College football games of note: Week 4

We are officially one-fifth of the way through the college football season. And while for some of us, it already feels like a lifetime of games we can’t get back, nothing has happened that can't be undone. Week 3 delighted us with fake fair catches, game-winning field goals and a combined 404 points from the top 11 teams in the country. Ohio State downed TCU, BYU upset Wisconsin and LSU shocked the world with a huge win over Auburn. Notre Dame barely squeaked by Vanderbilt, Penn State laid the smackdown on Kent State and Washington posted an unimpressive win over southern Pac-12 opponent Utah. 

As we look forward to Week 4 and the start of conference play, we prepare for a slate of rivalry games guaranteed to gratify your gridiron appetite. Here are some games of note for Week 3.

No. 22 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama – The Crimson Tide is on a roll this season, pun absolutely intended. Alabama has scored over 50 points in all three of its games so far and has won by at least 37 points in all three victories. So it’s no surprise the Tide are a big favorite heading into this weekend’s matchup with the Aggies. A&M Quarterback Kellen Mond has been playing well – he put up a career high 430 yards against Clemson. But losing by two points to the Tigers at Kyle Field is VERY different than trying to upset the reigning national champs in Bryant-Denny Stadium, especially with outstanding play from QB Tua Tagovailoa and running backs Najee Harris and Damien Harris. Fun fact: If A&M upsets, it would be the first time a former Nick Saban assistant defeats his old boss. (Jimbo Fisher was an offensive coordinator at LSU under Saban.) Saban is currently 12-0 against his former assistants.  

No. 18 Wisconsin at Iowa –This game is intriguing purely based on last week’s results: The Badgers suffered a surprising and painful 24-21 loss to BYU, while the Hawkeyes took down visiting FCS team Northern Iowa 38-14. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook looked off, making questionable decisions, and the normally stingy Badger defense allowed almost 7 yards per carry. So Wisky will be looking to bounce back in a big way. But Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz says his squad is laser-focused, with the offensive line showcasing raw power and QB Nate Stanley going 23-of-28 for 309 yards, his highest total since throwing for 333 in his second career start at Iowa State in 2017. Plus, the Badgers need to watch out for sophomore right tackle Tristan Wirfs. Expect a competitive game in Iowa City.

No. 7 Stanford at No. 20 Oregon – For those very few of us who follow Pac-12 football closely, seeing Stanford open as a favorite in this game is surprising. The Cardinal have been underwhelming, putting up only 78 points in three games, while the Ducks have put up 155. Oregon boasts the ninth-best scoring offense in the country, and Stanford sports the nation’s top scoring defense, allowing only 7.7 points per game. Autzen Stadium used to be a formidable place to play, and newly minted head coach Mario Cristobal is hoping to return it to its former glory. Watch for Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert to show out and wait for running back Bryce Love to show up. Stanford is the more experienced team, but the Ducks have home-field advantage. This one could come down to the wire.

No. 17 TCU at Texas – TCU head coach Gary Patterson has already shaken off the Horned Frog’s 40-28 loss to Ohio State last Saturday night and has gone on record as saying this weekend’s matchup against Texas is vastly more important. He cites conference play as the reason, but the in-state rivalry and accompanying recruiting element is a more likely motivator. TCU has the edge — the Horned Frogs have won five of six contests against Texas, including the last four. And Patterson will be looking to make history by defeating the Longhorns five consecutive times for the first time in school history. Texas is coming off a dominating 37-14 win over USC — a win the players believe is the start of something. What was most impressive, besides quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s two touchdown passes, was the Longhorns ability to overcome adversity. Battling back after being down 14-3 in the first quarter, Texas showed true grit — something Patterson and Co. should be wary of.

FIU at No. 21 Miami – And finally we come to one of the games I will be covering live: another in-state rivalry matchup where both bragging and recruiting rights are on the line. The Canes open as a four-touchdown favorite in the game, which makes sense given that Miami has scored 126 points in the past two weeks. The disappointing loss to LSU is but a distant memory, and quarterback Malik Rosier has found his rhythm. FIU is 2-1 on the season, having lost to Indiana 38-28 in Week 1 but bouncing back with two resounding wins over Old Dominion and UMass. The Panthers boast a one-two offensive punch with quarterback James Morgan and running back Shawndarrius Phillips — FIU’s strength lies in spreading the ball around. This game has history, but both coaches think it will simply be a peaceful, hard-fought football game between friends and not the rowdy brawl fans witnessed in 2006.

Hall Over the Place

Over the course of the 2018 season, Emily Hall Van Buskirk will be traveling across the country, attending as many college football games as humanly possible. In this sacred section, she will share with you the details of her travels as she embarks on this adventure. Follow along as she makes her way across the country, bringing back tales of glory and memoirs of misfortune.

Week 3, while not overly exciting across the board, was one of the best weekends of my entire life. I was able to check off a supreme college football bucket list item, covering a game at the University of Georgia — between the hedges. Granted it was against Conference USA member Middle Tennessee, so the game was slightly lopsided. But it was still a sight to behold. We were able to catch up with our friend Tony Franklin, the MTSU offensive coordinator, and we even chatted with Blue Raider head coach Rick Stockstill before the game.