Will Hammond kept climbing in the Big 12 quarterback picture after a strong showing against Houston, and now he gets one more tune-up before conference play starts to tighten. That’s the backdrop as Week 4 arrives with a slate that includes five Big 12 quarterback matchups and a few chances for some signal-callers to answer questions from last week.
Hammond showed he could hurt defenses with his legs when Texas Tech needed it, and his work with Kenny Johnson helped open up the passing game. The one blemish came on throws that were a little behind his targets, including an interception that came after his receiver slipped on the route. Even with that context, the ball was still put in a dangerous place.
Texas Tech’s final nonconference test comes against Sam Houston State at Noon EDT on TNT. The Bearkats will only see one Power Four offense all season, and it’s the Red Raiders.
Michael Hawkins Jr. also made a clear statement in Week 3, accounting for all five of West Virginia’s touchdowns in the win over Virginia. He kept defenses honest with his legs, but he also worked the middle of the field effectively, hitting DJ Epps three times for gains of more than 20 yards. Later, he dropped a 38-yard completion to Jaden Bray into a tight window.
West Virginia’s next test is at home against Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. EDT on FS1. The Cowboys did enough defensively to keep Dante Moore and Oregon under control in Week 2, with many of the Ducks’ scoring drives coming on short fields.
Another quarterback who stood out on the ground was Johnson, who reminded the league why he belongs in the dual-threat conversation during Kansas State’s 31-20 win over Tulane. He piled up 152 rushing yards and scored twice on the ground, highlighted by a 66-yard burst late in the first half.
Kansas State opens its first Big 12 challenge at Cincinnati at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie ran for 78 yards against the Bearcats in Week 1, his first start at the FBS level.
Drew Mestemaker was nearly flawless in Oklahoma State’s 59-0 win over Murray State. His only real mistake was a fumble late in the first half, and everything else was clean: 20-of-22 passing for 324 yards and five touchdowns. One of those scores came on a sharp 31-yard deep ball to the end zone early in the third quarter.
Now he gets his first Big 12 defense of the season when West Virginia comes to town at 7 p.m. EDT on FS1. The Mountaineers’ only Power Four opponent this year leaned heavily on the run, and their secondary allowed Deuce Bailey to throw Coastal Carolina into a one-score game in the opener.
Conner Weigman turned in a gritty performance in Houston’s 28-26 loss at Texas Tech. He was a problem with his legs all night, and his passing highlight was a 46-yard touchdown to Koby Young, who pinned the ball to his right shoulder as he crossed the goal line.
Houston closes nonconference play at Georgia Southern this weekend at 4 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. The Eagles went to Clemson in Week 2, though unlike Houston, the Tigers are still unsettled at quarterback.
Julian Lewis had a rough night in Colorado’s 41-7 loss at Northwestern, and Week 4 now offers a chance for either him or DJ Lagway to reset. That’s one of the more intriguing quarterback storylines on the board, along with Hawkins and Mestemaker meeting in a clash of very different offensive styles.
Elsewhere, Bachmeier made just one real mistake in BYU’s 41-23 win at Colorado State, and it came on an interception thrown behind an intended target in the end zone. BYU leaned on the run, but Bachmeier still completed 75% of his passes and connected with Legend Glasker and Walker Lyons on tight-window throws.
The Cougars are off in Week 4 before returning to Big 12 play at TCU in Week 5.
In Arizona, Fifita was sharp in a 42-17 win over Northern Illinois, going 31-of-34 and creating offense when his first options weren’t there. He also delivered a one-handed touchdown strike to Tre Spivey and finished with a 30-yard touchdown run after escaping pressure in the pocket.
Arizona finishes nonconference play at Washington State at 7:30 p.m. EDT on CBS. Fifita was 34-of-43 for 342 yards in the last meeting between the schools, back when they were Pac-12 members.
Dampier’s lone miscue in Utah’s 33-0 win over Utah State was a lost fumble in the third quarter. He carried it 10 times, but his biggest damage came through the air, where he found Braden Pegan for a pair of deep touchdowns.
Utah opens road play at Iowa State this weekend at 3:30 p.m. EDT on FOX. The Cyclones allowed only one explosive pass against Iowa, though the Hawkeyes are hardly the most athletic offense around.
In Other News...
Houston Defense Facing Early Pressure For A Reason Fans Can See
Houstons defense has already been put under the microscope, and for good reason. Through the early part of the season, the Cougars have looked a step slow in too many key moments, with missed tackles, poor angles and a pass rush that has not consistently forced offenses to play on their heels. For a unit that has long been part of the programs identity, the strain has been easy to spot.
Replacing key players was never going to be simple, and the first stretch has shown how much communication and execution still need to sharpen. The defensive philosophy remains intact, but the pressure to clean up the details is growing with each game, especially as Houston looks for the front line to do more and the entire group to settle in before the schedule gets any tougher. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Gets A Chance To Answer One Big Doubt On The Road
Houston heads into its final non-conference game with a chance to quiet one of the bigger questions hanging over the early part of the season: how much of what it has shown so far will travel away from home. The Cougars are set to face Georgia Southern, a matchup that offers one more test before the schedule turns fully toward league play, and one more opportunity for the offense and defense to look the part of a team that expects to control games.
The focus will be on whether Houston can bring the same edge on the road, particularly up front and in the secondary, where a takeaway or two could help settle things quickly. There is plenty of room for key contributors to make their presence felt, and this game should offer a clearer read on how well the Cougars can execute when the setting changes and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Must Clean Up Two Worrying Problems To Avoid An Upset
Houston heads into Week 4 with two issues that can turn a manageable matchup into a dangerous one: giveaways and a shaky pass defense. Against Georgia Southern, the Cougars will be looking to settle things down by leaning on the run game, because controlling the ground attack can help dictate tempo, protect the football and keep an opponent from turning the game into a track meet.
Georgia Southern arrives with the kind of profile that can punish hesitation if Houston is loose with the ball or soft in coverage. The lesson from recent games is clear enough for the Cougars: the team that owns time of possession and avoids self-inflicted mistakes usually puts itself in position to win, while the one that lets those areas slip leaves the door open for an upset. [Read more 🡒]