Week 9 of college football just delivered a gut punch to some top teams, with five AP Top 25 squads taking a fall. Three of those even lost to unranked opponents, showing you the kind of chaos we’re talking about. But nobody took a harder shot to the jaw than No. 25 Wisconsin, who got absolutely blanked 30-0 by Iowa.
The Badgers’ Good Vibes Just Evaporated
Seriously, how do you go from “exceedingly positive vibes” under coach Luke Fickell, back in the Top 25, to getting shut out? The Badgers were “completely outclassed on both sides of the ball,” according to the source. They could only muster a pathetic 52 yards rushing. And let’s talk about Iowa QB Hank Brown, who carved them up for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-24 passing. That’s one of the Hawkeyes’ best quarterback performances in years. All that momentum from a “breakout 2026 season?” Gone. Evaporated in an instant. After dominating No. 16 USC just last week, the Badgers just threw it all away. Closing out the year with four unranked victories to reach nine wins would be nice, but it’s now “below the expectations of this team.” Ouch.
Miracles and Comebacks: Indiana and Texas Tech Show Up
But hey, it wasn’t all bad news across the board, unless you’re a Badgers fan still reeling. No. 4 Indiana, for instance, pulled off some straight-up magic. Coach Curt Cignetti looked like he completely mismanaged the clock, letting 40 seconds tick off after Minnesota drilled a 60-yard field goal in the waning seconds of regulation. Then, BOOM! Indiana miraculously nails their *own* 60-yard field goal and then seals it with the game-winning play to open overtime for a 23-16 victory against the Golden Gophers. How does Cignetti keep getting away with it? Indiana might be “clearly diminished from its national title team,” but somehow, the coach just finds a way.
And how about Texas Tech? Obituaries were being written for their season after a stunning two-touchdown loss to Cincinnati last week. Instead of panicking, coach Joey McGuire hands the keys to backup quarterback Thomas Castellanos. And BAM! The Red Raiders have now outdueled No. 22 Houston and No. 22 Arizona in impressive home performances, launching them right into the Big 12 title discussion. With road trips to No. 24 Oklahoma State and Baylor remaining, they’ve got a few more “prove-it spots” against two of the hottest teams in the conference.
Oregon’s Dylan Raiola Bounces Back
Oh, and let’s not forget Oregon’s quarterback Dylan Raiola. The “Raiola era at Oregon has been a mess” ever since he was forced into the starting lineup in place of Dante Moore. But even after going down 10-0 again, the kid bounced back. You love to see that grit when things get rough.
This Week 9 slate might’ve looked lighter on paper, but it was heavy on drama and surprises. For teams like Wisconsin, they’re now trying to pick up the pieces, and nine wins suddenly feels like a consolation prize instead of a goal. For Indiana and Texas Tech, the path ahead looks a lot clearer, thanks to some clutch performances. Can they keep that momentum rolling as the season races on?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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