Entering week nine in college football, eyes across the nation would be on three games; No. 1 Tennessee vs No. 3 Georgia, No. 6 Alabama vs No. 10 LSU, and No. 4 Clemson vs Notre Dame. Each of these games were huge because they are all for College Football Playoff implications. 

The action packed day of football started in Athens, Georgia, where the top-ranked Tennesee Volunteers (Vols) rolled into town. The Vols just came off of a commanding win over No. 19 Kentucky. For the Georgia Bulldogs, they had a commanding win of their own, over a mediocre Florida team. The Bulldogs came into the matchup angry after they were stripped of the number one spot atop college football. This was a matchup between an electric Vols offense and a stout Bulldogs defense. The Bulldogs ended up taking care of business holding the Volunteers offense to only 13 points, a season low for them. Bulldogs quarterback, Stetson Bennett, passed for 257 yards and 2 TD’s, propelling the Bulldogs to victory, 27-13. 

“A bunch of kids that love this place,” Kirby Smart, head coach for the Bulldogs, said in an on-field postgame interview after the win when asked how he sent the number one team in the nation packing their bags. “I’m proud of this university and these kids. They practiced their butt off for two weeks.”

In the second SEC matchup of the day, the 7-1 Crimson Tide of Alabama came to Tiger Stadium to face a good two-loss LSU team led by new head coach, Brian Kelly. Both teams are still in the hunt for a spot in the College Football Playoff, and a shot at the National Championship. The game was tight at halftime, with a score of 7-6; a one point LSU lead. Coming down to the last drive of regulation, the Crimson Tide drove down the field and kicked a 21-yard field goal to tie the game at 24, sending the game into overtime. The Crimson Tide ended up getting the ball first in overtime. With eight plays, the Crimson Tide scored on a one-yard run by running back Roydell Williams. It was now the Tigers’ turn to try and match, or even win the game. On the first play, quarterback Jadyen Daniels, had a 25-yard rushing touchdown to put the Tigers an extra point away from tying, and a two-point conversion away from winning the game. The Tigers decided to go for two, and they got it! The LSU Tigers won the game 32-31, stunning the Alabama Crimson Tide!  

“[I’m] so proud of my football team, and the way they took it one play at a time,” Coach Brian Kelly said in the postgame press conference with reporters. “This was the next stage of development for our football team and that they need to think about it one play at a time.” 

In the final big matchup of week nine, the No. 4 Clemson Tigers traveled to Notre Dame to play the 6-3 Fighting Irish. The Irish, coming off a big win against No. 16 Syracuse, were feeling good for many reasons. Some of these reasons being they have played their best games against ranked opponents, and are still hoping for a little bit of magic from the last time the Tigers came to town in 2020 – where the Irish beat them as the No.1 team in the country. The Irish took command early from a blocked punt for a touchdown. The Irish wouldn’t stop there, going up 28-0 late in the game. They ended up pulling through with the upset, with a score of 35-14. There was a notable performance from freshman corner Benjamin Morrison, with seven total tackles and two interceptions; one of which being a 96-yard pick-six. 

“It is really special and I am so proud of our guys,” Marus Freeman, Irish head coach, said in the post game press conference with the media. “They are willing to do whatever you tell them to do to have success and it is an honor to coach them.”

With the conclusion of week nine, there will be a huge shake-up in the new college football rankings with the loss of three top- teams in No. 1 Tennessee, No. 4 Clemson, and No. 6 Alabama. For the winners of week nine, they try to continue their success headed into week 10.