CFB Playoff Picture, Standings and Bracket Predictions After Week 4 of 2025-26 Season

The Texas Tech Red Raiders delivered an important statement in the context of the College Football Playoff on Saturday.

Texas Tech went into Salt Lake City and beat the Utah Utes to place itself at the top of the Big 12 hierarchy.

Texas Tech is now 4-0 and in position to be a serious playoff contender. Anything can happen in the wide open Big 12, but the Red Raiders seem to be in a good position to finish as conference champion.

The Oklahoma Sooners solidified their position right around the playoff positions with their triumph over the Auburn Tigers.

Oklahoma still has a long way to go in SEC play, but it is creeping closer to the top 12.

Saturday night's biggest game of consequence comes from the Big Ten, where the Illinois Fighting Illini visit the Indiana Hoosiers.

Texas Tech Asserts Itself Among Big 12 Contenders

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Texas Tech's road win in Utah assert itself as one of the clear contenders in the Big 12.

The Red Raiders thumped the Utes by 24 points, and in turn, they shot up the list of contenders in the Big 12.

Prior to Week 4, the Red Raiders still had question marks attached to them because they played a light September schedule.

Now, the Red Raiders are firmly in the CFB Playoff conversation. Some experts would consider them to be the favorite to represent the Big 12 over the Iowa State Cyclones.

Texas Tech doesn't play Iowa State in the regular season and has a relatively easy schedule for the rest of Big 12 play. They could realistically lose one or two games and still get in as an at-large team at its current trajectory.

A double-digit win total could still be achieved if Behren Morton is out long term. Will Hammond filled in admirably in Saturday's victory.

Oklahoma Continues Strong Start

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John Mateer and the Oklahoma Sooners continued their impressive start to the 2025 campaign with a win over the Auburn Tigers.

Oklahoma got 300 total yards out of Mateer, the Washington State transfer, to move to 4-0 and 1-0 in SEC play.

The Sooners entered Week 4 at No. 11 in the AP Top 25. They are on the outside of the playoff picture, just barely though, due to the presence of the Big 12 champion and best Group of Five team.

Oklahoma owns Top 25 wins over Auburn and the Michigan Wolverines. It has six more Top 25 opponents on its schedule.

Oklahoma's next major test comes in the Red River Rivalry against the Texas Longhorns on October 11. That could be a massive game for the playoff trajectories of both programs.