Week 4 College Football Top 25 Shakes Up After LSU-Ole Miss Thriller and Several Upsets

Week 3 of the 2026 college football season reshuffled the national picture, with a marquee SEC clash, several statement wins, and three new entrants into the Top 25. The weekend’s most anticipated matchup saw LSU edge Ole Miss on the final possession, handing coach Lane Kiffin his first loss of the year in a game that lived up to its billing.

Elsewhere, West Virginia handled rival Virginia with ease, Louisville outlasted SMU in a high-scoring affair, and South Carolina delivered a significant road victory at Mississippi State — a performance that vaulted quarterback Kamario Taylor into the early Heisman Trophy conversation.

The Top of the Rankings

Texas holds the No. 1 spot at 3-0 after dismantling UTSA 30-6. Arch Manning connected with Cam Coleman on two early touchdown passes, and the Longhorns’ defense suffocated the Roadrunners, holding them to 142 total yards, nine first downs, and a 1-of-11 showing on third down. A trip to No. 15 Tennessee awaits on Saturday before Texas heads into its bye week.

Georgia sits at No. 2 at 3-0 (1-0 in SEC play) after a 45-17 rout at Arkansas, marking the program’s 12th straight 3-0 start. The Bulldogs lead the nation in scoring with 178 points through three games, powered by 254 rushing yards against the Razorbacks and a defense that limited Arkansas to 17 yards on 20 carries.

Miami climbs one spot to No. 3 following a 33-20 win at Wake Forest. Quarterback Darian Mensah set an ACC record with 24 consecutive completions, finishing 30-of-34 for 220 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Malachi Toney hauled in all 12 of his targets for 114 yards and a score. The Hurricanes host Central Michigan on Saturday at 6:30 PM ET.

The Media Business Angle

Games like LSU-Ole Miss underscore why college football remains one of the most valuable properties in sports media. Broadcasters and streaming platforms continue to bid aggressively for conference rights packages, and parent companies with sports assets are closely watched by investors. Comcast Corporation (CMCSA), a major player in media and telecommunications whose portfolio spans connectivity, studios, and theme parks, saw its shares trade at $22.74 on Monday, down 1.22% from the previous close of $23.02, giving the company a market capitalization of roughly $92.5 billion.

What to watch

• Texas at No. 15 Tennessee on Saturday at 12:00 PM ET — the top-ranked Longhorns’ first true road test.
• No. 24 Oklahoma visiting Georgia on Saturday at 3:30 PM ET — a marquee SEC matchup between ranked teams.
• Whether Kamario Taylor’s Heisman candidacy gains traction as conference play intensifies.
• The next edition of expert Top 25 rankings following Week 4 results.

Source: original release