Week 4 of the college football season, has come and gone.
We had an almost upset on Friday night, with the Northwestern Wildcats giving the #5 ranked Indiana Hoosiers, all they could handle. Barely escaping with a 29-23.
The #21 Florida Gators absolutely dominated the #4 ranked Ole Miss Rebels, getting a massive 52-28 win at home.
As I predicted months ago (see above), the Wisconsin Badgers went on the road, and pulled the upset, beating the #13th ranked Penn State Nittany Lions, 24-20.
#16 Louisville Cardinals got upset by the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 30-27.
Of course, the play that EVERYONE is talking about is #17 Iowa Hawkeyes going into “The Big House” and beating #18 Michigan Wolverines 20-19, on the final play of the game.
With so many greats games.
With so many great plays.
With so many great players.
Here are your Week 4 Helmet Stickers.
OFFENSE. Jeremiah Smith – WR – Ohio State Buckeyes. 12 catches for 217 yards, and 4 TDs.
Well, it’s Week 4, and that means for most college football teams; we are a quarter (25%) of the way through the season.
There are a lot of good games this week, as conference play begins for a lot to teams.
Of course, E(SEC)PN or just ESPN is just promoting the living crap out of the SEC games.
This is a GREAT week for SEC football though, so as annoying as it is, it’s actually justified this week.
I will say this, #1 Texas Longhorns vs #14 Tennessee Volunteers (Game starts at Saturday afternoon, 12:00 PM Noon, on ABC), is NOT on my list. Neither you nor I, have any interest in seeing TEN HC Josh Heupel meltdown in a big game again.
Neither you nor I, want to watch the extremely overrated South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers pull another Heupel, against #8 Alabama Crimson Tide (Game starts Saturday night, at 7:00 PM, on ESPN).
So without further ado, are the REAL Top 3 games you should watch this weekend (in no particular order)…..
1) #4 Ole Miss Rebels (3-0) at #21 Florida Gators (3-0). Game starts at 3:30 PM (EST), Saturday afternoon, on ABC.
I could go on and give you all the stats, and make your eyes cross as you read this.
I won’t do that.
This game is going to show us if the Florida Gators are for real, and deserve to be ranked.
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss and HB Kewan Kacy are going to score points.
Can Florida QB Aaron Philo and HB Jaden Baugh, keep up.
That’s the nut and bolts of this game. Plain and simple.
Prediction – The Ole Miss offense is simply too much. Give me the Rebels BIG. 42-21.
2) #20 Oregon Ducks (2-1) at USC Trojans (4-0). Game starts at 7:30 PM (EST), Saturday night, on NBC.
This is a rivalry game. It means a lot on the West Coast, especially on the recruiting trail.
The Oregon Ducks have the worst P4 (Power 4) loss of the season (to Oklahoma State), and then put up 84 points against Portland State.
They have to win this game. This is their only ranked opponent until November 7th (Ohio State).
For USC, they don’t have to win this game. They still play 3 more ranked teams (as of now), in Penn State (October 10th), Ohio State (October 31st), and Indiana (November 14th). They have small bit of leeway.
Prediction – USC is a different team at home than on the road. I’ll take the Trojans in a close game 35-31.
2) Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1) at West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0). Games starts at 7:00 PM (EST), Saturday night, on FS1.
Nobody is talking about this game, and that is a big mistake. This is going to be a really fun game to watch. BOTH teams have momentum in their favor.
The Cowboys are still riding high off their massive upset of the afore mentioned Oregon Ducks.
Cowboys QB Drew Mestemaker is your classic “gunslinger”. He’s going to make incredible throws and some boneheaded throws. He’ll always keep them in contention.
They’re gonna need HB Caleb Hawkins to continue to ground out the yards in this game, and keep the WVU offense off the field.
Speaking of…..
West Virginia is coming off their 38-27 upset win over (than ranked) #25 Virginia last week.
Mountaineers QB Micheal Hawkins Jr is the entire offense. He’s thrown for 477 yards, with 5 TDs and 0 INTs, and he’s the leading rusher with 44 carries, for 322 yards, and 6 TDs.
They need SOMEBODY ELSE to step up.
Prediction – This is going to be a game of “big moments” and back and forth play. WVU is favored by 1.5 points. This is hard, but I trust the proven QB that can throw. Give me Oklahoma State to go into Morgantown and win on a game winning drive 28-27.
What game are you looking forward to the most???
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.
Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave and USAToday.
There are only 62, long days until the first college football game of the 2026-27 starts, when the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the Texas Christian Horned Frogs, on Saturday August 29th, in Dublin, Ireland, at 12:00 PM Noon, on ESPN.
Until then, we have to anxiously wait, and overanalyze everything there is to analyze about college football. We read all the magazines, listen to podcasts, and try not to let ESPN brainwash us with their bias drivel (they own SEC Network and hold exclusive rights to all conference games).
For those of us who watch the games, we know that Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning isn’t worthy of being Top 5, let alone being the “front runner” as ESPN, Lindy’s, and so many others have him.
So, without further ado, here are the REAL Top 5 Heisman Trophy Pre-season front runners. (in no particular order)
Julian Sayin, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes.
Sayin was a Heisman Trophy finalist last season, after completing an incredible 77% of his passes (3rd most in FBS history), for 3,610 yards, with 32 TDs to only 8 INTs. Yes, he has WR Jeremiah Smith to throw to, but he lost WR Carnell Tate in the draft (Tennessee Titans), and TE Max Klare (Rams) to the NFL. He will be asked to shoulder more of the load this season,
He’ll have plenty of BIG games this season, as the Buckeyes play at Texas (Sept 12th), at Indiana (Oct 17th), at USC (Oct 31st), home against Oregon (Nov 7th), and against Michigan (Nov 28th).
Darian Menseh, QB, Miami Hurricanes.
He led the Duke Blue Devils to an ACC Championship, throwing for 3,973 yards, with 34 TDs to only 6 INTs. He transferred to Miami, and will have far better on the field talent, throwing to WR Malachi Toney. He’ll have to dominate, which he’s shown he can do, because the Hurricanes schedule is weak. The game in South Bend, IN against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, on Nov 7th, is his biggest test.
Dante Moore, QB, Oregon.
Moore threw for 3,565 yards, with 30 TDs and 10 INTs. He lost his top two pass catchers from last season, so he’s going to be asked to carry a much heavier load this season. He showed an ability to use his feet last season, and that will help his game this season. He would’ve been the second quarterback takin in this past draft, had he decided to leave, but he returned to make one last run at a National Championship.
Games at USC (Sept 28th), and at Ohio State (Nov 7th) will be his biggest chances to show out to the Heisman committee.
Honorable Mention:
CJ Carr, QB, Notre Dame
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State
Trinidad Chambliss, QB, Ole Miss
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.
Pictures courtesy of…..foxsports, clutchpoints, canesinsight, and SI.
Week 8 is absolutely stacked with incredible games, as conferences are in the middle of playing out their schedule.
We’ve already had a major upset, as the FIU Panthers (Florida International University) defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 25-6. WKU was in the running to get that “G5 spot” in the college football playoffs.
I could drone on and on, about each game, including a big game in the UAC (FCS) as the West Georgia Wolves (5-1) coming off an embarrassing loss, is looking to go into Stephenville, Texas and upset the #2 ranked Tarleton State Texans (7-0).
So here we go, the Top 3 college football games you SHOULD watch, (including a bonus game).
I am 10-5, in my predictions so far this year.
1) #20 USC Trojans (5-1) at #13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-2). Game starts at 7:30 PM (EST) on NBC and Peacock.
In what could be the second to last game, this historic rivalry has serious repercussions for the college football playoffs.
USC is coming off a big win last week, where they showed off their physical toughness. They’re going to need that again, as they take on a stout ND defense. HBs Waymond Jordan, King Miller, and Eli Sanders, have a combined 1,150 yards and 10 TDs. They’ll need to continue that rotation. QB Jayden Maiava leads the nation in QBR (93.1) and has 13 TDs to only 2 INTs. Of course, having one of the best WRs in the country to throw to, doesn’t hurt. WR Makai Lemon has 44 catches, for 682 yards, and 6 TDs.
The Fighting Irish suffered a heavy blow, as starting C Ashton Craig is gone for the season with a knee injury. Notre Dame has a two headed monster at HB themselves, with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. They have a combined 952 yards and 15 TDs. Freshman QB CJ Carr has come in a given them a threatening passing game. He’s thrown for 1,622 yards, with 13 TDs to only 3 INTs. The Fighting Irish have one of the best secondaries in America, with 11 INTs.
Prediction – There’s not many things better than a night game at Notre Dame, and this is going to be the best game of the week. Both teams have so much to play for. The injury to Craig is a big deal. In the end, I think USC QB Maiava throws a late pick, in a close 31-28 victory for the Fighting Irish.
2) #5 Ole Miss Rebels (6-0) at #9 Georgia Bulldogs (5-1). Game starts at 3:30 PM (EST) on ABC.
Ole Miss is looking to make it back-to-back to win over Georgia, and the Bulldogs need to win this game, or they’ll have 2 conference losses already.
This is a run heavy, ball control offense that the Rebels put out on the field. HB Kewan Lacy leads the team with 126 carries, for 587 yards, and 8 TDs. Dual threat QB Trinidad Chambliss has thrown for 1,286 yards, with 7 TDs and only 1 INT; but it’s his 61 carries, for 281 yards, and 3 TDs, that keeps defenses guessing.
Bulldogs QB Gunner Stockton, has thrown for 1,264 yards, with 6 TDs and only 1 INT. His scrambling ability keeps linebackers at bay with 220 yards and 6 rushing TDs. They have 2 HBs that split carries, in Chauncey Bowens and Nate Frazier. This is not the usual “Georgia defense”, as they only have 8 team sacks and only created 6 turnovers. They still remain fast and gap sound though.
Will the disgusting bias officiating in favor of Georgia (like we saw last week), show up again, or will they overcorrect in favor of Ole Miss???
Prediction – Georgia knows that a loss could very well mean they’re out of the conference title race. Ole Miss knows that this is probably their toughest game left this season. I’m expecting a defensive battle. My head is saying UGA. My heart is saying Ole Miss……I’m going to follow my heart and take the Rebels to win 17-13.
3) #11 Tennessee Volunteers (5-1) at #6 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-1). Game starts at 7:30 PM (EST) on ABC.
It’s the “Third Saturday in October”. A big SEC rivalry game. This time, there are serious conference and CFP implications on the line.
Can Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel ACTUALLY win a “big game”?
This is a balanced offense. QB Joey Aguilar has thrown for 1,680 yards, with 14 TDs and 5 INTs. It’s the running game that wears down an opposing defense. HBs Desean Bishop, Star Thomas, and Peyton Lewis have a combined 1,009 yards and 14 TDs. This is a Volunteer defense that gets serious pressure on opposing QBs, with 26 team sacks, leading to 4 INTs, 11 forced fumbles, and 7 fumble recoveries.
This Crimson Tide team is all about QB Ty Simpson. He’s stepped right into the fire, and thrown for 1,678 yards, with 16 TDs to only 1 INT. The defense doesn’t get many sacks (9 total), but they force the opposing team into mistakes, with 6 INTs, 6 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries.
Prediction – You CAN NOT ignore Heupel’s tendency to choke in big games. Alabama has been playing great since their opening season loss to FSU. As much as I truly want to pick TEN, I simply can’t. Give me the Crimson Tide to win 35-28.
BONUS GAME
#23 Utah Utes (5-1) at #15 BYU Cougars (6-0). Game starts at 8:00 PM (EST) on FOX.
The Holy War.
A long-standing rivalry and a long history of these two teams completely destroying each other’s hopes and bowl season dreams.
The Utah offense lives and dies with QB Devon Dampier. He’s completing 71.5% of his passes, for 1,131 yards, with 11 TDs and 3 INTs. His 65 carries, for 378 yards with 5 TDs leads this Utes offense. It goes as he goes. This defense is led by one of the best pass rushers in the nation. DE John Henry Daley leads the team in tackles (30) and sacks (8), and he’s forced 2 fumbles.
BYU also has a dual-threat QB in freshman Bear Bachmeier. He’s thrown for 1,220 yards, with 8 TDs and 3 INTs. He has 71 carries, for 295 yards and 7 TDs. HB LJ Martin has 101 carries, for 652 yards, with 4 TDs. The Cougar defense has 8 INTs this season,
Prediction – This is one of those rivalry games, that’s completely whack-a-doo. Nothing ever goes as you think it will. This is a massive game, in an always wide-open Big 12. I’m taking the Utah Utes to win a close game 27-21.
