College football Week 9 winners and losers include Nebraska, USC

Key Points:

• Nebraska's three-game losing streak has dropped them near the bottom of the Big Ten, increasing pressure on coach Matt Rhule as the team faces a critical November schedule including road games at Illinois and Rutgers, and season-ending matchups against Ohio State and Iowa.
• Southern California's upset win over Ohio State boosts coach Lincoln Riley's standing and impacts Big Ten and College Football Playoff implications, while Texas Tech, Iowa, Wake Forest, and Penn State also posted significant victories that improve their postseason prospects.
• Ohio State's loss to USC exposes vulnerabilities, including increased penalties and turnovers, forcing them to win out to secure a Big Ten championship game berth and playoff consideration; Oklahoma's poor performance against South Carolina raises concerns about both offense and defense.
• Indiana's quarterback struggles continue amid a narrow overtime win against Minnesota, with decisions at the position likely to determine the team's season trajectory; SMU's close loss to Syracuse effectively ends their at-large playoff hopes, leaving only a conference championship path.
• Wisconsin and Cincinnati suffered heavy defeats, with Wisconsin facing a quarterback dilemma and ongoing struggles against Iowa, while Cincinnati was dominated by Utah, reinforcing the Utes' status as Big 12 leaders.