Earlier this week, UCLA and Virginia Tech made some of the earliest coaching changes in recent memory. If Week 4 is any indication, several more could be right around the corner.
Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, Arkansas’s Sam Pittman and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney all turned in wildly disappointing performances in must-win spots. The struggles at North Carolina and Wisconsin were just as glaring. Florida coach Billy Napier’s seat is burning after a historically terrible offensive performance against Miami.
Still, there were bright moments. Texas Tech pulled off a program-defining win against No. 16 Utah. Oklahoma knocked off Auburn in a high-stakes SEC opener. No. 19 Indiana put the country on notice with a decimation of No. 9 Illinois, while No. 23 Missouri put South Carolina away with a dominant defensive performance.
Here are the biggest winners and losers of Week 4 of the college football season.
Tomorrow’s Top 25 Today: Oklahoma, Indiana surge into top 10 in college football rankings
Chip Patterson
Winner: Texas Tech
The Red Raiders made headlines over the offseason by pouring resources into rebuilding their trenches through the transfer portal. Saturday proved why every cent was worth it.
Texas Tech flew into Salt Lake City and dominated No. 16 Utah, the preseason Big 12 favorite, in a 34-10 statement win.
Despite losing starting quarterback Behren Morton to an apparent head injury, backup Will Hammond stepped in and sparked a 24-7 second-half run. He finished with 169 yards and two touchdowns, while the defense smothered Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, holding him to just 4.2 yards per pass attempt.
Suddenly, Texas Tech isn’t just a contender — the Red Raiders look like the team to beat in the Big 12.
Loser: Clemson
For years, Dabo Swinney brushed off criticism by accusing fans of being spoiled. That card doesn’t work anymore.
After a loss to Syracuse, Clemson is one of only three FBS programs to trail by seven or more points in every game this season. The other two — UCLA and Virginia Tech — have already fired their coaches.
The Tigers are 1-3, a stunning collapse for a preseason national title pick. Perhaps most damning, Swinney doesn’t seem to have answers. Clemson is lost, and the outlook is bleak.
Winner: #Heismendoza
All offseason, people questioned: Who is this season’s Indiana? In fact, No. 9 Illinois was a pretty common answer. Led by quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the answer could simply be… Indiana? The No. 19 Hoosiers laid a beatdown for the ages against the Fighting Illini, obliterating them 63-10 in one of the wildest wins of the past few years.
However, the story was Mendoza, who was unbelievable in his first big test since transferring from California. The junior completed 21-of-23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns in the win, with receiver Elijah Sarratt reeling in two of his touchdown grabs.
Last week, NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner elevated Mendoza to his No. 1 spot in the 2026 NFL Draft. Colleague Ryan Wilson has him at No. 3. Could an Indiana quarterback win the Heisman Trophy? He’s going to give voters plenty to think about.
Loser: Florida QB DJ Lagway
The former No. 1 quarterback DJ Lagway has been plagued by injuries for the past year. But whether it was injury, terrible playcalling or lack of help, his performance against No. 4 Miami in a 26-7 loss was a disaster. A week after throwing five interceptions against No. 3 LSU, Lagway completed 12-of-23 passes for 61 yards.
The offensive performance by Florida was the worst of the 21st Century, and could be a final straw for Billy Napier’s coaching tenure. However, Lagway’s season has been a wild disappointment. He was essentially asked to save the program after consistent failures by Florida’s offense over the past several years. Lagway will have to seriously consider whether he’s doing a disservice to his future by sticking with the Gators.
Winner: Oklahoma DL
Oklahoma’s defensive line entered the season highly touted, but its performance in a 24-17 win against Auburn exceeded even lofty expectations.
The Sooners racked up a school-record 10 sacks against former OU quarterback Jackson Arnold, including multiple in the final minutes to seal the win.
Defensive end R. Mason Thomas is emerging as one of the nation’s best. He and Jayden Jackson combined for 4.5 sacks, while seven different linemen logged at least one sack. That kind of depth and dominance makes OU a nightmare matchup moving forward.
Loser: Wisconsin
The floor keeps falling for Luke Fickell.
The Badgers were held scoreless well into the third quarter of a listless loss to Maryland. Losing quarterback Billy Edwards to injury was a setback, but Wisconsin’s rushing attack was nearly nonexistent, averaging under 1.5 yards per carry. Terrapin freshman Malik Washington carved them up with 265 yards and two touchdowns.
Even worse, Camp Randall was half-empty by the fourth quarter. The famous “Jump Around” tradition felt hollow. Fans chanted “Fire Fickell,” and while the athletic director issued support, patience is running thin.
Winner: Memphis
Various American Conference teams have had their moment over the first few weeks. On Saturday, it was Memphis’s turn. The Tigers shocked Arkansas 32-31 after a shocking 64-yard touchdown run from Sutton Smith late in the fourth quarter. The Tigers forced two interceptions off Taylen Green, and had two players rush for 100 yards against an SEC defensive front.
The win suddenly elevates Memphis towards the top of the Group of Six’s College Football Playoff odds. The Tigers get South Florida, Navy and Tulane at home, and miss both UTSA and North Texas. With four wins under their belt, their pathway to a conference title game is one of the clearest on the board. Every passing week, the American looks like the clear conference to beat for a playoff spot.
Winner: TCU
The final Battle for the Iron Skillet was emotional, but TCU coach Sonny Dykes and his team delivered in a 35-24 win over SMU.
Quarterback Josh Hoover — one of the nation’s most underrated passers — threw for 379 yards and five touchdowns. His favorite target, former Boise State transfer Eric McAlister, erupted for 254 yards and three scores.
On defense, TCU held SMU to just 94 rushing yards on 27 carries, exactly the type of physicality they’ll need in Big 12 play. At 3-0, the Horned Frogs have a strong case to enter the AP Top 25.
Loser: Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy
If last week’s 66-point loss to Oregon felt like rock bottom, Friday night proved it wasn’t.
In front of a packed Boone Pickens Stadium, Oklahoma State lost to Tulsa at home for the first time since 1951. And it wasn’t close. After OSU scored on its opening possession, Tulsa ripped off a 19-0 run and never looked back, finishing with more than 200 yards both rushing and passing.
Fans booed Gundy as he left the field, a surreal moment for a coach who once defined the program. Whether the end comes Sunday or in December, it’s clear: the Gundy era is over.
Winner: Vanderbilt
A win against Georgia State was never in doubt for the No. 20 Commodores, but a 70-21 decimation was one for the history books. The matchup marked the first time Vandy scored 70 points since 1918, headlined by 286 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. More importantly, Vanderbilt moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2008 under coach Clark Lea. When Vanderbilt got quarterback Diego Pavia back, there was optimism that this could be a special season for the program. With multiple wins against power conference foes under their belt, Vanderbilt is on the precipice of a spectacular campaign.
Loser: North Carolina
Losing to TCU in Bill Belichick’s debut was forgivable. Losing 34-9 to UCF? Indefensible.
The Tar Heels managed only 217 total yards and 2.5 yards per carry against a Knights squad picked last in the Big 12 preseason poll. First-year coach Scott Frost had his team ready, while UNC looked lifeless.
At 1-3, North Carolina appears deficient across the board. A winless conference season isn’t out of the question.
Don’t look now, but Rice is surging.
Under first-year coach Scott Abell, the Owls are 3-1 for the first time since 2001. Abell’s gun-option offense is thriving, ranking No. 12 nationally in rushing. The Owls already boast road wins over American foe Charlotte and Sun Belt power Louisiana.
Rice hasn’t posted a winning season since 2014, but suddenly that feels realistic — maybe even likely.