Week 4 of the college football season features the start of conference play for many teams, and it includes two games between teams ranked in the top 15. Both of those matchups could prove to be crucial at the end of the season.
Clemson is 1-1 with an ugly loss to Georgia and a blowout win over Appalachian State in Week 2. NC State is also dealing with a rough start to its season with a narrow win over Western Carolina and a blowout loss to Tennessee. Wolfpack QB Grayson McCall will miss Saturday’s game with an injury.
Michigan will start Alex Orji at quarterback against the Trojans after Davis Warren started the first three games and was mostly ineffective. The Wolverines will likely employ a run-heavy attack that will test a USC defense that suddenly looks very feisty.
After missing Utah’s Week 3 win over Utah State, all signs point to Cameron Rising playing against the Cowboys. And that’s big news for this game that could go a long way in determining the top of the Big 12 standings. The Cowboys are favored at home after the line had Utah as a small favorite earlier in the week.
Former Oklahoma QB and assistant Josh Heupel returns to Norman as the Volunteers’ head coach on Saturday night. UT QB Nico Iamaleava has become an early Heisman favorite with his play so far, and that high-powered offense will put the pressure on Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold to get things going in the passing game.
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Halftime: Ohio State 28, Marshall 14
After a long review just before halftime, this catch by Marshall’s Elijah Metcalf was ruled a touchdown. The Thundering Herd are down 14 at the break.
Halftime: Clemson 45, NC State 7
The Tigers tack on a field goal just before the break to make it 45-7. What an impressive showing by Dabo Swinney’s group. Clemson has now outscored its opponents 111-27 in its last six quarters of play.
Clemson adds TD before half
Clemson took its time on that drive before scoring on a 19-yard run by Jay Haynes. We’re nearing halftime in Death Valley and Dave Doeren’s Wolfpack can’t get into the locker room soon enough.
James Madison putting it on UNC
Perhaps the most surprising and exciting game in this early window is James Madison-North Carolina. The Dukes just took advantage of a second fumble by UNC to run up its lead to 46-21 with almost half the second quarter still to play.
Ohio State touchdown
The Buckeyes add to their lead as TreVeyon Henderson breaks a couple tackles and takes it in for a 14-yard touchdown.
Touchdown Clemson
The Tigers respond in kind to bump their lead back up to 28 points. This time it’s Cole Turner taking a reverse 18 yards around the end for a score. Dabo Swinney has to be happy with the offensive explosion by his team early in this game.
Touchdown Ohio State!
Quinshon Judkins rips off a monster run to extend the Buckeyes’ lead, sprinting 86 yards for a touchdown.
Florida up 21-7 early at Miss State
Meanwhile, with all the heat surrounding Billy Napier at Florida, the Gators look functional early against Mississippi State. Embattled QB Graham Mertz is 15-for-16 with 147 passing yards and 3 TDs.
Touchdown NC State
The Wolfpack are finally on the board after that miserable first quarter. They cobbled together a respectable 9-play, 71-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard TD pass from CJ Bailey to Jordan Waters.
Touchdown Ohio State
Six plays later, the Buckeyes are in the end zone on a goal line plunge by Will Howard. It’s Ohio State’s first lead of the game.
Marshall just went for it on fourth-and-1 at its own 45-yard line and did not get it. It was a bold, early call that could end up biting the Thundering Herd.
Interception Marshall!
The Thundering Herd aren’t backing down early in this one. Marshall’s Josh Moten picks off OSU’s Will Howard with a nice play on a deep ball.
Clemson forces turnover, scores again
The Tigers forced another fumble and recovered it. One play later, they’re on the board again — this time it’s a 38-yard TD run by Phil Mafah, who is back in the game after the injury scare and appears to be doing just fine. This one is getting out of hand and it’s still only the first quarter.
Ohio State strikes back!
While the Thundering Herd took 13 plays to score, the Buckeyes’ response was much more efficient. It took them two plays, and Emeka Egbuka did most of the work with a 68-yard TD reception.
Clemson gets strip sack, scores again
What a disastrous start for the Wolfpack. NC State QB CJ Bailey took a helmet to the back and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Tigers deep in Wolfpack territory. Then Clemson added onto its lead with another TD pass from Cade Klubnik to Antonio Williams.
Touchdown Clemson
On the second possession of the game for the Tigers, Cade Klubnik finds Antonio Williams for a 31-yard touchdown. It’s not all good news though, as RB Phil Mafah went down with an apparent shoulder injury on the drive.
Touchdown Marshall!
The Thundering Herd are on the board first in Columbus. Ethan Payne caps off a 13-play, 75-yard drive to start the game with a TD plunge. Marshall up 7-0 on Ohio State.
The Wolfpack made it past midfield before being forced to punt. So the Tigers will have it back deep in their own territory.
Touchdown Clemson!
And just like that … Clemson QB Cade Klubnik sprints right through the Wolfpack defense 55 yards for a touchdown. What a start for the Tigers!
