College Football Week 9 Live Winners and Losers: Lincoln Riley Gets Signature Win, Notre Dame’s Résumé Takes Hit

Key Points:

• Texas Tech's quarterback situation has been turbulent this season, with eligibility issues and injuries leading to veteran Thomas Castellanos starting and helping secure a key win against Arizona with both passing and rushing contributions.
• USC coach Lincoln Riley revived his team's College Football Playoff hopes by defeating No. 2 Ohio State, easing pressure on his job despite earlier struggles.
• Backup quarterbacks have struggled stepping in for injured Heisman hopefuls like Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor, highlighting challenges in replacing top-tier QBs in today’s college football landscape.
• Indiana secured a dramatic overtime victory against Minnesota with clutch long field goals and key plays from backup quarterback Grant Wilson, demonstrating resilience despite offensive struggles.
• Sacramento State earned its first FBS win after moving up to the MAC, capitalizing on opponent turnovers despite being outgained, marking a milestone for the program’s transition.