College Football Rankings: Updated Coaches Poll and AP Top 25 for Big Ten

Big Ten Rivalries Highlight Week 4 in College Football

Week 4 of the college football season delivered some intense rivalry games, particularly within the Big Ten. Among the most anticipated matchups was a showdown between two ranked teams with College Football Playoff aspirations: No. 8 Illinois and No. 17 Indiana. The Hoosiers made a strong statement at home, defeating the Illini 63-10. Quarterback Fernando Mendoza played a key role, throwing for five touchdowns to lead Curt Cignetti’s team to a decisive victory.

Another notable rivalry game took place in the Pac-12, where No. 5 Oregon faced off against their former conference rival, Oregon State. The Ducks emerged victorious with a 41-7 win, thanks to an outstanding performance by quarterback Dante Moore. Oregon limited the Beavers to just 147 total yards of offense, with only 67 coming on the ground. The Ducks are set to face Penn State next week in what promises to be a top-five matchup.

Michigan's Narrow Victory Over Nebraska

In another high-stakes game, No. 20 Michigan traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska, to take on Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers. The Wolverines managed a close 30-27 win, marking their second victory under interim coach Biff Poggi. Poggi, who is filling in for suspended head coach Sherrone Moore, humorously joked about celebrating with ice cream, a cigar, and a hospital visit after the win. This victory helped solidify Michigan’s position in the rankings and provided a boost for the team as they continue their season.

Wisconsin's Struggles Continue

Meanwhile, Luke Fickell and Wisconsin faced continued challenges as the Badgers fell to Maryland 27-10 in their Big Ten opener at Camp Randall Stadium. This loss marked the first time in program history that Wisconsin lost to Maryland, adding to the pressure on the team as they look to turn things around.

Bye Weeks and Team Updates

This past week, several top-ranked teams were on bye, including Ohio State and Penn State, both of which are among the top contenders for the College Football Playoff. UCLA also had a bye week, entering Week 4 with a 0-3 record following the firing of DeShaun Foster. The team is now led by Nico Iamaleava, who will need to step up in the coming weeks.

College Football Rankings After Week 4

The results from Week 4 have significantly influenced the latest rankings in both the US LBM Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25. Here’s a breakdown of how the Big Ten teams fared:

US LBM Coaches Poll

• Ohio State (61)
• Penn State (3)
• Georgia (1)
• LSU
• Oregon (1)
• Miami (1)
• Texas
• Florida State
• Texas A&M
• Oklahoma
• Ole Miss
• Indiana
• Iowa State
• Texas Tech
• Tennessee
• Alabama
• Georgia Tech
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Vanderbilt
• Notre Dame
• USC
• Illinois
• BYU
• TCU
• Others receiving votes:
• Arizona State 104; Utah 99; Louisville 67; Mississippi State 57; Memphis 55; Auburn 48; South Florida 32; Washington 19; Navy 17; Maryland 10; Kansas 6; Syracuse 4; Houston 4; UNLV 3; Tulane 3; Nebraska 3; North Texas 2; Iowa 1

AP Top 25

• Ohio State (52)
• Miami (7)
• Penn State (5)
• LSU
• Georgia
• Oregon (1)
• Oklahoma (1)
• Florida State
• Texas A&M
• Texas
• Indiana
• Texas Tech
• Ole Miss
• Iowa State
• Tennessee
• Georgia Tech
• Alabama
• Vanderbilt
• Michigan
• Missouri
• USC
• Notre Dame
• Illinois
• TCU
• BYU
• Others receiving votes:
• Auburn 122; Mississippi State 102; South Florida 77; Utah 45; Arizona State 30; Memphis 23; Louisville 23; Maryland 6; UNLV 3; UCF 3; North Texas 2

These rankings reflect the current state of college football and highlight the competitive nature of the sport, especially within the Big Ten. As teams prepare for Week 5, fans can expect more thrilling matchups and potential shifts in the rankings.