CFB Week 4 winners and losers: Tennessee, Utah record statement wins

The Wolfpack trailed the Tigers 28-0 after the first quarter and have now lost to Associated Press No. 6 Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 in SEC) and No. 21 Clemson (2-1) 110-45.

Winner: Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti

Cignetti may have had an even better day than Whittingham. On Saturday, his fingerprints were on two blowouts.

The first-year Indiana head coach led the Hoosiers to a 52-14 win over Charlotte, improving his team to 4-0 and surpassing its win total from 2023 (three). A third of the way through its schedule, Indiana has scored 202 points. In 2023, Indiana scored 266 points the entire season. 

Cignetti was hired in November 2023 after deftly leading James Madison from the FCS to a 19-5 record in its first two seasons as an FBS member (2022-23).

Multiple former Dukes standouts followed Cignetti to Indiana, but James Madison's romp over North Carolina showed he didn't leave the cupboard empty.

Quarterback Alonza Barnett III, a 2022 recruit under Cignetti, stayed in Harrisonburg and shined in his third collegiate start. He was 22-of-34 for 388 yards, had 13 carries for 99 yards and seven total touchdowns.

Loser: Auburn

The Tigers dropped their second home game of the season in Week 4's ugliest game, an error-filled 24-14 loss to SEC rival Arkansas (3-1, 1-0 in SEC). The two teams combined seven turnovers, five of which were by Auburn (2-2, 0-1 in SEC).

Hugh Freeze's offense has struggled against power conference opponents Cal (3-1, 0-1 in ACC) and Arkansas. The Tigers have 28 points, 571 yards and 10 turnovers in the two losses, a troubling sign with games against No. 15 Oklahoma (3-1, 0-1 in SEC), No. 2 Georgia (3-0) and No. 7 Missouri (4-0, 1-0 in SEC) directly ahead on their schedule. 

Winner: Not giving up on a play

USC running back Woody Marks showed great effort on a wacky play in a 27-24 loss at No. 18 Michigan (3-1, 1-0 in Big Ten). Following a fumble from Trojans quarterback Miller Moss, Wolverines junior defensive lineman Kenneth Grant scooped the ball and ran with it, only for Marks to strip it and regain possession for No. 11 USC (2-1, 0-1 in Big Ten).

That play was emblematic of the Trojans' impressive second half. They battled from a 14-3 halftime deficit to take a 24-20 fourth-quarter lead before losing in the final minute. That kind of effort will make USC a team to contend with in the Big Ten all season.

Loser: Not punting in an obvious situation

Missouri survived a potential upset by Vanderbilt (2-2, 0-1 in SEC) in a 30-27 double-overtime win, saving HC Eli Drinkwitz from feeling too much heat for a poor decision at the end of the first half.

With 13 seconds remaining and his offense facing a fourth-and-three from its 47-yard line, Drinkwitz elected against punting. Vandy defensive lineman Khordae Sydnor recorded a sack on the ensuing play.

That allowed the Commodores to add a 57-yard field goal before the half, tying the game at 13. Had Missouri lost, Drinkwitz's decision would have been more scrutinized.

Winner: Tennessee defense

Tennessee solidified itself as a legitimate national championship contender with another dominant defensive effort on the road against Oklahoma in a 25-15 win.

The Sooners didn't score a touchdown until 8:25 left in the game, gained 185 yards, and had as many third-down conversions as turnovers (three).

Through its first four games, Tennessee has allowed 28 points and outscored its opponents by an average of 47 points per game.

Loser: Kansas

Picked fourth in the Big 12 media preseason poll, the Jayhawks have been one of the season's biggest disappointments. Following Saturday's 32-28 loss at West Virginia, Kansas is one of four power conference programs (Florida State, Houston, Mississippi State) with three losses through Week 4.

Kansas led by 11, 28-17, but allowed two touchdowns in the final 3:01 span late in the fourth to fall to 1-3 for the first time since 2021, head coach Lance Leipold's first season leading the program.

Winner: Unbelievable Baylor-Colorado finish

Colorado needed a prayer at the end of regulation against Baylor and quarterback Shedeur Sanders delivered.

The senior quarterback threw a 43-yard touchdown to wide receiver LaJohntay Wester as time expired to send Colorado's Big 12 debut to overtime. 

In overtime, Sanders led Colorado to a touchdown and Travis Hunter ended the game by forcing a goal-line fumble out of the end zone.

The 38-31 thriller was Colorado's first game back in the Big 12 after 13 seasons in the Pac-12. Sanders, Hunter and the rest of the Buffaloes looked right at home.