Earlier this week, UCLA and Virginia Tech made among the earliest teaching adjustments in current reminiscence. If Week 4 is any indication, a number of extra might be proper across the nook.
Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, Arkansas’s Sam Pittman and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney all turned in wildly disappointing performances in must-win spots. The struggles at North Carolina and Wisconsin have been simply as obvious. Florida coach Billy Napier’s seat is burning after a traditionally horrible offensive efficiency in opposition to Miami.
Nonetheless, there have been brilliant moments. Texas Tech pulled off a program-defining win in opposition to No. 16 Utah. Oklahoma knocked off Auburn in a high-stakes SEC opener. No. 19 Indiana put the nation on discover with a decimation of No. 9 Illinois, whereas No. 23 Missouri put South Carolina away with a dominant defensive efficiency.
Listed here are the most important winners and losers of Week 4 of the school soccer season.
Tomorrow’s Prime 25 Immediately: Oklahoma, Indiana surge into prime 10 in school soccer rankings
Chip Patterson
Winner: Texas Tech
The Crimson Raiders made headlines over the offseason by pouring assets into rebuilding their trenches via the switch portal. Saturday proved why each cent was value it.
Texas Tech flew into Salt Lake Metropolis and dominated No. 16 Utah, the preseason Huge 12 favourite, in a 34-10 assertion win.
Regardless of dropping beginning quarterback Behren Morton to an obvious head damage, backup Will Hammond stepped in and sparked a 24-7 second-half run. He completed with 169 yards and two touchdowns, whereas the protection smothered Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, holding him to simply 4.2 yards per cross try.
Instantly, Texas Tech is not only a contender — the Crimson Raiders seem like the group to beat within the Huge 12.
Loser: Clemson
For years, Dabo Swinney disregarded criticism by accusing followers of being spoiled. That card would not work anymore.
After a loss to Syracuse, Clemson is one among solely three FBS packages to path by seven or extra factors in each sport this season. The opposite two — UCLA and Virginia Tech — have already fired their coaches.
The Tigers are 1-3, a surprising collapse for a preseason nationwide title choose. Maybe most damning, Swinney would not appear to have solutions. Clemson is misplaced, and the outlook is bleak.
Winner: #Heismendoza
All offseason, individuals questioned: Who is that this season’s Indiana? Actually, No. 9 Illinois was a fairly widespread reply. Led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the reply may merely be… Indiana? The No. 19 Hoosiers laid a beatdown for the ages in opposition to the Combating Illini, obliterating them 63-10 in one of many wildest wins of the previous few years.
Nevertheless, the story was Mendoza, who was unbelievable in his first large take a look at since transferring from California. The junior accomplished 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns within the win, with receiver Elijah Sarratt reeling in two of his landing grabs.
Final week, NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner elevated Mendoza to his No. 1 spot within the 2026 NFL Draft. Colleague Ryan Wilson has him at No. 3. Might an Indiana quarterback win the Heisman Trophy? He will give voters loads to consider.
Loser: Florida QB DJ Lagway
The previous No. 1 quarterback DJ Lagway has been tormented by accidents for the previous yr. However whether or not it was damage, horrible playcalling or lack of assist, his efficiency in opposition to No. 4 Miami in a 26-7 loss was a catastrophe. Every week after throwing 5 interceptions in opposition to No. 3 LSU, Lagway accomplished 12-of-23 passes for 61 yards.
The offensive efficiency by Florida was the worst of the twenty first Century, and might be a ultimate straw for Billy Napier’s teaching tenure. Nevertheless, Lagway’s season has been a wild disappointment. He was basically requested to avoid wasting this system after constant failures by Florida’s offense over the previous a number of years. Lagway must severely contemplate whether or not he is doing a disservice to his future by sticking with the Gators.
Winner: Oklahoma DL
Oklahoma’s defensive position entered the season extremely touted, however its efficiency in a 24-17 win in opposition to Auburn exceeded even lofty expectations.
The Sooners racked up a school-record 10 sacks in opposition to former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, together with a number of within the ultimate minutes to seal the win.
Defensive finish R. Mason Thomas is rising as one of many nation’s greatest. He and Jayden Jackson mixed for 4.5 sacks, whereas seven completely different linemen logged at the very least one sack. That sort of depth and dominance makes OU a nightmare matchup transferring ahead.
Loser: Wisconsin
The ground retains falling for Luke Fickell.
The Badgers have been held scoreless properly into the third quarter of a listless loss to Maryland. Dropping quarterback Billy Edwards to damage was a setback, however Wisconsin’s dashing assault was almost nonexistent, averaging underneath 1.5 yards per carry. Terrapin freshman Malik Washington carved them up with 265 yards and two touchdowns.
Even worse, Camp Randall was half-empty by the fourth quarter. The well-known “Leap Round” custom felt hole. Followers chanted “Hearth Fickell,” and whereas the athletic director issued help, endurance is operating skinny.
Winner: Memphis
Numerous American Convention groups have had their second over the primary few weeks. On Saturday, it was Memphis’s flip. The Tigers shocked Arkansas 32-31 after a surprising 64-yard landing run from Sutton Smith late within the fourth quarter. The Tigers compelled two interceptions off Taylen Inexperienced, and had two gamers rush for 100 yards in opposition to an SEC defensive entrance.
The win all of a sudden elevates Memphis in the direction of the highest of the Group of Six’s Faculty Soccer Playoff odds. The Tigers get South Florida, Navy and Tulane at residence, and miss each UTSA and North Texas. With 4 wins underneath their belt, their pathway to a convention title sport is without doubt one of the clearest on the board. Each passing week, the American appears to be like just like the clear convention to beat for a playoff spot.
Winner: TCU
The ultimate Battle for the Iron Skillet was emotional, however TCU coach Sonny Dykes and his group delivered in a 35-24 win over SMU.
Quarterback Josh Hoover — one of many nation’s most underrated passers — threw for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns. His favourite goal, former Boise State switch Eric McAlister, erupted for 254 yards and three scores.
On protection, TCU held SMU to simply 94 dashing yards on 27 carries, precisely the kind of physicality they’re going to want in Huge 12 play. At 3-0, the Horned Frogs have a robust case to enter the AP Prime 25.
Loser: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy
If final week’s 66-point loss to Oregon felt like all-time low, Friday night time proved it wasn’t.
In entrance of a packed Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State misplaced to Tulsa at residence for the primary time since 1951. And it wasn’t shut. After OSU scored on its opening possession, Tulsa ripped off a 19-0 run and by no means appeared again, ending with greater than 200 yards each dashing and passing.
Followers booed Gundy as he left the sector, a surreal second for a coach who as soon as outlined this system. Whether or not the top comes Sunday or in December, it is clear: the Gundy period is over.
Winner: Vanderbilt
A win in opposition to Georgia State was by no means unsure for the No. 20 Commodores, however a 70-21 decimation was one for the historical past books. The matchup marked the primary time Vandy scored 70 factors since 1918, headlined by 286 yards and eight touchdowns on the bottom. Extra importantly, Vanderbilt moved to 4-0 for the primary time since 2008 underneath coach Clark Lea. When Vanderbilt obtained quarterback Diego Pavia again, there was optimism that this might be a particular season for this system. With a number of wins in opposition to energy convention foes underneath their belt, Vanderbilt is on the precipice of a spectacular marketing campaign.
Loser: North Carolina
Dropping to TCU in Invoice Belichick’s debut was forgivable. Dropping 34-9 to UCF? Indefensible.
The Tar Heels managed solely 217 complete yards and a pair of.5 yards per carry in opposition to a Knights squad picked final within the Huge 12 preseason ballot. First-year coach Scott Frost had his group prepared, whereas UNC appeared lifeless.
At 1-3, North Carolina seems poor throughout the board. A winless convention season is not out of the query.
Do not look now, however Rice is surging.
Beneath first-year coach Scott Abell, the Owls are 3-1 for the primary time since 2001. Abell’s gun-option offense is prospering, rating No. 12 nationally in dashing. The Owls already boast street wins over American foe Charlotte and Solar Belt energy Louisiana.
Rice hasn’t posted a profitable season since 2014, however all of a sudden that feels lifelike — perhaps even seemingly.
