College football power rankings: Predicting the AP Top 25 after Week 4

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 22: Henry Ruggs III #11 celebrates a touchdown with teammate Irv Smith Jr. #82 of the Alabama Crimson Tide during a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated the Aggies 45-23. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 22: Quarterback Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers scrambles on a keeper in the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 22, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

You know AP voters are hesitant to give Group of Five teams any credit, and that’ll be the case once again as three teams ahead of the Knights fell in Week 4, but they’ll likely move up just one or two spots. What’s more impressive to voters, a win over FAU or victories against Nebraska by 46 or on the road against Iowa? Poor Knights, but they’ll be just fine in the driver’s seat for a New Year’s Six bowl.

Is Michigan back? It’s too early to tell, but the Wolverines had a strong showing against Nebraska which isn’t saying much considering the Cornhuskers haven’t won a game in the Scott Frost era, falling to Troy last week. Michigan looked solid up and down, even with Shea Patterson having a light workload. The run game led by Karan Higdon is strong, and the Wolverines look to be picking up steam, winning their third straight.

One of the biggest jumps this week will be Wisconsin thanks to the Badgers’ play at Iowa. Going to Iowa City is arguably one of the toughest things to do for visitors in the Big Ten, and it proved to be just that, but Wisconsin kept a level head and Paul Chryst called the perfect play to seal the deal late in the fourth on third down with less than a minute left. The Badgers look to be proving that BYU loss was a mere fluke.

Will Grier had yet another Heisman-like performance, passing for over 350 yards to go along with five touchdowns and he’s not firmly in position to make a move for the coveted trophy. West Virginia faced what seemed like a tough Kansas State team, but the Wildcats didn’t put up much of a fight. A 35-6 win for West Virginia puts the Mountaineers in a good spot to start conference play.

There was a point in Friday night’s matchup with Illinois that the Nittany Lions looked to be on upset alert, but a 35-point outburst in the fourth quarter was the difference. Actually, at one point, Illinois held a 24-21 lead over Penn State in the second half. Trace McSorley had a quiet game, but Miles Sanders may have broken out as a true Heisman candidate with a 200-yard rushing day. Saquon Barkley who?

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