2023-24 College Football: Week 4 Review

The schedule for the weekend was loaded with six Top 25 matchups, including a Top 10 duel in South Bend. It was a huge weekend for the PAC-12, sporting three of the six big games. Every conference had a premier game on the docket, giving us fun games to watch in every time zone. With many teams playing their conference opener, it allowed fans a first glimpse of who the real contenders are. 

Game of the Week- #6 Ohio State 17, #9 Notre Dame 14 (Notre Dame, IN)

The marquee games have delivered every week this season. The battle between two historic programs was about what we expected. The defenses came to play, but the quarterbacks made big plays when they needed to. The first half was a defensive struggle as the Buckeyes kicked a field goal late in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime. They added to their lead early in the second half on a 61-yard touchdown run by TreVeyon Henderson to make it 10-0. The Fighting Irish drove the ball down the field and responded with their first touchdown of the night and would take their first lead on a Sam Hartman touchdown pass midway through the fourth quarter. Ohio State couldn't find the answer, but they'd get the ball back with 1:26 left in the game with a chance to likely win the game. Starting at their own 35, Kyle McCord led the Buckeyes on a drive down the field, getting them all the way to the 1 with seven seconds left. After an incomplete pass took four seconds off the clock, Chip Trayanum bulldozed across the goalline with a second left to give Ohio State the lead. Upon further review, Notre Dame only had ten players on the field for the final two plays, and while I'm not sure Ohio State knew that, it played a large part in the ending. The Fighting Irish couldn't draw up a miracle in the final seconds, as Ohio State earned a tough road win in South Bend.  

Upset of the Week- Central Michigan 34, South Alabama 30 (Mobile, AL)

There weren't many big upsets this week in the major conferences, so we're taking a trip to Alabama for a MAC vs. Sun Belt competition. Playing at home, South Alabama was a 16.5-point favorite against Central Michigan. The Jaguars led the entire first half, but the Chippewas scored 20 unanswered points and led 20-17 after three quarters. Central Michigan extended its lead early in the fourth quarter before South Alabama charged ahead with 2:42 left. All they needed was a defensive stand, but Central Michigan was able to find the endzone with 14 seconds left to complete the upset on the road. 

Other Notable Games

#4 Florida State 31, Clemson 24 (OT) (Clemson, SC)

There was a changing of the guard in the ACC this weekend. While both teams were ranked in the Top 10 to open the season, Clemson's opening loss to Duke sent them on a freefall out of the Top 25. Still, Death Valley isn't a fun place to play, and Florida State struggled to contain Boston College last week. We got just about what we expected from this matchup. Clemson played tough and led the entire game behind solid play from Cade Klubnik. There are two big reasons why Florida State was able to win this game. First, the Seminoles defense laid a massive hit on Klubnik to force the ball loose as they returned it for a touchdown to tie the game at 24 in the third quarter. Second, Jordan Travis showed up in the big moments. He accounted for all three of Florida State's touchdowns on offense, including the game-winning score in overtime to Keon Coleman. Clemson's play calling at the end of the game was atrocious, costing them the game. They now sit with two conference losses as Florida State looks poised to sit atop of the conference this season. 

#21 Washington State 38, #14 Oregon State 35 (Pullman, WA)

It was a very busy weekend for the PAC-12, and its last two members put on a show in Pullman. For three quarters, it was the Cameron Ward show. The Cougars quarterback was lighting up the Beavers, throwing four touchdowns and running for a fifth as Washington State held a commanding 35-14 lead. Ward had two receivers finish the game with over 150 yards receiving. Oregon State didn't go down with a fight. The Beavers outscored the Cougars 21-3 in the fourth quarter and, if not for that field goal by Washington State, would've tied the game. Instead, they had to settle for an onside kick attempt with 1:12 to go. It almost proved disastrous for Washington State, but they managed to jump on the loose ball to ice the game. 

#11 Utah 14, #22 UCLA 7 (Salt Lake City, UT)

This felt more like a defensive struggle we're accustomed to seeing in the Big Ten. The PAC-12 doesn't usually provide such low-scoring affairs. The Utes defense was stifling all afternoon against the Bruins. The first play from scrimmage was a 21-yard pick-six to put Utah ahead. Without Cam Rising, Utah's offense never hit its stride, but they managed to extend their lead before halftime with Nate Johnson at the helm. UCLA wouldn't be shut out, scoring late in the fourth quarter to make it a one-possession game, but it wouldn't be enough to complete the comeback as the Utes held firm to open its conference schedule. 

#10 Oregon 42, #19 Colorado 6 (Eugene, OR)

I do not like to revel in a team's embarrassment, but this was about what I expected. Colorado had been one of the biggest stories in college football through three weeks, beating the national runner-up in its first game and hosting College Gameday for a rivalry game last week. This week, they were given a rude awakening. Sehdeur Sanders was fighting for his life behind an offensive line that was exposed by a far-superior team. Bo Nix's experience shone through, accounting for four touchdowns as Oregon ran through the Buffaloes. 

#7 Penn State 31, #24 Iowa 0 (University Park, PA)

Words can't articulate how dominant the Nittany Lions were in this game. Iowa managed 76 yards on offense, turned the ball over four times, and failed to find any points. This was easily Penn State's best performance of the season. Drew Allar threw four touchdowns, and the Nittany Lions ran for over 200 yards as they dismantled the Hawkeyes to remain undefeated and keep pace with the rest of the giants in the Big Ten. 

#13 Alabama 24, #15 Ole Miss 10 (Tuscaloosa, AL)

I can admit when I'm wrong because I expected Alabama to fall flat on their face in this game. Two weeks removed from their loss to Texas and one week after they barely scraped by against USF, the Crimson Tide pulled off a solid team victory. The offense needed some time to get going, trailing 7-6 at halftime and not finding the endzone until the middle of the third quarter, but they were able to pull away in the end to get their conference schedule off on the right track. 

What We Learned About Each Power 5 Conference in Week 4

ACC- With Florida State's ticket to Charlotte practically punched, the real race is for the second spot. There are plenty of worthy contenders. Duke, North Carolina, and Miami have to be considered the frontrunners with their consistent play. Syracuse has been surprisingly strong, and Louisville is already 2-0 in conference play. It has been a resurgence for the ACC this season, even with Clemson starting the season with two losses already. 

Big Ten- The East is holding steady, with Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State each sitting at 4-0. Maryland is also 4-0, but I'll take them seriously as a contender if they manage to beat at least one of the aforementioned teams. In the West, it's still open season. Iowa's loss shouldn't hurt them too much in the grand scheme of things. Wisconsin is the only team I see with a legitimate chance of making it to the conference championship game. 

Big 12- There are only three undefeated teams remaining in the conference. Texas and Oklahoma speak for themselves with their dominance this season. Kansas has quietly started 4-0 again this season, with Jalon Daniels leading the charge. It has been a rude awakening for the new members of the conference as BYU, Houston, Cincinnati, and UCF all lost their opening conference game. While the Red River Rivalry will create a frontrunner for the title game, I still see a clear path for Texas and Oklahoma to meet again in December. 

SEC- All three undefeated teams in the SEC are currently in the East, led by the juggernaut in Athens. Kentucky and Missouri have been quietly racking up victories, and while I can buy the Wildcats, I don't consider Missouri to be at the same threat level as Tennessee and Florida. The West is much closer. LSU and Alabama have rebounded from early losses, and Texas A&M had a big win over the weekend against Auburn. It'll likely be a two-team race to face Georgia, but we still have that battle to come.  

PAC-12- Saturday was a big day in figuring out the pecking order in the conference. The big dogs are still in charge in the PAC-12. USC, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and Washington State all remain undefeated, with a conference victory to boot. It doesn't mean that any of the one-loss teams in the conference can't still make it to the title game, but it gives them some work to do. I'm still high on USC and Oregon, but I am ready for Cam Rising to come back to lead Utah. 

 

My Top 25

1. Georgia (4-0, W 49-21 UAB) (-)

2. Michigan (4-0, W 31-7 Rutgers) (-)

3. USC (4-0, W 42-28 Arizona State) (-)

4. Ohio State (4-0, W 17-14 #9 Notre Dame) (+1)

5. Florida State (4-0, W 31-24 (OT) Clemson) (-1)

6. Penn State (4-0, W 31-0 #24 Iowa) (-)

My Top 3 held steady this week with big wins. The only change to the Top 6 comes with Ohio State and Florida State swapping spots. The Buckeyes earned one of the biggest wins of the season by escaping South Bend with a win, while Florida State barely did the same in Death Valley, needing overtime to beat Clemson. 

7. Texas (4-0, W 38-6 Baylor) (-)

8. Washington (4-0, W 59-32 California) (-)

9. Oregon (4-0, W 42-6 #19 Colorado) (+4)

10. Utah (4-0, W 14-7 #22 UCLA) (-)

I remain low on Texas for the time being despite their convincing victory against Baylor. I gave a sizable boost to Oregon after destroying Colorado, though it likely came a week later than it should have. They form a trio of PAC-12 teams that are bound to give USC the toughest time. 

11. Alabama (3-1, W 24-10 #15 Ole Miss) (-)

12. LSU (3-1, W 34-31 Arkansas) (-)

13. Oklahoma (4-0, W 20-6 Cincinnati) (+2)

14. Notre Dame (4-1, L 17-14 #6 Ohio State) (-5)

The best one-loss teams in the country all occupy space outside of the Top 10. I debated dropping Notre Dame to #11, but that would mean lowering Alabama and LSU despite good wins against SEC opponents. Oklahoma hops a few spots with the help of the teams around them losing. This was the first week their offense was electric, but their defense stood tall against Cincinnati. 

15. Duke (4-0, W 41-7 Connecticut) (+2)

16. North Carolina (4-0, W 41-24 Pittsburgh) (+2)

17. Washington State (4-0, W 38-35 #14 Oregon State) (+9)

18. Tennessee (3-1, W 45-14 UTSA) (+2)

19. Oregon State (3-1, L 38-35 #21 Washington State) (-5)

20. Miami (4-0, W 41-7 Temple) (+5)

I remain steadfast in my opinion that Duke is the second-best team in the ACC, just edging North Carolina. Washington State saw the biggest jump of the week, entering my Top 25 after their win over Oregon State, who fell a considerable amount. Tennessee and Miami both moved up a few spots with dominant non-conference victories. 

21. Ole Miss (3-1, L 24-10 #13 Alabama) (-5)

22. Missouri (4-0, W 34-27 Memphis) (NR)

23. TCU (3-1, W 34-17 SMU) (+4)

24. Kansas State (3-1, W 44-31 UCF) (-)

25. Kentucky (4-0, W 45-28 Vanderbilt) (NR)

Along with Washington State, three more teams jumped into the Top 25. TCU is making its second appearance after winning its third straight game. Missouri is off to a 4-0 start and didn't allow for a letdown game after upsetting Kansas State, who still sits at #24 this week. The final new team is Kentucky, who continues to impress in the early stages of the season. 

The Next 5

26. Florida (3-1, W 22-7 Charlotte) (+4)

27. Kansas (4-0, W 38-27 BYU) (NR)

28. Louisville (4-0, W 56-28 Boston College) (+1)

29. UCLA (3-1, L 14-7 #11 Utah) (-8)

30. Colorado (3-1, L 42-6 #10 Oregon) (-11)

Week 5 Preview

1. #11 Notre Dame at #17 Duke (Durham, NC)

My interest in this game is more on a personal level as a big Duke fan. The Blue Devils have been a great story to open the season, beating Clemson to start the season and beating all four of its opponents by 20+ points. Notre Dame barely lost to Ohio State and will be looking to get back in the win column, 

Prediction- #11 Notre Dame 31, #17 Duke 17

2. #10 Utah at #19 Oregon State (Corvallis, OR)

The fun times continue to roll for the PAC-12 with another big Top 25 matchup next weekend. Oregon State was so close to getting the job done on the road against Washington State, falling short by a field goal. This game will hinge on whether Cam Rising is playing because I didn't love Utah's offense against UCLA.

Prediction- #19 Oregon State 24, #10 Utah 21

3. #24 Kansas at #3 Texas (Austin, TX)

This is the first big conference test for both teams as they look to remain undefeated. Texas has already played on a big stage this season, but conference play is very different as they look to stay at the top. Kansas is a sneaky good team that needs to make sure the moment doesn't get too big for them. 

Prediction- #3 Texas 41, #24 Kansas 28

4. #13 LSU at #20 Ole Miss (Oxford, MS)

The Rebels failed to capitalize against an Alabama team that had been licking its wounds for two weeks. Now, they have to deal with the other big team in their division. LSU has looked like a team on a mission since losing to Florida State, earning a tight win over Arkansas this weekend. 

Prediction- #13 LSU 37, #20 Ole Miss 24

5. #5 USC at Colorado (Boulder, CO)

Obviously, this game would have been a little more interesting if Colorado had beaten Oregon or at least put up a good fight against the Ducks. USC is one of the best teams in the country, with arguably the best quarterback. Colorado has firepower, but it was nowhere to be found on Saturday in Eugene. 

Prediction- #5 USC 48, Colorado 27

6. #22 Florida at Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Since transferring to Kentucky from NC State, Devin Leary has shown why he was a highly coveted transfer. While turnovers have been a minor issue, he has Kentucky off to a 4-0 start. Florida has recovered from their season-opening loss, but this will be a big battle. 

Prediction- Kentucky 30, #22 Florida 24

7. #1 Georgia at Auburn (Auburn, AL)

The Georgia Bulldogs remain the gold standard in college football. Through four weeks and some incredible roster turnover, they are still well-positioned for a three-peat. Auburn is coming off a road loss to Texas A&M, but Jordan-Hare isn't an easy place for opponents. 

Prediction- #1 Georgia 38, Auburn 13

8. Louisville at NC State (Raleigh, NC)

With divisions no longer existing in the ACC, everything is up for grabs. Louisville has come out of the gates on fire and is one of two teams in the conference with two conference wins. NC State was gifted a win against Virginia with some ill-timed penalties and hasn't looked great through four games. 

Prediction- NC State 27, Louisville 24

9. West Virginia at TCU (Fort Worth, TX)

While the teams at the top of the Big 12 fight each other, the teams right under them will do the same in the hopes that someone messes up. TCU and West Virginia each are 3-1 overall and won their conference opener. The Horned Frogs are looking much better after losing to Colorado. 

Prediction- TCU 41, West Virginia 24

10. Clemson at Syracuse (Syracuse, NY)

I would've lost a lot of money if I'd bet Clemson would be 2-2 and Syracuse would be undefeated. The Tigers are a team without an identity, and it has shown in their losses to Duke and Florida State. The Orange haven't faced much of a challenge this season, but The Dome isn't a fun place to visit. 

Prediction- Clemson 28, Syracuse 17