2025 Week 9 Coaches Inc. Highlights

LSU fired Head Coach Brian Kelly after a devasting home loss on Saturday so the in-season firing trend continues. BYU’s convincing road win over Iowa State propelled the Cougars into the Top 10 and extended their win streak to 10 games. Also on Saturday, two more coaches got win number 6, Pitt RBs Coach Lindsay Lamar and San Diego State Passing Game Coordinator/WRs Coach Lanear Sampson, joining the ranks of coaches going bowling.

Lehigh and Tennessee Tech won again to stay unbeaten and remain in the FCS Top 10. The TTU Golden Eagles have now won 13-straight games dating to last season for the longest current win streak in FCS football. In D2, Albany State HC Quinn Gray’s team jumped into the D2 Top 25 for the first time this season after a 31-3 rout over #21 Benedict. Quinn is joined by Fayetteville State’s HC Richard Hayes and UNC-Pembroke’s HC Mark Hall in the first NCAA Regional Rankings as the D2 regular season winds down and teams jockey for playoff berths.

The New York Jets received news on Saturday that former All-Pro C Nick Mangold passed away from kidney disease at just 41. For a team that had yet to see the win column this season, that tragic news coupled with the owner’s public criticism of the team’s QB, things seemed bleak. Despite being down, the Jets proved they are not out as they beat the Bengals 39-38 on Sunday.

The Jets’ offense finally came to life in the second half and the defense came up with the final stop to secure the first win of the season. They put up 502 yards of offense and scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, and the defense had a key third down sack to set up the game winning drive, followed by a pass breakup on a Bengals’ fourth down pass to end the game. The win was also notable as it was the first in Jets’ Defensive Assistant Roosevelt Williams’ NFL coaching career.

The Arkansas State Red Wolves won their third game in a row on Saturday and now find themselves just one game behind Troy and Southern Miss in the SBC West, with both of those teams left on the schedule. Associate HC/RBs Coach Marquase Lovings saw his guys lead the way to victory on Saturday. RBs Kenyon Clay and Devin Spencer both rushed for over 120 yards and the team gained 266 yards rushing on the day. The Red Wolves had a season best four rushing TDs and the run game will be crucial for Arkansas State as they fight for a spot in the SBC Championship game.

Miami (OH) has enjoyed tremendous success since alum and OL/Assoc HC/Run Game Coordinator James Patton returned to the sidelines four years ago. The RedHawks have gone to the MAC Championship game the last two seasons (1-1) and sit alone in first place at 4-0 after Saturday’s win. The offense scored 17 points in the fourth quarter after trailing 17-9 at the end of the third. The RedHawks did not get rattled and showed composure as they battled back with a solid 408 yards of total offense, 260 passing/148 rushing. DBs Coach Mitch White, in his second season with the RedHawks, and the defense did not allow a point in the fourth quarter and held WMU to 172 yards through the air for the day. MACtion starts next week and Miami will try to avenge a MAC Championship game loss from last year against Ohio on Tuesday.

South Alabama DL Coach Jerone Steckel arrived in Mobile earlier this year after spending the last two seasons at Eastern Michigan. Despite playing well in some really close games, the Jaguars were on a six-game losing streak. That streak ended in Atlanta on Thursday night as the defense held strong when it counted to snap the streak. With the game tied at 31, South Alabama forced and recovered a fumble that set up a Jags’ 47-yard drive to take the lead. When Georgia State got the ball back looking to tie, the South Alabama defense came up with an INT that allowed the offense to take a knee and run out the clock. Getting back into the win column is going to serve the Jaguars well as they look to finish the season strong in hopes of making a bowl game.

College football scheduling can greatly impact a season, and the three teams who saw Head Coach Chennis Berry and his South Carolina State Bulldogs appear as the 2025 homecoming opponent all suffered losses. The Bulldogs’ third and final homecoming victim was the Norfolk State Spartans led by new HC and local legend, Michael Vick. The SCSU offense had a huge day putting up 613 yards in the 51-20 dominant win. RBs Coach Rashard Alston and WRs Coach/Pro Liaison DJ Boldin saw their groups excel in the MEAC opener for the reigning champs. The RBs group and the WRs group each contributed three TDs. RB Tyler Smith had 113 yards and a TD while RB Mason Pickett-Hicks added 58 yards with a rushing and receiving TD. WR Jordan Smith had a monster day with seven catches for 197 yards and two TDs. The Bulldogs are firing on all cylinders as they chase a return trip to the Celebration Bowl.

The RMU Colonials got their first conference win of the season thanks in large part to a stellar defensive performance. RMU’s defense accounted for ten points off a fumble recovery and INT to set up RMU scores. DL Coach Sam Scott, who spent the last two seasons at Temple, guided his group to hold Saint Francis to just 100 yards rushing. The Colonials hope to ride the momentum off Saturday’s win to finish NEC play strong in November.