College Football Week 9 Picks, Preview: What to Expect in UCLA-Indiana, More

College Football Week 9 Picks and Preview: What to Expect in UCLA-Indiana and More

Updated Oct 0 tagalog. 24, 2025, 9:30 p.m. ET

Joel Klatt, Lead College Football Analyst

This weekend, two of the biggest games in college football will unfold at Indiana and Vanderbilt. Who would’ve thought we’d be saying that? The No. 2 Hoosiers have emerged as one of the best teams in the nation, and Indiana will serve as the backdrop for “Big Noon Kickoff” as they go head-to-head with a resurgent UCLA team on Saturday. Later in the day, the 10th-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores will host the 15th-ranked Missouri Tigers in a pivotal matchup for both the SEC race and the College Football Playoff picture.

While I’ll be on the call for the UCLA-Indiana showdown and won’t make a prediction for that game, I do have picks for other top matchups in Week 9. Here’s a preview of the upcoming schedule.

UCLA at No. 2 Indiana (noon ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app)

These two programs have been at the center of two of the most compelling storylines in college football — Indiana’s ascent to No. 2 and UCLA’s impressive recovery after a tough 0-4 start. The Bruins made a coaching change, upset Penn State, and are now riding a three-game winning streak under interim head coach Tim Skipper.

Since the coaching shift, UCLA’s offense has shown marked improvement. While we know quarterback Nico Iamaleava is talented, the new coaching approach has given this offense much more freedom. The Bruins are competing with an urgency that was previously absent, indicating they are fully aware of their roles on the field. Understanding the “why” behind their tactics distinguishes successful teams from their peers — few grasp both the strategy and execution, while the best teams do.

On the flip side, Indiana is one of the elite teams in the country, boasting a top-five ranking in both scoring offense and defense. The Hoosiers are well-balanced, with their quarterback among the favorites to win the Heisman trophy. Their veteran players, especially those on the outside, excel in crucial moments. Wide receiver Elijah Surrat adds valuable depth to their offensive arsenal, and they have a solid ground game, making Indiana one of the strongest college teams right now.

Indiana’s coordinators are top-notch and adept at exploiting opponents’ weaknesses. However, the challenge lies in UCLA’s unpredictable defense, which doesn’t exhibit many tendencies at this point. Each week, UCLA develops a unique game plan and scheme, something I haven’t witnessed before on film.

No. 3 Texas A&M at No. 20 LSU (7:30 p.m. ET)

This matchup is significant for both teams. For Texas A&M, they control their destiny heading into the SEC title game, but their previous experiences in Death Valley have not been favorable. LSU’s stakes are clear: they need to win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive, and head coach Brian Kelly is under pressure as speculation about his future mounts.

Unfortunately for LSU, they will be without starting left tackle Tyree Adams for several weeks, which is a considerable setback as they face Aggies defensive end Cashius Howell, who has recorded eight sacks this season. If LSU struggles to establish the run, Howell could unleash a relentless pass rush against quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, which won’t bode well for the Tigers.

Despite Texas A&M’s uneven performance against Arkansas last week, I believe they can put together a strong defensive effort against an LSU offense that has underperformed this season, scoring no more than 24 points against FBS opponents. LSU’s defense faltered last week against Vanderbilt, and now they must contend with Heisman candidate Marcel Reed, who poses a similar challenge to the playmaking abilities of Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia.

Although I typically hesitate to back road teams, the matchup seems favorable for Texas A&M across most aspects.

Pick: Texas A&M 23, LSU 20 (Texas A&M -2.5)

No. 24 Michigan at Michigan State (7:30 p.m. mag tambay ET)

It appeared that the Wolverines have finally solved their Rubik’s Cube last week, reminiscent of their childhood when they played with one they could easily manipulate. After a few weeks of stumbling, they were back on track against Washington last week. 7-bet

The victory over Washington epitomized Michigan football: solid rushing, effective blocking, and significantly less blitzing, allowing their defense to simply make plays. If Michigan reviews that game tape, they will recognize a familiar and effective blueprint to follow. If they stick to it, they’ll control the game’s tempo, particularly dominating at both lines of scrimmage compared to Michigan State.

While Michigan State has progressed in the passing game, they’ve struggled to run the ball effectively, averaging just 89 rushing yards per game in Big Ten competition. That’s insufficient against Michigan, especially given that Michigan State let UCLA rack up 238 yards on the ground just weeks ago. They managed to stay competitive for a quarter and a half against Indiana last week, but the Hoosiers ultimately pulled away.

The only factor on Michigan State’s side is the kitchen-sink nature of this game. Michigan hasn’t overwhelmingly dominated any team this season, making the 14.5-point spread significant. Still, I predict they will win decisively.

Pick: Michigan 30, Michigan State 17 (Michigan State +14.5)

No. 8 Ole Miss at No. 13 Oklahoma (noon ET)

These two teams couldn’t be more different. Ole Miss sports a potent offense but their defense raised concerns last week in a fruitless effort against Georgia. Conversely, Oklahoma relies on a solid defense while their offense remains questionable, highlighted by quarterback John Mateer’s inconsistent performance since returning from injury.

Oklahoma must see improvement from their run game — they showed some life against South Carolina last week, but that was against a struggling Razorbacks team zumba tamtax. Meanwhile, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss experienced a significant learning moment during the Georgia game, but I believe in his abilities. He’s a gifted athlete who can generate substantial points, and coach Lane Kiffin will have a game plan that allows him to secure early completions against Oklahoma’s defense.

Ultimately, I expect Oklahoma to edge out a close win, likely resulting in a lower score than Ole Miss usually produces.

Pick: Oklahoma 24, Ole Miss 21 (Ole Miss +5.5)

No. 15 Missouri at No. 10 Vanderbilt (3:30 p.m. ET)

The quarterback duel in this matchup intrigues me, yet I believe Vanderbilt holds the strategic advantage. Beau Pribula of Missouri has struggled with turnovers lately, while Pavia has exhibited the tenacity and competitiveness that I admire. Although Missouri hasn’t effectively run the ball recently, their pass rush aims to pressure Pavia, who has only been sacked five times this season. Given Pavia’s creativity, this could prove challenging.

However, this game may be a potential trap for Vanderbilt, considering it’s their first time in the top 10 and they come off a significant win over LSU, with Texas on the horizon. Still, that environment should be electrifying. In what looks like a toss-up (Vanderbilt -2.5), I’ll back the team with the better quarterback.

Pick: Vanderbilt 27, Missouri 20 (Vanderbilt -2.5)

Joel Klatt is FOX Sports’ lead college football game analyst and the host of “The Joel Klatt Show. tamabet photos” Follow him @joelklatt and subscribe to “The Joel Klatt Show” on YouTube.

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