College Football Rankings 2014: Official Week 4 Polls and Playoff Projections

The college football season has provided an incredible first three weeks to the season. Although nothing changed within the Top Five in either of the major polls this week, title contender Georgia lost to SEC foe South Carolina in a thrilling game.

The other Top 10 casualty was USC. After a huge victory against Stanford, the Trojans dropped significantly in the polls thanks to a horrible loss to Boston College.

Mississippi moved into the AP Top 10 after a third consecutive blowout, while Baylor and Texas A&M also moved up a spot with the departure of the Bulldogs.

Let’s take a look at the latest polls heading into Week 4 and consider the early projections for the College Football Playoff.

Pos.	Associated Press	Coaches Poll
1	Florida State (37)	Florida State (50)
2	Oregon (17)	Alabama (1)
3	Alabama (1)	Oregon (6)
4	Oklahoma (2)	Oklahoma (4)
5	Auburn	Auburn
6	Texas A&M (3)	Baylor
7	Baylor	Texas A&M
8	LSU	LSU
9	Notre Dame	Notre Dame
10	Ole Miss	UCLA
11	Michigan State	Michigan State
12	UCLA	Ole Miss
13	Georgia	Arizona State
14	South Carolina	Georgia
15	Arizona State	Stanford
16	Stanford	South Carolina
17	USC	Wisconsin
18	Missouri	Ohio State
19	Wisconsin	Missouri
20	Kansas State	Kansas State
21	BYU	USC
22	Clemson	Nebraska
23	Ohio State	BYU
24	Nebraska	Clemson
25	Oklahoma State	North Carolina

Team	Record
Florida State	2-0
Alabama	3-0
Oregon	3-0
Oklahoma	3-0

Playoff Projections

The College Football Playoff projections altered slightly from last week. Georgia’s loss knocks it out of contention for now and allows Oklahoma to come in at the No. 4 spot.

Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press

The Sooners took care of business at home against Tennessee but face a tough test this week when they travel to Morgantown to take on West Virginia. The Mountaineers gave Alabama trouble in the opener.

Oklahoma isn’t the most discussed team in the Top Five, but it might be later in the season. Its schedule is extremely easy compared to the other top teams. The most difficult games remaining on the schedule include matchups with No. 20 Kansas State (Oct. 18), No. 7 Baylor (Nov. 8) and No. 25 Oklahoma State in the final week.

Oklahoma might not crack the Top Three unless someone loses, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t belong. The Sooners looked superior when they beat Alabama in last year’s Sugar Bowl, and nothing has changed since. With the teams they have to play, you can almost make them a lock for the playoff.  

Although the two polls differ between the No. 2 and No. 3 rankings, I like Alabama ahead of Oregon. Despite the Ducks’ win over a highly ranked Michigan State in Week 2, teams that play in the SEC will get the nod, at least in my book.

This past week, Oregon rolled over Wyoming 48-14. Led by Marcus Mariota, the high-powered Ducks head to Washington State on Saturday.

Oregon has already proved it’s one of the best teams in the nation with its comeback win against Michigan State. A lot of people may be down on the Big 10, but Michigan State is exceptionally talented and will be back to the top of the polls by year’s end.

The Crimson Tide beat up on Southern Miss to complete the easy part of their schedule. They open up conference play this week against Florida.

Thus far, wide receiver Amari Cooper has been carrying the load for Alabama’s offense. In just three games, he’s recorded 33 receptions for 454 yards and two touchdowns.

'Bama hasn’t been able to showcase its team in a few weeks. After its performance Saturday against the Gators, people will remember why Nick Saban has been so difficult to defeat. The SEC schedule is always a nightmare, but the Tide are good enough to win another title.

Florida State remains in the top spot, where it will stay until it loses. The defending champs were off last week but now face one of their more difficult tasks in 2014 with No. 22 Clemson in town.

If they can get past this test, the Seminoles should breeze through their schedule until mid-October when they face No. 9 Notre Dame.  They may have lost some playmakers, but Jameis Winston more than makes up for that.

Although the season is just getting underway, I really believe these four teams will be there at the end. They are the most talented teams in the country and could all realistically make the playoff even with a loss.