Down With The Sickness - 2024 Week 4 CFB Recap
I am sick to my stomach, and it's not because of a loss, injury, or transfer, but simply because the college football season is already 1/3rd of the way finished. I wait so long for this season, and it goes so fast. Maybe that is why we love it so much.
Anyway, don't take any of these Saturdays for granted.
Here’s your comprehensive recap of all things college football from this weekend:
Gameday Game of the Week: Oklahoma vs. Tennessee
In a game where the score was closer than it felt, Tennessee thoroughly dominated Oklahoma on a night where they didn't have their A game. It's a sign that Tennessee has built out an extremely balanced roster. Their flash actually has substance. Nico didn't have his best night but didn't need to. He took care of the ball through the air when pressing, and trying to score for his coach's sake would have been easy. That's the growth that will be key as Tennessee progresses deeper into SEC play.
Oklahoma, on the other hand… Yikes. Let me rephrase that: Oklahoma's offense, on the other hand…. BIG YIKES. There are a whole host of questions that need to be answered, and one of those will be touched on in a few, but the great irony is that after so many years of dominant offense and putrid defense, the script has flipped. If Venables can get it figured out, watch out. If Venables can't, then his time will be short.
Upset of the Week: BYU
I woke up on Sunday morning and checked out the last few scores of games that had gone on when I went to bed. I had to shake my head and double-check that BYU beat Kansas State 38-9. In my preview picks column, I chose K-State because they are so well-coached and rarely beat themselves. This game was the opposite! There were turnovers, bad red-zone execution, and bad special teams. BYU capitalized on every single chance they had.
The Kalani Sitake experience is so strange. I can only explain his record with a Michael Scott Snip-Snap type reaction.
One year, he looks awesome, and the next, the team stinks! I have no clue how good he is or how good he should be at BYU.
That’s what makes them dangerous.
Under-the-Radar Game of the Week: Illinois vs. Nebraska
This game actually got a lot of press, which was great. Such a fun random-ranked matchup. But I put it as the under-the-radar game because of the date. It was primetime Friday night lights, so I wonder how many non-sickos really bought in. But I love a solid Friday Night game to watch. I go to a couple of High School games a year, but with two kids 3 and under, it can be hard to get out after 7. Having a game to watch on a Friday evening is amazing. This overtime game helped, too. It was an extremely even matchup between two teams on the rise.
I can’t wait for Va. Tech vs. Miami and Washington vs. Rutgers this Friday.
Biggest Storyline of the Weekend: When can you quit on a QB?
The Transfer Portal and NIL have created a Quarterback conundrum. Players, especially quarterbacks, are constantly moving from program to program and trying to raise their draft stock. Due to this, for top programs especially, you are paying your QB a lot of money to stay or a Quarterback a lot of money to come to you.
When I was watching the Oklahoma game, even though he was playing poorly, I was shocked that they benched Jackson Arnold. That is a top-rated, 5-star recruit that they just chose to bench in his first year as a full-time starter. I don't know how the rest of the year will go or if they will play Arnold or Hawkins Jr., but it really makes you wonder if Arnold will transfer if he is replaced.
It led me down a rabbit hole of an unanswerable question: If you are presumably paying a QB a lot of money to play for you, when can you quit on them?
Whether it’s a right or wrong move:
Oklahoma made that call, at least for one game, with Arnold.
Florida State hasn’t made that call with DJU
Notre Dame hasn’t made that call with Riley Leonard (by the way they shouldn’t.)
Kansas is struggling with Jalon Daniel’s this year.
And I am sure there are more examples.
The point is that a Head Coach has to make his Quarterback, the team, the fans, and the boosters happy. Are they willing to say something is a sunk cost or not?
Breakout Team of the Week: Miami
Alright—the Miami is back train is full steam ahead now. Sure, they were playing against USF, but they made a statement on a night without a lot of primetime action. South Florida was a bit of a trap game. They are talented and on the rise, and Miami plays the real meat of their schedule over the next month. It would have been a classic letdown game time. But they came out and kicked their tail.
Cam Ward is the real deal and a real contender for the Heisman. It's been impressive to see that he is limiting some of the head-scratching plays in his repertoire. The talent has always been there, but so were the backbreaking plays.
All he has done is throw for 1400 yards with 14 touchdowns and only 2 interceptions.
Watch out for the Hurricanes.
Player of the Week: Kalel Mullings
Donovan Edwards is on the cover of CFB25. Donovan Edwards might be the second-best running back on his team.
Michigan had literally no passing game against USC. It was purely ground and pound the entire time. Mullings led the way with 17 carries, 159 yards, and 2 touchdowns.
On the other hand, Miller Moss was an absolute warrior who led a USC comeback. Mullings simply busted a 63-yarder with just minutes left in the game. That was in addition to his 53-yard touchdown earlier in the game. Pretty dang good.
Stat Line of the Week: James Madison
This isn't a player stat line, and I don't care. When I saw this, I had to make sure I didn't click on a basketball score.
Play of the Weekend: Sanders Hail Mary.
Colorado was about to fade into the darkness of irrelevance. Shedeur keeps them in it for at least another week.
Picture that made me giggle:
Charlotte’s Head Coach is an absolute “Football Guy.” I don’t care that I have already posted it in this blog. This picture needs to go to the Smithsonian.
Long live the skillet
When do we need to have a conversation about TCU?
What a hilarious thing for Sonny Dykes to get thrown out against the team he used to coach.
I hate that conference re-alignment is killing some of these regional rivalries.
SMU has my brain in a pretzel. I have picked them wrong literally every week.
The skillet is an incredible trophy.
Look Ahead to Next Week
Oklahoma St. vs. Kansas St. - A week ago, this was a battle to get into the top 10; now, the loser may be out of the B12 race.
Maryland vs. Indiana - You guys know I am all in on the Hoosiers.
Lousville vs. Notre Dame - I am terrified. I have no clue which Notre Dame will show up.
Liberty vs. App State - Massive game for Liberty’s playoff hopes.
Georgia vs. Alabama—This game was more fun with fewer playoff teams. Now, it kind of feels like the result doesn't matter that much.
Illinois vs. Penn State - This turned into an awesome whiteout game for Penn State.
Arizona vs. Utah and Oregon vs. UCLA - PAC 12 after dark!
Well, actually, Big 12 and Big 10 after dark