We are at a strange point in the college football season. Highly ranked teams such as Penn State, Indiana, USC, and Georgia have yet to play a credible opponent, yet we are 25% of the way through the regular season, so those first three games certainly mean something. Football's greatest strength is its sheer scarcity of data points; we debate the meaningfulness of each contest endlessly because so few games afford so many interpretations.

For example, is Oregon a national championship contender, or did they look inept against Oklahoma State? Was Oklahoma's 14-6 win over New Mexico a classic letdown game? In the playoff era, knee-jerk reactions are the norm, but a 12-team playoff means there is no reason to abandon hope. A year ago, Alabama lost its opener to Florida State but made the playoff. Texas lost two of its first five last season but stayed in contention.

Notre Dame opened 0-2 last season but still looked poised for the playoff. September tells us plenty of lies, but the truth emerges as we march into new seasons. Oregon heads to the Coliseum in Week 4 for a showdown with USC.

Can the Ducks turn a corner? Oklahoma will line up between the hedges for a showdown with Georgia. If the first three weeks told one story, Week 4 could easily send us down a new highway entirely. Lose to Oklahoma, and Kirby Smart will have his guys go from blocking drills to following Uga with little plastic bags.