| MIDWEST | What the circled parts of this puzzle comprise |
| BOBSUPANDDOWN | Moves like a buoy in the ocean ... or a hint to the circled parts of this puzzle? |
| SUDOKU | With 67-Across, what the circled part of this crossword represents |
| JVSQUAD | School's underclass team ... or, initially, what the four longest answers in this puzzle comprise |
| CENTRAL | With 68-Across, the circled part of this crossword |
| BACKLOADS | Postpones until final stages, as contract costs, and a hint to the circled parts |
| ANTS | Tiny critters in the shaded parts of this puzzle |
| INTERCHANGEABLE | Like the parts of this puzzle's toy, as depicted throughout the grid |
| BALLOONDARTS | Carnival projectiles that might be directed at parts of this puzzle? |
| THROW | Light bed cover ... and a verb that goes with the first parts of this puzzle's four longest answers |
| EURO | Word that can precede the first parts of this puzzle's theme answers |
| CARS | Parts of this puzzle's "traffic jam" |
| SEETHELIGHT | Understand (and a hint to both parts of this puzzle's answers to starred clues) |
| OUTOF | Words that can precede both parts of this puzzle's six longest answers |
| YOU | Try out part of this puzzle solver |
| CHARTRES | The oldest parts of this Gothic cathedral in northwestern France are its crypt and the west portal, or Royal Portal, which are remnants of a Romanesque church that was mostly destroyed by fire in 1194 |
| TENOR | Theme of this puzzle (and what the circled squares depict) |
| STARTSCHOOL | What many kids do at the end of summer, or what the circled letters are in relation to each phrase |
| ADAGIOSAMIGOS | "Check out the slow parts of this score, chums" |
| INCASH | Like the thematic parts of this crossword |
