Alyssa Fox

The Associated Press’ College Football Rankings are released every Sunday after college football games have wrapped up. The top four teams are used to determine who makes the playoffs once the regular season ends in late November.

Week four really had it all. It had drama. It had really, really bad weather conditions. It had some close games, some not-really-close-at-all games, and it even had a duck dressed up as Deion Sanders. And, per usual, this week also featured a coach aggressively yelling into the NBC microphone about his team on national television during the post-game interview. This week, that coach was Ryan Day. Fortunately, I had the privilege of watching every single college football game last Saturday, meaning I saw all of week four’s highs and lows both in real time and on Twitter the next morning. I had truly seen it all, so I decided to put on my own AP hat and rank the teams myself. Someone’s got to do it right.

1.Georgia

SEC (1-0)

4-0 

It’s hard to knock the top dawgs down the rankings as they continue to defend their national championship and stand at 4-0 on the season. Georgia started the season with plenty of changes on the team, and they aren’t playing to the caliber of last year’s Bulldogs, but they have yet to show that they don’t deserve to stay at number one. Although Alabama-Birmingham is not exactly what I would call an even opponent for them, South Carolina in week three was, and college football fans are not used to seeing Georgia barely beat non-ranked teams such as the Gamecocks. It will be interesting to see how they fare throughout the rest of their season against lower-ranked SEC teams.

2.Texas

Big 12 (1-0)

4-0

The vibes are high on the 40 acres. Although some fans are holding onto doubts about the team due to the last few seasons. I, personally, think Texas has finally taken the step they needed to in order to become elite. They have snagged their first conference win against Baylor, and it seems Quinn Ewers has found his groove as QB-1 in Steve Sarkisian’s offense. The defense, led by sophomore pass-rusher Ethan Burke, is shutting teams down play after play. The Longhorns are out to prove that they belong in the SEC next year, and as of now it all seems to be going their way. The preparation for the Red River Showdown begins now as they face Kansas before taking a trip to the Cotton Bowl.

3.Michigan 

Big Ten (1-0)

4-0
As you may or may not know, I am Go Blue or Go Home, but the Wolverines are showing signs of weakness early on in the season. Michigan’s run game this season isn’t as dominant as it was last year and JJ McCarthy isn’t connecting with his receivers all the time. Jim Harbaugh’s return to the sidelines after being suspended by the school was met with an early touchdown from Rutgers University, Michigan’s first time not holding the lead in a game since the nightmare that was the Fiesta Bowl in 2022. Leaning on their defense, who leads the FBS in scoring defense averaging 5.75 points per game, they are finding ways to pull away and win. Simply, my number two Texas has shown to be a more complete team than U-M, but as the season goes on and the Big Ten competition gets hotter, I do see McCarthy and his offense picking up the slack the defense is currently compensating for. 

4.Florida State

ACC (2-0)

4-0

I won’t lie, I do have my doubts that FSU will hang up here in the rankings for long if they can’t figure some things out. But, what I do know is the Seminoles do not give up, and I think that’s something worth noting. The Clemson Tigers took them all the way to overtime, and it wasn’t looking good for FSU at many points during the game. The defense felt off during parts of Clemson’s drives, and quarterback Jordan Travis played most of the game with an injured shoulder. Lucky for this team though, the ACC isn’t the strongest conference in the NCAA, so if Florida State can work out the inconsistencies from these past few games, they have the opportunity to continue to shock lots of people.

5.Ohio State

Big Ten (1-0) 

4-0

The last minute comeback win over Notre Dame is guaranteed to give the Ohio State Buckeyes the confidence boost they had needed throughout the entire game. Both the defense and offense experienced uncomfortable moments against an experienced Notre Dame team, but they were able to break through with a 65-yard-drive down the field in the last couple seconds of the game. They definitely are not the team we all know from year in and year out, but, after all, it is Ohio State, and it wouldn’t surprise anyone if they end up playing for a National Championship spot.

6.USC

Pac-12 (2-0)

4-0

Head Coach Lincoln Riley’s system has clicked once again, and USC is playing at a high level. Their offense is averaging 55 points per game, leading FBS, and I do believe they will have a chance at a top four finish in November. But, with the majority of the Pac-12 performing at a higher level, conference play will tip the scale, and not in USC’s favor. The Stanford game already revealed some weaknesses in the Trojans’ defense, specifically the secondary, and that is worrisome for this team. We know the offense is rocking and rolling, but how will the defense fend against a team like Oregon? A wise person once told me that offense wins games, but defense is what wins you championships, and USC better figure that out quick.

7.Penn State

Big Ten (2-0)
4-0

Is Penn State’s defense that good or is Iowa’s offense that bad? I think it’s perhaps a mixture of both. Penn State’s defense is hot, and Iowa obviously could not hang in with them, only gaining 76 yards the whole game. Penn State’s run game is fiery, and the defense is doing something right. Sophomore quarterback Drew Allar has done as well as he can for his first four games, but for a school who has Michigan and Ohio State ahead of them, they need to shake the jitters out if they want a successful season to be in order.

8.Oregon

Pac-12 (1-0)

4-0

Quite the weekend for the Ducks, eh? Taking on the media darling that is Colorado, Oregon came out and dominated Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders and his Buffaloes. Quarterback Bo Nix, who was 28 for 33 throwing for 276 yards on the game, reminded everyone that he deserves to be in the Heisman conversation, along with what seems to be too many other Pac-12 quarterbacks, and the defense drilled Colorado’s offense to the ground. With the help of a viral pregame speech from head coach Dan Lanning, there was a pretty obvious chip on the shoulder for this team, and they relied on it for this game. But, now it’s time to look ahead at tougher opponents coming up for this team in the near future.

9.Washington

Pac-12 (1-0)

4-0

Another Pac-12 team, another out-of-this-world performance. It feels repetitive at this point, but Washington is yet another one of the teams in the conference that is taking over every opponent. A well-rounded team with a dynamic offense led by Heisman contender Michael Penix Jr., a fast special teams unit that scored twice against Cal in the first 5 minutes of the game and a strong defense that seems to stop whatever comes their way, the Huskies look like serious top four contenders. Out of the Pac-12, I do believe UW has the best defense. The next landmark game for the Huskies will be in week six when they come face to face with Bo Nix and the Oregon Ducks at home. 

10.Utah 

Pac-12 (1-0)

4-0
I have nothing to hide, so I will tell you I was not on the Utah hype train at all during week three. But, after watching the gutsy win against UCLA, I will give it to them, they have a solid team. The defense slowed down UCLA’s run game, which was third in the FBS in rushing at the time, and the offense did what they needed to in order to win. I’m not sold yet,just a step closer to buying in. Along with everyone else in the conference, they have some steep competition coming up, but if the defense can show up in an offensive heavy conference, then a higher rank is in sight. 

11.Alabama

SEC (1-0)

3-1

The tide was not rolling, like, at all prior to week four. It feels like Nick Saban’s dynasty is in a downward spiral, but they did walk away with a win against Ole Miss. Jalen Milroe is still making some questionable decisions in the pocket, leaving the quarterback problems still a focal issue at hand. The offensive line has given away more than five touchdowns due to undisciplined holding penalties, and the kicker is missing more than he is making. But, good news is, they haven’t lost more than one game, and the defense doesn’t look half bad, especially the pass rush who sacked Ole Miss’ quarterback Jaxson Dart five times.  Every other college football fan will continue to point and laugh at their struggles, but I still can’t help but feel this team isn’t done just yet. Nick Saban will never go away that easily. 

12.Notre Dame

Independent

4-1

In no way am I a Notre Dame fan, but I am a Brutus the Buckeye hater more than an Irish one, so when they lost the game to Ohio State with zero seconds left on the clock, I did feel some of the sting with them. It’s not going to go away for them anytime soon either, but they did, in some aspects, bring that loss on themselves. The defense surrendered to Ohio State late in the fourth quarter, and some coaching decisions made by Marcus Freeman cannot be defended. The Irish, however, need to throw some dirt on the wound and move on as they have a tough schedule to get through, including a showdown with Duke this weekend. 

13.LSU 

SEC (1-0)

3-1

LSU football fans may genuinely be the only people that wish it was 2020 again. Another game, another tango with, well…mediocrity. A last-second field goal led to a 34-31 win against Arkansas, and truthfully, it felt like one of the better games for them. The defense held Arkansas off in the redzone multiple times, and the offense showed some maturity when they needed it the most. But, overall, there is still plenty of room for improvement for the Tigers. 

14.North Carolina 

ACC (1-0)

4-0

A self-proclaimed basketball school has finally made noise in the football world, staying undefeated with a 41-24 against Pitt. Quarterback Drake Maye stole the show with a left-handed throw while scrambling for a touchdown in the second quarter, and the defense quickly shut Pitt down in the second half. Mack Brown, a familiar name for many in the college football scene in Texas, has earned his rightful spot in FBS history earning 100 wins with two different programs, as well as a spot in Tar Heel history taking them to their first 4-0 start since 1997.

15.Washington State

Pac-12 (1-0)

4-0

It was the battle of the Pac-2 on Saturday, as WSU and Oregon State are the last two teams in the Pac-12 who have not signed with another conference. With high emotions, Washington State showed much more intelligence, both emotionally and with football-IQ, as they walked away with a 38-35 win against the Beavers. Despite seeming like a close game from the surface, it was heavily dominated by Washington State’s offense, with quarterback Cam Ward throwing for over 400 yards against a high-caliber defense. Oregon State put up a solid fight against the Cougars in the last half of the game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the dominance of WSU. 

16.Oklahoma

Big 12 (1-0)

4-0

Trying to watch an Oklahoma game when you live with a Longhorns fan is pretty much impossible, but I’ve seen enough to know that they have a legit team this year. They won their first (and last) conference game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, keeping them at an undefeated status. I do wonder how their offense will handle a defense like UT’s or TCU’s since SMU and the Bearcats were both able to hold them under 30. Otherwise, this team has finally gotten over the sting of Lincoln Riley’s departure, and as they begin the preparation for Battle of the Red River, they will receive a visit from Iowa State first. 

17.Oregon State 

Pac-12 (0-1)

4-0

The fight was there for the Beavers against Washington State, but the execution was not. This was a massive loss for a team that is both looking for a Pac-12 Championship and a new conference to join next year. The offense and defense both were out of sync on Saturday, and despite ending with a close score, they were nowhere near playing a close game. I wouldn’t worry too much about them, but they definitely aren’t as strong as the other teams in the Pac-12, who they will have to face as the season goes on. 

18.Duke 

ACC (1-0)

4-0

Duke is the real deal this year. They aren’t a team that anyone should shove to the side, and they are making sure of that. With an explosive offense, this is the first time in Blue Devils history the football team has won the first four games by a gap of 20 more points. A big, big opponent is coming up in Notre Dame next week, and an upset could be on the horizon if they can capitalize on the weaknesses the Irish showed. But, I do have the worry that the pressure will get to them, and the team we’ve been seeing the past couple of weeks will crack at the sight of a national game. 

19.Tennessee 

SEC (0-1)

3-1

Tennessee is not the same team that they were last year, but they did come out with a win in UTSA. However, UTSA is not even competition at all for an SEC school, and when the Vols did come face to face with conference play the week prior, it ended in ugly fashion. Plagued with key injuries, including a banged up quarterback, the Vols aren’t set up for much success against conference rivals like Alabama and Georgia. 

20.Ole Miss

SEC (0-1)

3-1

Ole Miss was rolling until they came face to face with Alabama. Although a statistically close matchup because of Alabama’s struggle, quarterback Jaxson Dart and his offense ran into a wall with Alabama’s pass rush, who was trying to compensate for the offensive struggles. The run game was flat, and the past explosive offense was nowhere to be seen in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss needs to get the run game back in check as they face LSU this weekend in a top 25 showdown. 

21.Miami 

ACC (0-0)

4-0 

The Hurricanes have been playing very well, and no one is going to deny that. But, the level of competition they have faced is not on the same level as some of the other ACC teams, and no one really knows how the week five game against North Carolina will go for them. If their offense and defense plays as well as they did against Temple the game is bound to go well for them, but without being tested by a ranked team, it’s hard to know if they really are the team we keep seeing. 

22.Mizzou

SEC (0-0)

4-0

Although the only team on the list to not have started conference play, Mizzou has really impressed so far. They came out with a win against Middle Tennessee, and stunned the country the week before when Harrison Mevis made a SEC record 61-yard field goal in the final seconds of the game to beat, at the time, no. 15 ranked Kansas State. If they can keep this momentum going throughout, they have the opportunity to perform very well for the rest of the season. A national championship isn’t in sight by any means, but for a team that has been unranked for a majority of the recent years, we are finally seeing improvement.

23.Florida

SEC (1-0)

3-1

Florida found a way to carry on the momentum from the Tennessee game and beat Charlotte 22-7. Although walking away with a win, there are some concerns for the swamp, including the lack of red zone finishes. Florida kicked five field goals for 15 points resulting in just 15 on the scoreboard, when it could’ve been 35. The math leads to the realization that the Gators really only scored one touchdown the entire game, which is a massive concern playing a team that is not known for having the strongest defense. Florida’s offense needs to figure out how to finish in the red zone, or the rest of conference play is going to haunt them.

24.Kansas

Big 12 (1-0)

4-0

Taking BYU’s first Big 12 win away from them, the Jayhawks’ defense showed up big in week four. Improvement is made game after game on both sides of the ball for Kansas, and they are off to another 4-0 start for the second consecutive season. After years of being pretty much the laughing stock of the conference, Kansas is looking to become a top team to beat after UT and OU departures to the SEC. The first major test for them will come this week for them when they face the Longhorns at DKR. 

25.Colorado

Pac-12 (0-1)

3-1

There are pros to being in the spotlight and there are plenty of cons as well, and right now, Colorado is experiencing what feels to be all of the cons, all at once. The clock has struck midnight on the Buffs’ fairytale start, and it’s time to figure reality out. Oregon opened their eyes to conference play, and the entire country learned they really do have a lot to learn. I don’t believe all hope is lost though. Deion Sanders will pick his team up, and if he really has shaped the culture we all think he has in that locker room, it’s time for the kids and the coaching staff to put their heads down, learn, improve and live up to that standard Sanders always discusses next week against a tough opponent in USC.

That’s all for this segment of ‘Alyssa’s Top 25’. Remember to watch this week’s college football games and under all circumstances root for the downfall of Ohio State. Stay tuned for next month’s rankings of fall TV shows.