College Football Week 4 Overreactions and Underractions

Week 4 of College Football sees conference play start in earnest. The Big Ten had multiple key matchups, including wins from Indiana, Michigan, and USC. The SEC had a matchup with significant College Football Playoff implications. The Big 12 had a top 25 matchup, but it didn't feel deserving of the billing. The ACC continues to showcase its improved depth as well.

The AP poll once again favors Texas, Notre Dame, and LSU above their resumes. Miami, Oklahoma, and Indiana got some love. The SEC holds five top ten spots, the Big Ten has three, and the ACC has two.

Photo by Alex Mertz on Unsplash

College Football Week 4 Overreactions

Overreaction 1: Auburn's Loss

Auburn's 17-24 loss to Oklahoma will receive some overreactions based on the expected shortcomings of Hugh Freeze at this point in his tenure (14-15). The SEC, however, remains the country's best conference. Losing a one-score game (a winnable game) will likely hurt the national perception more than it should, particularly with Texas A&M and Georgia next up on the schedule. While the early-season loss could sink their season, the weight of the loss will eventually be determined by how Oklahoma finishes the season. The Sooners may be one of the five best teams in the nation.

Overreaction 2: Notre Dame... Just Notre Dame

Notre Dame beat Purdue 56-30. A win is a win, but some will use this high-scoring victory to defend the Fighting Irish's chances to make the CFP. They moved up two spots in the AP poll following this win. The program remains one of the country's elite, but with two early-season losses, they still don't belong in the CFP conversation. They need USC to go undefeated until their matchup later this season for any hopes. Beating a bottom-dwelling BIG Ten team shouldn't change this conversation at all.

Overreaction 3: Big 12

The Big 12 has yet to see a clear favorite emerge, yet it continues to receive more national attention than the ACC. The Big 12 has multiple good teams, but none appear to be deserving of national attention. No program has seized the conference. Every other Power Four conference has at least two teams in contention for the CFP. The Big 12 will likely only get one, and there will be at least one team from both the SEC and Big Ten that will deserve a spot more than their Conference Champ.

College Football Week 4 Underreactions

Underreaction 1: Oklahoma

Oklahoma has been the SEC's most underrated team. Last week's overreactions and underreactions noted that Texas shouldn't be ahead of Oklahoma. This week's segment argues that the Sooners have a better resume than Georgia. Each has an SEC win, but Oklahoma has two wins over ranked opponents. In fact, they may even have a better resume than LSU. Not to discredit their wins over Florida and Clemson, but those programs each have a 1-3 record. LSU should be on upset alert.

Underreaction 2: Indiana

Curt Cignetti once said, "I win. Google me." It could easily be interpreted as arrogant, but is it arrogant if it's true? Indiana crushed the visiting Illinois Fighting Illini, 63-10. Many thought that Indiana's visit to the CFP last season was a fluke. This year's schedule is much more difficult, and in their first test against a ranked opponent, the Hoosiers proved they are not to be overlooked. The win didn't earn them a top-ten spot in the AP Poll (Texas somehow remains despite having no wins against a ranked opponent and no conference play), but it arguably should have. Indiana has a chance to prove they belong in the CFP conversation with games against Oregon and Penn State.

Underreaction 3: Oregon

Oregon hasn't been as overlooked as Indiana or Oklahoma, but they have been. Dan Lanning's team has looked efficient and taken care of business. Next week, they head to Happy Valley to take on Penn State. They've been overlooked in the Big Ten conversations, and that could provide a bit more incentive to beat Penn State, which has been anointed as the Ohio State Buckeyes' biggest threat this season. While Indiana and Michigan will be the most discussed options this week, Oregon stands ahead of them all.

Best Games

Oklahoma's 24-17 win over Auburn

Oklahoma needed the win, and they went in and got it. Heisman candidate John Mateer continues to impress, with two touchdowns and 300 yards between rushing and passing.

Michigan's 30-27 victory over Nebraska

The Michigan Wolverines delivered their best performance of the season in one of college football's most challenging environments. Matt Rhule and Nebraska keep looking for that marquee victory.

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