CFB Week 4: Winners and Losers

By Rory Daniels

Week 4 of College Football saw Arch-fever grip the nation. How would the newest Manning look on his full debut? Well the answer was hit and miss, therefore not qualifying for this article! Let’s look at the performnces that did…

Winners

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Michigan’s Defense

When your passing offense only contributes 32 yards, the rest of the team has to step up. Converted linebacker Kalel Mullings did his bit rushing for 159 yards and so did the defense. Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant were a constant problem on the interior, regularly in the USC backfield, both getting a sack. Edge rusher Josiah Stewart also got in on the action with two sacks, while Will Johnson grabbed a vital pick six. How long this is sustainable with no passing attack is debatable but it was nice to see this talented group finally show what they are made of.

Luke ALtmyer

Former 4-star and Ole Miss transfer Luke Altmyer’s star shone the brightest under the Friday Night Lights. His Illinois team taking down Nebraksa in a thrilling 31-24 overtime victory. Altmyer looked poised all night going 21/27 for 215 yards and 4 TDs. His connection with receiver Pat Bryant was something the Cornhuskers never truly got to grips with. He faces another big test this week against Penn State. Their pass rush will speed up his process but the Fighting Illini should be respected underdogs in that one.

BYU

The Avery Johnson buzz soon died down in Kansas State as BYU become the big shock artists of week 4. Johnson couldn’t get anything going in the air, throwing for only 130 yards and two interceptions. The ground game enjoyed more success, but a crucial fumble from DJ Giddens before half time allowed Cougars safety Tommy Prassas to recover and take it to the house. A Johnson interception 15 seconds later led to a 17-6 score, before his second 58 seconds into the second half was capitalised on to send BYU 24-6 up. A crazy 90 yard muffed punt return (see above) added to the madness! In that short period the BYU defense had effectively ended the game as a contest. The rest of the Big 12 will now be fearful of this 4-0 team, could they reach a Week 11 showdown with Utah unbeaten?

Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson

The Iowa offense is alive. Well, half of it is. The running game outpaced the passing attack 272 yards to 62. Workhorse back Kaleb Johnson was responsible for 206 of those as well as three touchdown scores. Averaging 9.8 yards per carry, Johnson not only displayed the physicality that his 6’0, 225lb frame lends itself to, but also the speed to break free for huge chunks at a time. With the excellent Iowa defense holding Minnesota to 14, it was a gameplan that worked to perfection. They will need a plan B though, for when they get behind against better opponents.

Losers

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Jackson Arnold

I had high hopes for Jackson Arnold coming into this year. Given the Sooners cleared Dillion Gabriel off to make way for their five-star prodigy to emerge, it’s fair to say Brent Venables had similar optimism. The head coach showed little faith though on Saturday, pulling Arnold at half-time with his completion percentage under 50, two fumbles and an interception. The most worrying part for Arnold was that backup Michael Hawkins Jr. had a much better grip on the offense and his mobility added a different edge. The Sooners may give Arnold the chance to get right against Auburn, but with Texas on the horizon, it’s a situation to monitor.

Missouri

Coming into the week ranked 7 in the AP Poll, Missouri won’t have lost too much sleep over the prospect of the SEC’s least feared opponent. That’s Nick Saban’s opinion of Vanderbilt anyway. Not so fast, Coach Corso may have said, as the Tigers failed to dispatch the Commodores with any confidence. It became a story of missed field goals. Missouri continually failing to get points on the board even though running back Nate Noel was reeling off breakaway run after breakaway run. Eventually, it came down to a Luther Burden overtime grab and a Vandy missed field goal to decide this one. Any confidence Mizzou had from me as a contender evaporated as I watched QB Diego Pavia run for 90 yards on the sorry Tiger defense.

North Carolina

Despite having pegged James Madison as having the potential to upset North Carolina in my weekly game guide, I never dreamed of turning on the TV to watch them 53-21 up heading into half time. Doing it in front of the Chapel Hill faithfull made this feel even more disrespectful. As the old adage goes, if you have two QBs, you have none. Jacolby Criswell and Conner Harrell had been battling for the job and Criswell got the start. Only to fluff his lines with two interceptions and a fumble. Across from him, after a slow start, Alonzo Barnett III exploded to life throwing for 388 yards and five TDs. This was a lowpoint for Mack Brown and a reality check for anyone expecting North Carolina to be at the business end of the ACC.

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.

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