College football Week 4 overreactions: Ohio State silences doubters, Clemson has a Dabo Swinney problem

College football’s extremely expected fourth week is formally within the books, and it lived as much as the hype. Three of the six matchups between ranked groups got here down to 1 ownership, whilst top-15 groups like Florida State and LSU have been driven to the threshold towards unranked festival. 

Granted, Florida State’s unranked festival used to be Clemson, a workforce it hadn’t defeated since 2015. Coach Mike Norvell spoke back his largest problem but with a exciting additional time win towards the ACC powerhouse, moving the dynamics in a convention most often ruled through the Tigers. 

Notre Dame and Ohio State squared off in a recreation that had the big-time really feel of a College Football Playoff semifinal. The Fighting Irish watched a past due lead slip away when the Buckeyes rose to the instant with a go-ahead landing within the ultimate seconds. The Pac-12 had any other special day anchored through a exciting contest between its two holdovers, Oregon State and Washington State. The Cougars hung on for a 38-35 win in a show off of what the opposite convention colleges are leaving at the back of. 

There’s a lot to remove from such a loaded slate, so listed below are the largest overreactions shall we pull from a thrilling weekend of motion. 

Don’t query Ohio State’s physicality

Calling out Lou Holtz after beating Notre Dame used to be a bizarre transfer for Buckeyes trainer Ryan Day, however we will chalk it as much as pent up frustration. The largest complaint Day’s tenure at Ohio State has been a perceived loss of physicality. While that can had been true prior to now — specifically in losses to Michigan — the Buckeyes confirmed Saturday that they are as difficult as any workforce within the country. 

Notre Dame’s defensive recreation plan used to be obtrusive: Do the whole thing conceivable to remove the passing recreation and make Ohio State win on the line of scrimmage. And win the Buckeyes did, with each touchdowns coming at the floor. TreVeyon Henderson had 14 carries for 104 yards, averaging smartly over 7 yards according to contact. 

Ohio State’s offensive line had its very best recreation of the 12 months towards its hardest festival but, permitting simply two tackles for loss and one sack. Even Ohio State’s protection used to be up for the problem. The Buckeyes held Notre Dame scoreless for just about 3 complete quarters and stopped the Irish in plus territory 3 times right through their first 5 offensive drives. 

Clemson has a Dabo Swinney problem 

Clemson’s offensive assistants gained a lot of the blame for the football program’s sharp downturn during the last couple of years. At some level, despite the fact that, it is time to direct complaint against the trainer. Swinney went towards his personal philosophy through going outdoor of his circle and hiring Garrett Riley as offensive coordinator, however the early returns are not nice. That’s bizarre for a man who advanced a Heisman Trophy finalist (TCU quarterback Max Duggan) and engineered the country’s No. 9 scoring offense simply final season. It’s now not like Riley forgot learn how to run an offense. Rather, Clemson’s offensive problems can also be chalked as much as its incapacity to successfully recruit and expand a couple of elite talent place gamers for the reason that Trevor Lawrence years. That falls on Swinney, as does his refusal to correctly use the switch portal to handle any exceptional problems. 

A large number of what went unsuitable in Clemson’s loss to Florida State additionally falls on Swinney. He utterly mismanaged the Tigers’ ultimate force through taking part in for a box purpose with a kicker who wasn’t even at the roster final week. Clemson has cycled via assistants, however Swinney is the consistent. He has to seek out solutions briefly, or his workforce goes to fall additional and extra at the back of.

Florida State’s CFP trail is some distance from a cakewalk 

No one can be unsuitable to suppose that Florida State cleared its largest hurdle but through beating Clemson. The final time the Seminoles walked into Death Valley and beat the Tigers, they went directly to win the nationwide championship. It may additionally be simple to go searching the ACC, which has six groups at .500 or worse, and significantly wonder whether someone can problem Florida State. 

But the Seminoles nonetheless face many doable pitfalls. That Oct. 21 recreation towards Duke might be a massive problem. The Blue Devils beat Clemson through 21 issues in Week 1 and will have to be thought to be severe contenders within the ACC. Miami (Nov. 11) appears adore it’s on its approach up as smartly, led through a resurgent Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback. 

Florida State can not relaxation on its laurels simply because it were given the Tiger-sized monkey off its again — a lesson that it will have to have discovered a week in the past towards Boston College. Its trail to the playoff is hard sufficient, despite the fact that the belief across the ACC would possibly recommend differently. 

Cameron Ward, say hi to the Heisman Trophy race

The Washington State quarterback merits to be a family identify. Those that did not know discovered about him Saturday. Ward placed on a masterclass towards a robust Oregon State protection, finishing 82.4% of his passes for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

On the stat sheet, he’s outperforming most likely NFL first-round alternatives Drake Maye and Caleb Williams. Ward’s passing numbers get up towards any identify within the nation. After suffering with decision-making final 12 months, Ward is now simply certainly one of two FBS quarterbacks with no less than 1,000 yards passing and no interceptions. He additionally has 3 touchdowns at the floor. Ward is the catalyst at the back of Washington State’s 4-0 get started — its very best since 2017 — and the explanation why the Cougars have top hopes within the Pac-12 this 12 months. For that, he belongs within the Heisman dialog. 

Alabama’s largest problems have not vanished

Alabama’s comfy 24-10 win towards Ole Miss used to be a great rebound after a difficult couple of weeks. Jalen Milroe is obviously the solution at quarterback. No one else will have to take any snaps the remainder of the 12 months until Milroe will get harm or the sport is already out of hand. Nick Saban can have resolved his quarterback query, however the Crimson Tide nonetheless have severe problems exiting their large win. 

The offensive line seemed no higher than it did a week in the past when it allowed 5 sacks towards USF. Ole Miss used to be in a position to get to Milroe 4 instances, marking the 3rd directly recreation through which Alabama’s allowed no less than 4 sacks. Milroe’s athleticism makes up for it some, however he nonetheless wishes time to procedure performs and make throws. 

Alabama additionally stills struggles to complete drives. The Crimson Tide had 5 purple zone possessions and scored only one landing towards the Rebels. Otherwise, it settled for 3 box targets and a Milroe interception. Alabama gave Ole Miss a number of possibilities to stay this recreation aggressive and perhaps even pop out with a win, however the Rebels did not capitalize. Saban’s squad would possibly not be so lucky all 12 months.