The Big Ten and Big 12 each had huge Associated Press top 25 showdowns end in blowouts, while Clemson and Florida extended their misery with losses.
These are Week 4’s winners and losers.
So much for being a one-year wonder. No. 19 Indiana (4-0, 1-0 in Big Ten) embarrassed No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini (3-1, 0-1 in Big Ten), 63-10, jumping out to a stunning 35-7 halftime lead. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza entered the Heisman race with an unreal performance, going 21-of-23 for 267 yards and five touchdowns, and the Hoosiers defense allowed 161 yards, including two rushing. While other inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff participants, Boise State, Clemson and SMU have sustained some debilitating losses, Indiana has avoided a 2025 hangover. Instead, it might be better.
These Gators are more cooked than the kind you might find at a Cajun restaurant. Florida (1-3) dropped its third consecutive game in Saturday’s 26-7 loss to No. 4 Miami Hurricanes (4-0) and gained just 32 yards of offense in the first two quarters. Quarterback D.J. Lagway, the top quarterback recruit in the 2024 high-school class, continues to regress following last week’s five-interception game against the LSU Tigers, going 12-of-23 for 61 yards versus the Hurricanes. Head coach Billy Napier received a vote of confidence from the athletic department less than a year ago, but with the program taking a massive step back, its tune has likely changed.
Winner: The American Conference
After an offseason rebrand, The American is looking to also be known as the best college football non-power conference. It’s off to a good start.
One day after the Tulsa Golden Hurricane defeated the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 19-12, the Memphis Tigers gave The American its sixth power conference win this season in a 32-31 thriller over the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-2, 0-1 in SEC). The South Florida Bulls (3-1) also defeated then-No. 25 Boise State Broncos (1-1) in Week 1, while the North Texas Mean Green notched a dominant 59-10 win over Washington State (2-1) last Saturday. With several crown jewels during the non-conference portion of the schedule, The American has positioned itself nicely to earn an auto-bid in this year’s College Football Playoff.
“If they’re tired of winning, they can send me on my way,” a defiant Clemson head coach, Dabo Swinney, told reporters earlier this week. Who knew that may have actually been a plea?
The Tigers dropped to 1-3 for the first time since 2004 on Saturday following a listless performance in a 34-21 home loss to the Syracuse Orange (3-1, 1-0 in ACC). “This is a very, very low day,” Swinney said afterward, per Sports Illustrated. With more than half of the regular season remaining, Clemson can still plunge lower.
In the first high-profile Big 12 conference game of the season, No. 17 Texas Tech (4-0, 1-0 in Big 12) defeated No. 16 Utah Utes (3-1, 0-1 in Big 12), 34-10, with starting quarterback Behren Morton leaving the game after taking a hit to the helmet early in 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 Red Raiders outscored the Utes 24-7 in the fourth quarter.
The defense bottled Utah, limiting the Utes offense to 263 total yards and quarterback Devon Dampier to 4.3 yards per pass attempt. The unit had four tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Texas Tech left no doubt that it is the far superior team, also staking a claim as the best of the Big 12 in the process. If it can thoroughly dominate a ranked opponent with a backup quarterback playing most of the second half, Texas Tech should be able to handle most other hurdles it comes across.
Loser: Pass protection
The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, 0-1 in Big Ten) and No. 22 Auburn Tigers (3-1, 0-1 in SEC) could have made major statements with wins, but both instead showed they have significant shortcomings along the offensive line.
Nebraska fell, 30-27, to No. 21 Michigan Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 in Big Ten), its 28th consecutive loss against an AP-ranked opponent, and quarterback Dylan Raiola was sacked seven times. Michigan was able to get to the sophomore quarterback with four-man pressures, and Nebraska finished with more third-down sacks allowed (four) than conversions (two).
