College Football Playoff Race: Week 9

Story posted October 28, 2021 in CommRadio, Sports by Logan Bourandas

Aside from the order, we didn’t see many changes at the very top of the college football rankings as the top four teams remain the same from a week ago.

Let’s take a look at how all four teams performed last week as we head into week nine of the college football season.

Georgia Bulldogs (7-0)

The top team in the country received a week off last week which gives them more time to prepare for their road battle against Florida.

Not many have been able to rival how dominant the Bulldogs have been all season long as they’ve only been in a single one-possession game all season which came on opening week against Clemson.

The Bulldogs open up as two-touchdown favorites against a struggling Gators squad that enters the week with a 4-3 record.

If current trends remain the same, not much can save the Gators as they could be another notch in the belt of a Georgia team that looks to be rolling to the SEC championship game.

Cincinnati Bearcats (7-0)

Things got scary for Cincinnati fans last weekend as they found the Bearcats in a close matchup against Navy last weekend.

In a 27-20 Bearcats win, the Midshipmen had the chance at a late comeback attempt as they rallied for 10 points in the fourth quarter but Cincinnati held tough to remain undefeated.

The Bearcats will hit the road for their next game this weekend as they take on the Tulane Green Wave. While they may have a 1-6 record this season, the Green Wave opened up the season with a five-point loss to the Oklahoma Sooners as they nearly shocked the world.

If things go as expected, the Bearcats should be able to work through their schedule without much of a problem until their matchup with No. 19 SMU on Nov. 20.

Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1)

The Crimson Tide were able to jump the Sooners following last week’s blowout win over the Tennessee Volunteers.

In a 52-24 Alabama win, quarterback Bryce Young continued his potential Heisman campaign as he threw for 371 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 42 yards and two touchdowns.

Offensively, the Tide have been rolling these past two games as they’ve put up 101 points during those wins over in-conference opponents Tennessee and Mississippi State.

They’ll stay in Tuscaloosa this weekend as the Crimson Tide welcomes LSU.

Oklahoma Sooners (8-0)

Disaster almost occurred in Lawrence, Kansas this past weekend as the Jayhawks nearly pulled off the upset against Oklahoma.

If not for the heroics of Sooners quarterback Caleb Williams late in the fourth quarter, we could easily be talking about a different team in this fourth spot.

The Sooners fell one spot due to the close result but probably the only result that they care about is that 35-23 score from last weekend.

Things won’t be easy for the Sooners the rest of the season as their final four matchups are all against teams with winning records and that run will start at home against Texas Tech this weekend.

Outside looking in: Ohio State, Michigan, Oregon

Logan Bourandas is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lxb5412@psu.edu.