The Scouting Circle’s Weekend Ahead
What a bad weekend to have a wedding or a kid’s birthday party. Week 4 is a slate you do not want to miss. Read on for all of our key matchups and prospects to watch.
Saturday’s Slate (September 26)
#17 Iowa at #18 Michigan Saturday | 3:30 PM ET | CBS
- Big Ten opener for both programs. Michigan’s offense with QB Bryce Underwood has looked sluggish early, while Iowa brings two shutouts and a 16-13 win over Iowa State. High-ceiling talent vs. Iowa’s low-variance, stout defensive structure. Elite line play when Iowa is on offense. Our Prospect Matchup of the Week is also featured here, as Trevor Lauck and the Iowa offensive line take on John Henry Daley and the #1 defensive line in the country. Elite on elite for Number 17 vs. 18!
#1 Texas at #14 Tennessee Saturday | 12:00 PM ET | ABC
- Arch Manning heads to his uncle Peyton’s old stomping grounds for Texas’s first true road game. Preparing to disrupt Manning is LB Arion Carter and CB Kayin Lee.
- Tennessee is averaging 47.6 PPG, but freshman QB Faizon Brandon hasn’t faced a top-tier defense yet. How does Faizon Brandon handle the nation’s No. 1 team after Texas’s low-stress win over UTSA?
#4 Ole Miss at #21 Florida Saturday | 3:30 PM ET | ABC
- Ole Miss enters off an emotional win over LSU, while Florida is surging under new coach Jon Sumrall following a 44-39 win over Auburn.
- Heisman contender Trinidad Chambliss, Will Echoles, and 2027 RB2 Kewan Lacy (if healthy) vs. 2027 RB1 Jadan Baugh (8.5 YPC, 8 TDs) and the Gators. Watch for an Ole Miss road-letdown spot.
Oklahoma at #2 Georgia Saturday | 3:30 PM ET | ESPN
- Oklahoma ranks 99th nationally in scoring (25 PPG), and QB John Mateer threw 2 INTs against New Mexico. Georgia is averaging 59.3 PPG but faces its first real competition.
- Oklahoma’s elite defense (allowing just 7.7 PPG) attempting to cover for a struggling offense against a top SEC contender.
Wisconsin at #13 Penn State Saturday | 5:00 PM ET | Peacock
- Matt Campbell’s Big Ten debut at Penn State against a Luke Fickell-led Badgers team needing a signature rebound after a blowout opener against Notre Dame. Penn State’s first power-conference evaluation under Campbell.
#20 Oregon at #12 USC Saturday | 7:30 PM ET | NBC
- Oregon needs to rebuild its profile after an upset loss to Oklahoma State. USC is 4-0, but Gary Patterson’s defense has surrendered 65 points over its last two games.
- Jayden Maiava’s decision-making will be fun to see under real pressure. A physical Oregon front will provide a much better benchmark than his efficient-but-unspectacular performance against Rutgers.
#23 Texas A&M at #10 LSU Saturday | 7:30 PM ET | ABC
- Early-season elimination vibes, as the loser here exits September with two losses. LSU QB Sam Leavitt will likely be without star TE Trey’Dez Green.
- Marcel Reed (4 TDs / 7 INTs over his last 4 Power 4 starts) is facing an LSU pass rush led by Princewill Umanmielen (1.5 sacks vs. Ole Miss). Turnovers here will firmly solidify the “pump the brakes” case on Reed.
#19 Missouri at #24 Mississippi State Saturday | 7:45 PM ET | SEC Network
- Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor (832 pass YDS, 11 TDs; 178 rush YDS, 1 TD) has led two road Power Conference wins. Missouri enters following a narrow win over Troy behind RB Jamal Roberts (100+ yards in two straight).
- This will be Taylor’s first test against a ranked defense. Let’s see his high ceiling play against strong resistance.
Oklahoma State at West Virginia Saturday | 7:00 PM ET | FS1
- Big 12 shootout potential. Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker (882 pass YDS, 8 TDs) comes off a bye week following the Oregon upset. West Virginia QB Michael Hawkins Jr. (799 total YDS, 11 TDs) and RB Cam Cook come off an upset win over Virginia. Evaluating Hawkins in a true home game against Big 12 competition without the benefit of a neutral site will be huge for his profile.
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