College football Week 9: Schedule, AP Top 25 rankings, preview

The conference championships picture is getting clearer by the week. Our own Stan Becton outlined his predictions as to which programs are going to take home their conference's trophy this season. 

Here are his Power Four predictions:

ACC — Virginia
The ACC still has three teams undefeated in conference play — Georgia Tech, Virginia and SMU. However, none of the three play each other head-to-head. If the trajectory remains, two of these teams will meet in the conference championship game with Miami on the outside looking in. 

Becton predicts it will be Tech and UVA, with the Cavaliers prevailing against a week Yellow Jackets rush defense. 

Big 12 — Texas Tech
The Big 12 is wide open with three one-loss teams and two undefeated in conference play. BYU and Cincinnati sit on top of the standings right now, but each has a much tougher remaining schedule than Texas Tech and Arizona State. Becton predicts the road will be too tough for the top two right now, and the Sun Devils and Red Raiders will meet in the title game with Texas Tech coming out on top. 

Big Ten — Ohio State
Becton believes Ohio State is the runaway favorite to be the Big Ten champion, and for good reason. The Buckeyes own a suffocating defense headlined by linebacker duo Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles in the middle and All American safety Caleb Downs at the top. The offense has picked up steam as of late, and it would be hard to pick against the reigning national champions in a weak Big Ten. 

SEC — Alabama
Alabama has hit its stride since a Week 1 loss to a now floundering Florida State team. Kalen DeBoer's  offense is the best if not one of the best in the SEC, and the Tide does not face another top offense the rest of the season. Ty Simpson should be able to out-score the rest of the sub-par offenses on Bama's schedule as the Tide roll into the SEC championship undefeated in conference play. They of course have some competition in Texas A&M and other one-loss conference foes, but right now, Alabama is the team to beat. 

Through Week 8, just six teams can still chase an undefeated season. Five of the six are in action this Saturday, with Ohio State on a bye before a matchup with Penn State on Nov. 1. 

Here are the five matchups undefeated teams to watch this weekend: 
*Undefeated teams are in bold

• No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse, 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25
  • The Yellow Jackets have had some hiccups en route to a 7-0 start, but Brent Key's squad has found ways to win close games down the stretch. Tech has four unranked ACC games remaining before a potential top-10 matchup with Georgia at the end of the season. 
• No. 2 Indiana vs. UCLA , 12 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25
  • The Hoosiers are in complete control of their postseason aspirations without a ranked team left on their schedule. Curt Cignetti's squad looks to be on a collision course with Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, with the winner in a prime position to earn a bye in the College Football Playoff. 
• No. 11 BYU vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25
  • The Cougars are off to back-to-back 7-0 starts for the first time in program history. They have been tested the past two weeks, squeezing by Arizona and Utah by just one score. But BYU's tough stretch continues in the Big 12 with a road trip against the Cyclones and No. 14 Texas Tech in Week 10. 
• Navy vs. FAU, 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25
  • The Midshipmen host FAU before their toughest stretch of the season against North Texas, No. 12 Notre Dame and No. 18 South Florida. Navy will undeniably be tested, but if it can make it through, the Midshipmen will be contending for a CFP spot. 
• No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU, 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25
  • The Aggies snuck past the Razorbacks last weekend, 45-42, and they will not get a break this weekend in Baton Rouge. LSU has not met its preseason expectations this season, but it is still a talented team and Death Valley at night is one of the most formidable atmospheres in the country. However, a win this weekend would provide a huge cushion for TAMU's postseason hopes, still set to match up with Missouri and Texas later this season. 

Entering Week 9, we are only two weeks away from the first College Football Playoff rankings, which are set to be released on Tuesday, Nov. 4. The pressure is building each week, and we have you covered, highlighting some of the biggest games to watch this weekend. ;

The noon slate is dominated by No. 8 Ole Miss flying to Norman for a matchup with No. 13 Oklahoma as the Rebels try to avoid two straight losses in the SEC. There is also a pivotal matchup in the American, with Memphis hosting No. 18 South Florida as the conference continues to vie for the Group of 5 playoff spot. 

The SEC action continues in the afternoon slate with No. 10 Vanderbilt welcoming No. 15 Missouri to Nashville. The Commodores are also hosting College GameDay for the second time ever as Vandy looks to continue its surprising push for a playoff spot. In the Big 12, Iowa State has a date with No. 11 BYU, as the Cyclones try to keep their playoff hopes alive with a statement win at home. 

And the night slate will also wrap up with a marquee SEC matchup as a desperate LSU team will give its all against No. 3 Texas A&M surrounded by a roaring night time Death Valley faithful. 

Here are the times and TV channels for some of the biggest games of the week:
*All times Eastern

• 12 p.m. | No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma | ABC
• 12 p.m. | No. 18 South Florida at Memphis | ESPN2
• 3:30 p.m. | No. 10 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 Missouri | ESPN
• 3:30 p.m. | No. 11 BYU at Iowa State | FOX
• 7:30 p.m. | No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU | ABC

👉 Click or tap here for the complete top 25 schedule

Welcome to Week 9! Here is the Top 25 TV schedule as you prepare for a loaded weekend slate with 22 ranked teams in action. 

All times ET. Click or tap here for a live scoreboard with stats

Saturday, Oct. 25

• No. 2 Indiana vs. UCLA | 12 p.m. | FOX
• No. 3 Texas A&;M at No. 20 LSU | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
• No. 4 Alabama at South Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
• No. 6 Oregon vs. Wisconsin | 4 p.m. | FS1
• No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. Syracuse | 12 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma | 12 p.m. | ABC
• No. 9 Miami (Fla.) vs. Stanford | 7 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 10 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 Missouri | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 11 BYU at Iowa State | 3:30 p.m. | FOX
• No. 14 Texas Tech vs. Oklahoma State | 4 p.m. | ESPNU
• No. 16 Virginia at North Carolina | 12 p.m. | ACC Network
• No. 17 Tennessee at Kentucky | 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network
• No. 18 South Florida at Memphis | 12 p.m. | ESPN2
• No. 19 Louisville vs. Boston College | 7:30 p.m. | ACC Network
• No. 21 Cincinnati vs. Baylor | 4 p.m. | ESPN2
• No. 22 Texas at Mississippi State | 4:15 p.m. | SECN
• No. 23 Illinois at Washington | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
• No. 24 Arizona State vs. Houston | 8 p.m. | ESPN2 
• No. 25 Michigan at Michigan State | 7:30 p.m. | NBC

🛋️ Click or tap here for the complete Week 9 TV schedule