Power Rankings: Week 4

Nearly a month ago, Florida State kicked off the 2024 college football season in Ireland. They gave us an abysmal performance and have not looked back since, continuing to showcase an offense equivalent to that of a Pizza Hut night crew. Thankfully our world doesn’t revolve around the Seminoles and there have been plenty of other enjoyable games to watch. As teams begin to face their conference foes on a weekly basis, the playoff race will get more and more complicated, but we should see some giants emerge. The reigning champion is falling off a cliff as we speak, so who will snag the crown? Our panel has power rated the top 10 teams in the country heading into week 4. 

1. Texas Longhorns

   No Ewers, no problem. The Longhorns lost their starting quarterback on Saturday, only for Arch Manning to put on an outstanding performance. Small sample size, but Texas appears to be deep at every unit. The boys in burnt orange are doing what they are expected to do, and with their next two matchups against Chris Christie and my left foot, expect them to remain near the top of our list until at least Red River. 

   
   

2. Georgia Bulldogs

   Kirby continues to struggle with Kentucky but their 5 million game regular season winning streak stays intact. The offense has looked stagnant for a good chunk of the season, but expect Snapchat Premium to take charge. I can’t believe that a knock-off dracula was able to pull a Cavinder twin. Hopefully he’s dialed in as the Bulldogs visit the aforementioned on October 19th. 

   
   

3. Tennessee Volunteers

   Proud owners of the Hawaiian sensation, Heupel and company have joined the college football elite. Nico is living up to the hype, and until someone can hold them under 50, this team is as advertised. Turn your eyes to Norman this weekend: while Tennessee has the edge, the Sooners host their first SEC game in what is bound to be an electric atmosphere. If the Vols take care of business, the sky's the limit for this squad.

   
   

4. Ohio State Buckeyes

   The Buckeyes will do what the Buckeyes do. Always at the top of the rankings, Ohio State appears to be the team to beat in the B10. With a two headed monster in the back field, OSU has the firepower to hang points on anybody. Ryan Day believes this is his best shot yet for gold, but will that anteater of a coach stand in his team's way?

   
   

5. Ole Miss Rebels

   The Lane Train hoists his best roster during his time at Ole Miss and plans to take that next step of winning a big game. While every boy in Oxford is busy drooling over Kiffin’s daughters, the Rebels have started the season off with an impressive 168-9 point differential. Like years past, they don’t have to wake up until the middle of October. A stretch of LSU and Oklahoma will tell us if this team of transfers is ready to dance in the playoff.

   
   

6. Alabama Crimson Tide

   Year 1 without Saban has taken off and Bama has shown that they can create explosive plays in an instant. Struggling with South Florida raised some eyebrows but Jalen Milroe, Ryan Williams, and others appear to have brought some life to the offense. Fresh off dismantling a limp-dick Wisconsin squad, the Tide have the weekend off before they host Georgia in a game that I believe is more up in the air than most think. 

   
   

7. Miami Hurricanes

   Cam Ward, Mr. Nonchalant, has Miami high on championship aspirations. With the ACC wide open, a playoff spot is a legitimate possibility, something that hasn’t been thought about around there since Y2K. One of the more favorable schedules in the Power 4, don’t be surprised if there is a 0 in the loss column come December for the Hurricanes.  

   
   

8. Oregon Ducks

   Two weeks of agony for the Ducks were forgiven after an impressive road-win against their in-state rival. Dillon Gabriel has arguably the best WR duo in the country at his disposal, and Lanning plans to keep these boys in high gear off the momentum of last Saturday. Year 1 in a new conference, how funny it would be to become another achilles heel to Ryan Day. WHERE IS LOU HOLTZ? Shut your rosy cheeks up.

   
   

9. Missouri Tigers

   Maybe Bill O’Brien really has something brewing for Boston College, but the Tigers' struggles to close them out last week showed a lot of vulnerability. Sure, you have an elite wide receiver and sure, your quarterback probably wears calf high socks still for fun, but Missouri isn’t what they were in 2023. Naturally, you landed your bye the week before your first true test, but Mizzou will have their hands full in Kyle Field. Look for that game to legitimize any playoff claims for this team.

   
   

10. Penn State Nittany Lions

    Rounding out our initial top 10 is the most consistent program of all time. Defense stinks? Defense is good? Did Biden say he’s going to do 9/11? None of that matters because they always appear to be just on the cusp. A solid win week 1 looks less convincing now and I’m told James Franklin is still having nightmares about Bowling Green. Penn State will continue to win 9-10 games, the question is if they can finally beat a highly ranked opponent.

    
    

Others Receiving Votes:

USC Trojans

The Trojans quickly turned eyes after a Week 1 victory over LSU and have looked the part since. A visit to the Big House on Saturday looms which is a sneaky game regardless of what Texas just did there. Look for USC to sneak their way up this list if they can replicate that success.

Kansas State Wildcats

Avery Johnson and his luscious hair can take this Wildcat program far. The gripe through 2 weeks was him only having 11 carries for 77 yards. Week 3 against a ranked opponent? 17 carries for 110 yards. We know Kansas State’s brand of football and this kid can help them take that next step. 

-Zac Bryan, proud fan of the fading Gilbert Burns