The Massive Ten and Massive 12 every had large Related Press prime 25 showdowns finish in blowouts, whereas Clemson and Florida prolonged their distress with losses.
These are Week 4’s winners and losers.
A lot for being a one-year surprise. No. 19 Indiana (4-0, 1-0 in Massive Ten) embarrassed No. 9 Illinois Combating Illini (3-1, 0-1 in Massive Ten), 63-10, leaping out to a shocking 35-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the Heisman race with an unreal efficiency, going 21-of-23 for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns, and the Hoosiers protection allowed 161 yards, together with two speeding. Whereas different inaugural 12-team Faculty Soccer Playoff individuals, Boise State, Clemson and SMU have sustained some debilitating losses, Indiana has averted a 2025 hangover. As a substitute, it could be higher.
These Gators are extra cooked than the sort you may discover at a Cajun restaurant. Florida (1-3) dropped its third consecutive sport in Saturday’s 26-7 loss to No. 4 Miami Hurricanes (4-0) and gained simply 32 yards of offense within the first two quarters. Quarterback D.J. Lagway, the highest quarterback recruit within the 2024 high-school class, continues to regress following final week’s five-interception sport towards the LSU Tigers, going 12-of-23 for 61 yards versus the Hurricanes. Head coach Billy Napier obtained a vote of confidence from the athletic division lower than a 12 months in the past, however with this system taking a large step again, its tune has possible modified.
Winner: The American Convention
After an offseason rebrand, The American is trying to even be generally known as one of the best faculty soccer non-power convention. It is off to begin.
Sooner or later after the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 19-12, the Memphis Tigers gave The American its sixth energy convention win this season in a 32-31 thriller over the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2, 0-1 in SEC). The South Florida Bulls (3-1) additionally defeated then-No. 25 Boise State Broncos (1-1) in Week 1, whereas the North Texas Imply Inexperienced notched a dominant 59-10 win over Washington State (2-1) final Saturday. With a number of crown jewels through the non-conference portion of the schedule, The American has positioned itself properly to earn an auto-bid on this 12 months’s Faculty Soccer Playoff.
“In the event that they’re bored with profitable, they will ship me on my means,” a defiant Clemson head coach, Dabo Swinney, told reporters earlier this week. Who knew which will have truly been a plea?
The Tigers dropped to 1-3 for the primary time since 2004 on Saturday following a listless efficiency in a 34-21 house loss to the Syracuse Orange (3-1, 1-0 in ACC). “This can be a very, very low day,” Swinney mentioned afterward, per Sports Illustrated. With greater than half of the common season remaining, Clemson can nonetheless plunge decrease.
Within the first high-profile Massive 12 convention sport of the season, No. 17 Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0 in Massive 12) defeated No. 16 Utah Utes (3-1, 0-1 in Massive 12), 34-10, with beginning quarterback Behren Morton leaving the sport after taking a success to the helmet early within the third quarter. Backup Will Hammond was marvelous in the tough road environment, going 13-of-16 for 169 yards and two touchdowns, and the Purple Raiders outscored the Utes 24-7 within the fourth quarter.
The protection bottled Utah, limiting the Utes offense to 263 whole yards and quarterback Devon Dampier to 4.3 yards per move try. The unit had 4 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two pressured fumbles.
Texas Tech left little doubt that it’s the far superior workforce, additionally staking a declare as one of the best of the Massive 12 within the course of. If it might completely dominate a ranked opponent with a backup quarterback taking part in a lot of the second half, Texas Tech ought to be capable to deal with most different hurdles it comes throughout.
Loser: Cross safety
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-1 in Massive Ten) and No. 22 Auburn Tigers (3-1, 0-1 in SEC) could have made major statements with wins, however each as an alternative confirmed they’ve vital shortcomings alongside the offensive line.
Nebraska fell, 30-27, to No. 21 Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 in Massive Ten), its twenty eighth consecutive loss towards an AP-ranked opponent, and quarterback Dylan Raiola was sacked seven occasions. Michigan was in a position to get to the sophomore quarterback with four-man pressures, and Nebraska completed with extra third-down sacks allowed (4) than conversions (two).
