Week 4 of the college football season features the start of conference play for many teams, and it includes two games between teams ranked in the top 15. Both of those matchups could prove to be crucial at the end of the season.
Michigan will start Alex Orji at quarterback against the Trojans after Davis Warren started the first three games and was mostly ineffective. The Wolverines will likely employ a run-heavy attack that will test a USC defense that suddenly looks very feisty.
After missing Utah’s Week 3 win over Utah State, all signs point to Cameron Rising playing against the Cowboys. And that’s big news for this game that could go a long way in determining the top of the Big 12 standings. The Cowboys are favored at home after the line had Utah as a small favorite earlier in the week.
Former Oklahoma QB and assistant Josh Heupel returns to Norman as the Volunteers’ head coach on Saturday night. UT QB Nico Iamaleava has become an early Heisman favorite with his play so far, and that high-powered offense will put the pressure on Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold to get things going in the passing game.
Live40 updates
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 2:15 PM CDT
Touchdown NC State
The Wolfpack haven’t thrown in the towel, but they’re just too far behind at this point. It’s now 59-28 after a Demarcus Jones touchdown run.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 2:12 PM CDT
Touchdown Ohio State
It’s another rushing touchdown for the Buckeyes, this time by Quinshon Judkins.
Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson now have 249 yards on 20 carries with 4 TDs.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:53 PM CDT
Jeremiah Smith scores for OSU
The Buckeyes are comfortably in charge at the Horseshoe and freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith has found the end zone for his fourth TD of the season — this one a 53-yard catch-and-run.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:51 PM CDT
Pick-6 Clemson!
The Tigers add a defensive touchdown as Ashton Hampton steps in front of an underthrown ball by NC State’s CJ Bailey and returns it 53 yards to the house.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:47 PM CDT
Key injury news
Two injury updates for the upcoming Michigan-USC and Utah-Oklahoma State games:
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:40 PM CDT
James Madison scores again
The Dukes are not taking their foot off the gas in their upset bid against North Carolina. They just scored another touchdown to take a 36-point lead.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:27 PM CDT
Kansas, West Virginia trading blows
In a more competitive game, Kansas just took the lead at West Virginia on an 11-yard run by Daniel Hishaw Jr.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:24 PM CDT
Touchdown Ohio State
The same goes for the Buckeyes as TreVeyon Henderson breaks off a 40-yard TD run. Ohio State’s star tandem of Henderson and Quinshon Judkins has 202 yards and 3 TDs on just 12 carries so far.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:20 PM CDT
Touchdown Clemson
We are back for the second half of these games and the Tigers are in the end zone yet again — this time on a TD pass from Cade Klubnik to Adam Randall. Clemson is now over the 50-point mark.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 1:05 PM CDT
Scoreboard update
Here’s where things stand as the first wave of games hits halftime:
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:52 PM CDT
Halftime: Ohio State 28, Marshall 14
After a long review just before halftime, this catch by Marshall’s Elijah Metcalf was ruled a touchdown. The Thundering Herd are down 14 at the break.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:47 PM CDT
Halftime: Clemson 45, NC State 7
The Tigers tack on a field goal just before the break to make it 45-7. What an impressive showing by Dabo Swinney’s group. Clemson has now outscored its opponents 111-27 in its last six quarters of play.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:36 PM CDT
Clemson adds TD before half
Clemson took its time on that drive before scoring on a 19-yard run by Jay Haynes. We’re nearing halftime in Death Valley and Dave Doeren’s Wolfpack can’t get into the locker room soon enough.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:34 PM CDT
James Madison putting it on UNC
Perhaps the most surprising and exciting game in this early window is James Madison-North Carolina. The Dukes just took advantage of a second fumble by UNC to run up its lead to 46-21 with almost half the second quarter still to play.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:30 PM CDT
Ohio State touchdown
The Buckeyes add to their lead as TreVeyon Henderson breaks a couple tackles and takes it in for a 14-yard touchdown.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:19 PM CDT
Touchdown Clemson
The Tigers respond in kind to bump their lead back up to 28 points. This time it’s Cole Turner taking a reverse 18 yards around the end for a score. Dabo Swinney has to be happy with the offensive explosion by his team early in this game.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:15 PM CDT
Touchdown Ohio State!
Quinshon Judkins rips off a monster run to extend the Buckeyes’ lead, sprinting 86 yards for a touchdown.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:13 PM CDT
Florida up 21-7 early at Miss State
Meanwhile, with all the heat surrounding Billy Napier at Florida, the Gators look functional early against Mississippi State. Embattled QB Graham Mertz is 15-for-16 with 147 passing yards and 3 TDs.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:08 PM CDT
Touchdown NC State
The Wolfpack are finally on the board after that miserable first quarter. They cobbled together a respectable 9-play, 71-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard TD pass from CJ Bailey to Jordan Waters.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 12:03 PM CDT
Touchdown Ohio State
Six plays later, the Buckeyes are in the end zone on a goal line plunge by Will Howard. It’s Ohio State’s first lead of the game.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:57 AM CDT
Marshall just went for it on fourth-and-1 at its own 45-yard line and did not get it. It was a bold, early call that could end up biting the Thundering Herd.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:47 AM CDT
Interception Marshall!
The Thundering Herd aren’t backing down early in this one. Marshall’s Josh Moten picks off OSU’s Will Howard with a nice play on a deep ball.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:44 AM CDT
Clemson forces turnover, scores again
The Tigers forced another fumble and recovered it. One play later, they’re on the board again — this time it’s a 38-yard TD run by Phil Mafah, who is back in the game after the injury scare and appears to be doing just fine. This one is getting out of hand and it’s still only the first quarter.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:37 AM CDT
Ohio State strikes back!
While the Thundering Herd took 13 plays to score, the Buckeyes’ response was much more efficient. It took them two plays, and Emeka Egbuka did most of the work with a 68-yard TD reception.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:34 AM CDT
Clemson gets strip sack, scores again
What a disastrous start for the Wolfpack. NC State QB CJ Bailey took a helmet to the back and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Tigers deep in Wolfpack territory. Then Clemson added onto its lead with another TD pass from Cade Klubnik to Antonio Williams.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:29 AM CDT
Touchdown Clemson
On the second possession of the game for the Tigers, Cade Klubnik finds Antonio Williams for a 31-yard touchdown. It’s not all good news though, as RB Phil Mafah went down with an apparent shoulder injury on the drive.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:26 AM CDT
Touchdown Marshall!
The Thundering Herd are on the board first in Columbus. Ethan Payne caps off a 13-play, 75-yard drive to start the game with a TD plunge. Marshall up 7-0 on Ohio State.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:20 AM CDT
The Wolfpack made it past midfield before being forced to punt. So the Tigers will have it back deep in their own territory.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:11 AM CDT
Touchdown Clemson!
And just like that … Clemson QB Cade Klubnik sprints right through the Wolfpack defense 55 yards for a touchdown. What a start for the Tigers!
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:10 AM CDT
We are underway in Death Valley with Clemson and NC State. The Tigers have the ball first
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 11:06 AM CDT
The best game of the early slate is an ACC showdown between NC State and Clemson, so we’ll be following that for the most part. But we’ll be giving updates from across the country throughout the day.
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:55 AM CDT
No. 24 Illinois stuns No. 22 Nebraska in overtime, off to first 4-0 start since 2011
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:50 AM CDT
What to watch: Week 4 college football viewing guide
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:45 AM CDT
How is Travis Hunter not the Heisman Trophy favorite?
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:42 AM CDT
Arkansas AD says school needs $12 million more per year in NIL donations to be competitive
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:37 AM CDT
Here’s what the 12-team bracket looks like after Week 3
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:34 AM CDT
No, Arch Manning isn’t a serious Heisman contender despite what his odds suggest
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:32 AM CDT
The next wave of realignment is in Memphis’ hands
Sat, September 21, 2024 at 10:30 AM CDT
Good morning folks and welcome to our Week 4 college football live tracker! We’ll be delivering play-by-play and highlights throughout the day on what should be an action-packed Saturday.
The first games kick off in about 30 minutes. In the meantime, read up on everything that’s going on.