Week 4 is loaded with college football games that actually matter, and the slate is packed with ranked-on-ranked matchups, conference openers and a few spots where a season can tilt one way or the other.
The headliner for plenty of fans is Texas heading into Tennessee. Arch walks into the stadium where Peyton made his name, trying to carve out his own legacy after the Longhorns already knocked off No.
1 Ohio State a couple weeks ago. Now Texas is making its first road trip of the season to open SEC play against a Tennessee team that can score in bunches, even if it still hasn’t been tested by a Texas defense like this one.
Another game with real intrigue is Ole Miss at Florida. The Rebels could easily be walking into trap-game territory after an emotional win against Lane Kiffin and LSU, and now they have to do it on the road against an undefeated, newly-ranked Gators team.
Florida has already beaten Auburn and has shown it can run the ball well. The question is simple: did Ole Miss spend everything it had beating Lane, or can it reset quickly enough to handle another tough test?
Then there’s Oregon at USC, a matchup between two Big Ten playoff hopefuls that both have plenty to prove. Oregon is still carrying that bad loss to unranked Oklahoma State and would love to use the Trojans to rebuild some confidence in the eyes of playoff selectors. USC comes in undefeated, but its defense remains a major question, especially against Oregon’s skill talent after letting a lot slip by against Rutgers.
LSU at Texas A&M carries its own weight, too. Both teams have SEC championship ambitions, and both are coming off losses.
LSU’s defeat was a stronger one, coming against top-ten Ole Miss on the road, while Texas A&M took a damaging home loss to unranked Kentucky. That makes this one feel especially urgent for the Aggies, though neither side can afford to absorb a second straight loss.
The postseason consequences down the line are obvious.
Iowa at Michigan is the Big Ten opener for both schools. The Hawkeyes have only one P4 game so far, and they beat Iowa State by three.
Michigan, meanwhile, played UTEP a little too close early before pulling away, and the offense has looked sluggish. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. on CBS.
Oklahoma at Georgia brings together one of the SEC’s least productive offenses and one of its most suffocating defenses. The Sooners have the second-worst scoring offense in the conference and the 99th-best total offense nationally.
Georgia’s defense ranks seventh in FBS and is allowing about 3 yards per play. That one starts at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN.
Missouri at Mississippi State is another game worth tracking. The Bulldogs are ranked now, as expected, after Kamario Taylor led a big win at South Carolina.
Taylor has more than 800 passing yards and 11 touchdown passes, and Mississippi State already has two road wins over P4 schools. Miami is the only other school with that kind of mark.
This one kicks at 7:45 p.m. on SECN.
In Other News...
Oregon Suddenly Has A Bigger Quarterback Question After Beating USC
Dylan Raiolas primetime debut gave Oregon a timely burst of stability in a game that briefly tilted toward uncertainty. After starting quarterback Dante Moore left with an injury, Raiola stepped in and delivered a poised performance, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Ducks pulled away for a 41-27 win over USC.
Dan Lanning came away impressed with the way Raiola handled the moment, especially the confidence he showed in a spotlight game that could have unraveled quickly. Still, the bigger question for Oregon now is Moores health, and the Ducks will spend their bye week sorting out how serious the injury is and what it might mean for the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Sent Lincoln Rileys USC Problem Into Overdrive
USCs loss to Oregon did more than hand the Trojans a damaging defeat in the standings. It also reopened the conversation around Lincoln Rileys tenure, with Paul Finebaum using an ESPN First Take appearance to press on the bigger issue hanging over the program: whether Riley has actually moved USC forward in a meaningful way.
The critique landed because the game itself offered USC plenty of offense, but not enough balance to survive Oregons pressure. Defensive problems again loomed large, and Rileys overall record has started to draw uncomfortable comparisons to Clay Heltons time in charge. Add in the shifting College Football Playoff prediction market and the margin for error is shrinking fast, leaving USC with more questions than comfort after this one. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Mariota Just Gave Ducks Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
Marcus Mariota got another turn under center Sunday, and the former Oregon star made it matter. Starting for the Washington Commanders in place of injured quarterback Jayden Daniels, Mariota helped guide Washington to a 33-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks, delivering a steady performance in a game that stayed tight throughout.
Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns, a line that will resonate with Ducks fans who still keep one eye on his NFL stops. Seattle got big production from Sam Darnold in his return from injury, as he threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, but also turned it over twice, leaving Mariota and Washington with the final edge in a high-scoring finish. [Read more 🡒]