CFB Week 9: Nine Games to Watch

By: Jonathan Howard, Staff Writer
October 23, 2025

9: San Diego State (5-1) at Fresno State (5-2)

Kickoff: 3:30 (EST) TV: FS1 FanDuel line: SDSU -2.5 VSS line: SDSU -12.12

While Boise State commands the most attention in the Mountain West, it’s San Diego State that has the conference’s longest winning streak at four games. While the conference season is still young, the Aztecs are the only other team besides the Broncos with an undefeated conference record with an eye on a potential playoff spot. But who are the Aztecs? Are they the team that shut out California 34-0 and put up 40-plus points against Colorado State and Nevada; or are they the team that got hammered at Washington State (36-13) and needed a walk-off field goal to beat Northern Illinois, 6-3? This week’s road contest ought to answer some questions. Fresno State reeled off five straight wins after a season-opening loss to Kansas before turning the ball over four times in a 49-24 road loss to Colorado State. E.J. Warner, son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, has already thrown nine interceptions for Fresno State. He’ll need to avoid SDSU defensive back Chris Johnson, who has three interceptions – two returned for touchdowns – and currently grades out as the NCAA’s best cornerback by Pro Football Focus.

8: SMU (5-2) at Wake Forest (4-2)

Kickoff: Noon (EST) TV: CW Network FanDuel line: SMU -3.5 VSS line: Wake Forest -1.76

With losses to Baylor and TCU early in the season, SMU isn’t quite the hot commodity it was a year ago when the Mustangs won 11 games and made ACC Championship and College Football Playoff appearances. Nonetheless, they’ve won their first three ACC games, and are one of three undefeated teams remaining in conference play. Last week quarterback Kevin Jennings threw for 290 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead SMU to a 35-24 win on the road at Clemson. They’ll travel to the Carolinas again this week to face a Wake Forest team with quarterback questions. Starter Robby Ashford wasn’t particularly accurate to start the season (59.9% completion percentage) before a thumb injury sidelined him against Oregon State two weeks ago. Backup Deshawn Purdie wasn’t any better accuracy wise in his start against the Beavers, but still threw for four scores. SMU’s defense is much weaker against the pass than the run, as the Mustangs are allowing 316 yards per game through the air to just 97 on the ground. However, it’ll be the legs of Demond Claiborne (539 yards, 8 TDs) that would lead Wake to the home win – as predicted by VSS.

7: UCLA (3-4) at No. 2 Indiana (7-0)

Kickoff: Noon (EST) TV: FOX FanDuel line: Indiana -25.5 VSS line: Indiana -37.44

Ignore the massive lines in favor of Indiana here – UCLA has been a brand new team since the firing of DeShaun Foster as head coach. That doesn’t mean that I’m going to predict an upset, but there’s at least reason to pay attention to this one. Nico Iamaleava (1,715 total yards, 14 total touchdowns) has been far more efficient than he was early in the season when expectations for the Bruins were high and the results poor. However, Indiana hasn’t reached its ranking on accident. The Hoosiers’ fourth-ranked defense will present an issue for UCLA. Louis Moore and Amare Farrell have four and three interceptions, respectively, and linebacker Isaiah Jones already has 11 tackles for loss. The IU offense continues to hum behind the nation’s most efficient quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has hooked up with receiver Elijah Sarratt an NCAA-leading nine times.

6: No. 11 BYU (7-0) at Iowa State (5-2)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: FOX FanDuel line: Iowa State -2.5 VSS line: BYU -5.09

Fresh off a Holy War victory over Utah, BYU has a shot to break into the top 10 against a reeling Iowa State, which has dropped consecutive conference road games to Cincinnati and Colorado. A home game could be the right medicine for Matt Campbell’s squad, but a matchup against a BYU rushing attack that averages over 230 yards on the ground just two weeks after giving up 260 to Cincinnati is a tall order. LJ Smith’s 774 rushing yards rank fifth in the NCAA and second among power conferences. Cougars’ quarterback Bear Bachmeier averages nearly 250 total yards per game and the Cyclones struggled to stop Colorado’s Kaidon Salter (255 yards passing, 57 yards rushing) a week ago in Boulder.

5: Houston (6-1) at No. 24 Arizona State (5-2)

Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. (EST) TV: ESPN2 FanDuel line: AZ State -7.5 VSS line: AZ State -4.02

Arizona State recovered from an embarrassing 42-10 loss to Utah by handing Texas Tech its first loss of the season. Houston has won conference games since falling to Texas Tech 35-11 on October 4. Along with the Red Raiders, both teams sit tied for second in the Big 12 with one loss behind leaders BYU and Cincinnati. This sets this clash up as a probable conference championship elimination game, with two losses likely being too many to be invited. Houston could have a major leg up in this one, as Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Tyson’s 57 catches are 36 more than his nearest teammate and he has caught eight of Sam Leavitt’s nine touchdowns. That will put the pressure on Raleek Brown (91.7 ypg) and Leavitt to perform on the ground to hold serve against the visitors.

4: No. 18 South Florida (6-1) at Memphis (6-1)

Kickoff: Noon (EST) TV: ESPN2 FanDuel line: USF -5.5 VSS line: USF -10.12

The noon kickoff slate is very solid this week, and this AAC clash ranks right up towards the top. Memphis fell out of the AP Top 25 this week after getting upset on the road by Alabama-Birmingham. That doesn’t mean the Tigers are finished … if anything, it makes them more dangerous. Memphis had its worst offensive game of the season (362 total yards) against the Blazers while also allowing a season-high 219 rushing yards. The Tigers absolutely can’t have a repeat performance like that if they want to keep up with the undefeated conference leaders and stay in the playoff conversation. However, South Florida isn’t exactly the team to try to get right against. Since their loss to Miami in mid-September the Bulls have run off four straight wins, three in conference, by an average margin of five touchdowns. Quarterback Byrum Brown has accounted for 18 total touchdowns during the win streak and has thrown for no less than three touchdowns in each game. A potential blowout win for South Florida, or a highly-contested clash of conference giants? We should see the direction of the game play out fairly early on.

3: No. 3 Texas A&M (7-0) at No. 20 LSU (5-2)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ABC FanDuel line: Texas A&M -2.5 VSS line: Texas A&M -1.68

A month ago LSU was ranked third in the country. Now the Tigers are going to have to beat undefeated Texas A&M to stay in the rankings and avoid three losses in four games. This battle of SEC powers is a conflict of style. LSU has struggled to move the ball consistently this season, particularly on the ground, averaging 366 yards of total offense per game. On the other hand, Texas A&M has been comfortable winning in shootouts, including last week’s 45-42 road victory over Arkansas. LSU’s front seven, including linebackers Harold Perkins and West Weeks and lineman Jack Pyburn, will need to pin in Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, who has led a balanced offensive attack. Reed has found a pair of consistent targets in Mario Craver and Kevin Concepcion, who have combined for 69 catches, 1,174 yards and 10 touchdowns. Concepcion is also a dangerous return man and can provide game changing plays on punt returns.

2: No. 15 Missouri (6-1) at No. 10 Vanderbilt (6-1)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ESPN FanDuel line: Vanderbilt -2.5 VSS line: Vanderbilt -3.35

Both teams are a loss to Alabama away from being undefeated and both are still capable of winning the SEC depending on how the standings shake out. We’ve got some offensive studs in the one – Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy leads power conference rushers with 840 yards on 139 carries, good for six yards per touch. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia has dazzled all year as one of the nation’s premier dual threat quarterbacks, and has his sights set on a spot on the Heisman Trophy ballot. But as good as these offensive weapons are, both teams are also dynamite on defense. So which ultimately wins out? The over/under of 52.5 implies that both teams will be held well below their usual scoring averages. It could be a battle of possession, with some major fireworks in between.

1: No. 8 Ole Miss (6-1) at No. 13 Oklahoma (6-1)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ABC FanDuel line: Oklahoma -4.5 VSS line: Oklahoma -2.93

Did the clock finally strike midnight on Ole Miss? After accumulating four power conference wins by one score each, the Rebels finally dropped one in the same fashion, 43-35 to Georgia. The Bulldogs were the best opponent to date for Ole Miss, and a road game against Oklahoma will provide a similar test. Yes, this game has major SEC standings and College Football Playoff implications. But the best storyline coming out of this game is a battle between two quarterbacks who entered the season with completely opposite circumstances. John Mateer was one of the most highly sought players in the transfer portal when he left Washington State for Oklahoma. His NIL portfolio is one of the largest in the country … and it continues to grow. On the other hand, Trinidad Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss from Division II Ferris State, where he led the Bulldogs to a national championship. Despite his success, he started the season as the backup to Austin Simmons. But when Simmons went down with injury in week three against Arkansas, Chambliss stepped in and has successfully led the Rebels’ offense ever since. Mateer has dealt with an injury of his own that has limited his production over the last couple of weeks. His health could easily make the difference in this one.