College football winners, losers in Week 4: Clemson, Michigan return to form, North Carolina makes it weird

Conference play got underway across college football and a few major games helped shape the state of title game races. No. 6 Tennessee came out of a matchup against No. 15 Oklahoma as a clear contender in the SEC. No. 18 Michigan showed No. 11 USC  there’s still work to do to reach championship-level. 

Down the board, several competitive games got out of control. TCU’s rivalry tilt against SMU ended with a multi-score loss and surrendering the Iron Skillet for the foreseeable future. South Alabama obliterated Sun Belt foe Appalachian State during the week. However, the biggest shocker of the weekend came in the state of South Carolina in a pivotal ACC matchup. 

Here are a few of the biggest winners and losers in college football of Week 4. 

Rumors of Clemson’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Since losing big to Georgia in Week 1, the Tigers have won their last two games against NC State and Appalachian State by a combined 125-55, including a dominant 59-35 win over the Wolfpack that was nowhere near as close as the final score. 

Perhaps the greatest reason for excitement is the state of Clemson’s wide receiver, which have been a major issue each during the Tigers’ downturn. Against NC State, it was Adam Randall and Antonio Williams who combined for eight catches and three touchdowns off the arm of Cade Klubnik. One week earlier, it was freshman Bryant Wesco putting together a 100-yard performance in his second career game. 

The Tigers have maintained their impressive defensive stature during the slight downturn, but the offense is slowly catching up. If these gains are sustainable, the Tigers are suddenly a major factor in the ACC title race. 

One of the strangest scenes in years happened after North Carolina’s shocking 70-50 loss against James Madison as coach Mack Brown reportedly offered to quit ” in front of his team “if he was the problem. Granted, the speech appeared to be a motivational technique from a master of the craft, but the weirdness only emphasizes what kind of day it was for the Tar Heels. 

James Madison dropped 53 points in the first half alone against first-year defensive coordinat Geoff Collins. The Dukes scored on a blocked punt, pick six and five touchdowns from quarterback Alonza Barnett III. It was a total collapse from the Tar Heels in every phase of the game. 

North Carolina began the season with a tight win over Minnesota to key off a 3-0 start, but the meat of the schedule is still ahead. Unlike previous seasons, there isn’t a generational quarterback prospect on the roster to cover holes. Brown, 73, has been adamant that he’s in no hurry to step down, but the strange postgame comments will only make things more complicated. 

Winner: Michigan

The Wolverines were pushed down the rankings after losing at home to No. 1 Texas in Week 2, but Michigan proved it’s still a force to be reckoned with. Michigan played No. 11 USC in the latter’s first ever Big Ten conference game, and showed the Trojans just what playing in this conference means. The Wolverines converted a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with under a minute remaining to completely change their place in the Big Ten’s pecking order and launch themselves back onto the national stage. Quarterback Alex Orji didn’t do much, throwing for just 32 yards, but the lack of mistakes and threat of quarterback run opened the door for Kalel Mullings to feast. The Wolverines have a game plan against the middle of the Big Ten and should be taken seriously as a top 15 squad. It turns out Texas going to Ann Arbor and smacking Michigan said more about Texas than the Wolverines. 

Oklahoma made a bold move over the offseason by letting incumbent Dillon Gabriel go in hopes of handing the keys to former five-star recruit Jackson Arnold. The Denton (Texas) Guyer product was a huge get for the Sooners, the No. 1 player in the state of Texas and No. 10 overall prospect in the country. He was the man charged with leading Oklahoma into the SEC. 

It lasted less than one half. 

Arnold was benched during the first half of a 25-15 loss in the home opener to No. 6 Tennessee. Backup Michael Hawkins, a true freshman, was inserted into the lineup and the Sooners offense opened up as a result. Hawkins paced the team with 132 yards passing and 22 rushing. He also led 12 points worth of scoring drives to claw the Sooners back into contention. 

Granted, a great deal of the problems are not Arnold’s fault. Oklahoma’s offensive line is a disaster and the receivers are little help. There’s no running game with the running backs to speak of, and Tennessee boasts an elite defensive line. Still, Brent Venables said after the game that OU will evaluate its quarterback situation going forward. Needless to say, that wasn’t part of the plan heading into the year. 

Winner: Group of Five race

Who would have known that the expanded College Football Playoff would create the greatest subplot in college football. The race for the fifth conference champion slot in the CFP has been off the charts so far. On Saturday, No. 23 Northern Illinois lost to Buffalo in overtime, essentially eliminating the Huskies. Toledo lost to Western Kentucky. South Alabama took care of Appalachian State. Every single week, the playoff race shifts dramatically and new contenders are added to the mix. The more the top contenders drop, the more opportunity there will be for contenders downstream to force their way into contention. 

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Loser: The Bluebonnett Battle

Baylor and TCU had major opportunities to get their seasons back on track in Week 4. Instead, both programs endured one of the most bizarre stretches of football each has experienced in recent years. 

TCU allowed 66 points to SMU, but it somehow wasn’t about the defense. In fact, the Frogs held the Mustangs to only 375 yards. The issue? SMU scored on a scoop-and-score, pick six and punt return for a touchdown all in the first half alone. Later, a fumble recovered at the 1-yard line added more points. TCU coach Sonny Dykes –- the former SMU coach –- was ejected from the game. It was a total meltdown in all facets and ensures that the Ponies will hold onto the Iron Skillet for years to come. 

Not to be outdone, Baylor pried defeat from the jaws of victory in a shocking 38-31 loss to Colorado. The Bears had the ball in plus territory up seven with only three minutes remaining, but conservative play calling helped set up a 43-yard Colorado Hail Mary to force overtime. The coaching mishaps were a killer for Dave Aranda and his staff, and now bring real doubt into whether the Bears can make a bowl game and save his job. 

The Owls were down by seven points with seconds until halftime until coach Stan Drayton made a crazy decision. Temple decided to line up for a 64-yard field goal with transfer kicker Maddux Trujillo. The senior played well in previous weeks — even hitting a 54-yarder against Coastal Carolina — but a 64-yarder was one for the record books. Trujillo nailed the kick, the longest in FBS football since 2008, and Temple used the momentum to mount a 28-8 run and shock the Aggies 45-29 in Philly for the Owls’ first win of the season. Temple was not guaranteed to be favored in any upcoming game, but the win sets the Owls up well heading into the meat of the schedule.