College Football Scores 2014: Week 4 Results and Top Stars for Top 25 Teams
The fourth week of the 2014 college football season was mostly a slate of mismatches before serious conference play gets underway, which means some jaw-dropping numbers from the best players in the nation were a regular occurrence throughout Saturday.
Thursday actually featured one of the better matchups of the week as No. 5 Auburn traveled to No. 20 Kansas State and hardly got by with a 20-14 victory.
The individual performances in the game were disappointing, as dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall of Auburn threw for just 231 yards and two scores, while similarly talented Kansas State signal-caller Jake Waters threw no scores and was held in check on the ground.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
As FoxSports.com's Stewart Mandel points out, though, Marshall's numbers—as a star's stat line is akin to do against great competition—were hurt thanks to those around him:
Not to worry, though—the weekend slate brought out the best in full force.
Running back Melvin Gordon of No. 19 Wisconsin may have permanently put his name in the Heisman race during his team's 68-17 win over Bowling Green thanks to 253 yards and five touchdowns—on 13 carries.
Two major programs bounced back from serious losses early on, too. A week removed from losing a close one against South Carolina, No. 13 Georgia beat the tar out of Troy, 66-0, behind Sony Michel's 155 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Likewise, No. 11 Michigan State—a week removed from Mark Dantonio's elite defense being unable to contain Oregon in a massive loss—took out its frustration on Eastern Michigan, 73-14. With plenty of players seeing snaps, it was running back Delton Williams who stole the show with 10 carries for 103 yards and three touchdowns.
As Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer mused, the Spartans were in no calm demeanor Sunday:
So much so that the Spartans outgained the opposition 320-1 in terms of total yards by halftime.
As far as unexpected outbursts go, though, No. 2 Alabama signal-caller Blake Sims stole the day.
Once stuck in a quarterback competition, Sims erupted against rival Florida for 445 yards and four touchdowns, with 272 yards and two scores in the first quarter alone.
The 42-21 win does much to solidify the notion that Alabama is very much a serious threat once again, as the issue under center was the only real question mark surrounding the team. That is certainly solved, and Sims just shored up a spot on the Heisman short list in the process after nearly breaking a school record for passing yards and becoming just the second player in school history to surpass the 400-yard mark.
Below is a look at the full list of results for each of the Top 25 teams and a standout star from each.
2014 College Football Week 4 Top 25 Results
| No. 1 Florida State | No. 22 Clemson | FSU, 23-17 | WR Rashad Greene, 9 Rec, 135 Yds, 1 TD |
| No. 2 Oregon | Washington State | TBD | TBD |
| No. 3 Alabama | Florida | ALA, 42-21 | QB Blake Sims, 445 Yds, 4 TD |
| West Virginia | No. 4 Oklahoma | OK, 45-33 | RB Samaje Perine, 34 Atts, 242 Yds, 4 TD |
| No. 20 Kansas State | No. 5 Auburn | AU, 20-14 | WR D'haquille Williams, 8 Rec, 110 Yds, 1 TD |
| SMU | No. 6 Texas A&M | TAM, 58-6 | QB Kenny Hill, 265 Yds, 2 TD |
| No. 8 LSU | Mississippi State | MISS, 34-29 | QB Dak Prescott, 268 Yds, 2 TD, 22 Atts, 105 Yds, 1 TD |
| No. 11 Michigan State | Eastern Michigan | MSU, 73-14 | RB Delton Williams, 10 Atts, 103 Yds, 3 TD |
| No. 13 Georgia | Troy | UGA, 66-0 | RB Sony Michel, 10 Atts, 155 Yds, 3 TD |
| Vanderbilt | No. 14 South Carolina | SCAR, 48-34 | QB Dylan Thompson, 237 Yds, 3 TD |
| No. 18 Missouri | Indiana | IND 31-27 | RB Tevin Coleman, 19 Atts, 132 Yds, 1 TD |
| No. 19 Wisconsin | Bowling Green | WIS, 68-17 | RB Melvin Gordon, 13 Atts, 253 Yds, 5 TD |
| No. 21 BYU | Virginia | BYU, 41-33 | QB Taysom Hill, 187 Yds, 2 TD, 17 Atts, 72 Yds, 1 TD |
| No. 24 Nebraska | Miami | NEB, 41-31 | RB Ameer Abdullah, 35 Atts, 229 Yds, 2 TD |
Week 4 Top Stars
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin: 13 Atts, 253 Yds, 5 TD
There are times when it is difficult to give a star player from a top school credit for beating up on an inferior opponent.
This is not one of those times.
The globe shared a common understanding that Wisconsin would annihilate Bowling Green. It also knew Gordon would look strong.
But 253 yards and five scores on a per-carry average of 19.5 yards? Wow.
For the curious, it was a rather historic day in the grand scheme of things, as ESPN Stats & Info notes:
Gordon looks great and, more importantly, healthy. After he had a miserable, hobbled start to the season, Saturday's showing was the type of performance his Heisman aspirations needed. Wisconsin is happy to see it as well with Big Ten play right around the corner.
Blake Sims, QB, Alabama: 445 Yds, 4 TD
The scary part of the damage Sims inflicted on what was supposed to be a strong Florida defense was the fact he left the game in the second half, which gave backup Jake Coker an opportunity to enter the game and throw a touchdown pass of his own before the starter returned.
Funny enough, before the game coach Nick Saban told the press, "I've been really surprised in a good way with the way Blake Sims has played," per Andrew Gribble of AL.com.
Imagine how the coach feels now about his surefire starter who only seems to improve on a week-to-week basis.
His starter came dangerously close to claiming a school record, as noted by ESPN Stats & Info:
Sims is now firmly in the Heisman race, a notion that many would have laughed out of the building even a few weeks ago.
All that remains is for him to keep the momentum alive against credible opponents.
Taysom Hill, QB, BYU: 187 Yds, 2 TD, 17 Atts, 72 Yds, 1 TD
One of the nation's top dual-threat quarterbacks was at it again Saturday, as Taysom Hill guided No. 21 BYU past the stingy defense of Virginia, 41-33.
As the numbers above show, Hill was careful with the football against a strong defense en route to two scores and no interceptions. He also—as usual—led the team in rushing with his 4.2 per-carry average and a score.
As Jay Drew of The Salt Lake Tribune noted at one point, Hill's clutch play made the difference at critical moments:
Hill is the cog that keeps the Cougars moving, and one could argue that no team in the nation so dearly relies on one player.
Hill is that special thanks to his awareness and overall talent, although he will have to keep things rolling in a big way against a rather drab upcoming schedule if he is to have any hope at cracking the Heisman conversation.
AP poll via The Associated Press. Stats and information via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
