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...
Nick Saban Sees One Big Edge For Tennessee Against Texas
Nick Saban took a first look at Tennessees matchup with Texas during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, and his focus quickly settled on the part of the Vols offense that has become such a defining feature under Josh Heupel. He pointed to Tennessees running game as an important edge and tied it directly to the structure and tempo of Heupels system, which has long been built to stress defenses and keep them on their heels.
Saban also spent time on Texas, where the biggest question in his view centers on Arch Manning and the Longhorns ability to create explosive plays downfield. It sets up an intriguing early storyline for a game with plenty of attention already attached to it, and Sabans full breakdown is slated to air Saturday morning on ESPNs College GameDay. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Faces A Serious Situation With Key Defensive Assistant
Tennessees defensive staff is dealing with an unexpected off-field concern after the program announced that linebackers coach William Inge has been hospitalized because of a personal medical issue. The university asked for privacy for Inge and his family while also thanking supporters for their prayers, a reminder of how quickly football can take a back seat when a coachs health becomes the priority.
Inge has been an important part of Tennessees recent defensive work, helping guide a unit that has developed into one of the teams strengths and played a role in the growth of linebackers such as Arion Carter. For a staff that leans heavily on continuity and communication, his absence is a significant situation to monitor while the program waits for more clarity. [Read more 🡒]
College GameDay Is Bringing Another Big Stage Moment To Tennessee
Tennessee is getting another national showcase this weekend, with ESPNs College GameDay set to broadcast from the University of Tennessee campus before the Volunteers matchup with No. 1 Texas. The show will air Saturday morning from the lawn of Ayres Hall and inside Neyland Stadium, adding another spotlight moment to a setting that already figures to be loud, bright and packed with anticipation.
Johnny Knoxville will serve as the celebrity guest picker, giving the pregame spectacle a distinctly Tennessee flavor. The GameDay crews trip also brings the program back into a familiar lane with the Vols, who have had their share of moments on the show over the years, and now get another chance to turn a big-game atmosphere into a full-blown campus event. [Read more 🡒]