The margin for error is so slim in college football as teams jockey for College Football Playoff position. In the SEC and Big Ten, it seems the schedules never relent for ranked teams, while the elite Group of 5 teams can’t afford a loss.
As Week 9 begins, several top defenses will be tested by quality quarterbacks. Here are Yardbarker’s 10 most important people who will define the week.
Ashton Jeanty | Boise State running back
Jeanty is running over, around and through every defense that comes his way. He’s carried the ball 126 times for 1,248 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s averaging 9.9 yards per game, which ranks second in the nation. His 5-1 Boise State Broncos travel to 6-1 UNLV Friday night for their toughest remaining test of the season. Want to be in the CFP? Jeanty and company face a must-win game.
Luke Fickell | Wisconsin head coach
Wisconsin has mostly been an afterthought this season, but at 5-2, the Badgers only losses are to then-No. 4 Alabama and then-No. 13 USC. Three blowout wins in a row have Fickell’s squad trending up as they welcome No. 3 Penn State to Camp Randall Stadium. Fickell is still looking for a signature win at Wisconsin. He’ll need his team to play a clean game Saturday night to secure an upset win.
Brady Cook | Missouri quarterback
Cook and the Missouri offense have struggled all year and they can’t afford another poor outing Saturday at No. 15 Alabama. The Tigers, though ranked No. 21 and with only one loss, have no room for error if they desire to make the CFP. Cook has been sacked 11 times in the last three games and held a completion percentage of 50% or less twice in that span. Missouri needs him to be better.
Luke Altmyer | Illinois quarterback
Altmyer and the No. 20 Illini travel to No. 1 Oregon Saturday. An upset of the nation’s top-ranked team only happens if the quarterback plays well. Altmyer has to go punch-for-punch with Heisman hopeful Dillon Gabriel. It’s not as crazy as you might think. Altmyer and Gabriel have each thrown 15 touchdowns and rank in the top 20 nationally in passing efficiency.
DJ Uiagalelei | Florida State quarterback
No one is expecting Uiagalelei to lead Florida State to a miracle win over No. 6 Miami. That’s not why he’s on this list. At 1-6, FSU’s season is long gone and it will surely get beat Saturday. However, there’s such a thing as a moral victory and the Seminoles could use one against their rival. Uiagalelei playing well and keeping Florida State from getting blown out would qualify. If nothing else, it might spark some energy in a discouraged fan base.
Navy running game
No. 24 Navy averages 274.8 yards per game rushing, which is the fourth-best figure in the nation. No. 12 Notre Dame ranks 30th in rushing defense, allowing only 113.1 yards per game. That matchup will decide the game on Saturday. If the Midshipmen can grab a lead and control the clock, there might just be an upset brewing and it would be one that potentially knocks Notre Dame out of CFP contention. How sweet it would be for Navy fans.
Texas A&M secondary
The 14th-ranked Aggies welcome No. 8 LSU to Kyle Field Saturday. The secondary must be ready for LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. He’s not shy to throw and ranks sixth in the nation in passing yards. If A&M keeps him in check the Aggies could be a looking at a big win that puts them in the Top 10.
Diego Pavia | Vanderbilt quarterback
Pavia basked in the limelight after No. 25 Vanderbilt’s upset win over top-ranked Alabama earlier in the season. He was solid in the win, going 16-for-20 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. What does he have for an encore? No. 5 Texas comes to Nashville Saturday and Pavia will need to put forth another Herculean effort to snag a second massive upset win.
Kalani Sitake | BYU head coach
The 11th-ranked Cougars are 7-0 and traveling to UCF Saturday. UCF is reeling, losing its last four games, but is this a trap game for BYU? Sitake has to keep his team focused. Next up on the schedule is a trip to rival Utah, but that’s not until Nov. 9. The task in front of BYU is UCF — a very winnable, but potentially dangerous opponent. The Golden Knights nearly upset No. 9 Iowa State last week, losing 38-35.
Sherrone Moore | Michigan head coach
Life as a new coach isn’t always easy and Moore is proof. Michigan is 3-4 overall and hosting rival Michigan State Saturday. The Wolverines are a far cry from last season’s national championship team, but Saturday’s matchup is a measuring stick of where the two programs are at. Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh struggled against the Spartans, finishing 5-4 overall. Moore could use a win in his first game against Michigan’s in-state rival.
