American university athletics program
Week 4 delivered high-octane performances across conferences, with standout shows from Ohio State, Texas, and Florida, plus a brutal injury scare that reverberates through the college football landscape as teams prepare for a weekend slate of marquee matchups.
The Protect College Sports Act has cleared the Senate with broad bipartisan support and is moving toward a House vote. It codifies NIL rights, tightens transfers and eligibility rules, and creates a retention pool to fund women’s and Olympic sports. The House faces challenges from CBC opposition and concerns over antitrust protections as lawmakers weigh the bill’s path to law.
Portnoy confirms Barstool will no longer appear on Fox's Big Noon Kickoff after tensions with Ohio State and coach Ryan Day. Fox Sports has terminated or scaled back Barstool's presence as the Big Ten deal pressures traditional programming; Portnoy says Day complained and threatened to pull access. Barstool's FS1 show remains on air.
Harvard has staged a dramatic comeback in Cambridge, rallying from a 17-14 deficit with four seconds left to beat Colgate 20-17. Teigan Pelletier caught a late pass at the 5 and pitched to Nate Bailey for the game-winning score. Bailey finished with 197 receiving yards and a touchdown on 16 receptions.
Georgia wins 20-17 on the road after a late field goal, sealing the victory with a fourth-quarter surge. Alabama threatened to tie late but stalled, and a pivotal personal foul gave Georgia new downs to run out the clock. Kirby Smart earns his first regular-season win over Alabama.
Indiana’s 22-game win streak ends in a 19-15 defeat at home to Ohio State after a late fourth-down pass is ruled out of bounds. QB Josh Hoover passes for 296 yards; Julian Sayin exits with an arm injury, and backup Luke Fahey finishes the game.
Top teams stumble across a chaotic Saturday as Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, Alabama and Texas all lose, signaling a shift in title contenders. BYU upsets Notre Dame in Provo; Miami survives Florida State in double overtime; Floyd of Rosedale remains in play as Iowa faces Minnesota.
Washington has earned its first win in over a month, topping Philadelphia as Daniels wins as a starter for the first time since Oct. 2025. Washington's defense sacks McKee five times and intercepts him once while Philadelphia struggles on the ground.
Interim Florida State coach Rick Stockstill has been appointed after Mike Norvell’s dismissal. The Seminoles have endured a 3-5 start and a buyout estimate around $47 million. Stockstill, formerly of Middle Tennessee, is charged with stabilizing a program that has fallen from a 13-0 peak to recent struggles against Power Five foes.
The College Football Playoff rankings have sparked debate after an opening spotlight, with undefeated Miami at the top and a tense gap between other contenders. Notre Dame faces a critical test against Miami, while Ohio State drops out of the top tier amid concerns over defense and quarterback play.
Michigan has replaced offensive coordinator Jason Beck with interim OC Jim Harding as the Wolverines struggle offensively. The move follows a season of poor offensive output and a closely watched quarterback situation, with underperformance threatening bowl eligibility.