My 2026 college football rankings are here! Week 4 is in the books, and Utah tops the FBS power ratings. Florida, Georgia, Texas and Notre Dame round out the top five.
As I mentioned earlier this week, these early rankings still need time to settle. Another week gives us more connections between schedules, but there is plenty of room for movement. This update covers FBS only, using the Week 4 reports generated September 27.
FBS Power Ratings Top 25
Utah is 4–0 and has outscored its opponents 173–41. The Utes lead Florida by just 0.609 rating points, with Georgia close behind in third. Texas and Notre Dame round out the top 5.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | PF | PA | Power | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UTAH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 173 | 41 | 151.289 | 130.239 |
| 2 | FLORIDA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 214 | 91 | 150.680 | 134.749 |
| 3 | GEORGIA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 53 | 150.399 | 124.823 |
| 4 | TEXAS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 53 | 148.169 | 138.787 |
| 5 | NOTRE DAME | 4 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 33 | 147.995 | 133.118 |
| 6 | INDIANA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 39 | 147.833 | 125.178 |
| 7 | IOWA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 32 | 146.609 | 127.984 |
| 8 | MIAMI (FL) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 207 | 36 | 146.020 | 124.701 |
| 9 | OLE MISS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 142 | 123 | 145.171 | 134.422 |
| 10 | AUBURN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 83 | 144.191 | 137.109 |
| 11 | ALABAMA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 81 | 143.897 | 131.213 |
| 12 | OHIO ST. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 49 | 143.581 | 131.732 |
| 13 | LSU | 3 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 62 | 143.433 | 136.679 |
| 14 | ARKANSAS | 2 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 108 | 143.318 | 139.591 |
| 15 | NEBRASKA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 48 | 142.473 | 126.815 |
| 16 | PITTSBURGH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 157 | 34 | 142.291 | 125.292 |
| 17 | NORTHWESTERN | 2 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 54 | 141.969 | 136.723 |
| 18 | DUKE | 4 | 0 | 0 | 145 | 44 | 141.186 | 127.147 |
| 19 | IOWA ST. | 2 | 2 | 0 | 123 | 64 | 140.989 | 134.011 |
| 20 | MISSISSIPPI ST. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 84 | 140.935 | 129.272 |
| 21 | MICHIGAN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 59 | 140.784 | 133.837 |
| 22 | UCLA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 75 | 140.459 | 130.395 |
| 23 | CINCINNATI | 4 | 0 | 0 | 162 | 82 | 140.023 | 128.171 |
| 24 | OKLAHOMA ST. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 79 | 139.827 | 130.514 |
| 25 | TULSA | 3 | 1 | 0 | 95 | 61 | 139.436 | 129.025 |
Ole Miss and Auburn are the only teams with a loss in the top 10. Auburn also has the second-highest schedule rating among the top 10, behind Texas. An undefeated record matters, but who you play matters too.
FBS Elo Ratings Top 25
Florida takes the top spot in Elo, with Utah second and Georgia third. The same five schools lead both lists, although Notre Dame and Texas swap places here. Alabama makes the Elo top 10 at No. 9 after coming in 11th in power.
| Rank | School | W | L | T | PF | PA | ELO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FLORIDA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 214 | 91 | 1714.978 |
| 2 | UTAH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 173 | 41 | 1710.839 |
| 3 | GEORGIA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 219 | 53 | 1709.484 |
| 4 | NOTRE DAME | 4 | 0 | 0 | 169 | 33 | 1709.069 |
| 5 | TEXAS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 133 | 53 | 1708.534 |
| 6 | MIAMI (FL) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 207 | 36 | 1703.401 |
| 7 | INDIANA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 174 | 39 | 1693.496 |
| 8 | IOWA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 131 | 32 | 1691.235 |
| 9 | ALABAMA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 192 | 81 | 1689.488 |
| 10 | OLE MISS | 3 | 1 | 0 | 142 | 123 | 1689.209 |
| 11 | OHIO ST. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 180 | 49 | 1685.956 |
| 12 | AUBURN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 120 | 83 | 1683.738 |
| 13 | NEBRASKA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 48 | 1683.398 |
| 14 | LSU | 3 | 1 | 0 | 155 | 62 | 1682.965 |
| 15 | MISSISSIPPI ST. | 4 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 84 | 1679.830 |
| 16 | DUKE | 4 | 0 | 0 | 145 | 44 | 1676.429 |
| 17 | ARKANSAS | 2 | 2 | 0 | 92 | 108 | 1675.531 |
| 18 | PITTSBURGH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 157 | 34 | 1673.525 |
| 19 | UCLA | 4 | 0 | 0 | 179 | 75 | 1672.649 |
| 20 | OREGON | 3 | 1 | 0 | 190 | 93 | 1671.316 |
| 21 | OKLAHOMA ST. | 3 | 1 | 0 | 149 | 79 | 1671.116 |
| 22 | NORTHWESTERN | 2 | 1 | 0 | 98 | 54 | 1669.818 |
| 23 | TEXAS TECH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 145 | 74 | 1668.457 |
| 24 | MICHIGAN | 3 | 1 | 0 | 101 | 59 | 1668.245 |
| 25 | BYU | 3 | 0 | 0 | 132 | 47 | 1667.104 |
FBS Adjusted Offense Top 25
Florida leads the adjusted offense rankings at 35.444, well ahead of Georgia and Alabama. The Gators have scored 214 points in four games, and their offense stands out after accounting for opponents as well. Air Force and Mississippi State complete the top five.
| Rank | School | Offense |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 35.444 |
| 2 | Georgia | 26.778 |
| 3 | Alabama | 26.625 |
| 4 | Air Force | 19.500 |
| 5 | Mississippi St. | 19.375 |
| 6 | Utah | 19.000 |
| 7 | Northwestern | 19.000 |
| 8 | Illinois | 17.556 |
| 9 | Southern California | 17.433 |
| 10 | Ohio St. | 17.375 |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 16.889 |
| 12 | Miami (FL) | 16.667 |
| 13 | Nebraska | 16.500 |
| 14 | Oregon | 15.250 |
| 15 | Texas Tech | 14.833 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 14.667 |
| 17 | Notre Dame | 14.167 |
| 18 | LSU | 14.167 |
| 19 | UCLA | 14.125 |
| 20 | Colorado St. | 13.667 |
| 21 | Purdue | 12.889 |
| 22 | Toledo | 12.444 |
| 23 | Iowa St. | 11.833 |
| 24 | South Carolina | 11.778 |
| 25 | Houston | 11.500 |
Utah comes in sixth, giving the power ratings leader a top-10 offense to go with its top-10 defense. Northwestern has the same displayed offensive rating as Utah at 19.000.
Full FBS adjusted offense rankings
FBS Adjusted Defense Top 25
Texas leads the adjusted defense rankings at 31.333, followed by Notre Dame. Michigan State, Indiana and BYU round out the top five. Higher ratings are better on this list.
| Rank | School | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 31.333 |
| 2 | Notre Dame | 22.875 |
| 3 | Michigan St. | 19.875 |
| 4 | Indiana | 19.500 |
| 5 | BYU | 19.000 |
| 6 | Oklahoma | 18.375 |
| 7 | Penn St. | 17.250 |
| 8 | Utah | 16.667 |
| 9 | Miami (FL) | 15.944 |
| 10 | Iowa | 15.611 |
| 11 | Auburn | 15.250 |
| 12 | Pittsburgh | 14.667 |
| 13 | LSU | 14.500 |
| 14 | Duke | 14.389 |
| 15 | UCF | 13.833 |
| 16 | Alabama | 13.375 |
| 17 | Virginia | 12.833 |
| 18 | Ohio St. | 12.208 |
| 19 | Northwestern | 11.250 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | 10.889 |
| 21 | Boise St. | 9.833 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 9.722 |
| 23 | Mississippi St. | 9.625 |
| 24 | James Madison | 9.500 |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 8.250 |
Michigan State is an interesting name here. The Spartans are 2–2 and rank 38th in power, but their adjusted defense ranks third. Oklahoma is another team whose defense ranks much higher than its overall power rating: sixth on defense and 36th in power.
Full FBS adjusted defense rankings
FBS Wins Above Average Top 25
Texas has the strongest results by wins above average. This measure compares a school’s actual wins with the wins an average FBS team would be expected to earn against the same schedule. The expected wins come from 25,000 Monte Carlo simulations, and this table is ranked by WAA with home-field advantage included.
| Rank | School | GP | W | Expected W (No HFA) | Expected W (HFA) | WAA (No HFA) | WAA (HFA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TEXAS | 4 | 4.000 | 0.659 | 0.798 | 3.341 | 3.202 |
| 2 | NOTRE DAME | 4 | 4.000 | 1.593 | 1.714 | 2.407 | 2.286 |
| 3 | FLORIDA | 4 | 4.000 | 1.632 | 1.762 | 2.368 | 2.238 |
| 4 | UTAH | 4 | 4.000 | 1.841 | 1.928 | 2.159 | 2.072 |
| 5 | MISSISSIPPI ST. | 4 | 4.000 | 2.024 | 1.973 | 1.976 | 2.027 |
| 6 | UCLA | 4 | 4.000 | 2.106 | 2.073 | 1.894 | 1.927 |
| 7 | ALABAMA | 4 | 4.000 | 1.945 | 2.132 | 2.055 | 1.868 |
| 8 | IOWA | 4 | 4.000 | 2.146 | 2.177 | 1.854 | 1.823 |
| 9 | GEORGIA | 4 | 4.000 | 2.248 | 2.312 | 1.752 | 1.688 |
| 10 | LSU | 4 | 3.000 | 1.099 | 1.375 | 1.901 | 1.625 |
| 11 | OLE MISS | 4 | 3.000 | 1.279 | 1.388 | 1.721 | 1.612 |
| 12 | MIAMI (FL) | 4 | 4.000 | 2.486 | 2.407 | 1.514 | 1.593 |
| 13 | WAKE FOREST | 4 | 3.000 | 1.565 | 1.447 | 1.435 | 1.553 |
| 14 | OKLAHOMA ST. | 4 | 3.000 | 1.504 | 1.453 | 1.496 | 1.547 |
| 15 | AUBURN | 4 | 3.000 | 1.252 | 1.453 | 1.748 | 1.547 |
| 16 | DUKE | 4 | 4.000 | 2.405 | 2.520 | 1.595 | 1.480 |
| 17 | CINCINNATI | 4 | 4.000 | 2.281 | 2.577 | 1.719 | 1.423 |
| 18 | OREGON | 4 | 3.000 | 1.664 | 1.630 | 1.336 | 1.370 |
| 19 | INDIANA | 4 | 4.000 | 2.478 | 2.632 | 1.522 | 1.368 |
| 20 | PITTSBURGH | 4 | 4.000 | 2.357 | 2.637 | 1.643 | 1.363 |
| 21 | TEXAS TECH | 4 | 4.000 | 2.630 | 2.694 | 1.370 | 1.306 |
| 22 | NEBRASKA | 4 | 4.000 | 2.644 | 2.745 | 1.356 | 1.255 |
| 23 | CLEMSON | 4 | 3.000 | 1.741 | 1.776 | 1.259 | 1.224 |
| 24 | KENTUCKY | 4 | 3.000 | 1.660 | 1.779 | 1.340 | 1.221 |
| 25 | UTSA | 4 | 3.000 | 1.758 | 1.788 | 1.242 | 1.212 |
An average FBS team would be expected to win just 0.798 games against Texas’s schedule with home-field advantage accounted for. The Longhorns have won all four, putting them at 3.202 wins above average. Notre Dame is second at 2.286, followed by Florida and Utah.
LSU is the only team with a loss in this top 10. The Tigers’ three wins are 1.625 more than an average FBS team would be expected to earn against their schedule. That is enough to put them tenth, ahead of several unbeaten teams.
Full FBS wins above average rankings
Strength of Schedule Through Week 4
These lists use the SOS column from my FBS power ratings for games played through Week 4. Higher values indicate tougher schedules. These are schedules played to date, not the remaining schedule, and the ratings will change as we learn more about each opponent.
Top 5 Toughest Schedules
| Rank | School | Record | Power Rank | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARKANSAS | 2–2 | 14 | 139.591 |
| 2 | TEXAS | 4–0 | 4 | 138.787 |
| 3 | AUBURN | 3–1 | 10 | 137.109 |
| 4 | NORTHWESTERN | 2–1 | 17 | 136.723 |
| 5 | LSU | 3–1 | 13 | 136.679 |
Arkansas has played the toughest schedule so far and ranks 14th in power despite a 2–2 record. Texas is unbeaten against the second-toughest schedule, which makes its 4–0 start stand out. Auburn, Northwestern and LSU round out the five toughest.
Top 5 Easiest Schedules
| Rank | School | Record | Power Rank | SOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MASSACHUSETTS | 4–0 | 82 | 114.878 |
| 2 | APP STATE | 3–1 | 107 | 116.451 |
| 3 | VIRGINIA TECH | 4–0 | 44 | 118.171 |
| 4 | NAVY | 1–2 | 128 | 118.485 |
| 5 | MIDDLE TENN. | 2–2 | 125 | 118.622 |
Massachusetts has the easiest schedule to date, followed by App State and Virginia Tech. Massachusetts and Virginia Tech are both 4–0, but their schedule ratings help explain why they sit 82nd and 44th in power. Navy and Middle Tennessee complete the five easiest.
All rankings can be found on the 2026 FBS rankings page.