• The top-five remain the same: Despite a chaotic weekend, the top-five teams in our rankings remain exactly the same from a week ago.
• Three teams fall out: After losing this past Saturday, Colorado, UCLA and Iowa fall out of the top 25.
• Washington State makes a major move up: The Cougars moved eight spots up the rankings after taking down No. 14 Oregon State.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
An incredibly hyped-up Week 4 lived up to its billing with some instant classics, as both Florida State and Ohio State won by the skin of their teeth while teams like Oregon, Penn State and Alabama looked dominant in their victories.
Ahead of what should be a stellar Week 5, here are our top 25 teams in the country. Please note that these are not the same as PFF’s power rankings.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 1st)
Week 5 Matchup: at Auburn Tigers
In an otherwise stellar weekend of college football, the defending back-to-back national champions enjoyed another cupcake in Week 4. Georgia demolished UAB 49-21 at home on Saturday.
The Bulldogs finally fed superstar tight end Brock Bowers in the victory over the Blazers. After catching just 13 passes for 138 yards and no touchdowns in the first three games, the junior went off with nine catches for 121 yards and two scores on Saturday.
2. Michigan Wolverines (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 2nd)
Week 5 Matchup: at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Like Georgia, Michigan had a relatively easy time on Saturday, beating Rutgers 31-7. The Wolverines’ schedule really won’t kick into high gear until November as Michigan’s next five games are against opponents that have a .500 record or worse.
3. Florida State Seminoles (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 5th)
Week 5 Matchup: Bye
It was the second nailbiter in a row for Florida State, squeaking by Clemson 31-24 in overtime. Despite dealing with numerous injuries, quarterback Jordan Travis led the Seminoles to victory with a 79.1 grade in a gutsy performance. FSU can now catch its breath with a bye this week.
4. Texas Longhorns (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 3rd)
Week 5 Matchup: vs. No. __ Kansas Jayhawks
Texas dominated Baylor in its first conference game of the season by a score of 38-6. The Longhorns defense led the way both on Saturday and thus far season. Texas is currently top 10 in the Power Five in both expected points allowed per play (ninth) and defensive grade (10th). The Longhorns will need to contain quarterback Jalon Daniels and the explosive Kansas offense this weekend in one of the biggest games of the week.
5. Ohio State Buckeyes (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 4th)
Week 5 Matchup: Bye
Ohio State emerged victorious in an instant classic with No. 9 Notre Dame, defeating the Fighting Irish 17-14. With just three seconds left, running back Chip Trayanum reached the ball over the goal line for the game-winning touchdown. With the offense struggling, the Buckeyes’ defense stepped up. Ohio State pressured Sam Hartman on 46.2% of his dropbacks on the night.
Like Florida State, Ohio State follows its thrilling win with a much-needed bye week.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 6th)
Week 5 Matchup: at Northwestern Wildcats
No defense in the country has been more efficient than Penn State’s this season, as the Nittany Lions lead the FBS in EPA per play. Granted, Penn State has played an FCS school and three of the Power Five’s 20 worst offenses in that same metric. There’ll be a fourth this Saturday, as Northwestern is the Power Five’s 19th-worst offense in expected points per play.
7. Washington Huskies (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 7th)
Week 5 Matchup: at Arizona Wildcats
Washington’s offense is in a similar position. The Huskies currently field the highest-graded offense in the country (93.3) with a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback in Michael Penix Jr. However, three of their opponents are outside the 70 highest-graded defenses in the nation. Washington’s most recent victim, California, is a respectable 43rd though, and the Huskies still dropped 59 points on the Golden Bears.
8. Oregon Ducks (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 9th)
Week 5 Matchup: at Stanford Cardinal
“They play for clicks. We play for wins.”
In a pregame speech that ironically went viral, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning got his desired result as the Ducks curbstomped No. 19 Colorado 42-6. Oregon’s physicality on both sides was simply too much for the Buffaloes to handle. The Ducks sacked Shedeur Sanders eight times while averaging 6.8 yards per rushing attempt.
9. USC Trojans (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 8th)
Week 5 Matchup: at Colorado Buffaloes
It doesn’t get too much easier for Coach Prime, as he faces the nation’s two most efficient offenses in USC and Oregon in back-to-back weeks. The Trojans lead the FBS in EPA per play while reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is among the country’s quarterbacks with a 93.1 grade. USC’s Achilles heel could once again be its defense though. Against a pretty weak schedule so far, the Trojans are still just 50th in EPA per play.
10. Utah Utes (Record: 4-0, AP Ranking: 10th)
Week 5 Matchup: at No. __ Oregon State Beavers
Utah has proved through four games that it has one of the best coaching staffs in the country. The Utes have defeated No. 22 UCLA, currently-No. 22 Florida and Baylor all without their two best players on offense in quarterback Cam Rising and tight end Brant Kuithe. Utah will need them back ASAP though as it faces another top-25 opponent in Oregon State this Friday night.
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