2026 College Football Season - Week 9 Recap and Top Performers
We're quickly approaching the point in the season when the first 12-team College Football Playoff field begins to take shape. In a year defined by chaos and weekly upsets, no contender can afford to feel comfortable. Every week brings another shake-up, and no spot in the bracket is truly safe.
After taking a week off, we're back. Here's a look at what we learned coming out of Week 9.
We Did We Learn From Week 9?
The last time we saw Thomas Castellanos, he was trying out for the NFL's Miami Dolphins. This week, he took over for Will Hammond and led Texas Tech against a talented Arizona team led by Noah Fifita.
Castellanos made the most of his opportunity, accounting for three total touchdowns and rushing for more than 100 yards while showcasing the dual-threat ability that made him a standout at Florida State. After a performance like that, Hammond may have a tough time winning the job back.
What a game. If you enjoy shootouts, Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State was arguably the game of the week. As impressive as Drew Mestemaker was, Cyclones quarterback Jaylen Raynor was even better, making plays with both his arm and his legs. Many fans would love to see the Cowboys in the College Football Playoff because of Mestemaker, but unless the defence improves, that dream is likely to remain just that.
Wow, Oregon, led by quarterback Dylan Raiola, earned a gritty win over a tough Northwestern squad. Considering the Ducks lost star quarterback Dante Moore for the season, this was the type of victory that can galvanize a team. Now, the question is whether Dan Lanning's group can build on that momentum?
USC's win over Ohio State would've been a much bigger upset if Julian Sayin were still under centre. Still, credit to Lincoln Riley's squad for taking the initiative and making freshman Luke Fahey's life very difficult. As for the Buckeyes, they are in a serious conumdrum - specifically if Fahey is the answer going forward. They are going to be an interesting team to follow going forward.
Let's be honest: Florida was never going to beat Georgia with Aaron Philo at quarterback. Once he threw his second interception and was pulled, the outcome felt inevitable. That said, Georgia's defensive front is one of the best in the nation and they made life miserable for the Gators offensive line. What we learned this week is simple: the Gators are only a top team when Jadan Baugh is carrying the load - otherwise, they're mediocre.
Bill Belichick's North Carolina squad came dangerously close to pulling off the upset of the season against No. 1 Miami. The Tar Heels outplayed the Hurricanes for much of the game, and quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. turned in a monster performance.
True enough, Indiana escaped with a win over Minnesota, but the Hoosiers' offensive struggles are becoming a trend. They failed to score a touchdown until overtime against Michigan last week and managed just 16 points in regulation this week, with Josh Hoover eventually being pulled from the game. Indiana may be the defending national champion, but right now, it's playing well below that standard.
For the first time in a while, Texas looked complete on both sides of the ball in its win over Mississippi State. Arch Manning appeared rejuvenated after last week's victory over Ole Miss, delivering one of his sharper performances of the season. Now, the challenge is maintaining that consistency
Speaking of contenders, Gio Lopez and Wake Forest deserve plenty of respect after their dominant win over Virginia. The Demon Deacons are playing some outstanding football, and if they earn a playoff spot, they're a team capable of making serious noise.
The 2026 UCLA Bruins may be the best story in college football. After losing Nico Iamaleava for the season, many expected them to fade. Instead, the Bruins keep finding ways to win. Now 8-0, UCLA is firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation and proving that adversity can bring out the best in a team.
At this point, should anyone really be surprised that Syracuse knocked off SMU? This season has been defined by upsets, making it nearly impossible to predict week-to-week results. Even so, the 6-2 Mustangs remain firmly in the College Football Playoff conversation with plenty still left to play for.
As expected, Wisconsin had no answer for Iowa's ground game and struggled to contain quarterback Hank Brown, who turned in an efficient performance by Hawkeye standards. The result reinforced one thing: the Badgers aren't Top 25 material just yet, though there's still plenty of season remaining.
Yes, Deuce Alexander dropped a wide-open touchdown pass, but in the end, it hardly mattered. Ole Miss handled Auburn with ease, and as long as Trinidad Chambliss is under centre, the Rebels look every bit like a College Football Playoff contender. More importantly, they're the kind of team no one wants to face when postseason play begins.
Don't be fooled by the final score. Notre Dame's win over Navy was much closer than it looked, as the Midshipmen held the lead early and used their option attack to keep the Irish off balance. In the end, Notre Dame did what playoff contenders do and pulled away. At 7-1, the Fighting Irish look like a lock for the College Football Playoff.
Finally, a tip of the cap to Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy, who made his long-awaited return after sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg during the offseason. Many doubted he'd make it back to the field, making his comeback a testament to his resilience and determination. Regardless of the result, it's one of the season's most inspiring stories.
Week 9 Top 10 Performers -
Offense:
QB Caden Veltkamp - Florida Atlantic
QB Thomas Castellanos - Texas Tech
QB Tayven Jackson - North Texas
WR Easton Messer - Florida Atlantic
RBs Caleb Hawkins - Oklahoma State and Nate Sheppard - Duke
QB Noah Fifita - Arizona
QBs Billy Edwards Jr. - North Carolina and Drew Mestemaker - Ok State
QB DJ Lagway - Baylor
RB Jahiem White - North Texas
QB Jaylen Raynor - Iowa State and RB Aiden Flora - Iowa State
Defense:
DE C.J. Hicks - USF (4 Sacks)
S Justin Powe - Troy (3 Interceptions)
LB Rasheem Biles - Texas
DL Aiden Gobaira - UCLA
LB Chris Cole - Georgia
LB Sahir West - UCLA
CB Elijah Davis - Utah
DE Josh Alexander-Felton - Sam Houston
CB Elliot Washington II - Clemson
CB Jermaine Mathews Jr. - Ohio State and S Jerome Carter III - Clemson
Notable Mentions: CB Jayven Williams - BYU, DL Will Heldt - Clemson, QB Marcus Stokes - Memphis, QB Dylan Raiola - Oregon, LB Keyshawn Johnson - Syracuse, LB Suntarine Perkins - Ole Miss, DT Maraad Watson - Texas, QB Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss, WR Griffin Wilde - Northwestern, WR Dakorien Moore - Oregon, WR Justin Stevenson - North Texas, CB Joel Kpassou - Missouri State, LB Bradley Gompers - Duke, RB Bo Jackson - Ohio State, QB Darien Mensah - Miami, DL Marquise Lightfoot - Miami, LB Jared Lloyd - Missouri State, RB Seth Cromwell - James Madison, LB Kaleb Burns - Baylor, EDGE Amar Thomas - James Madison, WR Gavin Freeman - Baylor, LB Makai Williams - Tulane, RB Henry Rutledge - Charlotte, LB Cam Buffington - Iowa, QB Jackson Gutierrez - Navy, LB Taye Brown - Arizona, DL Tunmise Adeleye - Syracuse, RB Cole Tabb - Cincinnati, QB LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina, RB Caleb Hawkins - Oklahoma State, QB Drew Mestemaker - Oklahoma State, WR Jamal Polite Jr. - Iowa State, and LB Zakari Tillman - Mississippi State.
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