This is where it starts getting good. The college football season has reached the final weekend of Octber, and we're starting to see separation in the pretenders and the contenders. The pressure is on. Some teams are a loss away seeing their chances at reaching the playoff slip away. Some teams are in position to solidify their status as front-runners.
Some of teams in both of those situations will get tested in a Week 9 schedule that features three big showdowns in the SEC and other potential pitfalls for others. There's going to be surprises Saturday. We just don't know where they're going to come from.
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That's why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here to provide some answers to the difficult questions. Matt Hayes, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Blake Toppmeyer weigh in with their bold predictions for Week 9 of the college football season.
The Cowbells. The sleepy 11 a.m. local early start. The idea of an easy win. Welcome to yet another first in the SEC for Texas: the Starkville trap. Mississippi State gets its first SEC home win since November of 2022 — the last game under the late, great Mike Leach. -- Matt Hayes
