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Viewer's guide to Week 9: Can't-miss matchups, potential upsets, and more

Quinn Harris / Getty Images

Week 8 introduced more chaos into the 2019 college football season.

Illinois upset Wisconsin, defeating a team that looked like a College Football Playoff contender. Tua Tagovailoa left Alabama's win over Tennessee with an ankle injury that will keep him out this week. BYU beat Boise State, turning the race for the Group of 5's spot in a New Year's Six bowl game on its head.

With three contests between ranked teams, what will Week 9 bring?

theScore is here to guide your viewing experience. Here's our look at the can't-miss matchups, under-the-radar games, and potential upsets for Week 9 (all times ET).

The early slate

Must-watch: No. 13 Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State (noon, FOX)

Wisconsin last won in Columbus in 2004. Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Wisconsin's surprising loss at Illinois deprived us of a tilt between undefeated, top-10 teams this week. But that doesn't mean the Badgers can't make this a competitive game.

Three turnovers doomed Wisconsin against the Fighting Illini. If the Badgers take care of the ball, the focus will turn to the matchup between their elite defense and Ohio State's seemingly unstoppable offense. Wisconsin's defense ranks first nationally in yards per pass attempt allowed and second in yards per carry allowed. Ohio State's offense, meanwhile, ranks 15th in yards per pass attempt and fourth in yards per carry.

This game features two of the best running backs in college football: Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor (957 yards) and Ohio State's J.K. Dobbins (947 yards). But it will likely come down to quarterback play. For Buckeyes sophomore Justin Fields, it'll be the biggest moment of his young career. Badgers junior Jack Coan must avoid repeats of last week's mistakes.

Has potential: No. 5 Oklahoma at Kansas State (noon, ABC)

Jalen Hurts leads Oklahoma with 705 rushing yards in seven games. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Oklahoma has only faced one team with a winning record this season (Texas), so Saturday's trip to Manhattan, Kansas, offers some level of intrigue. Kansas State hung on to defeat TCU 24-17 last week and clinch head coach Chris Klieman's first Big 12 victory.

There's one matchup that appears to be a colossal mismatch: Oklahoma's run game versus Kansas State's run defense. The Sooners average 7.4 yards per rush, the best in college football. They've produced more than 200 rushing yards in all but one game this season.

Kansas State, on the other hand, allows an alarming 5.8 yards per rush. That's third-worst among FBS teams. Big 12 teams are averaging 253 yards per game on the ground against the Wildcats. Jalen Hurts and Co. could have a field day.

Upset alert: Miami (Fla.) at Pittsburgh (noon, ESPN)

Pittsburgh leads the country with 36 sacks, seven more than any other FBS team. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Miami is up against a wall in Manny Diaz's first season at the helm.

The Hurricanes fell to 3-4 last week after a stunning 28-21 defeat to Georgia Tech. They've already lost three ACC games - two at home - and now play four of their final five games on the road. Their final five opponents are all unranked, but there's a chance Miami fails to make a bowl game.

Still, they have the talent to get back on track Saturday at Pittsburgh, which has won four in a row and sits at 5-2 after a win at Syracuse. Despite their hot streak, the Panthers rank 104th in yards per play on offense. They won't pull away from Miami.

Keep an eye on: Mississippi State at Texas A&M (noon, SEC Network)

Texas A&M is 4-3, but all three losses have come to top-10 teams. Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Mississippi State has lost three consecutive games by double digits and needs a win in the worst way. The Bulldogs have been porous against the pass, allowing seven touchdowns through the air over their last three contests.

Perhaps that's just what Texas A&M quarterback Kellen Mond needs. Mond was expected to be among the top three-to-four quarterbacks in the SEC this season but was inconsistent again in last week's 24-17 win over Ole Miss. He ranks just eighth in the conference in quarterback rating among qualified passers, behind Tennessee's Jarrett Guarantano and Auburn's Bo Nix.

Recent history is on the Bulldogs' side, as they've won three in a row over the Aggies.

Midafternoon

Must-watch: No. 9 Auburn at No. 2 LSU (3:30 p.m., CBS)

The last three LSU-Auburn meetings have been decided by five points or less. Wesley Hitt / Getty Images

The college football world is ready to fast-forward to Nov. 9 when LSU takes on No. 1 Alabama. But the Tigers of Baton Rouge better not be looking ahead.

Auburn needs a victory in order to get back into the College Football Playoff conversation. Despite losing to Florida, Gus Malzahn's team would still win the SEC West if it wins out.

LSU's offense hasn't been stopped so far this season. It was held to a season-low-yet-still-impressive 36 points in last week's win over Mississippi State, and Joe Burrow still fired four touchdown passes.

The question Saturday is simple: Can Auburn's offense keep up? This is a treacherous environment for true freshman Bo Nix, who struggled mightily three weeks ago at Florida. The Tigers will need to control the tempo and run the football, relying on backups Kam Martin and D.J. Williams with JaTarvious Whitlow out.

Has potential: Oklahoma State at No. 23 Iowa State (3:30 p.m., FS1)

Tight end Charlie Kolar, an Oklahoma prep product, has 26 catches and four touchdowns entering this week's game against Oklahoma State. John E. Moore III / Getty Images

Another reason to fast-forward to Nov. 9: Iowa State's visit to Oklahoma for a sneaky-good matchup. The Cyclones beat the Sooners two years ago, and they may turn out to be the second-best team in the Big 12 this year.

Their season tells the story of a team that could be much higher in the polls. Iowa State lost two games by a combined three points. It also owns four wins by double digits. Vegas respects that, making Iowa State a 10.5-point favorite Saturday against Oklahoma State.

The Cyclones should have a significant advantage on offense, as quarterback Brock Purdy (312.1 yards per game) and receivers Tarique Milton, Deshaunte Jones, and Charlie Kolar have developed a strong connection. Oklahoma State is in danger of falling to .500 with a loss and will try to rely on its one advantage - FBS-leading rusher Chuba Hubbard.

Upset alert: Indiana at Nebraska (3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network)

Indiana hasn't started 6-2 in a season since 1993, but could get there with a win Saturday. Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Nebraska is a marginal favorite, so this would not be a groundbreaking upset. But the fact the Cornhuskers are favored at all seems flawed when you look at the teams' recent form.

Nebraska scored 27 points in its last three games combined - double-digit losses to Ohio State and Minnesota, and a narrow win over Northwestern. The Cornhuskers also face uncertainty at quarterback, as talented sophomore Adrian Martinez missed the Golden Gophers game due to injury.

At 5-2, Indiana might be one of the country's most underappreciated teams. The Hoosiers have succeeded with both Michael Penix Jr. and Peyton Ramsey at quarterback. Look out for receiver Whop Philyor, and not just because of his name; the junior had 14 catches for 142 yards against Michigan State earlier this season.

Keep an eye on: No. 15 Texas at TCU (3:30 p.m., FOX) and No. 6 Penn State at Michigan State (3:30 p.m., ABC)

How will Texas respond after allowing 48 points - 24 in the fourth quarter - at home to Kansas? The Longhorns go to Fort Worth to face a desperate TCU team. The Horned Frogs look in serious danger of missing a bowl game for the first time since 2013. (Maybe the uniforms this Saturday will provide the spark the team needs. They're at least a reason to tune in, right?)

Meanwhile, Penn State will try to avoid a letdown after defeating Michigan last week when it travels to Michigan State. The Spartans have been a thorn in the Nittany Lions' side, earning a win in four of the last five seasons.

Evening

Must-watch: No. 8 Notre Dame at No. 19 Michigan (7:30 p.m., ABC)

Ian Book's only two interceptions this season came in the loss at Georgia. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan get another chance, this time at home, to defeat a top-10 team on Saturday. If the Wolverines can channel their second-half performance at Penn State, which nearly led to a comeback win, they might just have enough to defeat Notre Dame.

On paper, the Fighting Irish have the advantages. Notre Dame is still in the playoff hunt despite its six-point loss at Georgia in September. Its defense will seemingly have the upper hand Saturday, as it's only allowed five touchdown passes in six games.

Has potential: UCF at Temple (7 p.m., ESPN2)

UCF hopes to avoid a third road loss while staying in the AAC title race. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Cincinnati is the team to beat in the AAC East, but UCF and Temple are both extremely capable teams and should produce a fun one in Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Knights are 5-2, but those losses came on the road by a combined four points. Their defense will provide a tough challenge for Temple quarterback Anthony Russo; UCF is third in the country in yards per pass attempt allowed and sits first in passes broken up (47). Senior Nevelle Clarke leads the charge with nine PBUs.

Temple will hope for a better defensive effort after the Owls fell 45-21 at SMU last week. They allowed six touchdown passes - one more than they had surrendered all season.

Upset alert: Memphis at Tulsa (7 p.m., CBSSN)

Kenneth Gainwell last week: 104 yards rushing, 203 yards receiving. Mitchell Leff / Getty Images

Don't discount Tulsa because of its 2-5 record. The Golden Hurricane's losses have come to quality opponents: Michigan State, Oklahoma State, SMU, Navy, and Cincinnati. And remember, Tulsa took the undefeated Mustangs to triple overtime.

Back at home, the Golden Hurricane will have a fighting chance against a Memphis team that plays this game in between high-stakes contests against Tulane and SMU. The Tigers could lose if they get caught looking ahead.

If Memphis remains focused, however, the Tigers should improve to 7-1. Tulsa averages just 2.8 yards per carry, putting pressure on quarterback Zach Smith. Memphis running back Kenneth Gainwell is a budding star, entering Saturday with five consecutive 100-yard rushing performances. He also managed 200 yards receiving last week.

Keep an eye on: Boston College at No. 4 Clemson (7:30 p.m., ACC Network) and Arkansas at No. 1 Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN)

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence has already doubled his interception total from last season with eight. Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

The defending champion and the runner-up are both worth watching, albeit for different reasons.

Saturday offers another chance to see how close Clemson is to putting it all together. The Tigers have played well since their opening week, defeating Florida State and Louisville by a combined score of 90-24. But there's still room to improve for an offense that has 13 turnovers in seven games.

For Alabama, it's worth watching to see how Mac Jones plays in his first start in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa. The Crimson Tide will need their starting signal-caller back for the LSU game in two weeks, but it's no guarantee. Jones, a three-star recruit, wasn't spectacular last week against Tennessee (6-for-11, 72 yards).

After dark

Must-watch: Washington State at No. 11 Oregon (10:30 p.m., ESPN)

After last week's win, Oregon is in total control of the Pac-12 North. Alika Jenner / Getty Images

This isn't Washington State's best team, and its 4-3 record is a testament to that. But with Oregon coming off an emotional win at Washington, the Cougars' high-octane offense could give the Ducks a scare.

Senior quarterback Anthony Gordon continues to excel for Washington State, throwing four touchdowns in last week's win over Colorado to increase his season total to 29.

Oregon, meanwhile, has the best quarterback in the Pac-12 in Justin Herbert. The senior has lived up to expectations this year, throwing 21 touchdowns to only one interception in seven games. The Ducks will need production from him Saturday; Washington State is 4-0 when holding opponents to fewer than 30 points and 0-3 when allowing more than 30.

Has potential: Utah State at Air Force (10:15 p.m., ESPN2)

Utah State is one of two teams (Boise State the other) still undefeated in Mountain West play. Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Boise State's loss last week came in a nonconference game, so the Broncos remain the favorites to win the Mountain West's Mountain division. But Utah State currently sits tied with them at 3-0 in conference play.

The Aggies should get a test Saturday from Air Force, which hopes to clinch bowl eligibility with a victory.

Utah State quarterback Jordan Love will be the one to watch. He threw 32 touchdown passes to only six interceptions last season, but the junior has struggled in 2019, throwing seven touchdowns and nine picks through six games. He'll try to get his season on track against Air Force's vulnerable pass defense, which has allowed multiple touchdowns in five of its last six contests.

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