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College Football 2021: Winners, Losers of Week Nine AP Poll Release

By Jackson Caudell

Oct 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) celebrates his touchdown run with teammates against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 23, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini running back Chase Brown (2) celebrates his touchdown run with teammates against the Penn State Nittany Lions during the first half at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
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(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Loser: Penn State (20th)

What a disaster of a game for the Penn State Nittany Lions.  Penn State came in as more than three-touchdown favorites and after nine overtimes, they left with their second loss of the season that will eliminate them from playoff contention and probably for the Big Ten title as well. Quarterback Sean Clifford did not look like he was healthy and Penn State could not stop the Illinois rushing attack.

Penn State has no time to feel sorry for itself though. Ohio State is next on the schedule and that could be the win that could salvage the season for Penn State if it could find a way to win. For now, though, the Nittany Lions are the biggest losers from the weekend.

Loser: NC State (Unranked)

Most NC State fans thought it was coming at some point, but NC State could not take advantage of the opportunity given to them and they lost control of first place in the ACC Atlantic. The Wolfpack lost to a Miami team that had not been playing well recently and now, the Wolfpack are in danger of not winning the division and possibly making a New Years Six game.

All is not lost, but this felt like the perfect season for the Wolfpack to break through and make the ACC Championship game. That could still happen, but this was a disappointing result for NC State.

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