CFB Week 4 Storylines to Follow – Can Clemson stop the skid?
Although Week 4 may lack some firepower in the early slot, there are plenty of intriguing matchups before a raft of conference games ramps up next week. As always with college football, when you least expect the excitement, the weird and wacky often crops up. Here’s what I will have my eye on this weekend.
Dabo under pressure to turn tide in crucial Syracuse showdown
The way college football is now set up gives teams the most leeway they’ve ever had in terms of losing games and still having the opportunity to make the playoffs. Even with that in mind, things are getting a bit choppy for Clemson, a pre-season favourite for the National Championship.
The Tigers head into week 4 as 17-point home favourites over Syracuse, and the game offers an opportunity for QB Cade Klubnik and co. to put their title ambitions back on track. They will have to be at their best, considering Fran Brown’s team took down the likes of UNLV and Miami last season.
The return of star receiver Antonio Williams could provide a big boost for Clemson coach Dabo Swinney. Williams and Bryant Wesco Jr. are talented targets for Kulbnik. In addition, the development of Adam Randall as a converted running back continues as he averages 5 yards per carry. Could this offense finally click and ease the pressure on Swinney?
Tough test for Morton after impressive start to the season
The player that came out of Week 3 with the most buzz was Texas Tech QB Behren Morton. He had 464 passing yards and four touchdowns in a dominating 45-14 victory. His big-time throw percentage is 7.1% and that shows his playmaking ability. It has also boosted his draft stock, with Dane Brugler being a big admirer.
Now, he faces his biggest test of the season against a Utah defense that is ranked 11th in the nation. Edge rusher John Henry Daley has five sacks on the season and has been a dominating presence along the defensive line. He hopes to make life difficult for Morton.
Across from Morton, Devon Dampier was a QB who was highly rated coming into the season, but hasn’t reached the heights of Morton’s performances. He has been solid if unspectacular in the three opening victories. The Utes’ defense has only conceded 25 points all season. Can they stifle Morton as well?
How big a defeat would it take to topple Napier?
Billy Napier’s tenure in Gainesville feels like it is on borrowed time. A defeat against LSU followed a crushing loss to USF. Things won’t get any easier this week with another in-state battle, this time the Gators’ travelling to Hard Rock Stadium, in search of redemption.
QB DJ Lagway had a forgettable display with five interceptions against an LSU secondary flying high. Pass rushing duo Akheem Mesidor and Reuben Bain Jr have 22 pressures, including 4 sacks, between them over the first three weeks, and it’s likely Lagway is going to be feeling the heat from minute 1.
The real question for Napier is, can he keep this one close enough to hold on to his job? Could he even cause a major upset that changes the tide of his team’s season? That seems unlikely, but he and Lagway changed plenty of minds at the back end of last season. Perhaps one last hurrah is still in there.
Someone’s 0 will go in SEC Showdown
Arguably, the pick of the Week 4 matchups is the battle between Oklahoma and Auburn. Both teams are rejuvenated in 2025. Ironically, Auburn are thriving with Oklahoma’s cast-off quarterback Jackson Arnold. While the Sooners are more than happy with their key off-season acquisition, John Mateer, a gun-slinging playmaker who is making waves in draft circles.
Key to the battle will be how the Sooners slow down the Auburn ground game. The Tigers are averaging over 240 yards per game at 5.8 yards per carry. In contrast, Oklahoma is allowing under 100 rushing yards per game at an average of 2.9 yards per carry.
If Brent Venables can find a way to slow down Jeremiah Cobb and Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma can remain unbeaten and finally prove they are at home in the SEC and a legitimate playoff contender.
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.