By: George Ahearn

Now that the dust has settled following the myriad high-profile games the college football world was blessed with in Week 4, it feels like the appropriate time to release the first rendition of this season’s power rankings. 

Through four weeks, we have seen enough to know which teams hold legitimate title aspirations, and which ranked teams are simply blowing in the wind, waiting for someone to come and cut out their sail…

1. Texas Longhorns (4-0)

That’s right, the best team in college football resides in Austin, TX, not Athens, GA. The Longhorns have been humming to start the season, yet this Texas team is a serious national title contender unlike their teams of the past whom we’ve put on a pedestal too early into the season. Quinn Ewers is a top quarterback in the nation, while Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy make up the best receiver room in college football; moreover, the only team they have surrendered more than ten points to is Alabama, whom the Longhorns took down 34-24 in Tuscaloosa. They have the best win in college football and thus deserve to be the top-ranked team. 

2. Georgia Bulldogs (4-0)

Although Georgia looked sluggish in their opening SEC contest against South Carolina, this is still a Kirby Smart-led team, and they are still back-to-back defending champions. After waltzing through the cupcake that was their out-of-conference schedule, we will see what this ‘Dawgs team is truly made of as SEC play ramps up. My prediction? The same Georgia team we have become accustomed to seeing over the last couple years.

Kirby Smart is knocking on the door of the title of the nation’s best coach (perhaps indisputably), and I expect him to have his troops ready for any challenge they face. QB Carson Beck will continue to settle in and Georgia will continue to get better. It’s a trend we’ve seen during the Kirby Smart era and a trend I don’t plan to bet against. 

3. Michigan Wolverines (4-0)

The Wolverines managed to navigate their treacherous non-conference schedule despite the absence of head coach Jim Harbaugh, who was enduring a school-imposed, four-game suspension for recruiting violations. While yes, this is sarcasm (the Wolverines played ECU, UNLV, Bowling Green, and Rutgers to open the season), the Wolverines may have their best team ever under Harbaugh. After suffering a gut-wrenching CFP semifinal loss to TCU last season, this Michigan team is vying for vengeance, and late season matchups at No. 6 Penn State and v. No. 4 Ohio State will most certainly determine their fate. I expect the Maize and Blue to roll all season long and find themselves in that CFP conversation come decision day. 

4. Washington Huskies (4-0)

In its dwindling years, the PAC-12 may be the top football conference in America, and the Washington Huskies may be the best team within this elite conference. In the Huskies’ four games, they have won by a combined score of 199-68. If that sounds insane, it’s because it is. The leader of this Huskies squad is QB Michael Penix Jr., who has played his way into the Heisman conversations partly due to the three-headed monster Washington currently has at the wide receiver position.

Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk are a matchup nightmare for any secondary, and this high-potent offense will continue to lead the Huskies to victory. 

5. Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0)

The Buckeyes narrowly escaped South Bend with a 17-14 win, coming from a last-second run up the middle for a touchdown in which Notre Dame only had ten men on the field – actually, they had ten men out there two plays in a row. Yet, a win is a win, and this victory is massive for Ohio State’s CFP hopes. The Buckeyes have looked sluggish on offense to start the season, yet this is a trend we have witnessed with Ryan Day’s teams.

However, the defense may be the stoutest it has been in years, conceding only 34 total points through four games. More impressively, they held the Notre Dame offense, who came into the contest averaging 46 points per game, to a measly 14 points. The defense will win them games, and the offense will come alive. Just be patient, Buckeyes fans. 

6. Penn State Nittany Lions (4-0)

After suffering many trials and tribulations, everything may have finally come together for James Franklin and the Nittany Lions. Penn State just came off a white-out victory against No. 24 Iowa, whom they held to zero total points. A fat goose egg, and yes, Brian Ferentz’s offense is still inept. They have a tenacious defense, yet that’s a characteristic expected of Penn State football.

However, what is new for this team is having elite talent at the quarterback position. Sophomore Drew Allar has lived up to the hype in his first season at the helm, throwing for 900 yards with eight touchdowns and zero interceptions through four games. Penn State always missed having an elite, top-end QB, a true gunslinger (sorry, McSorley and Clifford). Now with Allar, the Nittany Lions have their eyes set on more than a B10 Championship; they’re a team that believes they can win it all. 

7. Florida State Seminoles (4-0)

After an overtime victory in Death Valley, the Seminoles are in perfect position to make their first College Football Playoff since Jameis Winston was in town. Jordan Travis is playing the best football of his career, and Mike Norvell has all of Tallahassee believing in the ‘Noles. With wins against No. 13 LSU and at Clemson, they have arguably the best resume in the nation. However, I cannot ignore they were a 29-yard field goal away from suffering a major blemish on their record.

Regardless, the Seminoles are 4-0 and remain one of the best teams in the nation. With home games against No. 17 Duke and No. 18 Miami (FL) remaining, they could enter the ACC title game undefeated. 

8. Oregon Ducks (4-0)

Dan Lanning’s squad flat-out embarrassed Deion Sanders and Colorado last weekend, winning 42-6 against a team with more hype than any team I can recall. The passion Oregon displayed on the field last Saturday has the Ducks sitting right above the USC Trojans in my power rankings. We knew the offense could play, but holding that Colorado offense to six total points displays the utter tenacity in which the Ducks play defense.

When Oregon puts it all together, they are one of the best teams in the nation. Bo Nix, in his fifth full season of college football, looks more complete than ever. Having a quarterback with plentiful experience, in the SEC and PAC-12 nonetheless, should bode extremely well for the Ducks as they chase a PAC-12 title and CFP berth. 

9. USC Trojans (4-0)

The most elite offense in all of college football resides in Los Angeles, and that should come as no surprise. We always knew that Caleb Williams paired with Lincoln Riley would create as dynamic of an offense as we’ve seen over the last decade. Yet, the defense continually leaves something to be desired. Surrendering 28 points to Arizona State, who already started their third quarterback of the season, shows that USC will need more from their defense in order to make the CFP for the first time in program history.

Regardless, every time the Trojans line up the opposing defense is going to be on their heels. Albeit in a deep PAC-12, USC should find themselves right back in the mix come selection day. 

10. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-1)

This is the worst I can remember Alabama looking to start a season, and the whole world is down on the Crimson Tide. Yet, until I look on that Alabama sideline and Nick Saban isn’t wearing the headset, I will always believe in Alabama. Their defense is still dominant, as they just held No. 15 Ole Miss to 10 points in Oxford. On the offensive side of the ball, they’ve certainly had their fair share of hiccups. The QB carousel from the Texas game to the Ole Miss game, in which we saw three different QBs line up under center, was as shaky as it gets for ‘Bama.

Yet, after beating Ole Miss, Jalen Milroe looks to be their guy moving forward, and that quarterback stability should help Tommy Rees and this ‘Bama offense find consistency. With home games against No. 21 Tennessee and No. 13 LSU, the Tide can still run the table, and I expect them to stick around just long enough to make some noise.