Week 4 Puts 6 Playoff-Shaping Games in Focus as No. 1 Texas Visits No. 14 Tennessee
Updated
Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 24
Week 4 Puts 6 Playoff-Shaping Games in Focus as No. 1 Texas Visits No. 14 Tennessee
3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Sep 24
Summary
Six Week 4 matchups carry outsized College Football Playoff and conference-title stakes, with Texas-Tennessee topping the slate as the Longhorns try to answer doubts after managing just 4.8 yards per play against UTSA.
No. 10 LSU vs. No. 23 Texas A&M and Western Michigan vs. Boise State look closest to elimination games—the SEC loser likely takes a second league loss, while the Group of Six loser is all but out of playoff contention.
No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 USC and No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan could reshape the Big Ten race behind Ohio State and Indiana, with USC seeking a breakthrough and Iowa chasing a statement win in Ann Arbor.
No. 4 Ole Miss at No. 21 Florida adds another SEC prove-it test after the Rebels beat LSU, while Florida gets its only home shot against one of No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Georgia or Ole Miss.
The weekend marks an early sorting point for contenders and pretenders, with programs such as Ole Miss and USC able to validate their rise while Texas A&M and Oklahoma are already fading from the top tier.