College football sneak peek: Ohio State-Notre Dame, Colorado-Oregon and more unbeatens

Week 4 of the college football season is upon us and with it comes the start of conference play for many leagues and matches of unbeaten teams.There are eight matchups between teams that are 3-0 or better Saturday, the most in a single day given that the FBS/FCS split in 1978, according to ESPN Statistics & Information research.The most anticipated of those games games: No. 6 Ohio State takes a trip to South Bend to take on No. 9 Notre Dame( 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC), and No. 19 Colorado deals with a huge test at No. 10 Oregon(3:30 p.m. ET, ABC ). In Saturday’s other battles of unbeaten teams, Rutgers plays No. 2 Michigan at the Big House(twelve noon ET, Big Ten Network), No. 22 UCLA is at No. 11 Utah(3:30 p.m. ET, Fox ), No. 14 Oregon State takes a trip to No. 21 Washington State(7 p.m. ET, Fox ), No. 24 Iowa goes to Happy Valley to deal with No. 7 Penn State(7:30 p.m. ET, CBS), BYU is at Kansas (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Memphis check outs Missouri(7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU). Our reporters sneak peek Week 4 with a look at which teams have something to show, defenses to see and a few of the week’s best quotes. Who has something to show as conference play increases? Florida State needs to keep its focus if the Seminoles are going to beat Clemson on Saturday. Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire Florida State: Seminoles coach Mike Norvell acknowledges his group was missing an edge last week versus Boston College and lost focus after developing a 21-point lead. The Seminoles were not in sync the method they remained in big wins against LSU and Southern Miss. Norvell understands that just can not occur Saturday against Clemson, in a game that could go a long way toward determining who makes it to the ACC champion game.Though the Tigers enter into this game unranked in the AP poll, they remain the protecting ACC champs and have not lost to Florida State in the house considering that 2013. Norvell stated he has actually resolved the imperfections in the BC game with his team– starting with what occurred as soon as the Seminoles returned to take a 31-10 lead with 11:20 to enter the 3rd quarter. From that point on, Florida State had its only 5 penalties of the game, and 2 turnovers, ultimately enabling the Eagles to climb back into it prior to turning up simply short, 31-29. “There was still a quarter and a half delegated enter the game, which’s the edge I’m speaking about,”Norvell said.” I informed the group after the game, that’s where the killer impulse needs to

set up. Like, this is done. I’m going to complete much better than what it was, pissed off at the fact that we began not as great as we required to. And we didn’t have that.” Norvell also pointed out 3 major coverage busts on defensive positionings they have practiced”190-plus times”given that fall camp began. The defense might not consist of BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos

, either, as he tossed for 305 yards and ran for another 95.” That game didn’t require to be what it was, but possibly it was simply the important things that we required to reveal the value of every snap and every associate and every chance,”Norvell said.”So I think our guys, they got the message, and now we have to go do something about it.”– Andrea Adelson Alabama: For the first time given that the 2015 season, Alabama enters a game ranked outside the AP’s leading 10. The Crimson Tide have looked like anything but a College

Football Playoff contender the last two weeks with an ugly 17-3 win at South Florida last week preceded by a double-digit loss in your home versus Texas. Jalen Milroe is back as Alabama’s beginning quarterback after not playing a week ago.His first difficulty will be not turning the ball over as Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin see Bryant-Denny Arena on Saturday. But to be reasonable, the Crimson Tide’s problems run deeper than just their quarterback play

after Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson got their shot last week and were pedestrian at best.As important as anything today against Ole Miss will be Alabama’s ability to run the ball and take the pressure off the quarterback. And when Milroe does pass, Alabama needs to discover a way to protect much better. The Tide have allowed 12

sacks in 3 games. It ought to help starting guard Tyler Booker back in the lineup after he missed the South Florida game with back spasms. And on defense, Alabama needs to show it can decrease an explosive offense after Texas rolled up 454 total yards with Quinn Ewers passing for 349 backyards and three goals, and all the while, Alabama was not able to force any turnovers because game. Ole Miss is ranked 4th nationally in scoring offense (52.7 points per game )and is ranked 8th nationally in backyards per play(8.19). First-year Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding knows the Alabama program along with anyone. He belonged to Alabama’s personnel from 2018 to 2022, the last 4 seasons as defensive planner. Under Nick Saban, Alabama hasn’t lost 2 games in September given that his very first season in 2007. However the last time the Tide lost their very first SEC game of the season, 2015 to Ole Miss, they didn’t lose again and captured the national championship. There does not seem that type of skill on this specific group, however Saban’s groups usually get better as the season progresses. With the Lane Train in town, it’s now or never if the Tide are going to make that sort of turnaround this season.– Chris Low Ohio State and Notre Dame: Ohio State and Notre Dame satisfied in the 2022 season opener, the very first regular-season game for former Buckeyes linebacker Marcus Freeman as Battling Irish coach. Both teams have actually knocked off the rust going into Saturday’s contest at Notre Dame Stadium, although neither has actually faced a challenger near as gifted as the other.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Buckeyes coach Ryan Day explains clashes where the skill gap is minimal as “matchup games, “and plenty ought to be exposed about both teams.”I’m delighted that we went through those three games to get to this point, with some of the new faces that we had,”Day said.”We did exercise some of the concerns, and so [I’m] excited to get on the field and go

play this one. We have

a pretty good concept of who our group is and where we’re at, so now it’s time to go play.” Ohio State heads to South Bend feeling better about its offensive backfield, where quarterback Kyle

McCord responded well last week after being called the starter, and running back TreVeyon Henderson is beginning to regain his 2021 kind. However the Buckeyes still don’t understand how McCord will perform in a challenging road setting, or whether new starting takes on will secure him, or whether a skilled defensive line can begin making more effect plays.Notre Dame understands a bit

more about itself after 4 games, consisting of a difficult Week 2 trip to NC State. Quarterback Sam Hartman has been outstanding up until now– 13 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 71.1 percent completion rate– and the pass receiver group, a weakness for years, is showing guarantee with Jayden Thomas and Jaden Greathouse.The Irish gain back veteran defenders JD Bertrand and DJ Brown from injury, and have the cornerback talent with Benjamin Morrison and Web cam Hart to cover Buckeyes star wideouts Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

Freeman, whose group minimal Ohio State’s offense in 2015 however created just 10 points of its own, is worrying complementary football this week.” For our defense, what we want to do is ensure that we restrict the big plays, “he stated.”We desire them to have to truly drive down the field. Offensively, we wish to have success. We’re not going to toss deep balls every play.

We still wish to win time-of-possession and those types of things that actually aspect into your success. But the state of mind is various, since you understand more about your group this year than you did in 2015 for Game 1. “– Adam Rittenberg Utah: After winning the Pac-12

the past two seasons and the presumed return of the quarterback of both of those teams, Cameron Rising, Utah had the profile of a preseason top-10 team and noted amongst the Pac-12 favorites. And for the many part, those things remain true.However, without Increasing in the first three games of the season, the Utes offense hasn’t exactly influenced self-confidence. The benefit of the doubt made in declaring conference titles the previous two seasons has begun to deteriorate. Without Increasing, they were still sufficient to grind

out a win versus a Florida team that recently beat then No. 11 Tennessee, but the longer he’s out the worse Utah’s odds of a three-peat ended up being. He continues to practice, but his status for the game against UCLA on Saturday stays in question.If Increasing is back– and playing at his traditional high level– Utah needs to feel great about already weathering the storm without him. If he’s still out or does not look the very same, things could go south quickly.– Kyle Bonagura Oklahoma State: The Cowboys lost eight beginners when 18 players went into the transfer portal after last season. On Monday, Gundy discussed Deion Sanders’ shock at Colorado and how Gundy’s philosophy will likely change moving on.”We’re going to have to find ways to supplement it

because history is informing us over the last number of years that there’s a percentage of your team that was going to go elsewhere,”Gundy said. “And if they do, we need to try to find other people to come in here that remain in the same maturity level and age group

and then get them in the system and try to get them coached up.” However in the meantime, there’s still plenty of work to do this season– specifically after recently’s sensational loss to South Alabama– starting Saturday in Ames against Iowa State.

— Dave Wilson Defenses to view in Week 4 Syracuse ranks 4th nationally in scoring defense. Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire ACC: There is one undefeated ACC team that few

individuals are speaking about(yet) that will require to depend on its defense to win Saturday. That would be Syracuse. In 3 games, the Orange have actually played extremely well, ranking No. 4 in the country in

scoring defense(9 PPG), among 6 FBS schools giving up fewer than 10 points a game this season. The 27 overall points allowed in its first three games also is the lowest total permitted by the Orange since the 1983 season. Syracuse was tested a week ago versus Purdue far more than its first 2 games, however will face its greatest challenge yet versus Army on Saturday. The Black Knights are coming off a remarkable win over UTSA last week and are averaging 235.7 lawns per game on the ground. Plus, Syracuse can not pay for to look ahead. Clemson is on the schedule next week.– Adelson Big 12: Baylor and Texas are 2-2 in head-to-head matches in the past four years, but Baylor has actually won both games in Waco, while losing both games in Austin. Recent history shows this may not be a piece of cake for the No. 3 Longhorns. Recent history also shows Baylor left to a rough start, losing at home to Texas State, which has a vibrant offense, and losing late versus Utah regardless of holding them in check all game. Texas has actually permitted 44 points, least through three games since 2010. So if Baylor, which has actually struggled to discover a rhythm on offense this year, has a chance at another upset, the

defense will have to deliver. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers had a hard time last week against Wyoming, and Texas had the ability to lean on the running game late and retreat. Baylor presently is No. 105 in hurrying defense, permitting 170 backyards per game.– Wilson Huge 10: When training camp began, Ohio State’s protective linemen talked honestly about ending up being the country’s finest. “Overall, we’ve fixed all the screws that need to be tightened up,” protective tackle Michael Hall Jr. told ESPN. So far, the protective front hasn’t provided” wow”plays– just 3 sacks from linemen, none from ends JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer– despite the fact that the unit ranks second nationally in points allowed (6.7 PPG). It’s time for the “Rushmen”to rise against a gifted Notre Dame offending front.– Rittenberg< img height ="320"width= “570”src=”https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/page/gamedaykickoff092123/”/ >