College Football Power Rankings – Week 4

It was a week of bad days for big teams. Al Dannity breaks down the movers and shakers in the Top 25.

1. Alabama (4-0, 1-0 SEC, 2-2 ATS)
The FAU touchdown in the fourth quarter on Saturday was the first time any team had scored against the Tide since the Michigan game.
Last week: W 40-7 vs. Florida Atlantic.
Next up: Saturday vs. Ole Miss.

2. Oregon (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12, 1-3 ATS)
A defensive clinic from the Ducks is enough for them to leap the Tigers. For now, Oregon is on track for the title game.
Last week: W 49-0 vs. Arizona.
Next up: Saturday at Washington State.

3. LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC, 2-2 ATS)
That was supposed to be a blowout. I’m only dropping the Tigers a spot but they are on thin ice.
Last week: W 12-10 at Auburn.
Next up: Saturday vs. Towson.

4. Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC, 2-2 ATS)
Sure it was only Vandy but that was the worst loss the Commodores have suffered in yeas. These Dawgs are loaded.
Last week: W 48-3 vs. Vanderbilt.
Next up: Saturday vs. Tennessee.

5. South Carolina (4-0, 2-0 SEC, 3-1 ATS)
Connor Shaw was almost perfect on a big day for the Gamecocks. The offensive line needs to get smarter.
Last week: W 31-10 vs. Missouri.
Next up: Saturday at Kentucky.

6. Florida State (4-0, 2-0 ACC, 2-2 ATS)
Big leap for FSU as they knock off a good Clemson team. That trip to the Hokies is looking awfully big.
Last week: W 49-37 vs. Clemson.
Next up: Saturday at South Florida.

7. Kansas State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12, 3-1 ATS)
Collin Klein was superhuman and the Wildcats won big on the road. Bill Snyder’s got a special team here.
Last week: W 24-19 at Oklahoma.
Next up: October 6 vs. Kansas.

8. Notre Dame (4-0, 3-1 ATS)
The hype machine is about to enter overdrive. With back-to-back wins over Michigan State and Michigan, the Fighting Irish crack our Top 10.
Last week: W 13-6 vs. Michigan.
Next up: October 6 vs. Miami (FL).
9. TCU (3-0, 1-0 Big 12, 2-1 ATS)
The Horned Frogs look set on D but we’ll see how deep their pool of playmakers on offence is over the coming weeks.
Last week: W 27-7 vs. Virginia.
Next up: Saturday at SMU.

10. West Virginia (3-0, 0-0 Big 12, 2-1 ATS)
The Mountaineers made hard work of a bad Maryland team. More is expected.
Last week: W 31-21 vs. Maryland.
Next up: Saturday vs. Baylor.

11. Stanford (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12, 2-1 ATS)
No game for the Cardinal last week, tough trip to face the Huskies on Saturday.
Last week: Idle.
Next up: Saturday at Washington.

12. Texas (3-0, 0-0 Big 12, 2-1 ATS)
Off-week for the Longhorns, they begin Big 12 play this weekend.
Last week: Idle.
Next up: Saturday at Oklahoma State.

13. Ohio State (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten, 2-1 ATS)
The Buckeyes remain undefeated and unimpressive. Worryingly, they are the best in the Big Ten entering conference play.
Last week: W 29-15 vs. UAB.
Next up: Saturday at Michigan State.

14. Oregon State (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12, 2-0 ATS)
Umm I did not expect to rank the Beavers this week, let alone bump them up. Fantastic performance against the Bruins.
Last week: W 27-20 at UCLA.
Next up: Saturday at Arizona U.

15. Mississippi State (4-0, 1-0 SEC, 2-2 ATS)
The Bulldogs remain unbeaten and could be a dark-horse for an at-large bid to the BCS this year.
Last week: W 30-10 vs. South Alabama.
Next up: October 6 at Kentucky.

16. Ohio (4-0, 0-0 MAC, 3-1 ATS)
The Bobcats are ideally placed in these rankings to bust the BCS but they will need help from elsewhere to get an at-large bid.
Last week: W 44-10 vs. Norfolk State.
Next up: Saturday at UMass.

17. Clemson (3-1, 0-1 ACC, 2-2 ATS)
They took a big tumble but showed they have the talent to bounce back from defeat in Tallahassee.
Last week: L 49-37 at Florida State.
Next up: Saturday at Boston College.

18. Oklahoma (2-0, 0-0 Big 12, 1-1 ATS)
No game last week but a huge one ahead this Saturday against the Wildcats.
Last week: Idle.
Next up: Saturday vs. Kansas State.

19. Louisville (4-0, 0-0 Big East, 2-2 ATS)
The Cardinals cut it a little fine at FIU. The big team in the Big East needs to show more to move up these rankings.
Last week: W 28-21 at Florida International.
Next up: Saturday at Southern Miss.

20. Rutgers (4-0, 1-0 Big East, 3-1 ATS)
The Scarlet Knights may have beaten a weakened Arkansas team but a win in SEC territory still merits a bump up the rankings.
Last week: W 35-26 at Arkansas.
Next up: October 6 vs. UConn.

21. USC (2-1, 1-1 Pac-12, 1-3 ATS)
The running game got it done against Cal. The Trojans still have time to climb these rankings.
Last week: W 27-9 vs. Cal.
Next up: October 4 at Utah.

22. Northwestern (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten, 3-0 ATS)
The Wildcats remain perfect but don’t get much of a bump for beating a cupcake.
Last week: W 48-7 vs. South Dakota.
Next up: Saturday vs. Indiana.

23. Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC, 3-1 ATS)
The Gators took care of business against the Wildcats. Now the real games start to come.
Last week: W 38-0 vs. Kentucky.
Next up: October 6 vs. LSU.

24. UCLA (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12, 3-1 ATS)
Tough loss against the Beavers but the Bruins survive in the rankings, for now.
Last week: L 27-20 vs. Oregon State.
Next up: Saturday at Colorado.

25. Baylor (3-0, 0-0 Big 12, 1-2 ATS)
The Bears made hard work of ULM but everybody else has. Big game this weekend at WVU.
Last week: W 47-42 at Louisiana-Monroe
Next up: Saturday at West Virginia.

Next Five Out: Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Miami (FL), Nebraska, Virginia Tech.

Follow Sports Interaction on Twitter.