Top 25 college football poll Week 4 rankings: AP Live updates

Vanderbilt put on a show against South Carolina, beating the Gamecocks 31-7 on Saturday night.

Momentum shifted when South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers went down with a concussion right before halftime. Vanderbilt opened the third quarter with a 44-yard rushing touchdown from Jamezell Lassiter, extending the lead to 21-7.

The Commodores kept piling on and South Carolina failed to respond with backup second-string Luke Doty at the helm. A once top 10-ranked South Carolina team now falls into unranked territory.

Meanwhile, Vanderbilt cracks into the Top 25, coming in at No. 20

The Irish fell to 0-2 on Saturday night as their home opener against Texas A&M didn’t go quite as planned.

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love ran the ball 12 yards into the end zone to break a tie with 2:53 remaining and put the Irish ahead 40-34.

Texas A&M responded with an impressive 13-play, 74-yard final drive ending with an 11-yard touchdown by Nate Boerkircher, solidifying a 41-40 win.

The game brought major changes in the Top 25. Notre Dame fell from No. 8 to No. 24, and the Aggies jumped from No. 16 to No. 10.

Georgia Tech defensive back Omar Daniels (9) celebrates with defensive back Jy Gilmore, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Georgia Tech’s 24-21 upset victory over Clemson did the trick – the Yellowjackets have officially broken into the Top 25 after weeks of knocking on the door.

Georgia Tech put on a strong performance against Clemson on Saturday, setting the tone from start to finish. The Tigers tied it up at 21 apiece with 3:26 on the clock.

Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King led a 10-play, 38-yard drive, setting up kicker Aidan Birr for a game-winning 55-yard field goal.

No. 15 Tennessee put up a good fight against No. 6 Georgia.

The Vols controlled the bulk of the game and could’ve put it away with a field goal in the fourth, but a miss turned the tide and set Georgia up for the 44-41 overtime win.

Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar had another strong performance, throwing for 371 yards, four touchdowns and running the ball in for a score – a stat line good enough to make most overlook two interceptions.

It’s been a different story for Nico Iamaleava, the UCLA quarterback who transferred from Tennessee in the spring. Iamaleava hasn’t quite picked up where he left off at Tennessee.

While the Volunteers are proving they can hang with top SEC contenders like Georgia, UCLA sits at 0-3 on the season after a 35-10 loss to New Mexico.

Are we finally ready to start showing Miami some respect?

Dominic

Who is we?

I had Miami No. 9 on my preseason ballot. I have UM No. 4 this week. I have been high on the Canes for the past two years. I was at the Notre Dame win and wrote about Mario Cristobal’s commitment to restoring his alma mater to the glory days.

To group me in with the knuckleheads that don’t give Miami respect...

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

Never watched football before. Which teams are contenders to win it all?

Eli B.

Funny, when I read this I initially thought there was a question mark: “Never watched football before?” It would be a typical Twitter response when I publish my Top 25.

So you want to know who’s going to win it? I’ll give you two stats that can help you determine the champ.

The preseason No. 1-ranked AP team has failed to win the national title in 19 of the last 21 years. So eliminate Texas.

Also, in 17 of the last 19 years, the national champ was ranked in the top 7 of the preseason poll. So that bodes well for Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia and Oregon. Clemson and Notre Dame were also in top seven, but they’re not looking so great right now.

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

What metrics do you use to compare Top 25 blowout wins against weak and unranked opponents and Top 25 fights that are tighter?

Cross

I try to look at the “inside-the-box score,” if you will.

I just don’t look at final scores, because those can be very deceiving. An example, Illinois beat Duke 45-19 last week. Blowout right? Not really. Duke actually outgained Illinois, but lost five turnovers.

So for that game, I’ll give Illinois credit for the win, but it wasn’t a 26-point margin. It was closer to a toss-up.

I’ll also try to compare common opponents. Everyone does it differently, but just keep in mind, it’s a beauty pageant. It’s just someone’s opinion.

They could be right. Or wrong.

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

How far is Clemson going to slide down the ranking, and will Georgia Tech’s win be enough to get them into the top 20?

Colin

If you’re a Tom Petty fan, you know the song: Free Falling.

I don’t know how far Clemson will drop, but I believe it will be significant. Yes, they have a couple of close losses, but Clemson barely survived at home against Troy.

And Georgia Tech absolutely needs to be ranked among the top 20 teams.

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

Miami linebacker Chase Smith (41) celebrates with teammates after recovering a South Florida fumble for a turnover during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

South Florida’s first two games couldn’t have gone better, overthrowing preseason No. 25 Boise State in Week 1 and delivering an 18-16 upset over Florida the following week.

The Bulls’ hot streak ended on Saturday, when they lost 49-12 to Miami. South Florida’s immediate future in the Top 25 appears bleak, while Miami looked every bit a top 5 team.

The Hurricanes’ Florida tour continues over the next two weeks as they host the Gators on Saturday night and travel to Florida State on Oct. 4.

Is Miami’s big victory at home more impressive than Georgia’s close win on the road?

Jonathan

I valued Georgia’s win at Tennessee better than Miami’s home win against Notre Dame.

Tennessee may or may not be better than Notre Dame (we’ll find out eventually), but winning in that atmosphere for Georgia was more impressive to me.

If you were referencing (the win over USF), it was good, but not enough to surpass what Georgia did. USF was a 17-point underdog and playing its third consecutive ranked team. Miami did what it was supposed to do.

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

What teams are among your biggest surprises and disappointments so far this season?

AP sports editor Dave Zelio

Biggest surprise: Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt.

QB Diego Pavia talked a lot ... before the season, but the Commodores are backing it up. Florida State has also been impressive. That Alabama win will look better and better as the season continues. Can’t wait for Miami-FSU in three weeks.

Biggest disappointment: Clemson was a trendy national title pick by a lot of folks (not me), and now the Tigers will have to somehow win the ACC to get into the playoff.

Can you say Pop-Tarts Bowl?

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

Which teams did you move around this week and why?

AP sports editor Dave Zelio

Among changes on my AP ballot this week — besides ranking Vanderbilt and Georgia Tech — were dropping Penn State and Texas slightly.

Penn State has played arguably the weakest opening schedule. The Nittany Lions have won comfortably, but I’ve been more impressed by the wins from Ohio State, Georgia and LSU. Texas has looked average the last two weeks so, for now, the Longhorns are barely hanging in my Top 10.

Brett McMurphy is a college football writer for On3and has been an AP Top 25 voter for 20 years. You can follow him on X: @Brett_McMurphy.

▶ Ask a voter and AP reporters a question about the Top 25 poll

No organization has been ranking teams and naming a major college football national champion longer than The Associated Press, since 1936.

AP employees don’t vote themselves, but they do choose the voters. AP Top 25 voters comprise around 60 writers and broadcasters who cover college football for AP members and other select outlets. The goal is to have every state with a Football Bowl Subdivision school represented by at least one voter.

There is a 1-25 point system, with a team voted No. 1 receiving 25 points down to 1 point for a 25th-place vote. After that, it’s simple: The poll lists the teams with the most points from 1 to 25, and others receiving votes are also noted.

Voting is done online, and the tabulation is automated.

▶ Read more about the history of the AP Top 25 poll and how it works.

Clemson, South Carolina and Notre Dame each suffered upsets on Saturday, putting each at risk of losing Top 25 status.

An unranked Georgia Tech team outplayed No. 12 Clemson and solidified the upset victory with a buzzer-beating 55-yard field goal.

Georgia Tech likely swayed voters with its compelling performance and the Tigers’ loss is sure to impact votes as well.

1 of 3 |

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) dives over the goal line and scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

2 of 3 |

South Carolina tight end Jordan Dingle (5) is stopped by Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/David Yeazell)

3 of 3 |

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, center right, rushes against Texas A&M’s T.J. Searcy, center left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

1 of 3 |

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) dives over the goal line and scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

1 of 3

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) dives over the goal line and scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

2 of 3 |

South Carolina tight end Jordan Dingle (5) is stopped by Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/David Yeazell)

2 of 3

South Carolina tight end Jordan Dingle (5) is stopped by Vanderbilt safety CJ Heard (8) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/David Yeazell)

3 of 3 |

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, center right, rushes against Texas A&M’s T.J. Searcy, center left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

3 of 3

Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, center right, rushes against Texas A&M’s T.J. Searcy, center left, during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in South Bend, Ind. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Meanwhile, Notre Dame’s home opener didn’t go as planned. The Irish took a gamble with a two-point attempt and fell short. Texas A&M answered with a charge downfield in the final minutes of the game, scoring the go-ahead touchdown to win 41-40.

South Carolina didn’t come close against Vanderbilt. The Gamecocks were outplayed in all aspects, especially after losing quarterback LaNorris Sellers in the second quarter with a concussion. The 31-7 loss puts South Carolina in serious danger of falling out of the Top 25.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) looks to pass against UTEP during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Most preseason Heisman conversations focused on three quarterbacks: Arch Manning (Texas), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU) and Cade Klubnik (Clemson).

Three weeks into the season, those conversations sound quite different.

Preseason No. 4 Clemson is at serious risk of stumbling out of the Top 25 after losing to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Preseason No. 1 Texas underwhelmed in a 27-10 win over UTEP with an inconsistent passing game, while Nussmeier remains a favorite after leading LSU to a 3-0 start.

But John Mateer (Oklahoma) and Carson Beck (Miami) have replaced Klubnik and Manning in the top tier.

Click here to read article