Spartan Avenue College Football Rankings: Week 4

Sep 19, 2015; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks wide receiver Jalen Brown (15) and offensive lineman Doug Brenner (57) and offensive lineman Matt Pierson (62) and tight end Jake McCreath (90) celebrate a touchdown with tight end Johnny Mundt (83) against the Georgia State Panthers at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

USC came into the season with hopes of contending for a Pac-12 title as well as a national title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. Those hopes have dimmed a bit as the Trojans were upset at home by the Stanford Cardinal in week three, despite a solid game by Cody Kessler and JuJu Smith-Schuster. It will take winning out for a national title to be possible, most likely.

Oklahoma didn’t have the most impressive win of any Power Five conference team in week three, but the Sooners took care of business and came away with a ‘W’ against Tulsa, 52-38. Baker Mayfield is off to a tremendous start to his Sooners career, passing for over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns through three games. He finished the game against Tulsa with 487 yards and four scores while the Oklahoma defense struggled.

The Thursday night game of week three featured No. 11 Clemson at Louisville in conference play and the Tigers snuck out of town with a three-point victory, 20-17. The Cardinals have a tough team this year, but Clemson is on a mission to become conference champs in the ACC for the first time since 2011. Deshaun Watson was strong, passing for 199 yards and two scores while the run defense held Louisville to an astounding 19 yards.

On the note of ACC title contenders, Florida State is looking to keep its reign of three straight conference titles alive with a fourth in 2015. However, the Seminoles look anything but impressive as they inched out a victory over Boston College on Friday night, 14-0. Florida State’s defense looked great, but the offense left a sour taste in the mouths of Seminoles fans and coaches.

Oregon lost to No. 5 Michigan State on the road last week and followed that up with a nice 61-28 blowout of Georgia State at home. Vernon Adams was sidelined with a finger injury, allowing Jeff Lockie to have a career day, passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns while Royce Freeman added 101 rushing yards and a score. The pass defense struggled once again, though.

Next: No. 10 Alabama - No. 6 Ole Miss