Brett McMurphy’s college football AP Top 25 ballot after Week 4

My top three teams — Texas, Georgia and Ohio State — remain the same on my Associated Press Top 25 ballot for the third consecutive week. Miami moves up to No. 4 and Notre Dame No. 5. Florida, unranked just two weeks ago, vaulted into my Top 10 after routing Ole Miss. Six new schools are on my ballot this week: Mississippi State, Boise State, Pitt, UCLA, Duke and Cincinnati. My AP Top 25 ballot after Week 4. 1. Texas (4-0) The Longhorns held off a late rally to defeat Tennessee 20-17. Texas’ defense was the difference, holding the Vols to 221 yards of offense. QB Arch Manning had another sub-par game stat-wise, throwing for 201 yards, no TDs and an interception. He also was assessed two illegal pass penalties. Ryan Wingo had 74 yards receiving on six receptions. Raleek Brown led the Longhorns with 67 yards rushing. 2. Georgia (4-0) Georgia jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead and cruised past Oklahoma 41-13. WR Tayln Taylor sparked the offense (four catches, 110 yards, one TD) and the defense forced four turnovers, including LB Chris Cole’s 85-yard fumble return for a touchdown. QB Gunner Stockton threw for 171 yards, one TD and one interception. 3. Ohio State (3-1) WR Jeremiah Smith had four TD catches, leading the Buckeyes past Illinois 42-19. Smith finished with 12 receptions for 217 yards. QB Julian Sayin threw for 367 yards. Ohio State took a 28-10 halftime lead and then coasted in the second half. 4. Miami (4-0) The Hurricanes spotted Central Michigan a first-quarter field goal, then crushed the Chippewas 52-3. QB Darian Mensah had more incompletions (four) than TD passes (three) for only the second time this season. For the year, Mensah has 14 TD passes and only 12 incompletions. He threw for 338 yards vs. CMU. WR Malachi Toney was unstoppable (six catches, 120 yards, one TD) and RB Chris Wheatley-Humphrey added 104 yards rushing on 11 carries. 5. Notre Dame (4-0) The Fighting Irish pounded Purdue 49-10, marking Marcus Freeman’s school-record 14th consecutive victory by double digits. QB CJ Carr threw for 237 yards, three TDs and his first interception of the season. With the win, Notre Dame will enter October undefeated for the first time since 2021. 6. Alabama (4-0) The Crimson Tide crushed South Carolina 49-18 as QB Keelon Russell threw for 365 yards and four TDs and added 35 yards rushing and another score. WR Ryan Coleman-Williams caught two TDs and DB Red Morgan returned an interception for a TD. 7. Florida (4-0) The Gators worked Ole Miss silly, routing the Rebels 52-28. RB Jadan Baugh rushed for 142 yards and three TDs and Duke Clark added 126 yards and a TD as Florida piled up 302 yards rushing. UF started 4-0 for the first time since 2019. Leading 17-6 at halftime, Florida scored TDs on five consecutive second half drives. 8. Ole Miss (3-1) The Rebels ran out of gas in the second half, losing at Florida 52-28. Ole Miss was coming off last week’s emotional win against LSU, and it showed as the Gators scored TDs on five consecutive second-half drives. QB Trinidad Chambliss threw for 298 yards, one TD and one interception as the Rebels played without injured star RB Kewan Lacy. 9. Indiana (4-0) The Hoosiers escaped with a 29-23 victory against Northwestern in their Big Ten opener. RB Lee Beebe Jr. carried Indiana, rushing 24 times for 203 yards and a TD. He had a key 70-yard run to help the Hoosiers hold off the Wildcats. The win was Indiana’s 20th consecutive win and 19th straight victory at home, both FBS’ longest current streaks. 10. LSU (3-1) The Tigers rebounded from last week’s loss at Ole Miss with an easy 35-6 win against Texas A&M. QB Sam Leavitt threw for 312 yards, two TDs and an interception. WRs Jackson Harris had six receptions for 163 yards and two TDs and Winston Watkins Jr. added five catches for 107 yards. 11. Iowa (4-0)Result: Win 21-20 at Michigan 12. BYU (3-0)Result: Did not play 13. Texas Tech (3-0)Result: Win 49-14 vs. Sam Houston 14. Utah (4-0)Result: Win 31-17 at Iowa State 15. Mississippi State (4-0)Result: Win 31-24 vs. Missouri 16. Oklahoma State (3-1)Result: Win 41-24 at West Virginia 17. Oregon (3-1)Result: Win 42-6 vs. Kennesaw State 18. Tennessee (3-1)Result: Lost 20-17 vs. Texas 19. SMU (3-1)Result: Win 34-24 vs. Missouri State 20. Houston (3-1)Result: Win 42-28 at Georgia Southern 21. Boise State (3-1)Result: Won 32-7 at Western Michigan 22. Pitt (4-0)Result: Win 59-0 vs. Bucknell 23. UCLA (4-0)Result: Win 54-3 at Maryland 24. Duke (4-0)Result: Win 52-7 vs. William and Mary 25. Cincinnati (4-0)Result: Win 31-26 vs. Kansas State Dropped from last week’s rankings: Louisville, Michigan, Penn State, USC, Texas A&M, West Virginia