Predicting AP Top 25 college football poll entering Week 4 of 2026 season

The Week 3 slate of college football wasn’t short of excellent. There were upsets and some excellent finishes from Friday night all the way to the game of the week in Oxford, MS.

Lane Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss was spoiled with the Rebels taking the win, 32-24. Ole Miss got out to a quick 17-0, but the Tigers weren’t going to go down without a fight. Sam Leavitt, who was on the injury report as doubtful earlier in the week, scored a pair of TDs.

In other news, there was a pair of upsets on the weekend. West Virginia took down No. 25 Virginia, 38-27, and Kentucky beat Texas A&M in Texas, 31-21.

We are going to see a pair of new teams enter the AP Top 25 when the poll releases on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. No. 25 Virginia will drop out, and No. 22 Houston is likely going to fall out after suffering a loss on the road to Texas Tech on Friday night.

Here is how the AP Top 25 poll might look when it comes out.

MORE: NC State loses in heartbreaking fashion to Vanderbilt on Saturday

No. 25 Mississippi State

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Missouri

No. 24 Oklahoma

Record: 2-1

Next: at Georgia

No. 23 Florida

Sep 12, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators running back Jadan Baugh (13) rushes with the ball against the Campbell Fighting Camels during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Ole Miss

No. 22 Texas A&M

Record: 2-1

Next: at LSU

No. 21 Oregon

Record: 2-1

Next: at USC

No. 20 SMU

Record: 2-1

Next: vs. Missouri State

No. 19 Missouri

Record: 3-0

Next: at Mississippi State

No. 18 Michigan

Sep 19, 2026; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback Bryce Underwood (19) looks to pass against the Texas El Paso Miners during the first quarter at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Iowa

No. 17 Iowa

Record: 3-0

Next: at Michigan

No. 16 Louisville

Record: 2-1

Next: vs. Wake Forest

No. 15 Utah

Record: 3-0

Next: at Iowa State

No. 14 Tennessee

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Texas

No. 13 USC

Record: 4-0

Next: vs. Oregon

No. 12 Penn State

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Wisconsin

No. 11 LSU

Sep 19, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Louisiana State Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin looks on prior to the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Record: 2-1

Next: vs. Texas A&M

No. 10 Texas Tech

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Sam Houston

No. 9 BYU

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Iowa State

No. 8 Alabama

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. South Carolina

No. 7 Ohio State

Record: 2-1

Next: vs. Illinois

No. 6 Miami

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Central Michigan

No. 5 Indiana

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Northwestern

No. 4 Ole Miss

Sep 12, 2026; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Johntay Cook II (0) reacts with running back Kewan Lacy (5) after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Charlotte 49ers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Record: 3-0

Next: at Florida

No. 3 Notre Dame

Record: 3-0

Next: at Purdue

No. 2 Georgia

Record: 3-0

Next: vs. Oklahoma

No. 1 Texas

Record: 3-0

Next: at Tennessee

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