College football’s Week 4 features a loaded slate with six AP Top 25 matchups, highlighted by No. 1 Texas traveling to face No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, September 26. The high-stakes weekend brings heavy College Football Playoff and conference race implications across the country.
The fourth week of the college football season delivers a rare cluster of ranked showdowns. Five of the six matchups featuring AP Top 25 opponents take place within the SEC, creating immediate pressure for conference contenders and potential playoff hopefuls. While a nine-game conference slate makes the path to bowl eligibility brutal for teams, it provides ample opportunity for sports bettors, with Week 4 marking the initial weekend to demonstrate this dynamic. A quintet of the six contests featuring Top 25 squads occur inside the conference, and oddsmakers have set unusually modest lines for them. No. 1 Texas is favored by less than a touchdown in Knoxville. Following its win over LSU and Lane Kiffin in Oxford a week prior, No. 4 Ole Miss finds itself as an underdog in Gainesville. No. 20 Oregon, already beaten once, is a short road favorite at 4-0 USC. Iowa at Michigan carries a total under 40.
No. 1 Texas Travels to No. 14 Tennessee in Neyland Stadium Showdown
No. 1 Texas Travels to No. 14 Tennessee in Neyland Stadium Showdown
The marquee game of the weekend sends No. 1 Texas on the road for its first away contest of the season, taking on No. 14 Tennessee in Knoxville at noon ET on Saturday, September 26 on ABC. Across the day, six ranked showdowns form a packed Week 4 college football schedule, marking the highest single-week total since 2023. Each one has both College Football Playoff and conference title game implications. Several of the games also have intriguing quarterback battles, as well as some interesting series histories. In the SEC, No. 1 Texas travels to No. 14 Tennessee as Arch Manning plays against a Vol fanbase that reveres his uncle Peyton Manning. President Donald Trump will attend at Neyland Stadium, where Texas is a 4-point favorite. Longhorn signal-caller Arch Manning makes his initial road trip of the campaign, offering supporters an exciting matchup to watch. Playing their inaugural SEC fixture at Neyland Stadium will additionally bring added pressure to the young quarterback. There’s no better quarterback battle than this one, though. Last week’s subdued outing against UTSA followed up Manning’s clutch, fourth-quarter heroics versus Ohio State. He finished with just 161 yards passing with two touchdowns. Supporters in Knoxville, who famously cheered on his uncle Peyton more than thirty years ago, will present an intriguing reception for the young passer.
For Tennessee, Faizon Brandon has stepped in as the program’s initial true freshman starting quarterback since Eric Ainge took the role back in 2004. Across matchups against Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech, and Furman, he has delivered stellar numbers, compiling 552 passing yards alongside six touchdowns and no interceptions. He is additionally one of only three freshmen over the past two decades to notch upwards of 500 passing yards and five passing scores through their initial three appearances. He’s third on the team in rushing with 137 yards.
No. 20 Oregon Battles No. 12 USC for Big Ten Positioning
No. 20 Oregon Battles No. 12 USC for Big Ten Positioning
In Los Angeles, No. 20 Oregon faces No. 12 USC in a critical clash carrying major Big Ten championship implications. No. 12 USC gets 3 points at home against No. 20 Oregon. USC’s matchup against the Ducks serves as a crucial battle in Los Angeles with major consequences for the Big Ten title race.
No. 4 Ole Miss Visits No. 21 Florida and No. 10 LSU Hosts No. 23 Texas A&M
No. 4 Ole Miss Visits No. 21 Florida and No. 10 LSU Hosts No. 23 Texas A&M
Elsewhere in the SEC, newly ranked No. 21 Florida faces No. 4 Ole Miss at home, and No. 10 LSU and Lane Kiffin look to rebound against No. 23 Texas A&M.
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