The fourth week of the college football season marks the start of conference play for many teams, and that includes two games between the top 15 teams. Both matchups could prove decisive at the end of the season.
Here are the most important games on Saturday.
(All times are East Coast times and all The odds are from BetMGM.)
Clemson is 1-1 with an ugly loss to Georgia and a blowout win over Appalachian State in Week 2. NC State is also having a rough start to the season with a close win over Western Carolina and a blowout loss to Tennessee. Wolfpack QB Grayson McCall will miss Saturday’s game due to injury.
Michigan will use Alex Orji at quarterback against the Trojans after Davis Warren started the first three games and was largely ineffective. The Wolverines will likely employ a run-heavy attack that will test a USC defense that suddenly looks very aggressive.
Time: 4:00 p.m. | TV: Fox | Line: Oklahoma State -2.5 | Total: 52.5
After missing Utah’s win over Utah State in Week 3, all signs point to Cameron Rising playing against the Cowboys. And that’s great news for a game that could have a huge impact on the top of the Big 12 standings. The Cowboys are favorites at home after Utah was a slight favorite earlier in the week.
Former Oklahoma quarterback and assistant Josh Heupel returns to Norman as the Volunteers’ head coach on Saturday night. UT quarterback Nico Iamaleava has become an early Heisman Award favorite with his play so far, and this strong offense will put pressure on Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold to get something going in the passing game.
Live22 updates
Touchdown, NC State
After that miserable first quarter, the Wolfpack finally got back on the field. They put together a respectable 9-play, 71-yard run that was capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from CJ Bailey to Jordan Waters.
Touchdown Ohio State
Six plays later, the Buckeyes are in the end zone after a goal line fall by Will Howard. Ohio State takes the lead for the first time in the game.
Marshall tried and missed on fourth and 1 from his own 45-yard line. It was a bold early decision that could prove fatal for the Thundering Herd.
Intercept Marshall!
The Thundering Herd don’t give up in this game. Marshall’s Josh Moten catches OSU’s Will Howard with a nice play on a long ball.
Clemson forces turnover and scores again
The Tigers forced another fumble and recovered it. One play later, they were back on the scoreboard – this time a 38-yard touchdown run by Phil Mafah, who is back in the game after injury and seems to be doing well. The game is getting out of control, and it’s only the first quarter.
Ohio State strikes back!
While the Thundering Herd needed 13 plays to score, the Buckeyes responded much more efficiently, taking two plays and Emeka Egbuka doing most of the work with a 68-yard touchdown pass.
Clemson gets strip sack and scores again
What a disastrous start for the Wolfpack. NC State QB CJ Bailey got a helmet on his back and dropped the ball, which was recovered by the Tigers deep in Wolfpack territory. Then Clemson extended its lead with another touchdown pass from Cade Klubnik to Antonio Williams.
Clemson touchdown
On the Tigers’ second possession of the game, Cade Klubnik finds Antonio Williams for a 31-yard touchdown. It’s not all good news, though, as running back Phil Mafah went down on the drive with an apparent shoulder injury.
Sit down, Marshall!
The Thundering Herd are first on the scoreboard in Columbus. Ethan Payne caps a 13-play, 75-yard run with a touchdown early in the game. Marshall leads 7-0 against Ohio State.
The Wolfpack made it past the halfway line before being forced to punt, so the Tigers will regain the ball deep in their own territory.
Kick-off, Clemson!
And just like that… Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik sprints 55 yards through the Wolfpack defense and scores a touchdown. What a start for the Tigers!
We are in Death Valley with Clemson and NC State. The Tigers have the ball first
The best game of the early season is an ACC showdown between NC State and Clemson, so we’ll be following that for the most part. But we’ll be providing updates from around the country throughout the day.
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