Week 4 • 2026
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “This sport is so great because it teaches you to hang in there to the end no matter what, and special things happen” - Louisville Head Coach Jeff Brohm after the Cardinals’ victory over then-No. 16 SMU
TEAM TO WATCH
TEAM OF THE WEEK
One of the season’s most anticipated matchups delivered on the hype, as Ole Miss defeated LSU, 32-24, in Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford. The Rebels set a Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium record with 70,033 fans in attendance for this AP Top 10 matchup.
Kentucky shocked the college football world with its 31-21 road victory over then-No. 9 Texas A&M under first-year head coach Will Stein. The win marks Kentucky’s first road win over an AP Top 10 opponent since defeating No. 6 Ole Miss in 2024.
OLE MISS
Ole Miss raced to a 24-7 halftime lead before LSU stormed back with 17 unanswered points to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss reclaimed the lead with a 14-yard rushing touchdown, and the offense converted a gutsy two-point attempt to put them ahead by eight. The Tigers reached the red zone on their final drive, but cornerback Jaylon Braxton picked off Sam Leavitt in the end zone to secure the Ole Miss victory. Chambliss completed 33-of-48 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns, while wide receiver Traylon Ray hauled in a teamhigh seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown. The Rebels have won 10 of their last 11 games dating back to October 25, 2025, and look to build momentum when they visit No. 21 Florida on Saturday, September 26, at 12:30 p.m. PHX on ABC.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
KENTUCKY
The teams entered halftime tied at 7-7 before the Wildcats exploded for 21 points in the third quarter. Quarterback Kenny Minchey connected with wide receiver Kenny Darby for a 42-yard touchdown, followed by two CJ Baxter rushing scores. The Aggies responded with 14 fourth-quarter points, but it wasn’t enough, and Kentucky held on for one of the season’s biggest upsets. Minchey completed 14-of-18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while three players recorded double-digit tackles, led by defensive back Jordan Casteel’s 13. Kentucky’s defense held Texas A&M to just 4.8 yards per pass, recorded eight pass break-ups and forced two interceptions. The Wildcats host South Alabama on Saturday, September 26, at 9:45 a.m. PHX on SEC Network.
Week 4
GAMES TO WATCH #4 OLE MISS AT #21 FLORIDA
9.26 // 12:30 P.M. // ABC
#17 IOWA AT #18 MICHIGAN
AP WEEK 4 RANKINGS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Texas Georgia Notre Dame Ole Miss (+4) Indiana (-1)
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Miami (-1) Ohio State (-1) Alabama (+2) BYU (+2) LSU (-3)
For a full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
9.26 // 12:30 P.M. // CBS
#23 TEXAS A&M AT #10 LSU 9.26 // 4:30 P.M. // ABC
#20 OREGON AT #12 USC
GAME OF THE WEEK #1 TEXAS AT #14 TENNESSEE
In a week full of marquee matchups, none stands out more than the Top 15 showdown between top-ranked Texas and
9.26 // 4:30 P.M. // NBC
ascending Tennessee. The matchup marks the first game
#19 MISSOURI AT #24 MISSISSIPPI STATE
in Knoxville.
9.26 // 4:45 P.M. // SEC NETWORK
For a full schedule of Week 4 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
between the programs since 1968 and their first-ever meeting
The game will also mark the first time a Manning will play in Neyland Stadium since Peyton Manning’s final home game in a Volunteers uniform on November 29, 1997. While Arch Manning looks to keep Texas atop the AP Top 25 and add to a family legacy in Knoxville, Tennessee seeks its first win over an AP No. 1-ranked opponent since defeating top-ranked Auburn in 1985. True freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon has recorded 689 total yards and nine touchdowns with no turnovers but faces his first true test against the Longhorns.
2026 BOWL PREDICTIONS CFP QUARTERFINAL at Vrbo FIESTA BOWL
Kickoff at Neyland Stadium is set for Saturday, September 26, at 9:00 a.m. PHX on ABC.
CACTUS BOWL
ESPN Bonagura – No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Georgia
ESPN Schlabach – Minnesota vs. Baylor
Sports Illustrated – No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Georgia
Sports Illustrated – Illinois vs. West Virginia
CBS Sports – No. 5 Texas vs. No. 4 Notre Dame
CBS Sports – Minnesota vs. West Virginia
USA Today – No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Texas/No. 12 Boise State
USA Today – Michigan State vs. TCU
Pro Football Network – LSU vs. Miami
Pro Football Network – Illinois vs. Oklahoma State
Athlon Sports – No. 4 Ole Miss vs. No. 5 Indiana
Athlon Sports – Illinois vs. TCU
Week 4
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
BROCK PURDY The 49ers’ 35-13 rout of the Dolphins was led by a surgical performance from quarterback Brock Purdy, who completed 20-of-22 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 30 yards and a score. Purdy was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, dominating from the first snap, leading San Francisco to touchdown drives on its first five possessions. The 49ers have started 2-0 in three of the last four seasons since Purdy was officially named the starter in 2023. Purdy was named Offensive MVP of the 2020-21 Fiesta Bowl, completing 20-of-29 passes, accounting for 195 yards and two touchdowns while leading No. 10 Iowa State to a 34-17 victory over No. 25 Oregon. Selected in the seventh round with the 262nd (and final) pick in the 2022 draft, Purdy has amassed a 32-15 record as a starter, 12,177 passing yards and 89 touchdowns, along with Pro Bowl honors and a Super Bowl appearance. Purdy and the 49ers host the Cardinals on Sunday, September 27, at 1:05 p.m. PHX on FOX.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
KEELON RUSSELL ALABAMA
KENDRICK RAPHAEL SMU
After winning the quarterback battle late in camp, Keelon Russell has displayed why he is Alabama’s QB1. In the Crimson Tide’s 50-36 win over Florida State, the sophomore went 23-of-30 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 56 yards and a score on the ground. After falling behind 21-6, Russell rallied the Tide with all three of his passing touchdowns to take their first lead and secure the eventual win. Russell’s performance earned him Shaun Alexander Award Player of the Week honors.
Despite SMU’s hard-fought loss to Louisville, running back Kendrick Raphael delivered one of the best individual performances of the year, recording 24 carries for a career-high 197 yards (8.2 ypc) and three touchdowns. Raphael punched in the game’s opening touchdown before adding go-ahead scores from 25 and 15 yards out in the third and fourth quarters, respectively. It marked Raphael’s fourth career 100-yard rushing performance.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
Week 4
BIG NEWS The Cactus Bowl enters an exciting new era with a fresh rebranding rooted in its Arizona heritage. The game will once again feature Bowl Season’s only Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup and is set for 5:30 p.m. MST on Saturday, December 26, in its grand return to Mountain America Stadium. As we eagerly await kickoff in Tempe, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news heading into Week 4:
BIG TEN
BIG 12
•
Nine teams remain undefeated in the Big Ten, including UCLA, USC, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State and Washington. UCLA and USC sit atop the Big Ten standings with conference wins over Purdue and Rutgers, respectively
•
The reigning Big 12 Champions Texas Tech opened conference play with a 28-26 win over No. 22 Houston. The Red Raiders’ running back duo of Cameron Dickey and J’Koby Williams combined for two touchdowns, while Houston quarterback Connor Weigman completed 27-of-38 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns
•
Northwestern quarterback Aidan Chiles earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors, completing 17-of-22 passes for 241 yards for three touchdowns, adding two rushing scores in the Wildcats’ 41-7 dismantling of Colorado. UCLA linebacker Sammy Omosigho was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week with a team-high 12 tackles, two forced fumbles, and two sacks for 21 yards
•
West Virginia pulled off the 38-27 upset over thenNo. 25 Virginia in the Duke Mayo’s Classic, led by Mountaineers’ quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., who was named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, passing for 190 yards and two touchdowns, with 123 yards (6.8 ypc) and three scores on the ground
•
Arizona State defeated Kansas, 24-17, in the inaugural Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium in London. Sun Devils linebacker Owen Long earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors after creating two critical fourth-quarter turnovers including a forced fumble and interception
•
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava leads the nation with 1,173 passing yards, while Purdue’s Ryan Browne ranks fifth with 1,024 yards. Additionally, Rutgers wide receiver KJ Duff ranks third nationally with 419 receiving yards, followed by Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith at fourth with 400 yards
HOT TAKES “JMU will likely need to run the table to have a shot [at the CFP], but a win over the Pac-12 will open the door if Boise State slips up and the American cannibalizes itself.” - Josh Yourish, Fansided “By beating the LSU Tigers, Ole Miss has proven it has the pedigree to potentially be the top-ranked team in the nation.” - Christopher Sheppard, Nittany Lions Wire CLICK HERE to submit your hot takes for a chance to be featured in next week’s edition!
Week 4
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
NEWS IN THE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO SUBMIT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION WISHES FOR TEACHERS APPLICATIONS
FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION BOLSTERS CORPORATE SALES EFFORTS BY NAMING BANKS SHEPHERD AS VICE PRESIDENT, PARTNERSHIPS As Fiesta Sports Foundation launches a new premium, enterprise tier of corporate partnerships and elevates its position as a year-round live events and community impact organization, it has added Banks Shepherd in the newlycreated position of vice president of partnerships. Consistent with the evolving landscape in college football and the organization’s mission to drive statewide community impact through meaningful partnerships, Shepherd will play a pivotal role in advancing Fiesta Sports Foundation’s efforts to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with key industry and community stakeholders.
There’s less than one week for Arizona K-12 public and charter school teachers to apply for a $2,500 Wishes for Teachers grant. Applications are open through Wednesday, September 30, at 10 p.m. PHX. Applications may be found at www.WishesForTeachers.org. The Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers program – Arizona’s largest direct financial support initiative for educators – returns for its 11th year, set to deliver a record total of $1.75 million in funding to directly benefit classrooms and schools across the state. This year’s increased program donations will support Arizona teachers with $2,500 grants to bring a classroom wish to life. Past program wishes have included robotics kits, musical instruments, adaptive learning tools, classroom libraries, athletic gear and a variety of other resources to enhance learning opportunities for students.
He will lead the strategy and execution of impactful corporate partnerships and activation programs, identify and pursue new partnership opportunities for the organization’s year-round portfolio of events and community engagement, and serve as a dedicated resource for the Foundation’s current partners, ensuring their investments continue to deliver value. Shepherd will also help elevate the Foundation’s overall partnership efforts as it supports the philanthropic endeavors of Fiesta Sports Foundation, including its signature Wishes for Teachers initiative, AED Assistance Program and nonprofit grants program.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
Week 4
CFP QUARTERFINAL AT THE Vrbo FIESTA BOWL DECEMBER 30, 2026
CACTUS BOWL
DECEMBER 26, 2026
F I E S TA S P O R T S F O U N D AT I O N . O R G /FIESTABOWL
Week 4
@FIESTA_BOWL
@CACTUSBOWL
@THECACTUSBOWL
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026