Under the Radar: Week Nine

One last weekend of October remains, which means the intensity in the world of college football is about to hit the high mark. As the season winds down, the race for the college football playoff is picking up at both the FBS and FCS levels. In FBS, the G6 spot still feels completely up for grabs. Meanwhile, in the FCS, the all-important seeding battle means every contest is relevant. There is a plethora of excitement to be had around the sport, so let’s dive into the best college football games in Week Nine outside of the power conferences.

Florida Atlantic at North Texas

How to Watch: Thursday, October 29th – 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN

Why You Should Watch: The American is generally regarded as the best conference in the Group of 6 (though that could change with the new-look PAC-12). After dropping two of their first three contests, the Mean Green are now 5-2 and undefeated in conference play. UNT and Neal Brown would likely need some significant help to secure a playoff berth; however, they are on the fringe. A November meeting with UTSA looms large, but first up is tonight’s contest against a much improved FAU squad. The Owls are also 5-2 on the year. I do think UNT handles FAU, but with as many points as these two teams can put up, this should be one heck of a shootout for a while.

Louisiana Tech at South Alabama

How to Watch: Saturday, October 31st – 2:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+

Why You Should Watch: Most of the focus on the Sun Belt lands on the East division, but Louisiana Tech is putting together quite an impressive debut campaign in the West after defeating ULL earlier this season. The Bulldogs face another significant divisional test when they head to Mobile to face South Alabama. The Jaguars are currently second in the division while Tech has yet to lose a conference matchup and sits atop the West. That makes this contest even more vital for both teams as they compete for first place in the division and makes this a must-watch game.

South Dakota at South Dakota State

How to Watch: Saturday, October 31st – 3:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU

Why You Should Watch: The Missouri Valley Football Conference currently has three one-loss teams at the top of the standings. Two of those programs are #6 South Dakota and #5 South Dakota State, who happen to play this weekend in Brookings. Anything can happen in college football, but with the form Youngstown State is in, this contest likely serves as an MVFC eliminator. A top-ten matchup. An in-state rivalry. Conference and playoff stakes on the line. What more do you need? This is an incredibly important FCS game you should be tuning in to.

Army at Memphis

How to Watch: Saturday, October 31st – 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPNU

Why You Should Watch: While UTSA and North Texas remain at the top of the American with undefeated conference records, Army and Memphis sit just behind those two squads, waiting for a slip-up. This could very well serve as a conference title eliminator. It’s also a great stylistic matchup between a Memphis offense that has had success airing it out and an Army offense that we all know wants to pound the rock.

Oregon State at Fresno State

How to Watch: Saturday, October 31st – 10:00 p.m. CT on USA

Why You Should Watch: After early losses to Texas Tech and Houston, Oregon State has quietly become one of the most exciting teams in the country to watch on a weekly basis. This Beaver offense is electric, with Braden Atkinson slinging it for over 2,600 yards already. His favorite target is Jesse Legree, a true freshman who has taken the college football world by storm. Fresno State may have two losses in PAC-12 play, but the Bulldogs are the stiffest test the Beavers have faced in conference play so far this season. If Oregon State is going to challenge Boise for the PAC title, they have to get through Fresno first in this extremely late game. Get some caffeine in you and tune in to this one to close out your Saturday.

What under-the-radar games are you most excited about for Week Nine? We’d love to hear from you.

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