W2Mnet College Football Top 25: Week Four

A thrilling week of College Football gave plenty of top teams a few scares. While others continued to show their dominance of the landscape. One key loss for LSU left Les Miles without a job. The Wisconsin Badgers soundly defeated the Michigan State Spartans to prove they deserve their spot. Ole Miss did the same to the Georgia Bulldogs and the Louisville Cardinals and Clemson Tigers both win big before their massive showdown next week too. The rest is all in the W2Mnet College Football Top 25: Week Four.

#1 Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 4-0

Like a lot teams this week Alabama faced a lesser talented school that they should have had no problem beating.  What did they do?  They just came out and pitched a 48-0 shut-out that was even worse than the score seemed.  Right now, I think that Alabama would be favored against any team in the nation.  They have what should be an easy game next week against UK, but then they go on the road against Arkansas and Tennessee.  The next three weeks will be critical for Alabama to see if they stay on top of the rankings. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: vs Kentucky)

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes

Record: 3-0

The Buckeyes had the week off but due to their previous results they clearly deserve to stay in the number two spot in the rankings. – Brandon Biskobing

(Next Week: vs Rutgers)

#3 Louisville Cardinals

Record: 4-0

Lamar Jackson throws for five touchdowns and runs for two more, as the Louisville Cardinals maul Marshall 59-28.  The Louisville defense only really allowed seven points, as the backup quarterback was put into the game in the fourth quarter. Thus granting Marshall a few more possessions. Brandon Ratcliff adds 131 yards and a TD on the ground to make it another astounding overall performance. Louisville have a huge game next week against Clemson. – Sean Garmer

(Next Week: @ Clemson)

#4 Clemson Tigers

Record: 4-0

The Clemson Tigers had the early game this week and they wasted no time showing everyone that they are back to their regular form. DeShaun Watson took it to Georgia Tech early and the defense made sure that there was no chance of a comeback. Watson finished with two touchdowns, Wayne Gallman added another on the ground, and Clemson coasted to a 26-7 victory in Atlanta, Georgia. A place the Tigers hadn’t won since 2003. How good was the defense? They didn’t allow a score until ten minutes left in the fourth quarter. Clemson has a critical match-up with Louisville next week, which could shift the balance of power in the ACC Atlantic Division depending on the result. – Sean Garmer

(Next Week: vs Louisville)

#5 Michigan Wolverines

Record: 4-0

The Wolverines thoroughly dominated Penn State by a score of 49 to 10 in their first Big Ten test.  The run game was in full force, with Michigan scoring six touchdowns on the ground. – Brandon Biskobing

(Next Week: vs Wisconsin)

#6 Houston Cougars

Record: 4-0

The Cougars kept rolling along with a monstrous 64-3 win over Texas State. Greg Ward Jr. threw for 289 yards for 2 touchdowns while rushing for another touchdown. While Texas State might not be the most formidable opponent, Houston didn’t let them even slow the momentum they’ve been on since beating Florida State in the Peach Bowl last season. With conference play in the American and a date with Louisville down the line, Houston is firing on all cylinders. – Noah Mooney

(Next Week: vs Connecticut)

#7 Wisconsin Badgers

Record: 4-0

The Badgers move past Michigan State in the rankings after destroying the Spartans in East Lansing 30 to 6.  The defense was the key to the Badgers victory, getting four turnovers, including a fumble recovery by Leo Musso that he returned 66 yards for a touchdown. – Brandon Biskobing

(Next Week: @ Michigan)

#8 Stanford Cardinal

Record: 3-0

Stanford was pushed to the limit in a tough Pac-12 game on the road against UCLA, but they came out victorious.  Ryan Burns connected with JJ Arcega-Whiteside with 24 seconds remaining on an eight yard touchdown pass for the winning score.  A fumble return at the end of the game was tacked on as well, but Stanford did what they needed to do to stay in the Top 10 this week.  Burns and the passing game still has some work to do, but the Cardinal rely on Christian McCaffrey on offense and that defense to win games. – Randy Isbelle

(Next Week: @ Washington)

#9  Tennessee Volunteers

Record: 4-0

This Tennessee team is a Jekyll and Hyde team.  During the first half the offense cannot get started, but then in the second half they come out and can’t be stopped.  Tennessee went into halftime down 21-3 against Florida.  By the time the game was over, Tennessee won by a score of 38-28, and Florida only scored in the fourth quarter because Tennessee started playing prevent defense.  Tennessee just started one of the toughest stretches of a schedule in all of college football.  After Florida, Tennessee travels to Georgia who will be looking for revenge for last year, to Texas A&M, and then back home to face Alabama.  We will learn a lot more about this Tennessee team in the next three weeks. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: @ Georgia)

#10 Washington Huskies

Record: 4-0

The Huskies were pushed to overtime in a road contest with the Wildcats, but came out with the victory.  In a game that was so back and forth that neither team held more than a touchdown lead the entire game, it was fitting that they needed extra time.  In overtime, it took the Huskies four plays to find the endzone before stopping Arizona at the 11 yard line.  – Randy Isbelle

(Next Week: vs Stanford)

#11 Texas A&M Aggies

Record: 4-0

What a difference a month can make.  This time four weeks ago the Aggies’ coach was on one of the hottest seats in college football.  Now, after some high profile wins, the Aggies are seen by some as a team that could upset Alabama and win the west.  While that is going a bit far, Texas A&M have certainly raised eyebrows so far this season and will continue to do so. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: @ South Carolina)

#12 Baylor Bears

Record: 4-0

The Baylor Bears took down the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a close game. Even though Baylor did not pull away until the fourth quarter, the Bears controlled most of the game. Their defense made big plays and created key turnovers. Seth Russell lead the team to a victory with four touchdowns. A big thorn in Oklahoma State’s side was Ishmael Zamora catching everything when it was needed most. Baylor is still impressing critics who had wrote them off. – Gary Vaughan

(Next Week: @ Iowa State)

#13 Florida State Seminoles

Record: 3-1

South Florida took the lead twice in the fourth quarter and fans started to wonder if a repeat of last week was on the cards. However, Dalvin Cook took over and led the team not only in rushing with 267 yards, but also in receiving as well. Those 267 yards, are a career high for Cook, who was an absolute force against Marshall. Deondre Francois was back to himself as well with a passing and a 35 yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to add to the lead. An organized rushing attack, along with a stout defense kept USF off the board again until late in the third quarter. This allowed Florida State to put the game away by half-time easily. Florida State now moves into a tough two game stretch, as they face North Carolina and Miami back to back. – Sean Garmer

(Next Week: vs North Carolina)

#14 Miami Hurricanes

Record: 3-0

Miami had the week off, as they prepare for their first taste of ACC play against Georgia Tech next week. – Sean Garmer

(Next Week: @ Georgia Tech)

#15 Nebraska Cornhuskers

Record: 4-0

The Cornhuskers rolled into Chicago and beat Northwestern by a score of 24 to 13.  Tommy Armstrong Jr. led Nebraska in the win, throwing for 246 yards and rushing for a career-high 132 yards. – Brandon Biskobing

(Next Week: vs Illinois)

#16 Michigan State Spartans

Record: 2-1

On the flip side, Tyler O’Connor had a horrendous game, throwing three interceptions.  The Spartans couldn’t get anything going offensively, not scoring a touchdown and having to settle for two field goals for their only points of the game. – Brandon Biskobing

(Next Week: @ Indiana)

#17 Boise State Broncos

Record: 3-0

The Broncos came off of a Bye Week very strong, leading the Beavers of Oregon State at halftime 31-7. They finished the game 38-24 with Brett Rypien throwing for 215 yards and a touchdown, while Junior Jeremy McNichols had a career day rushing for 208 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Boise State continues beating on Power 5 teams, as it has become accustomed to doing. – Noah Mooney

(Next Week: vs Utah State)

#18 Ole Miss Rebels

Record: 2-2

Yes, they have two losses.  Why are they ranked then?  Their losses have come to Florida State and Alabama, two top five teams at the time they played them.  Ole Miss looks to be improving week to week, and no team in the country wants to face them.  They are going to make a lot of noise in the SEC West the rest of the year. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: vs Memphis)

#19 Florida Gators

Record: 3-1

Florida lost to a ranked team on the road with a backup quarterback.  That isn’t a huge deal.  What is bad is the way they lost.  After taking a 21-3 lead into halftime Florida did not score again until the 4th Quarter against a prevent defense.  It was not just Florida’s offense that vanished after halftime, but their defense as well.  If Florida can have consistent play on both sides of the football they will be a tough team to beat. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: @ Vanderbilt)

#20 Utah Utes

Record: 4-0

Do not sleep on the Utes from Utah.  They don’t blow teams out but they a driven team who finds a way to get the win.  The Utes were down 10 against USC after the Trojans kicked a field goal five seconds into the 4th quarter, but never backed down.  Utah scored the final 14 points of the game, including a 18 yard touchdown pass from Troy Williams to Tim Patrick with just 16 seconds remaining to record the comeback victory.  Utah’s two 4th quarter drives combined for 26 plays, went 168 yards and took 10:31 off the clock.  That is a sign of a poised team who knows they can get the job done when it matters. – Randy Isbelle

(Next Week: @ California)

#21 Texas Longhorns

Record: 2-1

The Texas Longhorns had a much needed Bye Week after losing to Cal in a shootout last weekend. Now, they will turn their attention to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. If Texas wants to stay in the poll, they will need to be better defensively coming out of their Bye. – Gary Vaughan

(Next Week: @ Oklahoma State)

#22 Georgia Bulldogs

Record: 3-1

Georgia just got destroyed by Ole Miss on the road.  This was not a pretty loss by Georgia, and was compounded by their running back Chubb possibly re-injuring his ankle.  Next week will tell if Georgia is truely a Top 25 team when they host Tennessee. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: vs Tennessee)

#23 Arkansas Razorbacks

Record: 3-1

Arkansas was right in the game against Texas A&M until the fourth quarter when the Aggies started to pull away.  That being said, Arkansas is still a dangerous and talented team.  Like last year, no one wants to play against them because they have the ability to beat any team any week. – Daniel Anderson

(Next Week: vs Alcorn State)

#24 Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 3-1

The Hawkeyes went east and beat Rutgers in a tough fought, close defensive game 14 to 7.  The decisive moment came when Brandon Snyder forced and then recovered a fumble in the fourth quarter.  The Hawkeyes took advantage right away, scoring on the first offensive play with a 26 yard run by Akrum Wadley. – Brandon Biskobing

(Next Week: vs Northwestern)

#25 Oklahoma Sooners

Record: 1-2

The Baylor Bears took down the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a close game. Even though Baylor did not pull away until the fourth quarter, the Bears controlled most of the game. Their defense made big plays and created key turnovers. Seth Russell lead the team to a victory with four touchdowns. A big thorn in Oklahoma State’s side was Ishmael Zamora catching everything when it was needed most. Baylor is still impressing critics who had wrote them off. – Gary Vaughan

(Next Week: @ TCU)