College Football Rankings 2015: Power Ranking All 128 Teams for Week 5
We've reached the end of the first month of the 2015 college football season, and more than two dozen of the 128 teams at the FBS level have yet to lose a game. On the other end of the spectrum, through four weeks we also have seven schools (from six different conferences) that have yet to claim victory.
And in between are a lot of teams moving in either direction. How do they all rank from top to bottom? That's what the power rankings are for.
Bleacher Report's power rankings are comprised of an average of five sources: B/R's weekly Top 25, the Associated Press Top 25, the Amway Coaches Poll, ratings guru Jeff Sagarin's computer rankings and the author's personal rankings for every FBS school. The top 50 teams are broken down individually, while the rest of the 128 FBS teams are summarized in a few easy-to-digest chunks.
Check out where everyone ranks after the first month, and then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
Nos. 128-91
1 of 53
Army avoided its first 0-4 start since 2012 with a 58-36 win at Eastern Michigan thanks to 556 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 61 carries. It was the Black Knights' first road win since November 2010 and snapped a 21-game losing streak away from West Point.
Aaron Kemper ran for 147 yards and a TD, and both A.J. Schurr and Drue Harris had two rushing scores for Army, which scored its most points since a 62-7 win over VMI in 2006.
- 128. New Mexico State Aggies (0-3, 0-1 Sun Belt)
- 127. Wyoming Cowboys (0-4, 0-1 Mountain West)
- 126. Charlotte 49ers (2-2, 0-2 Conference USA)
- 125. Georgia State Panthers (1-2, 1-0 Sun Belt)
- 124. Eastern Michigan Eagles (1-3, 0-1 Mid-American)
- 123. Idaho Vandals (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt)
- 122. Miami (Ohio) RedHawks (1-3)
- 121. North Texas Mean Green (0-3, 0-1 Conference USA)
- 120. Old Dominion Monarchs (2-2)
- 119. South Alabama Jaguars (2-2)
- 118. UTSA Roadrunners (0-4)
- 117. UTEP Miners (2-2)
- 115. (tie) Tulane Green Wave (1-2)
- 115. (tie) Massachusetts Minutemen (0-3)
- 114. Texas State Bobcats (1-3)
- 113. Kent State Golden Flashes (1-3)
- 112. Florida Atlantic Owls (1-3, 1-0 Conference USA)
- 111. Army Black Knights (1-3)
- 110. Kansas Jayhawks (0-3)
- 109. New Mexico Lobos (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West)
- 108. SMU Mustangs (1-3)
- 107. UCF Knights (0-4)
- 106. Fresno State Bulldogs (1-3, 0-1 Mountain West)
- 104. (tie) Troy Trojans (1-2)
- 104. (tie) Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (1-2)
- 103. San Diego State Aztecs (1-3)
- 102. South Florida Bulls (1-2)
- 101. Connecticut Huskies (2-2, 0-1 American)
- 99. (tie) Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (1-2)
- 99. (tie) Florida International Golden Panthers (2-2, 0-1 Conference USA)
- 98. Ball State Cardinals (2-2, 1-0 Mid-American)
- 96. (tie) Purdue Boilermakers (1-3)
- 96. (tie) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (2-2)
- 95. UNLV Runnin' Rebels (1-3)
- 94. Akron Zips (2-2)
- 93. Central Michigan Chippewas (1-3)
- 92. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (2-2)
- 91. Western Michigan Broncos (1-3)
Nos. 90-61
2 of 53
Tyler Ervin ran for a school-record 300 yards with three touchdowns on 42 carries to give San Jose State a 49-23 win over rival Fresno State in Mountain West Conference play on Saturday. Ervin's big night helped the Spartans reclaim the Valley Trophy.
Ervin's ground total is the most by any FBS running back this season. For the year the senior has 641 rushing yards and nine TDs.
- 90. Arkansas State Red Wolves (1-3)
- 89. Buffalo Bulls (2-2)
- 88. Rice Owls (2-2, 1-0 Conference USA)
- 87. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (2-2, 0-1 ACC)
- 86. San Jose State Spartans (2-2, 1-1 Mountain West)
- 85. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-2, 0-1 Big Ten)
- 84. Colorado State Rams (2-2)
- 83. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (2-1)
- 81. (tie) Virginia Cavaliers (1-3)
- 81. (tie) Maryland Terrapins (2-2)
- 79. (tie) Washington State Cougars (2-1)
- 79. (tie) Vanderbilt Commodores (1-3, 0-2 SEC)
- 78. East Carolina Pirates (2-2, 0-1 American)
- 77. Nevada Wolf Pack (2-2)
- 75. (tie) Oregon State Beavers (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12)
- 75. (tie) Ohio Bobcats (3-1)
- 74. Cincinnati Bearcats (2-2, 0-2 American)
- 72. (tie) Colorado Buffaloes (3-1)
- 72. (tie) Appalachian State Mountaineers (2-1)
- 70. (tie) Marshall Thundering Herd (3-1)
- 70. (tie) Iowa State Cyclones (1-2)
- 69. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (2-2, 1-0 Conference USA)
- 68. Utah State Aggies (1-2)
- 67. Georgia Southern Eagles (3-1, 1-0 Sun Belt)
- 64. (tie) Texas Longhorns (1-3, 0-1 Big 12)
- 64. (tie) Syracuse Orange (3-1, 1-0 ACC)
- 64. (tie) Northern Illinois Huskies (2-2)
- 63. Air Force Falcons (2-1, 1-0 Mountain West)
- 62. Bowling Green Falcons (2-2)
- 61. South Carolina Gamecocks (2-2, 0-2 SEC)
Nos. 60-51
3 of 53
Indiana is 4-0 for the first time since 1990 and has already matched last season's win total after its 31-24 win Saturday at Wake Forest. Now the Hoosiers get to find out just how good they really are, as they get to open Big Ten Conference play at home against defending national champion Ohio State.
The Hoosiers have lost 20 straight to the Buckeyes, and their last win came in 1988.
- 60. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (2-2, 1-1 Conference USA)
- 59. Arkansas Razorbacks (1-3, 0-1 SEC)
- 57. (tie) Louisville Cardinals (1-3, 0-1 ACC)
- 57. (tie) Boston College Eagles (3-1, 0-1 ACC)
- 56. Illinois Fighting Illini (3-1)
- 55. Indiana Hoosiers (4-0)
- 54. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12)
- 53. Nebraska Cornhuskers (2-2)
- 51. (tie) Virginia Tech Hokies (2-2)
- 51. (tie) Pittsburgh Panthers (2-1)
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50. Minnesota Golden Gophers
4 of 53
Average rating: 48.38
Week 4 result: Won 27-24 vs. Ohio Bobcats
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Northwestern
Minnesota (3-1) has won three straight games by a field goal after losing its opener by just six points, giving the Golden Gophers plenty of experience in close games to carry over into the Big Ten schedule in their quest for a West Division title.
Against Ohio, Shannon Brooks' three-yard run with 30 seconds left proved to be the game-winner. Brooks had 82 yards and two TDs on 10 carries in the first action of his career as Minnesota searches for consistent run production with a team average of 3.95 yards per carry with only four scores on the ground.
48. (tie) Western Kentucky
5 of 53
Average rating: 47.5
Week 4 result: Won 56-14 vs. Miami (Ohio)
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Rice
Western Kentucky (3-1, 1-0 Conference USA) had 569 yards of total offense while scoring 49 first-half points last week, getting another monster game from quarterback Brandon Doughty as he climbs up the FBS career passing charts.
Doughty threw for 457 yards and six touchdowns on 33-of-41 passing, giving him 1,591 yards and 11 TDs with two interceptions while completing 74.2 percent of his throws. Doughty now sits 121st in FBS history with 9,391 yards, while his 74 TDs are tied for 94th all-time.
48. (tie) North Carolina Tar Heels
6 of 53
Average rating: 47.5
Week 4 result: Won 41-14 vs. Delaware
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Georgia Tech
North Carolina (3-1) has won three straight at home since opening the season with a loss to South Carolina, but two of those games have come against FCS teams. And in the most recent outing, quarterback Marquise Ware was replaced by Mitch Trubisky.
Trubisky responded with 312 passing yards and four touchdowns, completing 17 of 20 passes after Williams was 6-of-12 with a rushing TD.
The Tar Heels have outscored their last three foes 142-42, building confidence before heading into ACC play.
47. Penn State Nittany Lions
7 of 53
Average rating: 46.0
Week 4 result: Won 37-21 vs. San Diego State
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Army
Penn State (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) had its best scoring performance of the season and saw quarterback Christian Hackenberg finally show glimpses of the player he'd been as a freshman and occasionally as a sophomore. If the Nittany Lions can somehow get that at the same time as a productive run game, they'll be a challenge in the Big Ten.
Hackenberg threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns after going for 372 yards with one TD and two interceptions in the first three games.
Penn State ran for a season-low 72 yards after rushing for 530 yards in the previous two outings, however.
46. Kentucky Wildcats
8 of 53
Average rating: 45.25
Week 4 result: Won 21-13 vs. Missouri
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Eastern Kentucky
Kentucky (3-1, 2-1 SEC) has emerged from its early stretch of league competition with mostly good results—the victory over Missouri helping to make up for the offensive shortcomings the week before in losing to Florida.
The Wildcats offense still isn't getting much in terms of explosive plays, with only eight runs of at least 20 yards and 12 passes that have netted at least 25 yards. Strong defensive effort has lessened this issue, with Kentucky 333.3 yards and 16.3 points per game in SEC play.
45. Navy Midshipmen
9 of 53
Average rating: 44.5
Week 4 result: Won 28-18 at Connecticut
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Air Force
Navy (3-0, 2-0 American) is liking this being-in-a-conference deal, following up a home win over East Carolina with a second league victory at Connecticut. Both have been paced by quarterback Keenan Reynolds' running, as he has eight touchdowns in the past two games and nine for the season.
Reynolds now has 73 career rushing TDs, which puts him tied for third in FBS history. Five more and he'll pass Wisconsin's Montee Ball for the all-time record.
Navy ranks third in the country in rushing at 363 yards per game.
43. (tie) Washington Huskies
10 of 53
Average rating: 43.0
Week 4 result: Lost 30-24 vs. California
Week 5 matchup: Bye
Washington (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) saw its young offense take a step back after improving during the previous two games, with freshman quarterback Jake Browning having the worst overall game of his career with just 152 passing yards and two interceptions.
Dwayne Washington had 109 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, but the Huskies had to play from behind most of the day after giving up 24 straight points to Cal and trailed 27-7 in the third quarter. Washington is 113th nationally in time of possession and ran only 55 plays (to 92 for the Bears) last week.
43. (tie) Auburn Tigers
11 of 53
Average rating: 43.0
Week 4 result: Lost 17-9 vs. Mississippi State
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. San Jose State
Auburn (2-2, 0-2 SEC) appears to have regressed back to the last season of the Gene Chizik era, almost as if what head coach Gus Malzahn accomplished in 2013 and much of 2014 never happened. Even in a game when the Tigers had their best defensive performance of the year, limiting Mississippi State to 56 rushing yards and keeping quarterback Dak Prescott mostly in check, their normally potent offense has disappeared.
It was the first time Auburn failed to score a touchdown since being shut out by Alabama in the 2012 Iron Bowl, the last game Chizik coached.
42. Missouri Tigers
12 of 53
Average rating: 41.75
Week 4 result: Lost 21-13 at Kentucky
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. South Carolina
Missouri (3-1, 0-1 SEC) put its push for a third straight East Division title in an early hole by falling at Kentucky, the Tigers' first road loss since the 2012 season finale.
Maty Mauk had his fifth straight game with fewer than 200 passing yards and failed to complete more than 50 percent of his throws for the 14th time in his career. And without a reliable run game—the Tigers have averaged 108.5 yards per game this season, down from 177.9 last year—there's no consistency to the offense and makes it so even slight struggles on defense become much more glaring.
41. BYU Cougars
13 of 53
Average rating: 39.9
Week 4 result: Lost 31-0 at Michigan
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 2 vs. Connecticut
BYU (2-2) appears to be feeling the full effects of its treacherous September schedule, losing two straight, including its first shutout loss in nearly 12 years.
The Cougars offense had only 105 yards at Michigan, with Tanner Mangum throwing for 55 yards on 12-of-28 passing. A three-game homestand against a trio of American Athletic Conference teams all making long trips out West comes at just the right time for this team.
40. Tennessee Volunteers
14 of 53
Average rating: 38.88
Week 4 result: Lost 28-27 at Florida
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Arkansas
Tennessee (2-2, 0-1 SEC) had two double-digit leads in the second half at Florida, including a 13-point advantage with 10 minutes left, and looked well on its way to ending a 10-game losing streak to the Gators. Then the same late-game collapse that occurred in the home loss to Oklahoma popped up, and a team that was expected to contend for the East Division is showing an inability to close out games.
While the players are the ones responsible for executing between the lines, Volunteers coach Butch Jones is catching the brunt of the blame for these late collapses.
"Jones has played not to lose against Oklahoma and Florida this season and cost the Vols two huge victories," Dan Wolken of USA Today wrote.
Despite outgaining Florida and having quarterback Joshua Dobbs lead Tennessee in passing (83), rushing (136) and receiving (58), the Vols were punchless when it mattered most.
39. Miami (Florida) Hurricanes
15 of 53
Average rating: 36.25
Week 4 result: Bye
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 1 at Cincinnati
Miami (3-0) gets a shorter-than-normal break by returning to action with a Thursday road game, its first competition outside of South Florida this season. The Hurricanes are still counting their blessings from the last contest, when they blew a 23-point fourth-quarter lead to Nebraska but still won in overtime after Corn Elder intercepted a pass in the end zone.
The 'Canes are averaging 41.7 points and 472 yards per game, with running backs Mark Walton and Joseph Yearby combining for seven touchdowns.
38. Texas Tech Red Raiders
16 of 53
Average rating: 36.0
Week 4 result: Lost 55-52 vs. TCU
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Baylor (in Arlington, Texas)
Texas Tech (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) played about as well as it could but still came up short in a last-team-to-score-wins game against unbeaten TCU to open up conference play. Moral victories were aplenty for the Red Raiders, who had more than 600 yards of offense against a team they lost to 82-27 last season.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes hobbled his way to 392 passing yards and two touchdowns along with a rushing score, while DeAndre Washington scored four rushing TDs and had 188 yards on 22 carries. The senior is averaging 8.19 yards per carry, and his five TDs in 2015 are more than he had in any previous season.
Tech's averaging 53.8 points and 594.5 yards per game, but its defense hasn't made many stops. The Raiders allowed 750 yards to TCU and give up 556.3 per contest heading into a game against a Baylor team that leads FBS with 767 yards per game.
37. Temple Owls
17 of 53
Average rating: 35.8
Week 4 result: Bye
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 2 at Charlotte
Temple (3-0, 1-0 American) is in the midst of a three-game road trip but had last week off, and now it heads to face FBS newcomer Charlotte following road wins over Cincinnati and Massachusetts. The Cincy win came in American Athletic Conference play.
Running back Jahad Thomas has 394 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season, while the Owls defense is only giving up 85 rushing yards per game.
Temple hasn't started 4-0 since 1974, when it opened 6-0.
36. Toledo Rockets
18 of 53
Average rating: 34.0
Week 4 result: Won 37-7 vs. Arkansas State
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Ball State
Toledo (3-0) has managed to overcome the absence of its best offensive player in two of three games this season to wrap up nonconference play without a loss and two notable victories over power-conference teams.
The 30-point win over Arkansas State wasn't as impressive as previous victories against Iowa State and Arkansas, though the Rockets did gain 477 yards and got strong rushing from Terry Swanson and Damion Jones-Moore in running back Kareem Hunt's absence due to injury. Hunt also missed the Arkansas win because of suspension.
Toledo ranks 18th in the country in rushing defense, giving up 98.7 yards per game after holding Arkansas State to minus-14 yards thanks to six sacks.
35. Houston Cougars
19 of 53
Average rating: 33.6
Week 4 result: Won 59-14 vs. Texas State
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Tulsa
Houston (3-0) has been clicking on all cylinders offensively this year, with the 689 yards gained against Texas State coming with a strong blend of rushing and passing.
The Cougars are gaining 590.7 yards per game, with quarterback Greg Ward averaging 358.3 yards of total offense with 12 total touchdowns.
Houston is also fifth in FBS in rushing defense, giving up 66 yards per game and yielding 2.18 yards per carry.
34. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
20 of 53
Average rating: 32.67
Week 4 result: Lost 34-20 at Duke
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. North Carolina
Georgia Tech (2-2, 0-1 ACC) has suddenly lost the ability to get big gains on the ground on a consistent basis, and for a team that has an offense entirely built around a run game that's a recipe for disaster.
The Yellow Jackets' last two games, both losses, have resulted in a combined 389 rushing yards that came on 107 carries. Their 2.88 yards-per-carry average at Duke was the lowest since gaining 2.79 per rush in a 2011 loss at Miami, and in between only four other games saw them average fewer than four yards per carry.
Quarterback Justin Thomas hasn't been able to lead comebacks with his arm, and by going 6-of-21 for 143 yard, he and previous Tech passers have lost nine of the past 10 games when attempting 20 or more throws.
33. Memphis Tigers
21 of 53
Average rating: 32.4
Week 4 result: Won 53-46 vs. Cincinnati
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 2 at South Florida
Memphis (4-0, 1-0 American) has won 11 straight games but has some major defensive issues to deal with after allowing 87 points and 1,331 yards the past two games. Most of that came through the air, with Cincinnati gaining 620 yards on passes on Sept. 24.
The Tigers are fifth-worst in FBS in pass defense, giving up 333.8 yards per game, and are 104th overall on defense.
Thankfully, Memphis also has the No. 8 offense, gaining 570.3 yards per game while scoring at least 44 points each week.
31. (tie) Iowa Hawkeyes
22 of 53
Average rating: 31.7
Week 4 result: Won 62-16 vs. North Texas
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Wisconsin
Iowa (4-0) has put up some of its best offensive numbers ever in Kirk Ferentz's 17-year tenure, with the 62 points against North Texas the most since 2002. And that came on only 478 yards, with Jordan Canzeri contributing four of the Hawkeyes' five rushing touchdowns to give him eight this season.
The Hawkeyes are averaging 439.3 yards and 37.8 points per game, and quarterback C.J. Beathard has taken Ferentz's faith in him to heart with a 68.2 percent completion rate and six TDs against one interception.
31. (tie) Duke Blue Devils
23 of 53
Average rating: 31.7
Week 4 result: Won 34-20 vs. Georgia Tech
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Boston College
Duke (3-1, 1-0 ACC) rebounded from its worst performance of the season, a 19-10 home loss to Northwestern, with its best effort of 2015 in taking out Georgia Tech for the second year in a row. The Blue Devils offense returned to life, while the defense stifled one of the toughest run attacks in the country and made it look easy.
The Devils held Georgia Tech to 2.9 yards per carry, forcing it to throw without the tools to make it effective. And any attempts by the Yellow Jackets were thwarted either by Shaquille Powell's three rushing touchdowns or the 100-yard kickoff return TD by DeVon Edwards to start the second half and make for a 26-10 lead.
By knocking off the defending ACC Coastal Division champions, Duke is in the early driver's seat to make its second league title game in three years.
30. North Carolina State Wolfpack
24 of 53
Average rating: 31.4
Week 4 result: Won 63-13 at South Alabama
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Louisville
North Carolina State (4-0) scored 28 first-quarter points to eliminate any chance of an upset loss on the road in its final nonconference game—the tip of a 586-yard performance that also came with a dominant effort on the defensive end.
The Wolfpack gave up 45 rushing yards and 258 overall, and entering ACC play they rank third in total defense (205.8 yards per game) and third against the run (49.5 per game).
Jacoby Brissett has six touchdown passes and is completing 77.9 percent of his passes, and running back Matt Dayes has run for 454 yards with nine TDs.
29. Kansas State Wildcats
25 of 53
Average rating: 29.75
Week 4 result: Bye
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Oklahoma State
Kansas State (3-0) is averaging 34.3 points per game despite fielding an offense that lost all of its top playmakers from a year ago and had to make a change at quarterback in the first quarter of the season opener. Junior Joe Hubener has handled the job well since replacing the injured Jesse Ertz, with four touchdown passes and zero interceptions as well as 105 rushing yards and a TD.
The Wildcats rank eighth in rushing defense, allowing 78.3 yards per game, and opponents have scored only twice on the ground with a 2.37 yards-per-carry average.
28. Boise State Broncos
26 of 53
Average rating: 29.6
Week 4 result: Won 56-14 at Virginia
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Hawaii
Boise State (3-1) might have its next great quarterback in freshman Brett Rypien, while running back Jeremy McNichols has quickly asserted himself as the successor to prolific running back Jay Ajayi.
Rypien threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, while McNichols had 116 all-purpose yards and two TDs to give him an FBS-leading 10 scores.
Boise's defense has forced nine turnovers, including eight interceptions, tied for fourth most in the nation.
27. Arizona Wildcats
27 of 53
Average rating: 29.4
Week 4 result: Lost 56-30 vs. UCLA
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Stanford
Arizona (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) just can't seem to figure out how to beat UCLA under Rich Rodriguez—now 0-4 since he took over the program in 2012 with losses by an average of 24.3 points per game. And the final margin wasn't the worst thing about the most recent setback for the Wildcats; instead it was the health of star quarterback Anu Solomon.
Solomon left the game in the first half with a head injury after he smacked into several UCLA players while sliding after a run. On Monday, coach Rich Rodriguez said Solomon suffered a concussion and that his status is day-to-day, per Anthony Gimino of TucsonNewsNow.com.
Without Solomon, the ability for Arizona to play from behind was stifled by backup Jerrard Randall's poor throwing. Though he had 128 rushing yards, including a 39-yard touchdown on his first play, Randall completed only four of 16 passes for 45 yards with a TD and an interception.
Arizona gave up six rushing TDs—many coming at the end of short drives set up by poor special teams play—and three turnovers after giving the ball away twice in the first three games.
26. Oregon Ducks
28 of 53
Average rating: 28.8
Week 4 result: Lost 62-20 vs. Utah
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Colorado
Oregon (2-2, 0-1 Pac-12) suffered its worst home loss since 1977, getting completely run off the field at Autzen Stadium, where it's normally doing to the routing. The Ducks have their worst record after four games since starting 1-3 in 2004, which was their last season with a losing record.
Vernon Adams Jr. was ineffective and erratic early, the broken finger on his throwing hand causing plenty of issues, and replacement Jeff Lockie did no better at quarterback with two interceptions. Oregon had 400 yards, including 222 on the ground, but after pulling within 20-13 midway through the second quarter gave up 42 unanswered points and yielded 530 overall.
Oregon ranks 118th in scoring defense, giving up 40.8 points per game.
25. Florida Gators
29 of 53
Average rating: 27.6
Week 4 result: Won 28-27 vs. Tennessee
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Ole Miss
Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC) showed the kind of heart and motivation it rarely showed in 2013 or 2014 during the tail end of Will Muschamp's run in Gainesville, failing to give up after falling behind by 13 points twice in the second half. Down 27-14 with 10 minutes left, the Gators became the aggressors and in turn are off to their best start since 2012.
Will Grier threw both of his touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the second on 4th-and-14 when he hit Antonio Callaway beyond the first-down marker and then saw Callaway take over for a 63-yard score. Grier had 283 passing yards, while Kelvin Taylor ran for 102 yards and two TDs.
The Gators allowed season highs in points and yards (419) but only gave up 34 yards to Tennessee on its final two possessions, the last resulting in a long missed field goal at the buzzer.
24. Michigan Wolverines
30 of 53
Average rating: 24.6
Week 4 result: Won 31-0 vs. BYU
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Maryland
Michigan (3-1) has become Jim Harbaugh's team far sooner than most people expected, and that's resulted in three consecutive convincing home victories that all used the same winning formula of ball-control offense and unforgiving defense.
The Wolverines are second in yards allowed in FBS at 203.8 per game, and against BYU they turned star quarterback Tanner Mangum into an afterthought. The hero of the Cougars' first two wins threw for only 55 yards on 12-of-28 passing.
Michigan's offense isn't putting up huge numbers, but its 27.8 points and 396.3 yards per game are coming via a methodical run-based approach that's eating up clock. It ranks eighth nationally in time of possession at more than 34:20 per game.
23. Mississippi State Bulldogs
31 of 53
Average rating: 24.4
Week 4 result: Won 17-9 at Auburn
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Mississippi State
Mississippi State (3-1, 1-1 SEC) won an ugly game at Auburn for its first SEC victory, doing so more with defense than with the usual Dak Prescott-led offensive performance.
Prescott had 270 passing yards and both of the Bulldogs' touchdowns, but he wasn't able to do anything on the ground against an Auburn defense that LSU's Leonard Fournette ran over constantly the week before. MSU's own defenders bent but didn't break, allowing only three field goals.
The Bulldogs have a front-loaded conference schedule, having already lost to LSU and now going to unbeaten Texas A&M.
22. California Golden Bears
32 of 53
Average rating: 24.0
Week 4 result: Won 30-24 at Washington
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Washington State
California (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) is in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 2009 and is the only unbeaten team in the North Division. Those are great notes, but what's most important for the Golden Bears is that they've seen a marked improvement on defense and haven't had the big blown leads like in 2014.
Save for the 45-44 win at Texas, in which it squandered a large lead and won only because of a missed extra point in the final minute, Cal is making big stops. The Bears give up 22.3 points per game, down from 39.8 a year ago, and their pass defense is allowing 214.8 yards and has nine interceptions against two touchdown passes.
Last year Cal yielded more than 367 passing yards per game and saw opponents throw 42 TDs against 12 picks.
21. Wisconsin Badgers
33 of 53
Average rating: 20.4
Week 4 result: Won 28-0 vs. Hawaii
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Iowa
Wisconsin (3-1) has used the three games since losing to Alabama in Texas to become a far more polished defensive team, one that's now 11th in the country against the run with 93 rushing yards allowed on 75 carries in three straight victories.
The Badgers have two shutouts in the past three games, giving up a field goal in the other, and that's taken all the pressure off an offense that's yet to have projected top tailback Corey Clement at full strength. He's out several weeks following sports hernia surgery, but in his absence the duo of Taiwan Deal and Dare Ogunbowale has run for 571 yards and seven touchdowns.
Additionally, quarterback Joel Stave has 830 passing yards and seven touchdowns with a 66.1 percent completion rate.
20. Oklahoma State Cowboys
34 of 53
Average rating: 20.2
Week 4 result: Won 30-27 at Texas
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Kansas State
Oklahoma State (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) kicked two field goals in the final 93 seconds to win at Texas, weathering an off day from quarterback Mason Rudolph and not much run production to remain unbeaten. Being able to win such games, especially on the road, is the mark of a team that can do some damage in the conference.
The Cowboys defense held Texas to 290 yards to help negate three turnovers that gave the Longhorns 14 of their points. For the season OK State is allowing 299.8 yards per game, which is about 30 percent lower than the 432 per game it gave up in 2014.
19. Northwestern Wildcats
35 of 53
Average rating: 20.0
Week 4 result: Won 24-19 vs. Ball State
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Minnesota
Northwestern (4-0) has relied on a strong defense and just enough offensive production to get through a good nonconference schedule unscathed, and now we'll see if the Wildcats have enough to be a real contender in the Big Ten's West Division.
The Wildcats allow 266 yards and 8.8 points per game, the scoring defense ranking third in the country even after allowing a season-high 19 points to Ball State.
Justin Jackson ran for 184 yards in that game, giving him 516 this season, and quarterback Clayton Thorson had his best game of the season with three touchdown passes after throwing only one in the first three games.
18. West Virginia Mountaineers
36 of 53
Average rating: 18.2
Week 4 result: Won 45-6 vs. Maryland
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Oklahoma
West Virginia (3-0) leads the nation in scoring defense at 7.7 points per game, and that veteran unit has provided more than enough stops to let the Mountaineers do what they want on offense without much worry about getting into trouble.
The Mountaineers had 601 yards against Maryland, with 304 on the ground thanks to 147 rushing yards and a touchdown from Wendell Smallwood. Smallwood averages 6.9 yards per carry, a perfect complement to quarterback Skyler Howard with his 69 percent completion rate and nine TDs with only one interception.
The road will get much tougher starting this week, though, as the 922 yards West Virginia has allowed this season are a little more than half of what Oklahoma has gained in three games.
17. Stanford Cardinal
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Average rating: 17.2
Week 4 result: Won 42-24 at Oregon State
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Arizona
Stanford (3-1, 2-0 Pac-12) had only two field goals through the first 95-plus minutes of the season, but since getting its first touchdown late in the first half of the second game against UCF, the Cardinal's offense has been as good as any in the country. In a little more than 10 quarters, it's scored 114 points.
The complete 180 since the season-opening loss to Northwestern has Stanford back in the mix for the Pac-12 title as well as playoff contention thanks to a schedule where it hosts Arizona, California, Notre Dame, Oregon and UCLA.
Kevin Hogan has found his go-to player to work with both in the pass game and on the ground, as Christian McCaffrey has 445 rushing yards and 157 receiving yards along with 286 from punt and kickoff returns.
16. Texas A&M Aggies
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Average rating: 14.4
Week 4 result: Won 28-21 (in OT) vs. Arkansas in Arlington, Texas
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Mississippi State
Texas A&M (4-0, 1-0 SEC) continues to be a fast starter each season under Kevin Sumlin, improving to 16-2 in August and September games with 11 straight wins after coming from behind to knock off Arkansas for the second year in a row.
But the Aggies are 13-9 in October and November during Sumlin's tenure, losing three straight after the Arkansas victory last season.
Against Arkansas, Kyle Allen threw for 358 yards and two touchdowns to Christian Kirk, who now has 805 all-purpose yards and five TDs on 39 touches.
14. (tie) USC Trojans
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Average rating: 14.0
Week 4 result: Won 42-14 at Arizona State
Week 5 matchup: Bye
USC (3-1, 1-1 Pac-12) put its foot on the gas right from the opening kickoff and rarely let up in a convincing win at Arizona State, brushing aside any memories of the home loss to Stanford the week before and looking very much like a team that was expected to contend for the conference title and a playoff spot.
And with only three Pac-12 teams sporting perfect records after the first month of the season, those goals are still very much in play.
Cody Kessler threw for 379 yards and five touchdowns, and though he threw his first interception of the season, he is completing 73 percent of his passes with 15 TDs.
Adoree' Jackson and JuJu Smith-Schuster both had 100-yard receiving games, and USC's defense forced four turnovers and got a defensive score when Chris Hawkins returned a fumble 94 yards for a TD.
14. (tie) Oklahoma Sooners
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Average rating: 14.0
Week 4 result: Bye
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. West Virginia
Oklahoma (3-0) got a week off before jumping into Big 12 play with a tough opening matchup against unbeaten West Virginia, a team whose defense will challenge the quickly improving attack the Sooners have put together behind quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield is coming off a school-record 572 yards of total offense with six total touchdowns in a 52-38 win over Tulsa, which followed up a four-TD effort to help the Sooners rally and win in double overtime at Oklahoma. The Texas Tech transfer ranks third nationally in total offense at 400.3 yards per game.
13. Utah Utes
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Average rating: 12.0
Week 4 result: Won 62-20 at Oregon
Week 5 matchup: Bye
Utah (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) has been in the conference since 2011 and has made a few minor splashes here and there, but Saturday's 42-point win at Oregon served as the cannonball the Utes needed to make everyone else in the pool turn around and notice.
"While it is never a good idea to put too much emphasis on one game, Saturday felt like a statement for an overlooked Utah team—one that was a mere subplot in the opener against Michigan despite being the favorite," Matt Brown of Sports on Earth wrote.
Brown noted that Utah's previous eight Pac-12 wins had come by a combined 38 points; then there was this dominance in which it used a 42-0 run to turn a 20-13 game into a blowout. And it was an all-around effort too, with Travis Wilson returning from injury to tally 327 yards of total offense and five touchdowns while running back Devontae Booker had 98 hard-fought yards on 22 carries.
Utah's defense forced three turnovers, and on special teams it executed two fakes (one on a punt, another on a punt return for a TD).
12. Florida State Seminoles
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Average rating: 11.4
Week 4 result: Bye
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Wake Forest
Florida State (3-0, 1-0 ACC) had last week off in the middle of a two-game road trip to open conference play. The Seminoles extended their win streak against ACC opponents to 25 games, including conference title games, with a 14-0 win at Boston College last time out.
The 'Noles offense has been hot-and-cold, with running back Dalvin Cook (476 yards, five touchdowns) providing most of the spark, but the defense has been rock-solid. Florida State ranks eighth in total defense at 256.3 yards allowed per game and sixth in scoring defense at 10 points yielded per contest.
FSU also has a 13-game road win streak dating back to its last ACC loss in October 2012 at North Carolina State.
11. Alabama Crimson Tide
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Average rating: 10.2
Week 4 result: Won 34-0 vs. Louisiana-Monroe
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Georgia
Alabama (3-1, 0-1 SEC) warmed up for this weekend's big game at Georgia with a breeze of a home win over an overmatched Sun Belt opponent, a matchup that saw the Crimson Tide put up only 303 yards but allow just 92.
The Tide's offense still needs to get better, but if their defense can parlay the effort against Louisiana-Monroe into finding a way to slow down Georgia, then all will be right with a team that's facing questions about long-term staying power after the 43-37 home loss to Ole Miss.
"Considering the upcoming schedule—with Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas A&M after Georgia—the defense's timing couldn't have been better," Bleacher Report's Christopher Walsh wrote. "More than notching Alabama’s 15th shutout since Nick Saban took over as head coach in 2007, through four games it's yielded 227 rushing yards on 115 attempts."
10. Clemson Tigers
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Average rating: 10.0
Week 4 result: Bye
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3. vs. Notre Dame
Clemson (3-0, 1-0 ACC) gets most of its toughest opponents at home this season, and that starts with Notre Dame's first trip to Death Valley since 1977. The Tigers will be fresh for this one, having sat out last week, and with a mostly healthy team they should be able to pull out all the stops.
Last time out Clemson earned a narrow 20-17 win at Louisville to open ACC play, a game that saw sophomore running back Wayne Gallman emerge as a dependable asset when quarterback Deshaun Watson isn't dominating. Gallman had 139 yards on four carries, the fourth 100-yard game of his career.
Clemson's defense has quickly gotten back to the level it had last year despite losses to graduation. The Tigers rank ninth nationally at 260.7 yards allowed per game.
9. LSU Tigers
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Average rating: 9.4
Week 4 result: Won 34-24 at Syracuse
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Eastern Michigan
LSU (3-0, 2-0 SEC) overcame a feisty Syracuse team by turning to its most potent weapon as often as possible, and as long as Leonard Fournette is able to produce like he has, there's no indication this approach will change.
Fournette ran for 244 yards and two touchdowns, giving up 631 yards with eight scores this season. He leads FBS at 210.3 yards per game, and he's the first Tigers rusher with consecutive 200-yard games and five in a row with at least 100.
"Last year as a true freshman, Fournette was a good back, rushing for 1,034 yards on a 5.5-yard average to go with 10 TDs," Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman wrote. "This year, he’s become virtually unstoppable."
7. (tie) UCLA Bruins
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Average rating: 8.0
Week 4 result: Won 56-30 at Arizona
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Arizona State
UCLA (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) made its presence known as one of the early front-runners in the South Division, as well as one of the league's best bets to get into the College Football Playoff, with a nearly wire-to-wire dismantling of unbeaten Arizona on the road. The Bruins trailed 7-0 and then scored on six of seven first-half possessions to lead by 28 at halftime.
Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen returned to the form he showed in his collegiate debut against Virginia, with 284 yards and two touchdowns on 19-of-28 passing along with a rushing TD. He did not turn the ball over after throwing four interceptions in his previous two games.
Paul Pierce remains the constant weapon in UCLA's offense with three rushing TDs and 85 yards on 24 carries. He has six TDs in 2015 after scoring just nine times on the ground a year ago.
7. (tie) Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Average rating: 8.0
Week 4 result: Won 62-27 vs. Massachusetts
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Clemson
Notre Dame (4-0) is coming off its largest scoring output since 1996 but will be hard-pressed to come anywhere close to that production against one of the top defenses in the country in a hostile environment.
The atmosphere the Fighting Irish experienced earlier this season at Virginia will pale in comparison to Death Valley, where Clemson will line up with the nation's No. 9 defense. Notre Dame is getting 41 points and 531.3 yards per game, including 681 with 457 on the ground against Massachusetts.
DeShone Kizer has done well replacing Malik Zaire at quarterback, but the key to the Irish offense has become C.J. Prosise. He had 149 rushing yards and two touchdowns against UMass, and for the year, he ranks fifth in FBS at 150 yards per game.
6. TCU Horned Frogs
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Average rating: 7.8
Week 4 result: Won 55-52 at Texas Tech
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Texas
TCU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) has been known throughout Gary Patterson's tenure as coach as one of the best defensive teams in the country, and when it added a dynamic offense in 2014 the Horned Frogs were able to rise to the upper levels of the conference and the national rankings. But in the face of overwhelming attrition on defense, mostly because of injury, Patterson is beginning to embrace the world of playing in weekly shootouts.
"Outscoring people for 12 ballgames, why not?," Patterson said after Saturday's wild win in Lubbock, per Stephen Hawkins of the Associated Press, which saw 107 points scored and featured 1,357 yards of total offense. "Everybody else has been doing it. I've been having to do it with defense and winning 17-10. How about we go nine and 10 ballgames and outscore people? That would be nice."
The Horned Frogs gave up 607 yards to a team they beat 82-27 at home last season, though they countered with 750 yards, including 527 (485 passing, 42 rushing, four passing touchdowns) from senior quarterback Trevone Boykin. Josh Doctson set school records with 18 receptions and 267 yards with three TDs, but it was a pass he didn't catch that proved to be the game-winner.
Boykin threw a four-yard pass to Boykin. It was too high and went off his hands, but running back Aaron Green was there to snag the tipped pass in the back of the end zone with 23 seconds left. Green also had 162 rushing yards and two TDs on the ground.
5. Michigan State Spartans
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Average rating: 7.2
Week 4 result: Won 30-10 vs. Central Michigan
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Purdue
Michigan State (4-0) hasn't looked as impressive the past two weeks as it did against Oregon in the second week of the season, but the Spartans aren't making many mistakes and thus have controlled the majority of the time in every game in 2015.
The Spartans average 372.3 yards per game but have scored at least 30 points each week, and 54 of their 260 plays have gone for 10 or more yards.
Connor Cook has completed only 58.1 percent of his passes, but he has nine touchdowns and just one interception, while the freshman duo of running backs Madre London and L.J. Scott have gained 505 yards with five TDs.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
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Average rating: 6.0
Week 4 result: Won 48-6 vs. Southern
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Alabama
Georgia (4-0, 2-0 SEC) has been one of the most dominant teams in the country to this point, winning by an average of 32 points per game. But that came against three FBS opponents that have a combined 4-7 record as well as FCS Southern, foes that pale in comparison to this week's showdown with Alabama.
The Bulldogs average 257.75 rushing yards per game, with Nick Chubb riding a 12-game streak of 100-yard efforts that ties Herschel Walker's school record. He's gaining 8.44 yards per carry, and Georgia as a team gets 6.87 yards per rush with 14 touchdowns.
Virginia transfer Greyson Lambert has been wildly efficient the last two games, completing 33 of 35 passes, including an FBS-record 24-of-25 outing two weeks ago. And the Bulldogs defense is giving up 273.3 yards and 13.5 points per game.
3. Baylor Bears
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Average rating: 4.2
Week 4 result: Won 70-14 vs. Rice
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 vs. Texas Tech (in Arlington, Texas)
The offensive juggernaut that is Baylor (3-0) has shown no signs of being able to get stopped so far this season, with a third straight game topping 700 yards of total offense that's spread over numerous passing, rushing and receiving weapons.
Baylor leads the nation in scoring (64.0), total offense (767.0) and rushing offense (379.7) ahead of a Big 12 schedule where putting up big numbers is going to be necessary to win most games. Seth Russell has thrown 15 touchdown passes on just 80 attempts, the Bears have two rushers with at least 300 yards (Shock Linwood and Terence Williams) and Corey Coleman has turned his 17 receptions into 460 yards and eight TDs.
The Bears are giving up 39 points per game, but opponents have only scored 17 total points in the second half and are being held to 318.3 yards per game.
1. (tie) Ole Miss Rebels
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Average rating: 2.8
Week 4 result: Won 27-16 vs. Vanderbilt
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Florida
Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 SEC) had the inevitable sluggish performance a week after such a big win over Alabama, but despite their lowest point and passing yardage totals of the season, the Rebels were never in danger of losing at home to the conference's worst team.
The Rebels still had 472 yards, with Jaylen Walton rushing for 133 yards and a touchdown and Chad Kelly throwing for 321 yards with a score, though he was also intercepted twice. Ole Miss didn't force a turnover for the first time this year, but it did hold Vandy to 13 points on four red-zone possessions.
Three of Ole Miss' next four opponents are currently unbeaten, so expect more focused efforts than what was witnessed on Saturday.
1. (tie) Ohio State Buckeyes
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Average rating: 2.8
Week 4 result: Won 38-12 vs. Western Michigan
Week 5 matchup: Oct. 3 at Indiana
Ohio State (4-0) had its best overall performance since the season opener from its offense, though because of all of the weapons the Buckeyes have the numbers still don't impress even when they put up 511 yards.
Cardale Jones had his most complete game, with 288 passing yards and two touchdowns along with 32 rushing yards, but he also threw his fourth interception in 79 attempts and underthrew some deep passes that would have resulted in big gains.
"That's a 518-yard day if you hit those," OSU coach Urban Meyer said, per Bleacher Report's Ben Axelrod.
Ezekiel Elliott ran for 124 yards and a TD, his eighth straight 100-yard game, and the defense is allowing 12.3 points and 253.3 yards per game.
Statistics provided by cfbstats.com.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
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