5 injuries from Week 4 that will impact CFB teams heavily ft. Michigan

Injuries are unfortunately a part of football. While Week 4 brought many memorable moments, it also harmed several significant programs as major injuries could impact their seasons. Here are five injuries from Week 4 that could significantly affect the campaigns of some big-time programs.

5 injuries from Week 4 that will impact college football teams

Mississippi State QB Blake Shapen suffered a season-ending injury that further dooms the struggling Bulldogs. (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

5. Blake Shapen/Mississippi State

A transfer from Baylor, Shapen was the trigger man for Jeff Lebby's struggling Bulldogs. They are just 1-3 this season but Shapen isn't to blame. He has completed 68.5% of his passes for 974 yards with eight touchdowns and just one interception.

Freshman Michael Van Buren is expected to be the next guy up. State was already at the bottom of the SEC but losing their veteran QB makes that even clearer moving forward.

4. Cam Rising/Utah

Rising is notoriously prone to injuries and has been slow to heal from a hand injury. Coach Kyle Whittingham held Rising out of Utah's Week 4 game because he was unable to have enough velocity on his throws. So far this season, Rising has thrown just 29 passes while backup Isaac Wilson has thrown 82.

Utah has been fortunate to survive without Rising as they remain undefeated (4-0), but they will certainly need the veteran passer down the Big 12 stretch run.

3. Matthew Sluka/UNLV

Sure, the injury in this case appears to be hurt feelings, but the loss of Sluka is anything but a joke. Sluka has decided to sit out and redshirt after UNLV's 3-0 start. Per reports, there is an issue about supposed broken promises on the NIL front.

Sluka is an unusual player. While he has completed just 43.8% of his passes this season, he has six touchdown passes. Sluka has also rushed for a team-high 253 yards. A run-heavy Holy Cross transfer, Sluka is difficult to replace. Backups Cameron Friel or Hajj-Malik Williams will compete for the job.

2. Harold Perkins/LSU

The Tigers had some major questions on defense heading into 2024. Hiring Missouri coordinator Blake Baker to run the defense was a big move, but even with Perkins, LSU is currently 14th in the SEC in scoring defense (24.5 ppg) and total defense (358.8 yards per game).

Perkins' 16 tackles are tied for fourth-most on the team and without his experience and leadership, it will make life even tougher for LSU, starting against South Alabama this week.

1. Colston Loveland/Michigan

Admittedly, Loveland wasn't injured during the Week 4 game but in the lead-up to it. Loveland missed the matchup against USC and is likely to miss the Week 5 game versus Minnesota.

Michigan's passing game has struggled mightily and Loveland was an impact player there. A season ago, he had 45 catches for 649 yards. Without him, Michigan's run-first QB Alex Orji passed for just 32 total yards against USC. Getting Loveland back would give him a significant weapon to deploy.

Which of the above injuries concern you most? Share your thoughts below in our comments section!