College football is back in full swing. There are always things to watch every week of the season. Here are 5 things to watch in college football week 4.
Texas already has a big win over Ohio State, but they have another test this week, as they travel to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers. The Longhorns have a solidly balanced offense with Arch Manning leading the way at quarterback. He really found his touch in the second half against Ohio State. The defense has also allowed just 12 points per game and are led by elite pass rusher Colin Simmons. They have all the talent to win just about any game, but this will be a tough road trip.
Tennessee won on the road against Georgia Tech in week 2, but the Volunteers are still looking for their first big win. Fans will get a look at freshman phenom Faizon Brandon against good competition. Brandon has passed for 552 yards and six touchdowns, but Tennessee runs the ball well too, as they averaged 298.7 yards on the ground per game. The defense allows 14 points per game as well, so they have performed on both sides of the ball. Can Tennessee pull off the upset and really shake things up?
Oklahoma lost to Michigan and had a close one with New Mexico in week 2. The defense has allowed just 7.7 points per game, showing their strength. Offensively, they have had issues moving the ball consistently. Quarterback John Mateer needs to be a more consistent passer and the running game has to get going. They will likely struggle against Georgia’s defense, so Oklahoma will want to turn this game into a rock fight.
Georgia has been blowing out all of their competition, which includes Arkansas in their first SEC game of the season. They have not played the greatest competition, but they have averaged 59.3 points per game, ranking them first in the country. Relying on Nate Frazier to lead the ground game with his 202 rushing yards and five touchdowns has been a good thing. The defense shows signs of some of the vintage Georgia defenses, as they allow just 13.3 points per game. Georgia is favored and should win, but Oklahoma will be the best team they have played so far.
Ole Miss is coming off of an emotional win over LSU and their former coach Lane Kiffin. The offense looks great, as they have averaged 38 points per game and they have already played two power conference teams. Trinidad Chambliss has put himself at the front of the Heisman race, as he has passed for 924 yards and seven touchdowns. Running back Kewan Lacy has dealt with injuries in the first few games, but the Rebels still have plenty of offensive firepower. The defense has had some issues giving up big plays, but they have done just enough to get the team wins.
Florida got their first quality win of the Jon Sumrall era by defeating Auburn on the road in week 3. The offense has scored 54 points per game and has been led by star running back Jadan Baugh, who has 458 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, the Gators have allowed 21 points per game, so some things need to be cleaned up. Can Florida stay focused and take advantage of a possible letdown game from Ole Miss?
Oregon has had a rough start to the season after bringing back a lot of talent. They may have exorcised some demons by defeating Portland State 84-0, but it will take some more than that to get some good will back after starting 2-1. The offense has scored 49.7 points per game, ranking fifth in the country, but the defense has disappointed. They have allowed 22 points per game, an average that is much worse against FBS competition. Can the Ducks recover from early hiccups to beat USC and get back on the right track?
USC is undefeated, but also untested during the 2026 college football season. The Trojans have the offense rolling, as they are averaging 43 points per game. Jayden Maiava has played well with 1,173 passing yards and 12 passing touchdowns so far. The defense has their warts, as they allow 22.8 points per game and just gave up 35 points to Rutgers. USC fans have been waiting for Lincoln Riley to break through again after some early success and this game could really build some momentum.
Iowa is undefeated, with their biggest win coming over in-state rival Iowa State in week 2. The defense is as tough as ever, as they have allowed just 4.3 points per game, ranking first in the country. The offense may be an issue again, but they have scored 37 points per game so far. Wide receiver Tony Diaz is one to watch out for, as he can stretch the defense out to really open things up. They will have a tough game against Michigan with a chance to prove themselves.
Michigan went from nearly losing to Western Michigan to then beating Oklahoma. They seem to have a tough time getting up for every game, as they also struggled against UTEP early, before pulling away in the second half. The Wolverines should be ready for the Hawkeyes. Michigan’s defense has allowed 13 points per game and has made some big plays. The offense has been the issue, as Bryce Underwood has struggled with his consistency and the team averages just 27.3 points per game. Winning this game could go a long way to getting Michigan (or Iowa for that matter) credit from a national perspective.
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