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Kansas State Runs Wild in Norman: CFB Week 4 Analysis, Reactions

Adrian Martinez ran for 148 yards and four touchdowns in an upset of No. 6 Oklahoma. The Blue Raiders and Red Raiders got big wins over Miami and Texas, respectively. And is Rocky Top back? Josh Heupel sure thinks so.

Richard Johnson

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Down goes OU. Kansas State marches into Norman and marches out with a 41-34 win. Quarterback Adrian Martinez played the game of his career in this one with 148 yards on the ground and four touchdowns to power the Wildcats to the upset victory. K-State has now taken ¾ from Oklahoma as coach Chris Kliemen shows yet again he can build something sustainable in Manhattan. For Brent Venables, the loss to his alma mater will certainly sting. 

USC escaped Corvalis with a 17-14 win. They nabbed four Beavers turnovers and they needed every single one of them, with a late pick ending a drive by the Beavers as OSU drove to potentially tie or win the game. The Trojans defense has been incredibly opportunistic all season leading Power 5 in takeaways coming in, and even led Lincoln Riley to correct a reporter in the postgame on-field interview by saying “we’ll start with the defense.” Caleb Williams and OU’s offense sputtered. Williams wasn’t good through the air, but Travis Dye’s 133 yards gave USC just enough and Williams did have at least one moment of brilliance with this dot for the go-ahead score.

But nothing on this night topped Texas A&M won 23-21 with one of the most improbable endings you’ll see, with a doink off the top of the right upright.

Rocky Top status: "Back" in the words of Josh Heupel. 

Florida did everything they could to make it a game in the end, even recovering an onside kick with the game on the line, but Tennessee rushed six on Florida’s final Hail Mary attempt and forced an errant throw to come up with the 38-33 win. Tennessee goes to 4-0 and they’re having a huge September thanks to Hendon Hooker and an explosive offense. The Vols preyed on the Gators' miscues all day and gained 8.6 yards per play and were a decisive 6-9 on third down.

Meanwhile, the U is not even remotely close to being back. The Canes lost an embarrassing game to Middle Tennessee 45-31—the Blue Raiders kneeled at the end when they could have scored to make it even worse. 

There was a true comedy of errors from Miami in this game, including three Miami turnovers and a defense that allowed pass plays of 69, 71, 89, and 98 yards, the last of which came after a goal line stop of Miami. Starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke was pulled in favor of Jake Garcia, and after two straight losses, it’s clear Miami’s got work left to do.

Texas: Also not back. 

In a 37-34 overtime loss with dueling field goals at the end of regulation, the Horns fell in Lubbock. In the end, it was a Bijan Robinson's fumble in overtime that doomed Texas, and Texas Tech hit a chip shot to win the game. 

Elsewhere: Oregon had a comeback to win 44-41 and overcome what would have been a second-straight loss. What’s clear is Washington State is going to be a tough out this season in the Pac-12.

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Richard Johnson
RICHARD JOHNSON

Richard Johnson is known for his college sports expertise. He co-hosts the “Split Zone Duo” podcast and co-authored The Sinful Seven: Sci-fi Western Legends of the NCAA. Richard was the 2022 winner of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, and previously appeared as an analyst on the SEC Network show “Thinking Out Loud.” He established an early career with ESPN and SB Nation before joining Sports Illustrated in 2021 and lives in Brooklyn.

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