physicality of Utah in a game the Ducks had to have? This was the big question heading into this game as Oregon had been bullied by Utah in recent matchups. This time, it was Oregon who bullied Utah and sent the Utes to only its second loss in 31 home games at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Oregon came out strong and Utah was never able to catch up. Bo Nix quarterbacked the Ducks to three TD on the first three drives of the game. Utah was only able to garner two field goals in the first half. This was all the scoring the Utes could muster, and the rest of the game belonged to Oregon.
Oregon will look to remain focused as it takes on a Cal team that just put up 49 points on USC. The USC team which Oregon will face next Saturday. A game that could have an Over/Under in the 70 range.
Utah will need to regain its focus as it still has an outside chance of making the final Pac-12 championship. To do so, it will need to start by vanquishing Arizona State on Saturday before getting its game with undefeated Washington. Washington, the leader right now, will be coming off a game against USC. Which could make them tired with all the running up and down the field it will be doing. Both against the Trojans offense and in blowing past the defense. Utah will need to take advantage of the tired legs and be more physical than it was able to be against Oregon.
(1)Georgia 43, Florida 20|
Florida marched down on its opening drive 75 yards to score a TD. This was the last good thing to happen for a Gators team that was completely overmatched by the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs. After this, Georgia was able to clamp down on defense and allowed just 120 yards until garbage time to finish the game. Even without Brock Bowers, Georgia had the athletes to overwhelm their rivals from the south.
Billy Napier knew early on the Gators were in trouble. This led to some decisions that many saw as unorthodox, including an attempted trick play in which the center snapped the ball under the legs of QB Graham Mertz and to the RB. After finding no one open to throw to, he attempted to run for the first down on fourth and nine. This led to a turnover on downs and Georgia got the ball back.
This play was not as egregious as it looked during the game. Napier was playing to win, not just remain close. In a game in which the clear advantage was with the opponent, choices had to be made and he made them. Whether the decision worked or not, it was still the correct call. Georgia will now head into its most difficult stretch of the season,
After heading home for the next two games against No. 14 Missouri and No. 10 Ole Miss, Georgia will travel to Knoxville to take on the No. 16 Tennessee Volunteers. While this would be a tough test for most teams, if Georgia is finally hitting on all cylinders, it should just be a bump in the road before Georgia gets to other playoffs as the top seed.
(22)USC 50, Cal 49|
What is uglier than me in a Speedo? The USC defense. Or at least what the Trojans call a defense. After putting up 49 points against USC, Cal ranks 39th in the nation averaging 32.2 points/game. USC has dropped to 32.6 points/game. Good for No. 112 in scoring defense. While Cal scoring 49 was great, the story here is the continued mediocrity of the Trojans' defense.
USC has allowed an average of 420.9 yards/game. This ranks them No. 114 out of 133 teams in FBS. They also rank No. 106 in rush defense(172.1 yards) and No. 106 in pass defense(248.8 yards).
Lincoln Riley has never been known as a defensive coach, but this is ridiculous and his unwillingness to change has cost the Trojans two seasons of playoffs. Instead, USC will head into the Big Ten. A conference in which all the teams, even the lower teams, will be physical. Hopefully, USC fans are ready for a string of 7-5 seasons under Riley and Alex Grinch.
This game was a microcosm of what is wrong with USC since Pete Carroll. It finds one side of the ball, only to lose the other. It has failed to produce a complete team and in turn, has failed to live up to expectations yet again.
(3)Ohio State 24, Wisconsin 10|
Ohio State, coming off an emotional and hard-fought win over Penn State started slowly against Wisconsin. Much like the rest of the season, the Buckeyes counted on their elite defense to hold down the opponent until it found its way.
The biggest reason Ohio State finally found its way was the return of RB TreVeyon Henderson who finished with 162 yards and one TD on 24 rushes. After missing the past few games healing, Henderson was able to slice through the Wisconsin defense like a knife through Wisconsin cheese. This was a needed escape for coach Ryan Day and the offense as QB Kyle McCord has been more of a game manager through the year.
Gone are the days of Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. The Buckeyes are now winning despite their QB and not because of it.
Wisconsin has failed to live up to the preseason hype that came with new coach Luke Fickel. The team has struggled thus far and with star RB Braelon Allen leaving the game early, the Badgers were unable to muster up the offense needed to defeat an outstanding defense in Ohio State. A defense that ranks No. 2 in the nation allowing only 10.0 points/game.
Ohio State should have an easy time this week against a Rutgers squad which averages just 28.1 points. Its next test should not come until they head to Ann Arbor to take on the Michigan Wolverines in The Game. If the Buckeyes lose before this, it will be a major upset. It already beaten its most difficult opponent in Penn State. Now it just needs to stay focused, and a playoff berth will be in order.
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