College football risers, fallers: Florida is for real, Lincoln Riley is not

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Florida football made a statement in Week 4.

The Gators dominated then-No. 6 Ole Miss, 52-28, at home on Saturday, Sept. 26, after shredding the Rebels' defense for 302 rushing yards and six touchdowns. The win came seven days after Ole Miss took down then-No. 7 LSU and former coach Lane Kiffin to open conference play.

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Elsewhere, Mississippi State won its first game over a ranked opponent since Dak Prescott was leading the Bulldogs in 2014. Heisman Trophy candidate Kamario Taylor passed for 360 yards with three touchdowns in the 31-24 win over Missouri.

Week 4 wasn't all sunshine and roses. USC and fifth-year coach Lincoln Riley continued their struggles in big games, while Penn State looked poor in its upset loss to Wisconsin.

Here's a look at USA TODAY's risers and fallers in college football for Week 5:

College football risers for Week 5

Florida

Jon Sumrall is turning it around at Florida, which is embracing the gritty style of its first-year coach. The Gators have even caught the attention of No. 1 Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.

"They were on my card," he told reporters Sept. 28. "I tried to tell you guys about Florida last year. No one wanted to believe me. They got real players in Gainesville, and they're a good football team, and they've kind of figured it out."

It's worth noting Florida beat Texas last season, a result that helped cost the Longhorns a spot in the College Football Playoff. That history may influence Sarkisian's opinion, but it's not just coach-speak. The Gators are turning heads across the SEC and increasingly look like a team capable of making a CFP run.

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Mississippi State

The 2026 season has a chance to be an all-timer for Mississippi State. The 4-0 Bulldogs are ranked No. 16 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and have a chance to shock the college football world when they host No. 7 Alabama this weekend.

Taylor is a perfect fit for third-year coach Jeff Lebby's offense, as his virtually unmatched deep ball at the college level meshes with Lebby's "score from far mantra." The 6-4 quarterback is tied for the nation's lead in passing touchdowns (14), and Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack gave the second-year signal caller high praise on Sept. 28.

"Kamario Taylor is a fantastic quarterback," Wommack said. "He may be the best we have faced in the last three years since I've been here."

If Mississippi State can somehow upset Alabama, it'll almost certainly leapfrog Taylor to the top of the Heisman race.

UCLA

Another first-year coach, Bob Chesney has changed the culture and expectations at UCLA already. The Bruins are 4-0 this season and are very clearly more organized than they were last season.

UCLA is coming off a 54-3 win over Maryland in which it ran for 266 total yards with four touchdowns. James Madison transfer Wayne Knight, who followed Chesney in the offseason after making the CFP last season, is averaging a whopping 9.1 yards per carry and has 553 total yards with nine touchdowns already in 2026.

The Bruins are off in Week 5, but a huge matchup against Oregon looms on Oct. 10.

College football fallers for Week 5

USC

Riley could be on the hot seat after USC's most-recent tough loss against a ranked team. The Trojans fell to Oregon, 41-27, at home in Week 4, and showed numerous moments of not looking like a well-coached team.

A few USC players celebrated after safety Desman Stephens II was ejected for targeting on a hit that concussed and hospitalized Oregon quarterback Dante Moore in the second quarter. The two teams also had a minor scuffle after the hit and in the tunnel after the game.

Riley was a huge hire when USC lured him away from Oklahoma after the 2021 season, but he hasn't lived up to the hype (or price tag) so far. Could his future with the school be in jeopardy?

Penn State

Penn State did not look good in its 24-20 upset loss to Wisconsin. It blew a 17-0 lead, and quarterback Rocco Becht struggled mightily, only competing 12-of-29 passes for 114 yards with an interception.

First-year coach Matt Campbell gets some grace, but it's tough to defend losing in a game where Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph threw three interceptions. Penn State looks like it'll need more time to get back to the level it was at in 2024.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has been on the fallers list for three consecutive weeks, as somehow things continue to get worse for the Sooners.

Quarterback John Mateer keeps turning the ball over, and he was almost better at scoring points for Georgia than Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton was in Oklahoma's 41-13 road loss. Mateer pulled a Bo Nix on the goal line in the fourth quarter, as his attempted forward pass slipped out of his hands and was returned 85 yards for a touchdown.

The second-year Sooners starter then threw an interception on his next drive and fumbled on the possession after that, giving Georgia a 28-0 lead at halftime. Things aren't going well for Oklahoma, which is watching its 2026 season turn disastrous thanks to one of the worst offenses in Power Four.

Up next is an Oct. 10 bout in Dallas against No. 1 Texas, its archrival that has held the Sooners without a touchdown in each of the past two seasons.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football risers, fallers: Florida is for real, Lincoln Riley is not

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