Week 4 in college football had the kind of chaos that shakes up every conversation around the Top 25.
There were six ranked-on-ranked matchups, the most in a single week since 2023, and the results delivered plenty of movement. Texas went into Knoxville and came away with a win over Tennessee, powered by a defense that set the tone. Collin Simmons tied a school record with five sacks, and Arch Manning helped the Longhorns handle business on the road.
Florida also landed a major result in Gainesville. In Jon Sumrall’s first signature win as the Gators’ head coach, Florida knocked off No. 4 Ole Miss and put one of the weekend’s biggest dents in the poll.
Georgia had no trouble with Oklahoma, rolling to a 41-13 win as John Mateer’s rough stretch at quarterback continued. Iowa’s win over Michigan came with a twist after the clock was adjusted and a few extra seconds were put back on it, a finish that many viewed as payback for the Wolverines’ Week 1 win over Western Michigan. Penn State also fell, dropping a 24-20 decision to Wisconsin in another shakeup for the Big Ten.
The night games brought more fallout. Oregon beat USC 41-27, adding to Lincoln Riley’s problems against ranked opponents. The Ducks did it without star quarterback Dante Moore, who left in the first half after a vicious hit from USC’s Desman Stephens II.
Elsewhere, LSU responded at home with a 35-6 win over Texas A&M, and Mississippi State moved to 4-0 by beating Missouri 31-24 in Starkville.
With Week 4 complete, the latest AP and Coaches’ Poll rankings are now set.
In Other News...
Oregon Fans Are Livid Over Chris Simms After Dante Moore Hit
The fallout from USCs hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore kept spilling beyond the field, even as the game itself moved on. Desman Stephens IIs collision with Moore became one of the biggest talking points of the matchup, especially after Moore was hospitalized, and the sequence quickly turned into a broader debate about the hit and how it should be judged.
Chris Simms added fuel to that argument during a halftime segment, saying Moore appeared to slide late and left Stephens in a tough spot. That defense drew a loud reaction from Oregon fans on social media, who were already raw from seeing their quarterback go down and were quick to push back on any suggestion that the USC linebacker should be viewed more sympathetically. [Read more 🡒]
USCs Desman Stephens Decision Just Raised The Stakes For Everyone
Desman Stephens IIs night against Oregon ended with an ejection after a targeting call on quarterback Dante Moore, and the fallout kept growing after the game. Moore suffered a concussion and was hospitalized, while USC later announced Stephens will also miss the following game against Washington as part of a suspension.
The Trojans are now dealing with the broader edge of a physical game that crossed into discipline, and Oregon is left monitoring Moores recovery while Dylan Raiola has kept the offense moving in his absence. The timing adds another layer here, because Moores possible return lines up with Oregons bye week, leaving this situation hanging over both programs for the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Just Got A Harsh Reminder About The Polls
Week 4 delivered the kind of chaos that reshapes a poll in a hurry, with six ranked matchups producing a wave of losses by ranked teams and knocking the Coaches Poll into a new order. Ole Miss was among the teams that took a hit, while USC was part of the broader shakeup as the seasons first real cluster of elite games started separating the contenders from the teams trying to hold their place.
The top end stayed steady with Texas still No. 1, but the movement behind it was impossible to miss, with Florida climbing to No. 8 and several teams tumbling out entirely, including Louisville, Texas A&M, Washington and Oklahoma. For USC, it is a reminder that a couple of weekends like this can change the conversation fast, and that even a ranked team can find itself looking up at a tighter, less forgiving field. [Read more 🡒]