As we enter Week 5 of the college football season, every win is imperative as teams jockey for the top positions in hopes of competing for a national championship. While the Clemson Tigers (4-0) and the Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) seem like they could be on a collision course for one another again in the national title game, there are plenty of other teams in the conversation as well.
Let’s take a look at some of the interesting matchups for this weekend:
No. 21 USC Trojans (3-1) at No. 17 Washington Huskies (3-1)
The Huskies will play host on Saturday as they welcome in the 21st-ranked Trojans. Washington’s lone loss came in Week 2 against California, but in each of their other three games, they have scored at least 45 points.
Washington’s quarterback, Jacob Eason, has had a phenomenal season thus far. He has thrown for 1,063 yards and 10 touchdowns while only giving up two interceptions thus far. Aaron Fuller has led the way in receiving with 259 yards and four touchdowns on 21 receptions.
USC is down to its third-string quarterback, Matt Fink, but it hasn’t seemed to matter. Fink came off the bench against Utah and threw for 351 yards and three touchdowns when Kedon Slovis was sidelined with a concussion. Michael Pittman Jr. has had a nice season at receiver, with 437 yards and three touchdowns on 31 receptions.
No. 18 Virginia Cavaliers (4-0) at No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-1)
After losing a close 23-17 game last week against the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs, Notre Dame is looking to bounce back against another top-25 team this week in Virginia. Notre Dame will once again look to Ian Book to lead it under center. On the season, Book has thrown for 828 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
Undefeated Virginia will look to Bryce Perkins to lead it. He has thrown for 843 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. He also leads the ground game, rushing for 193 yards and two touchdowns.
No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) at Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1)
This game features a pair of solid Big Ten teams as Nebraska hosts Ohio State. The Buckeyes are led by quarterback Justin Fields, who has thrown for 880 yards and a remarkable 13 touchdowns. They have also gotten a really impressive start from J.K. Dobbins, who has rushed for 477 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Adrian Martinez leads the way for Nebraska with 1,052 yards passing with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
Houston QB To Redshirt
In a surprising announcement, Houston Cougars senior quarterback D’Eriq King will be sitting out the rest of the season to utilize the four-game redshirt rule to preserve another year of eligibility. With Houston off to a 1-3 start, this allows him to come back and play another season next year.
While there was some speculation that King could try to transfer for his final season of eligibility, it appears as if he intends to return to the Cougars next season.
Despite the decision, the healthy King had been having a pretty solid season this year. Through four games, he had thrown for 663 yards, six touchdowns and a couple of interceptions. He had also rushed 55 times for 312 yards and another six touchdowns.
King can be a player that helps a lot of programs, so Houston will hope he can come back and have a solid outing next season, his last year of eligibility for the Cougars.
Tagovailoa Considered Transferring as Freshman?
In a shocking revelation, it appears that Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa considered transferring to USC during his freshman year as he backed up Jalen Hurts. As a freshman, Hurts was the starter, and with Hurts only a sophomore at the time, it didn’t appear to Tagovailoa that his time would come anytime soon.
Despite the prestigious Alabama program, he ultimately just wanted to play and truly considered a move to USC, the team he grew up rooting for as a kid.
But staying put paid off. Tagovailoa came in during the national championship game to replace a struggling Hurts. That move led to an Alabama championship. Now a junior, Tua is probably very happy he stayed put.
Despite losing in the national championship game last year, the Crimson Tide are rolling again this year, and Tagovailoa is likely not only a Heisman Trophy contender but also a legitimate NFL prospect.
Through four games this season, he is 87 for 112 for 1,300 yards, 17 touchdowns and no interceptions. He has also rushed for 44 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts.
The No. 2-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (4-0) will host the Ole Miss Rebels (2-2) this Saturday.
Wyoming Player Charged With Multiple Felonies
In a bit of disheartening news, a football player from Wyoming has been arrested and charged with two felonies of aggravated assault and battery with the threat to use a deadly weapon.
Apparently, after being driven to his apartment, freshman defensive back Allen Smith III asked the drivers if they wanted to see his gun. When he returned, not only did he show them the gun, but aimed it at them and pulled the trigger multiple times.
While the gun was not loaded, the drivers reportedly indicated that they feared for their lives. Wyoming is currently 3-1 and will host UNLV on Saturday; however, they will do so without Smith, who has been suspended from the team indefinitely as the case is investigated.
