College Football biggest risers & fallers after Week 4

Life moves fast in college football. The dawn of the 12-team playoff has provided a little wiggle room, but one Saturday can send your season spiraling downward.

Some teams can recover, as Notre Dame did after their loss to Northern Illinois in 2024, but many other programs allow one bad Saturday to sour an entire season, like 2025 Clemson and Penn State. And the scariest part? Even if you win this week, the Grim Reaper can come knocking next week.

Week 4 is the first week in this column to see two teams move directly from Riser in Week 3 to Faller in Week 4.

MORE: College football top 25 rankings 2026: AP Top 25 poll entering Week 5

Riser: Colin Simmons

Sep 5, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns edge Colin Simmons (1) reacts after recovering a fumble during the third quarter against the Texas State Bobcats at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

“Unsportsmanlike Conduct, simulating using the restroom” was the viral moment of the weekend, and one of the dumbest penalties on a football field that you could ever witness. But don’t let that overshadow just how great Colin Simmons was for Texas on Saturday.

The star edge rusher, and now likely 2027 top-10 draft pick, was unblockable against Tennessee. He tied a Texas record with 5 sacks in one game. If he keeps this up, he could be the first full-time defensive player to be a Heisman finalist since Aidan Hutchinson in 2021.

Faller: Louisville

It was right there. After beating SMU last week, the Cardinals were in the driver’s seat and in control of their own destiny to reach the ACC Championship at the end of the season. They were going to be favored in every remaining ACC contest.

But they came out a little flat against Wake Forest; Carlos Hernandez could simply not be covered, and before you knew it, the Demon Deacons were leaving Louisville with a 30-27 victory. Side note: it really feels like Wake Forest does this to a different ACC team every year.

Riser: Florida

Sep 26, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

“..and I won’t back down!” The Gators were blaring their signature song in the Swamp in the 4th quarter of a romp of Ole Miss. OC Buster Faulkner was at his best in this one, as Florida rushed for over 300 yards as a team, limiting the number of mistakes possible for QB Aaron Philo.

Most of those rushing yards were from Jadan Baugh, who should be considered a dark-horse Heisman candidate. The Gators are back, and they are legit!

Faller: Penn State

After thoroughly thrashing three Group of 6 opponents, Penn State was looking real good, according to a lot of advanced metrics that were factoring in the margin of those victories. But as it turns out, this team is just Iowa State – East Campus.

Much like Matt Campbell’s most recent Iowa State teams, the Nittany Lions struggled to play from ahead and produce offense when it mattered, and allowed a furious second-half rally from Wisconsin for their first loss of the young season.

Riser: Poetic Justice

Sep 26, 2026; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) passes against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Live by one second on the game clock, die by one second on the game clock. Michigan was the source of national controversy and conspiracy after their Hail Mary against Western Michigan allowed them to start 1-0 thanks to an additional second being added to the clock.

In a situation that was not too dissimilar, the Wolverines found themselves leading Iowa in the final minute in Week 4. But this time, it was Michigan playing defense with the lead, and it was Iowa who had an additional second remaining on the clock, thanks to a Michigan player’s injury. Hank Brown threw the game-winning TD pass on the game’s final play, and Michigan now officially has its first loss.

Faller: USC

There is no “D” in Southern California. After knocking Dante Moore out of the game, it appeared as if USC was in prime position to pull off an upset in the Coliseum Saturday night. They got over 300 passing yards from Jayden Maiava. They scored 27 points.

But the defense just couldn’t get the job done. Jordan Davison and Dierre Hill ran wild, and Dylan Raiola came off the bench to help the Ducks score 41 points and win 41-27. It’s been the same old story in the Lincoln Riley era at USC – when will this team ever have a defense that is good enough for them to compete at the highest level?

Riser: Mississippi State

Sep 12, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) throws a pass against the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

For about a decade, Dak Prescott has been very clearly the top quarterback in the history of Mississippi State. He may have company pretty soon. Kamario Taylor is the real deal. He is appointment television. In Week 4, he threw for 360 yards and led a second-half comeback to defeat Missouri and earn his first ranked victory.

The Bulldogs will be a factor in the SEC this season, and the legend of Kamario Taylor is going to grow. The Mississippi State collective is going to have to write a big, fat check to keep him in Starkville this offseason.

Faller: The Rivals of Texas

In the CFP era, no team has picked up their second loss before October 19 and qualified for the playoff. That does not bode well for Oklahoma or Texas A&M, who both picked up their second loss of the season in Week 4. And, oh, by the way, they both have games remaining against their mutual rival, the #1-ranked Texas Longhorns. Add that to the fact that both of these offenses looked incompetent.

Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed could only muster 106 passing yards in a 35-6 defeat at LSU. Oklahoma’s John Mateer turned the tide of the game with a fumble in the red zone that was returned for a touchdown by the Georgia defense at a pivotal moment in a 41-13 rout. It could be a long fall for these two fanbases, and history would indicate that their playoff hopes are already gone.

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