John Mateer faces Ole Miss in a crucial SEC clash, and our bold predictions reveal how the Sooners QB will handle the pressure.

The Oregonian/OregonLive sports staff returns with its picks for Week 9 of the 2025 college football season. While Oregon State has a bye this week, the No. 6 Oregon Ducks will host the Wisconsin Badgers at Autzen Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The No. 13-ranked Sooners host No. 8 Ole Miss (11 a.m., ABC), marking the start of a stretch of five straight games against teams currently ranked in the AP top 20. Lane Kiffin’s Rebels are looking to rebound after dropping last week’s contest to No. 5 Georgia, while OU is looking to build off an impressive 26-7 win at South Carolina.

Ole Miss and Missouri are in the middle of a College Football Playoff push, and that can only mean one thing. Florida has this weekend become the biggest fan of Oklahoma and Vanderbilt, and any other school playing Ole Miss and Missouri hereafter. Because the more the Rebels and Tigers lose, the more their CFP chances fade.

Ole Miss may be walking into an early kickoff buzzsaw in Norman on Saturday if oddsmakers and computer nerds are right with its predictions. FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Sooners (6-1, 2-1 SEC) with a -5.

Lawrence North five-star wide receiver Monshun Sales has narrowed his focus to 12 schools with Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels among the