Final week, faculty soccer followers noticed Arch Manning take over for an injured Quinn Ewers and lead Texas, now the No. 1-ranked workforce within the nation, to a commanding 56-7 win over UTSA. Manning handed for 223 yards and 4 touchdowns, whereas additionally including a 67-yard speeding rating that gave Longhorns followers flashbacks to Vince Younger. This Saturday, Manning will get his first faculty begin when Texas faces UL Monroe at dwelling.
We additionally noticed Georgia, now the No. 2-ranked workforce within the nation, battle to finally beat Kentucky, 13-12. Whereas the rating line confounded some, Bulldogs coach Kirby Sensible praised his workforce’s resiliency. Sensible’s groups have overcome video games like this previously and there is no cause to consider they will not do the identical factor this yr because the opponents on their schedule get harder.
In the meantime, Alabama appeared like a Faculty Soccer Playoff contender in a 42-10 thumping of Wisconsin in Madison. Taking part in behind a wholesome offensive line, quarterback Jalen Milroe accounted for 5 touchdowns and is again within the Heisman Trophy dialog.
The Week 4 slate seems simply as engaging, with a number of matchups between prime 25 opponents.
Listed below are the highest 5 video games to look at this weekend:
No. 24 Illinois at No. 22 Nebraska (Friday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX)
Nebraska will face its first ranked opponent underneath the lights in Lincoln on Friday night time. Huskers quarterback Dylan Raiola has been sharp in his debut season. In final week’s 34-3 win over Northern Iowa, Raiola accomplished 17 of 23 passes for 247 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He’ll have a brand new problem this week, going through the most effective protection he is seen all yr. Illinois is limiting opponents to 151.7 passing yards per recreation and has already totaled six interceptions by means of three video games.
Each groups have carried out an admirable job stopping opponents from scoring – the Huskers have allowed simply 20 factors by means of three video games, whereas the Illini have allowed 26.
Marshall at No. 3 Ohio State (Midday ET on FOX)
Ohio State has but to face a official problem this season, and that will not begin this weekend when Marshall involves city. The Buckeyes have solely performed two video games to this point this season and are coming off an idle week. Whereas the Thundering Herd may not be a prime 25 workforce, Ryan Day has to verify his workforce is ready and never overlooking their opponent. The very last thing Ohio State desires proper now could be to be surprised in the identical sort of means Notre Dame was at dwelling by Northern Illinois a number of weeks in the past.
The Buckeyes ought to get pleasure from this early slate of video games although, as a result of as soon as October hits, the schedule will get spicier. They go to No. 9 Oregon on Oct. 12, get No. 22 Nebraska at dwelling on Oct. 26, then hit the highway once more at No. 10 Penn State on Nov. 2. Then issues relax once more earlier than going through Michigan within the remaining recreation of the common season. With a weaker power of schedule in the case of non-conference video games, the Buckeyes must beat the groups they’re presupposed to beat to be able to keep atop the CFP rankings.
No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS)
It is Alex Orji time at Michigan. Head coach Sherrone Moore introduced early within the week that he would begin Orji at quarterback over Davis Warren, who had began the earlier three video games. Orji is a dual-threat quarterback, however solely has seven passing makes an attempt in his faculty profession. Predominantly a runner, Orji has 10 carries this season and is averaging 5.8 yards per rush.
How will USC’s protection comprise Orji? The excellent news for the Trojans is that they’ve had ample time to arrange with Moore having given them a heads-up. New defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn will need to cease the run and get stress on Orji and pressure him to throw the ball. Michigan is also with out star tight finish Colston Loveland, who leads the workforce with 19 catches for 187 yards and a landing. The junior suffered an higher physique damage within the Wolverines recreation final week in opposition to Arkansas State and his standing is presently unknown, although Moore hopes to have him obtainable.
No. 12 Utah at No. 14 Oklahoma State (4 p.m. ET on FOX)
The winner of this recreation will probably be an early favourite to win the Huge 12.
Utah’s Cam Rising missed final week’s recreation in opposition to Utah State after injuring his finger the earlier week vs. Baylor. Whereas there hasn’t been a definitive replace on the QB’s standing, the plan is that Rising will play in what may very well be thought-about the Utes’ first and final actual take a look at of the common season. They do not should play one other prime 25 workforce till No. 20 Iowa State visits Salt Lake Metropolis on Nov. 23. Utah won’t solely want Rising to be able to pull off an upset over the Cowboys in entrance of a rowdy Stillwater crowd, however the Utes’ protection might want to maintain final season’s Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon II in verify.
In his second yr at Oklahoma State, quarterback Alan Bowman is finishing 67% of his passes for a median of 322.3 yards per recreation. In final week’s 45-0 win over Tulsa, he had 396 passing yards with 5 touchdowns and one interception. De’Zhaun Stribling had 174 yards and two touchdowns, whereas Talyn Shettron had 110 yards and one TD. Coach Mike Gundy has stated he is not anxious about his operating recreation, however it could actually be ideally suited if Gordon received going. After speeding for 126 yards and three touchdowns within the Cowboys’ opener, Gordon hasn’t rushed for greater than 50 yards in every of the final two video games. Oklahoma State faces Utah and Kansas State back-to-back, so now could be an excellent time to get Gordon in a rhythm.
No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma (7:30 p.m. ET on ABC)
This will probably be Nico Iamaleava’s first true highway take a look at. The younger Tennessee quarterback has been environment friendly and has appeared like a future Heisman Trophy winner in a brief time frame. How will he fare in opposition to a Brent Venables protection? Oklahoma has had its personal struggles to begin the season, however it nonetheless has a prime 30 unit that has solely allowed 11.3 factors per recreation. Linebacker Danny Stutsman has 33 tackles by means of three video games (second most within the SEC), whereas lineman R Mason Thomas has been capable of put constant stress on quarterbacks and has three sacks (additionally second most within the SEC).
That is additionally a homecoming for Tennessee coach Josh Huepel, who was a Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2000, the identical season he led the Sooners to a nationwide championship. Huepel received his teaching profession began in Norman as a graduate assistant and later served because the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator underneath Bob Stoops, overlapping with Venables, who was OU’s defensive coordinator throughout that point interval.
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Laken Litman covers faculty soccer, faculty basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA Right this moment and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Lady,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her on Twitter @LakenLitman.
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