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Ohio State Surpasses Georgia, BYU and Navy Gain Ground in CBS Sports 134
The 2024 college football season is now four weeks in, and the battle for the top positions in the rankings is heating up. What many anticipated would be a tight contest among a few frontrunners has rapidly evolved into a larger field, with both preseason favorites and emerging teams making strong statements with impressive victories.
As of Week 4, Texas has maintained its spot at the top of the CBS Sports 134 rankings. However, the positioning of several other top contenders has drawn significant attention.
Ohio State reclaimed its No. 2 ranking following a decisive 49-14 victory over Marshall, marking its third win of the season. This performance allows the Buckeyes to re-enter the conversation for the top spot, especially after earlier competition from Georgia and Texas. Georgia had initially claimed a high rank after edging out Clemson in the season opener, while Texas shocked Michigan in a notable victory during Week 2.
The CBS Sports 134 ranking panel, which includes experts from both CBS Sports and 247Sports, consistently ranked Ohio State within the top three, never dropping them lower than No. 3. While the average rank shows Ohio State at 2.7 and Georgia slightly behind at 2.8, it emphasizes the growing pool of teams competing for top honors.
Tennessee made headlines by jumping ahead of Alabama to become No. 4 with its impressive win at Oklahoma. Other teams like Miami and Ole Miss are also beginning to assert themselves as potential title contenders with strong early season performances. The Volunteers, with their quality wins, look particularly formidable, suggesting that the competition at the highest levels of college football is broader than initially anticipated.
As the schedule progresses, many of these top teams will face off against each other and contend with conference rivals eager to make their mark. Week 5 will kick off with an intriguing matchup as Georgia travels to Tuscaloosa to face Alabama, a game certain to have significant implications for the rankings.
Each week, college football experts from CBS Sports and 247Sports submit their rankings, which are then averaged to form the overall picture. Below is a glimpse of the top 25 teams, with a broader range covered in the complete rankings.
| 1 | Texas | 4-0 | 1 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 3-0 | 3 |
| 3 | Georgia | 3-0 | 2 |
| 4 | Tennessee | 4-0 | 5 |
| 5 | Alabama | 3-0 | 4 |
| 6 | Miami | 4-0 | 7 |
| 7 | Ole Miss | 4-0 | 6 |
| 8 | Penn State | 3-0 | 9 |
| 9 | Oregon | 3-0 | 8 |
| 10 | Utah | 4-0 | 12 |
| 11 | Missouri | 4-0 | 10 |
| 12 | Michigan | 3-1 | 21 |
| 13 | Iowa State | 3-0 | 16 |
| 14 | USC | 2-1 | 11 |
| 15 | Louisville | 3-0 | 17 |
| 16 | Clemson | 2-1 | 20 |
| 17 | Illinois | 4-0 | 26 |
| 18 | Notre Dame | 3-1 | 22 |
| 19 | BYU | 4-0 | 44 |
| 20 | LSU | 3-1 | 18 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 3-1 | 14 |
| 22 | Indiana | 4-0 | 37 |
| 23 | UCF | 3-0 | 30 |
| 24 | Washington State | 4-0 | 33 |
| 25 | Pittsburgh | 4-0 | 38 |
The rankings have seen significant movements, notably for teams like James Madison, which surged 44 spots to No. 35 after a resounding victory against North Carolina. Similarly, Navy climbed 29 places as they shared the lead in the AAC with a 2-0 record after beating a league favorite. BYU also gained momentum after a strong performance against Kansas State, improving its record to 4-0.
Indiana’s steady progression up the rankings continues, reinforced by a dominating performance that has them at 4-0 with a combined score of 202-37 over the season. In contrast, teams like Nebraska and Kansas State have experienced notable decreases following their recent performances, emphasizing the volatility of college football ranking dynamics.
As the season unfolds, the landscape will continue to shift, with teams battling not just for wins, but for their rankings in the eyes of voters. Each matchup could offer a turning point that reshapes the standings in this highly competitive environment.
Source: CBS Sports
