Every Saturday, Matt Hayes, a senior national college football writer, examines four hot topics and presents a 12-team College Football Playoff bracket.

First Down: Michigan’s Return to Bully Ball

Kalel Mullings powered through defenders with forceful, relentless runs.

They echoed all the way to Columbus, Ohio.

On Saturday, Michigan reestablished its style with a tough 27-24 victory over No. 12 Southern California in a gritty Big Ten match. But let’s explore further.

This wasn’t merely an upset against the champions; it represented a renewed emphasis on a formidable running game, sending a clear message to Ohio State.

While Michigan dealt with tough contests against Texas and USC in the first month, Ohio State breezed through three easy games, almost without effort.

In case Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten imagined that Michigan had strayed off course after dominating the conference for three years, the game-winning drive against USC dispelled that idea.

The decisive 10-play drive featured eight carries from Mullings: 4 yards, 63, 1, 8, 2, 3, 2, 1, culminating in an 89-yard march where Michigan confidently applied their physical style with four minutes to go.

The drive culminated with Mullings powering through on fourth-and-goal from the one-yard line, scoring the winning points with 29 seconds left. How commanding was that drive?

Mullings’ electrifying 63-yard run, where he pulled along USC cornerback John Humphrey for a portion of the distance, was the highlight. It became apparent to USC coach Lincoln Riley that his defense was unable to halt Michigan’s rushing attack, prompting him to start using timeouts to manage the clock.

Michigan racked up 290 rushing yards along with three touchdowns on 46 carries, leaving no uncertainty regarding their trajectory for the remainder of the season.

Tennessee: The Mighty Orange Defense Halts Oklahoma

Though they lost focus in the fourth quarter, the score of Tennessee’s significant road win in the SEC doesn’t fully depict the physical toll taken on the field.

What stands out is Tennessee’s elite defensive capabilities.

Oklahoma could have played double the duration without matching Tennessee’s complete team performance. The Volunteers are no longer solely defined by coach Josh Heupel’s high-speed offense.

The defense is starting to resemble the formidable SEC defenses from past College Football Playoff seasons. Tennessee clinched a 25-15 victory at Oklahoma, featuring two forced fumbles, an interception, a safety, and 11 tackles for loss.

It was reminiscent of Tennessee’s past elite defenses.

Saturday’s game demonstrated that Tennessee has transitioned from an offense-only mentality to a team that can win through both scoring and a solid defense.

How impressive was the defense? Tennessee’s offense had turnovers at crucial positions, yet the contest remained comfortably in their control.

Oklahoma’s ground game managed only 36 yards on 34 carries, and their passing game was ineffective at critical moments. Quarterback Jackson Arnold’s performance led to him being replaced late in the first half in favor of freshman Michael Hawkins Jr.

Tennessee’s defensive line mirrors the elite squads from the late 1990s under coach Phil Fulmer. They exhibit athleticism and consistency, dictating the flow of opposing offenses.

By the game’s end, Heupel maintained his winning streak at Oklahoma: 10 victories as a player and now another as a head coach.

Third Down: Utah’s Assertion

A significant clash in the Big 12 highlighted Utah’s introduction of its customary grit and determination to the new league.

A tough team that pulls out all the stops to secure victories.

They played nearly flawlessly on the road with a backup quarterback stepping in for an injured star, even employing a tight end in the Wildcat formation for a touchdown.

Utah’s defense, their hallmark, overpowered Oklahoma State in a crucial conference game with significant implications for the College Football Playoff landscape.

In a commanding display, Utah built a 22-3 lead with six minutes remaining, limiting Oklahoma State to just 158 total yards. Toward the end, Utah eased off the pressure to prevent any major plays, escaping Stillwater with a narrow 22-19 victory.

“We made it a lot more dramatic than necessary,” remarked Utah coach Kyle Whittingham post-game.

Consider this: Utah has already secured a win against one of the two teams capable of challenging them and won’t face the other, Kansas State, unless they meet in the Big 12 championship.

In fact, Utah is likely to welcome back their star quarterback Cam Rising in the coming week.

After their game against Arizona, they will likely be favored in all upcoming matches. The toughest challenges ahead seem to be a home contest against Iowa State on November 23 and a road battle at Central Florida on November 29.

Fourth Down: The Emergence of Vanderbilt?

Diego Pavia truly deserves more than what he’s faced. He deserves more than a miss on a straightforward field goal that led to an overtime defeat against Missouri.

He deserves more than the Vanderbilt defense crumbling in the final minute last week against Georgia State, allowing a 75-yard touchdown drive in just 55 seconds to lose the game.

Vanderbilt – yes, you read that right, Vanderbilt – could have been 4-0, and we ought to be celebrating the most significant transfer quarterback of 2024 rather than grieving about the same old Vanderbilt.

More significant than Dillon Gabriel, Will Howard, or Riley Leonard, all of whom joined teams already poised for championships. Pavia has transformed one of the weakest teams in a Power Four conference into a respectable contender.

If not for a missed 31-yard field goal against Missouri, Vanderbilt might have achieved another notable upset against Virginia Tech early this season, thanks to the quarterback who recently gained attention for surprising antics on a rival school’s practice field.

Pavia helped New Mexico State secure 10 wins in 2023, which included a notable 21-point victory over Auburn. He joined Vandy after former coach Jerry Kill became part of Clark Lea’s coaching team and has quickly changed how the Commodores approach their offense.

In just four games, Pavia has contributed to 75.2 percent of Vanderbilt’s entire output, throwing for 543 yards with four touchdowns and rushing for 279 yards with an additional two touchdowns. The Commodores now have a week off before they face another chance for an upset.

They will go up against the powerful Alabama on October 5.

The College Football Playoff Structure

Four champions from power conferences ranked 1-4 will receive first-round byes, along with the highest-ranked Group of Five conference champion, and seven at-large bids.

(1) Texas

(2) Ohio State

(3) Miami

(4) Utah

(12) Boise State vs. (5) Georgia

(11) Kansas State vs. (6) Alabama

(10) Missouri vs. (7) Tennessee

(9) Oregon vs. (8) Ole Miss

Matt Hayes serves as the senior national college football writer for YSL News Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB