Florida vaulted 13 spots to No. 8 in the Associated Press Top 25, its highest ranking since 2020 and first top-10 appearance since 2021, after a 24-point win over then-No. 4 Ole Miss under first-year coach Jon Sumrall. Texas, Georgia, and Notre Dame held the top three spots, while Miami reached a season-high No. 4. The Longhorns earned 62 first-place votes following a 20-17 road win over Tennessee. Georgia doubled its first-place votes to six after a dominant performance against Oklahoma.

Mississippi State climbed eight spots to No. 16, its highest ranking in four years, while Oregon and Houston each moved up five positions. No. 14 Iowa earned its highest ranking since 2021 after a dramatic last-play victory over Michigan. Seven ranked teams lost in Week 4, with Penn State suffering the steepest drop from No. 13 to unranked after falling to Wisconsin.

Oklahoma State returned to the rankings for the first time in two years, and Boise State became the first Group of 5 team to crack the Top 25 this season. UCLA entered the poll at No. 23 for the first time in three years, while Kentucky earned its first ranking since 2023. Michigan, Louisville, and Texas A&M also fell out of the Top 25.