The September slate of college football games is over as we've finished four weeks of contests. There were some big games this weekend. Many played out exactly as the experts believed, while some teams fell flat on their faces. Ohio State took care of things against Illinois. Ole' Miss couldn't recover from the hangover of beating Lane Kiffin and LSU, while Texas was lucky to survive in Knoxville.
Each week, we take a look at Joel Klatt's personal rankings that seem to be the most unbiased in the business. We don't always agree with him, but he does back up his reasoning with solid logic. Last week, Klatt dropped the Buckeyes despite doing exactly what they were supposed to do to a MAC school. With Florida shocking the Rebels, how far will Ole'
Miss go after being the darling of Week 3?
In a constant argument of "what have you done for me lately?", Joel Klatt re-ranks his top ten. Time to find out where Ohio State and the rest of Klatt's top teams land.
No. 10 - Utah Utes (No. 10 last week)
What we say
Utah keeps lighting up the scoreboard. While the Utes haven't faced great competition just yet, it's looking more and more like school administration made the right move in moving on from Kyle Whittingham. Utah should keep winning with ease in what is a mostly lightweight schedule for at least the next couple of weeks.
No. 9 - Oregon (not ranked last week)
What we say
Has there been a more Jekyll-and-Hyde team this year than Oregon? After falling to Oklahoma State in Week 2, the Ducks have come back with a vengeance. Dan Lanning's squad just went to USC and took down the Trojans even after losing quarterback Dante Moore. Oregon didn't seem to miss a beat with Dylan Raiola filling in. The Ducks get UCLA this week, which is surprisingly undefeated and ranked No. 23 in the country. Could trouble find Oregon again?
No. 8 - Florida Gators (not ranked last week)
What we say
New Florida head coach Jon Sumrall has fans in Gainesville believing once again. The Gators are undefeated and just knocked off Ole' Miss. Maybe the Rebels were still hungover after humbling Lane Kiffin and LSU, or maybe this Florida team is for real. We're going to find out real soon as three of the next four opponents are ranked in the top 25.
No. 7 - Indiana Hoosiers (No. 6 last week)
What we say
Indiana had to find a way to win over Northwestern on Friday night. Give the Wildcats credit; they came ready to play, but something seems to be lacking for the Hoosiers. We believe Curt Cignetti will get things turned around, but he doesn't have much time before Ohio State comes to town on October 17.
No. 6. - Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 9 last week)
What we say
The Alabama offense is firing on all cylinders with quarterback Kelon Russell leading the way. Outside of a hiccup against Florida State, the defense has looked solid. However, the schedule is about to get real for the Crimson Tide, who will face three ranked opponents in consecutive weeks, starting at No. 16 Mississippi State, then at home against No. 2 Georgia, followed by a trip to Knoxville to face No. 14 Tennessee. Is Bama back? We'll know before the end of October.
No. 5 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish (No. 7 last week)
What we say
Is Notre Dame getting too much love? It's hard to say with such a favorable schedule. We do believe former Buckeye Marcus Freeman has built a great culture in South Bend, and quarterback CJ Carr is playing at a very high level. Until the Golden Domers play a contender, we can't put too much stock in this team. That doesn't happen until Oct. 17, when the Irish travel to Provo to take on BYU.
No. 4 - Miami Hurricanes (No. 5 last week)
What we say
Just like the team before it, Miami is one of the most talented teams in America. The talent has never been in question. The culture Mario Cristobal is building? We're not sold. Malachi Toney is a bona fide playmaker, but again, it's hard to evaluate a team that hasn't been tested. The Hurricanes' schedule is laughable. They only play one ranked opponent all season, and that doesn't happen until a November matchup with Notre Dame in South Bend.
No. 3 - Ohio State Buckeyes (No. 3 last week)
What we say
Ohio State fans have been spoiled over the years. After a 42-19 win over Illinois, fans had to find something to be upset about; this time that the Buckeye defense gave up 19 points. We'll admit, the defense is not up to the same standard as the previous two seasons, but the good news is it doesn't have to be. With Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State should be able to outscore any team it faces along the way. As Ryan Day learned in Austin, this isn't the defense of old, and so he'll need to keep his foot on the gas to make sure he outscores opponents.
No. 2 - Texas Longhorns (No. 1 last week)
What we say
Outside of an incredible fourth quarter against Ohio State, has Texas looked deserving of its No. 1 ranking? At this point, Arch Manning and the offense have looked very average. The defense looks solid, but the offense does not look championship caliber. The Longhorns should be able to take care of Oklahoma with relative ease, but after that, Texas could easily drop three to four games.
No. 1 - Georgia Bulldogs (No. 2 last week)
What we say
Georgia has been the most complete team in the country to date. Gunner Stockton and the offense are moving the ball. The defense is stifling. And most importantly, the Bulldogs just don't beat themselves. That makes this a very dangerous team and a team nobody would want to see in the College Football Playoff.
Joel Klatt's full rankings
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— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) September 28, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Where does Joel Klatt have Ohio State in his latest rankings?
