Week 4 College Football: Russell, Smith Shine as Upsets Reshuffle Rankings
Alabama’s Keelon Russell and Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith led PFF’s Week 4 awards, while a slate of upsets involving Ole Miss, Penn State, and Michigan significantly altered the AP Poll landscape.
Key points
- PFF named Alabama QB Keelon Russell (21/27, 365 yards, 4 TDs) and Ohio State WR Jeremiah Smith (217 yards, 4 TDs) as top offensive performers.
- Bowling Green edge defender Myles Bradley earned defensive honors with six sacks and two forced fumbles in 22 pass-rushing snaps.
- Ole Miss suffered a 52-28 loss to Florida, while Penn State and Michigan fell to unranked opponents, triggering major ranking shifts.
- LSU defeated Texas A&M 35-6, and Oregon beat USC 41-27 despite starting QB Dante Moore’s injury.
- NCAA.com notes that Florida’s win over Ole Miss could propel them into the top 10, while LSU may overtake Ole Miss despite a prior loss.
Background
Following Week 1 highlights featuring Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, and Week 3 previews predicting six ranked matchups, Week 4 delivered the season’s most competitive slate. Prior archives noted expectations for close contests between Texas, Oregon, and LSU, which materialized in significant upsets and ranking volatility.
How outlets are covering it
PFF emphasized individual statistical dominance, highlighting Russell’s 14.3% big-time throw rate and Smith’s 6.38 yards per route run. NCAA.com focused on the broader implications for the AP Poll, noting that Ole Miss’s 52-28 loss to Florida and Penn State’s defeat by Wisconsin could drop both teams from the top 10. NCAA.com also highlighted that LSU’s 35-6 rout of Texas A&M might allow them to overtake Ole Miss in the rankings despite a previous loss to the Rebels. ESPN’s source was unavailable due to a 403 error, so no additional perspective could be synthesized from that outlet.
Why it matters
The Week 4 results significantly altered the College Football Playoff landscape, with multiple top-10 teams losing or falling in the rankings. Florida’s potential rise to the top 10 and LSU’s movement ahead of Ole Miss demonstrate the volatility of the early season, while PFF’s awards highlight the continued dominance of Alabama and Ohio State in individual performance metrics.
What to watch
The AP Poll will be released on Sunday, reflecting the impact of Week 4’s upsets. Teams like Florida, LSU, and Mississippi State may see significant ranking changes, while Ole Miss and Penn State face potential drops. Future weeks will determine whether these early-season shifts hold or if the rankings stabilize.
- College Football Week 4: Team of the Week, Player Awards PFF
- What we know through CFB's Week 4, plus Kamario Taylor's rise and Michigan's karma ESPN
- College football Week 4: Recaps, highlights, rankings and scores NCAA.com
- Every college football Top 25 score and result from Week 4’s games - The Athletic The New York Times
- College football scores, results: Oregon tops USC, Texas hangs on to beat Tennessee in Week 4 action Yahoo Sports
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