7 Must-Watch College Football Games On The Slate In Week 4

There’s a grand total of 64 college football games on the slate in Week 4, and there hasn’t been a single one so far that features as many intriguing matchups as the ones we’ll be treated to this weekend.

College football fans will have no shortage of options to choose from, but if you want to narrow things down, you’ve come to the right place.

Week 4 of the 2024 college football season features four showdowns between teams ranked in the Top 25, and they’re complemented by a few other games that also promise to feature plenty of dramatics.

#22 Nebraska vs. #24 Illinois

There are three games on the slate on Friday night, and the showdown between Nebraska and Illinois is easily the highlight.

The Cornhuskers appear to have the edge on paper (they head into the game as 8-point favorites) thanks in no small part to Dylan Raiola, the QB who has emerged as one of the most intriguing young talents in college football.

With that said, this is a Big Ten matchup we’re talking about, so defense will probably end up being the deciding factor.

#6 Tennessee vs. #15 Oklahoma

There isn’t a single game on the Week 4 schedule that stands out more than Saturday night’s game between Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava has managed to live up to the impressive amount of hype surrounding him so far, and his team hasn’t allowed a single touchdown this season.

With that said, Oklahoma has the most formidable offense and defense Tennessee has faced so far, and the Sooners will be looking to make a statement in their first SEC game. However, they’ll face an uphill battle as 7.5-point underdogs.

#11 USC vs. #18 Michigan

This marks the first time USC and Michigan have faced off since the two teams met in the Rose Bowl in 2007, and it gives both squads the chance to make a big statement.

Michigan is still trying to prove it can hang with the best after winning a national championship last season. It’s hard to blame them for losing to Texas when you consider the Longhorns look like the best team in the country, and it would be a huge win for the Wolverines under first-year coach Sherrone Brown.

On the other hand, USC deservedly heads into the contest as the favorite, and a second win over a ranked opponent would almost certainly propel them into the Top 10.

#12 Utah vs. #14 Oklahoma State

It’s been a while since Utah and Oklahoma State have met on the gridiron. How long? Well, they’ve only played each other once, and that game trasnpired less than two months after World War II ended in 1945.

The Utes may be ranked ahead of the Cowboys, but Oklahoma State is still a 2.5-favorite in a contest that will likely end up being an offensive battle between two veteran QBs in the form of Cameron Rising and Alan Bowman, both of whom kicked off their freshman year in college in 2018.

Michigan State vs. Boston College

Three words: Red Bandana Game.

Alumni Stadium isn’t really known for being an intimidating environment, but Saturday night will be a notable exception as it hosts a sold-out crowd for the annual contest honoring the memory of 9/11 hero (and BC alum) Welles Crowther.

The Eagles dropped out of the Top 25 with a loss to Missouri but still held their own and look very impressive under new head coach Bill O’Brien.

Michigan State is hoping to pull off the upset to improve to 4-0, but it won’t be an easy win in hostile territory.

Colorado vs. Baylor

Every game Colorado has played this season has been a must-watch, and this one is no exception.

It’s still hard to get a read on just how good (or bad) the Buffaloes are close to a month into Coach Prime’s second season in Boulder, and their showdown with Baylor is basically a coin flip when you consider Colorado heads into its Big 12 opener favored by just two points.

TCU vs. SMU

The Battle for the Iron Skillet may not be the most famous rivalry game college football has to offer, but this one is shaping up to be a very close contest.

Both teams head into Saturday with a 2-1 record, and the Horned Frogs are only favored by two points. They’ve also won nine of the last 11 matchups (with the vast majority of those being very decisive victories), but the Mustangs looked poised to give them a run for their money.