College football grades: Ohio State gets ‘B-‘, Missouri stuck with ‘C’ on Week 4 report card

The drudgery of facing weak out-of-conference opposition finally comes to an end next week for teams like Ohio State and Ole Miss after a series of blowout wins for both programs early in the 2024 season. The Buckeyes will open Big Ten play at Michigan State after improving to 3-0 with a 49-14 Week 4 drubbing of Marshall.

Ole Miss will host Kentucky after beating Georgia Southern 52-13. It’s an “all-in” type of season for both the Buckeyes and the Rebels as both teams went hard in the transfer portal to supplement strong returning talent cores. For that reason, we’re grading both on a championship-level curve this season.

Neither team is going to receive an automatic ‘A’ just for a blowout victory. We’re going to hold them to a higher standard. As such, it should be pointed out that Ole Miss and Ohio State finally allowed touchdowns for the first time this season in Week 4. Both starting quarterbacks also threw interceptions.

If it seems like nitpicking, it is. But when you aim to be hoisting trophies, you should welcome the scrutiny and understand that something close to perfection is expected in these buy games against overmatched foes. With that, here are the grades from Week 4 for each team with national title odds of +5000 or better.

Bye weeks: Georgia (+400 ), Alabama (+750 ), Oregon (+950)

Ohio State

Grade: B-
Title odds: +330

Ohio State beat Marshall 49-14. However, the Buckeyes’ final tune-up before the start of Big Ten play wasn’t perfect. The Thundering Herd scored touchdowns on drives of 75 and 65 yards in the first half, and quarterback Will Howard threw his first interception as a Buckeye. A B- might seem harsh, but we’re grading this team on a “national title or bust” scale. Read more from Bucknuts on Ohio State’s secondary needing to tighten up, and more. 

Texas

Grade: B+
Title odds: +500
Texas just needs to focus on getting to the Red Rivalry on Oct. 12 in one piece. Hobbled starting quarterback Quinn Ewers got the week off as the Longhorns crushed UL-Monroe 51-3. Backup Arch Manning threw a couple of interceptions but handled the offense fine in his first career start. The defense surrendered only seven first downs. Read more from Horns247 on Texas’ stifling defense, led by Anthony Hill Jr. 

Ole Miss

Grade: A-
Title odds: +1200

Ole Miss must be getting bored with this schedule. At least the Rebels finally get an SEC opponent next week as Kentucky comes to town. Even that may not be a challenge at this rate. Following Saturday’s 52-13 win over Georgia Southern, coach Lane Kiffin’s squad has outscored its opponents 220-22.

Tennessee

Miami

Penn State

Clemson

Grade: A
Title odds: +4000

Clemson led 52-7 in the third quarter before taking its foot off the gas in a 59-35 win over NC State. The offensive explosion served as further validation that the Tigers have significantly more juice than originally thought. Six of their first seven drives went for touchdowns, and they were turnover-free in an authoritative win.

Missouri

LSU

USC

Utah

Grade: B+
Title odds: +5000

Utah went to Oklahoma State without starting quarterback Cam Rising and beat one of the Big 12’s top title contenders 22-19. The Utes led 22-3 late in the fourth quarter before a late rally from the Cowboys made the final score more respectable. It wasn’t beautiful — is it ever with Utah? — but the Utes flexed on their new conference.