Copyright cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Haynes King is no longer just a name to watch and he’s got Georgia Tech off to its best season in nearly 60 years. The Yellow Jackets’ senior quarterback is putting together one of the most compelling campaigns in college football, leading Georgia Tech to an 8-0 record, their best start since 1966. With 395 total yards and five touchdowns in a dominant 41-16 win over Syracuse, King showcased his dual-threat brilliance, throwing for 304 yards and rushing for 91 more on a day where he accounted for five total TDs. King’s season stats are eye-popping: 1,480 passing yards, 651 rushing yards, and 19 total touchdowns with just one interception. His efficiency is elite, boasting a 72.9% completion rate and an 84.7 QBR, ranking him among the top quarterbacks in the nation. Head coach Brent Key’s stance is clear: King belongs in the Heisman conversation, and many are starting to agree. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech continues to climb. Despite slipping one spot to No. 8 in the AP Poll after Ole Miss leapfrogged them, the Jackets remain undefeated and firmly in the College Football Playoff hunt. They sit atop the ACC standings at 5-0 in conference play, with a potential showdown against Virginia looming for the title. With King leading the charge and Brent Key’s squad playing its most complete football of the season, Georgia Tech is rewriting history. And if they keep this up, a playoff berth and a Heisman finalist nod might be just the beginning. But in another hectic week of college football King and the Yellow Jackets are not the only headline. Here’s a look at some of the winners and losers from Week 9 of the college football season. Loser: College Football’s coaching market Brian Kelly’s dismissal from LSU has sent shockwaves through the college football world. It’s not just about one coach losing his job; it’s about the escalating volatility in a sport where patience is vanishing and expectations are sky-high. Kelly’s dismissal marks the third SEC coach fired this season, joining Billy Napier at Florida and Sam Pittman at Arkansas. Add James Franklin’s $50 million exit from Penn State, as well as UCLA and Virginia Tech parting ways with DeShaun Foster and Brent Pry at Virginia Tech, and you have a coaching carousel spinning faster than ever. The problem is some of the best jobs in college football are open simultaneously, and all are chasing the same limited pool of candidates. Winner: Miami’s bounce-back After a humbling loss to Louisville, No. 10 Miami responded with fury, dismantling Stanford 42-7 in a game that reasserted their playoff ambitions. The Hurricanes were sluggish early, tied 7-7 at halftime, but exploded for 35 unanswered points in the second half, led by a resurgent defense and a career night from Mark Fletcher Jr., who rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman phenom Malachi Toney continued his electric season, racking up 138 all-purpose yards, including 73 on punt returns. The defense, after allowing a touchdown on Stanford’s opening drive, locked in and held the Cardinal to just 52 yards the rest of the game, forcing two interceptions and dominating the line of scrimmage. This win wasn’t just about the scoreboard—it was about Miami’s identity. Head coach Mario Cristobal praised his team’s composure and execution, and with a road trip to SMU looming, the Hurricanes are back in the hunt and playing with purpose. Loser: AP Poll voters and the broken system they uphold It’s been a chaotic season in college football, but one thing remains consistent: AP Poll voters are catching heat, and this week, they’ve earned it. The most glaring example? Florida was ranked No. 14 on one ballot after losing at home to South Florida, a team that was left off the same ballot entirely. That kind of logic-defying decision sparked outrage across the sport, with fans, analysts, and even fellow voters questioning the credibility of the system. The voter in question, Haley Sawyer, defended her ballot by saying, “It’s really fun for discussion… it doesn’t probably matter in the end.” Not only is that tone deaf, it’s emblematic of a deeper issue. The AP Poll still shapes narratives, influences playoff positioning, and sets the tone for national coverage. Yet, it’s built on a foundation of beat writers ranking 25 teams weekly, often with limited exposure beyond their own region. The result? Rankings that reward brand names and hype over actual performance. South Florida, despite wins over Boise State and Florida, was left off multiple ballots entirely. Cincinnati, riding a seven-game win streak, sits behind two-loss teams with weaker resumes. And Georgia Tech, undefeated and dominant, was leapfrogged by Ole Miss despite a stronger overall record and fewer close calls. The AP Poll’s flaws aren’t new, but they’re more visible than ever. Voters are inconsistent, criteria are unclear and the system lacks accountability. Until there’s reform—whether through better guidelines, more transparency, or a shift to data-driven rankings—the AP Poll will continue to be less about merit and more about momentum, bias, and brand. Winners: Kent State, Akron and the power of belief It was a banner weekend for Northeast Ohio football, as both Kent State and Akron delivered thrilling wins that showcased resilience, creativity, and a little bit of magic. Kent State pulled off one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season, rallying from an 18-point deficit to stun Bowling Green 24-21 at Dix Stadium. Wide receiver Da’Realyst Clark, better known for his electric kick returns, helped put the game away on a 12-yard touchdown pass to Wayne Harris with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter. Harris had dropped a sure touchdown earlier, but he delivered right on time with his second chance. The win marked Kent State’s first win over Bowling Green since 2022 and pushed the Golden Flashes to 3-5 overall, 2-2 in MAC play, under interim coach Mark Carney, who’s quickly building a culture of belief and accountability. Akron, meanwhile, was writing its own comeback story. The Zips trailed Buffalo 10-3 at halftime but roared back to win 24-16, snapping a seven-game losing streak to the Bulls and handing them their first MAC loss of the season. Quarterback Ben Finley led the charge with 230 passing yards, two touchdown throws, and a 36-yard rushing score in the fourth quarter. Akron’s defense was relentless, forcing five turnovers and recording five sacks, including standout performances from Melvin Spriggs and Gage Summers, who had two interceptions. For two programs that have weathered tough seasons, these were statement wins. Losers: Oklahoma’s collapse and Lane Kiffin’s receipts No. 13 Oklahoma had a chance to make a statement at home against No. 8 Ole Miss, but instead, they watched Trinidad Chambliss and Lane Kiffin walk out of Norman with a 34-26 win that felt more lopsided than the score suggested. Chambliss was sensational, throwing for 315 yards, rushing for 53, and delivering clutch plays in the fourth quarter to seal the win. He became the first Ole Miss quarterback since Eli Manning in 2001 with 250+ passing yards in his first six starts, and his performance tied him with Johnny Manziel for the second-most games in SEC history with 300+ passing and 50+ rushing yards. The Division II transfer is now firmly in the Heisman conversation, and Ole Miss is surging toward a potential playoff berth. Meanwhile, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables claimed postgame that the Sooners were “the better team” despite being outgained, outplayed, and outcoached. Lane Kiffin didn’t let that slide, firing back with a press conference full of receipts, referencing past wins over Venables at USC and Alabama, and sarcastically calling it a “hot take”. The Sooners now sit at 6-2, with a brutal stretch ahead and their playoff hopes fading. If Chambliss keeps this up, Oklahoma may not just remember the loss—they’ll remember the quarterback who handed it to them.
