Bleacher Report's College Football Top 25 Poll: Week 4

By (Featured Columnist) on September 16, 2012

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There seems to be an upset every week in college football, and this time, it happened at Stanford Stadium as Stanford upset USC, 21-14, on Saturday night.

USC wasn't the only team to get bit by the upset bug. Virginia Tech lost to Pittsburgh, 35-17; the Panthers came into that game having scored 27 points.

Other than those two games, there weren't many other shocking upsets.

Here is the B/R Top 25 for Week 4.

Others Receiving Votes

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Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Virginia Tech: 23

Baylor: 18

BYU: 15

Mississippi State: 13

Georgia Tech: 12

Wisconsin: 11

Tennessee: 7

Rutgers: 7

Northwestern: 6

Cincinnati: 3

Fresno State: 3

Missouri: 3

Ohio: 3

Oregon State: 2

Utah: 2

Cal: 1

Louisiana-Monroe: 1

Purdue: 1

No. 25: Oklahoma State Cowboys

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Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 24                             

Record: 2-1 (0-0, Big 12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Louisiana-Lafayette, 65-24   

Next Game: Sept. 29 vs. Texas Longhorns 

Previous Ranking: 25

Backup quarterback J.W. Walsh completed 21-of-30 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns as Oklahoma State beat Louisiana-Lafayette, 65-24.

Walsh was called on early when starting quarterback Wes Lunt hurt his knee in the first quarter. Walsh also had 73 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Oklahoma State racked up 742 yards of total offense.

No. 24: Boise State Broncos

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Otto Kitsinger III/Getty Images

Poll Points: 28                             

Record: 1-1 (0-0, MWC)          

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Miami (OH), 39-12  

Next Game: Sept. 20 vs.BYU Cougars  

Previous Ranking: N/R

Bronco running back D.J. Harper had four touchdowns (three rushing) as Boise State defeated Miami (OH), 39-12.

Harper had 162 yards rushing on 16 carries and caught a pass for 21 yards and a score.

Boise State quarterback Joe Southwick completed 24-of-31 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns.

No. 23: Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Eric Francis/Getty Images

Poll Points: 59                             

Record: 2-1 (0-0, Big Ten)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Arkansas State, 42-13   

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Idaho State Bengals      

Previous Ranking: 24 

Cornhusker running back Ameer Abdullah ran for 167 yards and two touchdowns as Nebraska beat Arkansas State, 42-13.

Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez completed 13-of-14 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Martinez also rushed for 54 yards and a touchdown.


No. 22: Arizona Wildcats

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Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 86                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Pac-12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat South Carolina State, 56-0 

Next Game: Sept. 22 at Oregon Ducks

Previous Ranking: N/R 

Arizona gained 689 yards of total offense in its 56-0 win over South Carolina State.

Wildcat quarterback Matt Scott completed 30-of-36 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Scott also ran for 61 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona held South Carolina State to 152 total yards of offense.

No. 21: UCLA Bruins

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Kirby Lee-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 139                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Pac-12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Houston, 37-6    

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Oregon State Beavers      

Previous Ranking: N/R 

Quarterback Brett Hundley completed 27-of-42 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns as UCLA beat Houston, 37-6.

Running back Johnathan Franklin rushed for 110 yards and caught four passes for another 58 yards.

The Bruin defense created six turnovers, including five interceptions off Houston quarterback David Piland.


No. 20: Michigan State Spartans

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Poll Points: 147                             

Record: 2-1 (0-0, Big Ten)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 lost to Notre Dame, 20-3   

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles      

Previous Ranking: 9

Spartan running back Le'Veon Bell rushed for 77 yards, but Michigan State lost to Notre Dame, 20-3, on Saturday evening.

Michigan State quarterback Andrew Maxwell couldn't get in rhythm, completing just 23-of-45 passes for 187 yards.

The Spartans' only points came from a 50-yard field goal by Dan Conroy.

No. 19: Louisville Cardinals

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Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Poll Points: 175                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Big East)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat North Carolina, 39-34   

Next Game: Sept. 22 at Florida International Golden Panthers      

Previous Ranking: 20

Cardinal quarterback Teddy Bridgewater completed 23-of-28 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns as Louisville held off North Carolina, 39-34.

Louisville took a 36-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter before North Carolina made it a game.

Jeremy Wright ran the ball 20 times for 115 yards and a touchdown for the Cardinals.

No. 18: Michigan Wolverines

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Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 215                             

Record: 2-1 (0-0, Big Ten)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Massachusetts, 63-13    

Next Game: Sept. 22 at Notre Dame Fighting Irish      

Previous Ranking: 17

Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson completed 16-of-24 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns as the Wolverines beat Massachusetts, 63-13.

Robinson also ran the ball 10 times for 106 yards and a touchdown.

Michigan finished with 585 yards of total offense.

No. 17: Florida Gators

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Randy Sartin-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 235                             

Record: 3-0 (2-0, SEC)             

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Tennessee, 37-20  

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Kentucky Wildcats      

Previous Ranking: 21

Gator running back Mike Gillislee ran for 115 yards on 18 carries as Florida beat Tennessee, 37-20. Florida racked up 336 yards on the ground.

Florida quarterback Jeff Driskel completed 14-of-20 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. Driskel also had eight rushes for 81 yards.

No. 16: TCU Horned Frogs

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John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 259                             

Record: 2-0 (1-0, Big 12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Kansas, 20-6    

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Virginia Cavaliers      

Previous Ranking: 13 

TCU quarterback Casey Pachall completed 24-of-30 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns as the Horned Frogs beat the Jayhawks, 20-6. Pachall kept Kansas in the game by losing three fumbles.

Wide receiver Brandon Carter caught eight passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns for the Horned Frogs.


No. 14: Kansas State Wildcats (Tie)

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Scott Sewell-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 283                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Big 12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat North Texas, 53-21   

Next Game: Sept. 22 at Oklahoma Sooners      

Previous Ranking: 15

Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein threw for 230 yards and ran for another 85 as the Wildcats beat the Mean Green, 53-21. Klein finished with three touchdowns, two passing.

North Texas was within one point early in the third quarter before the Wildcats scored 21 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.

No. 14: Ohio State Buckeyes (Tie)

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Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

Poll Points: 283                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Big Ten)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Cal, 35-28    

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. UAB Blazers      

Previous Ranking: 14 

Ohio State quarterback Braxton Miller threw for four touchdowns and ran for another as the Buckeyes held on to beat California, 35-28.

Miller completed 16-of-30 passes for 264 yards and ran for 75 yards on just 12 carries.

Wide receiver Devin Smith had five receptions for 145 yards and two touchdowns for the Buckeyes.


No. 13: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Poll Points: 287                             

Record: 3-0               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Michigan State, 20-3   

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Michigan Wolverines      

Previous Ranking: 18

Notre Dame's defense held Michigan State to just 237 yards of total offense as the Irish upset the Spartans, 20-3.

Quarterback Everett Golson completed 14-of-32 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown. Golson also ran for a six-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

The Fighting Irish won the game despite converting just 1-of-15 third-down conversions.

No. 12: Texas Longhorns

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Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Poll Points: 308                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Big 12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Ole Miss, 66-31    

Next Game: Sept. 29 at Oklahoma State Cowboys      

Previous Ranking: 16

Longhorn quarterback David Ash completed 19-of-23 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns as Texas downed Ole Miss, 66-31.

Receivers Mike Davis and Marquise Goodwin combined for 226 receiving yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns.

Texas racked up 676 yards of total offense.

No. 10: USC Trojans (Tie)

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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Poll Points: 323                             

Record: 2-1 (0-1, Pac-12)                

Last Game: Sept. 15 lost to Stanford, 21-14   

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. California Golden Bears      

Previous Ranking: 2 

USC's Matt Barkley couldn't get the offense going as the Trojans were upset by the Cardinal, 21-14.

Barkley completed just 20-of-41 passes for 253 yards while throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Trojan receiver Marqise Lee had seven catches for 93 yards in the loss.



No. 10: Stanford Cardinal (Tie)

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Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Poll Points: 323                             

Record: 3-0 (1-0, Pac-12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat USC, 21-14   

Next Game: Sept. 27 at Washington Huskies      

Previous Ranking: 22

Stanford running back Stepfan Taylor ran for 153 yards and a touchdown as Stanford upset USC, 21-14.

The Cardinal defense limited USC to 280 yards of total offense. The Trojans entered the game averaging 461 total yards and 45.5 points per game.

No. 9: Clemson Tigers

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Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Poll Points: 395                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, ACC)                

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Furman, 41-7    

Next Game: Sept. 22 at Florida State Seminoles       

Previous Ranking: 11

Tigers quarterback Tajh Boyd completed 19-of-28 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns as Clemson beat Furman, 41-7.

Tiger receiver Sammy Watkins—back from a two-game suspension—had four receptions for 52 yards. Watkins found the end zone in the second quarter when he took a Boyd hand-off 57 yards.

Clemson finished with 498 yards of total offense in the blowout.

No. 8: South Carolina Gamecocks

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Mary Ann Chastain/Getty Images

Poll Points: 425                             

Record: 3-0 (1-0, SEC)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat UAB, 49-6     

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Missouri Tigers      

Previous Ranking: 10

South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore had 85 yards rushing and a touchdown on just 12 carries as South Carolina upended UAB, 49-6

The Gamecock defense held the Blazers to just 27 yards rushing on 42 carries.

No. 7: Georgia Bulldogs

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Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Poll Points: 465                             

Record: 3-0 (1-0, SEC)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Florida Atlantic, 56-20   

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Vanderbilt Commodores      

Previous Ranking: 7

Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray completed 14-of-19 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs beat the Owls, 56-20.

Bulldog running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall combined for 215 yards rushing and two touchdowns as Georgia gained 713 total yards of offense.

No. 6: West Virginia Mountaineers

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Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

Poll Points: 474                             

Record: 2-0 (0-0, Big 12)                

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat James Madison, 42-12   

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Maryland Terrapins      

Previous Ranking: 8

Mountaineer quarterback Geno Smith was nearly flawless, completing 34-of-39 passes for 411 yards and five touchdowns as West Virginia destroyed James Madison, 42-12.

Stedman Bailey was Smith's primary target, catching 13 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns.

No. 5: Oklahoma Sooners

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Brett Deering/Getty Images

Poll Points: 491                             

Record: 2-0 (0-0, Big 12)              

Last Game: Sept. 8 beat Florida A&M, 69-13    

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Kansas State Wildcats      

Previous Ranking: 6

No game scheduled this week.

No. 4: Florida State Seminoles

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Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Poll Points: 517                             

Record: 3-0 (1-0, ACC)                

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Wake Forest, 52-0    

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Clemson Tigers       

Previous Ranking: 5

Florida State's defense held Wake Forest to just 126 yards of total offense as the Seminoles beat the Demon Deacons, 52-0.

Running back Chris Thompson rushed for 197 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries for the Seminoles.

Florida State held the Demon Deacons to just 43 rushing yards on 35 carries.

No. 3: Oregon Ducks

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Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images

Poll Points: 552                             

Record: 3-0 (0-0, Pac-12)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Tennessee Tech, 63-14    

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Arizona Wildcats      

Previous Ranking: 4

Duck quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 21-of-28 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns as Oregon beat Tennessee Tech, 63-14.

Oregon running back De'Anthony Thomas had a 59-yard run for a touchdown in the first quarter and another one on a 16-yard pass from Mariota in the second.

The Ducks finished with 652 yards of total offense.

No. 2: LSU Tigers

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Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Poll Points (first-place votes): 567 (1)                          

Record: 3-0 (0-0, SEC)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Idaho, 63-14    

Next Game: Sept. 22 at Auburn Tigers      

Previous Ranking: 3

Running back Kenny Hilliard ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns as LSU beat Idaho, 63-14. Jeremy Hill also ran for two touchdowns as LSU gained 250 yards on the ground.

The Tigers limited the Vandals to just 213 yards of total offense.

No. 1: Alabama Crimson Tide

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Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Poll Points (first-place votes): 599 (23)                             

Record: 3-0 (1-0, SEC)               

Last Game: Sept. 15 beat Arkansas, 52-0 

Next Game: Sept. 22 vs. Florida Atlantic Owls      

Previous Ranking: 1

Alabama continued to dominate, beating Arkansas 52-0 on Saturday. The Crimson Tide defense held the Razorbacks to just 137 yards of total offense.

Alabama running back Eddie Lacy ran for three touchdowns on just 12 carries. Alabama finished with 225 yards rushing in the blowout.


Bleacher Report Voters: David Mayer (Poll Coordinator), Adam Jacobi, Alex Joseph, Alex Callos, Amy Daughters, Barrett Sallee, Carl Stine, Chad Robb, Daniel Hudson, David Luther, Rich Thomaselli, Eric Bowman, Ian Berg, James Brown, Jason Fraychineaud, John Greely, Jonathan McDanal, Kay Jennings, Luke Pashke, Marty Sondermann, Max Rausch, Michael Felder, Sanjay Kirpalani, Zach Dirlam.

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