College football rankings 2022: Projected Week 5 AP Top 25 after Oklahoma upset, USC survives, Ohio State cruises

Projected AP Top 25 college football rankings after Week 4: No. 10-9

10. NC State Wolfpack

Considering how inconsistent Devin Leary and the NC State offense have looked to this point despite starting out 3-0, they needed Saturdays game to basically just see one go through the hoop. They welcomed downtrodden UConn to Raleigh and they absolutely bull-rushed them right out the gate as the Wolfpack jumped out to a 31-0 lead and then just kicked it into cruise control to try and get ready for next week.

Leary had his best game of the season with 320 yards and four touchdowns, though it did still come with an interception, and the offense was humming. The first-string defense also continued to look like one of the best units in the country still. But all of that will truly be put to the test next week as NC State goes on the road to face Clemson after they knocked off the Tigers a year ago.

9. Tennessee Volunteers

Despite the fact that the Vols came into this game with the last 17 years of unkind history working against them, Josh Heupel’s team showed the biggest sign yet that Tennessee is indeed on its way back to its former glory as they welcomed Florida to Neyland Stadium and handled their business.

Sure, the Volunteers definitely tried to shoot themselves in the foot late in the game as they gave up a late score and then failed to recover the onside kick. But they ultimately came up with the late stop and were able to secure a monster victory that keeps them undefeated to start the 2022 season, gives the program just its second win over the Gators in the last 18 years, and puts them on the map as a serious threat to cause chaos in the SEC.