And now, 20 Final Thoughts from college football’s Week 9, when three of the SEC’s top 10 teams in action won tough one-score games, while the fourth, Texas A&M, well …

1. LSU athletic director Scott Woodward has made a career out of hiring big-name coaches. He was the one who brought Chris Petersen to Washington and Jimbo Fisher to Texas A&M. Two of his most notable LSU hires, women’s basketball icon Kim Mulkey and baseball’s Jay Johnson, have already won national championships in Baton Rouge.

But his biggest splash of all was hiring Notre Dame’s all-time winningest coach, Brian Kelly, before the 2022 season, giving him a 10-year, $95 million contract. Kelly got Tigers fans’ hopes up by reaching the conference title game in his first season and producing Heisman winner Jayden Daniels the next. But then things started to slip. And slip some more.

All of which led to a full-on implosion Saturday night in Death Valley.

2. The home team led No. 3 Texas A&M 18-14 at halftime. What happened from there was equal parts astounding and humiliating for LSU. The Aggies (8-0, 5-0 SEC) exploded for 35 consecutive points, A&M fans turned Tiger Stadium into Kyle Field East, and Kelly’s expression gradually transformed from angry to bewildered to dazed. No. 20 LSU (5-3, 2-3) has lost three of its past four, and will no longer be ranked come Sunday afternoon. We’ll see whether Kelly, who has a staggering $53 million buyout, will still be employed by then.

3. Woodward is the same AD who canned Ed Orgeron less than two years removed from a national title. Kelly was hired to win one himself, but his program has only grown farther from contention with each season. LSU went all in on its 2025 team — Kelly said in August the program had tripled its payroll this year to $18 million — and thus expected returns. But a season-opening win at top-five Clemson, now 3-4, proved deceiving, and it soon became clear LSU’s offensive line was a mess. And its defense, playing without star linebacker Whit Weeks, has imploded the past two weeks.

Compounding all of that, Kelly is famously … what’s the word … divisive? Saturday night, the cameras showed him yelling in quarterback Garrett Nussmeier’s face, cursing out offensive coordinator Joe Sloan over the headset and trying to throw that same headset in disgust, only to realize it was attached to him. LSU is off next week before visiting yet another top-five foe, Alabama. There are $53 million reasons to assume he’ll still be on the sideline, but as we’ve seen over and over this season, schools always find the money.

4. Kelly’s bad night came at the hands of his former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko, now the second-year head coach of a legitimate national championship contender. A&M has all the ingredients: a dangerous QB in Marcel Reed (202 passing yards, 108 rushing yards), speed galore (see KC Concepcion’s back-breaking 79-yard punt return) and a swarming defense (seven sacks, 11 TFLs). Reed did throw two first-half picks against LSU, which may be the only reason the game didn’t get out of hand sooner. But that’s only the second time in his career he has thrown two in a game.

At this point, I’d be surprised if the Aggies don’t make the SEC title game. They’re off before a trip to Missouri (6-2, 2-2), then host South Carolina (3-5, 1-5). Perhaps they’ll have a chance to clinch their berth in the finale at … Texas (6-2, 3-1).

5. Alabama games became a lot more entertaining once Nick Saban stepped away to become a TV commercial actor. No more weekly 34-10 strangulations. Every week is a battle. And beating four consecutive ranked SEC opponents doesn’t make the next game against a sub.-500 opponent any less difficult.

But whereas Kalen DeBoer’s first Alabama team blew a couple of those games, this year’s fourth-ranked Tide (7-1, 5-0 SEC) dug their way out of a late hole to survive 29-22 at South Carolina (3-5, 1-5). Down by eight points with just over two minutes left, Ty Simpson completed a touchdown pass to Germie Bernard and offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb called a nifty trick play for the tying 2-point conversion. Then LB Deontae Lawson stripped Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers at his own 38. Bernard took a direct snap and raced 25 yards down the sideline for the game-winning score.

Is Bama, now on a seven-game win streak, back on the same level as the peak-Saban years? Absolutely not. But is Bama capable of winning this year’s SEC championship and earning a first-round CFP bye? Absolutely.

6. No. 8 Ole Miss (7-1, 4-1) took a major step toward earning its first CFP bid with its 34-26 win at No. 13 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2), which was the toughest remaining opponent on its schedule. QB Trinidad Chambliss (24 of 34, 315 yards, 1 TD, no INTs) made several big throws against what was the nation’s top-ranked defense in yards per play. After Ole Miss briefly fell behind late in the third quarter, Chambliss turned around and led a 75-yard TD drive to reclaim the lead. The Rebels’ defense allowed one big passing play, a 76-yard Isaiah Sategna III touchdown, but largely contained John Mateer (17 of 31 for 223 yards) outside of that.

It was a notable win for Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, who came in 0-6 on the road against ranked SEC foes. All that’s left: consecutive home games against South Carolina, Samford and Florida, and Mississippi State in Starkville. With wins over LSU, Oklahoma and fringe Top 25 foe Tulane, the Rebels will likely be CFP-bound even if they stub their toes once.

7. Vanderbilt student Tyler Hwang drilled his $500,000 “College GameDay” field goal more decisively than the 10th-ranked Commodores (7-1, 3-1 SEC) handled No. 15 Missouri (6-2, 2-2) in their 17-10 win. But the fact that I can even nitpick a Vanderbilt top-15 win shows how far that program has come. Missouri, unfortunately, lost QB Beau Pribula to an ankle injury early in the third quarter, but freshman Matt Zollers (14 of 23 for 138 yards, one TD) kept them in it, even coming within 1 yard of a tying Hail Mary.

The SEC still has at least six viable CFP contenders, and Vanderbilt, 7-1 for the first time since 1941, is one of them. Obviously, not all six are going to make it. But a season-ending Vanderbilt-Tennessee play-in game is very much on the table.

8. It used to be that few were surprised when Indiana lost 52-7 to Michigan or Ohio State. Today, few are surprised when the second-ranked Hoosiers (8-0, 5-0 Big Ten) win 56-6 over UCLA (3-5, 3-2). That’s just what they do now. Star linebacker Aiden Fisher set the tone with a pick six of Nico Iamaleava, and the rest of his defense smothered a Bruins team that came in having won three in a row. It got so ugly that even after Curt Cignetti pulled star Fernando Mendoza, his brother, Alberto Mendoza, came in and scored his own TD.

Indiana’s four remaining opponents — Maryland, Penn State, Wisconsin and Purdue — are a combined 1-17 in conference play. Pray for those scoreboards.

Iowa captured Floyd of Rosedale on Saturday. Could Iowa actually make a CFP run? Matthew Holst / Getty Images

9. As of now, I’m assuming the Big Ten is a three-bid league this year, with Ohio State, Indiana and Oregon far and away better than the rest of the conference. But one overlooked candidate is hanging in the background: unranked (as of now) Iowa.

The Hawkeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten) took it to rival Minnesota (5-3, 3-2) in a 41-3 rout.

Iowa, which lost to slumping Iowa State out of conference, doesn’t have much of a resume yet, but it will have a chance to earn a signature win in two weeks when the Ducks come to town. Oregon (7-1, 4-1), which won a sluggish, rainy 21-7 game Saturday over Wisconsin, may be in the top five by then, and Kinnick Stadium has swallowed up many a top-five team. Iowa remains the only team to truly slow Indiana, losing 20-15.

10. No. 25 Michigan (6-2, 4-1) technically remains in the CFP picture as well, but the Wolverines will need more consistency from QB Bryce Underwood. The freshman was a nonfactor (8 of 17 for 86 yards) in Saturday’s 31-20 win against struggling Michigan State (3-5, 0-5), but Michigan rode its tailback tandem of Justice Haynes (26 carries, 152 yards, two TDs) and Jordan Marshall (15 carries, 110 yards, one TD).

It’s not looking good for second-year Spartans coach Jonathan Smith, now 3-11 in Big Ten play. His Oregon State success came as part of a slow rebuild, and no one in college football has patience for rebuilds anymore. Thanks, Curt Cignetti.

11. We’re really not talking enough about BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The true freshman was masterful in leading the Cougars (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) from 14 down to a runaway 41-27 victory at Iowa State (5-3, 2-3). Bachmeier finished 22 of 35 for 307 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, and BYU’s defense picked off Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht three times (including a pick six) and notched four sacks.

While BYU is off to back-to-back 8-0 starts for the first time in school history, Iowa State’s quest to return to the Big 12 title game is unofficially over amid a three-game losing streak. The skid began shortly after All-Big 12 cornerbacks Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper suffered season-ending knee injuries. Their replacements couldn’t handle BYU receivers Parker Kingston (seven catches, 133 yards, two TDs) and Chase Roberts (eight catches, 128 yards).

12. BYU still has company at the top of the Big 12 from an unexpected contender: Cincinnati. The Bearcats (7-1, 5-0 Big 12) ran for 265 yards in a 41-20 rout of visiting Baylor (4-4, 2-3). Third-year Bearcats coach Scott Satterfield has quietly built an explosive offense, which ranks tied for fourth nationally in yards per play (7.36). When Baylor rallied from a 24-point deficit to cut it to 27-20 early in the fourth quarter, Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby promptly led a 75-yard touchdown drive capped with his own 23-yard run.

BYU and Cincy are the only 5-0 teams in Big 12 play, but No. 14 Texas Tech (7-1, 4-1) is one game behind them, as is red-hot Houston (7-1, 4-1). Willie Fritz’s team went to No. 24 Arizona State (5-3, 3-2) and silenced the Sun Devils 24-16. Houston doesn’t control its path to Arlington, but it has a favorable remaining schedule: West Virginia (2-6, 0-5), at UCF (4-3, 1-3), TCU (6-2, 3-2) and at Baylor.

13. Georgia Tech just keeps taking care of business, this time rolling 41-16 over Syracuse (3-5, 1-4 ACC), but I get the sense no one is watching the school’s first 8-0 team since 1966. Star quarterback Haynes King spends many of his Saturdays facing yet another mediocre ACC opponent opposite whatever big SEC game is airing on ABC. It’s unfortunate the Yellow Jackets didn’t get selected for one of the ACC’s Friday night games, when they would be the only show in college football. I know I was intently watching the end of Cal-Virginia Tech this week (the Hokies won 42-34 in overtime), and neither of those teams is in CFP contention.

14. North Carolina’s Bill Belichick won some points with me Saturday by going for two in the bottom of the first overtime against No. 16 Virginia (7-1, 4-0 ACC). All coaches should do this. You have to go for two on your next possession anyway, so why drag things out? Unfortunately for Belichick, Benjamin Hall came up inches short of the goal line, and UNC (2-5, 0-3) dropped its second heartbreaker in six days, 17-16.

Virginia may soon crack the top 15 for the first time in 21 years, but how much longer can its uncannily good fortune continue? The Cavs have now won three overtime games and a fourth by two points.

15. Texas is nothing if not resilient. A week after surviving in overtime at Kentucky, the Horns rallied from a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit at Mississippi State to pull out yet another overtime win, 45-38. Arch Manning had his most productive game of the season (29 of 46 for 346 yards, three TDs and one interception) but was knocked out of the game in overtime. Backup Matthew Caldwell came in and threw the go-ahead touchdown.

Texas is still in the running to reach the SEC championship game, but it took overtime for the Horns to survive two of the three teams still winless in SEC play, with three current top-10 teams (Vanderbilt, Georgia and Texas A&M) still to play.

16. Illinois was this year’s textbook “bowl bump” team, earning its highest preseason ranking (No. 12) in 35 years thanks in large part to its Citrus Bowl win against South Carolina. Unfortunately, Bret Bielema’s defense took a big step back this year. Washington (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten) and star quarterback Demond Williams rolled to a 42-25 home win against the Illini (5-3, 2-3). The Huskies, too, could sneak their way into the CFP picture thanks to a season-ending home game against Oregon, but their resume is tainted by losing 24-6 to Ohio State and 24-7 to Michigan.

If the Big Ten does get only three teams in the Playoff, it could open the door for a second ACC or Big 12 team.

17. Kyle Whittingham’s Utah teams have laid some smackdowns over the years, but the Utes’ 53-7 rout of Colorado was something else. By halftime, Utah already held a 43-0 lead on the Buffs while outgaining them 398 to minus-18. Final total: 587-140. The Utes (6-2, 3-2 Big 12), who started freshman quarterback Byrd Ficklin in place of the injured Devon Dampier, rolled up 422 yards on the ground. It’s been a rough third season for CU’s Deion Sanders, whose team improved from 4-8 to 9-4 last year but sits at 3-5 and appears in danger of slipping right back to 4-8, or worse. But the Buffs have winnable games the next two weeks against Arizona and West Virginia.

Memphis won a back-and-forth game with USF to keep its American and CFP hopes intact. Chris Day / The Commercial Appeal / USA Today Network via Imagn Images

18. In the Group of 5 Playoff race, Memphis (7-1, 3-1 American) shook off last week’s stunning loss to UAB to take down No. 17 USF in a dramatic 34-31 win. The Bulls built a 31-17 lead behind a magnificent game from star quarterback Byrum Brown before Brendon Lewis led the Tigers roaring back to go up with 1:07 left, and USF’s Nico Gramatica missed a 52-yard field goal at the buzzer. Both teams’ conference title hopes remain intact, but they’ll need to catch Navy (7-0, 5-0) and Tulane (6-1, 3-0). Memphis faces both of them; USF visits Navy on Nov. 15.

19. The Football Championship Subdivision national championship won’t be decided until Jan. 5, but we already know North Dakota State will be favored to repeat. The unanimous No. 1 Bison (8-0) made a resounding statement with their 38-7 rout at No. 2 South Dakota State (7-1) in the annual Dakota Marker game. Bison quarterback Cole Payton, who waited his turn for four years before taking over this season, put on a clinic, going 18 of 23 for 243 yards and running 17 times for 137 yards and four touchdowns. Tim Polasek’s team has now won three consecutive games against its rival, including last season’s FCS semifinal.

20. Finally, it’s been nearly four years since we lost the great Mike Leach, but he has a small army of proteges carrying on the Air Raid legacy. One of them is North Texas coach Eric Morris, Leach’s former Texas Tech receiver, who has coached QBs such as Patrick Mahomes and Cam Ward. On Friday, Morris’s latest find, North Texas redshirt freshman Drew Mestemaker, became the first FBS player in five years to throw for 600 yards, doing so in the Mean Green’s 54-20 rout of Charlotte.

Mestemaker (37 of 49 for 608 yards, four TDs, one INT), a former walk-on who has North Texas (7-1, 3-1 American) off to its best start since 1977, notched the most yards in a game since Mississippi State QB KJ Costello’s 623 against LSU back in 2020 — Leach’s first game in the SEC.