2019 College Football Power Rankings: Week 4

This week’s college football power rankings remain the same No. 1 through No. 9 from last week, but there’s a new team in the No. 10 spot.

 

1. Clemson Tigers (3-0) | Last week: 1

Trevor Lawrence remains slightly off this season, and he’s already thrown more interceptions this year than all of last year—but he still totaled nearly 450 yards and five touchdowns in Clemson’s 41-6 win against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome. Just 166 days from a torn ACL, wide receiver Amari Rodgers had four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns in a stunning return from an injury that easily could’ve knocked him out for the season.

 

2. Alabama Crimson Tide (3-0) | Last week: 2

It’s only three games, but Alabama is ranked just 40th in total defense this season, giving up over 300 yards per game. The unit has young guys playing, though, and they’ll get better as the year progresses and they gain more experience. The offense is not having an issue putting up points, and the passing attack led by Tua Tagovailoa and a deep and talented receiving corps shouldn’t have much trouble continuing to put up huge numbers the next two weeks as they host Southern Miss and Ole Miss.

 

3. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0) | Last week: 3

That was a nice tune-up for Georgia in their 55-0 rout of Arkansas State ahead of this Saturday’s primetime contest versus Notre Dame. The Bulldogs outgained the Red Wolves 656-220, and they’re now tied for seventh in total offense per game and tied for ninth in points per game. Notre Dame doesn’t make our top ten, but Georgia might jump into the top two in the AP poll (where the Fighting Irish are ranked No. 7) if they get a win this weekend.

 

4. LSU Tigers (3-0) | Last week: 4

Perhaps the entire team was a little spent after their close win in Austin the week before, but LSU’s defense wasn’t at the top of its game against Northwestern State, giving up 14 points in the first half before tightening up and not allowing any points in the final 30 minutes. The Tigers begin their SEC schedule this Saturday versus Vanderbilt.

 

5. Oklahoma Sooners (3-0) | Last week: 5

Jalen Hurts can’t be playing much better than he is for the Sooners. Against the Bruins at the Rose Bowl, Hurts had 200 passing yards and 100 rushing yards… in the first half. Hurts has already led 17 touchdown drives in just three games, and the OU offense looks as good as ever to this point. Oklahoma is off this week.

 

6. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0) | Last week: 6

Transfer Justin Fields also can’t be putting up much better numbers than he is through three games for the Buckeyes, as the former top high school recruit has totaled four touchdowns in each of his first three games. Ohio State dominated a 51-10 victory at Indiana, and now they’ll return home to play a Miami (Ohio) team they shouldn’t have trouble with before the Big Ten schedule picks up.

 

7. Auburn Tigers (3-0) | Last week: 7

Auburn is 3-0 for the first time since 2014, so they’ll be confident as they begin their SEC slate in their second ranked matchup of the year when they take on Texas A&M at College Station. The Tigers had three 100-yard rushers (JaTarvious Whitlow, Joey Gatewood, and Shaun Shivers) in their 55-16 victory against Kent State.

 

8. Michigan Wolverines (2-0) | Last week: 8

Michigan had off last week, and there’s a case for them being outside the top ten of this week’s power rankings (the AP Poll has them No. 11, but the Coaches Poll has them No. 10). But things will work themselves out this week one way or another when the Wolverines look get a huge win over Wisconsin.

 

9. Texas Longhorns (2-1) | Last week: 9

Texas bounced back from their heartbreaking loss to LSU with a strong performance in a 48-13 win versus Rice. Sam Ehlinger had three touchdowns and just four incompletions on 23/27 passing, and we’ll see how the defense fares as the Longhorn’s Big 12 schedule gets underway this Saturday against Oklahoma State.

 

10. Wisconsin Badgers (2-0) | Last week: NR

Florida drops out of the No. 10 spot after losing starting quarterback Felipe Franks for the season to an ankle injury. Utah, Penn State, and UCF (off a blowout victory over Stanford) all have a case for this spot along with the Gators, but Wisconsin gets the nod after 49-0 and 61-0 wins against South Florida and Central Michigan. Now coming off a bye, the Badgers would be an undeniable top ten team if they top Michigan this Saturday.