Rivals Roundtable: Big visits and even bigger games on deck for Week 4

The fourth major college football Saturday of the season is upon us and our recruiting analysts discuss its impact on recruiting.

Garcia: Deuce Knight to Auburn. This is the top dual-threat quarterback’s third visit to the Plains this season and the rumors of a potential flip to Hugh Freeze‘s program hit an apex long ago. Does this mean there’s something holding Knight back or that Notre Dame is in even better shape than most of us thought? Either way, it’s the SEC opener and a huge opportunity for the program after the last Power Four opponent (Cal) came to town. There’s been a quarterback change on campus, already, so selling that against a legitimate opponent could be the variance Knight has needed to see in his potential future program.

After next weekend, AU doesn’t play back at home until November — and nobody thinks this final decision from Knight will be strung out that long. If this is the last time AU hosts him before he makes the call, it could be a game-changer one way or the other.

Levenson: Deuce Geralds. There is a very real path to Oklahoma winning the recruitment of Geralds, who is taking his fourth visit to Norman overall, his third of the year. With a ranked matchup in what is being called the biggest home game since 2016 for the Sooners, they have a chance to really stand out to recruits around the country. While a commitment is not likely coming out of the weekend, it would not be surprising to see Geralds deem the Sooners as a leader if the visit goes well on both ends, regardless of victory. Brent Venables is looking to add talent in the trenches to fit their SEC needs and Geralds would be a prime candidate to do just that.

Smith: Jackson Cantwell. The five-star offensive tackle will be in Columbia this weekend visiting Missouri. Each time the 2026 prospects hit a college campus it’s a big deal. This time is no different. Missouri is among many teams chasing the blue-chip prospect and getting him back around the coaching staff is big. The Tigers are a dark horse in this race that still seems to be wide open at this point.

Spiegelman: Shamar Arnoux to Auburn. Arnoux is scheduled to get back to the Plains again, as the Tigers continue their pursuit of the USC verbal commitment. Arnoux was on campus for Big Cat Weekend and has called Auburn a major player in his recruitment to this point. Arnoux picked the Trojans over Auburn and also Florida State over the summer. Since then, Auburn has maintained a steady presence and trying to change his mind along with, a handful of other programs, such as Oregon, Colorado and Miami. In the end, it will ultimately come down to USC or Auburn, and visits like this weekend loom large.

Garcia: Oklahoma. A home underdog by more than a touchdown, most feel like Tennessee is coming to Norman for a proper welcome to SEC country. Conversely, OU has a staggering amount of star power — particularly in the junior class — coming to town to take in the potential game of the weekend. Brent Venables and company have created little hype compared to their new-to-the-SEC counterparts in Texas, so this weekend could help flip that narrative on its head. Everyone knows the SEC is a gauntlet and it’s still just September, but a Saturday evening statement win in the conference will work wonders for the faith recruits (and probably fans) have of the current regime in town. Many will have seen the pivot in person, which always carries more weight.

Levenson: Oklahoma. The Sooners will have some of the most important individual visitors on campus this weekend, so the weekend in total is in their hands. They will be hosting one of their most loaded visitor groups in years in their SEC opener. A win would do lots for their recruiting efforts but even providing an electric atmosphere and saying all the right things may be enough to grab some momentum on the trail.

Smith: Michigan. The Wolverines are in a tough position this weekend. They host USC and are a home underdog which doesn’t happen very often to that program. Sherrone Moore and his staff are hosting a big visit weekend with several 2025 commitments and 2026 priority targets coming to town. Winning the game would be excellent but it’s imperative that Michigan remain competitive in this game. The 2025 class will have coaches looking to poach from the group if things keep trending down in Ann Arbor.

Spiegelman: Few programs are as polarizing as Dabo Swinney’s. Clemson hosts NC State this weekend and included in that visitor list is four-star safety Jordan Young, making his first visit back to Death Valley since his official visit at the end of May. Programs like the Wolfpack and also Alabama have taken steps forward with Young over the summer and into the fall, and now the Rivals250 prospect has pushed back his commitment after originally planning to lock things down on Oct. 12.

If Clemson is going to climb back into this race, as they are expected to do, it begins this weekend.