The senior running back turned in a career day for a second straight week, rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 win over No. 11 USC to open Big Ten play on Saturday. Michigan improves to 3-1 to start the season under new coach Sherrone Moore.

There are highs and lows every week in college football. The winners and losers for Week 4 start with Southern California's loss to Michigan.

The college football standings are getting extremely close through the first four weeks of the season. Both in real life and in our picks against the spread.

The Wolverines grinded out a win over the Trojans, plus the rest of the weekend’s most notable winners and losers so far.

However, the Michigan football coaches did just that. Sherrone Moore installed Alex Orji as the starting quarterback, deciding that running (and protecting) the football was much more important than having someone who could make throws downfield -- which occasionally ended up in the hands of someone wearing the wrong uniform.

Michigan football had limped into Week 4, not having a resounding victory to its name and with a one in the loss column after the Week 2 defeat to Texas. Saturday brought an opportunity to right those wrongs with No.

This is The Athletic’s daily sports newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Pulse directly in your inbox. Good morning! Much to remember from the 21st night of September. Onward: Even as the NFL bends itself to caveman-football enthusiast Jim Harbaugh’s will,