College Football Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench for Week 9

After a big weekend with some intriguing upsets, college football gets back at it for Week 9. October is almost over, and November really kicks things into overdrive for the home stretch of the campaign. What can these teams do before that happens, though? Also, will any more coaches be fired based on Week 9's results? Beyond all the big questions, though, here are my players to start, and my players to sit, for college football purposes this upcoming week.

AAC Starts and Sits

START

 Quinton Jackson, RB, Rice vs. UConn

Rice's new run-happy offense hasn't yielded any breakthrough backs, but Jackson has two games with over 100 yards and a touchdown this season. The UConn Huskies have been fun and surprisingly good, but the team isn't winning based on run defense. Connecticut has allowed 160.1 rushing yards per game.

SIT

 Zion Booker, WR, Tulsa vs. Temple

Booker has 43 catches through seven games, which certainly stands out. On the other hand, he has been targeted 65 times and managed 343 receiving yards, which is less remarkable. Additionally, while he just had a touchdown in Tulsa's last game, it was his first this season against an FBS team. You can run on Temple, so the Golden Hurricane will probably wisely focus on that, but Temple is second in the conference in passing yards allowed per game.

ACC Starts and Sits

START

 Malachi Toney, WR, Miami (FL) vs. Stanford

The Hurricanes just lost, but Toney's remarkable freshman season didn't get diminished at all. Toney had nine catches for 135 yards and even ran for a touchdown. He should be able to get right against the Cardinal. Stanford has allowed over 300 passing yards per game, and has also averaged 27.7 points per game allowed.

SIT

 Turbo Richard, RB, Boston College at Louisville

The team that just upset the Hurricanes was the Cardinals, who particularly kept the Hurricanes' run game in check. All told, Louisville has only given up 274.0 total yards and 21.0 points per contest. I mention total yards because Richard has 175 yards and two touchdowns through the air. He's done most of his damage on the ground, but he's been held in check at times. Against Pittsburgh, he only got two carries for two yards. The Panthers have an excellent run defense, but that does make me wonder what a very good run defense can do against Richard as well.

Big Ten Starts and Sits

START

Devin Mockobee, RB, Purdue vs. Rutgers

Mockobee stuck around at Purdue even with the coaching change, and he remains the top running back for the program. He's rushed for 430 yards and four touchdowns through seven games, but he's also added 16 catches for 197 yards. Yes, Rutgers just got smashed by Oregon's high-octane offense, but Rutgers has also given up at least 30 points to Washington, Minnesota, Iowa, and Ohio. Not Ohio State, mind you, but the Ohio Bobcats from the MAC.

SIT

 Nico Iamaleava, QB, UCLA at Indiana

Under the direction of a new head coach and offensive coordinator, Iamaleava surged against Penn State and Michigan State. That was intriguing, to be sure, but Maryland gave the former Volunteer a bit of a reality check. Iamaleava turned the ball over three times and only managed one touchdown. Now, he has to travel to Indiana to face one of the best defenses in the FBS. The Hoosiers are first in the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed per game, though they have allowed 163.7 passing yards per contest. That's not bad, though, and Indiana has only given up 11.6 points per game, so don't expect much end zone time for Iamaleava and the Bruins.

Big 12 Starts and Sits

START

 Brendan Sorsby, QB, Cincinnati vs. Baylor

Cincinnati is in a fight for a spot in the Big 12 title game, and Sorsby is a big reason why. He has thrown for 17 touchdowns compared to only a single interception, and that interception came in Cincinnati's opener. On top of that, Sorsby has rushed for 340 yards and six touchdowns. It's actually the quarterback's efforts with his legs that appeal to me the most in Week 9. Baylor has allowed 31.4 points per game, but also 179.9 rushing yards per contest.

SIT

 Rocco Becht, QB, Iowa State vs. BYU

Becht has thrown for nine touchdowns, though three came against South Dakota. He also has rushed for seven scores, but with only 86 rushing yards to his name. While Becht has had some big games against BYU's defense, his performance may resemble what he did against Iowa. In that game, he threw for 134 yards and a touchdown. The Cougars are in the top four in passing yards, rushing yards, and points allowed per game in the Big 12, which is why I imagine Becht might be in for a tough day, even at home.

Conference USA Starts and Sits

START

 Kadarius Calloway, RB, New Mexico State vs. Missouri State

Once again, Conference USA is playing games on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I opted to just look at the Wednesday games. Thus, Calloway is my suggestion for a start. In each of the last two games, Calloway has gotten double-digit carries, and he's had over 60 rushing yards and a touchdown in both outings. In one of those games, he also had five catches for 44 yards. Missouri State, new to the FBS, has allowed 394.8 total yards per contest and 29.7 points per game. That's against a relatively easy schedule as well.

SIT

 Shomari Lawrence, RB, Missouri State at New Mexico State

Louisiana Tech has the best defense in Conference USA, and it hosts Western Kentucky on Tuesday. However, as noted, I am looking at Wednesday. The best phase of defense among those four teams is NMSU's run defense, though 146.2 rushing yards per game is by no means good. It's just, you know, workable. At least the Aggies are at home, and Lawrence has a history of not playing well against the Aggies from his time at FIU. One of his two touchdowns this season came against UT Martin as well.

MAC Starts and Sits

START

 Sieh Bangura, RB, Ohio at Eastern Michigan

In four games since having to face Ohio State, Bangura has averaged 6.2 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns. Now, that is built off two games with three touchdowns, but it's entirely possible that could happen again. The Eagles have a terrible run defense. They have allowed a whopping 255.3 rushing yards per game. Yes, Eastern Michigan has given up over 250 yards per contest on the ground.

SIT

 Dequan Finn, QB, Miami (OH) vs. Western Michigan

The MAC's top defense, Toledo, is facing Washington State, but Western Michigan has emerged as the clear number-two defense in the conference. Western Michigan has allowed 282.7 total yards and 17.7 points per game. Finn, a former Toledo player, has had something of a tough year in his return to the MAC. He's totaled nine touchdowns against five turnovers, but that includes two rushing scores against the aforementioned Eastern Michigan.

Mountain West Starts and Sits

START

 Keagan Johnson, WR, New Mexico vs. Utah State

Since missing a game in Week 3, Johnson has had 26 catches for 326 yards and two touchdowns in four games. In each outing, he's tallied at least five receptions. Utah State has given up 269.0 passing yards and 31.6 points per game, and it has the worst defense in the conference in action in Week 9.

SIT

 Jackson Brousseau, QB, Colorado State at Wyoming

Since taking over as quarterback for the Rams, Brosseau has thrown six touchdowns against zero interceptions in five games. On the other hand, he's yet to top 200 passing yards, and he's played four of those games at home. Playing at Laramie is notoriously tough, and Wyoming has also held opponents to 179.9 passing yards per contest.

SEC Starts and Sits

START

 Jeremiah Cobb, RB, Auburn at Arkansas

In each of Cobb's first three games of the season, he scored a touchdown, and he finished with over 100 yards twice. After a run of three tough defenses holding him in check, Cobb ran for over 100 yards against last week, doing so against Missouri. The Razorbacks have given up 188.7 rushing yards per game, which is bad for any Power Four defense, much less an SEC defense.

SIT

 Kewan Lacy, RB, Mississippi at Oklahoma

One of the defenses to hold Cobb in check was Oklahoma. Lacy has been a nice addition to Ole Miss, as he's rushed for 618 yards and eight touchdowns. That being said, while he scored twice against Georgia, he was held to 31 yards on 12 carries. The Sooners have been even better against the run. Oklahoma has allowed a mere 80.4 rushing yards and 9.4 points per game.

Sun Belt Starts and Sits

START

 Jaylen Raynor, QB, Arkansas State vs. Georgia Southern

Turnovers have been an issue for Raynor, who has thrown five picks, but he's completed two-thirds of his passes with nine touchdowns. Additionally, he's run for 272 yards and four touchdowns. The rushing element played a key role here. Georgia Southern has been average against the pass, but it has given up 237.3 rushing yards and 35.6 points per contest.

SIT

 Trequan Jones, RB, Old Dominion vs. Appalachian State

Jones popped when he managed 163 yards and three touchdowns on only five carries. That gave him a chance to run more against Virginia Tech, and he had 100 yards and a score there as well. Since then, though, the bloom has started to come off the rose. James Madison, a great defense, held Jones to 1.0 yards per carry in Week 8, and Appalachian State has only allowed 108.4 rushing yards per game, second best to James Madison in the conference.