2024 college football rankings: Georgia, Texas stay atop; Utah comes in at 10

The SEC and Big Ten are two of the best leagues in sports, and it feels like the SEC has once again proven itself to be the national title favorite. Not just because five of the top six teams listed here are from the SEC, but because Michigan has shown that it can win against an opponent ranked in the Big Ten while being in the same division, but also being beaten soundly by an SEC team (Texas) in the same place.

In Oklahoma showed the pride of the nation’s top players, but the Sooners were beaten by double digits at home because the offense could not hold their end. In the SEC, being one-dimensional doesn’t lead to wins. In the Big Ten, you can beat a quality opponent with a QB who isn’t a threat to beat you on the ground.

With Georgia again Alabama set as the marquee game of Week 5, the question won’t be whether someone will make the College Football Playoff, but rather whether they will be included in it.

With that, here’s a look at my top 25 rankings for Week 4 of the college football season:

1. Georgia (3-0)

Week 4 result: It doesn’t work

2. Texas (4-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to UL Monroe, 51-3

In Arch Manning’s first game, the Longhorns outscored the Warhawks 21-0 in the first quarter. Manning finished 15-of-29 for 258 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Texas running back Jaydon Blue added 124 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the win.

3. State of Ohio (3-0)

Week 4 result: Defeated by Marshall, 49-14

Ohio State put up 569 yards of offense on just 57 plays. Running back Quinshon Judkins rushed for 173 yards on just 14 carries, while TreVeyon Henderson added 76 yards and two scores in the win.

The Buckeyes had four plays of 40 yards or more for touchdowns.

4. Tennessee (4-0)

Week 4 result: Defeated In Oklahoma25-15

Tennessee’s offense didn’t need to do much to get a win against a top-20 opponent on the road. The Vols defense sacked Oklahoma quarterbacks three times and forced three quarterback fumbles in a game where their offense struggled to do much at all. Winning a bad game against a quality opponent is the hallmark of a national title contender.

5. Ole Miss (4-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to Georgia Southern, 52-13

Lane Kiffin’s Rebels have yet to play a ranked opponent. In fact, only one of the Rebels’ opponents, Wake Forest, plays in the Power 4 Conference. But Kiffin’s team has scored at least 40 points in every game they’ve played and has allowed a total of 22 points in four games before SEC play.

6. Alabama (3-0)

Week 4 result: Doing nothing

7. Penn State (3-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to Kent State, 56-0

Drew Allar completed 17 of 21 passes for 309 yards with three touchdowns in the key victory. The Nittany Lions outgained the Golden Flashes 718 yards to 67.

Kent State has now lost its last two games by a combined score of 127-0.

8. In Oregon (3-0)

Week 4 result: It doesn’t work

9. Miami (Fla.) (4-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to South Florida, 50-15

Cam Ward left no doubt as to who is the best player in the state of Florida with 404 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and just one interception en route to a Bulls team that dragged Alabama into deep water just two weeks ago.

10. Utah (4-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to Oklahoma State, 22-19

Utah went into Stillwater and walked away with a win. And the Utes did it with Cam Rising out due to injury.

They did it when they held Ollie Gordon to 42 yards on 11 carries and when starting QB Alan Bowman was benched for most of the second half.

And they did it with Micah Bernard rushing for 182 yards — the most by a Utah tailback against a ranked opponent since 2018.

11. Missouri (4-0)

Week 4 result: Vanderbilt lost, 30-27 in 2OT

Missouri running back Nate Noel rushed for 199 yards on 24 carries in a nail-biting victory against Vanderbilt.

12. Clemson (2-1)

Week 4 result: NC State lost, 59-35

The Tigers led the Wolfpack 45-7 at halftime. This is the second straight game in which Clemson has scored at least 59 since scoring just three against Georgia in the season opener.

13. In Michigan (3-1)

Week 4 result: Defeated USC27-24

Not that Kalel Mullings rushed for 159 yards on 17 carries. That Alex Orji finished 7-of-12 for 32 yards passing in the win.

14. Illinois (4-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to Nebraska, 31-24 in OT

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Illini to their 4-0 start since 2011 and their second win against a ranked team in the same season since 2007.

15. Iowa State (3-0)

Week 4 result: Arkansas State lost, 52-7

This is the same Arkansas State team that Michigan beat 28-18 one week earlier. The Cyclones are an official Big 12 rival.

16. USC (2-1)

Week 4 result: Lost to Michigan, 27-24

Miller Moss threw the ball 51 times for 283 yards in the loss. The Trojans looked much improved on defense in their first three weeks, but with the game on the line, and knowing Michigan wanted to run the ball, D’Anton Lynn’s unit couldn’t stop. USC gave up 290 yards on the ground and was beaten by a team that couldn’t throw the ball with a catapult.

17. In Oklahoma (3-1)

Week 4 result: Lost to Tennessee, 25-15

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables was forced to pull quarterback Jackson Arnold in the second quarter after he threw the ball in the Tennessee red zone. He finished 7-of-16 for 54 yards with two turnovers and two sacks. The defense, however, held an offense that averaged 63.9 points per game this season to just 25.

18. BYU (4-0)

Week 4 result: Defeated Kansas State38-9

Despite giving up 224 rushing yards and 130 more rushing yards, the Cougars stuffed the Wildcats at home for their first win against a ranked opponent this season.

19. LSU (3-1)

Week 4 result: UCLA lost, 34-17

Garrett Nussmeier threw for 352 yards with three touchdowns in the Tigers’ win over the Bruins. The redshirt junior QB has thrown for 300-plus yards in three of LSU’s four games this season. In the one game he didn’t throw for 300-plus — a 36-33 win at South Carolina — he threw for 285 and two touchdowns.

20. Louisville (3-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to Georgia Tech, 31-19

Tyler Shough completed 13 of 19 passes for 269 yards in the win. Louisville won 13 of the first 15 regular season games during Jeff Brohm’s tenure.

21. Oklahoma State (3-1)

Week 4 result: Lost to Utah, 22-19

This is a good Oklahoma State team, but going up against Kyle Whittingham and Utah’s defense is no easy task. After being benched following an inactive first half, QB Alan Bowman returned midway through the fourth quarter and threw for two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough as the Pokes suffered their first loss of the season.

22. Notre Dame (3-1)

Week 4 result: Defeated Miami (OH), 28-3

Riley Leonard passed for 154 yards and a touchdown, while adding 143 yards and two scores on the ground. Notre Dame’s defense has given up 10 points in its last two outings.

23. Washington State (4-0)

Week 4 result: Lost to San Jose State, 54-52

Jake Dickert’s team is 4-0 following a high-scoring win over San Jose State. Sophomore QB John Mateer has been the breakout star through the first four weeks of the season. He was outstanding Friday, throwing for 390 yards and four touchdowns, while adding another 111 yards and a score on the ground.

24. UNLV (3-0)

Week 4 result: Doing nothing

25. Kansas State (3-1)

Week 4 result: Lost to BYU, 38-9

There is no way to deal with it – this was a defeat for Chris Klieman’s team. The Wildcats beat the Cougars to a draw, but it was three team turnovers that cost them the game.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and commentator for FOX Sports and podcast host “The Number One College Football Show.“Follow him @RJ_Omusha again subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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