Week 9 of the college football season brings with it a handful of highly-anticipated matchups.
In the early window, No. 8 Michigan State kept its perfect record alive as the Spartans took down No. 6 Michigan 37-33 in a Big Ten thriller on FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff“.
Meanwhile, Miami knocked off the No. 17 Pitt Panthers 38-34, and Wisconsin pulled off a huge upset over No. 9 Iowa at Camp Randall, winning 27-7. Iowa has now lost back-to-back games against unranked teams.
Now, there is a massive SEC showdown in action as Florida battles No. 1 Georgia in Jacksonville, Florida.
Tonight, Heisman Trophy favorite and potential No. 1 draft pick Matt Corral and No. 10 Ole Miss are on the road against No. 18 Auburn (7 p.m. ET, ESPN). Meanwhile, expect fireworks when Penn State faces off with historic rival Ohio State in Columbus (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC).
Here are the top plays from Saturday’s action.
Second-quarter spark
It was a scoreless first quarter in Jacksonville after each team missed a field goal, but Georgia was first on the board as the Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead in the second frame.
The Gators had a chance to swing the momentum when they picked off Stetson Bennett late in the quarter, but the Bulldogs’ defense came up big on the following drive when Florida QB Anthony Richardson got the ball stripped away from him as he was getting pushed forward by the pile.
Georgia recovered inside Florida’s 15-yard line, and the Bulldogs were able to punch it in from there to take a 10-point lead.
Dawg pound
Then, Georgia extended its lead to 17-0 on this rocket from Bennett to Kearis Jackson.
Shutout continues
With seven seconds to spare, Richardson’s pass was intercepted and returned 50 yards for a touchdown, as Georgia took a 24-0 lead headed into the break.
No. 8 Michigan State 37, No. 6 Michigan 33
Spartans denied
On Michigan State’s first drive of the game, Payton Thorne‘s pass was intercepted at the goal line, a good omen for UM to start the day.
To the house!
The Wolverines immediately capitalized on their early takeaway, when wideout Andrel Anthony – an East Landing, MI native – exploded down the field after a dime from Cade McNamara, giving UM all the momentum early. That run is the second-longest passing touchdown in Michigan’s school history.
Big-man interception
Misfortune continued to strike Michigan State.
For the second time in the first quarter, Thorne was picked off by the Michigan defense, this time by linebacker Jerome Nichols in Spartans territory.
The interception resulted in a field goal as Michigan took a 10-0 first-quarter lead.
Spartans get a spark
Heisman Trophy hopeful Kenneth Walker put MSU on the board when he hit the gas and made something out of nothing on this 27-yard touchdown run that was –– arguably –– fumbled at the goal line.
It was ruled a touchdown on the field and was confirmed after a booth review.
Riding the momentum
Michigan State went play-action on fourth-and-1 from midfield and gashed the Wolverines for a 40-yard gain.
Double trouble
A play later, Walker snagged his second TD of the first half on this short run to put the Spartans on top 14-13.
UM back in front
The Wolverines regained the lead when Anthony leaped in the air for this TD grab –– his second of the day –– from backup QB and fellow freshman J.J. McCarthy.
Big break
David Ojabo nearly came up with a huge strip-sack recovered by UM in the end zone for a Wolverines TD, but after review, it was deemed that Thorne’s right shin was down before the ball came loose.
Headed into the break, Michigan led 23-14.
Not so fast
It was a turnover on downs to start the second half when Michigan’s punter bobbled the snap and then took off running while attempting to punt on fourth-and-1 from the MSU 40.
Slingin’ it
The Spartans weren’t able to capitalize on the turnover, however, and UM got the ball back after MSU went three-and-out. On the ensuing possession, McNamara found Mike Sainristil with this strike for six.
Third time’s the charm
This 28-yard pick–up from Jayden Reed set up a Spartans TD from Walker, good for his third of the day.
MSU added a two-point conversion to cut Michigan’s lead to 30-22 heading into the final frame.
16 unanswered
The Spartans’ defense delivered a big hit on McNamara to force a Michigan punt.
Then, Walker (who else?) took it 58 yards to the house for an MSU TD, and after a successful two-point conversion, things were knotted up 30-30 early in the fourth.
Taking off
Michigan hit a field go to retake the lead in East Lansing, but it didn’t last long, as UM fumbled on its ensuing possession and it was recovered by MSU.
And with the Spartans in scoring position, we know what happened next:
That’s all she wrote
Michigan got the ball back with 1:27 left to play, but McNamara was picked off and things ended there.
THE BEST OF THE REST:
Oregon QB Anthony Brown was able to find his receiver on this 28-yard touchdown pass despite immense pressure from the Colorado defense to take a 21-0 first-half lead over the Buffaloes.
Colorado fired back with a TD drive of its own to avoid the shutout, capped off by this dazzling grab in the end zone by Ty Robinson.
How about this miraculous, one-handed grab from Oklahoma‘s Jadon Haselwood?
The Sooners capitalized on that momentum, charging downfield and taking the lead with ease.
Wisconsin pulled off a huge upset over No. 9 Iowa at home thanks to the Badgers’ explosive passing game and stout defense, which allowed zero points until midway through the third frame.
Liberty’s Malik Willis –– who could be the first QB taken in the 2022 NFL Draft –– launched an absolute missile on this touchdown as the Flames decimated UMass.
Miami 38, No. 17 Pittsburgh 34
The Pitt Panthers didn’t know what hit them when Miami pulled out this trick play to take the lead.
Illinois knotted things up against Rutgers after Brandon Peters dropped this dime to Isaiah Williams.
No. 10 Ole Miss at No. 18 Auburn (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Still to come!
No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 20 Penn State (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Still to come!
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