Week 9 of the college football season saw only one top-tier national title contender falter, as No. 2 Ohio State fell 30-18 at USC, dropping a second loss that complicates its playoff outlook. While no other top-10 teams lost, several survived uncomfortably close games: No. 1 Miami needed a late strip-sack to escape North Carolina 38-35, and No. 4 Indiana required overtime to beat Minnesota 23-16. In contrast, the SEC's leading teams delivered drama-free victories.
CBS Sports handed out grades to every team with national championship odds of +3000 or better. No. 3 Georgia earned a B for a 27-8 win over Florida, powered by 11 tackles for loss and 217 rushing yards, though quarterback Gunner Stockton averaged a season-low 4.4 yards per attempt. No. 11 Texas received a B after a 31-3 rout of Mississippi State, despite five sacks on Arch Manning and offensive line concerns. No. 12 Ole Miss secured an A- with a 45-15 win over Auburn, piling up a season-high 30 first downs and 224 rushing yards, while quarterback Trinidad Chambliss added 65 rushing yards and a touchdown. No. 6 Utah earned an A for a dominant 49-25 victory over Cincinnati, leading 42-6 at halftime. Notre Dame earned a B for a 35-13 win at Navy, gaining 7.2 yards per play. LSU (+850) and Alabama (+950) were idle this week.
