College football Week 4: Winners (Stanford) and losers (Virginia Tech)

With Week 4 of the 2018 college football season in the books, let’s look at the big winners and losers from the week that was.

Saturday was defined by elite quarterback play in the college ranks. Guys that we knew would be good like Tua Tagovailoa and Will Grier were excellent. Other signal callers like Notre Dame’s Ian Book and Old Dominion’s Brett LaRussa were outstanding in their team’s victories.

However, some teams that are of the blue-blood variety had some trouble on the gridiron this week. Yes, it is time to start panicking, Husker Nation, as the Scott Frost era of Nebraska football has begun most horrendously at 0-3. Virginia Tech, how do you look that bad versus Old Dominion and lose?

Here are your winners and losers from Week 4 of the 2018 college football season.

Stanford never giving up, ever – Winner

The best game of the day did not disappoint, as the No. 7 Stanford Cardinal clawed back from certain defeat on the road against the No. 20 Oregon Ducks. Oregon was literally inches from going up 31-7, only to fall to Stanford in overtime, 38-31.

Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert may have only throw two incompletions during regulation, but four in overtime led to a heartbreaking defeat for the Ducks in Eugene. By returning a fumble, making a kick to force overtime and the trio of K.J. Costello, Bryce Love and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, the Cardinal escape Autzen Stadium with an unbelievable victory and emerge as the Pac-12 favorites.

Virginia Tech’s chances of making it to the Playoff – Loser

No, the ACC doesn’t look to be very good this year. Outside of Clemson, it’s a whole bunch of blah. That includes what was arguably the Tigers’ biggest threat in a potential conference championship meeting in Virginia Tech.

The Hokies found a way to lose by multiple scores on the road against Old Dominion, a team that hadn’t won yet. While many were excited that Virginia Tech dominated the Florida State Seminoles on Labor Day, turns out that wasn’t a win to write home about. Regardless of what happens in ACC play, Virginia Tech’s Playoff dreams have been crushed.

Tua Tagovailoa striking that Heisman pose – Winner

It’s becoming increasingly clear that Alabama head coach Nick Saban made the right call to go with Tagovailoa as his starting quarterback in 2018. The guy is like a southpaw version of Marcus Mariota, but more dynamic as a playmaker.

With him guiding the offense, Alabama looks almost unstoppable. They just eviscerated Texas A&M and he didn’t even play in the fourth quarter. Maybe this is the year Alabama has its first Heisman Trophy winning quarterback? Bart Starr, Joe Namath, Ken Stabler or even A.J. McCarron are being outclassed collegiately by Tua.

Not having Army at Oklahoma on television – Loser

Had the game ended slightly differently, the biggest winner of Week 4 would easily beat the Army Black Knights. They dominated time of possession to take the No. 5 Oklahoma Sooners to overtime in Norman. Though they fell 28-21 in the first overtime period, it was a captivating game that no one saw coming and no one could actually watch.

No, this game was not being nationally televised and it was insanely difficult, if not impossible, to find a legal stream of it. Though the Sooners did technically win, America lost because didn’t everybody outside of Boomer Sooner Nation want to see the run-heavy Army offense just do the dang thing?

Ian Book starting at quarterback for Notre Dame – Winner

Notre Dame was the No. 8 team in the nation, but lacking an offensive identity. Head coach Brian Kelly opted to go with the unproven Ian Book over the incumbent Brandon Wimbush. That turned out to be a wise move for Kelly.

Book had five touchdowns (two passing, three rushing) in Notre Dame’s dominating victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in Winston-Salem. Notre Dame can now honestly saw the Irish are playoff contenders now that they have a dynamic quarterback under center in Book.

Any iota of hopes or dreams for 2018 Nebraska football – Loser

If you thought that Frost would bring the spark needed to turn his alma mater’s football program around, well, you guessed wrong. Nebraska falls to 0-3 after getting annihilated by the Michigan Wolverines 56-10 in The Big House.

The Cornhuskers look to be the worst team in the Big Ten and Big Red may not get to a bowl during Frost’s first year back in Lincoln. When Wendy’s is choosing to push their at your own expense, you’re having a bad time. There is no reason to watch Nebraska football anymore this year.

Benny Snell as an All-American for Big Blue Nation – Winner

We’ve been looking for a while for the second best team in the SEC East. After a dominating victory over their cross-divisional rival Mississippi State, we’d have to go with that team being the Kentucky Wildcats. Big Blue Nation should be excited because their team looks for real thanks to All-American hopeful running back Benny Snell.

Yes, Snell is not just an All-SEC candidate, but could push for maybe even a Doak Walker Award if he keeps this up. Versus a strong Mississippi State team, Snell rushed for 165 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries to single-handedly carry Big Blue Nation to victory. Kentucky is 4-0 now, guys. Watch out! They’ll be ranked next week.

TCU’s playoff chances after trying to mess with Texas – Loser

Well, with two losses in the first two weeks, as sad as it sounds, we have to cross off the TCU Horned Frogs from being a legitimate College Football Playoff contender. While a loss last week to the Ohio State Buckeyes wasn’t the end of the world, losing by 15 points on the road to the Texas Longhorns sure was.

Not that Texas is bad, but the Longhorns still aren’t themselves in the post-Mack Brown era. The Big 12 will probably get a team in, but it won’t be one of these Lone Star universities.

Georgia’s ability to force turnovers – Winner

Even though the Georgia Bulldogs beat the Missouri Tigers on the road by two touchdowns, it was a very strange game for Kirby Smart’s boys. Georgia, and Mizzou, made several boneheaded plays in the high-scoring affair.

What was positive for the Dawgs was how dominating the Georgia front-seven was. Future first-round pick Drew Lock was always under pressure. Georgia forced three turnovers and blocked a punt. The Dawgs got two scores out of those turnovers. They were key in Georgia’s ability to win an ugly divisional game on the road to improve to 2-0.

Boston College not sticking around in the AP Top 25 – Loser

After starting the year out 3-0, the Boston College Eagles made a rare appearance in the AP Top 25. They came in ranked No. 23 on the year and had to go on the road to face a winless Purdue Boilermakers team. One would think the Eagles would improve to 4-0 and climb up the AP Poll.

No, that didn’t happen, as they fell 30-13 in West Lafayette to Purdue. Boston College might be able to rebound this year, but their first defeat of the season only adds to the frustrating year it has been so far for the ACC.

We’re only a month into the college football season. We’ve learned so much so far. Here’s to the final two-thirds of the season being as compelling as the first.