College Football Previews Week 4
Northwestern at No. 5 Indiana (-21.5) (8 p.m., Fox)
Indiana quarterback Josh Hoover (243.9) and Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles (190.2) rank first and fourth, respectively, in the Big Ten in passer rating. How much different are the Wildcats with new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly? The problem might be slowing down the Hoosiers’ rushing attack with Turbo Richard (315 yards, 4 TDs) and Lee Beebe Jr. (195 yards, 2 TDs). The Hoosiers won the last meeting 41-24 in 2024.
Saturday, Sept. 26
Wake Forest at No. 16 Louisville (-12.5) (12 p.m., ESPN)
Louisville scored the big win with Jeff Brohm against SMU in Week 3. How do the Cardinals respond in the next matchup? The Cardinals have won the last two home matchups against the Demon Deacons by an average of 25.5 points per game. Wake Forest is 6-3 ATS as an underdog under Jake Dickert – but the defense has allowed 30-plus points each of the last two weeks. This could be another high-scoring affair – but Lincoln Kienholz will have the edge on Gio Lopez.
No. 1 Texas (-3.5) at No. 14 Tennessee (12 p.m., ABC)
How will Arch Manning handle the Neyland Stadium environment? Manning had a 57.7% completion percentage on the road last season, and the Vols have a rushing offense that will challenge the Texas defense on the interior. Brandon has taken just three sacks, but he will have to take more chances in the passing game. The Longhorns are just 2-5 ATS as a road favorite since joining the SEC – but there is value knowing the line has dropped two points.
Illinois at No. 7 Ohio State (-27.5) (12 p.m., Fox)
Illinois hung with Ohio State in a 34-16 loss last season – but the Illini have lost their last four visits to The Shoe by an average of 34.8 points per game. Eastern Carolina transfer Kaitin Houser has taken just two sacks in three starts for Illinois. How will he withstand the Ohio State defense? Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith has 400 receiving yards and three TDs and will pose a challenge for an Illini defense that limits opposing QBs to a 57.9% completion percentage. The Buckeyes are 3-0 ATS this season and will continue the balanced offense around Julian Sayin.
Sam Houston at No. 11 Texas Tech (-36.5) (12 p.m., TNT)
Sam Houston is 1-2, but the Bearkats have allowed just 15.6 points per game under coach Phil Longo. The Red Raiders will have success on the ground with J’Koby Williams (249 yards, 3 TDs) and Cameron Dickey (136 yards, 2 TDs), and Will Hammond – who averages 248 passing yards per game – will build on the confidence of the Week 3 victory against Houston.
No. 3 Notre Dame (-26.5) at Purdue (2 p.m., Peacock)
Notre Dame has won the last 10 meetings in this series. Purdue averaged 37 points in losses to Wake Forest and UCLA. The problem is a defense that allows 207 rushing yards on 5.5 yards per carry. The Irish will have success against that defensive front. This also is the best defense the Boilermakers have faced so far. Notre Dame has a plus-8 turnover ratio. Purdue is minus-2.
No. 15 Utah (-9.5) at Iowa State (3:30 p.m., Fox)
Is this a trap game for the Utes? Utah has looked the part with a nasty defense under first-year coach Morgan Scalley that supports quarterback Devin Dampier. Iowa State running back Aiden Flora leads the Big 12 with 328 rushing yards on 8.6 yards per carry. The Cyclones won the last meeting 31-28 in 2024. Utah was 4-2 ATS as a road favorite last season.
No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan (-4.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Iowa looks like a complete team to this point with the nation’s top scoring defense (4.3 ppg.), and the offense has been complementary with 7.7 yards per rushing attempt. Michigan can play defense too, with a unit that has compiled 10 sacks in three games. It’s on quarterbacks Bryce Underwood and Hank Brown to limit game-changing turnovers in a defensive struggle.
College Football Previews Week 4
Oklahoma at No. 2 Georgia (-13.5) (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Oklahoma’s offense is a mess – but the defense is still in the top 5 in points allowed and is giving up just 2.8 yards per rushing attempt. This will be the first real test for Gunner Stockton. The Georgia quarterback has a 84.4% completion percentage with nine TDs and no interceptions. The Bulldogs are 3-0 ATS this season, however, and the defense allows 1.5 yards per carry. The Sooners are 5-4 S/U on the road since joining the SEC.
No. 4 Ole Miss at No. 21 Florida (-3.5) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
How will Ole Miss manage the emotions from the win against LSU? Trinidad Chambliss has two 300-yard games against ranked opponents – and he might be asked to do more if Kewan Lacy, who suffered an upper body injury in Week 3, is out. The Gators can score a huge victory under first-year coach Jon Sumrall here, and Jadan Baugh is second in the FBS with 458 rushing yards. This line has moved up a point. Will the Gators make a statement?
Georgia Southern at No. 25 Houston (-17.5) (4 p.m., ESPNU)
Max Johnson – a seventh-year senior – leads Georgia Southern’s high-volume passing attack, and the Eagles lost 22-7 to Clemson in Week 2. Houston is coming off a tough loss to Texas Tech, but the tandem of Makhi Hughes (213 yards, 2 TDs) and freshman Re’Shaun Sanford II (132 yards, 2 TDs) gets the Cougars back on track.
Central Michigan at No. 6 Miami (-41.5) (5 p.m., The CW)
Miami held off Central Michigan 17-12 in 2019, but times have changed. The Hurricanes have a high-powered offense led by Darian Mensah – who ranks third in the FBS with a 229.1 passer rating. Mark Fletcher Jr. and Malachi Toney are nursing injuries, but Miami presents too many problems for the Chippewas, who average 14.7 points per game.
Wisconsin at No. 13 Penn State (-9.5) (5 p.m., Peacock)
Matt Campbell makes his Big Ten debut after leading the Nittany Lions to a 3-0 start. Penn State hasn’t committed a turnover with quarterback Rocco Becht. Both teams are tough against the run – so Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph will have to avoid turnovers. Penn State linebacker Caleb Bacon leads a defense that averages five tackles for loss per game. The Nittany Lions have won the last six meetings in the series – but four of those were one-score games.
South Carolina at No. 8 Alabama (-12.5) (7 p.m., ESPN)
Shane Beamer is on the hot seat heading into a tough road test. The last two meetings have been decided by a combined total of nine points. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers took three sacks and threw two interceptions in Week 3 – and Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell has been more efficient to this point.
No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU (-9.5) (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Both teams are coming off disappointing losses. Quarterbacks Marcel Reed and Sam Leavitt have combined for eight interceptions. The Aggies hammered the Tigers 49-25 at Tiger Stadium last season and Brian Kelly was fired the next day. The Tigers lean into the home crowd – and Lane Kiffin scores a bounce-back victory against Texas A&M.
No. 20 Oregon (-2.5) at No. 12 USC (7:30 p.m., NBC)
This is a prove-it game for USC against Oregon, which recalibrated with a 84-0 victory against Portland State in Week 3. Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava had 306 yards and three TDs in a 42-27 loss to the Ducks last season – and it was two interceptions and the inability to run the ball (1.9 yards per carry) that made a difference. King Miller, who ranks second in the Big Ten with 338 rushing yards, needs to be a factor. Dante Moore, who had 257 yards, 2 TDs and an interception in that game, also is on the spot here. This game is why the Trojans brought in defensive coordinator Gary Patterson. Oregon has won four of the last five meetings at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi State (-5.5) (7:45 p.m., SEC Network)
Meet Kamario Taylor, the Mississippi State quarterback with a rocket arm who leads the SEC with 11 TD passes. Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons has eight TDs and no interceptions, so the quarterback matchup is one to watch. Can the Tigers maintain an effective running game behind Jamal Roberts (300 yards, 3 TDs)? How do the Bulldogs handle being favored in a ranked SEC matchup? Missouri is 1-1 S/U at Davis Wade Stadium under coach Eli Drinkwitz, and the line has moved up a point.
Missouri State at No. 22 SMU (-34.5) (9 p.m., ACC Network)
That’s a big number for the Mustangs, who are coming off a disappointing loss to Louisville in Week 3. Missouri State gives up 31.3 points per game under first-year coach Casey Woods. SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings averages 329.7 passing yards per game.
College Football Previews Week 4