Week 4 of the 2025 college football regular season is chock-full of compelling games and storylines, headlined by three Associated Press top 25 showdowns. Here are five we’re monitoring on Saturday.
Note: All kickoff times are in Eastern Standard Time.
at No. 16 Utah Utes (3-0) | 12 p.m., Fox
Texas Tech enters a massive Big 12 showdown against Utah seeking back-to-back road wins against AP-ranked teams for the first time since 1973, per Stathead. In the AP poll era (since 1936), the Red Raiders are 16-101 (.137) in road games against ranked opponents.
The winner of this game should be considered the favorite to win the conference and make the College Football Playoff with an automatic bid. Oddsmakers installed Utah as a 3.5-point favorite ahead of the criminally early 10 a.m. Mountain Time kickoff. (Thanks for nothing, Fox.) Texas Tech made headlines this offseason for its eye-popping payroll, with reports surfacing that the program spent $28 million on its 2025 team. These are the games the Red Raiders expected to win when constructing their roster, making Saturday a crucial litmus test.
at No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners (3-0) | 3:30 p.m., ABC
Another road underdog, Auburn has flown under the radar in its 3-0 start, which includes a Week 1 win at Baylor, 38-24. The Tigers have a daunting forthcoming schedule, with six of their remaining nine games against teams currently ranked in the AP poll. A win over Oklahoma would be Auburn’s first on the road against a team ranked No. 11 or higher since 2014 and signal the program could be a bigger player in the SEC than most expect.
vs. No. 21 Michigan Wolverines (2-1) | 3:30 p.m., CBS
Nebraska hasn’t begun a season 4-0 since 2016, its last nine-win season. Head coach Matt Rhule has the program headed upward, and a win over Michigan would officially put the Cornhuskers back on the football map. Nebraska has lost 27 consecutive games against ranked opponents by an average of 20.2 points dating back to October 2016. A third of the defeats have come by at least 31 points. (h/t Stathead)
The defense has allowed an average of 37.4 points per game during the span, and the unit must be better against Michigan true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood, who struggled in his first road start at Oklahoma.
at No. 13 Ole Miss Rebels (3-0, 2-0 in SEC) | 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Tulane can assert itself as the top non-power conference team in the country with a win at Vaught Hemingway Stadium against Ole Miss. The Rebels are 18-3 all-time at home against the Green Wave and haven’t lost since 1988. Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons (ankle) is expected to return, leading an attack that is No. 11 in FBS in total offense (541.7 yards per game) through three games.
Tulane’s defense has allowed 4.99 yards per play in its two previous games against power conference opponents, which ranks No. 28 in the country. Ole Miss presents a much bigger challenge than Northwestern (1-2, 0-1 in Big Ten) or Duke (1-2), but if the Green Wave can contain Lane Kiffin’s high-octane offense, it will boost their chances of playing in more meaningful games in December.
vs. Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 in SEC) | 7:30 p.m., ABC
Miami has cruised to a perfect record entering Week 4, outscoring its first three opponents 121-39. While the Gators are limping at 1-2, that only means they’ll be a more desperate, dangerous team come Saturday. Florida’s defense has been excellent despite the rough start, allowing 264.3 yards per game, and poses as the toughest test this early in the season for Miami’s offense. Yet as a 7.5-point home favorite, the Hurricanes should still be able to handle their business and head into their bye week at 4-0. Their ability to do so will determine how seriously we should take them in the national title conversation.
