Week 9 of the college football season will bring 27 games featuring schools from the Old North State, all being played on Saturday.
Multiple contests will have substantial bearing on conference championship pursuits.
Here are some of the top contests we’ll be keeping tabs on, followed by the complete schedule with kickoff times and TV/streaming coverage below:
#24 Western Carolina (4-3, 3-0 SoCon) at #14/#17 Mercer (6-1, 3-1 SoCon)
WCU, which broke multiple team and conference records for offense in a 52-20 throttling of Furman, is the only team without a conference loss. But the Catamounts are by no means way out in front in the standings. Chattanooga (3-1), East Tennessee State (2-1) and Samford (2-1) lurk close by. Samford handed Mercer its first loss of the season over the weekend.
Western Carolina was wobbly through the first month of the season but seems to have hit its stride just in time for the stretch run. WCU at Mercer should be one of the top national FCS games of the week.
#19/#20 Johnson C. Smith (7-0, 4-0 CIAA) at Winston-Salem State (6-2, 4-1)
The Golden Bulls snapped a 21-game losing streak to the Rams a year ago at this time. A lot more will be at stake this time around, as both seek spots in next month’s CIAA championship game. WSSU is used to life at the top of the league. JCSU hasn’t won the CIAA since 1969.
Limestone (5-2, 4-1 SAC) at #16/#18 Lenoir-Rhyne (6-1, 4-1 SAC)
The South Atlantic’s Piedmont Division appears to be a three-team race between Wingate and these two schools, each with one league loss. Wingate won the first leg of the round-robin on Saturday, clubbing Limestone 38-12. Lenoir-Rhyne and Wingate square off Saturday, Nov. 2.
Catawba (2-5, 1-4 SAC) at Wingate (5-1, 3-1)
Classic trap-game scenario for the Bulldogs, with the rival Bears on deck next weekend. Catawba has played tight against every D2 on their schedule, losing four one-score games, including nailbiters to Carson-Newman (7-0) and Limestone.
#22/#22 SMU (6-1, 3-0 ACC) at Duke (6-1, 2-1 ACC)
Who had this game pegged as match-up of 6-1 opponents with Top 25 pedigree heading into the season (Duke received votes in both national polls this week). Duke has been riding strong defense all year but will need much better offense to tame the Mustangs.
North Carolina (3-4, 0-3 ACC) at Virginia (4-2, 2-2 ACC)
Can the Heels stop their slide in the latest rendition of the South’s oldest football rivalry?
Georgia State (2-4, 0-3 Sun Belt ) at Appalachian State (2-4, 0-3 Sun Belt)
For awhile after Hurricane Helene, there was doubt the Mountaineers would play another home game at Kidd Brewer this fall. This should be an emotionally lifting afternoon for a hard-hit community still on the mend from the storm.
Butler (5-2, 1-2 PFL) at Davidson (5-2, 3-1 PFL)
The Wildcats, coming off a 400+ yard rushing performance, will seek to win their sixth in a row against the visiting Bulldogs and keep their name in conference title conversation.
Temple (2-5, 1-2 AAC) at East Carolina (3-4, 1-2 AAC)
How will the Pirates respond in their first game after the firing of Mike Houston? DC Blake Harrell takes over as interim head coach.
Morgan State (3-4, 0-0 MEAC at #20/#21 North Carolina Central (5-2, 1-0 MEAC)
It’s all conference games from here on out for NCCU, which is coming off a bye week. The Eagles haven’t lost to the Bears in a decade.
Gardner-Webb (2-5, 1-2) at Southeast Missouri (7-1, 4-0)
The reigning Big South/OVC champions take aim at the current first-place team in the league standings. The teams did not play each other last season.
North Carolina A&T (1-6, 0-3) at Campbell (2-5, 0-3)
One of these second-year CAA teams is going to get its first conference victory of the season.
Complete Week 9 Schedule
