B/R Top 25 College Football Poll: Week 4

Another great weekend of college football as eight top 25 teams played each other Saturday, making for four exciting games.

LSU and Alabama played some tough competition and both passed with flying colors, while Oklahoma struggled at home against Missouri.

There were no big upsets this weekend, making my job a little easier this week.

Here is the top 25 voted on by 20 B/R writers.

(Special thanks to the voters who make this article happen. Amy Daughters, Amy Lamare, Brian Jones, Carl Stine, David Luther, Ian Berg, Jeremy Hillman, Joe Penkala, Joel Greer, Johnathan Cace, Kevin McGuire, Patrick Runge, Lafe Peavler, Michael Taglienti, Rich Thomaselli, Ryan Teeples, Jonathan Woo, Timothy Bielik,and Matt Shetler)

Others Receiving Votes

Illinois: 37

Houston: 20

Auburn: 18

Ohio State: 14

Florida International: 8

Missouri: 6

Mississippi State: 4

Tennessee: 4

Utah: 3

Iowa State: 3

Georgia: 2

Temple: 1

No. 25: Arizona State Sun Devils

Total Points (First Place Votes): 47

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

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat USC, 43-22

Next Game: Oct. 1 at Oregon State

Previous Ranking: N/R

Notes: Cameron Marshall ran for 141 yards and three touchdowns as the Sun Devils beat the Trojans on Saturday night.

USC out gained Arizona State in total yards, but could not overcome their four turnovers.

No. 24: Michigan State Spartans

Total Points (First Place Votes): 51

Record: 3-1

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Central Michigan, 45-7

Next Game: Oct. 1 at Ohio State

Previous Ranking: 24

Notes: Le'Veon Bell gained 81 yards and three touchdowns in just eight carries as Michigan State got back into the win column against Central Michigan.

Michigan State held Central Michigan to 112 total yards while picking off Chippewas quarterbacks four times.

No. 23: Florida State Seminoles

Total Points (First Place Votes): 90

Record: 2-2 (0-1 ACC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 lost to No. 20 Clemson, 30-35

Next Game: Oct. 1 at Wake Forrest

Previous Ranking: 11

Notes: Florida State had no answer for Tajh Boyd as he burned the Seminoles for 344 yards and three touchdowns to help the Tigers hold on to beat the Seminoles.

Florida State starting quarterback E.J. Manuel was held out of the game due to an injury to his shoulder, but freshman Clint Trickett played admirably in the loss, throwing for 336 yards and three touchdowns.

If Florida State wants to continue to compete in the ACC, they must find their rushing game as they were limited to just 29 yards against Clemson.

No. 22: West Virginia Mountaineers

Total Points (First Place Votes): 103

Record: 3-1

Last Game: Sept. 24 lost to LSU, 21-47

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. Bowling Green

Previous Ranking: 16

Notes: Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith threw for 463 yards and two touchdowns against one of the best defenses in the country, but it still wasn't enough as LSU won 47-21.

Tavon Austin was Smith's main target as he caught 11 catches for 187 yards in the loss.

No. 21: Texas Longhorns

Total Points (First Place Votes): 106

Record: 3-0

Last Game: Sept. 17 beat UCLA, 49-20

Next Game: Oct. 1 at Iowa State

Previous Ranking: 20

Notes: Texas did not play this week. Next game is against undefeated Iowa State.

No. 20: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

Total Points (First Place Votes): 111

Record: 4-0 (1-0 ACC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat North Carolina, 35-28

Next Game: Oct. 1 at North Carolina State

Previous Ranking: 25

Notes: Just like every other team that played Georgia Tech this year, North Carolina had no answer to the Yellow Jackets rushing attack.

Georgia Tech had three players that ran for over 70 yards a piece as the Yellow Jackets gained over 300 yards on the ground.

No. 19: TCU Horned Frogs

Total Points (First Place Votes): 134

Record: 3-1 (1-0 MWC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Portland State, 55-13

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. SMU

Previous Ranking: 19

Notes: TCU had no problem with Portland State as Casey Pachall threw for three touchdowns for the Horned Frogs.

Waymon James rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries for TCU.

No. 18: Michigan Wolverines

Total Points (First Place Votes): 137

Record: 4-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat San Diego State,  28-7

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. Minnesota

Previous Ranking: 21

Notes: Denard Robinson was at it again on Saturday as he rushed 21 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns to lead Michigan over a very good San Diego State team.

The Aztecs came into the game undefeated, but was unable to stop one of the best running quarterbacks in the country.

Robinson now has 552 yards rushing and 531 yards passing for the season.

No. 17: Arkansas Razorbacks

Total Points (First Place Votes): 163

Record: 3-1 (0-1 SEC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 lost to Alabama, 14-38

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. No. 14 Texas A&M

Previous Ranking: 13

Notes: Arkansas came into the showdown with Alabama eighth in the country in passing with 347 yards per game and averaged 171 yards rushing per game.

They quickly realized just how good the Crimson Tide defense was as they were held to just 209 yards passing and 17 yards rushing.

Arkansas was unable to get into any rhythm against one of the best defenses in the country.

No. 16: South Florida Bulls

Total Points (First Place Votes): 177

Record: 4-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat UTEP, 52-24

Next Game: Sept. 29 at Pittsburgh

Previous Ranking: 18

Notes: B.J. Daniels threw for 202 yards and a touchdown while adding another 130 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

South Florida had 575 total yards in the blowout.

No. 15: Baylor Bears

Total Points (First Place Votes): 202

Record: 3-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Rice, 56-31

Next Game: Oct. 1 at Kansas State

Previous Ranking: 17

Notes: Robert Griffin worked his magic again, throwing for 332 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Rice Owls.

Griffin now has 956 yards and 13 touchdowns in just three games.

No. 14: Texas A&M Aggies

Total Points (First Place Votes): 225

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

Last Game: Sept. 24 lost to Oklahoma state, 29-30

Next Game: Oct. 1 at No.17 Arkansas

Previous Ranking: 7

Notes: Texas A&M was able to hold the high-powered Oklahoma State offense for an entire half.

Problem is there are two halves in football, and Texas A&M's defense never showed up in the second half.

Aggies quarterback Ryan Tannehill did throw for 309 yards and two touchdowns, but was picked off three times.

No. 13: Clemson Tigers

Total Points (First Place Votes): 226

Record: 4-0 (1-0 ACC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Florida State, 35-30

Next Game: Oct. 1 at No. 11 Virginia Tech

Previous Ranking: 23

Notes: Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd had 344 yards and three touchdowns as Clemson upset Florida State in Death Valley.

This is the second straight week Clemson upset a ranked team.

Clemson held Florida State to just 29 yards rushing.

No. 12: Florida Gators

Total Points (First Place Votes): 279

Record: 4-0 (2-0 SEC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Kentucky, 48-10

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. No. 3 Alabama

Previous Ranking: 15

Notes: The one-two punch of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey decided to let a third running back get into the fun, Mike Gillislee.

Gillislee ran for 81 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries.

The trio combined for 346 yards and three touchdowns as the Gators rolled.

No. 11: Virginia Tech Hokies

Total Points (First Place Votes): 285

Record: 4-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Marshall, 30-10

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. No. 13 Clemson

Previous Ranking: 14

Notes: Virginia Tech running back David Wilson had 132 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Hokies beat the Thundering Herd 30-10 on Saturday.

Virginia Tech held Marshall to just six yards on 24 carries.

No. 10: South Carolina Gamecocks

Total Points (First Place Votes): 316

Record: 4-0 (2-0 SEC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Vanderbilt, 21-3

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. Auburn

Previous Ranking: 12

Notes: South Carolina came into the game giving up 33 points per game.

They made sure from the get-go that they wouldn't allow that again as the Gamecocks allowed only 77 total yards to the Commodores.

Although Marcus Lattimore was limited to 77 yards on 20 carries, he also caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown.

No. 9: Oregon Ducks

Total Points (First Place Votes): 324

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

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Arizona, 56-31

Next Game: Oct. 6 vs. California

Previous Ranking: 10

Notes: LaMichael James broke two school records as the Ducks pounded the Wildcats 56-31.

James broke the single-game rushing record as he ran for 288 yards and two touchdowns. He also became Oregon's all-time leading rusher in school history.

James also had 15 receiving yards to end the night with over 300 all-purpose yards.

No. 8: Nebraska Cornhuskers

Total Points (First Place Votes): 337

Record: 4-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Wyoming, 38-14

Next Game: Oct. 1 at No. 6 Wisconsin

Previous Ranking: 9

Notes: Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead ran just 13 times, but got 151 yards and two touchdowns as the Cornhuskers beat the Cowboys on Saturday night.

Quarterback Taylor Martinez had a somewhat quiet day passing for 147 and a touchdown.

Nebraska ended the day with 333 yards on the ground.

No. 7: Stanford Cardinal

Total Points (First Place Votes): 393

Record: 3-0

Last Game: Sept. 17 beat Arizona, 37-10

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. UCLA

Previous Ranking: 5

Notes: Stanford has a bye week. Their next game is at home against UCLA.

No. 6: Wisconsin Badgers

Total Points (First Place Votes): 400 (1)

Record: 4-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat South Dakota, 59-10

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. No. 8 Nebraska

Previous Ranking: 6

Notes: Russell Wilson dominated South Dakota as he threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns in the manslaughter.

The Badgers had 612 total yards, while the Coyotes were held to just 173.

Nick Toon was Wilson's favorite receiver as he caught seven catches for 155 yards and two touchdowns.

No. 5: Oklahoma State Cowboys

Total Points (First Place Votes): 403

Record: 4-0 (1-0 Big 12)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Texas A&M, 30-29

Next Game: Oct. 8 vs. Kansas

Previous Ranking: 8

Notes: Brandon Weeden was unable to get anything going in the first half, thus leaving the Cowboys without a touchdown.

Weeden came out in the second half on fire, throwing for 438 yards and two touchdowns on 60 pass attempts.

Justin Blackmon was nearly unstoppable again, catching 11 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown.

No. 4: Boise State Broncos

Total Points (First Place Votes): 445 (2)

Record: 4-0

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Tulsa, 41-21

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. Nevada

Previous Ranking: 4

Notes: Kellen Moore threw for 279 yards and four touchdowns, and was pulled early after the Broncos took a 34-0 lead.

The Broncos picked off the Golden Hurricanes' quarterbacks four times in the victory.

No. 3: Alabama Crimson Tide

Total Points (First Place Votes): 467

Record: 4-0 (1-0 SEC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Arkansas, 38-14

Next Game: Oct. 1 at No. 12 Florida

Previous Ranking: 3

Notes: Alabama's defense proved to be too much as the Crimson Tide crushed Arkansas 38-14 on Saturday.

Trent Richardson continued to inch closer to the Heisman Trophy, running for 126 yards and catching three balls for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Arkansas was held to only 226 total yards.

No. 2: Oklahoma Sooners

Total Points (First Place Votes): 477 (6)

Record: 3-0 (1-0 Big 12)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat Missouri, 38-28

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. Ball State

Previous Ranking: 1

Notes: Oklahoma's combination of quarterback Landry Jones and wide receiver Ryan Broyles proved to be too much for Missouri on Saturday night.

Landry threw for 448 yards and three touchdowns while Broyles caught 13 passes for 154 yards and three touchdowns.

No. 1: LSU Tigers

Total Points (First Place Votes): 482 (11)

Record: 4-0 (1-0 SEC)

Last Game: Sept. 24 beat West Virginia, 47-21

Next Game: Oct. 1 vs. Kentucky

Previous Ranking: 2

Notes: Although West Virginia outgained LSU 533 yards to 366, they couldn't overcome the four turnovers they had.

LSU clinched the victory when Morris Claiborne returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown after West Virginia cut the lead to six.

The Tigers ran for 182 yards against the Mountaineers.