College Football 2020: 5 games with serious playoff implications in Week 9

1. No. 3 Ohio State at No. 18 Penn State

This game does not have the same kind of hype that it did just a week ago, but that does not mean that it has lost all playoff implications.

Ohio State walks into Happy Valley as a double-digit favorite and as a heavy contender to return to the College Football Playoff and that’s well-earned. Penn State is limping a bit after being upset by Indiana last week, but don’t expect the Nittany Lions to just lay down against the Buckeyes.

Penn State has played Ohio State as well as anyone in the Big Ten during the last five years. In fact, it upset the second-ranked Buckeyes at home in 2016 and came within inches of doing so in 2017 and 2018. They may have lost by 11 last season, but that was an accomplishment due to how dominant Ohio State was.

As I noted earlier, this game has major playoff implications due to the Big Ten pinning most of their playoff hopes on Ohio State making a run and that could take a major hit if Penn State pulls the upset. Penn State could turn this season upside down if they could find a way to pull the upset.

This game is the highlight of the weekend and the game with the most playoff implications in Week 9.