The Week 4 college football slate features six games between ranked programs, with several matchups carrying major implications for the AP Top 25 and the College Football Playoff picture.
Here are five games to keep an eye on as the season rolls on.
No. 1 Texas at No. 14 Tennessee
The Longhorns climbed to the top of the AP Top 25 after rallying from a 20-point deficit to defeat Ohio State 24-23 in Week 2, but the now top-ranked squad had a much different performance in its 30-6 win over UTSA last week.
Texas allowed 143 total yards and held the Roadrunners without a touchdown, while the Longhorns managed 400 yards of offense, including two touchdown passes from quarterback Arch Manning.
Meanwhile, Tennessee enters its SEC opener with an undefeated start after outscoring its first three opponents 143-42, including a 42-9 victory over Kennesaw State last week.
The Volunteers will host their first regular-season meeting with Texas since the teams’ previous three matchups came in the Cotton Bowl, most recently in 1969.
No. 4 Ole Miss at No. 21 Florida
The Rebels enter their second consecutive week against a ranked SEC opponent after defeating then-No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss.
Florida also enters at 3-0 after defeating Auburn 44-39 in its SEC opener and averaging 544.3 yards per game through three weeks, which ranks third nationally.
Ole Miss has averaged 444.7 yards per game, while quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has thrown for 924 yards through three games, including 363 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Tigers.
The Rebels have won two of the past three meetings, including a 34-24 victory over the Gators last season.
No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 USC
The biggest Big Ten game of Week 4 features two ranked teams with recent history, as USC has won the past two meetings, including a 42-27 victory over Oregon last season.
The Trojans enter the game undefeated through four games after surviving a scare against Rutgers, 42-35, last week, while the Ducks are looking to follow up a program-record 84-point performance against Portland State.
Potential Heisman Trophy candidate Jayden Maiava, a former UNLV quarterback, has thrown for 1,173 yards and 12 touchdowns through three games while throwing one interception on 115 pass attempts.
A win for USC would keep the Trojans near the top of the Big Ten standings alongside other undefeated programs such as UCLA and defending national champion Indiana.
No. 23 Texas A&M at No. 10 LSU
Entering Saturday, Texas A&M will look to rebound from one of last weekend’s biggest upsets after falling to Kentucky 31-21 at home.
The Aggies opened the season with wins over Missouri State and Arizona State by a combined 98-20 before the loss dropped them to 2-1 entering Week 4.
LSU and Kiffin will also look to jump back into the win column following a high-stakes loss to Ole Miss in its SEC opener after Kiffin’s departure from the Rebels program.
The Aggies won last year’s meeting 49-25 in Baton Rouge, and the programs have split the past 10 meetings, while LSU leads the all-time series 32-25-3.
No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan
The Hawkeyes have opened the season undefeated through three games and currently lead the nation in scoring defense, allowing 4.3 points per game, and total defense, allowing 176.7 yards per game and 3.9 yards per play.
Michigan is also 3-0 and climbing back up the AP Top 25 after surviving a controversial finish against Western Michigan before most recently defeating UTEP 52-17 last week. The Wolverines overcame a 14-7 second-quarter deficit by outscoring the Miners 45-3 the rest of the way.
The matchup marks Iowa’s first trip to Michigan Stadium since 2019 and the first meeting between the teams since 2023.
Contact Donovan Hicks at dhicks@reviewjournal.com. Follow @HicksSports on X.
