Must Win Saturday: The Matchups That Could Make or Break Teams Seasons
Heading into Week Four, some teams have separated themselves from the group while others have struggled. Starting winless or sitting at 1-2 is something no team wants to do, but for certain preseason playoff hopefuls, a shaky start could turn their whole season upside down. Florida, Notre Dame, and Clemson each find themselves in situations where this Saturday's results could determine the outcome of their season. Either staying in the playoff hunt or purely keeping hope alive, this week's matchups will be enormous for the trajectory of their season.
The Florida Gators currently sit at 1-2 with one loss being at home against South Florida, 18-16. LSU also defeated the Gators 20-10 in a game where quarterback DJ Lagway threw five interceptions. Lagway was a preseason Heisman candidate coming out of the SEC, but he has failed to prove his case. This Saturday, the Gators travel to Hard Rock Stadium for an in-state battle with number four-ranked Miami. Billy Napier'sNapier's Gators look to keep this game close and prove they can compete with the nation's top competitors.
In South Bend, the Fighting Irish look to gain their first win against Purdue. Notre Dame has faced two ranked opponents in Miami and Texas A&M, both resulting in one-score losses. Despite being winless, the Irish are still ranked 24th in the country, but another stumble might push them out of playoff contention for good. Notre Dame will look to beat Purdue convincingly and turn their season around in hopes of making the playoffs.
Over in the ACC, Clemson has a crucial matchup with Syracuse on the schedule as they look to get back in the win column. The Tigers dropped their opener to LSU and most recently lost to Georgia Tech 24-21. Cade Klubnik has struggled, throwing only three touchdowns along with three interceptions, leaving the Tigers 1-2 and searching for consistency. Clemson looks to dominate Syracuse and gain momentum to stay in the playoff hunt.
With Florida, Notre Dame, and Clemson all facing critical matchups, this Saturday could make or break each team's season. Hope remains for all three teams, but this weekend's performance could completely change that. Florida will look to upset the Hurricanes, where Notre Dame and Clemson will look to dominate their matchups and prove their legitimacy. By Sunday, each program will know if their College Football Playoff hopes are still alive and the path for the rest of the season.
