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...
Texas A&M Unveils A Familiar Look Before A Huge LSU Test
After a home loss to Kentucky, Texas A&M turns its attention to a primetime showdown with LSU carrying a 2-1 record and an 0-2 mark in SEC play. Coach Mike Elko and quarterback Marcel Reed both acknowledged the disappointment from last week, and the focus now is on tightening things up as Reed looks to be more accurate with his throws while also leaning more into the rushing ability that makes him dangerous.
The Aggies will also bring out a familiar look for the first time this season, going with white helmets, maroon jerseys and maroon pants. It is a traditional combination, but the timing matters, because a big night against LSU is exactly the kind of stage where Texas A&M wants to look sharper in every way, on the field and on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]
Marcel Reed Is Dealing With More Than Just Texas A&M Pressure
The Week 3 loss to Kentucky brought the usual heat that comes with playing quarterback at Texas A&M, but Marcel Reed has been handling something far more personal off the field. After the defeat, Reed said he changed his phone number following a doxxing incident, one that triggered a flood of unwanted calls from multiple states and forced him to shut his phone off for a time.
Reed confirmed the situation in an interview with On3 reporter Carter Karels, offering a glimpse of how quickly frustration around a football team can spill into a players daily life. For an Aggies quarterback already navigating the pressure that comes with the job, it was a reminder that the burden after a loss can extend well beyond the film room and the practice field. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Got A Notable Vote Of Confidence At LSU
With both teams coming off SEC-opening losses, the matchup between Texas A&M and LSU already carried some added weight, and it got a little more interesting with a nationally known voice siding with the Aggies. SEC Network host Peter Burns broke down the game by leaning toward Texas A&M, pointing to the kind of confidence the Aggies can draw from their recent history in Baton Rouge and the way Marcel Reed has handled LSU before.
Burns also flagged the Tigers offense as a concern, which only sharpens the stakes for a Texas A&M team trying to steady itself early in league play. For the Aggies, a pick like this does not change the game plan, but it does offer a reminder that the matchup is being viewed as more than just another SEC Saturday. [Read more 🡒]