<body><div><h2>A thrilling weekend of college football led to major changes atop the poll.</h2>There's never an off-week in college football. The final weekend of non-conference play for several of the nation's biggest programs exceeded expectations and <a href="https://247sports.com/longformarticle/college-football-bowl-projections-in-week-4-texas-ohio-state-improve-seed-kansas-state-leaps-236190788/">ruffled bowl projections</a> behind several big upsets and other unexpected results, including a pair of one-score games for top-10 teams. The AP Top 25 reflected the action in its rankings for Week 4 as Texas usurped Georgia for the No. 1 ranking in the poll after a 56-7 win over UTSA Saturday.Texas, which earned a top-10 victory with its blowout win over Michigan last week, topped the AP poll for the first time since the Longhorns' 2008 season.Kentucky nearly stunned top-ranked Georgia in Lexington on Saturday night before falling, 13-12. It was the closest a team not named Alabama has come to beating the Bulldogs in the regular season since 2020. There are new concerns over Mike Bobo's offense coming out of the game, but Dawgs247's Jordan Hill said the scare on the road could be <a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia/article/column-scare-on-the-road-could-be-just-what-georgia-needed-236315330/">"just what Georgia needed."</a>Here's the updated AP Top 25 rankings ahead of Week 4:<h2>1. TEXAS LONGHORNS (3-0) | First-Place Votes: 35</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3GEtjN_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3GEtjN_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Tim Warner, USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat UTSA, 56-7Texas is averaging 516.0 yards of offense and holding opponents to 6.3 points through the first three weeks of the season. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers went 14-of-16 for 185 yards with two touchdowns before an oblique injury led to an <a href="https://247sports.com/college/texas/article/arch-manning-shines-in-relief-of-injured-starting-qb-quinn-ewers-in-no-2-texas-footballs-56-7-win-over-utsa-236278752/">explosive, five-touchdown performance from backup Arch Manning</a>."The explosiveness came alive tonight, which was something we were hoping to be able to do to create some explosive pass plays," coach Steve Sarkisian said after the game. "It had been efficient the first couple of weeks, but to create the explosive pass plays was big for us."<h2>2. GEORGIA BULLDOGS (3-0) | First-Place Votes: 23</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Nb3lY_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Nb3lY_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Benjamin Wolk, 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Kentucky, 13-12Georgia's offense wasn't clicking in a near-loss at Kentucky on Saturday night. Quarterback Carson Beck threw for just 160 yards, while the Bulldogs' rushing attack averaged 3.7 yards per carry. <a href="https://247sports.com/college/georgia/article/georgia-defense-holds-steady-to-set-stage-for-road-victory-236313645/">The defense saved the day</a>, allowing just 284 yards of offense and forcing four field goals. It marked Georgia's fourth-consecutive game without allowing a single touchdown."It was a bend but don't break scenario," coach Kirby Smart said after the game. "Glenn Schumann and the defensive staff did a tremendous job game planning. He called a really good game. He helped our players. I'm proud of the way they played. They bowed their neck when they had to."<h2>3. OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (2-0) | First-Place Votes: 5</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2WNZIw_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2WNZIw_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Jason Mowry, Getty)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: OpenOhio State rushed for six touchdowns and passed for two more in a <a href="https://247sports.com/college/ohio-state/longformarticle/ohio-state-football-improves-to-2-0-with-win-over-western-michigan-broncos-235846642/">blowout win over Western Michigan</a> in Week 2. The Buckeyes come out of a bye to face Marshall (1-1) in Week 4. "We have to keep bringing it every single day," coach Ryan Day said last week. "It's just the beginning. I know everybody's excited about how we played the last couple games, but it's just like anything else. Whether it's criticism or praise, it's all noise. And so we can't get caught up in any of that stuff, and we've got to get back to work, have a great week of practice and keep moving forward."<h2>4. ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1bkc3X_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1bkc3X_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Stuart McNair, 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Wisconsin, 42-10Alabama handed Wisconsin a <a href="https://247sports.com/college/alabama/article/alabama-gave-wisconsin-a-good-old-fashioned-ass-whooping-coach-says-236318966/">"good, old-fashioned a**-whooping"</a> in Madison on Saturday, according to Badgers coach Luke Fickell. Quarterback Jalen Milroe completed 12-of-17 passes for 196 yards and three touchdowns, and ran 14 times for 75 yards and two scores. He had time to throw behind a healthy offensive line and found freshman phenom Ryan Williams four times for a team-high 78 yards and a touchdown. The Crimson Tide defense held Wisconsin to a season-low 290 yards and forced two turnovers.<h2>5. OLE MISS REBELS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3FmUKR_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FmUKR_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Ole Miss Athletics )</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Wake Forest, 40-6Quarterback Jaxson Dart threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns and running back Henry Parrish logged 23 carries for 148 yards and two scores as Ole Miss routed Wake Forest on Saturday. The Rebels kept a third-consecutive opponent out of the end zone, the first time that has happened through the first three games of a season since 1961. Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin informed reporters after the game that the <a href="https://247sports.com/college/ole-miss/article/ole-miss-wake-forest-football-matchup-for-2025-axed-236312580/">Demon Deacons decided to axe their 2025 matchup with the Rebels</a>."It was a good message for our players," Kiffin said. "Someone was willing to pay money not to play us. It says a lot about where our program is right now."<h2>6. TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2eglyk_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2eglyk_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Brianna Paciorka/Knoxville News Sentinel, USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Kent State, 71-0Tennessee exploded for a school-record 37 first-quarter points en route to a historic shutout of Kent State on Saturday. The Volunteers led 65-0 at halftime behind four touchdowns from running back Dylan Sampson and set a modern-day record with 71 total points at the end of the game."At the end of the day, we played good football early," <a href="https://247sports.com/college/tennessee/longformarticle/josh-heupel-tennessee-vols-football-everything-head-coach-said-after-71-0-win-against-kent-state-golden-flashes-236312526/#2489526">coach Josh Heupel said after the game</a>. "Came out and played good football in the second half and got a win."<h2>7. MISSOURI TIGERS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4cBnXm_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4cBnXm_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Wesley Hitt, Getty)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Boston College, 27-21Missouri trailed by double-digits early but scored 24-consecutive points to secure its first ranked win of the season. The Tigers have now won a school-record, 19-consecutive home games over non-conference opponents and are riding the nation's longest win streak at seven games."I am really proud of the football team today," coach Eli Drinkwitz said after the game. "Was not pretty, wasn't our best performance top to bottom, but we really responded. We hadn't been challenged all year. I was concerned, with so many new faces, about what our response would be. You saw a team that's committed to each other, responds and is never out of a fight."<h2>8. MIAMI HURRICANES (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2BPpj4_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2BPpj4_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Getty)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Ball State, 62-0The Hurricanes dominated from start to finish Saturday against Ball State, pitching its largest-ever shutout against an FBS opponent. Miami gained a program-record of 750 total yards, averaging 10.6 yards per play. Its 159 points through the first three games are a program record."From start to finish, we became a better football team," <a href="https://247sports.com/college/miami/longformarticle/everything-mario-cristobal-miami-hurricanes-football-said-following-win-over-ball-state-cardinals--236258960/">coach Mario Cristobal said after the game</a>. "We left the field different than how we entered. Just finishing drives, getting them off the field on three-and-outs. Our third-down defense continued to play at a high level and got a shutout. Really good performance."<h2>9. OREGON DUCKS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0L3uSO_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0L3uSO_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Eugene Johnson, 247Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Oregon State, 49-14Oregon had its most complete game of the season in its rivalry win over Oregon State. The Ducks racked up 546 yards of offense and shut out the Beavers in the second half. Dave Lanning and Co. have plenty of momentum entering a bye week, and then the start of Big Ten Conference play."We played to our standard today," <a href="https://247sports.com/longformarticle/oregon-ducks-football-dan-lanning-transcript-after-win-over-oregon-state-football-236278244/#2489158">Lanning said after the game</a>. "This was a great opportunity. I love the fact that we could go in a hostile environment and perform this way. That's our standard. That's our expectation."<h2>10. PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS (2-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2q05iG_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2q05iG_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Grace Brennan-Lions247)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: OpenPenn State had a much-needed bye week after a near loss at home to Bowling Green in Week 2. "We've got some work to do, but it's nice doing that work with a win," coach <a href="https://247sports.com/college/penn-state/longformarticle/penn-state-coach-james-franklin-bowling-green-postgame-press-conference-transcript-235815506/">James Franklin said after the 34-27 win over Bowling Green</a>. "There's a ton of teams across the country that will be trying to make corrections after a loss, and we got to make a bunch of corrections after a win. Obviously we've got some work to do."<h2>11. USC TROJANS (2-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2olzZS_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2olzZS_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Open<a href="https://247sports.com/college/usc/article/lincoln-rileys-usc-trojans-football-program-building-maturity-through-consistency-easton-mascarenas-arnold-danton-lynn-anthony-lucas-236089813/">USC's revitalized defense</a> under D'Anton Lynn pitched its first shutout since 2011 in a 48-0 victory over Utah State in Week 2 and got back to work during the bye week. The Trojans have a big-time matchup at Michigan in Week 4."Lynn is patient, very organized and he's always very prepared," USC coach Lincoln Riley said last week. "He just has a unique ability to take things that aren't simple and make them really, really simple. Our guys take a lot of confidence from that. He's got a great staff around him and a lot of synergy with that group right now. It's been fun to see how they are all operating together."<h2>12. UTAH UTES (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4C4Cys_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4C4Cys_0vXNKJrh00" width="619" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Blair Angulo, Getty)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Utah State, 38-21Utah battled back from a slow start to surge past Utah State ahead of the start of Big 12 play in Week 4. It's the second-straight season the Utes have started 3-0 and the ninth time under coach Kyle Whittingham. Star quarterback Cam Rising sat with injury, leading to the first career start for true freshman Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of former BYU signal-caller Zach Wilson. The former four-star recruit completed 20-of-33 passes for 239 yards and three touchdowns with an interception.<h2>13. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0VAKdM_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0VAKdM_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Kansas State Athletics Media Relations, Getty)</figcaption></figure>Friday's result: Beat Arizona, 31-7Quarterback Avery Johnson had his best performance of the season as Kansas State blew out Arizona for its first ranked win of the season. Johnson threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a career-high 110 yards as the Wildcats picked up their first regular-season home win over a ranked non-conference opponent since 2002."That was the loudest I've ever heard The Bill," coach Chris Klieman said after the game. "I knew they were going to be cranked up when I came in the parking lot. They were electric tonight, and they helped us win that football game."<h2>14. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Y7Ozj_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Y7Ozj_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Tulsa, 45-10Seventh-year quarterback Alan Bowman sat out the fourth quarter but still matched a career-high with five touchdown passes in Oklahoma State's rout of Tulsa. Bowman's five touchdown passes tie the most in the FBS this season against an FBS opponent."Alan misfired on a couple of balls, but he's throwing a lot of passes," <a href="https://247sports.com/college/oklahoma-state/longformarticle/heres-everything-oklahoma-state-head-coach-mike-gundy-said-after-defeating-tulsa-45-10-236256605/#2488997">coach Mike Gundy said after the game</a>. "There's an extra guy in the box pretty much every snap. Our coaching staff did a better job this week of exploiting those areas instead of just trying to beat our head against a wall running it. For the most part, I thought Bowman was pretty good."<h2>15. OKLAHOMA SOONERS (3-0)</h2><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1HLF17_0vXNKJrh00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1HLF17_0vXNKJrh00" width="620" height="320" ><figcaption>(Photo: Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman, USA TODAY Sports)</figcaption></figure>Saturday's result: Beat Tulane, 34-19Oklahoma won its 48th-consecutive game over an unranked non-conference opponent with a strong win over a feisty Tulane team on Saturday. Quarterback Jackson Arnold had his best game of the season. He threw for 169 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a career-high 97 yards and two scores. "I like to run the ball," Arnold said after the game. "It's just who I am. We just take what the defense gives us. It's a big advantage for the offense."16. LSU TIGERS (2-1)Saturday's result: Beat South Carolina, 36-33The Tigers overcame a 17-point, first-half deficit to win its eighth-straight against South Carolina.17. NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH (2-1)Saturday's result: Beat Purdue, 66-7Notre Dame needed a statement win after its embarrassing loss to NIU last week and treated fans to its biggest-ever beatdown of Purdue (86 total meetings).18. MICHIGAN WOLVERINES (2-1)Saturday's result: Beat Arkansas State, 28-18Michigan got back in the win column but had to bench starting quarterback Davis Warren to do so. Warren threw for 122 yards and three interceptions before giving way to Alex Orji. <a href="https://247sports.com/college/michigan/article/we-had-to-make-a-change-sherrone-moore-explains-benching-warren-for-orji-michigans-qb-plan-moving-forward-236269255/">"We had to make a change,"</a> coach Sherrone Moore said after the game.19. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (2-0)Saturday's result: OpenLouisville beat Jacksonville State, 49-14, before its bye this week.20. IOWA STATE CYCLONES (2-0)Saturday's result: OpenIowa State hopped into the AP Top 25 after its thrilling win in the Cy-Hawk rivalry series in Week 2 and got some rest this week.21. CLEMSON TIGERS (1-1)Saturday's result: OpenClemson shook off its season-opening debacle against Georgia with a strong win over App State in Week 2. The Tigers have had a week to game-plan for NC State on Saturday.22. NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS (3-0)Saturday's result: Beat Northern Iowa, 34-3Nebraska is 3-0 for the first time since 2016 and has won each game by at least 18 points.23. NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES (2-0)Saturday's result: OpenA win over Notre Dame got Northern Illinois in the AP Top 25 last week.24. ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI (3-0)Saturday's result: Beat Central Michigan, 30-9Illinois improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011 with a big win over Central Michigan.25. TEXAS A&amp;M AGGIES (2-1)Saturday's result: Beat Florida, 33-20</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

AP Top 25 rankings: Texas overtakes Georgia for No. 1, multiple teams enter after dramatic Week 3

A thrilling weekend of college football led to major changes atop the poll. There's never an off-week in college football. The final weekend of non-conference play for several of the nation's biggest programs exceeded expectations and ruffled bowl projections behind several big upsets and other unexpected results, including a pair of one-score games for top-10 teams. The AP Top 25 reflected the action in its rankings for Week 4 as Texas usurped Georgia for the No. 1 ranking in the poll after a 56-7 win over UTSA Saturday.

AP Top 25 rankings: Texas overtakes Georgia for No. 1, multiple teams enter after dramatic Week 3

Comments / 0