Monday, September 28, 2026 300 stories · 2676 outlet reports compared

College football power rankings shuffle after Week 4 upsets

After a chaotic Week 4 slate, Florida surged into the top 10 following a blowout win over Ole Miss, while Michigan and USC fell out of the rankings and Colorado slipped again in the Big 12.

By The Lumen desk · Sept 28, 2026 · 1 min read
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What we know
1 Florida moved into the top 10 after a blowout win over Ole Miss, according to CBS Sports and The Washington Post.
2 Michigan fell out of top-25 projections, as reported by CBS Sports and Fox Sports.
3 Colorado lost to Baylor and fell again in Big 12 power rankings, according to Yahoo Sports.
4 BYU remained the No. 1 team in the Big 12 after Week 4, per Yahoo Sports.
5 Four teams joined the rankings, according to The Washington Post; Fox Sports reported three new teams in its own rankings.

College football power rankings and top 25 projections underwent significant changes after Week 4, with Florida making one of the biggest moves after a lopsided win over Ole Miss, according to multiple outlets.

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Michigan and Penn State were projected to fall out of the top 25 by CBS Sports, while Fox Sports and CBS Sports both reported Michigan dropping; Fox Sports also noted USC falling and LSU rising.

In the Big 12, Yahoo Sports reported that BYU remained No. 1 while Colorado fell again after a loss to Baylor, and Utah climbed in the rankings.

The New York Post reported a shakeup in Big Ten power rankings, with Indiana stepping back after a close game and Iowa making a statement, though it did not specify Iowa's opponent or score.

Fox Sports' rankings, compiled by RJ Young, noted three new teams entering the rankings amid the week's movement.

How each side covered it

Left

1 outlet
  • The Washington Post reported Florida entering the top 10 rankings.
  • The outlet noted four teams joining the rankings overall.

“Florida flies into the top 10 as four teams join the rankings” — The Washington Post

Center

2 outlets
  • Yahoo Sports reported Colorado's second straight fall in Big 12 rankings after losing to Baylor.
  • Yahoo Sports noted BYU remained No. 1 and Utah climbed in the Big 12.
  • CBS Sports reported Florida's blowout win over Ole Miss fueling its rise into the top 10.
  • CBS Sports projected Michigan and Penn State falling out of the rankings.

“Florida's blowout win over Ole Miss sparks a massive climb, while the Wolverines and Nittany Lions are projected to be on the outside looking in” — CBS Sports

Right

2 outlets
  • The New York Post reported Indiana stepping back after a close game.
  • The New York Post said Iowa made a statement amid a Big Ten rankings shakeup.
  • Fox Sports reported Florida and LSU rising while Michigan and USC fell.
  • Fox Sports noted three new teams entering RJ Young's rankings.

“College Football Rankings: Florida, LSU Up; Michigan, USC Fall — Plus 3 New Teams” — Fox Sports

Questions readers ask

What happened in college football rankings after Week 4?

Multiple outlets reported major shifts in college football power rankings, with Florida surging into the top 10 after a win over Ole Miss while Michigan and other teams fell out of contention, according to CBS Sports, Fox Sports and The Washington Post.

Why did Florida move up in the rankings?

CBS Sports reported that Florida's blowout win over Ole Miss sparked a major climb in rankings projections.

What happened to Colorado in the Big 12 rankings?

According to Yahoo Sports, Colorado fell again in Big 12 power rankings after losing to Baylor, while BYU stayed at No. 1 and Utah climbed.

Did the Big Ten rankings change too?

The New York Post reported a shakeup in Big Ten power rankings, with Indiana stepping back after a close game and Iowa making a statement.

Which teams fell out of the rankings?

CBS Sports and Fox Sports both reported that Michigan dropped out of top-25 projections; CBS Sports also noted Penn State falling, and Fox Sports reported USC falling.

Sources · 5 outlet reports

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