2024 SID Sports Week 4 Rankings

Breaking down the Top 25 and players of the week after Week 4

The picture on how this season is going to shake out is starting to get clearer. Even though we didn’t get a bunch of major matchups this weekend, we still learned a ton about the Top 25 teams in the nation. Results matter, even when they’re against teams that the ones we’re discussing today should surely beat.

So let’s get into it. Who’s the Top 25 teams in the nation right now?

SID Sports Week Top 25

1. Texas 3-0 LW: 1
   UTSA didn’t prove to be much of a task for Texas, but they did get dealt a rough hand when Quinn Ewers went down with an abdominal injury in the second quarter. That injury gave Longhorn faithful a look at the future as Arch Manning tore apart the Roadrunner defense for five scores - four passing and one rushing - en route to a 56-7 shellacking. ESPN’s Max Olson is reporting that Ewers will likely miss next week’s matchup against UL-Monroe, but not much past that. Manning certainly has the talent to lead Texas to glory, but their best chance for a title rests with Ewers under center.

2. Georgia 3-0 LW: 2
   Kentucky may not be the SEC’s best program, but they’ve built a reputation for being a tough out under Mark Stoops. Georgia saw that Saturday night. The Dawgs looked like all bark and no bite for three quarters, but finally found some stability behind tailback Trevor Etienne in the fourth quarter, who single-handedly drove Georgia down to the Kentucky 29. Stoops’ Wildcats tried to battle back, but came up just short with a surrender punt. On the bright side, Georgia hasn’t allowed a touchdown in four consecutive games dating back to last season.

3. Ohio State 2-0 LW: 2
   The Buckeyes were off, but their dismantling of the MAC schools lined up across from them keeps the Number Three spot. If they played, maybe they make a jump over a Georgia team with a poor week, but they didn’t. Right now, Ohio State ranks fifth in the nation in scoring offense (54.0 points per game) and first in scoring defense (3.0 points per game). Let’s see how that plays into their Big 10 schedule.

4. Alabama 3-0 LW: 4
   Man, Jalen Milroe is good in this system. The senior quarterback posted five total scores - three passing and two rushing - in a route of Wisconsin in Madison. While that should sound impressive, Wisconsin is pretty bad, so it’s not as great of a win as it could’ve been in years past. The Badgers lost Tyler Van Dyke early and backup Braedyn Locke looked average at best against a strong Tide defense. This is a complete team that’s geared up for a major matchup brewing this weekend in Tuscaloosa.

5. Oregon 3-0 LW: 5
   Now that’s what I call a get right game. After two ugly wins over teams that shouldn’t have given them trouble, the Ducks blew the brakes off of the cross-state rival Oregon State, 49-14. Dillon Gabriel posted a stellar 99.3 QBR with 291 yards and two scores, Jordan James averaged 7.2 yards per carry wtih two scores and Tez Johnson went over the century mark. The Beaver offense couldn’t get anything going aside from an ineffective short passing game and some decent runs, but it wasn’t enough. Let’s see if the Ducks can keep this up.

6. USC 2-0 LW: 6
   USC got a week off before their first Big 10 game at Michigan next Saturday. So far this season, the Trojan offense is lights out, as expected. They rank 7th in passing yards with 336.5 through the air per game, but Miller Moss ranks 33rd in the nation with a 73.9 QBR. He’ll need his best against a quality Michigan defense. USC also posts a deceptive 10.0 points per game for 18th in the nation in scoring defense, but that’s buoyed by a shutout against Utah State. The defense does look very improved, but they’re not that good yet.

7. Missouri 3-0 LW: 11
   The Tigers get a jump after a ranked win over Boston College in what might have been the weekend’s most hyped game. While Missouri’s offense is often the story, I want to shine a light on the defense, which forced two interceptions from Thomas Castellanos, who’s done a great job taking care of the ball this season. The offense did what Missouri’s offense does - Brady Cook was lights out, Luther Burden III was unstoppable and tailback Nate Noel had his first 100-yard game with the Tigers.

8. Tennessee 3-0 LW: 7
   65-0. That was the score of Tennessee’s game against Kent State at the half. Missouri’s quality win gets them to jump ahead of the Vols, but Tennessee is still a very dangerous program. While all the hype of this offense rests on freshman Nico Iamaleava, the running game is what really makes the Vols move. Tailbacks Dylan Sampson and DeSean Bishop combined for 221 yards and six scores.

9. Penn State 2-0 LW: 8
   Like most of the Big 10’s top programs, Penn State was off last weekend. The Nittany Lions needed a week to regroup after a scare against Bowling Green and have another MAC opponent in Kent State coming to Beaver Stadium next weekend. That’ll help pad the stats some. Right now, you’ll need to stop the two-headed monster of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. If Drew Allar could get going and start getting hot, Penn State could be very dangerous.

10. Oklahoma 3-0 LW: 9
    One week after Tulane made Kansas State sweat, Oklahoma made the Green Wave look like pretenders. Jackson Arnold did what was asked of him in the air, but his 97 yards and two scores on the ground was where he was really valuable. The Sooner defense was good, as always, holding Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah to a 24.9 QBR.

11. Ole Miss 3-0 LW: 10

    When I say Ole Miss hasn’t played anyone yet, you may respond with “But Griffin, they just beat down Wake Forest!” And you’d be right. You may also come back with “But Griffin, Ole Miss has outscored their opponents 168-9 this season!” You’re also right there. But those opponents are FCS Furman, Middle Tennessee and a bad Wake Forest team. Let’s see how they are coming into the SEC slate before crowning them playoff locks.

12. Kansas State 3-0 LW: 16
    Kansas State sits in the Big 12 race’s driver's seat after a 31-7 trouncing of then-No. 18 Arizona. The Kansas State defense made Arizona look silly, holding Noah Fifita to a 45.7 QBR and keeping him out of the endzone. They couldn’t stop Tetairoa McMillan, but neither has anyone this season. Avery Johnson continues to grow into a good quarterback, taking care of the footbal and adding 110 yards on the ground in a dynamic rushing game. I’d say this is the most complete program in the Big 12.

13. Miami 3-0 LW: 14
    See: Ole Miss for why the Canes aren’t higher. They eviscerated Ball State to the tune of 62-0 and are the presumptive favorite in a down ACC. I’m interested in their matchup against USF this weekend, though. The Bulls gave Alabama some struggles and are good enough to catch Miami. But the Canes have showed all season that they’re one of the nation’s best teams - not just most talented.

14. Oklahoma State 3-0 LW: 13
    Once again, Ollie Gordon was held in check with only 41 yads on 17 carries. And once again, Alan Bowman stepped up with a 96.8 QBR with 396 yards, five touchdowns and only one pick in a 45-10 rout of Tulsa. Gordon has been ineffective at best this season, averaging only 3.5 yards per carry for what seemed like a run-heavy Cowboy offense, but Bowman has done more than enough, with a 79.6 QBR this season - the 23rd best mark in the nation. Mike Gundy’s staff has shown they can adjust each season. Does that mean that the Pokes are again an air-it-out squad?

15. Utah 3-0 LW: 12
    Despite missing Cam Rising due to a hand injury suffered against Baylor, the Utes were able to notch a three-score win over rival Utah State. Backup true freshman Isaac Wilson outplayed former Rising backup Bryson Barnes and Micah Bernard picked up the load with 123 yards and a score. The offense was humming all day, averaging 6.3 yards per carry. The defense also struck at opportune times, picking Barnes off twice before the half to steal away the Aggies’ momentum.

16. Louisville 2-0 LW: 17
    The Cardinals were off this weekend, but are they a sleeper in the ACC? Transfer Tyler Shough has had his best season so far, carrying a 83.6 QBR - ranking 12th in the nation - with six touchdowns and no picks. In fact, the entire Cardinal offense has been lethal, ranking top 15 in the nation in scoring offense (55.5 points per game, third), rushing yards (263.0 yards per game, tied for ninth), and passing yards (327.5 yards per game, 13th). Granted, they’ve played FCS Austin Peay and Jacksonville State so far, but Jeff Brohm’s squad is coming out of the gates real hot.

17. Iowa State 2-0 LW: 18
    I’ve put a lot of the onus on the Cyclone offense and quarterback Rocco Becht, but the Iowa State defense has really been the star so far. They’ve only allowed 11 points per game so far, ranking 21st in the nation. The defense is allowing the offense to shake off a slow start, but the Cyclone rushing attack needs to find its legs. The passing game isn’t good enough to consistently overcome a lackluster rushing game that’s only averaging 87.5 yards per game so far.

18. Michigan 2-1 LW: 15
    Big Blue won their game against Arkansas State handidly, desptie the close-seeming 28-18 final line. But that was with no help from Davis Warren, who completed all of his attempts, but three of his 14 passes were caught by Red Wolf defenders. Alex Orji was fine in garbage time, but it’s time to start considering getting the athletic junior more passing snaps. On the bright side, the defense played well until the starters were subbed out in the fourth quarter and the running game finally kicked in behind a 150-yard day from Kalel Mullings.

19. Memphis 3-0 LW: 21
    Memphis joins the Top 20 after a 20-12 win over Florida State in Tallahassee. Yes, the Seminoles are bad this year, but going into Doak Campbell Stadium and getting a win is hard any year. The Tiger offense wasn’t at its best, but the defense forced D.J. Uiagalelei into mistakes and comically sent the house on the game-ending hail mary attempt. Memphis’s defense was in the Florida State backfield all day, posting four sacks and a combined 12 tackles for loss. This was as one-sided as a win can be for a G5 school over one of the nation’s top brands.

20. LSU 2-1 LW: 19
    If it wasn’t for an injury to South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, we’d be having a different conversation right now. LSU’s offense sputtered in the first half, but Garrett Nussmeier and Caden Durham were able to get it back on track heading into the half and in the fourth quarter. I’m still very concerned about this LSU rush defense, which surrendered 243 total yards to the Gamecocks. If LSU doesn’t get that glaring hole fixed, the SEC schedule is going to be very tough on them.

21. Clemson 1-1 LW: 22
    The ACC is wide open, and Clemson, believe it or not, has a solid position to take the conference crown. They had a week off, so we don’t know much more about which of the two Clemson teams will show up going forward. Is it the offensively inept one that couldn’t stop Carson Beck in Week One? Or is it the high-flying, lights-out unit that made Appalachian State look like roadkill?

22. Nebraska 3-0 LW: 23
    So this Dylan Raiola kid is pretty good, isn’t he? The true freshman posted a 91.9 QBR in a 34-3 rout over FCS Northern Iowa to continue the solid start to his collegiate career. Through three games, Raiola ranks in the Top 25 with a 79.2 QBR, has tossed five touchdowns and only one interception. He’s not much of a rushing threat, but is pretty slippery in the pocket. The Huskers haven’t played much of anyone yet, but with the Big 10 slate starting this week, we’ll see what they’re truly made of.

23. Northern Illinois 2-0 LW: 25
    The Huskies got a week off before embarking on their MAC slate, which is honestly a good thing for a team coming off the high of winning in South Bend for the program’s first ever Top Five victory. Tailback Antario Brown is the engine for the Husky offense, leading the team in both rushing yards and receiving yards. Despite playing only two games, Brown ranks fourth in the nation in all-purpose yards with 169.5 yards per game. As long as he’s healthy, the Huskies have a chance against anyone.

24. Iowa 2-1 LW: Next Five Out
    Iowa rejoins the rankings after a 38-21 win over Troy. That’s right, Iowa scored 38 points on an FBS team. It’s not the high-level Troy defenses of years past, but still impressive for an offense as maligned as the Hawkeyes’. Quarterback Cade McNamara wasn’t great, but tailbacks Kaleb Johnson and Jaziun Patterson were, gashing the Trojans for three scores and 245 combined yards. The defense was elite once again, holding Troy to 24 yards on 21 carries, but wideout Devonte Ross toasted the Iowa secondary for 142 yards and two scores. They’ll need to address that soon.

25. Notre Dame 2-1 LW: Next Five Out
    Speaking of that Northern Illinois win, each one Notre Dame posts makes the Huskies look that much better. Marcus Freeman’s Irish were able to exorcise their upset-laden demons in a 66-7 domination of Purdue. The defense rendered Purdue’s offense ineffective all game, only allowing 162 yards on the day and forcing two interceptions. The Irish, on the other hand, gained 580 total yards. Riley Leonard had his best game in a gold dome with a 93.8 QBR and backup Steve Angeli posted a 92.4 QBR in relief. This was a great team win for a maligned Irish squad.

Next Five Out: Illinois, Syracuse, Texas A&M, Pittsburgh, Washington State

This is the part of the season where we talk ourselves into Illinois being a solid team. They sit at 3-0 after a drubbing of Central Michigan and have a Top 15 scoring defense to pair with a budding star wideout in Pat Bryant. They’ll head to Lincoln to take on Nebraska this week. Syracuse also got the week off and don’t have much coming down the pipe. Let’s see if their offense can stay off after a rest week. Texas A&M notched a solid victory over Florida behind backup quarterback Marcel Reed. The Aggies dominated Florida on both sides of the ball and face a potential trap game against Bowling Green before a Border War battle against Arkansas the week after. Is Pittsburgh the most resilient team in the nation? The Panthers erased a 10-point deficit with only four minutes left to win this year’s Backyard Brawl one week after a 14-point fourth quarter comeback against Cincinnati. Eli Holstein is balling out and Pitt just may have some mojo here. Finally, Washington State may have notched the most satisfying win this season, getting Apple Cup revenge over Washington for leaving them in realignment purgatory, 24-19. John Mateer was effective both in the air and on the ground and the Cougars’ defense made Will Rogers’ life difficult.

Players of the Week

Finally, let’s get into some of the best individual performances of this week.

1. Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado
   This kid is as good as advertised. On the offensive side, Hunter was the best player on the field in Colorado’s 28-9 win over Colorado State, hitting 100 yards on 13 catches and two scores. But that’s not all. Hunter plays both ways and locked down Tory Horton, only allowing two catches. The Heisman hopeful snagged an interception and defended two other passes on the night.

2. Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee
   Sampson had his way with the Golden Flashes’ defense. He only got 13 carries in the blowout win, but he made the most of them with 101 yards and four scores. With a long of only 22 yards, Sampson was just effective in the wide open rushing lanes coach Josh Heupel schemes up.

3. Alan Bowman, QB, Oklahoma State
   Bowman is the surprising driving force for the Pokes this year and he tore up Tulsa. On the road, Bowman completed 77 percent of his passes for 396 yards and five scores, posting a season best 96.8 QBR. He did toss one bad interception, but more than made up for it in the rest of his play.

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What I’m Reading:

Three-Point Stance by Tyler Schuster: Three-Point Stance is your favorite independent college football newsletter. Come for in-depth analysis and bold commentary, stay for the jokes and memes. An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.

An idea hatched after years of 12-hour days glued to the couch, Tyler Schuster puts his passion for the sport on full display, delivering big-picture ideas, weekly previews and gambling nuggets directly to your inbox.

House Blocking Analysis by Matt Wilson: They say games are won and lost in the trenches. Matt's going to break down exactly how it's done through great film breakdowns and write ups. I used to write with Matt for a Cleveland Browns site, so I know personally that he's going to churn out quality content you won't want to miss!

Split Zone Duo by Alex Kirshner, Steven Godfrey, and Richard Johnson: You can't beat Alex, Richard and Godfrey. They're on the front lines breaking news and creating the best content in the game. I 100 percent recommend SZD for anyone into college football and Steven Godfrey hating your team. They’re mostly a podcast publication, but sometimes being able to listen to three well-informed guys talking about college football is what you need in your life.

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