> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.collegefootballnewsletter.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Week 4 Recap - The Big House Betrayal - URL: https://www.collegefootballnewsletter.com/week-4-recap-the-big-house-betrayal/ - Published: 2026-09-28T16:05:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-28T16:05:55.000Z - Author: Will Hendricks From start to finish, Week 4 delivered. Every time slot seemed to have a huge matchup, and game after game went down to the wire. The No. 1 team in the country was tested on the road. An old powerhouse might be on the rise. Maybe the greatest example of college football karma was delivered Saturday afternoon in the Midwest. And out West, the pecking order of greatness doesn’t look ready to change anytime soon. There was so much action on Saturday that it was almost impossible to keep up with it all. **Don’t worry—I did. So let’s dive into everything that happened in Week 4** --- **College football moves fast. Don’t miss a thing.** The College Football Newsletter brings you the biggest games, wildest upsets, top storylines, and plenty of opinions from across the country—all delivered straight to your inbox every week. **Subscribe and make The College Football Newsletter part of your weekly routine.** [Subscribe](https://www.collegefootballnewsletter.com/) --- ## Knoxville, Tennessee The day started in a lively Neyland Stadium as Texas traveled to Tennessee to take on the Volunteers in a top-15 matchup. There was plenty of outside commotion with the President in attendance, but the football quickly proved to be the biggest attraction. Texas came out hot, slicing and dicing the Volunteer defense. Arch Manning looked like the Manning of old in Neyland as he had no trouble leading the Longhorns down the field. True freshman Faizon Brandon looked up to the task on his first drive, as two penalties helped Tennessee reach field-goal range and put three points on the board early. After each team’s first possession, the defenses settled in. Texas proved to be the more physically dominant team, as they seemed to be in the Tennessee backfield on almost every play. A Tennessee team that had been able to establish the run in its first three games had nothing going on the ground. Held to just 70 rushing yards, more pressure was put on 18-year-old Faizon Brandon. There wasn’t much relief through the air either, as Texas recorded 10 sacks, five of which came from Colin Simmons. Tennessee wasn’t going to let Texas walk all over them in their home stadium, as the Vols kept themselves in the game with a stout defense of their own. Forcing three punts and intercepting Manning kept the game at 10-3 heading into halftime. It almost seemed like the seven-point deficit was going to be too much to overcome with the way the Longhorns’ defense was playing. After a quick punt to start the second half, there was almost no hope of moving the ball for Tennessee. The defense continued to hold strong and forced another punt. Qua Moss took the line-drive kick, broke it to the outside, and housed it from 57 yards, tying the game and sending a shot of adrenaline through the Neyland crowd. > Tennessee returns the punt for a touchdown to tie the game [pic.twitter.com/2tERlBK1CH](https://t.co/2tERlBK1CH?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — Nash (@NashTalksTexas) [September 26, 2026](https://x.com/NashTalksTexas/status/2103910672761340244?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) While the crowd was back into it, Texas answered with a field goal to retake the lead. The punt return was able to kick-start the crowd, but not the offense, as Tennessee punted on its next three possessions. After a Texas touchdown made it 20-10 with just over five minutes remaining, it seemed like the game was too far out of reach. After Tennessee turned the ball over on downs, Texas had possession with four minutes remaining. The Volunteers used all three timeouts but eventually got the ball back with a sliver of hope. Eighty yards later, Brandon connected with Mike Matthews on a 30-yard pass to cut the lead to 20-17. With no timeouts remaining, Tennessee was forced to attempt an onside kick. Using a unique kicking style—one that I’m still not sure was even legal—Jackson Ross drop-kicked a knuckleball that Ryan Wingo couldn’t handle, and Tennessee recovered. > Very cool onside kick design from Tennessee with the late shift, the dropkick and the wobbling, spinning kick[pic.twitter.com/F1qUkeRVor](https://t.co/F1qUkeRVor?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — Throw Deep Publishing - 🏈 Books and Videos (@TDPublishing) [September 26, 2026](https://x.com/TDPublishing/status/2103948349716287712?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) Back from the dead, Tennessee now had the ball with a chance to tie or win the game. Once again, Texas was quickly in the backfield and didn’t allow Tennessee a chance to move the ball into field-goal range. That forced a last-second Hail Mary, which was batted away in the end zone to seal the victory for Texas. > The final play of Texas-Tennessee 😯 > > No. 1 Longhorns hold on in Knoxville! [pic.twitter.com/MX9MvIsgWJ](https://t.co/MX9MvIsgWJ?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) [September 26, 2026](https://x.com/ESPNCFB/status/2103935404881641910?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) Tennessee shouldn’t be too discouraged by this outcome. Faizon Brandon looked solid given the situation, and Texas’ defense is just that good. And, in all fairness, the last two times Tennessee has been down to its final play, Joe Milton and Nico Iamaleava simply ended up running out of bounds. Brandon actually got the ball away and gave his team a chance. Texas won this game on the back of its defense, but the Longhorns continued to prove why they are the team to beat. I do have some concern about what we're seeing out of Arch Manning. He just seems to not have the traditional quarterback knowledge that is needed. Never have I ever seen a quarterback get two penalties for throwing beyond the line of scrimmage in one game. Hopefully he continues to progress and get better, but to me he just doesn't seem like he has that elite quarterback gene that was so heavily talked about with his last name. Texas have now beaten both Ohio State and Tennessee, with the latter coming on the road. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier, but they continue to pass every test put in front of them. --- ## Gainesville, Florida Ole Miss was coming off an emotional win over LSU and now had to travel to The Swamp to take on the Florida Gators. This was the quintessential trap game for the Rebels. Florida opened as a 3.5-point favorite because of that very reason. I was convinced Ole Miss knew it was a trap game and therefore it wasn’t going to be a trap game. I was wrong. Ole Miss was missing star running back Kewan Lacy, but they still had Trinidad Chambliss. That didn’t seem to matter, as Florida took control of the game early and never looked back. Pete Golding is known as a defensive-minded coach, but his defense couldn’t stop anything on the ground. Florida running backs Jadan Baugh and Duke Clark combined for 268 yards and four touchdowns, completely controlling the line of scrimmage. Florida wasn’t doing anything overly complicated; they were simply running the ball downhill and consistently finding room. Early in the third quarter, Ole Miss cut the game to 17-14, but there was never much hope of actually stopping the Gators. Florida scored a touchdown on all five of its drives in the second half, turning what had been a competitive game into a blowout. This game brought back flashes of Ole Miss’ regular-season matchup against Georgia last season. The Rebels could score, but it didn’t matter because they simply couldn’t get enough stops. Once Florida found its rhythm, Ole Miss had no answer. The Gators kept coming, and eventually, the Rebels couldn’t keep up. This isn’t the end-all, be-all for Ole Miss, but it is certainly a reason for concern. The Rebels’ defense looked great against LSU, but this week they looked pedestrian. That inconsistency is something Ole Miss will have to figure out quickly because Texas and Georgia are still waiting on the schedule. Both teams have the talent to attack Ole Miss in a similar way, and if the Rebels can’t find a way to get off the field, those games could expose the same weaknesses we saw in Gainesville. The absence of Kewan Lacy certainly didn’t help, either. Chambliss is an electric player, but when so much of the offense is forced through him, defenses can begin to key in on him. Getting Lacy back would give Ole Miss another dimension and prevent defenses from being able to put so much attention on Chambliss. ### Florida Is Here Florida announced its arrival under Jon Sumrall. This is a style of Florida football that people in Gainesville haven’t seen in a long time. The Gators played fast, physical football on both sides of the ball and looked like the more athletic team from the opening whistle. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, the running game consistently moved the chains, and the defense eventually wore Ole Miss down. Games against Missouri and South Carolina are next before the Gators travel to Austin to take on Texas. That Texas game will be a completely different test, but this Florida team has already shown enough to make people take notice. The biggest thing that stands out is the speed. Florida is playing fast on offense and flying around on defense, and that is exactly the type of identity Sumrall has brought with him. If the Gators continue to improve as the season progresses, they could become a legitimate factor in the SEC much sooner than many expected. And that might be the most exciting part for Florida fans: **this team probably isn’t close to its ceiling yet.** The train is coming down the tracks, and if I were you, I’d get out of the way. --- ## Other Marquee Games ### Oregon vs. USC The Ducks traveled to Los Angeles looking to get their season back on track after the early loss to Oklahoma State. USC, on the other hand, had looked dominant in its first three wins of the season and still managed to get past Rutgers last week despite traveling across the country on a short week. This was a huge test for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. USC needed to prove to the country that this team was legitimate. The Lincoln Riley tenure hasn’t turned out the way most people thought it would. Outside of the one season with Caleb Williams, USC has been underwhelming and, quite frankly, lackluster. This was their opportunity to change that narrative. A slow, back-and-forth start saw the Trojans take a 7-3 lead. As Oregon was driving to take the lead, Dante Moore scrambled and slid after picking up the first down. USC defensive back Desman Stephens didn’t pull up and delivered a brutal hit on Moore. > Prayers to Dante Moore who just got hit by a very scary targeting shot [pic.twitter.com/J2pFg9dnkW](https://t.co/J2pFg9dnkW?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/barstoolsports/status/2104006751163183397?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) While reports indicated that Moore suffered a concussion, Stephens was ejected and subsequently suspended for a game following the hit. Former five-star Nebraska transfer Dylan Raiola was suddenly thrown into the game. Two plays later, Raiola threw a touchdown pass, and Oregon would never relinquish the lead. From there, Raiola looked completely comfortable. He finished 19-of-25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns, giving Oregon exactly what they needed after losing their starting quarterback. More importantly, the Ducks didn’t allow the unexpected quarterback change to derail them. Oregon scored touchdowns on four of its five second-half drives and pulled away for a 41-27 victory. For Oregon, this win was about more than simply beating USC. After the loss to Oklahoma State, there were legitimate questions about where the Ducks stood in the Big Ten. Those questions aren’t completely gone, but this was a major step toward answering them. They went into Los Angeles, lost their starting quarterback, handed the offense to a backup, and still scored 41 points against a USC team that had looked impressive to start the season. That’s the kind of response you want to see from a team trying to reestablish itself as a contender. ### USC Has Some Serious Questions For USC, this loss is a tough one. The Trojans haven’t beaten Oregon in ten years, and once again, they struggled when faced with a high-level opponent. Since joining the Big Ten, USC has yet to consistently show that it can compete with the conference’s best teams, and this game only adds to those questions. Lincoln Riley is going to take plenty of heat for this one, and there are fair questions about whether his program has progressed enough. At the same time, I don’t see USC making a coaching change anytime soon. And even if they did, who exactly would they bring in to turn this thing around immediately? The problem for USC is that the schedule isn’t getting any easier. Ohio State, Indiana, and UCLA are still waiting, leaving very little room for error. The Trojans won’t get the benefit of the doubt simply because they have talent. At some point, they have to prove they can beat good teams. Right now, there are a lot more questions than answers in Southern California. ### Texas A&M vs. LSU Lane Kiffin and the Tigers bounced back in the best possible way. Beating Texas A&M 35-6 showed that LSU is no fluke. A tough loss to Ole Miss isn’t going to knock the Tigers out of the playoff conversation, especially when they respond by completely dominating another ranked SEC opponent. The offense continued to show out and look the part, and LSU looked like a team that had simply put the Ole Miss loss behind them. For LSU, this was exactly the type of response they needed. The Tigers didn’t just win—they controlled the game from start to finish. If LSU can continue to play at this level, that loss to Ole Miss could end up being nothing more than a bump in the road. ### Texas A&M Is in Trouble Texas A&M, meanwhile, is in serious trouble. Starting the season ranked No. 9 in the country, I thought the Aggies were overrated from the beginning. Marcell Reed has been worse than he was last year, and, quite frankly, he wasn’t that good last year to begin with. The bigger problem, though, is that the schedule isn’t going to give them many opportunities to recover. After starting SEC play 7-0 last season, the Aggies are now 0-2 to begin conference play in 2026\. And it gets much harder from here. Alabama, Tennessee, and Texas are still waiting on the schedule. That makes games against Oklahoma and South Carolina absolutely critical if Texas A&M wants to get to six wins and become bowl eligible. This team started the season ranked in the top 10, and now I’m sitting here talking about how they need to win games just to make a bowl. ### Wisconsin vs. Penn State The Badgers got their marquee win under Luke Fickell with a road victory against Penn State in a night game at Happy Valley. Despite three interceptions from quarterback Colton Joseph, Wisconsin was able to stay within striking distance throughout the entire game. Penn State looked like it was going to run away with things after scoring a touchdown following a pick-six to make it 17-0 before halftime. But Wisconsin answered with a touchdown of its own, cutting the lead to 17-7 heading into the break. Even after all of that, the Nittany Lions still led 20-10 with just over three and a half minutes left in the game. The Badgers then put together a 75-yard drive to cut the deficit to three. After forcing a three-and-out, Wisconsin got the ball back with a chance to complete the comeback. Joseph made up for his earlier mistakes in the biggest possible way, connecting with Jacob Harris on a **72-yard touchdown pass** to give the Badgers the lead. This time, they wouldn’t give it back. For Wisconsin, this could be the type of win that changes the perception of the program under Fickell. The Badgers are now 3-1, with their only loss coming against Notre Dame in a game that was very competitive in the first half. They’ve now gone into Happy Valley at night and knocked off a Penn State team that many expected to compete for the Big Ten title. And somehow, the Badgers did it despite turning the ball over three times. For Penn State, this is a massive missed opportunity. The Nittany Lions entered the season with one of the more favorable Big Ten schedules, giving them a legitimate opportunity to make a run at the conference championship. Losing at home to Wisconsin puts a serious dent in those hopes. Now, Penn State likely has very little margin for error. They’ll need to win out to have a chance at the Big Ten Championship Game, and depending on how the rest of the conference shakes out, **even that might not be enough.** Wisconsin, meanwhile, suddenly looks like a team nobody in the Big Ten should overlook. ### Wake Forest vs. Louisville Speaking of teams that seemed to have a cakewalk to the conference championship game, the Louisville Cardinals looked like they had a pretty clear path after beating SMU last week. Then Jake Dickert and the Demon Deacons walked into Louisville and completely changed the conversation. Wake Forest jumped on the Cardinals early, taking a 24-14 lead into the second quarter before Louisville fought back. The Cardinals eventually tied the game at 24-24, but the Demon Deacons continued to make the plays they needed to make. Connor Calvert hit three field goals, including the go-ahead 32-yarder with 6:20 remaining, and the Wake Forest defense came up huge down the stretch to preserve the 30-27 upset. The most impressive part of this win might be that Wake Forest didn’t play a perfect game. They committed 10 penalties for 85 yards and struggled to sustain drives, but the defense kept finding ways to get stops when it mattered most. The Deacs forced a missed field goal late and then blocked another 54-yarder with 18 seconds remaining to seal the win. After losing to Miami by 13 points the previous week, Wake Forest has now bounced right back with a ranked road win. That Miami game looks a little different in hindsight, too. The Demon Deacons fell behind 31-7 but rallied to make the game competitive late, and now they’ve gone on the road and knocked off No. 16 Louisville. **The Demon Deacons are officially in the conversation.** At 3-1, with their only loss coming to a Miami team that has looked like one of the ACC’s best teams, Wake Forest has put itself in position to matter in the conference race. And with Jake Dickert now getting these kinds of wins in Winston-Salem, this may be a team that nobody wants to see waiting for them down the stretch. --- ## Game of the Week: Iowa 20 Michigan 19 This week’s *Game of the Week* proves that the college football gods exist—and they have a sense of humor. After Michigan’s questionable win in its first game of the season, the Wolverines defeated an Oklahoma team that has seemingly gone in reverse and an UTEP team. Iowa coming to the Big House was going to be an old-fashioned Big Ten war in the trenches. I claimed that everyone should take the under because the punters were going to be busy. I wasn’t wrong. The first three possessions of the game ended in punts. Michigan then strung together a beautiful drive that saw Bryce Underwood begin to blossom, eventually finding JJ Buchanan for a 19-yard touchdown pass. It was a great example of a balanced run-and-pass attack and had the country thinking maybe Underwood and Whittingham had finally figured things out. The Wolverines’ lead lasted approximately 14 seconds. Iowa returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 7-7. A Michigan field goal and three more punts made it 10-7 heading into halftime—exactly what everyone expected this game to look like. As Michigan received the second-half kickoff, Underwood started to dazzle once again. He took the Wolverines all the way into the red zone before finding Iowa defensive back Deshaun Lee on the two-yard line, stalling the drive. Iowa added another punt to the growing total, and Michigan was able to salvage a field goal on its next possession to make it 13-7. Iowa had done nothing offensively all afternoon except punt, but suddenly quarterback Hank Brown found a rhythm. A 16-yard pass to Reece Vander Zee capped a 75-yard drive, and all of a sudden, Iowa had taken a 14-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Underwood came alive once again, finding Buchanan for the second time. This time, he escaped pressure, rolled to his right, and launched a 49-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion fell incomplete, but Michigan once again had the lead, 19-14, with just over 10 minutes remaining. Two more punts were added to the total, and Iowa found itself down five with just over five minutes to go. A somewhat promising drive stalled, forcing the Hawkeyes to attempt a 51-yard field goal. It sailed wide right. Michigan had the ball and a chance to ice the game. Instead, the Wolverines chose to add to the game’s punt total and give the ball right back to Iowa. **The official punt total: 10.** And somehow, that still wasn't the craziest part of the game. Iowa took over with the ball on Michigan’s 9-yard line with 1:37 remaining and only one timeout. The Hawkeyes’ only offensive drive that had resulted in a touchdown earlier in the game was a 75-yard march. Now they had to do something they hadn’t done all afternoon—and they had much less time to do it. Hank Brown didn’t shy away from the moment. He methodically maneuvered the Iowa offense down the field, and with 11 seconds remaining, Brown found Addison Ostrenga for a 29-yard gain over the middle. With no timeouts, Iowa needed to hustle to the line, spike the ball, and hope for one final play. But John Henry Daly was injured on the play for Michigan, allowing Iowa to stop the clock and draw up one final play. And what a play it was. Brown dropped back and delivered a beautiful back-shoulder throw to Reece Vander Zee in the end zone. Touchdown, Iowa. > ANOTHER BIG HOUSE MIRACLE 😦 > > THIS TIME IOWA WINS IT IN THE FINAL SECOND 🔥 [pic.twitter.com/QatlLaVrrX](https://t.co/QatlLaVrrX?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) [September 26, 2026](https://x.com/SportsCenter/status/2103985073863225753?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) **The Hawkeyes had won on the final play of the game in the Big House.** Michigan had the game almost exactly where they wanted it. The Wolverines led 19-14 with the ball and just over five minutes remaining. Instead of finishing the job, they gave Iowa one last opportunity—and the Hawkeyes made them pay. There was lots to question about Michigan play calling down the stretch and why they didn't just put all their defenders on the goal line for the last play. But karma is a real thing and somehow, some way, things always seems to work themselves out. Oh and the Iowa touchdown as the clock read zero...made the game go over the total of 37.5\. --- ### Player of the Week **Jax Leatherwood (Tennessee Tech):** 38/48, 427 YDS, 5 TD The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles were on the road facing the Wofford Terriers. Heading into the fourth quarter, Jax Leatherwood and his teammates found themselves down 35-21 with just 15 minutes left to play. After forcing a Terrier punt, Leatherwood led the Golden Eagles on a quick seven-play, 43-yard drive capped off by a 24-yard touchdown pass. After another Terrier three-and-out, Leatherwood led another touchdown drive, this time taking more than seven minutes off the clock and ending with an eight-yard touchdown pass. With just over three minutes left in the game, the Golden Eagles had stormed all the way back. Wofford was able to set up for a 53-yard field goal, and with 1:46 left in the game, the Wofford kicker drilled it. That didn't matter to Jax Leatherwood, as he led Tennessee Tech on yet another touchdown drive, this time capped off by a 15-yard touchdown pass. > 1, 2, 3, 4, 5️⃣ TOUCHDOWNS FOR JAX LEATHERWOOD!! > > Just like that, Tennessee Tech is in front!![#AimHigher](https://x.com/hashtag/AimHigher?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com)🦅 | [#TriStar](https://x.com/hashtag/TriStar?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com)⭐️ [pic.twitter.com/88pNs8LSGg](https://t.co/88pNs8LSGg?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — Tri-Star Network (@TriStarNetwork) [September 26, 2026](https://x.com/TriStarNetwork/status/2103953623877140626?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) Leatherwood finished with 427 passing yards and five touchdowns, three of which came in the fourth quarter, as the Golden Eagles completed the comeback and kept their undefeated season alive. --- ## In Case You Missed it ### Kamario Taylor continues Mississippi State beat Missouri in Starkville for their second SEC win in a row and to start the season 4-0\. Kamario Taylor continues to dazzle with his throws and should be considered a Heisman front runner now. > KAMARIO TAYLOR IN THE CLUTCH TO GIVE MISSISSIPPI STATE THE LATE LEAD 🥶🎯[@HailStateFB](https://x.com/HailStateFB?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) [pic.twitter.com/CALB3FMhDX](https://t.co/CALB3FMhDX?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — SEC Network (@SECNetwork) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/SECNetwork/status/2104046652772225427?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) ### Georgia's Dominance Georgia made the one dominant Oklahoma team, look like a FCS opponent in their 41-13 victory. John Mateer has officially fallen from grace and might be ran out of Norman before next game after two fumbles and an interception. ### Amazing Catch Not sure how this was caught...but it was. > Actually the catch of a lifetime [pic.twitter.com/zjP7NYvNtE](https://t.co/zjP7NYvNtE?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — Brandon Walker College Football Show (@BFWshow) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/BFWshow/status/2104027271334072491?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) ### Harding Bison Division II Harding (ranked #2) traveled to Ouachita Baptist to take on the Tigers. Harding looked to have the game wrapped up when the Tigers had a miracle. > THE TIGERS ARE NOT DEAD IN ARKADELPHIA!! 🤯🤯🤯 > > On fourth down, Tre Nichols escapes pressure before…well, JUST WATCH! 😱😱[#theGAC](https://x.com/hashtag/theGAC?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) [pic.twitter.com/WvHvwI4wAr](https://t.co/WvHvwI4wAr?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — #TheGAC (@GACAthletics) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/GACAthletics/status/2104037135422783951?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) Don't worry though, the Tigers wouldn't convert the two point conversion and Harding would escape with the win. ### Using the Restroom Colin Simmons had a career day, but after one of his sacks, his celebration was flagged. > "Unsportsmanlike conduct, Number 1, simulating using the restroom." [pic.twitter.com/VkcNMDg4we](https://t.co/VkcNMDg4we?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — Heavens! (@HeavensFX) [September 26, 2026](https://x.com/HeavensFX/status/2103900148703392109?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) I guess pretending to pee all over the field is frowned upon. ### Minnesota Blood Minnesota went into Washington and beat the Huskies late Saturday night. Head coach PJ Fleck was excited about his first Big Ten road win in a long time, but this seemed like a little much... > P.J. Fleck has lost his mind 😭 [pic.twitter.com/slO0fy7LYK](https://t.co/slO0fy7LYK?ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) > > — CFB Kings (@CFBKings) [September 27, 2026](https://x.com/CFBKings/status/2104097138577658118?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=collegefootballnewsletter.com) --- ## Rankings Forget about the AP Poll this week. With September officially coming to an end, we are now one-third of the way through the regular season. That means it’s time to introduce something new: **The College Football Newsletter Rankings.** At the end of each month during the regular season, I’ll release my own rankings based on what I’ve seen throughout the season. No preseason expectations, no reputation, and no voting panel—just where I believe each team deserves to be at that point in the season. So, without further ado, here are **The College Football Newsletter Rankings** after the first month of the season. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/0d/72/0d72bec5-31bc-428f-994d-9f7f6fc8651b/content/images/2026/09/Copy-of-2026-Preseason-Coach---s-Poll--1-.png) --- ## Will's Corner ### Washington State 24, Arizona 34 In a sport where there are no moral victories, Washington State showed some real promise at the beginning of this game. Their first offensive drive went 71 yards in ten plays and resulted in a touchdown. After a pick-six two possessions later, the Cougars led the Wildcats 14-0. Arizona’s offense woke up and scored two quick touchdowns of its own, but WSU was able to answer as Jack Stevens drilled his second field goal of the year to give the Cougs a 17-14 lead at halftime. The third quarter was ugly, as Arizona missed two field goals and WSU fumbled on its own side of the field. Arizona was able to beat the Cougar secondary toward the end of the quarter on back-to-back plays, combining for 79 yards and a touchdown. Heading into the final quarter, Arizona had its first lead of the game at 21-17. A couple of field goals and a touchdown from Arizona put the game all but out of reach for the Cougars. A late touchdown made it a seven-point game, but ultimately, there was not enough time to mount a comeback as Arizona won 34-24. Cougar quarterback Caden Pinnick looked as good as he has all season in the first half, but regressed in the second half as the offense began to struggle. Once again, the defense seemed to get worn down as the game went on and couldn’t find the crucial stop when they needed it. Washington State now begins Pac-12 play after a tough non-conference schedule, needing to go 5-3 to make a bowl game. The Cougars host Fresno State in the Bulldogs’ first Pac-12 game. ### BYU Bye The Cougars head on the road to take on TCU next Saturday. ### Tennessee 17, Texas 20 Game notes are listed above: Tennessee hosts Auburn next Saturday. --- ## Survivor Pool Update Once again, nobody was eliminated from the competition in Week 4. However, more than a fourth of the competitors used auto-pick, so I am making a midseason change to the auto-pick rules. Too many people are utilizing it rather than actively playing the game. Rather than allowing you to set your own auto-pick rules, if you fail to make your pick, the system will now randomly select a team for you. You are still welcome to use auto-pick, but there is no longer any guarantee that it will be a good pick! Don’t forget to make your pick for Week 5! --- ## Games to Watch Week 5 - **Pittsburgh @ Virginia Tech** – Oct 2, 7:00 PM ET (ESPN) - Two 4-0 teams in the ACC now find themselves in a wide open race for the conference title game and lots to prove. - **7.Alabama @ 16.Mississippi State** – Oct 3, 12:00 PM ET (ABC) - Can the Kamario Taylor magic continue against another ranked team in Starkville, or will the Tide state their claim as national title contenders. - **5.Ohio State @ 14.Iowa** – Oct 3, 3:30 PM ET (CBS) - Can Iowa slow the game down enough to frustrate Ryan Day and the Buckeyes, or will Jeremiah Smith show Kinnick Stadium what real offense is? - **Colgate @ Harvard** – Oct 3, 7:00 PM ET (ESPN+) - Don't sleep on a northeast FCS matchup. Harvard finds themselves 2-0 to start the year while Colgate's only loss came to Central Michigan. --- Thank you for reading! 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