10 Takeaways: Week Four

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(For my Ohio State subscribers: You can read my thoughts on the Buckeyes' 49-14 win over Marshall here.)

1. Folsom Frenzy

At 8:30 PM (Pacific), I was in hell:

At 8:32 PM, I was in heaven:

Three days before the 30th anniversary of The Miracle at Michigan, Shedeur Sanders and LaJohntay Wester gave a new generation of college football fans a dose of Colorado Football magic, stunning Baylor in the process. Since that play was merely to tie the game, it was only fitting that Travis Hunter was the one to put a bow on it in overtime:

I'm still not exactly sure how to process everything that happened, even two days later. Regardless of where you stand on Colorado and Deion Sanders, you can't deny that they bring the kind of electricity to the sport that people spend every offseason bitching about being absent from the current game compared to the BCS era.

They have a head coach who's as polarizing as any major college coach ever. His son is the starting quarterback, makes people almost just as angry, and is a probable first-rounder playing behind a line who can't block for him. (Or anyone else behind them running the ball.) They have the best player in the sport doing stuff we've never seen at this level. Travis Hunter plays 100+ snaps on both sides of the ball every game, and is still somehow head and shoulders above anyone on the field with him in crunch time.

Nothing this team does is ever normal or easy. They make the routine look impossible, while pulling stuff like the Baylor finish completely out of thin air. As someone who roots for them, their games are mentally and physically exhausting. They make no sense and I love every second of it. I'm not saying you have to, but I can guarantee that you're going to miss it whenever this ride is over.

2. A classic in Ann Arbor

Speaking of games that made no sense:

Michigan beat USC 27-24 despite being outgained, out-first-downed, and throwing for a mere 32 yards. It was a game of wild second-half swings, that looked like either team was clearly going to win at different moments. In the end, though, Michigan's strength was greater than USC's strength - exemplified by one play:

I've seen a lot of "USC should've won/deserved to win" talk, and I can't say I agree. (Beyond just being a Michigan hater rooting for them to lose.) No team giving up 290 yards rushing to a non-service academy deserves to win, no matter how bad their opponents' passing game is. We can scream all we want about it not being sustainable for the rest of the season, but playing tough defense and running the ball will always be a basic formula to win - even if it ain't pretty.

3. G5 playoff race updates

• Two weeks after upsetting Notre Dame, Northern Illinois got a taste of their own medicine against Buffalo:

The Huskies' win over the Irish was a great story, but I never believed they were a true contender, and I won't be surprised if they lose 2-3 more games.

• Memphis gave up 361 yards rushing to Navy. Not great, but survivable if you do this on offense:

It's not survivable if you also let Navy throw for 200-plus:

That's how you lose 56-44 to Navy.

This loss doesn't kill the Tigers' playoff hopes, but their margin for error the rest of the way is gone. Trips to South Florida and Tulane are the only things I'm worried about on the rest of their schedule.

• Liberty needed 28 second half points to come back and beat East Carolina 35-24. The Flames are 4-0, but still haven't put together a complete game. Someone's going to catch them slipping soon.
• Boise State smashed Portland State 56-14. Memphis' loss means that they're back in the G5 driver seat for now. A late-night showdown with Washington State will be one of this week's most entertaining games.
• James Madison officially put their name in the mix after going into Chapel Hill and putting up basketball numbers on North Carolina:

(More on this game later.)