College Football Week 4 Sees Quarterback Performances for the Ages, Rising Running Backs
COLLEGE STATION, TX – A weekend of compelling college football action culminated in standout performances from several key players, most notably a historic passing display by Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Mendoza. Mendoza threw for five touchdowns with just two incompletions in a victory against a top-10 opponent on Saturday, continuing a remarkable streak of efficiency.
Mendoza’s recent success places him in elite company. He is now one of only five Power Conference quarterbacks in the playoff era to throw for at least four touchdowns without an interception in three consecutive games. The others - Caleb Williams, CJ Stroud, Joe Burrow, and Tua Tagovailoa – have all gone on to start in the NFL, signaling Mendoza’s potential for a similar trajectory. This surge in quarterback play arrives as teams across the nation prepare for conference play, raising the stakes for playoff contention.
Elsewhere, TCU quarterback Josh Hoover delivered a dominant performance against SMU, throwing for 379 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-24 win. Over two games against ACC opponents this season, Hoover has amassed 663 passing yards and seven touchdowns, a statistic TCU’s social media team playfully acknowledged with a “thanks ACC” post on X (formerly Twitter).
On the ground, Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy continued his impressive run of form, rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a 29-20 victory over South Carolina. Hardy has now exceeded 100 rushing yards in 10 of his last 11 games, and six consecutive games dating back to his time at Louisiana-Monroe.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M’s bye week saw the Aggies engaging in unconventional fundraising efforts, reportedly selling magazines door-to-door in an attempt to offset Jimbo Fisher’s buyout.
