Week 4 delivered the kind of chaos that always scrambles the AP Top 25, and the biggest shakeup is likely to hit right in the middle of the rankings. Iowa’s last-second win at Michigan, Oregon’s road upset at USC, Wisconsin’s surprise trip to Penn State, and Florida’s blowout of No. 4 Ole Miss all point to a ballot that could look very different on Sunday.
Michigan is the headliner here. The Wolverines appeared headed for a ranked win at home before Hank Brown and Iowa flipped it at the finish, completing a touchdown pass with no time left to win 20-19. That result should send Michigan back out of the AP Top 25 for the second time this season, at least based on how the projected field is shaping up.
The Big Ten had a wild day beyond Ann Arbor, too. Oregon went to No.
12 USC and came away with the win even after Dante Moore suffered a scary concussion, while Wisconsin marched into Happy Valley and stunned No. 13 Penn State.
Those results, along with Iowa’s finish in Ann Arbor, put the conference at the center of this week’s movement.
The SEC had its own statement game as Texas held off Tennessee in a top-15 matchup, even after the Volunteers mounted a furious comeback. Florida also made noise by dominating No. 4 Ole Miss, and Wake Forest went into Louisville and left with a major ACC win.
So what does that leave for Week 5? A ranking board that looks messy in the middle and likely features a few new faces. Here’s a projected Top 25 for Sunday:
Texas (1)
Georgia (2)
Notre Dame (3)
Indiana (5)
Miami (6)
Ohio State (7)
Alabama (8)
LSU (10)
BYU (9)
Texas Tech (11)
Oregon (20)
Florida (21)
Ole Miss (4)
Iowa (17)
Utah (15)
Mississippi State (24)
SMU (22)
Tennessee (14)
USC (12)
Oklahoma State (NR)
UCLA (NR)
Washington (NR)
Penn State (13)
Missouri (19)
Houston (25)
Michigan’s exit is the most obvious change, and Oklahoma’s loss to Georgia by four touchdowns, combined with an inconsistent first four games, is part of why that door is opening. UCLA and Washington are projected to jump in, while Wisconsin could have a case as well, though that 28-point loss to Notre Dame in the opener may still be working against the Badgers.
Nebraska also has a shot to move into the rankings after handling Michigan State. Even if the exact order shifts, the one thing that looks certain is that the 10-25 range will look very different when the new AP Top 25 drops on Sunday afternoon.
In Other News...
Michigan State Now Faces A Bigger Problem Than The Nebraska Loss
The Nebraska loss itself was ugly enough for Michigan State, but the bigger concern coming out of Lincoln was the damage done to the roster. The Spartans were already thin in key spots, and the injury situation started before kickoff when starting cornerback Tre Bell was hurt in warmups and never made it into the game.
It only got worse from there. Running back Cam Edwards and offensive lineman Connor Moore went down on the same play, and defensive leader Jordan Hall also left with a leg injury after being taken off the field on a cart, leaving Michigan State with plenty to sort through beyond the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Faces A Bigger Offensive Problem Than Fans Feared
Michigan States offense has looked increasingly out of sync over the last few games, and the numbers underline just how much work remains. Through four games, the Spartans have managed only 88 points and nine touchdowns, both among the lowest marks in the Big Ten, while quarterback Alessio Milivojevic has been dealing with plenty of pressure, sacks and interceptions as the unit struggles to find any sort of rhythm.
The bigger concern is that the problems have not been limited to execution. Injuries have already thinned out the group and left the staff trying to patch together answers on the fly, with the offensive line and backfield both taking hits that make every snap feel a little more fragile. Michigan State is still searching for stability, but the margin for error keeps shrinking as the offense tries to get healthy enough to even resemble what it was supposed to be. [Read more 🡒]
Michigan State Suddenly Faces A Depth Chart Test Against Wisconsin
Michigan State left its trip to Nebraska with more than one injury concern, and the timing could not be worse with Wisconsin next on the schedule. Running back Cam Edwards and linebacker Jordan Hall were among the players hurt in the game, leaving the Spartans to sort through a depth chart that may look different by the time they line up again.
The backfield is especially worth watching because backup Jaziun Patterson handled relief work well after Edwards exited, and the staff is already leaning on him as it prepares for the next matchup. The bigger question now is how Michigan State will piece together its roster across the board if the injury list forces more changes, with the full extent of those setbacks still unclear. [Read more 🡒]