Week 3 of the college football schedule didn't produce any surprises and, as a result, the College Football Playoff picture remains the same heading into Week 4.
Clemson, Alabama, Oklahoma and Ohio State took their shows on the road, and all won in convincing fashion. Georgia and Notre Dame tuned up for this week's top-10 showdown, and Michigan had the week off before a pivotal Big Ten game at Wisconsin.
MORE: 10 questions for CFB's top Week 4 matchups
Sporting News' breaks down the College Football Playoff picture every week. Here's a look heading into Week 4, which brings a much more palatable schedule.
College Football Playoff: Four in
1. Clemson (3-0)
Clemson routed Syracuse 41-6 in the Carrier Dome and reemphasized the belief it won't face a serious challenger in the ACC. Trevor Lawrence shook two interceptions to finish with 395 passing yards and three touchdowns. Tee Higgins (seven catches, 150 yards) and Amari Rodgers (four catches, 121 yards, two touchdowns) were brilliant, but It's the defense that has been a pleasant surprise through three games. Clemson allows just 10 points per game. Good luck, Charlotte.
2. Alabama (3-0)
Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa finished 28 of 36 passing for 444 yards and five touchdowns in a 47-23 victory against South Carolina on Saturday, but the Crimson Tide averaged 3.0 yards per carry in the victory. That's going to continue to be scrutinized over the next two weeks in home games against Southern Mississippi and Ole Miss. These are first-world problems, and Alabama is on pace for another perfect September.
3. Georgia (3-0)
Georgia defeated Arkansas State 55-0 in the late tune-up before a top-10 showdown against Notre Dame in Athens. Jake Fromm (17 of 22, 279 yards, three touchdowns) came out firing in the first half against the Red Wolves; the Irish are bound to stack the box to avoid getting pounded by an unrelenting run game. Fromm beat Notre Dame as a freshman en route to a College Football Playoff run. Can he do it again?
4. Ohio State (3-0)
The Buckeyes built a big first-half lead in Bloomington in cruising to a 51-10 victory against Indiana. The defense continues to flex around SN Preseason All-American Chase Young, who added two sacks to his season total of five. J.K. Dobbins had 22 carries for 193 yards, and 175 of those rushing yards were at halftime. The Buckeyes are the class of the Big Ten, and that should continue in Week 4 against Miami (Ohio).
MORE: OSU's defense, rushing game don't look like weaknesses
College Football Playoff: First two out
5. LSU (3-0)
The Tigers led Northwestern State 24-14 at halftime before ripping off 41 points in the second half of a 65-14 blowout. Joe Burrow hit 21 of 24 passes for 373 yards and two more touchdowns, adding a score on the ground. LSU averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, which should be a moderate concern. The Tigers close September with the SEC opener at Vanderbilt before a bye week.
6. Oklahoma (3-0)
Jalen Hurts continues to pour on the numbers. He had 289 passing yards, 150 rushing yards and four total touchdowns in a 48-14 victory at UCLA. Hurts averages 417.6 yards of total offense per game with 13 total scores through three games. He's also among the top Heisman contenders — if not the leader. Oklahoma's offense is business as usual, and the Sooners get a bye week before the Big 12 opener against Texas Tech.
MORE: Notre Dame must perfect road-game mentality
College Football Playoff: Four to watch
7. Notre Dame (3-0)
Ian Book (15 of 24, 360 yards, five touchdowns) bounced back in a 66-14 blowout against New Mexico that served as a tune-up for the showdown with Georgia. Book struggled in his first road start of the season at Louisville, but this is a program-wide opportunity for Notre Dame to flex its Playoff power. Georgia used this game to do the same in 2017. Is it the Irish's turn?
8. Auburn (3-0)
The Tigers routed Kent State 55-16, and Bo Nix finished 12 of 16 passing with 161 yards and two total touchdowns. Auburn travels to Texas A&M In Week 4 in Nix's first road start, and he'll need the support from the running game from JaTarvious Whitlow and Shaun Shivers, who each went for more than 100 yards against the Golden Flashes. So did backup quarterback Joey Gatewood. Auburn remains the chaos team in the top 10, and they can live up to the label against the Aggies.
9. Utah (3-0)
The Utes shut out Idaho State 31-0, and the defense has regained its mojo after some breakdowns against Northern Illinois. Tyler Huntley owns an 77.8 completion percentage through three weeks, and he hasn't thrown an interception. Utah travels to USC on Friday, where it is 0-7 all time. It's a pivotal Pac-12 showdown for both teams on Friday night.
10. Michigan (2-0)
Michigan had a bye week, which was filled with criticisms about the direction of the offense under new coordinator Josh Gattis and questions of whether Shea Patterson can take care of the football. The Wolverines' season turned last season with a victory against Wisconsin, and now they'll try to do it on the road. This is a prove-it game if there ever was one.
