College Football Power Rankings: Declaration day for Oregon, but a
There was bound to be a shakeup in the Power Rankings with 8 games including teams that were 3-0 or much better (Notre Dame was 4-0) entering Week 4.
One of those highly expected matchups wound up a blowout as Oregon made a declaration in its 42-6 rout of Deion Sanders’ upstart Colorado Buffaloes. Another became an instant classic when Ohio State scored in the last seconds to edge Notre Dame 17-14.
Also out West, Washington continues to impress. Amongst the rest of the leading 10, Florida State took overtime to beat Clemson and stay unbeaten while Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Penn State all won handily.Here’s a look at how
those results affected the Power Rankings after Week 4. It took 4 games, however All-American tight end Brock Bowers broke the 100-yard receiving mark and notched his first getting touchdown this season during a persuading win versus UAB. Quarterback Carson Beck may have had his best game, too, scoring four total touchdowns(three passing, one rushing)while not devoting any turnovers. The only location coach Kirby Smart will likely indicate as requiring enhancement is ball security after the group committed 3 fumbles, losing two. Versus a non-conference Group of 5 opponent, you can make it through that kind of negligence. Against an SEC challenger, maybe not.– Alex Scarborough Up next: at Auburn( 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS ) The Seminoles found a method to beat ACC nemesis Clemson for the very first time since 2014, though it was challenging and it was not pretty sometimes. Jordan Travis tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to Keon Coleman in overtime, giving the Seminoles a 31-24 success and possibly signaling an altering of the guard in the ACC. But the offense was stagnant at times, thanks to an inability to run the ball or make plays consistently in the passing game. It ought to be kept in mind Travis reaggravated a left shoulder injury and played hurt. At times, the defense looked out of sorts, too, allowing Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik to make some remarkable plays. However when the pressure was shown up, the defense came through: A scoop and rating from Kalen DeLoach and a protective stand in overtime were two big keys. There is an open date prior to Virginia Tech comes to town.– Andrea Adelson Up next: Oct. 7 vs. Virginia Tech The Wolverines played
their first game with coach Jim Harbaugh back on the sideline after serving a self-imposed three-game suspension. The game started a little shakily with Rutgers scoring on the first drive via a 69-yard pass. Michigan had the ability to settle in, however, and put it away with a 31-7 win over the Scarlet Knights. A turning point came when Rutgers decided to go all out on fourth-and-2, down 10 points in the 3rd quarter in Michigan territory. Michigan defensive back Mike Sainristil obstructed the pass and took it back for a goal. The Wolverines ‘offense had a balanced effort with 214 yards through the air and 201 on the ground as running back Blake Corum scored two times and quarterback J.J. McCarthy tossed for one touchdown. The Wolverines go on the roadway for the very first time this season next week.– Tom VanHaaren Up next: at Nebraska (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)
The Michael Penix Jr. Heisman campaign is picking up steam, but by the time he stepped onto the
field Saturday night versus Cal, the Huskies had currently taken a 14-0 lead. Edefuan Ulofoshio returned an interception for a goal on the game’s opening drive, then Rome Odunze returned a punt for a touchdown. Penix then added 4 goal passes and 304 passing lawns before exiting with a 40-point lead late in the 3rd quarter. The Huskies are impressing citizens, climbing up from No. 7 last week all the way to No. 4.– Kyle Bonagura Up next: at Arizona (10 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network) The Longhorns, who had actually lost in their past 2 trips to Baylor, dominated the Bears in Waco, an emphatic start to their first Huge 12 game in their last season in the league. Texas accumulated 503 backyards, averaging 8.5 backyards per play, while the defense held Baylor to just 1.9 backyards per bring and swarmed starter Sawyer Robertson all night, sacking him five times(2 by Byron Murphy )and adding three hurries. Quinn Ewers completed 18 of 23 passes for 293 yards and a touchdown and added a 29-yard TD run. Jonathon Brooks had a 40-yard touchdown run, one of 2 TDs he had on the day along with 106 yards, while tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders had 110 yards on 5 catches.– Dave Wilson Up next: vs. Kansas(3:30 p.m. ET, ABC ) An emotional come-from-behind win at Notre Dame that saw coach Ryan Day snap back at Lou Holtz and other critics could springboard Ohio State towards another CFP run. The Buckeyes certainly showed their durability when it mattered, driving 65 yards
in the closing seconds to stun the Battling Irish.
But Ohio State still does not appear like the most confident team, either from a playcalling and execution viewpoint, and it might be getting more out of its supreme skill base. The Buckeyes were pushed around at times by Notre Dame and struggled to get their leading wide receivers involved. Quarterback Kyle McCord matured in crunch time, though, and might reference the Notre Dame comeback in future big-stage chances. Ohio State’s defense bent however hardly ever broke versus Sam Hartman and Notre Dame, as safety Lathan Ransom and others stepped up.– Adam Rittenberg Up next: vs. Maryland, Oct. 7 It was a careless game for the Trojans against Arizona State in spite of scoring 42 points and being buoyed by the magic of Caleb Williams, who tossed for 322 backyards and 3 touchdowns. He ran for two more ratings in what might be the last night game in Tempe between the 2 teams for a while with both leaving for brand-new conferences next season. This journey appears to always be difficult for USC, and though they got away with a 42-28 win, the defense when again showed uneasy patterns that will not stand as well in the face of harder upcoming challengers.– Paolo Uggetti Up next: at Colorado( noon ET, Fox ) Seventy-six. Penn State quit 76 lawns to Iowa on Saturday night in Pleased Valley. We understand Iowa’s offense is bad, we understand the Hawkeyes are banged up and, well, really bad offensively. But this was still a ridiculous protective efficiency. On a sloppy track, Penn State ‘s Drew Allar went a safe and conservative 25-for-37 for 166 lawns and
4 touchdowns while Iowa’s Cade McNamara was 5-for-14 for 42. The game was basically over when Alex Felkins made a 46-yard basket in the very first quarter, however the Nittany Lions saw out an easy win over what is normally an aggravating challenger. They transfer to 4-0, and with games against Northwestern and UMass up next, they can begin preparing for their Week 8 trip to Columbus.– Bill Connelly Up next: at Northwestern (midday ET, Big Ten Network ) In the face of a lot of Colorado hype entering into Saturday’s matchup, the Ducks were the ones who shined as their offense, defense and unique teams fired on all cylinders en route to a commanding 42-6 win. It was clear Dan Lanning’s team was motivated to not just win, however do it in commanding
style. Over 500 yards of offense and a suffocating defense did their task against Deion Sanders’ team while Bo Nix tossed for 3 goals and ran for another, reminding the remainder of the nation that Caleb Williams and Michael Penix Jr. aren’t the only Heisman competitors in the Pac-12 this year.– Paolo Uggetti Up next: at Stanford(6:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 network) Until further notification, the road to the Pac-12 title continues to go through Salt Lake City. Linebacker Karene Reid’s 21-yard interception return for a TD on the very first play from skirmish was a disrespectful introduction to conference play for UCLA freshman quarterback Dante Moore, courtesy of the two-time protecting conference champs. Utah held a Bruins’offense that came into Saturday third in the FBS in hurrying( 270.3 YPG )to simply 9 hurrying backyards(7 in the first half) and kept Moore under covers to the tune of 15-of-35 passing for 234 lawns with a touchdown and an interception. Starting in place of Cameron Rising for a fourth straight week, Nate Johnson managed the game well, finishing 9 of 17 passes for 117 yards and a goal while letting the Utes’defense manage the heavy lifting against the high-powered Bruins.– Blake Baumgartner Up next: at Oregon State (9 p.m. ET, FS1 ) It wasn’t a pretty win by any ways. The Crimson Tide offense stays a work in progress, with Jalen Milroe still struggling to make good decisions in the passing game and the line permitting too much pressure. But the defense is worthy of credit for holding the typically
powerful Rebs offense to simply 10 points. The pass
rush, which struggled through the first 3 games of the season, showed up in a big method, pestering Jaxson Dart all afternoon with 6 rushes and 2 sacks. And the secondary held up its end, consisting of a nice interception by Terrion Arnold. Whether an excellent defense suffices to get back into the SEC champion hunt remains to be seen, however we’ll find out more next week at Mississippi State.– Scarborough Up next: at Mississippi State(9 p.m. ET, ESPN) The sting from Saturday night’s loss to Ohio State most likely won’t wear off for a while for the Irish. Notre Dame seemingly had Ohio State beat, but a number of doubtful coaching and personnel mistakes cost the Irish a signature win for coach Marcus Freeman versus his alma mater. Notre Dame generally managed the line of scrimmage however struggled to end up drives until the 2nd half, when quarterback Sam Hartman and others came alive. An incredibly well balanced offense– 176 rushing lawns, 175 passing yards– and a defense that rendered Ohio State star Marvin Harrison Jr. a nonfactor wasn’t enough, as disaster struck in the final minute. Notre Dame’s course does not get any simpler with Duke, Louisville and USC up next.– Rittenberg Up next: at Duke(7:30 p.m. ET, ABC ) There were a great deal of sighs of relief coming out of Tiger Arena on Saturday night. LSU flirted with its 2nd loss of the season, however Damian Ramos kicked a 20-yard field goal with 5 seconds to play in a 34-31 win over Arkansas. It was the kind of game you have actually come to expect in the SEC, one group coming down but battling to spend time.
Arkansas and KJ Jefferson would not go away, however LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels showed his experience and poise when it counted. He crafted the game-winning 72-yard drive and finished with 420 passing yards and four touchdowns. Had it not been for LSU’s red zone defense, the Tigers might have really been in problem. They required the Hogs to kick 2 brief basket in the first half.– Chris Low Up next: at Ole Miss (6 p.m. ET, ESPN) The Sooners made their very first(and last)Huge 12 journey to Cincinnati and the Bearcats kept it tight, however Dillon Gabriel finished 26 of 38 passes for 322 lawns and a touchdown and added a 1-yard scoring run in the 3rd quarter to put the game out of reach in the 20-6 win. The Sooners’defense held the Bearcats to 3-of-15 on third downs and 1-of-4 on fourth downs and obstructed Emory Jones twice, enabling 376 lawns however just six points.– Wilson Up next: vs. Iowa State(7 p.m. ET, FS1)
For the very first time in program history, Duke has won its first 4 games in a season by a minimum of 20 points, after racing out to a 27-0 halftime lead and not recalling in the 41-7 triumph. It can now shift its focus to possibly the most significant game in program history– Notre Dame coming to Durham, North Carolina, next week for a prime-time match on ABC. A set of goal ranges from running back Jordan Waters were supported by a hurrying TD from Riley Leonard, who tossed for 248 backyards and a rating, discovering six various receivers. Jordan Moore and Jalon Calhoun combined for 14 receptions for 162 lawns and a goal. The Blue
Devils’ defense stymied the Huskies’offense all afternoon, holding it to 203 total yards(32 in the very first half), with defensive take on DeWayne Carter providing some scoring in returning a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown.– Baumgartner Up next: vs. Notre Dame(7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) While the scoreboard shows simply a three-point win for WSU over Oregon State, 38-35, this was a far more extensive triumph. The only nervy moment for the Cougars came on OSU’s onside kick with just over a minute remaining, when it wasn’t right away clear who developed the ball. WSU played in control for nearly the entire game– it scored a 63-yard TD on the 2nd play from skirmish– in what was a breakout efficiency for QB Web cam Ward. Versus among the very best defenses in the country, Ward finished 28 of 34 passes for 404 lawns with 4 goals and has
established himself as one of the best quarterbacks
in the nation.– Bonagura Up next: at UCLA, Oct. 7 Simply when you think Drake Maye has actually done it all, he does something to make you think again. Maye threw for 296 yards and scored 3 touchdowns, but his dazzling left-handed goal toss to Kobe Paysour in the second quarter deserves discovering online if you have actually not seen it yet. The Tar Heels defense stymied Pitt, requiring three turnovers and knocking quarterback Phil Jurkovec out of the game. North Carolina is 4-0 for the very first time since 1997 with an open date next week.– Adelson Up next: vs. Syracuse, Oct. 7 The Hurricanes racked up 543 overall lawns and Tyler Van Dyke tossed 3 touchdown passes as Mario Cristobal’s team managed its organization against Temple 41-7. Two of Van Dyke’s 3 TD passes went to Xavier Restrepo, who took seven of Van Dyke’s 17 conclusions. Henry Parrish Jr. gashed Temple for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns to assist rate a running attack that produced a season-high 323 backyards. Miami was efficient in the red zone, scoring six of the seven times it discovered itself there, including five goals. The Hurricanes ‘defense dictated matters on the ground and didn’t permit the Owls much breathing room, restricting them to 11 hurrying yards
.– Baumgartner Up next: vs. Georgia Tech, Oct. 7 For a team that went into the season with Pac-12 title goals, Oregon State’s 38-35 loss to WSU is a substantial blow. The Beavers’usually stout defense had no responses for WSU’s passing game and couldn’t move the ball well enough through the air to keep pace. But with a brief week prior to Friday’s game against Utah, the Beavs need to put it behind them quickly. A win against the Utes would represent a good springboard into a more manageable five-game stretch that follows: at Cal , UCLA, at Arizona, at Colorado and Stanford.– Bonagura Up next: vs.
Utah (9 p.m. ET, FS1) Even though Tennessee may have lost a few of its edge in the third quarter, the Vols still won convincingly in a 45-14 beatdown of UTSA, the type of pick-me-up Josh Heupel’s club needed after last week’s frustrating loss at Florida. Tennessee got on UTSA (which lacked star quarterback Frank Harris )early and developed a 31-0 lead at the half. Quarterback Joe Milton III, no doubt hearing the rumblings from some
in the Tennessee fan base who wanted to
see highly promoted freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, represented three goals in the very first half. He had an 81-yard operate on the very first play from scrimmage and likewise linked on touchdown passes of 48 and 18 yards. Tennessee did get a couple of players banged up in the game, including Milton. Iamaleava made his Neyland Arena debut and played 2 series in the fourth quarter.– Low Up next: vs. South Carolina(7:30 pm. ET, SEC Network) Perhaps Lane Kiffin and the Rebs ought to have worried less about who was calling the Alabama defense. Since the offense, which went into the weekend averaging 52.7 points, fell absolutely flat after a very first quarter touchdown on the road in Tuscaloosa. The line could not block and star running back Quinshon Judkins couldn’t get anything going. Meanwhile,
quarterback Jaxson Dart struggled to push the ball downfield. To get
things back on track against LSU next week, Ole Miss must restore the running game and eliminate a few of the pressure on Dart to make things take place.– Scarborough Up next: vs. LSU (6 p.m. ET, ESPN ) The excitement from a week ago in the Swamp was tempered Saturday night. The Gators, coming off the big win over Tennessee, followed up with a ho-hum 22-7 win over Charlotte. At this moment, a couple of
games into his second season of attempting to reconstruct the program, Florida coach Billy Napier isn’t in a position to thumb his nose at any triumph. However there were
certainly some concerns, significantly the Gators opting for 5 field goals, three of those coming after drives stalled inside the 10. Charlotte entered the game ranked 129th out of 131 groups in scoring defense(39.4 points per game)and quit 568 lawns to Georgia State last week. Quarterback Graham Mertz finished 20 of 23 passes for 259 yards, but Florida couldn’t score touchdowns once it reached the red zone, which will overtake the Gators down the roadway.– Low Up next: at Kentucky(noon ET) Mikey Keene threw for 325 lawns and 3 touchdowns as the Bulldogs completed their nonconference slate undefeated with a 53-10 win against Kent State. There’s a strong case to be made now that Fresno State is the very best Group of 5 team in the country and must have the within track to the New Year’s 6. Its 29-0 win versus Arizona
State looks even much better now that ASU responded by having a far better game versus extremely ranked USC on Saturday. Fresno State will reduce in the Mountain West next week versus winless Nevada before things ramp back up.– Bonagura Up next: vs. Nevada (10:30 p.m. ET ) The Jayhawks were unwelcoming hosts, handing BYU a loss in the Cougars ‘first Huge 12 game, including Cobee Bryant providing a success, forcing a fumble and returning it for a goal on the game’s very first
drive. Jalon Daniels tossed three
TDs, Luke Grimm captured two in the 2nd half and KU left to a 4-0 start in successive seasons for the very first time considering that 1915. The defense held BYU to 9 rushing yards, their least given that 2017, while the Kansas offense has now scored 30 or more points in all four games this year. A face-off with Texas in Austin on Saturday waits for.– Wilson Up next: at Texas (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) With native boy Jeff Brohm taking control of his home town Cards, optimism was high headed into the season. A month into the season, the Cardinals have actually delivered . Louisville
dominated Boston College 56-28, rolling up 582 yards of overall offense and scoring on its first 7 ownerships. Perhaps more impressive, Louisville has actually had a halftime lead of a minimum of 21 points in three straight games for the very first time given that doing it 4 straight times spanning the 1912 and 1913 seasons. Louisville is 4-0 for the very first time given that 2016.– Adelson Up next: at NC State, Friday(7 p.m. ET, ESPN )