College Football: Week 4 Brings Big Matchups

By Alexander Davis — September 23, 2026

The college football season is heating up as teams enter Week 4, and the schedule is filled with important matchups between ranked teams. With conference play becoming more serious, several games this weekend could have a major impact on the College Football Playoff picture.

The Texas Longhorns remain No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 after starting the season 3–0. Texas defeated UTSA 30–6 last weekend and will now travel to face No. 14 Tennessee. The matchup is especially interesting because Texas quarterback Arch Manning will play at Neyland Stadium, where his uncle Peyton Manning finished his college career nearly 30 years ago.

Another major storyline is Ole Miss, which moved up to No. 4 after defeating LSU 32–24 in Week 3. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has emerged as one of the biggest stories of the young season after accounting for three touchdowns against LSU. The Rebels will now travel to face No. 21 Florida in another important SEC matchup.

Georgia is also looking to remain near the top of the rankings. The No. 2 Bulldogs dominated Arkansas 45–17 last weekend and will host Oklahoma on Saturday. Oklahoma enters the game after a surprisingly close 14–6 victory over New Mexico. Georgia's defense will be tested against an Oklahoma team looking to make a statement against one of the nation's top programs.

One of the most anticipated games outside the SEC is Oregon at USC. USC is ranked No. 12 and enters the matchup at 4–0, while Oregon is ranked No. 20 with a 2–1 record. Both teams are part of the Big Ten, making this an important conference matchup early in the season. USC has already shown it can win close games, while Oregon will be looking to bounce back and strengthen its playoff résumé.

There was also a major upset last weekend when Kentucky defeated Texas A&M 31–21. The Aggies entered the game ranked No. 9 but dropped to No. 23 after the loss. Kentucky's victory ended Texas A&M's regular-season home winning streak, which had lasted since 2024.

With several ranked teams facing each other this weekend, Week 4 could create significant changes in the national rankings. Texas, Georgia, Ole Miss, USC, Oregon, and several other teams will have opportunities to strengthen their cases as the season moves closer to the heart of conference play.

The college football season is still young, but the stakes are already getting higher. This weekend's games should provide another look at which teams are prepared to compete for conference championships and a spot in the College Football Playoff.