Week four has come and gone, and now its time to power rank! All 138 teams, top to bottom! And we've taken retro to the extreme... every helmet below was worn on the field by that team at one point. They all have one thing in common... each was our pick as the coolest helmet the team has ever sported!
- 138. Sacramento State (1-4)
136. Ball State (1-3)
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134. Northern Illinois (0-4)
Lost to GSU 35-14
129. Utah State (1-3)
Beat Troy 21-10
128. Middle Tennessee (2-1)
Lost to Jax St 23-13
126. Kent State (2-2)
Beat Ball St 26-13
125. Akron (1-3)
Lost to UNLV 38-10
124. New Mexico State (1-3)
Lost to New Mexico 42-18
123. Rice (1-3)
Lost to Fresno St 38-24
122. Eastern Michigan (2-3)
Beat Lindenwood 29-3
121. Buffalo (2-2)
Beat RMU 31-28
120. UAB (2-2)
Beat Navy 24-20
119. San Jose State (2-2)
Bye
117. Coastal Carolina (1-2)
Bye
115. Central Michigan (2-2)
Lost to Miami 52-3
113. Liberty (2-1)
Bye
112. FIU (2-2)
Beat LIU 20-3
111. Kennesaw State (1-2)
Lost to ASU 17-14
110. Delaware (2-2)
Lost to Virginia 42-3
109. Louisiana Tech (1-2)
Bye
108. Nevada (1-3)
Lost to AFA 36-33
107. Arkansas State (2-2)
Beat Kennesaw St 17-14
106. Georgia State (3-1)
Beat NIU 35-14
105. Wyoming (2-2)
Beat Hawaii 27-10
104. UConn (2-2)
Lost to Miami 24-21
103. Ohio (2-2)
Beat Stonehill 35-7
102. Georgia Southern (1-3)
Lost to Houston 42-28
101. Marshall (3-1)
Beat GWU 36-35
100. Temple (1-3)
Lost to Army 17-14
99. Jacksonville State (3-2)
Beat MTSU 23-13
Jacksonville State broke a 13–13 tie with 10 unanswered points to put away Middle Tennessee 23–13 and open C-USA play with a win. After starting 1–2, the Gamecocks have won two straight and seem to be finding their footing.
98. Oregon State (2-2)
Beat UTEP 33-7
Oregon State has quietly righted the ship, following the 0–2 start with back-to-back blowout wins, including a 33–7 pounding of UTEP on the road. The Beavers aren't back in the big-boy conversation yet, but they're starting to look a hell of a lot healthier than they did two weeks ago.
Beat SD State 41-16
Toledo followed that insane comeback over Temple by absolutely hammering San Diego State 41–16. Three straight wins now, and the Rockets are starting to look like a team that could be a real problem in the MAC.
96. Appalachian State (3-1)
Lost to NC State 41-31
App State nearly erased a 21-point deficit at NC State, tying it late before the Wolfpack pulled away for a 41–31 win. The unbeaten run is over, but going into Raleigh and making NC State sweat until the final minutes doesn't hurt the Mountaineers much in my book.
95. Washington State (1-3)
Lost to Arizona 34-24
Washington State jumped all over Arizona 14–0, but couldn't make it stick and eventually fell 34–24. The Cougars keep showing enough fight to be interesting, but at 1–3, moral victories aren't moving them up the board.
94. Old Dominion (1-2)
Lost JMU 46-20
Old Dominion got jumped early by James Madison and never really recovered, falling 46–20 at home for its third straight loss. The Monarchs have had a rough schedule, but 1–3 is 1–3 — and JMU showed there's still a pretty sizable gap between these two programs.
93. San Diego State (1-3)
Lost to Toledo 41-16
San Diego State scored first at Toledo, then got absolutely run over the rest of the way in a 41–16 loss. Three straight losses later, including two by 20-plus, and the Aztecs are sliding in a hurry.
92. Troy (2-2)
Lost to USU 21-10
Troy followed a respectable showing at Missouri by laying an egg against previously winless Utah State, falling 21–10. The Trojans have shown they can hang with good teams, but losing this one makes them awfully hard to figure out.
91. Colorado State (1-3)
Lost to UTSA 59-45
Colorado State jumped out 14–0 in less than two minutes at UTSA — and somehow wound up losing 59–45. The offense can clearly play, but after giving up 100 points over the last two weeks, that Rams defense is becoming a serious problem.
90. UMass (4-0)
Beat Sac St 35-6
Okay, UMass is 4–0. The Minutemen went all the way to Sacramento and smoked the Hornets 35–6, continuing what has to be one of the strangest starts in college football. After winning one game in each of the last two seasons, this is officially no longer just a cute story.
89. Boston College (2-2)
Lot to VT 21-14
Boston College had unbeaten Virginia Tech down 14–6 in the fourth before letting it slip away, 21–14, in absolutely miserable weather. The Eagles are only 2–2, but hanging with the Hokies in a damn nor’easter isn't exactly something to be ashamed of.
88. Hawaii (1-3)
Lost to Wyoming 27-10
Hawaii never found much rhythm at Wyoming, falling 27–10 and dropping to 1–3. The Warriors have shown flashes, but one win through four games — and an 0–2 Mountain West start — is pretty much what it looks like.
87. Navy (1-2)
Lost to UAB 24-20
Navy had the lead in the fourth quarter at UAB, but two late fumbles turned a winnable game into a 24–20 loss. At 1–2 the Mids have some work to do, but they were better than the final result — now it's on to Air Force.
86. Fresno State (3-1)
Beat Rice 38-24
Fresno State needed a half to get going, but once it did, the Bulldogs took control and pulled away from Rice 38–24. Three straight wins since getting obliterated by USC — Fresno State has recovered pretty damn well from opening night.
Lost to Boise St 32-7
Western Michigan was simply outclassed by Boise State, trailing 32–0 before finally scoring in the final minute of a 32–7 loss. At 2–2, the Broncos have beaten the teams they should but are hard to figure.
84. Texas State (2-2)
Beat Incarnate Word 63-10
Texas State followed that impressive North Texas win by absolutely burying Incarnate Word 63–10, with nine different Bobcats finding the end zone. After starting 0–2, they've suddenly won two straight and look like a completely different football team.
83. Tulsa (3-1)
Lost to Arkansas 34-6
Tulsa's unbeaten start came to a screeching halt at Arkansas, where the Golden Hurricane got smacked 34–6 and never really made it a game. The Oklahoma State win still gives them something to hang their hat on, but this was a pretty serious reality check.
82. Miami (Ohio) (2-2)
Beat UConn 24-21
Miami dug itself a 14–0 hole against UConn, then battled all the way back for a 24–21 win despite losing David McComb late. After nearly knocking off unbeaten Cincinnati last week, the RedHawks are starting to look a whole lot better than that 2–2 record suggests.
81. East Carolina (2-2)
Beat NC Central 42-9
ECU took care of business against NC Central, exploding for 35 points in the second quarter on the way to a 42–9 win. After an 0–2 start, the Pirates have won two straight and suddenly things don't look nearly as bleak in Greenville.
80. Tulane (2-2)
Beat USM 24-21
Tulane needed every last bit of this one, rallying in the fourth to escape rival Southern Miss 24–21 — including a blocked chip-shot field goal that would've tied it late. The Green Wave haven't been especially convincing, but winning the Battle for the Bell beats explaining how you lost it.
79. UNLV (2-2)
Beat Akron 38-10
UNLV desperately needed a bounce-back after getting embarrassed by North Texas, and a 38–10 road win at Akron did the job. The Rebels looked much more like themselves in the second half, but that 44–6 loss still makes them a tough team to trust.
78. Air Force (2-1)
Beat Nevada 36-33
Air Force needed double overtime to survive Nevada 36–33, but a road win is a road win. The Falcons have been living dangerously since the opener, and next week's Commander-in-Chief showdown with Navy should tell us a little more.
77. Army (2-1)
Beat Temple 17-14
Army needed a late touchdown drive to escape Temple 21–17, but that's pretty much Army football — grind away and make the last possession count. The Black Knights aren't overwhelming anybody, but after the heartbreaking USF loss, they've steadied themselves nicely.
76. Syracuse (1-2)
Bye
Georgia Tech led Stanford 20–10 at halftime, then completely fell apart as the Cardinal ripped off 24 straight in a 34–27 loss. At 1–3, with a loss to a Stanford team that Miami and Duke both destroyed, the Yellow Jackets are becoming one of the season's bigger disappointments.
74. Stanford (2-2)
Beat GT 34-27
Well, where the hell did that come from? After getting blown out by Miami and Duke, Stanford turned around and stunned Georgia Tech 34–27 for its first ACC win of the year. The Cardinal still have plenty to prove, but beating a good Tech team changes the conversation a little.
73. Purdue (1-3)
Purdue never had a chance against Notre Dame, falling behind 35–0 by halftime on the way to a 49–10 beating. Three straight losses later, the Boilermakers are looking every bit like a team headed for another long season.
Lost to Baylor 23-13
Colorado fought back from 13–3 down to tie Baylor in the fourth, only to immediately give the lead right back and fall 23–13. After getting smoked by Northwestern last week, two straight losses have taken a lot of the shine off that 2–0 start.
71. TCU (2-2)
70. Maryland (2-2)
Lost to UCLA 54-3
Maryland didn't just lose to UCLA — it got obliterated 54–3 at home, turning the ball over repeatedly and offering almost nothing offensively. After a 2–0 start, back-to-back losses to Virginia Tech and UCLA have sent the Terps crashing back to reality.
69. FAU (3-1)
Beat ULM 45-17
68. North Dakota State (4-0)
Bye
67. North Texas (2-2)
Beat HCU 63-14
North Texas bounced back from the Texas State loss by absolutely unloading on Houston Christian, 63–14. The Mean Green have been wildly inconsistent, but when this offense gets rolling, they can put up points in a hurry.
Beat CSU 59-45
UTSA spotted Colorado State 14 points in the opening two minutes, then responded with 35 straight and eventually won the shootout 59–45. At 3–1 with the only loss coming at No. 1 Texas, the Roadrunners are quietly putting together a pretty damn good start.
65. Rutgers (1-3)
Beat Howard 58-7
Rutgers finally got off the mat, absolutely pounding Howard 58–7 for its first win of the season. It's only Howard, so let's not get carried away — but after an 0–3 start, the Scarlet Knights desperately needed a night where something went right.
Lost to Utah 31-17
Iowa State dug itself a 24–3 halftime hole against Utah, then showed some life before falling 31–17 at home. The Cyclones aren't bad, but losses to Iowa and Utah have made 2–2 feel about right for where this team is.
63. Michigan State (2-2)
Lost to Nebraska 31-13
Michigan State has now dropped two straight, and Nebraska controlled this one pretty comfortably in a 31–13 loss at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans aren't awful, but after losses to Notre Dame and Nebraska, they're looking a whole lot more middle-of-the-Big-Ten than contender.
62. USF (4-0)
Beat Bowling Green 14-6
USF was downright ugly for three quarters at winless Bowling Green, then finally woke up and scored twice in the fourth to escape 14–6. The Bulls are 4–0 for the first time since 2018, but this one definitely falls under “survive it and never speak of it again.”
61. James Madison (4-0)
Beat ODU 46-20
James Madison keeps rolling, going into Old Dominion and handling its rival 46–20 to stay perfect. At 4–0 with two straight road wins, the Dukes are starting to look awfully misplaced this far down the rankings.
60. Kansas (1-2)
Bye
59. California (2-2)
Lost to Clemson 24-10
Cal's defense gave them every chance against Clemson, but the offense never found the end zone in a 24–10 loss. At 2–2, the Bears look competitive enough to hang around with good teams — they just need an offense capable of doing something with it.
58. UCF (3-1)
Beat TCU 21-13
UCF's defense forced the mistakes and made them count in a 21–13 win over TCU to open Big 12 play. The Pitt loss keeps the Knights down here for now, but at 3–1 they're starting to look like a team that could make some noise in the conference.
57. New Mexico (3-1)
Beat NM State 42-18
New Mexico followed its surprisingly close loss at Oklahoma by hammering rival New Mexico State 42–18 in Las Cruces. The Lobos are 3–1, and that eight-point loss in Norman is starting to look less like a fluke and more like evidence that this is a pretty good football team.
56. Baylor (3-1)
Beat Colorado 23-13
Baylor wasn't especially pretty, but the defense and special teams carried the load in a 23–13 win over Colorado. Three straight wins since the one-point Auburn loss, and the Bears are quietly starting to put together a pretty respectable season.
55. Florida State (2-2)
Beat Central Arkansas 34-7
Florida State got the reset it needed, jumping all over Central Arkansas early and cruising 34–7 after back-to-back losses. Beating an FCS team doesn't answer many questions, but at 2–2 the Seminoles can at least head back into ACC play moving in the right direction.
54. North Carolina (2-1)
Bye
52. West Virginia (3-1)
Lost to OSU 41-24
West Virginia had Oklahoma State down 21–13 early in the second half, then watched the Cowboys completely take over in a 41–24 loss. The 3–0 start and Virginia win got our attention, but giving up 28 second-half points was a pretty abrupt return to earth.
Lost to Cincinnati 31-26
Kansas State led unbeaten Cincinnati 17–10 at halftime, but the defense couldn't hold up as the Bearcats took over after the break and won 31–26. The Wildcats are still a good team, but blowing a road lead in their first real test puts a little dent in that 3–0 start.
50. Cincinnati (4-0)
Beat Kansas St 31-26
Cincinnati erased another halftime deficit and knocked off previously unbeaten Kansas State 31–26 to move to 4–0. The Bearcats keep making things harder than necessary, but at some point undefeated is undefeated — and Cincinnati deserves some attention.
49. Arkansas (2-2)
Beat Tulsa 34-6
Arkansas badly needed something positive after getting hammered by Utah and Georgia, and a 34–6 win over previously unbeaten Tulsa will certainly do. The Hogs aren't fixed yet, but for one Saturday they finally looked like the team they hoped they'd be.
Lost to WF 30-27
Louisville followed a big win over SMU by turning around and losing 30–27 at home to Wake Forest. Both losses are by three points, but at 2–2 the Cardinals are starting to look like a talented team that just can't quite get out of its own way.
47. Memphis (3-1)
Bye
46. Arizona State (2-1)
Bye
45. Boise State (3-1)
Arizona spotted Washington State a 14–0 lead before waking up and taking control for a 34–24 road win. The BYU loss still hangs around, but the Wildcats have responded well — and Noah Fifita can still make this team pretty damn dangerous.
43. Clemson (3-1)
Beat Cal 24-10
Clemson wasn't spectacular at Cal, but the defense dominated and the Tigers eventually pulled away for a 24–10 road win. They're quietly putting that opening loss to LSU behind them — and next week's Miami game will tell us whether Clemson is really back in the national conversation.
42. Illinois (2-2)
Lost to Ohio St 42-19
Illinois moved the ball better than the 42–19 score suggests, but Ohio State simply had too much firepower for them to keep pace. At 2–2 with losses to Duke and Ohio State, the Illini haven't done much yet to justify putting them any higher.
41. Oklahoma (2-2)
Lost to UGA 41-13
Oklahoma got exposed at Georgia, falling 41–13 and dropping to 2–2 with losses in both of its real tests. At some point the name on the helmet stops mattering — the reality is that right now, the Sooners are a very average football team.
40. Northwestern (2-1)
Lost to Indiana 29-23
Northwestern gave defending champion Indiana everything it could handle, rallying from 12 down before falling 29–23 in Bloomington. The Wildcats lost, but this performance probably raised their stock more than either of their wins did.
39. Missouri (3-1)
Lost to Mississippi St 31-24
Missouri fought back from an early 14–0 hole and actually took the lead, but couldn't finish the job in Starkville, falling 31–24. A respectable road loss, but the Tigers had their chance to make a statement and let it slip away late.
38. SMU (3-1)
Beat Mo State 34-24
SMU survived a surprisingly ugly night against Missouri State, digging out of an early hole to win 34–24. The Mustangs are 3–1, but after the Louisville loss and this struggle, they aren't looking nearly as scary as we expected.
37. Michigan (3-1)
Lost to Iowa 20-19
Michigan had Iowa beaten, but red-zone mistakes and one disastrous final drive turned it into a 20–19 heartbreaker at the Big House. The Wolverines still look dangerous, but letting Iowa go 91 yards for the winning touchdown with the game on the line is going to sting.
36. Washington (3-1)
Lost to Minnesota 27-24
Washington's unbeaten start is over after Minnesota came into Husky Stadium and escaped with a 27–24 win. Not a disastrous loss, but losing at home to a team Mississippi State handled pretty easily definitely knocks some shine off that 3–0 start.
Minnesota bounced back from the Mississippi State loss in a big way, going into Washington and handing the Huskies their first loss, 27–24. Winning in Seattle is no small thing — and suddenly that ugly night in Starkville doesn't look quite as damaging.
34. Wake Forest (3-1)
Beat Louisville 30-27
Wake Forest went into Louisville as a big underdog and walked out with a 30–27 win over No. 16. At 3–1, with their only loss coming to Miami, maybe it's time we start taking the Deacs a little more seriously.
33. Virginia (3-1)
Beat Delaware 42-3
Virginia bounced back nicely from the West Virginia loss, completely overwhelming Delaware 42–3. The Cavaliers have looked awfully good in their three wins — now a trip to Florida State should give us a better idea of just how good they really are.
32. Texas A&M (2-1)
Lost to LSU 35-6
Texas A&M followed the Kentucky loss with an even uglier night at LSU, getting handled 35–6 and never really looking threatening. Two straight SEC losses have turned a promising start into a pretty serious reality check for the Aggies.
31. Wisconsin (3-1)
Beat Penn St 24-20
Down 17–0 at Penn State, Wisconsin looked dead — then somehow turned it into a 24–20 win, capped by a 72-yard touchdown with 1:13 left. A ranked road win, the biggest comeback in 20 years, and maybe finally the signature win Luke Fickell has been waiting for.
Duke absolutely steamrolled William & Mary 62–7 and heads into its bye at 4–0. The competition hasn't been overwhelming, but the Blue Devils have handled their business — and that road win at Illinois gives the résumé a little substance.
29. Pitt (4-0)
Beat Bucknell 59-0
Pitt did exactly what it should against Bucknell — absolutely annihilated them 59–0 and never gave them a chance. The Panthers are quietly 4–0, but Friday night's trip to unbeaten Virginia Tech should tell us a whole lot more.
28. Nebraska (4-0)
Beat Michigan St 31-13
Nebraska finally took its unbeaten start on the road and passed the test, handling Michigan State 31–13 in East Lansing. The Huskers are 4–0, and for the first time in a while, Nebraska football is starting to feel relevant again.
27. South Carolina (2-2)
Lost to Alabama 49-18
South Carolina ran into an Alabama buzzsaw and was basically out of this one by halftime, falling 49–18. After consecutive SEC losses to Mississippi State and Alabama, the Gamecocks suddenly have some work to do.
26. Vanderbilt (3-1)
Lost to Auburn 21-15
Vanderbilt finally took its first loss, falling 21–15 at Auburn, but the Commodores were right there until the end. No shame in losing a close one on the road in the SEC — Vandy still looks like a team worth taking seriously.
24. Auburn (3-1)
Beat Vandy 21-15
Auburn isn't making anything easy on itself, but there's something to like about the way this team keeps battling. Vanderbilt came into Jordan-Hare unbeaten and made the Tigers work for everything, but Auburn grabbed control early and never gave it back. A blocked punt touchdown certainly helped, and when Vanderbilt made one last push in the fourth, Auburn responded by taking the ball and essentially bleeding out the final six minutes for a 21–15 win. The close loss to Florida looks a little better after what the Gators did to Ole Miss today, and Auburn now has a solid Vanderbilt win to go with it. They're not exactly overwhelming anybody yet, but they're finding ways to win tough games. At 3–1, Auburn feels like one of those SEC teams nobody is going to enjoy seeing on the schedule.
23. Oklahoma State (3-1)
Beat WV 41-24
That opening loss to Tulsa is looking stranger by the week. Oklahoma State has responded with three straight wins, first knocking off Oregon and now going into Morgantown and putting 41 on a West Virginia team that came in unbeaten. The Cowboys fell behind 14–3 early, but never looked panicked, and by the second half they had completely taken control. At this point, Oklahoma State has done enough to make us reconsider what we thought we knew after Week 1. The offense has become legitimately dangerous, and Drew Mestemaker looks increasingly comfortable running it. The Tulsa loss is still an ugly stain, but the Cowboys have spent three straight weeks making it look more like a bad day than an indication of who they are.
22. Houston (3-1)
Beat GSU 42-28
Houston did what a good team should do after a tough loss — get back up and take care of business. Georgia Southern briefly made things interesting by coming back from 14–0 to tie it, but the Cougars answered immediately and never let the game get uncomfortable again. Conner Weigman was terrific, and Houston scored touchdowns on its first six possessions on the way to a 42–28 road win. That two-point loss at Texas Tech still looks more encouraging than damaging, especially with the way the Red Raiders are playing. Houston isn't flashy enough to get talked about with the big boys yet, but this is a solid 3–1 team with an offense that keeps producing. The Cougars may have a loss, but there isn't much here that says they don't belong in the Top 25.
21. Penn State (3-1)
Lost to Wisconsin 24-20
This one is going to sting for a while. Penn State had Wisconsin buried 17–0 at home and seemed headed for a comfortable Big Ten-opening win. Instead, the offense basically stopped functioning, Wisconsin kept hanging around, and the Nittany Lions watched the whole thing unravel in the final minutes. Giving up a 72-yard touchdown with just over a minute left completed a 24–20 collapse that nobody in Happy Valley saw coming. The bigger problem is that Penn State hadn't really been tested before today, and when that test finally arrived, they failed it. The defense and three interceptions gave them every opportunity to put Wisconsin away, but the offense never did its part. One loss doesn't wreck a season, but blowing a 17-point lead at home to an unranked team is going to knock Penn State a long way down our board.
20. Virginia Tech (4-0)
Beat BC 21-14
Virginia Tech finally had to win one the hard way. Playing at Boston College in miserable rain and wind, the Hokies found themselves down 14–6 in the fourth quarter and facing their first real adversity of the season. Instead of folding, they put together the tying drive, converted the two-point try, and then Jeffrey Overton Jr. ripped off a 76-yard touchdown to steal a 21–14 road win. It wasn't pretty, but considering the conditions, pretty was never really an option. Virginia Tech is 4–0 for the first time since 2017, already has two road wins, and now we've seen them win both comfortably and with their backs against the wall. The James Franklin era in Blacksburg couldn't have gotten off to a much better start.
19. USC (4-1)
Lost to Oregon 41-27
USC had every opportunity to turn this into a statement win. The Trojans fought back from 10 down, tied Oregon at 27 in the fourth quarter and had the Coliseum rocking. Then, almost immediately, Oregon marched right back down the field, retook the lead and never gave USC another real opening. For a team trying to prove this year is different, that was a frustratingly familiar ending. The offense is good enough to keep USC in just about any game, and Jayden Maiava showed plenty against a good Oregon team. The question remains whether the defense can get the stops when the game is sitting there to be won. USC is still a good football team, but tonight was another chance to become something more — and they let it get away.
18. Iowa (4-0)
Beat Michigan 20-19
Well, that was about the most Iowa way imaginable to win a football game. The Hawkeyes spent most of the afternoon getting outgained and struggling to move the ball, but the defense kept them alive, special teams gave them a huge touchdown, and somehow they were still hanging around when it mattered. Then, with two seconds left, Hank Brown found Reece Vander Zee in the corner of the end zone to finish a 91-yard drive and stun Michigan 20–19 in the Big House. There are plenty of reasons not to fall completely in love with Iowa yet, especially with an offense that disappeared for long stretches. But they're 4–0, they just won at Michigan for the first time since 2010, and they've shown that familiar ability to drag opponents into exactly the kind of ugly game they want. And now Ohio State comes to Kinnick next week. That suddenly looks a hell of a lot more interesting.
17. Kentucky (3-1)
Beat USA 45-21
Kentucky may have spent the first half still celebrating last week's upset at Texas A&M. South Alabama had them in a 21–21 fight late in the second quarter, but the Wildcats finally woke up and turned it into the game everyone expected. Once Kentucky leaned on the running game, South Alabama simply couldn't stop it, and the Cats pulled away for a 45–21 win. The Alabama loss keeps us from getting too carried away, but Kentucky has responded about as well as you could ask. Winning at Texas A&M got our attention, and avoiding the classic letdown the following week matters too. At 3–1, Kentucky is starting to look less like the team that pulled one big upset and more like a team that could be a pain in the ass all season.
16. Utah (4-0)
Beat ISU 31-17
Utah keeps quietly building one of the better résumés in the country. Going into Ames is never a particularly fun assignment, and the Utes came out like they wanted no part of a close game, jumping ahead 24–3 by halftime. Iowa State made things uncomfortable in the second half and eventually pulled within a touchdown, but Utah responded with the drive it needed to put the game away, 31–17. There hasn't been much flashy about Utah's 4–0 start — they've just looked tough, physical and remarkably consistent. Wayshawn Parker was the difference-maker today, but this feels like a team that can win in several different ways. The Utes aren't getting nearly as much attention as some of the teams above them, but at this point they probably should be.
15. Mississippi State (4-0)
Beat Missou 31-24
Mississippi State might be the team we've been a little too slow to believe in. Missouri erased an early 14-point deficit and actually had the Bulldogs down 24–17 in the second half, but State didn't blink. They tied it, got the ball back, and Kamario Taylor delivered the winning touchdown drive. That's a pretty impressive response against an unbeaten ranked team. At 4–0, this isn't just a fun September story anymore. The Bulldogs already have road wins at Minnesota and South Carolina, and now they've added No. 19 Missouri to the résumé. And with a record 41,819 cowbells ringing in Starkville tonight, maybe the rest of the country is finally starting to hear them. Alabama comes to town next week — and those cowbells might be getting a whole lot louder.
14. Oregon (3-1)
Beat to USC 41-27
Now this looked like the Oregon team we expected to see coming into the season. The Ducks went into the Coliseum against an unbeaten USC team, lost Dante Moore to a frightening injury in the second quarter, and still never came apart. Dylan Raiola stepped in cold and kept the offense moving, and when USC finally fought all the way back to tie it in the fourth, Oregon answered immediately and pulled away for a 41–27 win. That ugly Oklahoma State loss isn't disappearing from the résumé, and the shaky opener against Boise State still matters. But beating No. 12 USC on the road — especially after losing your starting quarterback in the middle of the game — changes the conversation. Oregon finally looked like Oregon again, and this might be the night that gets their season pointed back in the right direction.
13. BYU (3-0)
Bye
12. Tennessee (3-1)
Lost to Texas 20-17
Tennessee came about as close as you can come to stealing one from the No. 1 team. For much of the afternoon the Vols couldn't get anything going offensively, but they hung around, got a huge special-teams touchdown, and somehow had the ball with a chance to tie or win it in the final minute. The comeback ultimately fell short, but there's something to be said for taking Texas all the way to the final play. The bigger concern is what Texas did to Tennessee up front. The Vols simply couldn't protect Faizon Brandon or establish much of a running game, and that's going to have to improve once the SEC schedule really gets rolling. Still, this feels more like a respectable loss than a reason to panic. Tennessee is 3–1, and we didn't see anything today that makes us think they don't belong among the better teams in the country.
Lost to Florida 52-28
Well, that No. 4 ranking didn't survive long. Ole Miss ran into a Florida team that looks considerably better than anyone expected, but there's no dressing up a 52–28 loss. The Rebels made a run in the third quarter and briefly pulled within three, but every time they got close, Florida answered. By the fourth quarter, Ole Miss simply couldn't stop them.
One ugly Saturday doesn't erase the win over LSU or what Ole Miss showed during its 3–0 start, so we're not throwing them off a cliff. But this was the first time someone really pushed back on the Rebels, and the defense had no answer. They're still a dangerous team with Trinidad Chambliss, but after this one, they're taking a pretty healthy tumble in our rankings.
Beat Ole Miss 52-28
Maybe it's time we start paying attention to what's happening in Gainesville. Florida's first three wins were easy enough to dismiss as a nice start against a manageable schedule, but you can't dismiss this one. The Gators jumped on No. 4 Ole Miss early, took their best punch when the Rebels pulled within three, and then absolutely ran away from them for a 52–28 win. This didn't feel like an upset where everything happened to bounce Florida's way. They looked bigger, more physical and, for most of the afternoon, simply better. They're 4–0, they've now handled two SEC opponents, and the offense looks like it can hurt you in a bunch of different ways. Maybe we're still a little early, but it's starting to look like Florida might actually be pretty damn good.
9. LSU (3-1)
Beat Texas A&M 35-6
LSU needed a bounce-back after the loss at Ole Miss, and this was about as convincing as it gets. The Tigers controlled Texas A&M from the start and then completely blew the game open after halftime. Sam Leavitt looked sharp before leaving banged up, and even without Trey'Dez Green, LSU had more than enough firepower to turn a ranked SEC matchup into a 35–6 rout. The defense may have been even more impressive. Texas A&M never found the end zone and rarely looked capable of threatening it. That Ole Miss loss still matters, but LSU now has a demolition of Clemson and this one on the résumé. At 3–1, the Tigers look a whole lot more like a contender than a team we should be worrying about after one loss.
8. Texas Tech (4-0)
Beat SHSU 49-14
Texas Tech ehandled their business against Sam Houston, but this one was a little stranger than the 49–14 final suggests. The Red Raiders actually led just 21–14 at halftime, with two of those touchdowns coming on back-to-back pick-sixes by Austin Romaine. Then Tech came out after halftime, settled down and completely took over, scoring the final 28 points.
The concern is that Texas Tech still hasn't put together the kind of clean, convincing performance you'd expect from a team knocking on the Top 10. They've had shaky stretches in several games now, and Will Hammond throwing three interceptions today certainly didn't help. But they're 4–0, they're finding different ways to win, and when they finally get rolling they look dangerous. There's a very good football team here — we're just still waiting to see four quarters of it.
Indiana got its first real scare of the season, and Northwestern deserves credit for making the defending champs sweat. The Hoosiers led throughout, but they never managed to put the Wildcats away and suddenly found themselves protecting a two-point lead late in the fourth. When they needed an answer, though, they produced one — Lee Beebe broke the big run and Indiana finished the drive that finally gave them some breathing room.
This wasn't Indiana at its best, and after cruising through the first three weeks, maybe a game like this isn't the worst thing for them. They're still unbeaten and showed they can finish a game when somebody actually punches back. But four games into the season, one thing is becoming pretty clear: these definitely aren't last year's Hoosiers.
Miami keeps making this look awfully easy. Central Michigan actually struck first, and that was about the last interesting moment of the night. Once the Hurricanes settled in, the difference between the two teams became obvious in a hurry. Miami ripped off 35 straight points before halftime and cruised home 52–3. Darian Mensah continues to look completely in command, and this offense has weapons everywhere.
There are still some things to clean up — especially a ridiculous number of penalties — but it's hard to find much else to complain about. Miami is 4–0, has scored at least 33 in every game, and hasn't really looked threatened yet. We should learn a lot more next week when they head to Clemson, but right now the Hurricanes look every bit like a Top 10 team.
5. Alabama (4-0)
Beat South Carolina 49-18
This was probably the most complete Alabama has looked all season. After spending the last couple of weeks digging themselves out of early holes, the Tide finally came out swinging and essentially had South Carolina finished by halftime. Keelon Russell looked completely at home running the offense, and when Alabama gets rolling like this, there just aren't many defenses equipped to keep up.
The defense still gave up some yards, so we're not ready to call Alabama a finished product just yet. But they're 4–0, the offense looks more dangerous every week, and tonight answered one of our biggest questions: they can dominate from the opening kick instead of waiting until they're in trouble. This looked a lot more like the Alabama we're used to seeing.
Notre Dame did exactly what a top-five team should do to an overmatched Purdue squad: they buried them early and spent the rest of the afternoon making sure there was never a reason to pay attention to the score. It was 35–0 by halftime, CJ Carr looked completely comfortable running the offense, and the Irish defense made Purdue look like it was playing uphill all afternoon.
The bigger story is that Notre Dame hasn't really given us anything to complain about yet. Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State and now Purdue have all been handled comfortably, and the Irish have looked more convincing each week. The schedule hasn't given them a true heavyweight test yet, so we're still waiting to learn exactly how high the ceiling is — but through four games, Notre Dame has done just about everything we've asked of them.
Ohio State continues to look like one of the best teams in the country despite that one-point loss at Texas. Illinois actually moved the ball and hung around longer than the 42–19 final suggests, but the Buckeyes always seemed to have another gear when they needed it. Julian Sayin looked comfortable, and Jeremiah Smith was simply ridiculous — Illinois knew exactly where the ball was going and still couldn't do much about it.
The defense wasn't nearly as convincing and gave Illinois more room than you'd like to see from a team this high. Still, Ohio State has responded well since the Texas loss, and that game looks less damaging every week. Right now, Texas gets the head-to-head edge and Georgia remains unbeaten, but Ohio State looks every bit like a team that belongs right behind them.
Georgia made a pretty convincing argument for the top spot themselves. Oklahoma came into Athens looking like a team capable of making this interesting, and instead Georgia had the game essentially put away by halftime. The Bulldogs weren't spectacular on every possession, but they didn't need to be. They took advantage of Oklahoma's mistakes, controlled the important moments and turned what looked like a potential test into a 41–13 beating.
Four games in, Georgia just looks remarkably complete. They've handled everything put in front of them, including back-to-back convincing SEC wins over Arkansas and Oklahoma. Texas has the better collection of big wins right now, so we'll leave the Longhorns at No. 1 — but after what Georgia did today, there isn't much daylight between them.
Texas went into Knoxville and got exactly the kind of fight you'd expect from Tennessee. It wasn't a dominant performance, and the offense had a rough afternoon at times, but winning at Neyland isn't something we're going to apologize for. The Longhorns made plenty of mistakes and gave Tennessee chances to steal it late, yet still found a way out with a 20–17 win.
The defense remains the part of this team that makes Texas look like a legitimate No. 1. Whenever the game started leaning toward chaos, that unit seemed to settle things down. There are certainly some things to clean up, especially offensively, but Texas is 4–0 with wins over Ohio State and Tennessee. For now, somebody else is going to have to take the top spot from them.