Week 4 of college football is when things begin heating up. More conference play is commencing, and the upsets, and more importantly drama, continue to show a presence. It is time to go over the most crucial takeaways from the fourth week of the season!
Oklahoma State fires longtime head coach Mike Gundy following upset loss to Tulsa, falls to 1-2
Gundy was at the start of his 21st season as Cowboys head coach, behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz as the longest-tenured active head coach in FBS. The Golden Hurricane scored one touchdown and kicked four field goals and held OKST to a touchdown (Two-point conversion failed) and field goal before stopping them on the final drive of the game. This was their first win over the Cowboys since 1998. Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham is the interim head coach.
#4 Miami takes down non-conference rival Florida on College GameDay, 26-7
The Canes held the Gators to just 141 yards from scrimmage, as RBs Mark Fletcher Jr. and CharMar Brown rushed for a combined 196 yards and three touchdowns. Gators QB DJ Lagway threw for just 61 yards.
#17 Texas Tech defeats #16 Utah on Big Noon Kickoff, 34-10
Red Raiders backup QB played super sub for the injured Behren Morton on the road, by throwing 13/16 for 169 yards and two TDs. RB Cameron Dickey rushed for two touchdowns. Utes QB Devon Dampier threw two interceptions as TTU got the road upset.
#6 Oregon demolishes Civil War rival Oregon State at home, 41-7
The Ducks bid farewell to their annual rivalry in style thanks to QB Dante Moore’s 21/31, 305-yard, four TD performance. Trent Bray and the Beavers fall to 0-4 on the season. The Civil War will be on hiatus for next season and will be played again in Eugene in Fall 2027.
#19 Indiana humiliates #9 Illinois in Bloomington, 63-10
An improbable day for the Hoosiers, as QB Fernando Mendoza threw 21/23 for 267 yards and a staggering five TDs. TE Elijah Sarratt hauled in nine receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns; RB Khobie Martin also had multiple TDs on the ground as he rushed for 107 yards on twelve carries. The 63-point performance is the most ever against a ranked opponent in Big Ten Conference history.
#11 Oklahoma triumphs over #22 Auburn, 24-17, as fans boo Jackson Arnold’s homecoming
The Sooners held off their SEC rivals at home by sacking Tigers QB Jackson Arnold in the end zone for a safety with 1:06 remaining. Oklahoma QB John Mateer threw 24/36 for 271 yards and a touchdown. Arnold, who transferred in from Oklahoma prior to the season, went 21/32 for 220 yards and a TD as fans in Norman greeted him negatively.
Nebraska falls short of ranked win again, #21 Michigan gets 30-27 victory
Nebraska got its 28th consecutive loss against a ranked opponent despite QB Dylan Raiola throwing 30/41 for 308 yards, three TDs, and an interception; the field storm will have to wait in Lincoln. Their last ranked opponent win was against #22 Oregon at home on September 17, 2016.
Iowa spoils Rutgers’ Friday night blackout game, 38-28
The Hawkeyes were perfect on special teams and offense; return specialist Kaden Wetjen returned a 100-yard opening kickoff for a touchdown and a punt for 43 yards, giving him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors. QB Mark Gronowski rushed for 55 yards on thirteen carries for three touchdowns. Rutgers’ defense continues to struggle, and kicker Jai Patel went 0-2 on field goals. RU QB Athan Kaliakmanis threw a game-ending interception with 4:18 remaining on his own 27-yard line, as the Scarlet Knights fell to 0-5 all-time against Iowa.
Memphis makes their case by upsetting Arkansas at home, 32-31
Memphis’s 64-yard touchdown run from RB Sutton Smith with 4:51 left allowed for the Tigers to take the lead from the Razorbacks (The two-point conversion was no good). Suddenly, as Arkansas drove down the field, RB Mike Washington Jr. fumbled the ball deep in Tiger territory, and Memphis fell on top of it to secure the victory. Smith rushed for 147 yards on twelve carries, as the Tigers lurk upon the mandatory “Group of 5” seed in the College Football Playoff.
Maryland defeats Edwards Jr., Wisconsin, 27-10
Terps true freshman QB Malik Washington continues to look promising; despite throwing 18/34, he also threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Maryland gets a dub over Wisconsin QB Billy Edwards Jr., who started for the Terps last season before transferring.
Syracuse wins at Clemson for first time, 34-21, as QB Steve Angeli ends his season with injury
The Orange got their first-ever win in Death Valley, and Tigers coach Dabo Swinney has fallen to 1-3, the worst start to a season of his head coaching career. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik threw a whopping 37/60 for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. However, the attention turns to Orange QB Steve Angeli, who went down with a season-ending torn Achilles tendon after throwing 18/31 for 245 yards and 2 TD. Is the season over for the Orange?
Duke beats in-state rival NC State, 45-33
A big day on offense for both teams in Durham. Duke QB Darian Mensah led his team to victory with a 19/28, 269-yard, 3 TD performance. RB Anderson Castle had twelve carries for 92 yards and three touchdowns. NC State QB CJ Bailey went 29/39 for 364 yards and two touchdowns but threw three interceptions. WR Terrell Anderson caught the two TDs, and RB Hollywood Smothers had seventeen carries for 123 yards and a TD. The Blue Devils look to get back on the rails after a slow start to 2025.
Washington gets Apple Cup back from rival Washington State, 59-24
The Huskies had themselves a night on the road; QB Demond Williams Jr. went 16/19 for 298 yards and a staggering four TDs and rushed for another. He ran for 88 yards on thirteen carries. WR Denzel Boston caught six passes for 107 yards and two TDs. Cougars QB Zevi Eckhaus threw 26/37 for two TDs and two interceptions. The Apple Cup returns to Seattle after a year in Pullman.
Other scores!
- Southeastern Louisiana 10, #3 LSU 56
- Kent State 10, #7 Florida State 66
- Sam Houston State 0, #8 Texas 55
- Tulane 10, #13 Ole Miss 45
- UAB 24, #15 Tennessee 56
- Temple 24, #18 Georgia Tech 45
- Georgia State 21, #20 Vanderbilt 70
- South Carolina 20, #23 Missouri 29
- Purdue 30, #24 Notre Dame 56
- Michigan State 31, #25 USC 45
- SMU 24, TCU 35
- North Carolina 9, UCF 34
- West Virginia 10, Kansas 41
- Stanford 20, Virginia 48
- Arizona State 27, Baylor 24