College Football Week 4 Roundup: Top Teams Fall, Thrillers in the SEC, and Hoosiers Survive

The final weekend of September 2026 delivered an electric slate of college football games that completely shook up the national landscape. In a weekend highlighted by massive SEC matchups and Big Ten showdowns, several top-15 teams were dealt significant blows, while the nation’s No. 1 team narrowly survived a defensive rock fight on the road.

Here is a detailed look at the biggest games, storylines, and standout performances from a wild college football Saturday.

#1 Texas Escapes #14 Tennessee in Knoxville Thriller

In what was billed as the game of the week, the No. 1 Texas Longhorns survived a grueling, defensive battle to defeat the No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers 20-17 at Neyland Stadium.

Offense was hard to come by for both sides, with Texas grinding out just 262 total yards compared to Tennessee’s 221. The Longhorns leaned heavily on running back Raleek Brown, who carried the ball 17 times for 67 tough yards and found the end zone twice.

Despite committing two turnovers to the Volunteers’ zero, Texas managed to hold off the home team in the final moments. Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon finished 17-of-29 passing for 145 yards and a touchdown, which was caught by wide receiver Mike Matthews (four catches for 72 yards). However, the Volunteers’ rushing attack was completely neutralized by the Texas defensive front, managing a meager 70 yards on 1.6 yards per carry.

#21 Florida Demolishes #4 Ole Miss

It’s Great To Be A Florida Gator!!! https://t.co/tnZFcOqU8D

— Florida Gators (@FloridaGators) September 26, 2026

The most shocking result of the weekend took place down south, where the No. 21 Florida Gators absolutely dismantled the No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels, 52-28.

Florida’s victory was fueled by an utterly dominant ground game that gashed the Rebels for 302 rushing yards. Running back Jadan Baugh was unstoppable, carrying the ball 29 times for 142 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Aaron Philo added 196 passing yards and two total touchdowns on an efficient 16-of-23 passing.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss put up big passing numbers—completing 25 of 34 passes for 298 yards and three total touchdowns—but the Rebels’ offense was too one-dimensional. Receiver Deuce Alexander was a bright spot with seven catches for 134 yards and a score, but Ole Miss’ defense surrendered 498 total yards to a relentless Florida attack.

#5 Indiana Survives Northwestern’s Second-Half Surge

The defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers nearly suffered a catastrophic upset against unranked Northwestern, surviving 29-23 on Friday night in Bloomington.

Indiana built a 12-0 halftime lead, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Hoover to Nick Marsh. However, Northwestern exploded in the second half, outscoring the No. 5 Hoosiers 23-17 over the final two quarters.

Wildcats quarterback Aidan Chiles was sensational, completing 22 of 29 passes for 293 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). His favorite target was tight end Luke Dehnicke, who hauled in seven passes for a massive 140 yards. Receiver Griffin Wilde added six catches for 56 yards and caught both of Chiles’ touchdown passes. Despite the valiant comeback effort, Indiana’s early lead and a pair of Nico Radicic field goals provided just enough cushion for the Hoosiers to escape.

#10 LSU Suffocates #23 Texas A&M in Baton Rouge

Saturday night in Death Valley was a nightmare for the Texas A&M offense, as the No. 10 LSU Tigers slammed the door shut on the Aggies for a 35-6 blowout victory.

LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt was the star of the night, connecting with Jackson Harris for a pair of touchdowns—including a massive 57-yard score on a fourth-and-short gamble dialed-up by the coaching staff.

The Aggies offense, meanwhile, was completely stifled. Texas A&M quarterback M. Reed completed just 10 of 26 passes for 106 yards and an interception. The ground game found no room to operate, with lead back R. Owens II managing only 62 yards on 11 carries.

#20 Oregon Takes Down #12 USC

In a high-flying Big Ten shootout, the No. 20 Oregon Ducks overpowered the No. 12 USC Trojans 41-27.

Oregon’s balanced attack overwhelmed the Trojans’ defense, racking up 504 yards of total offense. Quarterback Dylan Raiola was incredibly sharp, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Dierre Hill Jr. was a dual-threat weapon, compiling 168 total yards and finding the end zone twice.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava threw the ball 42 times, completing 23 passes for 326 yards and three total touchdowns. Wideout Kayden Dixon-Wyatt had a big day with seven catches for 114 yards and a touchdown, but the Trojans’ defense could not string together enough stops to keep pace.

Wisconsin Shocks #13 Penn State

The Wisconsin Badgers secured a massive signature win, upsetting the No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions 24-20 in a physical, grind-it-out game.

Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph willed his team to victory, accounting for three total touchdowns while passing for 235 yards (18-of-38). Tight end Jacob Harris was Joseph’s go-to outlet, catching five passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Penn State’s offense was entirely out of rhythm. Quarterback Rocco Becht completed just 12 of 29 passes for a meager 114 yards, though he did manage a rushing touchdown. A defensive touchdown from Josiah Zayas (an interception return) kept the Nittany Lions in the game, but their offense was limited to just 233 total yards as Wisconsin dominated the time of possession.