How did Arch Manning's first start go and who are the contenders and hopefuls in college football?

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While you were sleeping, BYU’s Parker Kingston botched a punt, intercepted the ball and scored a 93-yard touchdown.

The Cougars beat the Wildcats 39-8. But No. 13 Kansas State wasn’t the only ranked team to be exposed this weekend…

Candidates and Pretenders

Ranked teams revealed in Week 4

In Week 4, some teams exceeded expectations while others disappointed. This week serves as a key data point and here is a summary of the teams that have emerged as College Football Playoff contenders and the teams that are now just contenders.

Contender: USC. The Trojans went into their first official Big Ten game ranked No. 11 in the AP poll (we’ll see how far the Trojans fall today) and seemed to have improved — especially on defense. But then came a crucial missed tackle by Michigan’s Kalel Mullings that led to a 63-yard gain and the eventual game-winning touchdown. USC lost 27-24 in the Big House, even though Michigan continued to struggle on offense (the Wolverines threw for 32 total yards). Are we being too harsh? Well, the Trojans didn’t give themselves any margin for error in the postseason.

Contender: Tennessee. Josh Heupel’s return to Norman was triumphant as the No. 6 Vols controlled No. 15 Oklahoma 25-15 and exposed the Sooners’ offensive problems when OU benched starting QB Jackson Arnold for freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. late in the first half. Tennessee’s defense was outstanding through four games, holding Oklahoma to 3.3 yards per play and 36 total rushing yards. Tennessee still has tests against Alabama (Oct. 19) and Georgia (Nov. 16), but it is one of the most balanced teams in college football. Now pay that talent!

Pretender: Nebraska. A promising young quarterback, a coach who has made the program “cool” again and a top-25 ranking for the first time in five years had Nebraska feeling good going into its first Friday night game at Memorial Stadium. But against No. 24 Illinois, the Huskers faltered again, losing 31-24 as quarterback Dylan Raiola was sacked three times in overtime. As Huskers writer Mitch Sherman wrote, the wait for Nebraska’s return to title contender status continues.

Contender: Miami. The No. 8 Hurricanes didn’t let a strong South Florida team deter them from a 4-0 start. Miami didn’t let the Bulls get close in the second half and won 50-15. On a day when quarterback play looked shaky nationally, Cam Ward was solid, completing 24 of 34 passes for 404 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception.

Contender: LSU. That’s my opinion. The No. 16 Tigers survived, beating UCLA 34-17, but the key word here is survived. The game in Baton Rouse was tied 17-17 at halftime, and although the Tigers pitched a shutout in the second half, this team’s problems are real. LSU’s loss to USC and close result to South Carolina already raised questions. In Week 4, there are many questions and few answers.

Another contender we shouldn’t ignore? Clemson, which beat NC State 59-35 yesterday. Here’s what we learned about the College Football Playoff race in Week 4.

USC suffered its first loss of the season in its Big Ten debut at Michigan on Saturday. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

Lesbians thrown out!

The rivalry between TCU and SMU was heated

The second half of the Iron Skillet rivalry between TCU and SMU started off boiling hot (pun intended).

Horned Frogs coach Sonny Dykes was ejected less than a minute into the third quarter after receiving two consecutive unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

There was already a certain tension here that went beyond the rivalry on the field. Dykes coached SMU from 2018-2021, compiling a 30-18 record and raising the Mustangs’ profile before moving to rival TCU. But SMU (3-1) had the last word against its former coach with a decisive 66-42 win, dropping TCU to 2-2. Maybe this was all a bit of karma for the Horned Frogs after they (unfairly?) slammed The CW and the ACC in a pregame video.

But back to Dykes’ ejection. The NCAA passed a rule in 2016 that automatically ejects coaches if they receive two unsportsmanlike penalties in a game. Here are the cases I’ve found where that’s happened before (Dykes joins an exclusive club):

Bowling Green coach Scot Loeffler was the guinea pig of this rule and was the first coach to be ejected in 2021. Loeffler’s Falcons scored more points in the 18 minutes after his ejection than in any other full game in the previous two seasons, beating Buffalo 56-44.
Former Colorado State coach Steve Addazio was ejected in the second quarter of the Rams’ 2021 game against Nevada, which they lost 52-10. The Denver Post called the ejection a “new low” for CSU. Addazio was fired five days later after going 4-12 in two seasons.

Manning’s first start

The good and the bad

Arch Manning, the son of Cooper Manning, nephew of Peyton and Eli and grandson of Archie, made his first career start yesterday in Texas’ 51-3 win over Louisiana-Monroe. Here’s a quick look at his performance:

Final statistics: Manning finished the game completing 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was forced off the field early in the fourth quarter and true freshman Trey Owens took over.
Highlight game: Even in limited time, Manning’s arm strength is clearly an advantage. Against ULM, Manning managed a long pass of 56 and 46 yards.

The low points: Manning threw his first career pick on Texas’ opening drive after taking an unnecessary hit for staring at his read for far too long. The athleteNick Baumgardner explained, “Manning’s biggest need for improvement is in his overall awareness of the pocket and in executing his progressions quickly when his first read is taken away.”

There is no quarterback controversy in Austin. Starter Quinn Ewers sat out this week with an oblique abdominal muscle strain and will lead the offense again upon his return.

Quick snapshots

Colorado one of his most dramatic finishes to date in a 38:31 win against BaylorQB Shedeur Sanders forced overtime with a 43-yard Hail Mary on the final snap of regulation before two-way star Travis Hunter secured the win by forcing Baylor to fumble at the goal line.

To read Stewart Mandel’s final thoughts about Hunter’s dominance and the “new” CFB.

James Madison’s 53 points in the first half against North Carolina were the most points the Dukes have ever scored in two quarters, and the most UNC has allowed in a half. JMU won 70-50, and this is a good time to read Justin Williams’ story about how the Dukes became a disruptor in college sports.

No. 7 Missouri fell into the status of a “hypocrite” after he Vanderbilt in double overtimeThe Tigers suffered from questionable fourth-down decisions by coach Eli Drinkwitz and three missed field goals (one from 24 yards) by Blake Craig. Unfortunately for the Commodores, the loss was a familiar low blow.

Blake Shapen, quarterback of Mississippi State suffered a shoulder injury in the Bulldogs’ 45-28 loss to Florida. Shapen will miss the remainder of the 2024 season, the school announced.

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(Top photo: Daniel Dunn / Imagn Images)