LSU’s poor performance against Texas A&M highlighted their flaws, while Missouri’s impressive showing against Alabama kept things interesting. Meanwhile, Travis Hunter caught the eye of Heisman voters with a standout performance in Colorado’s significant defeat of Cincinnati.

LSU became the only team in the top 15 to suffer a loss in what was otherwise a rather uneventful Saturday in college football. Fortunately for Ohio State and Texas, they managed to secure narrow victories against Nebraska and Vanderbilt, respectively.

The race for the College Football Playoff is still crowded, but Missouri and Illinois are now out of contention.

Here are a few thoughts lingering after Week 9 as we head into November:

Can Brian Kelly finally win a national championship at LSU?

Not this year.

The Tigers’ 38-23 defeat by Texas A&M didn’t eliminate them from playoff contention, but it did bring them closer to the edge, and showcased their one-dimensional style of play, which is not conducive to achieving national success in Kelly’s third year.

When did Kelly become a coach who relies solely on his quarterback to perform exceptionally just to win, as he described following the loss?

During his time at Notre Dame, Kelly’s teams were typically solid defensively and established a strong running game. LSU seems to lack both of these elements.

Upon leaving Notre Dame, many believed Kelly had maximized the program’s potential, while LSU would offer him a more advantageous opportunity to claim the elusive national title.

How is that goal shaping up? Kelly’s current LSU squad performs no better than his first.

Perhaps Kelly’s limitations were never exclusively tied to Notre Dame.

Texas A&M’s Mike Elko outcoached Kelly in the second half, leading the Aggies to a comeback from a two-score deficit. Although the Aggies struggled against LSU’s pass rush, Elko made a quarterback switch to allow Marcel Reed to run read-option plays, leaving LSU’s defense bewildered.

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier faltered in the second half, revealing the team’s inability to cope when their QB struggles. Nussmeier is crucial to their performance.

Kelly typically doesn’t lose to lower-ranked teams, yet he struggles when facing higher-ranked opponents. LSU isn’t paying Kelly $10 million each season just to beat teams like Arkansas. The school’s last three head coaches all secured national championships, and it’s expected that Kelly will achieve the same after being awarded a 10-year guaranteed contract.

Although Kelly’s substantial contract provides him some leeway, LSU fans are starting to grow impatient.

Is Texas A&M a legitimate contender?

At least their defense is strong.

Elko has demonstrated that waiting for a turnaround is foolish. If a struggling coach says it will take years to fix things, it might be best to find a new leader, especially given the talent available at Texas A&M.

The Aggies faced a challenge under Jimbo Fisher in recent seasons, but now that he’s gone, the team is thriving.

Elko has successfully cultivated a culture that enhances the Aggies’ mental and physical resilience.

For the first time, the Aggies are 5-0 in the SEC. They currently sit atop the conference standings.

But, do they pose the greatest threat to Georgia’s quest for the SEC title?

I’m not so sure. When both Texas and Texas A&M bring their best game, Texas seems slightly ahead. However, Texas has struggled over the past two weeks, while the Aggies keep improving.

Texas A&M’s defense poses consistent problems for opposing offenses, making them competitive in any matchup.

The team’s success hinges on their quarterbacks, and Elko must be flexible in using different quarterbacks to exploit varying strengths. He should play the one who’s performing best and adapt to the situation.

Why are poll voters skeptical of Indiana?

Despite their 31-17 victory over Washington without their starting quarterback, Indiana (8-0) remains stuck at No. 13 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, even as a ranked team above them lost.

In my view, Indiana has performed impressively – so why the lack of recognition?

Several factors contribute: Indiana’s weak strength of schedule doesn’t help, as they haven’t faced any top 25-ranked teams. Still, they’ve dominated most of their opponents, and it’s not like No. 5 Miami has faced tougher challenges.

So, what else is influencing this perception?

The reputation on the front of the jersey plays a significant role in poll rankings. Although it arguably shouldn’t, it does.

Voters are likely holding onto past impressions of Indiana’s difficult history and waiting for them to falter. However, this year’s Hoosiers are not the same team as in the past and have been playing like a top-10 squad.

If Indiana manages to win against Michigan State this week, the College Football Playoff selection committee might recognize their accomplishments better than poll voters have thus far.

Is Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman No Longer at Risk?

Coach Pittman, known for his friendly demeanor, humorously acknowledged his high position on preseason threat lists.

“I’m HOT,” he quipped cheerfully back in July.

However, his situation is stabilizing. He’s almost in the clear.

Arkansas secured a comfortable 5-3 record after a decisive victory over Mississippi State, considered the weakest in the SEC. They still have Louisiana Tech on their schedule, along with key matchups against Ole Miss, Texas, and Missouri.

If Arkansas manages to win half of their November games, Pittman’s position will be very secure. His contract includes a clause for an automatic pay increase and an extension through the 2028 season if he achieves a 7-5 record, illustrating how fast a coach’s status can shift from being in jeopardy to a guaranteed extension.

Even if Pittman ends the month with a 1-3 record, he may still maintain his role, particularly since he has made more progress than his predecessors, Chad Morris and Bret Bielema.

Fans of Arkansas generally appreciate Pittman, and they are also quite eager about the new basketball season under John Calipari. If Pittman ends up with a record of 6-6 or better, he is likely to evade dismissal.