College football rankings from 1 to 133: Should Colorado be ranked ahead of Alabama in Week 4?

We don't live in a world where a Deion Sanders-coached Colorado team is ranked ahead of a Nick Saban-coached Alabama team yet. 

But we're not that far off heading into Week 4. 

The Crimson Tide won in Week 3, but it could be met with another tumble down the polls. Alabama beat South Florida 17-3 in what could be described as a messy performance by the quarterbacks. 

Jalen Milroe did not play. Saban replaced an ineffective Tyler Buchner (5 of 14, 34 yards) with Ty Simpson in the first half against South Florida – a game that was tied 3-3 at halftime. Simpson finished 5 of 9 for 73 yards. Combined, Alabama's quarterback finished 10 of 23 for 74 yards. That's not College Football Playoff or SEC championship level play. It's not top-10 level play either. 

That's not to say Saban can't fix the problem in SEC play and get the Crimson Tide in the SEC championship. After all, rival Tennessee had a dud of its own in the 29-16 loss at Florida. Saban said afterward the plan is to evaluate all three quarterbacks this week in practice ahead of a matchup with Ole Miss. Will this really be the first time Alabama has two September losses since Saban's first season in 2007?  

Without the right quarterback, it's possible. In the meantime, we dropped Alabama to No. 15 in our latest 1-33 rankings. The Crimson Tide are still ahead of Colorado, who sits at No. 18 after a thrilling 43-35 victory against Colorado State. The Buffaloes will get their first real test against Oregon in Week 4, part of what could be the best weekend of the regular season given the number of ranked matchups.

BENDER: Brady mode? Shedeur Sanders channeled John Elway in CU's comeback win  

Each week, we will look at the college football rankings from 1-133.

Here is how that looks heading into Week 4:

College football rankings 2023

Top 25 for Week 4

1. Georgia (3-0)

South Carolina led Georgia 14-3 at halftime, but being one-dimensional caught up with the Gamecocks. Georgia limited South Carolina to 53 rushing yards, and Carson Beck hit 14 of 17 passes for 171 yards in the second half. He finished with 269 yards, Daijuan Edwards added 118 rushing yards and Cash Jones' TD run clinched a 24-14 victory. Georgia plays UAB in Week 4. 

2. Michigan (3-0)

Jim Harbaugh's three-game suspension is over, and it comes at the right time. Michigan was sloppy in a 31-6 victory against Bowling Green. J.J. McCarthy finished 8 of 13 for 141 yards and threw three interceptions – a rough night in which the Wolverines had four turnovers. Good news?  Blake Corum had 101 rushing yards and two TDs. The defense has allowed just one TD in three games. Rutgers is unbeaten and offers an interesting test in the Big Ten opener. 

3. Ohio State (3-0) 

Kyle McCord was 13 of 15 for 271 yards passing and three TDs in the first half, and the Buckeyes scored 28 points in eight minutes in the second quarter in a 63-10 blowout. McCord finished with  318 yards, and TreVeyon Henderson added 115 total yards. Even better, the defense held a high-scoring Western Kentucky offense to 284 yards. How many points will the Buckeyes be favored by against Notre Dame in Week 4?

MORE: Notre Dame-Ohio State headlines spectacular Week 4 slate

4. USC (3-0)

The Trojans average 59.3 and 580.7 yards per game, and they had a bye week to prepare for the rest of a regular-season schedule that includes six games against ranked teams. That run continues against Arizona State in Week 4. 

5. Washington (3-0) 

The Huskies won't be ranked this high in the polls, but they should be. Washington rolled up 713 total yards in a 41-7 victory at Michigan State. Michael Penix had 375 of his 473 passing yards by halftime, and he added four TDs. Receiver Jalen McMillan suffered a left leg injury, however, so that is something to watch ahead of Week 4 against Cal. 

6. Texas (3-0) 

The Longhorns were tied at 10 heading into the fourth quarter against Wyoming before pulling away in a 31-10 victory. Quinn Ewers struggled. He finished 11 of 21 passing for 131 yards and two TDs. Jonathan Brooks popped with 164 rushing yards, and the defense limited the Cowboys to 4 of 14 on third down. Texas will need to be better at Baylor in Week 4. 

7. Florida State (3-0) 

The Seminoles aren't perfect. Florida State built a 31-10 lead against Boston College before a spell where the offense generated 32 yards on 16 plays. That allowed a Eagles' comeback, and the Seminoles escaped with a 31-29 victory. Quarterback Jordan Travis left briefly with an injury in the first half, and this likely will lead to a drop by a spot or two. Florida State stays on the road against Clemson in Week 4. 

MORE: Behind the Red Bandana tradition at Boston College

8. Notre Dame (4-0) 

Notre Dame broke open a one-score game with Central Michigan at halftime with the down-field passing attack led by Sam Hartman, who passed for 330 yards and three TDs. Hartman now averages 16.6 yards per completion. Audric Estime added 176 yards rushing for the Irish, who get the prime-time stage at Notre Dame Stadium against Ohio State in Week 4. This is the biggest game to date for second-year coach Marcus Freeman, and the Irish will be breaking out all-green uniforms for the ocassion. 

9. Penn State (3-0) 

Drew Allar was 10 of 20 for 136 yards in the first half against Illinois in his first road start, but he settled down in the second half by hitting 6 of 13 for 72 yards. It didn't matter. The defense forced five turnovers in a 30-13 victory against Illinois. Penn State grinded out a road win, and they'll return home for a “Whiteout” against Iowa in Week 4. 

10. LSU (2-1) 

Malik Nabers tied Josh Reed for the fourth-best single-game receiving yard total in school history with 239 yards in a 41-14 blowout against Mississippi State. Nabers also had 13 catches and two TDs, and Jayden Daniels hit 30 of 34 passes for 361 yards and two TDs. The Week 1 loss to Florida State is a distant memory. LSU gets Arkansas at home in Week 4. 

11. Oregon (3-0) 

Bo Nix was 9 of 12 for 114 yards and built a 24-0 lead after one quarter against Hawaii. The Ducks led 34-3 at halftime and cruised from there. Nix finished with 247 passing yards, and Oregon added 210 rushing yards in a 55-10 victory that sets up a Week 4 matchup against Colorado. 

12. Utah (3-0)

Nate Johnson was the full-time QB for the Utes in a 31-7 victory against Weber State. Johnson hit 13 of 21 passes for 193 yards and a TD and added 16 carries for 71 yards and a TD. Cam Rising remains out while rehabbing a torn ACL and his status for a Week 4 matchup against UCLA is unclear. 

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13. Oklahoma (3-0) 

The Sooners will not be under the radar for much longer. Dillon Gabriel hit 28 of 31 passes for 421 yards, five TDs and an interception in a 66-17 victory at Tulsa. Jalil Faroq (6-126, TD), Nic Anderson (3-120, 3 Tis) and Andre Anthony (4-112) all cleared 100 yards, and the defense forced five turnovers. The Sooners and Longhorns are the class of the Big 12 in their farewell tour. 

14. North Carolina (3-0) 

Drake Maye passed for 414 yards — including 287 in the first half — to lead the Tar Heels to a 31-13 victory against Minnesota. Maye did throw two interceptions, but the Tar Heels' defense forced two turnovers and limited the Gophers to 3 of 12 on third down. A road trip to Pitt is the next test. 

15. Alabama (2-1) 

We sketched out the details for Alabama, and honestly they can use this as motivation to climb back into the national championship picture. The Crimson Tide has won the last seven meetings with Ole Miss, but last year was a tight 30-24 victory. 

16. Ole Miss (3-0) 

Ole Miss scored 38 second-half points in a 48-23 victory against Georgia Tech. Jaxson Dart enjoyed a huge night with 251 passing yards, 136 rushing yards and three total TDs – a performance that shows that Lane Kiffin picked the right quarterback. Ole Miss had 550 total yards and will take another shot at Alabama in Week 4. 

17. Oregon State (3-0) 

The Beavers' defense shut down San Diego State in a 26-9 victory – which lowered their season average to 11 points per game. D.J. Uiagalelei struggled at times with two interceptions – but he still hit 14 of 30 passes for 284 yards and a TD. Washington State will be a true test for the Clemson transfer quarterback. 

18. Colorado (3-0)

What else can we say? Shedeur Sanders' 98-yard drive tied Colorado State, and he did the rest in a 43-35 victory. Sanders finished with 348 passing yards, four TDs and an interception, and Deion Sanders now has a 3-0 heading to Autzen Stadium. It was yet another incredible victory for the best college football story this September. 

MORE: Latest on two-way star Travis Hunter's injury

19. Duke (3-0) 

Riley Leonard did a dual-threat number on Northwestern with 219 passing yards, 97 rushing yards and a pair of TDs in a 38-14 victory. The Blue Devils' balanced attack racked up 487 yards. Duke has to pass a road test at UConn first, but a potential dream September could be made at Wallace Wade Stadium against Notre Dame on Sept. 30.

20. Miami (3-0) 

Miami beat Bethune-Cookman 48-7 on Thursday, and Alex Van Dyke continued his hot start with 247 yards and two TDs. The defense piled up 10 tackles for loss and four sacks. A Big East reunion with Temple awaits in Week 4. 

21. Washington State (3-0) 

Cam Ward finished 20 of 26 for 327 yards and four TDs in a 64-21 blowout against Northern Colorado. Ward had nine TDs and zero interceptions through three games, and Jake Dickert led the Cougars to a perfect non-conference record. Washington State faces Oregon State in one of three ranked-on-ranked matchups in Pac-12 play in Week 4. 

22. UCLA (3-0) 

UCLA rolled up 404 rushing yards and five different players scored a rushing TD in a 59-7 victory against NC Central, but the key piece in Chip Kelly's offensive machine is freshman quarterback Dante Moore, who passed for 182 yards and two TDs on just 12 passing attempts. The Bruins get their shot to make an impression against Utah in Week 4. 

23. Iowa (3-0) 

Iowa enjoyed an offensive explosion with a 41-10 victory against Western Michigan. That should keep the Hawkeyes in the polls heading into a showdown with Penn State in Week 4. Iowa rolled up 254 rushing yards against the Broncos, but Cade McNamara – who finished 9 of 18 for 103 yards, two TDs and two interceptions – will need to be better against the Nittany Lions.

24. Tennessee (2-1) 

If you want to drop Tennessee out, then we would not object too much. The drought at The Swamp continued in a 29-16 loss to Florida. The Gators jumped out to a 26-7 lead in the first half. Joe Milton passed for 287 yards, two TDs and an interception, and the running game was shut down. The Vols' margin for error in the SEC East shrinks considerably. 

25. UCF (3-0) 

A few other teams have a case here, including Auburn, Kentucky or even one-loss Clemson ahead of the showdown against Tennessee. We'll roll for now with UCF, who beat Villanova 48-14. Gus Malzahn has the Knights off to a 3-0 start heading into the Big 12 opener against Kansas State. 

College football 1-133 rankings: (1-25) 

Rest of FBS (26-133) 

Here is a look at the rest of the FBS heading into Week 4: