The first three weeks of the college football season have been filled with many FBS vs. FCS matchups. This means that many of the games have been major blowouts. That being said, there have only been a few ranked matchups. However, week four brings a few games with ranked teams facing off. All of these game will have an effect on the College Football Playoff.
3 Games with College Football Playoff Implications in Week 4
#11 Michigan @ #13 Wisconsin
The Michigan Wolverines had the past weekend off. Jim Harbaugh‘s team will walk into Wisconsin coming off of an overtime thriller against Army. The Wisconsin Badgers come into this game outscoring opponents 110-0. Wisconsin has hardly any negatives to point out two games into the season. However, Michigan’s defense has struggled with teams that shouldn’t have challenged the Wolverines.
This Big 10 matchup will open conference play for both teams and have a major impact on the College Football Playoffs. With Michigan facing five more teams in the Top 25 after Wisconsin, this is not a game they can afford to lose. Wisconsin has a slightly easier schedule. That being said, the Big 10 will more than likely only get one team into the playoff. The loser of this matchup will have an uphill battle the rest of the season if they want any part in the College Football Playoff.
#8 Auburn @ #17 Texas A&M
This SEC West matchup could come down to which team has the better defense. Auburn comes into the game allowing 14 points per game. Texas A&M allows 11 points per game. The Aggies surprised many when they only lost by two touchdowns to the defending national champion, Clemson Tigers. That being said, if A&M wants any chance at the College Football Playoff, this is a must-win game. The Tigers aren’t under as much pressure, but a loss could put a damper on their hopes of a national championship. Freshman, Bo Nix, will look to lead Auburn to their second Top 20 victory of the year. However, Texas A&M will look to stop a two-game losing to streak to Auburn.
#7 Notre Dame @ #3 UGA
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish travel to Athens, Georgia to take on Jake Fromm and the Georgia Bulldogs. The pressure is on for Brian Kelly and the Irish. The team failed to score a single touchdown in last year’s College Football Playoff matchup against Clemson. That being said, if Notre Dame loses a single game this season, they may write themselves out of the playoff picture. The same pressure is on UGA—many in SEC country expect the Dawgs to win the game easily. This may be the case if D’Andre Swift continues his extraordinary rushing attack. He comes in averaging nine yards per carry. Regardless of the outcome, this game has been circled on calendars for months; this game will play a major role in helping shape the top four teams in the country.
Looking Ahead
This is only week four of the season but these games are important. A Michigan loss could be costly to Jim Harbaugh and his team. If Auburn wins, they will continue to build on their resume, which already shows a win over #16 Oregon. Lastly, a Notre Dame loss tremendously hurts their chances at another opportunity in the College Football Playoff. Again, it is early, but the college football season is finally featuring competitive games. Week five will also feature important matchups that fans should keep their eye on (#24 Arizona St. vs. #23 California & #19 Washington St. vs. #10 Utah).
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