UCF is in rebuilding mode under Scott Frost but is miles ahead of Bill Belichick and North Carolina.
Should Dabo Swinney leave Clemson? No, he’s got it good there. Just stop whining and fix the problems.
ACC positioned for multiple College Football Playoff bids.

Indiana beat a ranked opponent by 53 points, and Dabo Swinney started a season 1-3. It truly is a new day for college football.

Oh, and Vanderbilt and Missouri remained on track to be undefeated when each plays Alabama in October.

Having fun yet? Well, they’re not having any laughs at Clemson, Florida, Arkansas or Wisconsin. But, September’s misery gives way to the euphoria of November coaching searches. Except at Clemson. The Tigers are stuck, unless Swinney gains the nerve to leave.

 Here are four questions left on my mind after college football’s Week 4:

Just how bad can this Bill Belichick experience get?

The best part of Belichick’s game day occurred when his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, came in close for a pregame talk on the sideline. Whatever Hudson said didn’t help.

North Carolina got creamed 34-9 by Central Florida. This result is far worse than the Tar Heels’ blowout loss in Belichick’s opener. Why?

Well, in the opener against TCU, North Carolina faced an opponent that returned a healthy chunk of production, including star quarterback Josh Hoover. Sonny Dykes is settled into his fourth season coaching TCU. By comparison, Belichick flipped North Carolina’s roster with more than 70 newcomers between transfers and signees. So, maybe we should have expected Week 1 growing pains, right?

Fast-forward to this game against UCF. The Tar Heels were up against an opponent that navigated a massive roster overhaul of its own, after rehiring Scott Frost for a second stint leading the program.

This result proved Frost and his staff did a vastly superior job reshaping the Knights’ roster than Belichick and company did for UNC. Some had theorized Belichick and his NFL mates, including general manager Michael Lombardi, would demonstrate a keen eye for talent. So much for that. Belichick assembled a bunch of fresh faces, but this squad is worse than Mack Brown’s final team.

UCF’s transfer quarterback Tayven Jackson outperformed North Carolina’s own transfer, Gio Lopez, and the Knights’ rebuilt offensive line bullied the Tar Heels.

It didn’t help that Belichick referred to UCF as “Central” in the leadup to the game, almost as if UNC was facing some high school team. Frost used Belichick’s terminology as extra motivation.

“We’re UCF,” Frost said, following the beatdown.

UCF’s rebuild is coming along much faster than North Carolina’s.

Just how bad could it get for Belichick? The November schedule includes a game against lowly Stanford. A loss to interim coach Frank Reich would amount to rock bottom.

Should Dabo Swinney bolt from Clemson?

Swinney dared Clemson to fire him, and he vowed to coach elsewhere else if it came to that.

That’s big talk from a guy whose team got crushed days later by Syracuse. Swinney has now lost five of his past six games against Power Four opponents.

Where’s Swinney going to go where he’s got it better than Clemson? He only made the playoff last season thanks to coaching in the weak ACC.

Swinney couldn’t handle a little criticism two years ago from a radio show caller, and he threw a tantrum after encountering some blowback following a loss to Georgia Tech. Just imagine Swinney in the SEC’s pressure cooker, where the scrutiny is relentless. It might well consume him.

Also, try picturing a coach who’s averse to transfers keeping up with the SEC’s big spenders. Even in the Big 12, Texas Tech bought the makings of a playoff roster straight out of portal land.

Swinney best stay put.

Few coaches other than Nick Saban could outdo Swinney’s prowess during the recruit, retain and develop era. Swinney transformed a sleepy Clemson program and turned it into a monster. Now, he’s failing to live up to the expectation he created, and even Saban says Swinney’s approach requires evolution.

Swinney would have suitors, if he decided to leave. But, why attempt a rebuild elsewhere, when he’s never shown an ability to reconstruct a roster through the portal? Swinney would be better served trying to evolve within a conference he’s shown he can master, and at a school where he enjoys supreme job security.

Put the blinders on, stop whining, quit daring your employer to fire you, and fix the problem. That’s the way out of this hole.

Does Big 12 have advantage on the ACC in the playoff hunt?

The Big 12 is a stronger overall conference than the ACC. It proved that by its teams compiling a 6-1 record in nonconference games against ACC opponents.

So, the Big 12 has a leg up on the ACC in qualifying multiple playoff teams, right? Wrong.

We’re not talking about a 68-team NCAA tournament, where quality conference depth serves as a trump card to stockpiling bids. In the 12-team playoff, it’s more important to have a few premier teams that separate from the pack and navigate the conference schedule mostly unscathed. (See the 2024 Big Ten.)

That’s where the ACC has an advantage on the Big 12.

Miami and Florida State established positioning among the upper crust. Miami beat Notre Dame and Florida, and the Seminoles toppled Alabama.

Also, undefeated Georgia Tech enjoys a schedule with no ranked ACC opponents. Georgia Tech already beat Colorado for the ACC’s lone triumph against the Big 12.

The Miami-FSU-Georgia Tech trio gives the ACC muscle to pursue multiple bids with minimal impediments. Seriously, do we expect Stanford or Virginia Tech to stand in the way of Miami or Florida State?

The Big 12’s quality depth creates more landmines in the way of its top teams.

Are we ready to take Indiana seriously?

Indiana’s 63-10 beatdown of Illinois made a loud statement the upstart Hoosiers intend to be no flash in the pan.

Cocksure Curt Cignetti has this program humming, and the offense is even more dangerous behind transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza than it was during last year’s improbable playoff run.

Sure, Illinois was probably a touch overrated, but the Illini are not a total slouch. They’ll probably finish in the top half of the Big Ten standings, even after the Hoosiers disemboweled them.

There’s no “next Indiana” in this playoff race. There’s just Indiana.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer.

The Dallas Cowboys are known for the star.

It’s your opinion whether that’s the star on the helmet or the stars on the field, but CeeDee Lamb is a big part of both. After suffering an ankle injury in Week 3, there is concern about the receiver’s availability going forward.

While spirits appeared high after Sunday’s game, further tests will ultimately reveal whether those happy thoughts continue for much longer.

Lamb attempted to return to Sunday’s game, but departed again after just one play. Now the focus shifts to his status for Week 4 when the Cowboys welcome an old friend back to town – Micah Parsons and the Green Bay Packers on ‘Sunday Night Football.’

Here’s the latest on Lamb and how long he might be sidelined.

How long is CeeDee Lamb out?

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones announced in an appearance on 105.3 The Fan that Lamb had suffered a high-ankle sprain. He did not provide a timetable for the wide receiver’s return.

‘We’d love to have him back for Green Bay, but at the same time, we also got to understand the injury is what it is, and it’ll play out,’ Jones said.

That said, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Lamb is expected to miss at least the next two games because of the injury. After that, the veteran wide-out will be week-to-week.

Rapoport also reports Dallas isn’t expected to place Lamb on IR because of his injury. Lamb would have to miss a minimum of four games if placed on IR, so that indicates the Cowboys are hopeful Lamb can return before that four-week timetable.

Lamb had initially expressed his belief he could ‘absolutely’ suit up and return to action in Week 4.

“This was one of those protect me from myself type of deals,’ Lamb said, via Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris after the game.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones also expressed optimism following the 31-14 loss to the Chicago Bears. Jones told reporters that the ankle injury isn’t as serious as it could’ve been, but didn’t have a timetable for Lamb’s return.

‘Let’s just keep our fingers crossed,’ Jones said, per The Athletic.

CeeDee Lamb injury update

Lamb was officially ruled out of Sunday’s game after suffering an ankle injury.

He initially tried to return to the game at the start of the second quarter, but exited after one play. The receiver didn’t look comfortable on the play and was promptly ruled out of the game.

Cowboys WR depth chart

With a matchup against a solid Packers’ defense on tap, it goes without saying that the Cowboys’ offense would suffer without Lamb. Here’s what the team would be working with on Sunday night:

CeeDee Lamb (injured)
George Pickens
Jalen Tolbert
KaVontae Turpin
Ryan Flournoy

Pickens figures to be Dak Prescott’s top weapon, while Tolbert slides into Lamb’s role.

After being primarily known for his play on special teams, Turpin has carved out a role in this Dallas offense. His impact should only grow due to necessity, but the team will hope it doesn’t have to be that way for an extended period of time.

A recent report indicated Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders requested the Baltimore Ravens not select him in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Deion Sanders defended his son’s decision and mindset in an appearance on the ‘New Heights’ podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce.

‘How in the world can someone fault him for saying or thinking, why in the world would I go back up Lamar [Jackson] for 10 more years?’ the elder Sanders said, discussing Shedeur. ‘Like, who comes in with that mindset?’

Sanders further revealed both he and his son had spoken with current Ravens executive vice president of player personnel Ozzie Newsome on the phone during the draft. Sanders and Newsome have a pre-existing relationship from Sanders’ two seasons with the Ravens in 2004 and 2005, so the two are ‘cool,’ as the Colorado coach stated.

Sanders declined to discuss the specifics of the phone calls, but implied it was important for his son to go to a team where he would have a chance to earn playing time.

‘Where do these guys come from that sit on these platforms and say, ‘Oh, you should’ve sat in behind and learned the game and been developed,” Sanders wondered. ‘When have the pros ever developed anybody? By the time you get to the NFL, they expect you to know what you need to do and to do it, or somebody else gonna get in there and do it.’

‘I’ve never sat on the bench and said, ‘Well, I learned a lot today,” Sanders later added, eliciting uproarious laughter and hearty affirmation from the Kelce brothers.

Thus far, the younger Sanders has largely remained on the bench in Cleveland after earning the team’s third-string job behind Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel.

Sanders was given ample opportunity to play in two preseason games and jockey for positioning on Cleveland’s depth chart. The 23-year-old may have a path to playing time if Flacco continues to struggle. The 40-year-old has guided Cleveland to a 1-2 record through three weeks while completing 61.1% of his passes for 631 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Sanders would still have to eventually leapfrog Gabriel, a fellow rookie, to get see the field. His father remains confident that will happen at some point during his rookie season.

‘You know, I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s gonna go down,’ Sanders said of his son getting playing time. ‘But it’s gonna go down this year. He’s gonna get a shot.’

News of Bruce Pearl’s retirement shocked the college basketball world on Monday, Sept. 22.

The Auburn men’s basketball coach had just led the Tigers to the program’s second-ever Final Four appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Auburn’s season ended with a loss to Todd Golden and the eventual national champion Florida Gators in the national semifinal.

Pearl’s announcement comes just 42 days ahead of Auburn’s season opener on Monday, Nov. 3, against Bethune-Cookman. Pearl’s son, Steven Pearl, is reportedly set to take over as the Tigers coach for the 2025-26 season.

With Pearl’s sudden retirement, he is walking away from one of the largest contracts for a men’s college basketball coach at a public school. Here’s what you need to know about Pearl’s salary and what he owes Auburn after his sudden retirement:

Bruce Pearl salary, contract details

According to a copy of Pearl’s contract at Auburn, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, Pearl was set to be paid $6.15 million for the 2025-26 college basketball season, not including athletic or academic performance bonuses. That figure likely would have made him one of the five highest paid men’s basketball coaches at a public school.

Since May 1, 2022, Pearl has been working under a contract that had been set to run eight years, with his basic annual pay starting at $5.4 million and increasing by $250,000 annually. 

Kara Lawson has a new job.

Lawson will coach the U.S. women’s basketball team at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, where the Americans will be seeking a ninth consecutive gold medal. Lawson also will lead the Americans at next year’s FIBA World Cup, as well as at training camps and exhibitions.

She will continue to coach at Duke.

‘Having shared the court with her, I know firsthand the leadership, competitive spirit and basketball IQ that she brings,’ Sue Bird, who earlier this year became the first managing director of the U.S. women’s team, said in a statement Monday announcing Lawson’s appointment.

‘Kara has always had the respect of her teammates and her players, something she has earned and demonstrated over decades with USA Basketball.’

Lawson has a long history with USA Basketball, both as a player and coach. She played on the U.S. team that won gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and was an assistant to Cheryl Reeve at last summer’s Paris Games, where the Americans won an unprecedented eighth consecutive gold medal.

Lawson also was head coach of the 3×3 team that won gold at the Tokyo Olympics.

“I will work tirelessly to uphold the standards of this storied program,’ Lawson said in the statement announcing her appointment. ‘There is no greater honor in our sport than to be chosen to lead the U.S. women in world competition.’

Lawson’s appointment is not a surprise. USA Basketball often taps assistants on previous teams to be the next head coach, in part because of their familiarity with both the U.S. player pool and the unique challenges of international basketball.

While Lawson will have the best players in the world at her disposal — A’ja Wilson, Napheesa Collier and Alyssa Thomas, who finished 1-2-3 in voting for the WNBA MVP award announced Sunday, were all part of the Paris team — the job will not be a cakewalk. The pressure to continue the U.S. women’s gold-medal streak is immense, and recent tournaments have shown that the rest of the world is closing the gap on the Americans.

In the gold-medal game against France at the Paris Olympics, the U.S. women trailed by 10 early in the second half, their largest deficit of the entire tournament. They needed a late bucket from Kahleah Copper, clutch free throws by Wilson and a block by Brenna Stewart to hold off Les Bleues, 67-66.

At the Olympic qualifying tournament earlier that year, the U.S. women escaped with an 81-79 win over Belgium thanks to Stewart’s last-second tip-in.

‘I understand the responsibility and the challenges that lie ahead,’ Lawson said. ‘I look forward to meeting them head on.’

Lawson is 97-41 in five years at Duke, including 20-win campaigns each of the last three seasons. The Blue Devils reached the Elite Eight this year, their best result since 2013.

As a player, Lawson spent 13 seasons in the WNBA, winning the 2005 championship with the Sacramento Monarchs. She was two-time All-American at Tennessee, where she led the Lady Vols to Final Four appearances in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

Week 3 of the 2025 fantasy football season was not one for the faint of heart.

All of these players suffered game-ending (or more significant) injuries: Terry McLaurin (quad), CeeDee Lamb (ankle), Mike Evans (hamstring), Najee Harris (Achilles), James Conner (ankle), Tyrone Tracy (shoulder), and Colston Loveland (hip).

With Monday Night Football pending, the top eight at quarterback includes Geno Smith, Marcus Mariota and Tyrod Taylor. At WR, the top 10 includes Tre Tucker, Luther Burden III and Tory Horton. Best of all, the top two scorers of the week are Tucker and the Vikings defense.

Week 4 is mercifully upon us now.

Here’s an early look at Week 4 fantasy football rankings. Toggle between standard, half PPR (point per reception) and full PPR to see where players rank in your league’s format. Scroll to the bottom to view the complete rankings.

Our team at USA TODAY Sports has you covered with plenty of content to help with your Week 4 waiver wire and roster decisions. Wondering who the best waiver-wire claims are? We have that covered, so you can make your pickups. Need to know what players you can drop? We have that as well. We also have a list of the nine best buy low/sell high candidates and our biggest winners and losers from Week 3.

Please note: These rankings will change significantly as the week goes on. Check back on Sunday morning for final updates.

(The risers and sleepers sections will focus on players available in at least 40% of Yahoo leagues. All snap and target data from PFF.)

Week 4 fantasy football quarterback rankings: Risers and sleepers

Geno Smith, Las Vegas Raiders (28%) – Geno is the current QB3 in Week 3 after dropping 294 yards and three scores on the Commanders. He’ll be a top streaming option in Week 4 against a Bears defense that’s allowed massive performances to J.J. McCarthy and Jared Goff.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (19% rostered) – Young has ranked as a top-eight fantasy quarterback in four of his last nine games, and his upcoming schedule is juicy. Over the next four weeks, the Panthers will face the Patriots, Dolphins, Cowboys, and Jets.

Week 4 fantasy football running back rankings: Risers and sleepers

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (52%) – With James Conner reportedly out for the season, Benson instantly becomes the best waiver claim of the young season. Benson played 75% of the snaps after the veteran went down, and he’s worth unloading the rest of your FAB if he’s indeed available in your league.
Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (17%) – Corum has carved out enough of a role in the Rams offense to potentially be useful during bye weeks, but his real value is as a handcuff. As we saw with Benson, Corum would immediately vault to top-15 status if Kyren Williams went down.
Ollie Gordon II, Miami Dolphins (19%) – The rookie played just 15 snaps on Thursday, but he did get a carry on nine of them. He’s worth adding in case his role continues to expand.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (30%) – While this isn’t an add for Week 4, Spears is a player who should be rostered in more than 30% of leagues. Tony Pollard has struggled with his efficiency to start the season, and he’s essentially been a zero as a pass-catcher. Spears could be an immediate asset in PPR leagues when he returns.

Week 4 fantasy football wide receiver rankings: Risers and sleepers

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (45%) – The Falcons offense was an utter disaster in Week 3, but Mooney’s role could have been a sign of positive things to come. The 27-year-old led the team in snaps and targets, and he ran just four fewer routes than Drake London. Mooney now has a 24% target share in two games since returning from injury.
Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (21%) – Ayomanor continues to be the most productive wideout in Tennessee. In Week 3, he finished second on the team in snaps (52), routes (34) and targets (5), while catching the lone touchdown from Cam Ward for a second consecutive game. He needs to be rostered in most 12-teamers.
Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City Chiefs (3%) – On Sunday night, Thornton led Kansas City in snaps (55), routes (33), targets (9), receptions (5), yards (71) and touchdowns (1). He’ll be an intriguing flex option as long as Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice remain out of the lineup.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (11%) – Burden played just 17 snaps and managed only three targets, but he turned those looks into 101 yards and a score. While he shouldn’t sniff starting lineups yet, he’s worth adding and stashing while his role continues to grow.
Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (4%) – Tucker was the Raiders’ WR1 in Week 3, leading the team in snaps (64) and targets (9), while running just one fewer route than Jakobi Meyers. Tucker turned his usage into eight receptions for 145 yards and three tuddies, and he’s worth adding in deeper leagues in case his chemistry with Geno Smith is real.
Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks (2%) – Like Burden, Horton isn’t a player to add if you need help now. The rookie has racked up exactly 32 yards and a touchdown in back-to-back games, and he added a punt return TD in Week 3 for good measure. Seattle has a mini-bye after Week 4 by playing on Thursday night, and it’s possible Horton will get an early post-bye rookie bump.

Week 4 fantasy football tight end rankings: Risers and sleepers

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (60%) – In Week 3, Henry led all New England skill position players in snaps (60), routes (35), targets (10), receptions (8), yards (90), and touchdowns (2). He currently ranks as the TE1 on the week by a hair short of double-digit half-PPR points. Finding production at tight end is harder than finding water in a desert, so it’s worth adding Henry and living with his down weeks.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars (25%) – Jacksonville’s offense is hot poopoo on a stick right now, but Strange has a full-time role, and he’s led the team in receiving in two of their three games. The 24-year-old is a high-end TE2 in PPR leagues.

Week 4 fantasy football rankings: PPR and non-PPR

Georgia, Miami, Penn State, and Ohio State hold the top spots in the latest NCAA Re-Rank.
Indiana made a significant jump to No. 8 after a dominant win against Illinois.
Memphis is now the leading Group of Five contender for a College Football Playoff spot.

Georgia, Miami, Penn State and Ohio State remain atop the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-136 heading into one of the biggest weekends of the college footbal regular season.

Saturday’s slate for Week 5 includes Oregon at Penn State, LSU at Mississippi and Alabama at Georgia.

The top seven in the re-rank didn’t budge, though there was some debate over whether No. 7 Oklahoma deserved to move ahead of No. 6 LSU after beating Auburn 24-17. The Sooners’ résumé also benefits from No. 20 Michigan’s 30-27 win at Nebraska. But the Tigers were able to stay in front after putting up a season-high 530 yards in a 56-10 win against Southeastern Louisiana.

The big mover in this week’s 1-136 was No. 8 Indiana, which rose 12 spots after a 63-10 romp over No. 21 Illinois. The Hoosiers played a near-perfect game on offense and dominated the line of scrimmage against an opponent previously considered one of the most physical in the Big Ten.

Another team making a big jump is No. 25 Memphis, which climbed 17 spots after beating Arkansas 32-31. The win makes the Tigers the current favorite for the Group of Five bid to the College Football Playoff, though that could quickly change with the start of American play.

The list of teams experiencing double-digit drops begins with No. 64 Clemson and No. 65 Florida. The Tigers and Gators are both down 16 spots after falling to 1-3 with losses to Syracuse and Miami, respectively.

Others dropping down the 1-136 include No. 29 Utah (down 14), No. 40 South Carolina (14), No. 56 California (12), No. 67 West Virginia (10), No. 77 Wisconsin (14) and No. 109 Oklahoma State (16).