College Football Week 4 Schedule: TV, Live Stream Details for Top 25 NCAA Games
Ole Miss edged Alabama on Saturday to give the early playoff picture its first shake-up. There are surely many more on the horizon before the end of the regular season. The next one may arrive in Week 4, with several high-profile matchups on tap.
The Rebels are one of the top teams that must be careful this week. After an emotional victory, there's often a drop-off, and Vanderbilt can change the outlook of its season with an upset. LSU also can't afford to look past a Syracuse squad that's made some positive strides over the first three weeks.
Let's take a look at the complete slate of Top-25 games for Week 4. That's followed by a preview featuring some of the most intriguing battles on tap this weekend.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Week 4 Schedule
| - | Friday, Sept. 25 | - | - |
| 10 p.m. | No. 21 Stanford vs. Oregon State | Fox Sports 1 | Fox Sports Go |
| - | Saturday, Sept. 26 | - | - |
| 12 p.m. | Central Michigan vs. No. 2 Michigan State | Big Ten Network | BTN 2 Go |
| 12 p.m. | Southern vs. No. 7 Georgia | SEC Network | WatchESPN |
| 12 p.m. | No. 8 LSU vs. Syracuse | ESPN | WatchESPN |
| 12 p.m. | No. 20 Georgia Tech vs. Duke | ESPN2 | WatchESPN |
| 12 p.m. | No. 22 BYU vs. Michigan | ABC | WatchESPN |
| 3 p.m. | Rice vs. No. 5 Baylor | FSN | Fox Sports Go |
| 3:30 p.m. | Western Michigan vs. No. 1 Ohio State | ABC | WatchESPN |
| 3:30 p.m. | Massachusetts vs. No. 6 Notre Dame | NBC | NBC Sports Live Extra |
| 3:30 p.m. | No. 24 Oklahoma State vs. Texas | ESPN | WatchESPN |
| 4 p.m. | Louisiana Monroe vs. No. 12 Alabama | SEC Network | WatchESPN |
| 4:45 p.m. | No. 3 TCU vs. Texas Tech | FOX | Fox Sports Go |
| 7 p.m. | Vanderbilt vs. No. 3 Ole Miss | ESPNU | WatchESPN |
| 7 p.m. | No. 14 Texas A&M vs. Arkansas | ESPN | WatchESPN |
| 7:30 p.m. | No. 25 Missouri vs. Kentucky | SEC Network | WatchESPN |
| 8 p.m. | No. 9 UCLA vs. No. 16 Arizona | ABC | WatchESPN |
| 8 p.m. | Ball State vs. Northwestern | Big Ten Network | BTN 2 Go |
| 8 p.m. | Hawaii vs. No. 22 Wisconsin | Big Ten Network | BTN 2 Go |
| 8:30 p.m. | No. 18 Utah vs. No. 13 Oregon | FOX | Fox Sports Go |
| 10:30 p.m. | No. 19 USC vs. Arizona State | ESPN | WatchESPN |
Top Games
No. 22 BYU at Michigan
The Jim Harbaugh era started on a low note with an ugly loss at Utah. Getting out of the spotlight for a while may have done the Wolverines good, though. They have bounced back with two far more complete, fundamentally sound victories over Oregon State and UNLV.
While BYU represents a much stiffer test of the team's progress, the game plan should remain much the same. For Michigan, that means winning battles at the line of scrimmage. Nick Baumgardner of MLive.com highlighted the importance of that factor this week in particular:
On the flip side, it's a crucial bounce-back opportunity for the Cougars. They let a golden opportunity to score a marquee road win slip away against UCLA. Converting possessions in opposing territory into touchdowns, instead of field goals like last week, is essential.
Either way, one team will make a statement Saturday. Most of all, it will be interesting to see how Michigan responds as the pressure level begins once again. This is a winnable matchup against a ranked opponent, the type of game it must win to get the program trending in the right direction again.
No. 9 UCLA at No. 16 Arizona
UCLA freshman sensation Josh Rosen looked like he was going to set the world on fire in his debut. He threw three touchdowns while completing 80 percent of his throws in a win over Virginia. In the next two games, however, he had just two touchdowns and four interceptions.
The silver lining for the Bruins is they still won both games anyway. The defense in particular really stepped up during crunch time against BYU last week. Rosen discussed that team effort while also acknowledging his struggles, per Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register:
UCLA won't be as fortunate if the quarterback doesn't rebound against Arizona. The Wildcats are averaging nearly 55 points per game through three weeks, albeit against lesser opponents. Anu Solomon, Nick Wilson and Co. will be ready for a shootout.
There's a good chance this game will come down to which defensive front is able to generate a more consistent push. Both offenses have to weapons to score at will, which makes disrupting the rhythm vital to success. To the winner goes the early edge in the Pac-12 South.
No. 18 Utah at No. 13 Oregon
Yet another Pac-12 clash that's sure to lead to a shift in the rankings. Oregon came up a little short against Michigan State in Week 2, but the Ducks are still a playoff threat. Their high-flying attack represents a major test for Utah.
While the Utes defense is holding opponents to 18 points per game so far, they haven't faced a test anywhere near the one Oregon will provide. Cornerback Cory Butler-Byrd understands what that means in the bigger picture, as noted by Kareem Copeland of the Associated Press.
"This is actually a measuring test for our team just to show what we can do," Butler-Byrd said. "... If we come out and beat a team that does put up points, it says a lot about our program. It's pretty much a big measuring stick as far as how we stand in the Pac-12."
The task will be even more difficult if Vernon Adams Jr. returns. Tyson Alger of the Oregonian expects that to happen if the quarterback has a good week of practice as he recovers from a broken finger. Jeff Lockie held down the fort in a spot start last week, but Adams is the more dynamic playmaker.
Butler-Byrd hit the nail on the head with his remarks. The bottom line is if Utah wants to get taken seriously, this is a game the Utes need to win. But, with Oregon already trying to work its way back from an early loss, it's an uphill battle for the visitors.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
