College football’s latest rankings experienced a massive shakeup following Week 4 drama, highlighted by Florida vaulting 14 spots to No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll after a decisive 52-28 victory over Ole Miss on September 27, 2026.
The latest iteration of the US LBM Coaches Poll reflects a turbulent slate of games that reshaped the top 25 rankings. While the very top of the poll remains stable, losses by multiple ranked programs forced a significant reshuffling across the middle tiers of college football.
Texas Maintains the Top Spot as SEC Dominates the Upper Tiers
Texas holds firm at No. 1 in the rankings after surviving a late scare from Tennessee on the road. The Longhorns secured 45 of the 73 first-place votes from poll participants, keeping them ahead of Georgia. The Volunteers weathered the close loss well, dipping just three spots to No. 17 in the voting.
Georgia secured the No. 2 position with 17 first-place votes following a victory over Oklahoma. Notre Dame remains steady at No. 3 with three first-place nods. Behind them, Miami edged past Indiana for the No. 4 spot based on overall points, while Ohio State climbed to No. 6 following a win against Illinois.
Florida Claims the Week’s Largest Leap Into the Top Ten
The most dramatic movement in the poll belongs to Florida, which surged 14 positions from No. 22 up to No. 8. The Gators overwhelmed Ole Miss 52-28 at home, securing their first 4-0 start since 2019 and breaking into the top ten for the first time since September 26, 2021.
The defeat cost Ole Miss dearly, as the Rebels dropped six places to No. 12. Meanwhile, Alabama climbed one spot to No. 7 following a 49-18 win over South Carolina, establishing the Crimson Tide as the third-highest ranked SEC program behind Texas and Georgia.
Widespread Carnage Shakes Up the Middle Rankings
Week 4 delivered losses to a cluster of ranked teams. Several programs fell during the weekend slate, including Tennessee, Louisville, Texas A&M, Michigan, USC, and Penn State. The Nittany Lions suffered the steepest drop of any previously ranked team, tumbling eight spots to No. 22 after blowing a 17-0 lead in a 24-20 loss to Wisconsin.
USC plummeted six spots to No. 18 after falling 41-27 to Oregon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The casualties opened the door for several new entrants into the top 25:
- Mississippi State entered at No. 16 following a home win against Missouri, earning the program’s first ranking since October 16, 2022.
- Houston returned to the poll at No. 20.
- Duke made its season debut at No. 21.
- UCLA rounded out the newcomers, appearing at No. 23.
Louisville, Texas A&M, Washington, and Oklahoma dropped out of the top 25 entirely as voters recalibrated their ballots heading into the fifth week of the season.
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