The first month of the season ended with a bang as eight AP-ranked teams lost in Week 4, and the CBS Sports Power Rankings underwent a massive facelift. We're also noticing new trends that prompt questions about the divide between the nation's elite and everyone else. AP-ranked teams are 72-6 against unranked opponents this season, the best winning percentage since the turn of the century.
Home teams are also winning 77.8% of games by an average margin of 19.4 points, both the highest numbers we've seen since 2000. Still, despite the trend showing a lack of parity, we had some shakeups Saturday. Two ranked teams were upset at home by unranked foes, and five ranked teams lost at home last week, including Michigan, Penn State and USC – the first time three ranked Big Ten teams lost at home in the same week.
No finish was as exciting as the hush the Hawkeyes put over the Big House. Iowa's Hank Brown hit Reece Vander Zee in the corner of the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown as time expired, handing Iowa its first win at Michigan since 2015 and bringing tears to the eyes of longtime coach Kirk Ferentz. Elsewhere, Florida demolished Ole Miss after the Rebels' emotional win against LSU and Lane Kiffin a week ago.
Mississippi State rose quickly in the CBS Sports Power Rankings with a ranked-on-ranked win against Missouri, its third win against a Power Four opponent, strengthening a resume that includes two road wins. Texas also solidified its No. 1 ranking with a 20-17 win in a 10-sack performance at Tennessee. We enter October with six new teams in the CBS Sports Power Rankings.
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