2025 Week 9 College Football Recap And Top Performers

No need for introductions—let’s dive right into the key takeaways from Week 9 of the 2025 college football season.

What Did We Learn From Week 9?

• It’s a rare feat for a freshman quarterback to throw for 600 yards in a single game—but that’s exactly what North Texas signal-caller Drew Mestemaker achieved in their commanding victory over Charlotte, a contest in which the Mean Green had to rally from behind. Now standing at 7-1, North Texas has firmly positioned itself among the nation’s top-performing programs and is making a compelling case for inclusion in the AP Top 25 rankings.

  
  

• Many of us were hoping for a UCLA upset—or at the very least, a competitive showing against the powerhouse Indiana Hoosiers. But as we quickly learned, expectations and reality don’t always align. The Hoosiers dominated early, putting the game out of reach before halftime. Despite how awful this week was for UCLA, there’s still some hope they can take valuable lessons from this experience and continue to grow as the season progresses.

• What can be said about LSU? Their defeat at the hands of Texas A&M may have effectively dashed any remaining hopes of a playoff berth this season. Despite the setback, it’s still premature to consider moving on from head coach Brian Kelly—his tenure still warrants a little more patience.

As for the Aggies, they were simply dominant. Quarterback Marcel Reed showcased elite composure (despite two interceptions) and playmaking ability, while edge rusher Cashius Howell wreaked havoc off the line, proving too much for the Tigers to contain. Together, they were instrumental in sealing a statement win for Texas A&M.

• Texas staged a dramatic comeback to edge out Mississippi State after trailing by 17 points late in the third quarter. The Longhorns erupted for 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime in what turned out to be one of the more thrilling finishes of the season. Arch Manning delivered the finest performance of his collegiate career, while Mississippi State’s Blake Shapen was equally impressive, keeping the Bulldogs in control for much of the game before Texas flipped the script.

If one thing’s clear, it’s that Texas doesn’t win comfortably—but they find ways to win. This gritty, resilient squad continues to prove they can handle adversity and deliver in high-pressure moments.

• At this point, it’s fair to call Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King the most valuable player in the ACC. Simply put, the Yellow Jackets wouldn’t be sitting at 8-0 without him. And frankly, you have to wonder how much longer he can shoulder the load. As for Syracuse—once a promising 3-0—they got a full dose of King and had no answers for him or the Yellow Jackets’ high-powered offense.

• The South Florida vs. Memphis showdown was a clear reminder that the Group of Six (G6) conferences are no joke—they’re legitimate playoff contenders. On this day, Memphis engineered a thrilling comeback, scoring 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun the Bulls. Now sitting at 7-1, the Tigers have earned to make the Top 25.

• No story in college football this season is more compelling than the rise of Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. From relative obscurity to leading the Rebels to a 7-1 record—including a statement win over Oklahoma—Chambliss has become the heart of this team’s success. On the other side, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is steadily regaining his pre-injury form following hand surgery. Despite the setback, the Sooners remain firmly in the playoff conversation.

• Illinois’ recent downturn presents a compelling case study. Since their defeat to Ohio State just over two weeks ago, the Fighting Illini have looked like a completely different squad—and not in a positive sense. Their lopsided loss to Washington underscores that they are not the team many expected them to be. On the flip side, the Huskies are making a strong case for national recognition and could very well break into the Top 25 in the near future.

• Conversely, BYU has earned serious consideration as a Top 10 program following their dominant performance against a solid Iowa State team. It’s remarkable to think that Bear Bachmeier is only a freshman, given the poise and production he’s shown on the field. The Cougars are proving themselves to be legitimate contenders.

• Speaking of contenders, Alabama has exceeded expectations after their Week 1 upset loss to Florida State. Their gritty comeback victory over South Carolina showcased their resilience and ability to win in less-than-ideal circumstances—a hallmark of championship-caliber teams.

• Let’s give Wisconsin the credit they deserve. The Badgers held a high-powered Oregon offense to just seven points by halftime and limited them to only 21 points by the final whistle—a remarkable defensive effort against one of the nation’s most explosive units.

• Stanford held an early edge over Miami and impressively limited the Hurricanes to just one touchdown by halftime, hinting at a potential upset in the making. However, Miami came alive in the third quarter, erupting for 21 unanswered points and flipping the momentum in dramatic fashion. While the final score favored the Hurricanes, this wasn’t their most convincing win. The slow start and defensive lapses early on raise questions about consistency, even as they managed to escape with the victory.

Week 9 College Football Top Performers

Offense -

QB Drew Mestemaker - North Texas (Our player of the week)

QB Kyron Drones - Virginia Tech

QB Athan Kaliakmanis - Rutgers

WR Wyatt Young - North Texas

QB Bear Bachmeier - BYU

QB Arch Manning - Texas

QB Cutter Boley - Kentucky

QB Blake Shapen - Mississippi State

QB Joey Aguilar - Tennessee

WR Ryan Wingo - Texas

RB Isaac Brown - Louisville

WR Isaiah Sategna III - Oklahoma

QB Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss

QB Haynes King - Georgia Tech

RB Justice Haynes - Michigan

RB Byrd Ficklin - Utah

WR Javen Nicholas - Charlotte

QB Demond Williams Jr. - Washington

WR Denzel Boston - Washington

RB Carson Hansen - Iowa State

WR Jayce Brown - Kansas State

QB Brendon Lewis - Memphis

RB Kejon Owens - Florida International

WR Chris Brazzell II - Tennessee

QB Blake Baker - Louisiana Tech

WR E.J. Williams Jr. - Indiana

Defense -

DL Tyrique Tucker - Indiana

LB Sifa Leota - Louisiana Tech

DL Kemari Copeland - Virginia Tech

DL Terry Webb - SMU

DL Aaron Graves - Iowa

LB Anthony Hill Jr. - Texas

EDGE Cashius Howell - Texas A&M

LB Derion Gullette - Mississippi State

DB Ryan Niblett - Texas

CB Jarvis Lee - South Florida

S Faletau Satuala - BYU

EDGE Ryan Davis - Kansas State

LB Malick Sylla - Mississippi

CB Jarvis Lee - South Florida

S Naeten Mitchell - New Mexico State

DB Davaughn Patterson - Wake Forest

EDGE Derrick Moore - Michigan

DL Wesley Bailey - Louisville

DB Chris Bracy - Memphis

LB Edwin Spillman - Tennessee

DL Quincy Rhodes Jr. - Arkansas

DL Eddie Walls III - Houston

DB Thomas Williams - Virginia Tech

LB Will McLaughlin - Iowa State

LB Matt Kingsbury - Minnesota

LB Reid Williford - North Texas

LB Desmond Purnell - Kansas State

LB Miller Malone - Western Kentucky