College Football: Week 4 Preview

What happened to Texas? Can Arizona State score the upset in Stanford? What about Louisiana-Monroe in Waco? Click on through and let's talk.

After falling off the top 25 wagon following an ugly defeat in Provo, then falling again at home to Ole Miss, Texas has plenty of cause for alarm. Manny Diaz is now the ex-defensive coordinator, and Mack Brown is now on the hot seat sitting at 1-2. Heading straight into the Big 12 schedule, we've seen some obviously suspect defense, a dilemma at the quarterback position, and an overall lack of integrity. We'll see if the 'Horns can turn it around at home against Kansas State this week, but I highly doubt it.

Arizona State is all of sudden on everyone's radar, and with a win in Stanford, they'd get some huge hype. That's a tall task to ask for from such a young group of players, though those players are pretty damn good. Todd Graham has put together a hellacious and relentless team, but will they be enough to stop the fifth-ranked, high-flying Stanford Cardinal at home? We'll see Saturday, but the second-biggest team in the Pac-12 should take care of ASU.

Finally, we probably all remember last year and how the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks drew huge attention after knocking out early-SEC contender Arkansas, then almost took down Baylor. This year, they get another crack at the Bears in Waco. Whether they can pull the upset or not, time will tell, but I do know the Warhawks will be out for blood. Stay tuned to this one.

Games of the week: #23 Arizona State at #5 Stanford, Auburn at #6 LSU, SMU at #10 Texas A&M, Michigan State at #22 Notre Dame, and of course, #25 Texas Tech here at home against the Texas State Bobcats.