Kirk Herbstreit releases college football top 6 team rankings following Week 4

Week 4 of college football has come and gone and with it goes FBS contests for the month of September.  What do we know a month into the 2022 season?  And what do we still have to find out?  It would appear plenty in both categories.

Week 4 saw No. 6 Oklahoma get knocked off at home as Adrian Martinez and Kansas State proved unstoppable for Brent Venables and company.  Elsewhere USC escaped Oregon State with a hard fought victory despite their offense having nowhere near their A-game.

Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State, cruised to victories while Michigan perhaps had more of a test than most would have thought against Maryland.

How did the weekend make Kirk Herbstreit feel about the College Football Playoff outlook?

Here is who Herbstreit ranked as his top-six college football teams on Sunday.

Next 2 (1 of 2): USC

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USC improved to 4-0 on the season after taking quite the punch from host Oregon State but delivering late in their 17-14 victory.  Believe it or not, this is actually the second time in three seasons that USC has started a season 4-0, having done so in 2020 when they went 5-1 in the COVID-shortened season.

Next 2 (2 of 2): Clemson

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Clemson survived quite the scare at Wake Forest as the Tigers came back to force overtime and eventually won the shootout 51-45 after a pair of overtimes.  Clemson now prepares for a huge contest Saturday when they play host to unbeaten North Carolina State.

4. Michigan

Syndication: Detroit Free Press

Michigan played their first Power Five opponent on Saturday and although weren’t ever in a position to lose to Maryland, certainly had more of a challenge than was probably expected in winning 34-27.  The Wolverines now head to Iowa on Saturday for their first Big Ten road test of 2022.

3. Alabama

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Rammer jammer, yellow hammer. Give ’em hell, Alabama.

The Tide did exactly that in disposing of Vanderbilt 55-3 on Saturday.  The Tide now get a bye week before things get significantly more difficult as a trip to Arkansas awaits them to start October.

2. Ohio State

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Ohio State was at it again Saturday night as the Buckeyes marched up and down the field against Wisconsin.  In all, Ohio State totaled 539 yards in their 52-21 victory where they clearly took their foot off the gas in the second half.

1. Georgia

Syndication: Online Athens

Georgia didn’t have it’s best showing of the year Saturday but didn’t need it as they were able to get by Kent State 39-22.  The game was never in doubt and even with it being closer than most anticipated, Georgia’s pile of work the rest of September makes them the well-deserving top-ranked team.

Herbstreit's Tweet

Story originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire