If your Saturday doesn’t have your butt firmly planted on the couch for the Week 4 slate, you don’t have anyone else to blame but yourself on this one.
LSU tries to get back in the win column and avoid two very early losses in the Lane Kiffin era, while Clemson and coach Dabo Swinney silenced some critics — for at least another week.
Meanwhile, some members of our team at Sport & State arrived in Knoxville, Tenn. last night ahead of today’s marquee tilt between No. 1 Texas and No. 14 Tennessee in the Battle of the UTs.
LIVE from Wagon Wheel in the Old City 🍊
LIVE on @Hutton_Withrow & @OnTiltShow YouTube pic.twitter.com/X6UlKcn22T
— Sport & State (@SportNState) September 26, 2026
For the Southeastern Conference, today set the AP poll record with four ranked games in a single day — it might as well be Christmas for college football fans in the South.
Might I suggest some halftime walks around the neighborhood. Make sure to stay hydrated, too.
Let’s roll.
What We Learned Friday Night
Northwestern at Indiana (29-23)
Pain.
No offense, but that’s exactly how I imagine it sometimes feels to be a fan of the Wildcats. Indiana went up 12-0 on Northwestern at halftime before the Wildcats inched their way back to essentially a one possession game for much of the fourth quarter. Then, some shake-your-fist-at-the-sky types of plays happened.
If you don’t believe me, I present to you below Exhibit A and Exhibit B.
Northwestern had Indiana 3rd and 19 and a loss of 5 but commits a face mask. Just brutal. pic.twitter.com/o12qOFK53e
— Chad Fisher DNP (@ChadFisher) September 26, 2026
Stopping an opponent 5 but not 6 plays in a row at the 1 yard line to lose the game is brutal. 💀 pic.twitter.com/Kyb7zgnVOA
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) September 26, 2026
Like I said, painful.
The Cats, who were 21-point underdogs against the Hoosiers, still have a lot to look forward to with over two-thirds of the season remaining and the opening of their new 35,000-seat venue next week against Penn State.
Northwestern’s new $850M+ stadium opens next week, and the first look inside is absolutely insane
This place is something else
🎥: @Timioke28 pic.twitter.com/eZqOc5GQ7a
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) September 24, 2026
As for the Hoosiers, this isn’t the same 16-0 team from a season ago. That was fairly evident Friday night at Memorial Stadium. Could it be attributed to a “national championship hangover” that coach Curt Cignetti alluded to after the victory? Maybe.
Cignetti: “I’m sure everybody’s disappointed because they still have the national championship hangover, but I can’t do anything about that.”#iufb pic.twitter.com/uSPm66gl2n
— Ian Plaskoff (@ian_plaskoff) September 26, 2026
While TCU transfer quarterback Josh Hoover still tries to find some rhythm in Bloomington, Ind., the Hoosiers soon head into the meat of their Big Ten schedule with three of their next six contests against ranked opponents, including a date with Ohio State in mid-October. Buckle up, folks.
It’s just the first game of the Big Ten schedule, but Josh Hoover ain’t Fernando Mendoza.
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) September 26, 2026
Clemson (24-10) at Cal
Ah, the wonderful smell of conference realignment.
Clemson wrapped up its win over Cal around 2 a.m. ET, prompting Tigers coach Dabo Swinney to coin the phrase “ACC after midnight” in his postgame interview with ESPN.
And yes, I was one of those college football fans sickos who stayed up to watch.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney to ESPN postgame: “I don’t even know what time it is. We’re just happy to get the win — and hopefully somebody stayed up back home to watch it. ACC after midnight, right?”
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) September 26, 2026
For those who didn’t, which I am assuming is 99.9% of you, here’s what you need to know: the Tigers’ defense held the Golden Bears to 231 yards of total offense, while Clemson running back Gideon Davidson carried the ball 22 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns, giving the team a 253 to 86 yard advantage on the ground.
That 41-point Tiger spanking at the hands of LSU in Week 1 seems like forever ago at this point.
With that said, let’s dive into today’s top matchups.
No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee — 12 p.m. ET, ABC
The best game of Saturday’s loaded college football slate is the Battle of the UTs, though hopefully you’re fueled by some Crocket Coffee due to the early kickoff.
Wake Up, It’s Gameday on Rocky Top 🍊 pic.twitter.com/4JZH4euOB8
— Sport & State (@SportNState) September 26, 2026
All eyes will be on Neyland Stadium as President Donald Trump is expected to be in attendance. ESPN’s College GameDay, featuring Vol legend Peyton Manning and guest picker Johnny Knoxville, will also be on site as East Tennessee becomes the center of the college football universe. Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show is in Columbus, but will have correspondent Clay Travis (hey, we know him!) live in Knoxville.
I am taking Tennessee +4.5 & the Under 55.5 on @HardRockBet in tomorrow’s big-time matchup on Rocky Top. I will be there, President Donald Trump will be there, and so will 101,000+ others. Just don’t storm the field after the win. Take both on the Hard Rock App to get a boost! pic.twitter.com/W7gIzKlV4p
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) September 25, 2026
The Vols are 2-17 in their last 19 games against AP top-ranked teams, so the odds aren’t exactly in Tennessee’s favor against the Longhorns.
The good news? The Vols have 100,000-plus screaming fans decked out in orange and white supporting the program and their 18-year-old freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon, who faces his first true test later today.
And maybe, just maybe, the winner can finally lay claim to the title of The Real UT.
Spoiler: there’s already a winner in my book.
No. 4 Ole Miss at No. 21 Florida — 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Ole Miss hasn’t won in The Swamp since 2008, but now the program has Heisman frontruner Trinidad Chambliss under center. The senior transfer has thrown seven touchdowns and 924 yards, good for 10th overall in the FBS, during the 2026 season.
The Rebels are riding high following last weekend’s statement win against LSU and coach Lane Kiffin, who returned to Oxford, Miss. for the first time since he departed amid the 2025 postseason.
Viral Photo Of Players Taunting Lane Kiffin Taken By 20-Year-Old Ole Miss Student
✍️: @ByGusWilson https://t.co/oRJ3EHX6Ag
— Sport & State (@SportNState) September 24, 2026
Still, I attended Florida-Auburn last weekend on the Plains, and Gator Nation should feel encouraged as the team tries to reach last year’s win total later today.
Against the Tigers, Florida redshirt sophomore quarterback Aaron Philo looked cool, calm, and collected in the pocket, while junior running back Jadan Baugh, who is tied for an FBS-leading eight touchdowns on the ground, torched the Tigers with 162 rushing yards and three scores.
I don’t consider myself an elite ball knower, but something special seems to be brewing in the Jon Sumrall era.
No. 17 at No. 18 Michigan — 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
I’m not exactly sure what our fearless leader at Sport & State has against my undefeated Wolverines, but Clay Travis is picking the Hawkeyes +4 and to win outright in Ann Arbor, Mich.
I respect Iowa’s No. 1 ranked defense, I really do, but it’s still hard for me to #respectthepicks.
Oddsmakers have projected the over/under in the 38-40 point range, making it the lowest score of any college football game this week.
In other words, expect your eyes to bleed with touchdowns at a premium. Watch at your own peril.
No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 USC – 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC
With one loss before October, there might be more pressure in Eugene, Ore. than a typical season. The Ducks head to The Coliseum for their first Big Ten game of 2026. Another loss means Oregon is on the outside of the College Football Playoff picture and may need to run the table to earn a spot.
Meanwhile, the Trojans are 4-0, but still have not made the postseason during their four prior seasons with coach Lincoln Riley at the helm.
“If they lose Saturday, it is reasonable to say Lincoln Riley is on the hot seat.”
—@PeteThamel on how important it is for the Trojans to beat Oregon 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6A6yRCblhP
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 25, 2026
A win against the Ducks would provide a little bit of breathing room for USC, which still has three games remaining against top-15 ranked opponents.
Maybe with Saturday’s game, Riley convinces me he is actually for real.
No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU – 7:45 p.m. ET, ABC
Either the Aggies or Tigers will have two SEC losses before October, leading to one of the fanbases likely pushing the DEFCON 2, maybe 1, button this early in 2026.
Can LSU bounce back at Tiger Stadium after an emotional, nail-biting loss to Ole Miss a week ago?
What’s Texas A&M’s response after losing a stunner at home to Kentucky and first-year head coach Will Stein?
Welcome to the SEC pressure cooker.
Will Stein after Kentucky’s upset win over Texas A&M:
“I’m not shocked… This is what Kentucky football is supposed to look like.”
Confidence. pic.twitter.com/GrMvNxpQxi
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) September 20, 2026
No. 19 Missouri at No. 24 Mississippi St. – 7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network
All I keep reading about with Mississippi State is sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor, who is tied for second in all of the FBS with 11 passing touchdowns. He may even be a darkhorse candidate for the Heisman Trophy, according to my colleague Matt Foley.
Kamario Taylor is going to be really, really good.
I’ve never seen a ball explode like this at the point of release.
The bidding war will be insane this offseason.
pic.twitter.com/uaTCTB2VJW— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 21, 2026
“Kamario Taylor is a dude,” said Sport & State’s Chad Withrow on Hutton & Withrow two weeks ago.
You have my full attention, Mr. Taylor.
Cignetti’s Pre-Snap Fiasco
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti crashed out, also known as he lost his ever-loving mind, on Friday night.
Two penalties. One timeout. All before the Hoosiers’ first snap. That’s got to be some type of record.
Two illegal snap penalties before Indiana even ran a play had Curt Cignetti demanding answers from the refs. pic.twitter.com/SGj4Etfrsl
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 26, 2026
The Most Interesting CFB Personality In 2026
College football has a 28-year-old Aussie punter with 100+ tattoos, a tornado kick, and an outsized personality.
Daniel Hughes (@danielhughes94p) is quite the character.
✍️: @markjburns88 https://t.co/qfcVOgoIJL
— Sport & State (@SportNState) September 25, 2026
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