Welcome back to yet another week of college football! This week features NIU’s final attempt to reclaim the Bronze Stalk as a member of the Mid-American Conference, while some of the top teams in the nation duke it out with each other to move up in the rankings.
Since a season-long commitment was made to these predictions, here are the Northern Star Sports Staff’s predictions for some of the most interesting matchups from Week 9.
No. 9 Ole Miss @ No. 13 Oklahoma
11 a.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 25 | ABC
Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor (24-16): Oklahoma — The Rebels might have one of the best offenses in the nation, but Oklahoma has one of the best defenses, which makes this a tricky one. Both sides have the chance to show why their respective powerhouse is better than the other, and I’m rocking with the defense in this one.
Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter (29-11): Oklahoma — Ole Miss versus Oklahoma. An unstoppable offense versus an immovable defense, and I’m a sucker for good defense. Boomer Sooner.
Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter (28-12): Ole Miss — The Rebels have been a great team so far this season, with just one loss coming last week against Georgia. The Rebels face a much lighter task, but still a good team, in Oklahoma, and they should be able to take down the Sooners.
Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter (19-21): Oklahoma — The best offense is a good defense, and the Sooners have an outrageously good defense.
Eric Avila, Sports Reporter (24.5-15.5): Ole Miss — I am picking the Rebels because my former sports journalism professor Bill Cassidy now teaches at Ole Miss. Sorry Oklahoma, let’s go Rebels! And also Joseph Segreti’s brother Jeremy Segreti is an Ole Miss alumni. I love Dr. Cassidy and I love Joey so for that final reason again, let’s go Rebels!
Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter (25-15): Oklahoma — Ole Miss loves running the ball, and that will not bode well with a Sooners defense that has only allowed 2.5 yards per carry this season. Give me Oklahoma.
Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter (21-14): Oklahoma — The Sooners run game lit up South Carolina last week in their 26-7 dub, rushing for a total 171 yards. Meanwhile, Ole Miss gave up 221 rushing yards against Georgia. Combined with this solid defense, I think the Sooners snatch their first ever win against the Rebels.
No. 18 South Florida @ Memphis
11 a.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 25 | ESPN2
Schaefer: South Florida — Scoring 228 points over a four game stretch is outrageous. I’ll let you guess which team did that, and I’ll even give you a hint; It rhymes with Mouth Corrida. If you’ve never heard of a corrida, it’s a bullfight, so there’s another hint for you.
Kisellus: South Florida — Only one of these teams is ranked, but I know this is going to be a slobberknocker. I also know that messing with a Bull gets you its horns. Need I say more?
Segreti: South Florida — These teams have been two of the best teams not in the Group of 4 this season, but South Florida has been better. The Bulls have had much more impressive wins against ranked opponents.
Valenti: South Florida — I can only say “don’t make me tap the photo” so many times without my bosses telling me no. I’ve been to Memphis once, and the experience was enough to make me never pick their team.
Avila: South Florida — South Florida has been a great football team this season, their only loss was to a now No. 9 Miami, but other than that they have been very dominant, especially two weeks against an undefeated North Texas. They are the leaders and future winners of the American Athletic Conference. Also, they are the Bulls, and the Rock is the Brahma Bull, and the Rock is a former WWE champion. So let’s go Bulls!
Whittington: South Florida — The Bulls are currently riding a 4-game win streak. While the Tigers have been really good this year, Florida just has more versatility on offense.
Naranjo: South Florida — While Memphis had had South Florida’s number as of late, winning the last four, this is the best the Bulls have looked in a while. Their offense is flying, averaging 41.71 points per game while the Tigers’ defense has been inconsistent, letting teams like Arkansas and UAB drop 31 on them. SF should break this losing streak.
San Diego State @ Fresno State
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 25 | FS1
Schaefer: San Diego State — The Aztecs sit second in the Mountain West behind Boise State and after being held to 6 points by NIU, San Diego State has put up 40+ points in each of their last games. This should be easy for San Diego State.
Kisellus: San Diego State — One of these Pac-12 traitors managed just six points against a floundering NIU team last month. That same team has since steamrolled its Mountain West schedule. The answer to both? San Diego State.
Segreti: San Diego State — Why would I pick Fresno State? Only one of these teams has beaten a Josh Holst led NIU team, and that was San Diego State. Fresno State also allowed Holst to score a tw0-point conversion.
Valenti: San Diego — I want to make a South Park reference, but it’s too gnarly. If you know, you know. Go Aztecs!
Avila: San Diego State — My favorite youtuber FaZe Rug is from San Diego, and that is the sole reason for this pick. Let’s go Aztecs! R.I.P. Bosley.
Whittington: San Diego State — Only one of these teams beat the elite 2025 NIU team with star QB Josh Holst at the helm. Give me the Aztecs.
Naranjo: San Diego State — While the Aztecs defense has been the highlight this season, their offense has also been picking up, scoring a total of 89 points in their recent 2 wins. No one in the Mountain West besides Boise State looks near the level of San Diego State at the moment.
Ball State @ NIU
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 25 | ESPN+
Schaefer: Ball State — I would like to remind everyone that Ball is NOT a state, so this is difficult for me. I said I wouldn’t pick NIU again until they won a game, and since that hasn’t happened, I must stick to my word and go with the Cardinals from Indiana, which is in fact a state.
Kisellus: Ball State — I’ve only seen NIU beat its archrival once — on a cold yet magical November night in 2021. Those pesky Cardinals have been hogging the Bronze Stalk ever since, and I highly doubt *these* Huskies are going to change that.
At least I’ll always have John Richardson and his ice-cold celebration:
Segreti: Ball State — After another disappointing performance for the Huskies last week, I am still unable to believe in them to win a game. As much as I would love to see NIU beat their rival Ball State, it just doesn’t seem likely.
Valenti: Ball State — If the freak below me is allowed to pick both, I would’ve been picking both every time since week one. Even still, I’m never picking NIU again.
Avila: Both — I think Ball State is going to win, but for me to go back to normal points I must sacrifice this pick, and honestly I see that as a win/win. Either NIU wins, or they lose and I go back to normal points. A chihuahua is more fierce than the Huskies currently.
Whittington: Ball State — GTA VI will be coming out before NIU gets another win.
Naranjo: Ball State — The Huskies need a prayer for this one. The Cardinals are sitting 4th in the MAC, including a win against Ohio, and this game has playoff implications for them. NIU is also winless in the last 3 against Ball State. Hurts me as a Cubs fan to pick any Cardinals team but they have more to play for.
Western Michigan @ Miami (Ohio)
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 25 | ESPN+
Schaefer: Western Michigan — Hot take to round out my picks for the week, but Western Michigan has only looked better and better as the season’s progressed. I also can’t bring myself to pick any team that’s lost to the Wisconsin Badgers this season, which Miami did in their first outing of the season.
Kisellus: Miami (Ohio) — When you’ve watched MACtion long enough, you learn one undeniable truth: Miami is putrid in non-conference play but becomes Super Saiyan the second MAC play hits. Don’t bother questioning it. Just respect it.
Segreti: Miami (Ohio) — I am picking Miami because my boss, Editor in Chief Edison Miller, said that Miami is the clear better team and is going to wipe the floor with Western Michigan.
Valenti: Western Michigan — My pity/optimistic pick of the week. Remember that one time I picked Western Michigan and everyone thought they were going to lose but they won and I was the only one right and I looked like a big-brained individual? Just me?
Avila: Miami (Ohio) — Skibidi Ohio, Ohio based Rizzler, LeBron THE KING James, John Legend, “cause allllll of me, loves alllllll of you,” IShowSpeed, the Paul brothers, Roman Atwood, Bronny James, all from the great state of Ohio. Miami (Ohio) in 5. Give me the Redhawks.
Whittington: Western Michigan — The Broncos have all of the momentum after a 42-0 win against Ball State. Miami is favored but I believe an upset is in the cards.
Naranjo: Miami (Ohio) — One team is leaving undefeated in the MAC and I think it’s the RedHawks. In 2023, Miami OH snapped a 8-game losing streak to the Broncos and their home crowd will be begging for another one. They have not seen a home victory against WMU since I was a baby in 2001, it’s finally time for one.
