Pressing questions in a loaded slate in Week 4 of college football

Perhaps the best weekend of the entire 2023 college football regular season is nearly here, with a slammed slate of games offering up all manners of narratives, storylines and X-factors. For the five biggest matchups on Saturday, I’ve identified one pressing question that could decide the outcome of each game. 

Florida State at Clemson (12 p.m., ABC)

Pressing Question: Will FSU turn Jordan Travis’ legs loose?

From a 30,000-foot viewpoint on this game, there’s a narrative storyline about Mike Norvell and the Seminoles reclaiming the throne as the kings of the ACC, but on a granular level, for that to happen FSU’s quarterback needs to be let out the barn. 

Outside of a few scrambles against LSU, Jordan Travis hasn’t run as much this season. He certainly was protecting himself (and potential shoulder injury) last week against Boston College (just four runs), but this is an empty-the-toolbox game against the Tigers. Travis has relied on trying to bomb teams with downfield shots the last two weeks, with little effectiveness (just 2 of 11 on throws over 20 yards, per PFF). 

He needs to utilize his dual-threat abilities more. Travis’ legs gave Clemson problems in the matchup last season (20-yard TD run in the first quarter), and with FSU having an idle date next week, Saturday is a prime time for Travis to log double-digit carries (see: vs. Clemson and Florida last season) and lead FSU to a big win on the road.

No. 22 UCLA at No. 11 Utah (3:30 p.m., FOX)

Pressing Question: How healthy are the Utes? Will Cam Rising finally make his 2023 debut?

Chip Kelly is walking into to Rice-Eccles stadium with a freshman quarterback making his first-career road start against the undefeated, two-time defending Pac-12 champs. 

Not easy. 

And yet, while Dante Moore will certainly be tested on Saturday, it’s unclear what version of Utah will take the field. The Utes are the walking wounded right now, with head coach Kyle Whittingham saying this week that more than a dozen players on the two-deep are questionable against UCLA. 

Chief among them remains star quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brent Kuthie, neither of whom have made the 2023 debuts, yet. Rising seems on track to play but nothing has been confirmed yet. The Utes could also possibly be down multiple starting DL, which would be a major issue going up against the Bruins’ ground game — which leads the nation with 7.4 yards per carry.

No. 15 Ole Miss at No. 13 Alabama (3:30 p.m., CBS)

Pressing Question: Can Lane Kiffin get Alabama in a shootout?

Through three games, Alabama’s offense is somewhere between a 5-alarm fire and DEFCON 1. The offensive line is a disaster (worst sack rate in the Power 5), the lack of perimeter playmakers is evident and the Tide’s two senior tailbacks aren’t anything special. Whatever fingerprints new OC Tommy Rees has put on “the Alabama offense” have left a poor mark, too. 

And I haven’t even mentioned the haphazard QB play. With no other choice, Nick Saban is turning back to Jalen Milroe, hoping the electric athlete can cut down the turnovers and use his legs to help out a struggling OL. 

Alabama wants to play murder-ball but it doesn’t have the big uglies (at least not seasoned yet) or dynamic rushers (waiting for Justice Haynes to get a longer look) to actually operate that offense. Still, Saban doesn’t want to get into a seesaw shootout with what he has at QB. 

Can Lane Kiffin force his hand, though? If Ole Miss is able to script a touchdown drive or two early, Alabama will have to chase the game. The Rebels, with former Tide DC Pete Golding manning the job now in Oxford, could go hyper-aggressive with a fairly underrated front-seven — being ok with the game getting a little loose (couple of explosive plays allowed) if it forces Milroe into a few turnovers. 

No. 19 Colorado at No. 10 Oregon (3:30 p.m., ABC)

Pressing Question: Can Colorado keep Shedeur Sanders clean enough to scare the Ducks?

For Deion Sanders and the Buffs to keep their train rolling and pull off another 20-point upset, they have to find a way to protect their star quarterback. 

Shedeur Sanders has been sacked 16 times already this season — most in the Power 5. He’s been pressured on 34% of his drop-backs, per PFF. Some of the sacks have been Sanders’ fault for holding the ball too long, while CU’s patchwork OL hasn’t held up as well as the last two games, either. 

Colorado is going to throw the ball on almost every play. New OC Sean Lewis has ditched the run game due to a lack of effectiveness, turning to screens and quick-hitters instead. Oregon’s secondary was suspect a year ago, but Dan Lanning seems to have fixed a leaky unit. The Ducks lead the Pac-12 in yards per attempt allowed (4.7) and passing yards per game (158.7). Oregon also has a really solid interior pass rush, led by 2021 All-Pac-12 tackle Popo Aumavae, who already has two sacks this season. 

The Ducks are going to score. Probably in bunches. So for Colorado to have any chance to match fireworks, the Buffs need to keep their QB clean. 

No. 6 Ohio State at No. 9 Notre Dame (7:30 p.m., NBC)

Pressing Question: Which DL wins the LOS?

There will be plenty of offensive firepower on display Saturday night in South Bend (Sam Hartman and Audric Estime vs. Kyle McCord and Marvin Harrison Jr.), but the biggest game of the weekend will be decided by which DL wins the line of scrimmage. 

Both Ohio State and Notre Dame have Top 10 defenses, per SP+. They don’t allow big plays. They get off the field on third downs. And opponents rarely even reach the red zone. 

Estime leads the nation in rushing. Notre Dame is going to try to establish the run, and have Hartman challenge the Buckeyes’ re-tooled secondary (which was been impressive so far in 2023) over the top. 

Ohio State is allowing just 2.53 yards per carry, but headline pass rushers JT Tuimoloau and Jack Sawyer have a combined zero sacks. They do have six QB hurries each, per PFF, so can they win 1-on-1 battles against the Irish’s sturdy tackle tandem Joe Alt and Blake Fisher?

On the flip side, Ohio State entered the season with OL concerns, and now a new-look unit must handle Javontae Jean-Baptiste and Notre Dame’s tenacious front-seven. The Buckeyes got tailback TreVeyon Henderson more involved last week against Western Kentucky (13 carries for 88 yards and two scores), but now their zone-blocking scheme will be put to the test against a much better front. 

So which front can present more problems? Who can create the most havoc?