SOONER WIRE The 2025 college football season marches on after a thrilling Week 3. For the Oklahoma Sooners, Week 4 means the beginning of a grueling SEC slate, as they face the Auburn Tigers, one of many teams that have looked solid in the league through the first three weeks.

It’s no stretch at all to say that Norman, Oklahoma will be the site for the biggest game of the weekend for the second time in three weeks. The storylines between War Eagle and Boomer Sooner are juicy, and if it’s anything like last year’s thriller, fans will need to buckle up.

However, Week 4 offers plenty of other great matchups in what could be a very important Saturday for many teams. As more and more conference games come into the fold, there’s no telling what can and will happen on any given Saturday.

Here are the top five college football games to watch in Week 4 1. Auburn at Oklahoma, 2:30 p.m. CT

The Tigers and the Sooners both came into 2025 with a lot to prove, and both have delivered so far, with 3-0 starts. Auburn’s first real test will be in this game, while Oklahoma was already tested in the Michigan win a couple of weeks ago. Hugh Freeze and Brent Venables have seen their hot seats cool off a bit already this year, after coaching their ways to undefeated starts.

The quarterbacks will be the talk of the town in this one, as Jackson Arnold returns to Norman to battle his replacement, John Mateer. OU notched a stirring comeback win in this matchup in 2024, and both teams believe they’re a lot better this year. It’s the SEC opener for both teams, and the highlight matchup of Week 4.

2. Illinois at Indiana, 6:30 p.m. CT

Illinois and Indiana are both trying to prove that they belong in the big boy club in the Big Ten this season, and both are off to unbeaten starts heading into the conference opener. Bret Bielema and Curt Cignetti have both done a masterful job with their respective programs, and their work will take center stage in primetime. The Fighting Illini boast an experienced roster and are led by Luke Altmeyer at quarterback. He’s a veteran who has found his home at Illinois. The Hoosiers are also led by a veteran at QB, in Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza. Both of these teams have something to prove. Illinois aims to reach the same destination as the Hoosiers did a year ago: the College Football Playoff. Meanwhile, Indiana wants to prove that 2024 wasn’t a fluke and that they’ll be a yearly member of the CFP conversation.

3. Texas Tech at Utah, 11:00 a.m. CT The Red Raiders and the Utes look like two of the best teams so far in 2025 in the new, wideopen Big 12. With a couple of preseason favorites already having stumbled, there’s an opportunity for some of the other teams to take that mantle and run with it.

Texas Tech and head coach Joey McGuire have seemingly been on the verge of contention in the Big 12 for a couple of years now, but they’ve tended to falter in games like this. Utah and head coach Kyle Whittingham have looked reborn in the early stages of this season, and that program has all the pieces in place to roll in the Big 12 when everything is clicking. Either Texas Tech’s big-money, flashy, talented roster will prevail, or Utah’s stability, toughness, and physicality will win the day in this one.

4. South Carolina at Missouri, 6:00 p.m. CT

The Gamecocks and the Tigers have been trending in opposite directions since the 2025 season began. Big expectations for South Carolina haven’t fully been realized yet, as the offense has sputtered through three weeks, culminating in a rough loss against Vanderbilt when star quarterback LaNorris Sellers was knocked out of the action mid-game. South Carolina will be facing an uphill battle on the road if Sellers can’t go in Week 4.

Meanwhile, Missouri had modest expectations coming into the year, but they’ve been ramped up after a 3-0 start that includes a win over Kansas. Beau Pribula, a transfer from Penn State, has been a good fit in the Mizzou offense, and the Tigers are a team to watch out for in the SEC. Missouri would love to win its conference opener, while simultaneously dropping South Carolina to 0-2 in league play.

5. Florida at Miami, 6:30 p.m. CT Florida and head coach Billy Napier are in desperate need of a win after dropping back-to-back games against USF and LSU. On the other hand, Miami and head coach Mario Cristobal already have two impressive wins under their belt, defeating Notre Dame and USF. This game was a blowout in 2024, as the Gators were soundly beaten at home by the Hurricanes.

In the rematch, quarterback play will be a big factor to watch. DJ Lagway was intercepted five times last week and hasn’t exactly delivered on the preseason hype he received. Meanwhile, Carson Beck has looked very comfortable to open the year, and the ‘Canes might be the team to beat in the ACC. With so much on the line, especially for the visitors, this game could go a long way towards determining how the rest of the season goes for both programs.