After an exhilarating Week 3 of the college football season, Week 4 is the most loaded slate yet, with great games scattered all over the schedule on Saturday.
A number of teams are finished with their non-league schedules, meaning that more and more conference games are starting to pop up all across the country. We are already a quarter of the way through the season, meaning the games are starting to get bigger as we go.
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Here at Sooners Wire, we’ll be all over the big game on the docket for the Oklahoma Sooners this weekend, but there’s no shortage of exciting matchups during the final Saturday of September.
Here are the top five games to watch in Week 4.
Sept. 19, 2026; Austin, Texas; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up before a game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Texas and Tennessee haven’t met yet as conference mates in the SEC, but that will change on Saturday afternoon in one of many big games this week. The Longhorns came back to defeat Ohio State at home two weeks ago, but this will mark their first road test of the season. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterback Arch Manning are flying high with their strong start to the season, but this game will be far from easy.
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The Volunteers are also undefeated to begin the year, with their best win coming on the road against Georgia Tech. They’ll have the home crowd at Knoxville behind them, and Neyland Stadium will be rocking, despite the early kick time. Head coach Josh Heupel tabbed true freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon as his starter before the season, and that decision has paid off so far. However, they’ll face more talent on Saturday than in the last few weeks.
Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall celebrates a touchdown with his team as Auburn Tigers take on Florida Gators at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. Florida Gators defeated Auburn Tigers 44-39.
Ole Miss and Florida each enter Week 4 undefeated, and each team earned their first conference win last week in impressive fashion. For the Rebels, that was a statement win over LSU at home in an emotionally charged environment. Now, head coach Pete Golding has his team firmly back in the playoff conversation. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss might be the best player in college football, but this team can’t afford a letdown against a good team after last week.
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The Gators have been stellar to begin their first season under new head coach Jon Sumrall, defeating Auburn on the road last week. Now, they’ll come home and look to shake up the SEC hierarchy and make a big statement. Quarterback Aaron Philo and the offense have lit up the scoreboard early in the season, and they’ll need to keep that trend up this week. The Swamp will be louder than it’s been in a while on Saturday.
3. Oregon at USC, 6:30 p.m. CT
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning, right, and USC head coach Lincoln Riley shake hands postgame as the Oregon Ducks host the USC Trojans on Nov. 22, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.
Oregon and USC meet in an important Big Ten clash, as both teams believe they have what it takes to go on a deep run in 2026. The Ducks have already lost once, falling to Oklahoma State two weeks ago. They’ve been shaky to start the season, but they are still as talented as anyone. Head coach Dan Lanning is 2-0 in this series, including last year’s win at home. Quarterback Dante Moore is primed to have a big day on the road this week.
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The Trojans are undefeated, but they haven’t been tested. Last week’s win against Rutgers was not as easy as expected, and they’ll be jumping up a number of notches when it comes to talent level on the opposing sideline. Head coach Lincoln Riley will have to find a strong defense in order to get this win, but he’ll also need sound play from quarterback Jayden Maiava. This game will be crucial in the Big Ten standings, just like it was last season.
4. Texas A&M at LSU, 6:30 p.m. CT
Sep 19, 2026; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Mike Elko speaks with a member of his coaching staff during a time-out in the fourth quarter against the Kentucky Wildcats at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Texas A&M and LSU are both coming off of a loss, but only one team can bounce back with a win on Saturday night. Another important game in the SEC just adds to a loaded weekend. The Aggies were stunned at home last week against Kentucky, and the task gets even harder on the road this week. Head coach Mike Elko has to refocus his troops after the surprising loss, as his team was outplayed by a less-talented squad. Quarterback Marcel Reed needs to take care of the ball better than he has so far, as he’s going up against a good defense in this game.
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The Tigers lost on the road against Ole Miss last week, coming up just short in an emotional and rowdy environment. Now, they’ll be back at home and they’re hoping to show that they’re still one of the SEC’s best teams. Head coach Lane Kiffin needs his team to start faster than they did last week, and quarterback Sam Leavitt should be a headache for the opposing defense. Another night game in Baton Rouge means Death Valley will be fired up again.
Sep 19, 2026; Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during the first quarter against the UNI Panthers at Kinnick Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Iowa and Michigan meet in another pivotal Big Ten game, with both teams hoping to make a statement that they belong at the forefront of the conversation in the conference. The Hawkeyes passed their first test of the season, defeating Iowa State two weeks ago. They are unbeaten, but they’re flying under the radar because of some of the league’s other teams. That’s nothing new for head coach Kirk Ferentz, whose team is looking for a statement win. Quarterback Hank Brown is a player to watch against a strong defense.
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The Wolverines are undefeated, having barely sneaked by Western Michigan, subduing Oklahoma, and pulling away against UTEP through the first three weeks. A wild season has them now facing another test on their home field in their league opener. Head coach Kyle Whittingham has a very good defense to lean on, and the offense has figured some things out over the last two games, led by quarterback Bryce Underwood. This team can announce themselves with a big win in this game.
Sep 19, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) passes against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images
Missouri and Mississippi State are both flying a bit under the radar in the SEC, but a win could go a long way toward getting more people to notice them. The Tigers haven’t really been given a tough test yet, and we’ll find out a lot more about them from this game. Head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his team are always a tough out, and they’ll be looking to go on the road and put themselves into the conversation in the SEC. Quarterback Austin Simmons leads an offense that needs to have a big day.
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The Bulldogs are flying high, after last week’s big comeback win over South Carolina. There’s still a long way to go, but the early returns from this season are that head coach Jeff Lebby’s team has turned the corner. A lot of that has to do with quarterback Kamario Taylor, who is an absolute star for this team. His dual-threat ability means the offense is a big-time weapon, and it’s shown so far this year. With the home crowd behind them in Starkville, MSU will be looking to continue their climb.
7. Oklahoma at Georgia, 2:30 p.m. CT
Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart reacts after a play against the Arkansas Razorbacks
This game between Oklahoma and Georgia has lost a little bit of its luster, but it’s still an important matchup in the early portion of the season. The Sooners have just one loss, and it came two weeks ago on the road against Michigan. Last week, they beat New Mexico, despite a poor offensive performance. Head coach Brent Venables has to figure something out on that side of the ball, but he’ll certainly be leaning on his defense in this one. Quarterback John Mateer will be looking to bounce back against one of the nation’s best defenses.
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The Bulldogs are rolling to start the season, as they’ve been dominant in all three wins, including last week’s road victory over Arkansas. Now, they’ll come back home hoping that the good times keep going. It’s the first test of the year for Kirby Smart’s team, and with so many other good teams in the SEC, this is the first chance to prove that they still run the league. Quarterback Gunner Stockton and the offense face a big test, as they’ll hope to stay efficient at home this week in Athens.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: The top 7 college football games to watch in Week 4
