Week 4 NCAA football
The GIST: Week 3 may have been a gridiron snoozefest, but Week 4 came through with all the spice. Multiple favorites snuck by on Saturday with surprising scorelines, and three ranked teams were cut from this week’s national poll. Let’s dive into the moments that kept us on our toes.
Upset alert: It wasn’t the only upset on Saturday, but Middle Tennessee’s 45–31 triumph over then–No. 25 Miami Hurricanes was the program’s first-ever against a ranked opponent. The Blue Raiders led the entire game with defense that forced two interceptions, while quarterback (QB) Chase Cunningham tossed a capstone 99-yard fourth-quarter touchdown (TD). Damn.
- The extra salt in the ’Canes wound? The $1.5 million they shelled out to Middle Tennessee to have them come play. Bienvenido a Miami!
Peak performance: The now–No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners plummeted 12 spots this week after QB Adrian Martinez, the apparent wizard of Oz Kansas State, showed out in Norman, OK. The new–No. 25 Wildcats bested the Sooners 41–34 thanks to Martinez’s five TDs — four of which he carried into the endzone himself. No ruby slippers required.
Record score: The FCS’ SFA Lumberjacks spent Saturday night planting themselves…in the endzone. The Lumberjacks cut down the Warner Royals 98–0, setting a Western Athletic Conference record in the process. The last time a team put up over 97 points? 1980, when Portland State beat Delaware State 105–0.
Highlight of the week: This chaotic 97-yard Texas A&M TD in the Southwest Classic rivalry. When then–No. 10 Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson fumbled as he leapt for the endzone, Texas A&M took possession, running it all the way back for six.
- And that wasn’t even the now–No. 20 Razorbacks’ worst moment. In a 42-yard field goal attempt that would have given the Hogs the late-game lead, Arkansas kicker Cam Little hit the top of the upright. Devastating.
