Matchups to watch heading into college football Week 9

The GIST: The first season of the expanded 12-team CFP rolls on, with Week 9 already underway. ICYMI: Eight more teams will make the field, with automatic bids awarded to the five highest-ranked conference winners and the remaining seven spots going to at-large squads.

• TL;DR? Every game matters — here are some you can’t miss.

Mountain West matchup: Two mid-major CFP contenders who are undefeated in conference play — No. 17 Boise State and UNLV — meet tonight at 10:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Boise State also boasts a Heisman hopeful in running back Ashton Jeanty, who has amassed a whopping 1,248 yards in just six games. Unreal.

• Meanwhile, UNLV’s had a rollercoaster of a season ever since quarterback (QB) Matthew Sluka announced he’d sit out the year over a reported NIL payment dispute. That said, the Rebels are 3-1 since Hajj-Malik Williams took over under center.

SEC showdowns: No. 15 Alabama will be hungry for a bounce-back win when they take on No. 21 Missouri tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Something to watch? Mizzou could be without QB Brady Cook, who injured his ankle in last week’s win over Auburn. Conference bragging rights and any hopes of making the CFP are on the line — no pressure.

• No. 8 LSU and No. 14 Texas A&M, both riding six-game winning streaks, meet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. ET in a game with major playoff implications. LSU is coming off a stellar defensive performance against Arkansas, while A&M’s Le’Veon Moss rushed for two touchdowns to top Mississippi State. Will defense or offense prevail in the quest to top the SEC?