CFB Week 4: Five Games to Watch

By: Jonathan Howard, Staff Writer
September 19, 2025

No. 17 Texas Tech (3-0) at No. 16 Utah (3-0)

Kickoff: Noon (EST) TV: Fox FanDuel line: Utah -2.5 VSS line: Utah -7.83

Texas Tech’s first three years under head coach Joey McGuire haven’t been particularly memorable, but have served as a return to consistent winning seasons – something fans in Lubbock sorely missed after Mike Leach was fired following the 2009 campaign. This season the Red Raiders have taken it up a notch, vaulting themselves into the top 20 following three convincing victories. Texas Tech predictably thrashed Arkansas-Pine Bluff 67-7, beat up Kent State 62-14 and cruised past Oregon State 45-14. The offense has averaged over 600 yards per game over the first three contests, including 307 yards per game and an FBS-leading 11 touchdown passes from quarterback Behren Morton. But equally as impressive has been the Red Raiders defense. All 35 points allowed by Texas Tech this season have come in the fourth quarter after the games were well out of hand. They’ve accumulated 19 tackles for loss, nine sacks and four interceptions in those games.

Utah has had a similar run this year, easily dispatching UCLA (43-10), Cal Poly (63-9) and Wyoming (31-6). For those who like math, that’s only two touchdowns allowed through the first three games. The Utes have been anchored by breakout star John Henry Daley, whose five sacks from his defensive end position are tied for most in the FBS and 6.5 tackles for loss lead the Big 12.

Both teams are taking a giant step up in competition level with this one and will have plenty of questions to answer. Will Texas Tech’s passing offense be as on point and efficient against the best pass rush it has seen to date? On the flip side, will Daley and Utah’s defense be able to put as much pressure on Texas Tech’s offensive line as it did in three lower contests? Texas Tech has defensive questions to answer as well, as Utah quarterback Devon Dampier provides a dual-threat attack (209 ypg passing, 66 ypg rushing) that has helped the Utes eat up nearly 35 minutes of possession per game. This could ultimately shape up into a conflict of style between the quick-strike Red Raiders and more methodical Utes with the winner receiving an early inside track to the Big 12 title.

No. 22 Auburn (3-0) at No. 11 Oklahoma (3-0)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ABC FanDuel line: Oklahoma -6.5 VSS line: Oklahoma -8.45

We’ll get the obvious out of the way – the SEC is a grind and an early-season conference loss can put a team behind the eight ball when it comes to trying to make a run at the SEC Championship game and the College Football Playoff. Is that simplistic and true of most conferences? Sure. But for both Auburn and Oklahoma, this game serves as the first of absolutely brutal stretches. Following the trip to Norman, Auburn travels to No. 10 Texas A&M before hosting No. 5 Georgia and No. 23 Missouri. Oklahoma steps back out of conference next week against Kent State, but then faces No. 8 Texas, South Carolina (just outside the AP Top 25), No. 13 Ole Miss, No. 15 Tennessee, No. 14 Alabama, No. 23 Missouri and No. 3 LSU. It’s a murderer’s row week in and week out, and neither team can afford to come out cold. Both teams have land mines along the way and can’t afford to get hit early. They’ll both come out firing.

Additionally, we’ve got a quarterback revenge game plot line. Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold spent his first two seasons at Oklahoma and made nine starts for the Sooners a year ago. With inconsistent play from Arnold, the offensive line and several injuries at wide receiver, the offense failed to gain traction during a bumpy 6-7 campaign. He was benched after four games in favor of Michael Hawkins Jr., but returned to start the final five before entering the transfer portal. While Arnold returns to the field in which he began his career, Hawkins once again finds himself as the backup – this time to John Mateer – who was one of the most sought after players at any position in the transfer portal entering the season.

Tulane (3-0) at No. 13 Ole Miss (3-0)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ESPN FanDuel line: Ole Miss -12.5 VSS line: Ole Miss -18.21

The problem with being a good team from a group of six conference is that you can’t sneak up on anyone once you’ve picked off a power conference opponent. While nobody is going to accuse Northwestern and Duke of being contenders for College Football Playoff spots, they’re both power conference teams that were thoroughly outplayed by Tulane this season. Anyone who thought the Green Wave would fall off after quarterback Darian Mensah transferred – to Duke – has been sorely mistaken. Through three wins, Jake Retzlaff is averaging 270 yards of total offense per game and has accounted for eight touchdowns – six on the ground. Ole Miss will surely not be unprepared for the challenge it faces when Tulane arrives this weekend. The big question is how long Ole Miss can go without its defense costing it a victory. The Rebels allowed a combined 393 yards on the ground in narrow victories over Kentucky (30-23) and Arkansas (41-35). We’ll also be keeping an eye on the health of quarterback Austin Simmons, who played limited snaps for the Rebels in last week’s victory over Arkansas after injuring his leg the previous week. Backup Trinidad Chambliss, a transfer from Division II Ferris State, accounted for over 400 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in his place. While Simmons is expected to return and start this week – Chambliss’ play could give head coach Lane Kiffin something to think about. Either quarterback will need to keep an eye on Tulane’s defensive backfield for Javion White, who leads the nation with three interceptions.

No. 9 Illinois (3-0) at No. 19 Indiana (3-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST) TV: NBC FanDuel line: Indiana -5.5 VSS line: Indiana -10.03

No, it’s not basketball season. We really have a top 20 matchup between undefeated Illinois and undefeated Indiana on the gridiron. Neither team has faced a difficult schedule to date, so we’ll find out very quickly if either or both of these Big 10 foes are the real deal. Both teams will have to game plan around star defensive players. Illinois outside linebacker Gabe Jacas entered this season as a preseason All-American after recording 10 sacks a season ago. Through three games he’s already accumulated 3.5 sacks and forced a pair of fumbles. Indiana has only allowed one sack through its first three games, and starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza has thrown for nine touchdown passes. For the Hoosiers, defensive back Louis Moore has a pair of interceptions. Moore had three picks for Indiana in 2023 before transferring to Ole Miss last season. After transferring back to Bloomington, he’s picked right back up where he left off. He’ll suit up and look to make an impact, but his eligibility moving forward is in question. Both teams will ultimately need a win in this game if they are to reach the College Football Playoff later in the season.

Florida (1-2) at No. 4 Miami (3-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ABC FanDuel line: Miami -8.5 VSS line: Miami -10.82

This game has certainly lost the luster it had just a couple weeks ago. After Florida was upset by South Florida, Miami turned around and beat the Golden Bulls in a game that was never close, 49-12. Florida followed its defeat with a road loss to LSU. What was originally supposed to be a clash of sunshine state titans and a battle of quarterbacks DJ Lagway and Carson Beck has turned into a last ditch effort at survival for the Gators. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for taking the time to watch this game, as Florida hasn’t presented much of a reason to believe they’ll give Miami a game. In fact, following the firings of Brent Pry at Virginia Tech and DeShaun Foster at UCLA, the main storyline of this game is whether or not Florida head coach Billy Napier will make it out of Miami with his job intact.

With all that said, the negativity surrounding Florida might be its greatest asset heading into this game. The Gators are wounded, and wounded animals are dangerous. But if Florida is going to pull the upset against its rival, Lagway has to take care of the ball. The sophomore threw five interceptions last week against LSU. The Hurricanes defense won’t be any more forgiving.

Beat the Books: Week 4

Each week we highlight games where the Vegas line and Versus Sports Simulator don’t see eye to eye. Here are five matchups we’re tracking in Week 4: