It was the most maddening weekend of the season thus far, as several teams played sloppy, undisciplined football, and the result of that was a mess of a scoreboard that in many cases made no sense. Here are my grades for week 4:
AAC
PASS: East Carolina, USF, Tulane, UCF, SMU
East Carolina: The Pirates got a much needed win on the road, and it's their first of the season.
USF: Now there's the dominant Bulls that we were looking for! 43-7 was what the doctor ordered!
Tulane: Willie Fritz needed a big win, and it came against Army. Green Wave grew up this week.
UCF: This is a team that needs to be feared in AAC play after a 38-10 thrashing of Maryland.
SMU: Mustangs get a huge bounce back win over Arkansas State, and now look to make a move.
INCOMPLETE: Navy, Memphis
Navy: Middies got the offense moving, but the defense was a mess against a bad Cincy club.
Memphis: Tigers playing just well enough to win against FCS Southern Illinois, and looked bad.
FAIL: U Conn, Temple, Houston, Tulsa, Cincinnati
U Conn: Huskies are failing to get anything going in 2017, lose to East Carolina at home.
Temple: It's obvious that the Owls are done in the AAC race, and could spiral from here.
Houston: Loss to Texas Tech was a lack of effort and heart.
Tulsa: Losing to UNM was a bad look, as nothing worked on the day.
Cincinnati: Bearcats had best offensive game, but are still a royal mess.
ACC
PASS: Virginia, Clemson, NC State, Virginia Tech, Miami, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Duke
Virginia: Not many believed me this week when I took the Cavs to cover, but they did, and won!
Clemson: The Tigers are now, by far, the class of the ACC, and nobody is close.
NC State: Pack leads start to finish in win over Florida State on the road.
Virginia Tech: Hokies cruised over ACC punching bag Old Dominion in easy win.
Miami: Canes got a big challenge from Toledo, but pass it with mostly flying colors.
Louisville: Cardinals cruised over hapless Kent State, but so does America.
Georgia Tech: Yellowjackets get big road win over Pitt, may be a dark horse now.
Duke: Devils have bounced back and get huge win over Carolina, may be surprise team of '17.
INCOMPLETE: Syracuse, Wake Forest
Syracuse: Orange may have played one of their better games of the season, but come up short at LSU
Wake Forest: Deacons escape App State with the win, but may have been exposed in process.
FAIL: Boston College, Florida State, Pittsburgh, North Carolina
Boston College: Steve Addazio looks done after back to back to back blowout losses.
Florida State: You cannot tell me all of the issues are because of Francois injury.
Pittsburgh: Never thought it would be a great year, but this is pretty bad.
North Carolina: Fraudora is finally getting figured out, and Carolina is abysmal.
Big 12
PASS: TCU, West Virginia, Texas Tech
TCU: The Frogs had a game plan to attack Oklahoma State, and executed it perfectly for huge win.
West Virginia: Defense is still sloppy, but they win by 22 at Kansas, and managed to cover.
Texas Tech: Kingsbury needed this win in the worst of ways, and may be saving his job.
INCOMPLETE: Oklahoma
Oklahoma: Baylor got in their head during pre-game, and Sooners played flat all day on both sides.
FAIL: Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas
Baylor: Moral victories do not count in the Big 12, and that's all it was for Baylor against Sooners.
Oklahoma State: You cannot turn over the football and expect to win against determined TCU.
Kansas: Does anyone still believe that Beaty has this team headed in the right direction?
Big 10
PASS: Penn State, Michigan, Indiana
Penn State: Lions passed the challenge that is "Kinnick After Dark", show major resiliency in win.
Michigan: Wolverines could have folded when Speight got hurt, but showed grit in Purdue win.
Indiana: Hoosiers got off to a great start against bad Georgia Southern team, win in blowout.
INCOMPLETE: Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska
Iowa: Hawkeyes showed major guts, lose heart breaker, but still win with the Hospital Wave!
Ohio State: Buckeyes jumped on UNLV early, but laid up, and showed discipline issues late.
Nebraska: I thought the Huskers would play more inspired this week, but I guess I am a loon.
FAIL: Purdue, Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan State
Purdue: Boilers had a real shot against Michigan, but left it on the ground in loss.
Maryland: Terps play worst game against G5 opponent in UCF.
Rutgers: Knights had a shot to make some noise against drooping Huskers, but fail to push hard.
Michigan State: Spartans answer bug question about where they are in 20 point loss to ND.
Conference USA
PASS: Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, FIU, UTSA
Western Kentucky: Toppers starting to look like themselves again in win over Ball State.
Middle Tennessee: Richie James and Brent Stockstill were banged up, Raiders still get win.
FIU: Butch Davis needed a big win for his Panthers , and he got a good one.
UTSA: Frank Wilson is moving the Roadrunners into contention in West.
INCOMPLETE: North Texas
North Texas: Despite win, Eagles almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory with D implosion.
FAIL: Old Dominion, Louisiana Tech, Charlotte, UAB, FAU, Rice, UTEP
Old Dominion: Monarchs have been kicked in the groin by ACC two weeks running.
Louisiana Tech: Bulldogs get a fail simply for not pulling out winnable game against South Carolina.
Charlotte: Again, why are they playing FBS football?
UAB: Almost rallied to win over UNT, but why were they down so big so early?
FAU: Owls are a mess in loss to Buffalo.
Rice: Another group of Owls who didn't show up this week.
MAC
PASS: Ohio, Miami (Oh), Western Michigan, Buffalo
Ohio: Bobcats get a much needed road win over Eastern Michigan to get back on track.
Miami (Ohio): Chuck Martin needed this win, or the Hawks start to spiral.
Western Michigan: Did what they had to do in beating up on FCS Wagner.
Buffalo: Defense suffered some, but offense had another key development day in win over FAU.
INCOMPLETE: None
FAIL: Toledo, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green
Toledo: Rockets defense has allowed 50 or more in two straight weeks (both losses).
Kent State: It's season over for the Flashes, who are flashing no talent whatsoever.
Eastern Michigan: Eagles had the home win, and then they didn't.
Central Michigan: Chippewas are all over the place this season, and could sink fast from here.
Akron: Any offense would be good, but there is none to be had.
Ball State: Cardinals are struggling to gain consistency, fall apart in WKU loss.
Bowling Green: Falcons are grounded yet again, and are now 0-4.
Mountain West
PASS: San Diego State, New Mexico, Utah State
San Diego State: Aztecs survive a monsoon, and several late pushes by Falcons to survive.
New Mexico: Lobos string promise from late in Boise loss to win at Tulsa.
Utah State: Aggies needed a win, but destroyed San Jose State 61-10 on road. Much needed.
INCOMPLETE: Wyoming
Wyoming: Cowboys are barely surviving week to week in wins, and last night was no different.
FAIL: Boise State, UNLV, Nevada, Air Force, San Jose State, Hawaii
Boise State: Harsin's kids are flat out of energy, and Rypien has Cozart in his head.
UNLV: Rebels showed life in garbage time, but were awful when it mattered.
Nevada: A week after losing to Idaho State, Pack gets demolished by Washington State.
Air Force: Falcons had SDSU on the ropes, but let them get up and fight.
San Jose State: Spartans are done now after 51 point home loss to USU.
Hawaii: Warriors had their shots on the road, but could not get it done against Wyoming in OT.
PAC-12
PASS: USC, Washington, Washington State, Arizona State, Stanford
USC: Trojans did what I expected them to on the road, pulled away late to beat Cal.
Washington: Huskies continue to be dialed in against Buffs in 27 point road win.
Arizona State: Graham needed this win desperately, Ducks oblige.
Stanford: Desperate Cardinal gets all of the pieces going in big win over UCLA.
INCOMPLETE: Utah
Utah: Utes tried like hell to let Arizona come back and steal the game, somehow win anyway.
FAIL: Arizona, California, Colorado, Oregon, UCLA
Arizona: Wildcats held to season low rushing, and Brandon Dawkins gave game away late.
California: You have to play four quarters to beat USC, and the Bears failed to do it.
Colorado: Buffs still nowhere near Washington, and it showed in a huge way last night.
Oregon: Penalties, bad defense continue to plague Ducks at the worst time.
UCLA: Bruins are a mess on defense, and can't tackle anyone, while offense is inconsistent.
SEC
PASS: Alabama, Georgia, Auburn, Florida
Alabama: Tide continues to roll on as they have now beaten SEC East teams 19 straight times.
Georgia: Bulldogs pass major test at home in 31-3 win over Miss. State, take aim at East now.
Auburn: Malzahn needed a dominant win, and Missouri took care of it for him.
Florida: Gators still have not lost to Kentucky since I was in high school.
INCOMPLETE: None
FAIL: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Missouri, LSU, Texas A&M, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina
Kentucky: Two times you should make sure you cover everyone on the field, and they failed.
Vanderbilt: So much for that hot start, as reality sets in over Nashville.
Mississippi State: Figured there would be a hangover after the LSU win, but that was awful.
Missouri: Tigers are sinking like a rock, and there are no answers.
LSU: They may have beaten Syracuse, but the Orange exposed more flaws in LSU.
Texas A&M: Can't win in a shootout every week, and this one was just a mess.
Arkansas: Same as my A&M comment, as the Razorbacks need to start coach shopping.
Tennessee: Needed an impressive win, barely survived against an undermanned U Mass team.
South Carolina: Offense has been a hot mess for two weeks now after barely beating La. Tech.
Sun Belt
PASS: Idaho, ULM, Georgia State
Idaho: Vandals needed a big win in conference play, got one over USA in OT.
ULM: Warhawks are playing inspired football this season, but defense needs to tighten up.
Georgia State: Panthers beat Charlotte, as a loss would have meant that all was lost.
INCOMPLETE: Appalachian State, Troy,
Appalachian State: Always the bridesmaid, as the Mountaineers come up short on P5 school again.
Troy: Despite a win over Akron, the Trojans offense still is not clicking entirely. Could be an issue.
FAIL: South Alabama, Georgia Southern, Louisiana, Arkansas State
South Alabama: Jags are completely behind eight ball after loss to Idaho, and season could be over.
Georgia Southern: Another step towards the Tyson Summers firing party.
Louisiana: Ragin' Cajuns stump another game away, as Hudspeth gets closer to being done.
Arkansas State: Offense never got out of the gate this week in 23 point loss to SMU.
Independents
PASS: Notre Dame
Notre Dame: Irish passes major test on the road by crushing Michigan State, looks to be in good spot.
INCOMPLETE: None
FAIL: Army, U Mass, Coastal Carolina
Army: Cadets take a bad loss to Tulane on the road, and are now on an official skid.
U Mass: Had a shot to take a massive high profile win this week, but could not get it done late.
Coastal Carolina: Growing pains are in full effect after blowout loss to FCS Western Illinois.
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