.png)
Amped up competition was the story of week 4 on the collegiate gridiron. Finally we had a thick slate of competitive games with a handful of top 25 vs top 25 matchups bring the noise. We also saw Deion Sanders and his Buffalos taste their first defeat to a dominant and extra furious Oregon. All the noise, lets dive into the recap action and see what to look forward to in Week 5.
#4 Florida State remains perfect as they avoid a OT upset bid in Death Valley
WSU QB Cameron Ward joins the Heisman race after a mega-performance elevated his Cougars past #14 Oregon State
Harbaugh is back in Ann Arbor as the Wolverines dismantle Rutgers 31-7 after a slow start in the first half
Michigan State officially fires head coach Mel Tucker for cause
Statements were made in Week 4 with some of the bigger statements laid down by quarterbacks who want to be recognized. Bo Nix; Drew Allar and Cameron Ward brought the loudest statements and one of them has now joined my Heisman race.
Cameron Ward was startin' to get some recognition going into Week 4 that helped the Oregon State/Washington State matchup get ultra hype inside a dense highlighted circle. The game didn't disappoint between the two top-25 ranks and the performance from Washington State's leader under center was marvelous to watch as Ward led his Cougars to a 38-35 dub over the 14th ranked Beavers. The cat was scorchin' hot as he sliced up a Beaver's defense that only had given up 4 touchdowns in the first three games. Ward had 4 toudys in the air- just himself. He also punched one in on the ground. Ward went 28/34 with 404 yards in passing with a 93.0 QBR and 221.0 passer rating. Lights out under center he was. The performance put him in my current Heisman four.
Cougars' stud QB ranks 3rd in passing yards; 4th in passing touchdowns; and 10th in QBR. He's doing that buiz against solid teams with wins over then ranked 19 Wisconsin and now against 14th ranked Oregon State. The win over Oregon State has jumped the Cougars to number 16 in the recent AP Poll rankings. Cameron Ward, we recognize brotha:
Penix Jr. is still the lead dog. Dude is straight up slingin' the laces every week and now tries to get the Huskies in the top 5 of the AP Poll for the first time since 2016 (ranked 7th now). If he brushes past unranked Arizona this week, then he may get his chance as the week after Washington welcomes 9th ranked Oregon to Husky Stadium. That is a giant matchup to circle for MPJ, monumental Heisman moment to be unlocked.
Caleb Williams is in robot mode, and I mean that in a positive manner. Williams is automatic right now, as efficient as a QB can be. Now, he hasn't been tested whatsoever. Which leads to his work being displayed at ease. Arizona State in week 4 got him a bit more active, as they had some solid blitzes on him including two sacks and a forced fumble (retained). The reigning Heisman winner stayed true to his poise and delivered a solid game with 5 total touchdowns and no interceptions. He did post his lowest QBR of the year, and in some time. That makes the matchup against Colorado still interesting.
Sure, Colorado got SMOKED in Eugene. But that was a ticking clock, it was just a matter of time. Now that the reality is out of the way, they can start their real growth as a team. A winning team is built off those experiences. Getting blown out, especially after having solid chirp, gives a team adrenaline. Rob Gronkowski said it best: "It's way easier to respond after a blowout than a close heartbreak". Caleb Williams and his Trojans still need to expect a grind- and a possibilty of a shootout with Shedeur Sanders.
Don't be silly, the Oregon loss doesn't just push Shedeur away and forget about his season thus far. The Colorado offensive line was absolutely nonexistent. Sanders somehow didn't turn the ball over against that electric front 7 of the Ducks. The entire Colorado team got beat badly, Sanders fell into the fire with them. The offensive formations had no adjustments, nor did they have any structure. Oregon broke the barriers quickly and with ferocity. Coaches need to adjust and not call plays that are RPO; fake handoffs; and the same structured screens that Oregon studied & stuffed.
Shedeur shows a ton of maturity and collectiveness under center, something that took me by surprise, especially with all the lights and galore. He also shows legitimate football IQ that is needed for the top steps- working with Brady is a bigger thing than people think. I don't think that was a demoralizing loss in the mind of Shedeur. I expect him to study the game and elevate from it. The Sanders-Williams showdown should be real good. I'm filled with a high level of intrigue for that late-nighter. Hopefully it's fireworks and not a blow out.
24 Kansas vs 3 Texas (ABC)
A matchup of two of the Big 12's three remaining undefeated teams, and the first meeting between these schools with both teams ranked. The only time they previously met with neither team having a loss was in the 1938 season opener. Kansas is 3-17 against the Longhorns all-time... can they brew up a major upset in Austin? It's always worth a peep. Texas currently holds a 93.5 chance of victory over the Jayhawks. Who knows...
5 USC vs Colorado (FOX)
The first big test for the Buffaloes ended in anger and embarrassment. This time the top 10 test comes to Boulder. The reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams marches his mighty Trojans to take on a Colorado team coming off an embarrassing loss to Oregon. Despite no Travis Hunter, this game is still worth tunin' into. I mean don't kid yourselves now.
That place can get poppin' if the game remains close and like I mentioned- Shedeur Sanders versus Caleb Williams is popcorn television, cha heard. USC rolls in with a 89.7% chance of victory (ESPN Analytics). Upset temperature, baby. Hopefully the Colorado team elevated from that butt whoopin' from the beaks of the Ducks. To that offensive line: let Shedeur do some work for pete sake!
11 Notre Dame vs 17 Duke (ABC)
Not as hot of upset temperature of that in Colorado, but the Duke game this week will have Durham poppin'. The Fighting Irish travel to Durham to take on the Blue Devils after a heartbreak loss from the hands of Ohio State in South Bend, last week. Duke is lookin' for a 5-0 start by steppin' over Notre Dame.
Going in ranked 17th with a 30.6% of victory- a win over 11 ranked Notre Dame would springboard them high on the AP Poll. The Duke fans will be LOUD to try and help them in that feat. College football atmosphere in it's greatest form. Definitely a top tier matchup this week, hopefully it's a better matchup than the 2020 Notre Dame victory.
More exciting football is upon us. We have some top 10 teams that are playing unranked big-power schools. We could see a major upset this week. The calendar is about to flip and it's giving off this weird smell in the air. Upset smell. Let the fireworks off college football!
Follow our Socials and my personal Twitter:
Twitter: @SpittinCap & @djp_spittincap
IG: @spittin_cap
XXII is available for download and streaming NOW on all streaming services!
Make sure to click the heart and leave a like... share for others to read
Opinion. Fact. Or Straight Up Cap.
Comments