10 Biggest Questions Facing Top 25 Teams Heading into Week 4
Week 4 of the 2014 college football season is, in a way, less jam-packed.
There are only 55 games Saturday—that's not a lot, by comparison—only 14 of which feature Top 25 teams. Of those games, only one—Clemson at Florida State—puts ranked teams against one another.
So pickings are slim, as they say.
However, if the last two weeks are any indication, we'll get another batch of great games all the same.
Which 10 storylines among the Top 25 teams should you keep an eye on? The answers are in the following slides.
The only criterion here is that one of the teams involved has to rank in either The Associated Press or Amway coaches poll.
10. Will Texas A&M Quarterback Kenny Hill Throw for 500 Yards Before Halftime?
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There are some stinkers in Week 4, and then there is something so blatantly unfair that it cannot be overlooked.
Texas A&M, which is averaging 54 points a game, takes on SMU, which is probably the worst team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, in Dallas. That means the inevitable slaying that will occur will take place on SMU's campus, which is awful to think about.
As you've likely heard, Mustangs coach June Jones resigned last week for reasons that, basically, boil down to him being done with it all. Through three weeks, SMU has averaged three points a game and has minus-seven yards rushing.
It's not just bad for SMU. It's bad. Bad bad.
Without really trying, Texas A&M quarterback Kenny Hill could rack up video-game numbers and call it a day by halftime—unless SMU shows up inspired, that is.
Either way, this has the feel of a train wreck that you just can't help but watch.
9. Is Oregon's Secondary Up to the Wazzu Challenge?
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Oregon's defense made excellent second-half adjustments in a Week 2 win over Michigan State, allowing just three points after halftime in a 46-27 win. However, the Ducks still didn't have a total answer for Spartans wide receiver Tony Lippett, who had 11 catches for 133 yards and a score.
In Week 4, Oregon travels to Washington State, which ranks No. 1 in the country with 517 passing yards per game (basically because the Cougars refuse to run).
The Ducks have handled Wazzu with ease over the past several years, and probably will again Saturday, but Mike Leach's team could rack up some big numbers all the same. Jacob Thorpe of The Spokesman-Review in Spokane explains as much to The Oregonian:
"[Connor] Halliday seems less inclined to force things than last season, as the Ducks saw when he threw four interceptions in Autzen. He still throws the occasional ugly interception, but that's going to happen when you're throwing the ball 50-plus times a game.
With seven of his top eight receivers back from last season (leading receiver Gabe Marks is redshirting) you can also see that Halliday's timing has improved.
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No matter what, containing Washington State's offense is a handful. As the cream of the Pac-12 crop, you can be sure conference opponents will be looking to Saturday's game to find any vulnerability in the Ducks defense.
8. Will Ryan Switzer Be a Difference-Maker Against East Carolina?
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Wide receiver Ryan Switzer is probably North Carolina's most dangerous offensive weapon. Yet, through the first two games of the Tar Heels' season, he's been relatively quiet.
His numbers are fine—14 catches for 105 yards—but he has yet to score a touchdown. At all. Receiving, rushing or on special teams.
“He’s trying really hard and sometimes you try too hard when you don’t have to,” head coach Larry Fedora said, via the Times-News. “You just have to be yourself and do what you do.”
North Carolina makes a tough road trip Saturday to East Carolina, which is coming off a major win at Virginia Tech. The Pirates are a three-point favorite, according to OddsShark.com. The way East Carolina is playing right now, it wouldn't be a surprise for Ruffin McNeill's team to beat another ACC opponent.
Switzer has to be a bigger part of the offense—or at least find his way into the end zone. He is going to get about 10-15 touches a game regardless.
In a big nonconference road game, your best players have to break out. Now is as good a time as any for Switzer.
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7. Will Ameer Abdullah Make His Heisman Mark Against Miami?
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Through three weeks, Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah ranks 10th nationally with 396 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Additionally, he has one of the most incredible individual plays of the early 2014 season.
But Abdullah really has a chance to make a Heisman mark in Saturday's nationally televised game against Miami. The Hurricanes rank fourth in average yards per rush allowed, per CFBStats.com, though their last two opponents were Florida A&M and Arkansas State.
This is an improvement considering the 'Canes were 77th in yards per rush allowed last year and 104th in 2012. Without a doubt, Abdullah will be their toughest running back to defend to date this season.
If Abdullah comes up big, his Heisman push will get stronger. The school is already conducting a creative Heisman campaign for the running back. Now he just has to back it up on the field.
6. Can BYU Limit the Weird Against Virginia?
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In hindsight, Virginia's season-opening loss to UCLA seems less fluky by the week. The Bruins have continuously struggled along the offensive line, and the Cavaliers have one of the better defenses in the ACC.
That makes Virginia's game at BYU on Saturday tricky for the Cougars.
BYU is clearly one of the best teams from a non-power conference, but it will need to win every game going forward—and convincingly—to even sniff a playoff bid. In a 33-25 win over Houston, BYU turned the ball over three times and allowed a bizarre Hail Mary at the end of the first half.
In other words, the Cougars need to tighten up some things.
Virginia is one of the best teams in the ACC in turnover margin, per CFBStats.com. Does BYU need to be on upset alert? It's a comfortable two-touchdown favorite, per OddsShark.com. But Virginia has shown that it's not the pushover it was a year ago—not to mention it beat BYU a year ago in downpour.
5. Will Clemson Get Anything Done in the Trenches?
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It's easy and natural to focus on Clemson's skill talent and big-play potential. But if Clemson is going to have any chance of beating Florida State on Saturday, the Tigers will have to play well in the trenches.
Last year's 51-14 debacle came down to Florida State doing whatever it wanted up front and Clemson not being able to do, well, much of anything. The Tigers ran plenty of plays—83, to be exact—but came up with around 3.8 yards per play. The Seminoles basically doubled that.
Tigers defensive end Vic Beasley is a speedy pass-rusher, but he was essentially taken out of last year's game. This time around, Mike Huguenin of NFL.com calls Beasley vs. Cam Erving the must-see battle.
Florida State's change at quarterback (more on that later) is an intriguing storyline. But this game ultimately comes down to whether Clemson can get penetration in the Seminoles' backfield. And whether the Tigers can get a push of their own on offense.
4. Can LSU Stave off an Upset-Minded Mississippi State?
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Technically, this is more about Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs aren't ranked in either major Top 25 poll. So LSU gets the headline angle.
The knock on Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is his record against Top 25 teams, which, as The Wall Street Journal demonstrates, is 2-21.
On a similar topic, the Bulldogs haven't defeated LSU since 1999. The 14 losses in that span have rarely been close too.
However, as Rafiki of The Lion King fame might opine, "it doesn't matter; it's in the past."
Mississippi State brings perhaps its most talented team under Mullen to Death Valley on Saturday. Specifically, the Bulldogs run defense ranks 11th in the country, per CFBStats.com, although the opposing competition has been subpar to date.
As B/R colleague Barrett Sallee writes, LSU better be ready for a four-quarter fight. Quarterback Anthony Jennings has had a below-average completion percentage (51.9 percent), but he will have to make big plays with his arm.
3. Will Oklahoma Survive, Thrive or Dive in Its First Road Test?
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For the first three weeks of the season, Oklahoma has handled its business. One would expect that to be the case against Louisiana Tech and Tulsa, but taking care of Tennessee 34-10 was a good-looking win as well. Granted, the Vols are young, but there were no slip-ups, and that's what you want if you're an Oklahoma fan.
Going on the road to West Virginia could be a different story.
The Mountaineers are 2-1 and appear to be a dramatically improved team from a year ago. Quarterback Clint Trickett's shoulder is finally healed, and the offense is clicking. The 'Eers also have found their go-to receivers in Kevin White and Mario Alford.
It'll be a charged environment. Morgantown has an Ames- and Lubbock-like feel to it that breeds upsets (ask Oklahoma State). As Oklahoma players have already said, the atmosphere isn't usually kind to road opponents.
If the Sooners are going to win this game, the defense will have to play great, as David Ubben of Fox Sports Southwest notes. That means getting pressure on Trickett and covering well against the pass.
2. How Will Alabama Quarterback Blake Sims Look Against Florida?
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Alabama head coach Nick Saban hasn't come right out and said it, so we will: Blake Sims is the guy at quarterback. And barring injury or a turn for the worse in his play, he'll be the guy.
Sims will get the start again this Saturday against Florida, according to Michael Casagrande of AL.com. Speaking on his Thursday radio show, Saban said that Sims has been a pleasant surprise through the first three games of the season:
"I've been really surprised, in a good way, with the way Blake Sims has played. The confidence that he's gained and the way he's played. The leader that he's become and how he's affected his teammates and how they trust and believe in him.
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The Tide will be at home Saturday, but the Gators provide the stiffest test on defense to date. Vernon Hargreaves III is an All-American corner who will try to limit Amari Cooper's impact. How will Sims respond? What kind of decisions will he make? Will he continue to develop as a playmaker?
Sims' ability to spread the ball around will be the key to the offense.
1. How Will Florida State Do Without Quarterback Jameis Winston?
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On Friday night, Florida State announced that Jameis Winston is suspended for the entire Clemson game, per Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated.
He was originally suspended for just the first half for vulgar comments he made in public this week. Whether the suspension is warranted or not harsh enough, and whether Winston needs to grow up or is just a college kid, is a discussion for another place and time.
From an on-field perspective, how well can the Seminoles do with backup Sean Maguire?
"He [head coach Jimbo Fisher] told me to be ready and said the game plan is not changing, this team is not changing, we're going to go out in the first half and do everything we usually would," Maguire said, via Jared Shanker of ESPN.com.
Maguire will make his first start within the friendly confines of Doak Campbell Stadium. That helps. Maguire doesn't need to be a "game manager"—really, that phrase should be abolished—but he does need to make sure the moment doesn't become bigger than him.
Florida State's offensive line had little trouble containing Clemson's athletic defensive front last year, and it's a similar matchup again this time around. That indicates the Seminoles should be fine without Winston. But Maguire has to do his part to move the offense.
Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football.
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