Week 9 in college football is here as we embark on another weekend of exciting matchups that you won’t want to miss.
Friday night will feature a showdown between one-loss Mountain West teams No. 17 Boise State and UNLV. Most college football fans know the name of Boise State’s star running back, Heisman Trophy favorite Ashton Jeanty, but do you know about the Broncos’ quarterback?
No. 8 LSU and No. 14 Texas A&M meet in a big conference matchup Saturday evening. They’re both undefeated as the top two teams in the SEC standings entering Week 9, but only one team can leave Kyle Field with a win. Can Texas A&M’s defense keep LSU’s offense off the field?
Our college football experts preview big games and storylines to know, and share quotes of the week ahead Week 9’s slate.
What are the top two SEC teams doing right ahead of their matchup Saturday?
Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said the similarities between LSU and his team this season have been “eerily similar.” Both started with big Week 1 games, and both lost, A&M to Notre Dame and LSU to USC. But they both have steadily improved all season and meet at 6-1, with A&M 4-0 in the SEC and LSU 3-0. They’ve done it in different ways, though. LSU has gotten better on defense, holding Ole Miss to 26 in an overtime win, then giving up just 10 at Arkansas last week. Blake Baker’s defense now ranks third in pressure rate and seventh in sacks, despite losing Harold Perkins for the season in Week 4. Offensively, Garrett Nussmeier has five 300-yard games, as the Tigers rank eighth nationally in passing offense at 322.4 yards per game. Nussmeier leads the SEC with 18 passing touchdowns and an 82.5 QBR.
Texas A&M, meanwhile, has a stingy defense that has been complemented by a strong running game that slows down games and keeps opposing offenses off the field. The Aggies have been able to stop opponents without bringing pressure, blitzing just 16% of the time, eight lowest in the FBS, according to ESPN research. Opponents complete just 54% of passes against the Aggies, 10th best in the FBS, and they’ve made key stops, ranking 16th nationally in third-down defense. On offense, Texas A&M ranks 12th in rushing, at 218 yards per game, a stabilizing force as the Aggies navigated Conner Weigman‘s shoulder injury in Week 2. Marcel Reed starting until Weigman returned to dominate Missouri, going 18-of-22 for 276 yards. Le’Veon Moss, who has shouldered the load at running back, has five TDs in the past two games and is looking to become the third Aggie to have multiple rushing touchdowns in three straight games since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012. — Dave Wilson
What Missouri and Alabama need to do to win their matchup in Week 9
Alabama: It sounds simple, but Alabama needs to play a complete game and, probably even more importantly, a clean game. Starting with the second half in the 41-34 win over Georgia in Week 4, in which the Bulldogs piled up 381 yards after halftime and erased a 28-0 deficit, it has been hit or miss with the Crimson Tide. The defense again struggled the next week in a shocking 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt followed by a shaky 27-25 escape against South Carolina at home in a game Alabama led 14-0, only to see South Carolina recover an onside kick late and have a chance to win. Then a week ago, the offense was a no-show in a 24-17 loss to Tennessee.
Quarterback Jalen Milroe was sensational in the win over Georgia, but he has thrown five interceptions in his past three games. Tennessee sacked him three times, and he was held to 11 rushing yards on 14 carries. Penalties have plagued the Crimson Tide. They have 62 on the season. Only four FBS teams have been penalized more. They were penalized a season-high 15 times against Tennessee, including a 15-yard personal foul on receiver Kendrick Law during Alabama’s next-to-last drive. — Chris Low
Missouri: There’s no simple path to winning as a road team inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, where the Crimson Tide have lost only six times since the end of the 2007 season. And Missouri’s path to a historic win in Tuscaloosa won’t be helped by the expected absences of quarterback Brady Cook (ankle) and leading rusher Nate Noel (foot). Down the pair of star offensive talents, the Tigers must find a way to slow Jalen Milroe and Alabama the same way Tennessee did a week ago.
The Volunteers limited the Crimson Tide to 75 rushing yards and pressured Milroe 24 times as the junior passer threw a pair of interceptions and completed a season-low 55.6% of his throws in the 24-17 defeat. Missouri enters Saturday ranked 24th in defensive red zone efficiency, and if the Tigers can stay close early, perhaps they hang around with an Alabama team that has been outscored 81-55 after halftime in four league games. No SEC team has more comebacks down seven or more points this fall than Missouri, and the Tigers enter Week 9 with a record of 7-0 in one score games since the start of last season. — Eli Lederman
Maddux Madsen is much more than the other guy in Boise State’s backfield
Boise State’s Maddux Madsen might be the ideal person to share a backfield with the Heisman Trophy favorite.
Madsen’s path to being Boise State’s starting quarterback, where he lines up beside star running back Ashton Jeanty, hasn’t been a straight shot. He’s a 5-foot-10 QB who didn’t receive scholarship offers from the two Power 4 schools in his home state of Utah, and came to Boise State only after a highly touted QB recruit, Katin Houser, flipped his commitment to Michigan State.
Madsen, a third-year sophomore, doesn’t need tutorials about roles or teamwork, what competition requires, how opportunities are earned and how to navigate adversity. He grew up around baseball fields, as his dad, Eric, coached at Utah Valley. Maddux and his four siblings are all named after baseball standouts — Maddux after Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, and brothers Mays (Willie), McGwire (Mark) and Mick (Mantle), and sister Macee Jo (DiMaggio).
“In baseball, you almost set yourself up to fail,” Maddux said. “If you’re hitting .300, that’s pretty elite. So I learned not to let myself get beat up about certain things. Obviously, football’s a little bit different, but there’s going to be things that go wrong, and handling adversity is something I learned from baseball and translated to football.”
He has spent much of his Broncos career competing. Last season, he shared time with Taylen Green in a two-quarterback system that ended when Madsen sustained a knee injury in November. When Boise State added USC transfer Malachi Nelson in January, many assumed the starting job would go to the former ESPN No. 1 overall recruit.
But Madsen beat out Nelson in camp and has completed 63.8% of his passes for 1,273 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions through six games.
“He doesn’t want anything given to him,” said Boise State coach Spencer Danielson, who informed Madsen after the 2023 season that the team would be seeking a transfer quarterback. “He wants to be challenged, he wants the opportunity to compete, and the stage is never too big for him. He’s always been a guy that has the mentality of a hunter. He’s going to go win. Maddux is an unwavering young man.”
Danielson saw Madsen’s approach from the start. After a pass was tipped and intercepted at Georgia Southern in the season opener, Madsen began the next possession with completions of 53 and 36 yards, and Jeanty capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. The following week, Madsen completed only 17 of 40 passes in a 37-34 loss at Oregon, as the Ducks’ defense smothered Broncos receivers and quickly closed passing windows.
Since then, Madsen has completed 70.8% of his attempts.
“I understand that there’s going to be loud stadiums, there’s going to be things said, so how can I control the game with a neutral mindset?” Madsen said. “I’ve learned that the seriousness I have to approach the game with is definitely different than I have in the past. We’re in a no-joke situation right now, and we’ve got to attack every day with complete intent and focus.”
Madsen also recognizes that Boise State’s offense largely will run through Jeanty, who leads the nation in rushing yards and ranks sixth in attempts.
“It’s the best thing ever,” Madsen said of playing with Jeanty. “I tell people, I’ve got the best seat in the house, watching him do what he does.”
Jeanty will continue to dominate the spotlight, and rightfully so, but Madsen will also be a significant factor if Boise State surges to its first College Football Playoff appearance.
“Nobody wanted to hear about Maddux Madsen, because he was the 5-10 kid from Utah that wasn’t recruited,” Danielson said. “He’s really been the embodiment of what we are here at Boise State, one those guys that are counted out, got a chip on their shoulder, and all he’s done is earn everything he’s got.” — Adam Rittenberg
Quotes of the week
“I’ve always respected those coaches because that’s where I’ve come from. I started as a Division II head coach, he’s worked his way up. And any time you can hire an Ivy League grad, it makes me smarter. So that worked out well for me.” — LSU coach Brian Kelly, on hiring now-Texas A&M coach Mike Elko, a Penn alum, as his defensive coordinator in 2017 after Elko had stops at Penn, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Richmond and Hofstra, among others.
“Define ‘at,'” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said when asked if quarterback Brady Cook (ankle) would be at practice Tuesday (Cook has since been ruled doubtful for Saturday’s game). “I don’t know if I’d say participate. I anticipate that he will be out at practice. But that’s why I’m not letting the media at practice so that y’all can’t worry about what he’s doing or not doing in practice.”
“It’s an excellent opportunity for us on a big stage. When we recruit, we talk about big-time college football and one of the things is, you get to play Notre Dame every year,” Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker said ahead of Saturday’s matchup between the Fighting Irish and Midshipmen. “Obviously they’re the cream of the crop in college football. To have this opportunity is something that we all relish.”
DALLAS — Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele scored a goal in his club’s must-win Game 6 of the second-round playoff series at Dallas on Saturday night, hours after the unexpected death of his father.
But he also had the penalty that set up the Stars’ power-play goal in overtime for a 2-1 win that knocked the top-ranked Jets out of the playoffs.
Jets captain Adam Lowry went and got Scheifele out of the box when the game ended.
“We’re a family. Just to let him know that we’re there for him. It’s just an awful day for him,” Lowry said. “You want to give him the strength, you want to get that kill so bad. We just couldn’t do it.”
During the handshake line afterward, Scheifele hugged and talked to just about everyone, with Stars players clearly offering their support to him in a heartwarming moment.
Scheifele scored his fifth goal of the playoffs 5½ minutes into the second period to give the Jets a 1-0 lead. He scored on a short snap shot from just outside the crease after gathering the rebound of a shot by Kyle Connor.
“I just I know we have a great group here. I knew, going in, once we found out the news that he’s going to have a great support group and we’re going to be there for him through the highs and the lows and obviously today was a real low,” defenseman Neal Pionk said of Scheifele. “[We] did everything we could to give him some words of encouragement, [and] for him to play tonight, and play the way he did, is flat out one of the most courageous things we’ve ever seen.”
The game was tied at 1 when Sam Steel, who had already scored for Dallas, was on a break. Scheifele lunged forward desperately trying to make a play when he tripped up the forward at the blue line with 14.8 seconds in regulation. Scheifele and the Jets avoided a penalty shot on the play, but ended up losing on the power play when Thomas Harley scored 1:33 into overtime.
Jets coach Scott Arniel said the news of Brad Scheifele’s passing overnight was difficult for the entire team. The team was told before the optional morning skate.
“On behalf of the Winnipeg Jets family, our condolences to Mark and his family. It rocked us all this morning when we found out,” Arniel said before the game. “Mark will be playing tonight. As he said, that’d be the wishes of his dad. He would have wanted him to play.”
Scheifele was the last Jets player to leave the ice following pregame warmups, and during at least part of the singing of “O Canada,” he had his head bowed and his eyes closed. He took the opening faceoff against Roope Hintz.
“The thing about Mr. Scheifele is he’s part of our family. He’s part of the Jets family. He goes back to 2011 when Mark was first drafted here,” Arniel said. “We have a lot of players that came in around the time that are still here that he’s been a big part of their life, along with their family. So it’s certainly, obviously devastating for Mark, but also for a lot of guys on this team.”
Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said the organization was doing everything it can to support Scheifele. There was no immediate word on the cause of Brad Scheifele’s death.
The 32-year-old Mark Scheifele finished with 11 points (five goals, six assists) while playing in 11 of the Jets’ 13 games this postseason. He missed Games 6 and 7 of the first-round series against St. Louis with an undisclosed injury after taking a pair of big hits early in Game 5 of that series.
In Game 5 against the Stars on Thursday night, a 4-0 win by Winnipeg that extended the series, Scheifele was sucker-punched by Stars captain Jamie Benn during a late scrum. Benn got a game misconduct penalty and was fined by the NHL the maximum-allowed $5,000 but avoided a suspension.
Scheifele had 87 points (39 goals and 48 assists) in the 82 regular-season games.
DALLAS — Thomas Harley scored on a power play 1:33 into overtime and the Dallas Stars advanced to the Western Conference final for the third season in a row, beating the top-seeded Winnipeg Jets2-1 in Game 6 on Saturday night.
Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets hours after the unexpected death of his father, but also had a tripping penalty with 14.8 seconds left in regulation that set up Dallas to start overtime with a man advantage.
Sam Steel, who had scored earlier for Dallas, was on a break when Scheifele lunged forward desperately trying to make a play when he tripped up the forward at the blue line. The Stars called a timeout, but missed a shot and had another one blocked before the end of regulation.
The Stars move on to face the Edmonton Oilers in the West final for the second year in a row and will host Game 1. Connor McDavid and his club, which won in six games last year, wrapped up their second-round series with a 1-0 overtime win over Vegas on Wednesday night in Game 5.
Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger made 22 saves to wrap up his sixth playoff series win over the past three seasons. He made an incredible diving save with 8½ minutes left in regulation, leaning to the right before having to lunge back across his body toward the left post to knock down a shot by Mason Appleton.
Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stopped 19 shots but couldn’t prevent a loss that assured a winless record for his club on the road this postseason. Meanwhile, his final goal allowed continued a magical season for Harley, Dallas’ breakout blueliner who also played for Team Canada this season in the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“Not surprising to the guys in here,” Oettinger said of Harley’s rise to prominence. “We’re very lucky.”
Steel notched his first goal of the playoffs midway through the second period. He shot a long rebound from the top of the right circle, sending the puck into the upper right corner of the net just above Hellebuyck’s glove.
“I’m just disappointed,” Winnipeg captain Adam Lowry said. “We couldn’t get that [penalty] kill for [the fans], and get it back to win in Winnipeg for Game 7. But you know, [I’m] really proud of this group, and the way they handled everything, and the way we fought back. … It just came up short.”
The Jets become the next in a long line of Presidents’ Trophy winners to bow out early. The award, which goes to the NHL’s top regular-season team, was won by the New York Rangers last season before they lost in the Eastern Conference final. Two years ago, the No. 1 seed Boston Bruins lost in the first round to the Florida Panthers.
“We lost to a great team,” Winnipeg coach Scott Arniel said. “We lost to a team that was in our rearview mirror all year long.”
Scheifele’s effort was a focus for Dallas coach Pete DeBoer, who began his postgame media availability by saying what the Jets star forward did in playing Saturday was “courageous,” adding “I’m sure his dad would’ve been really proud of him and what he did.”
For the Stars, it’s off to the NHL’s final four, as the franchise continues to seek its second Stanley Cup title.
“I think we’ve got something special going on. We’re going to have to prove it again,” DeBoer said. “You know, we’ve been to this spot the last two years and haven’t taken the next step, so that’s the challenge.”
As the Vegas Golden Knights absorb being knocked out in the second round of the NHL playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers, they don’t have to wait long before planning for their future. Jack Eichel, who has one season left on his eight-year, $80 million contract, is eligible for an extension beginning July 1.
“He’s one of the top guys in the NHL,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said. “He’s got great character, great leadership. You see night in, night out what he does for our team, so that will be a really important piece of business for us. We certainly hope to keep Jack in our organization. Jack loves it here, so I would hope we could find common ground.”
Eichel, 28, comes off the best season of his 10-year career, the past four with the Golden Knights. He set career highs with 66 assists and 94 points to go with 28 goals as the center on the team’s top line. He also skated for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off, where his club finished second to Canada.
“Can’t say enough about my teammates and the people in this building and the people that make this organization what it is,” Eichel said. “I’m super proud to be part of this organization and the city and represent the Vegas Golden Knights. Contractually, I think things kind of take care of itself. I’ll just worry about trying to prepare for next season this offseason and go from there.”
Management, which is not known for sitting on its hands, will have other significant decisions to make as well on the team’s direction after the Golden Knights were eliminated in the second round for the second year in a row.
“I like our team,” coach Bruce Cassidy said. “I don’t have a problem with any player in that room. I think every one of them is a great teammate. They care about one another. Are there areas of our game we could complement better? Probably. We’ll evaluate that.
“All the guys that were up, their contracts, they were all good players for us. All good players. No disappointments at all. We’ll probably have to look at areas because we’re not the last team standing. Usually, you think, ‘Where can we upgrade? Where can I upgrade what I do?'”
McCrimmon offered a similar assessment.
“I feel our team was good enough to win,” McCrimmon said.
The Golden Knights won the Stanley Cup two years ago and thought they had another contender this season after capturing the Pacific Division and securing the Western Conference’s second-best record. But Vegas had to rally from a 2-1 series deficit to beat Minnesota in the opening round, winning twice in overtime. Then the Golden Knights lost two overtime games in the 4-1 series loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
“I didn’t walk away from Edmonton saying, ‘We had no chance. They’re just better,'” Cassidy said. “I didn’t feel that way. I felt we needed to execute better in a few of the games and we could be the team moving on.”
Forward William Karlsson said losing to the Oilers made it “a wasted season.” McCrimmon wasn’t as blunt, instead labeling the loss as “a missed opportunity.”
Change will come, but at least given the tenor of the comments by Cassidy and McCrimmon, the Golden Knights will largely return their roster intact next season.
“I think we have a great organization,” goaltender Adin Hill said. “Best management I’ve been under. I think they’re going to do the things that they see fit for [the] roster, whether it’s keeping it the same or whether it’s changing up a few things. I don’t know. That’s their decision, above my paygrade, but it will be exciting to see. We know that we’re going to be contenders every year.”
Forward Reilly Smith made it clear he wants to return. An original Golden Knight, Smith was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins after winning the Stanley Cup and then sent to the New York Rangers a year later. The Golden Knights reacquired the 34-year-old on March 6.
Smith made a smooth transition back into the lineup with three goals and eight assists in 21 games. Then he delivered the play of the postseason for the Golden Knights, scoring with 0.4 seconds left to beat the Oilers in Game 3, and finished with three goals and an assist in 11 playoff games.
“Probably the best hockey I’ve played in my career has been wearing this jersey,” Smith said. “It’s a fun group to be a part of and a fun place to call home. My family loves it here, so if there’s a way to make it work, it’d be great. At the end of the day, it’s a business. My contract negotiations, I probably know as little as [the media does] right now.”