Indiana and Texas Tech announced themselves as playoff contenders, while Oklahoma continued its resurgence to highlight Week 4 in college football.
Google them: Indiana clobbers Illinois
The Indiana Hoosiers outclassed the Illinois Fighting Illini in every facet of the game to cruise to a 63-10 home win.
In each of the three phases of the game — offense, defense and special teams — the Hoosiers dominated. They out-gained the Illini by 579 yards to 161 on offense. Defensively, Indiana came up with seven sacks and surrendered only two rushing yards all night. They even came up with a punt block return for a touchdown.
Transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw five touchdown passes with only two incompletions all night for the 19th-ranked Hoosiers, while Khobie Martin and Kaelon Black each recorded touchdown rushes. Overall, Indiana recorded 312 yards rushing and controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes.
Texas Tech wrecks Utah, moves to 4-0
The Texas Tech Red Raiders pulled away from the Utah Utes in the fourth quarter to score an important Big 12 conference win.
Both defenses made key plays to keep the match a low-scoring brawl late into the game. Three of the four turnovers the Red Raiders forced came while the game hung in the balance, while the Utes relied on their two takeaways to keep it close.
After Texas Tech lost starting quarterback Behren Morton early in the second half to injury, backup Will Hammond stepped in admirably and led the Red Raiders to scoring drives on each of their fourth-quarter possessions. Utah counterpart Devon Dampier struggled all day, throwing two interceptions and a meager 162 yards, despite 25 completions.
John Mateer’s late touchdown powers Oklahoma past Auburn
Oklahoma made a big move in the offseason by bringing in transfer quarterback John Mateer to replace Jackson Arnold, who proceeded to transfer to Auburn. The move paid dividends for the Sooners as Mateer’s touchdown with 4:54 to go in the game pushed Oklahoma past Arnold and Auburn.
The Tigers took their first lead of the game with 7:08 to go in regulation on the back of Malcolm Simmons’ four-yard touchdown run. Mateer and company did not flinch and stormed 75 yards down the field in only six plays to recapture the lead they held most of the afternoon. Arnold, presented with the opportunity to counter, was swallowed by the pressure of the Sooner defense, taking a sack for a safety to put the Tigers’ comeback hopes to bed.
The Sooners’ defensive front continued to establish itself among the best units in the SEC, sacking Arnold nine times and surrendering less than two yards a carry.
The best of the rest
Michigan left Lincoln with an important 30-27 win over Nebraska. The sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd energized the Cornhuskers all day, but the Wolverines held their nerve and out-rushed the opposition 290-43.
LaNorris Sellers outdueled Beau Pribula, but Pribula’s Tigers ultimately outclassed Sellers’s Gamecocks as Missouri beat South Carolina 29-20. The Tigers gained 285 of their 456 yards on the ground, while the Gamecocks were completely stonewalled, rushing for minus 9 yards.
USC toppled Michigan State 45-31 at home as the Trojans look to firmly establish themselves among the best of the Big 10. Jayden Maiava threw for three touchdowns and rushed for two more as he continued his efficient and effective season under head coach Lincoln Riley.
The Vols hit the road for their first true away game of the season as they take on Mississippi State this Saturday.
SOCIAL: Week 4 of the college football season featured multiple ranked matchups. Here’s a recap of the weekend, from Indiana’s blowout win to a spoiled reunion in Norman.
