College Football Rankings 2017: Projected Top 25 after Week 4

No. 25: Stanford Cardinal (2-2)

Ranking coming into Week 4: N/A

Outside of a bad second half against USC, Stanford has been the Stanford of old. Ugly football, questionable quarterback play that does just enough to get the job done and physical play defensively. The trees fought past UCLA at home on Saturday night to keep pace in the Pac-12 title race.

No. 24: Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish (3-1)

Ranking coming into Week 4: N/A

The Irish should find themselves back in the Top 25 after a solid 38-18 victory on the road against Michigan State in this rivalry’s final matchup for quite a while. Brandon Wimbush looked more poised in the pocket and the Golden Domers kept their roll going after the Georgia loss on the road in East Lansing.

No. 23: LSU Tigers (3-1)

Ranking coming into Week 4: No. 25

Weird game? LSU’s involved? Is Les Miles back on the sideline eating some grass? The Tigers bounced back after a humiliating loss to Mississippi State last week with a 35-26 victory over Syracuse at home this week.

No. 22: Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-1)

Ranking coming into Week 4: No. 17

The Bulldogs, coming off a huge 30-point win at home against LSU last week, laid an egg against the other Dawgs down in Georgia on Saturday night. They should hang around in this week’s rankings because Georgia is playing some really, really good football right now.

No. 21: Utah Utes (4-0)

Ranking coming into Week 4: No. 23

The Utes had to work in Tuscon against the Wildcats, but Kyle Whittingham’s bunch stays unbeaten this week. Utah may not be a favorite in the Pac-12 along the likes of USC and Washington, but they’re a steady football team.