By Skeeter Smith
Week 4 promises excitement with a loaded slate of ranked matchups this weekend. Here are some matchups to keep an eye on as these games unfold.
4 Florida State vs. Clemson
Matchup to Watch: FSU Defense vs. Clemson’s Offense
Florida State enters Death Valley as one of the hottest teams in the country, aiming to surpass the Tigers as the team to beat in the ACC. While their offense has been electric, defensively, they’ve looked suspect at times, particularly in the secondary, where they’ve allowed over 300 passing yards in 2 out of the 3 games played.
On the flip side, Clemson may have received the award for the worst offensive performance in week 1, as they could only muster up 7 points against Duke. The Tigers’ offense has shown signs of improvement since then, so the key to this game will be if Cade Klubnik can take advantage of a Seminoles’ defense with some holes in it.
19 Colorado vs. 10 Oregon
Matchup to Watch: Bo Nix vs. Sheduer Sanders
Yes, I know they won’t actually be on the field at the same time, but you better believe the spotlight will be on these two heading into this one. Both quarterbacks are Heisman contenders, each with a lot to prove.
In one corner, you have Bo Nix, a seasoned presence in college football, looking to cement his status as a top QB in the upcoming draft. In the other corner, you have Sheduer Sanders, the hotshot newcomer that everyone’s talking about. He’s leading a Buffs team that’s looking to shock the world in what would be their biggest win of the season thus far.
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15 Ole Miss vs. 13 Alabama
Matchup to Watch: Lane Kiffin vs. Nick Saban
Whenever these two coaches cross paths on the field, you can always expect excitement and anticipation leading up to kickoff. Kiffin, in his fourth season at Ole Miss, aims to finally get over the hump and defeat his former mentor, which is shaping up to be his best chance yet.
Alabama has already been through 3 quarterbacks this year and looks less formidable than ever on that side of the ball. The Rebels have had a solid start to the season, already securing a ranked win against Tulane. Saban will have his hands full trying to contain Ole Miss’s high-powered offense while reviving his own.
22 UCLA vs. 11 Utah
Matchup to Watch: UCLA’s Ground Game vs. Utah’s Front 7
There were many questions about how UCLA was going to replace Dorian Thompson Robinson’s production on offense, and they’ve answered that question by running the ball at a very effective rate. The Bruins are 3rd in the country in rush yards and are doing it by committee with players such as Carson Steele, T.J. Harden, and Anthony Adkins.
They will be facing a Utah unit that has been stout against the run, only giving up 65 rushing yards per game. Utah plays physical and sound football and will throw everything they have to stop the Bruins’ rushing attack.
14 Oregon State vs. 21 Washington State
Matchup to Watch: Oregon State’s Offensive Line vs. Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson
Oregon State’s offensive line, which has excelled in protecting DJ Uiagalelei this season, allowing only 1 sack, faces a significant challenge against Washington State’s dynamic duo coming off the edge. Both Jackson and Stone have made strong starts to the season, disrupting both passing and rushing attacks. The Beavers’ offensive line must rise to the occasion to keep them contained if they want to have success on offense.
24 Iowa vs. 7 Penn State
Matchup to Watch: The Hawkeyes’ Tight Ends vs. The Nittany Lions’ Linebackers
For Iowa to pull off the upset this weekend, they’re going to need help from their air attack to score some points on Saturday. To start the season, Cade McNamara has relied on tight ends Erick All and Luke Lachey to be his go-to guys when the Hawkeyes have needed to air the ball out.
He will need to call on their numbers a lot this weekend, as Penn State will go all in on stopping Iowa’s run game and forcing McNamara to beat them with his arm. The matchup puts pressure on the Nittany Lions linebackers to not only defend the run but also keep Iowa’s tight ends in check as well.
6 Ohio St vs. 9 Notre Dame
Matchup to Watch: The Buckeyes’ Receiving Corps vs. The Irish’s Secondary
Notre Dame hasn’t given up many yards through the air this year, ranking 3rd in the country, but they haven’t faced anything close to the talent at receiver they will see on Saturday.
It all starts with superstar wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., undoubtedly the best receiver in the country. Harrison has been on a tear in recent weeks, amassing 286 yards and 3 touchdowns in just 2 games. Even if the Fighting Irish find ways to slow him down, they still have to contend with Emeka Egbuka and Julian Fleming. This battle on the outside could prove decisive in determining who ends up winning this game.
