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The AP Top 25 college football poll is out after another wild weekend of games.

But what happens from here? We break down what’s next for each ranked team.

Previous ranking: 1

Week 4 result: 39-22 win over Kent State

What’s next: at Missouri (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

Georgia knows now what it’s like not to completely blow out a team after winning a sloppy decision over Kent State on Saturday. The next two games are on the road against Missouri and Auburn, two teams the Bulldogs will again be big favorites against, and their offense continues to put up big numbers. Sophomore tight end Brock Bowers has emerged as one of the top playmakers in college football for the Dawgs, who have gained more than 470 yards in all four games. — Chris Low


Previous ranking: 2

Week 4 result: 55-3 win over Vanderbilt

What’s next: at Arkansas (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

The Crimson Tide’s offensive line couldn’t generate running lanes and couldn’t keep pressure off the quarterback against Texas earlier this month. Oh, and it committed way too many penalties. But the past two weeks there has been a noticeable improvement in all three areas, first against Louisiana Monroe and then against Vanderbilt. Against the Commodores, Alabama ran for more than 150 yards and didn’t allow a single sack of Bryce Young. But this Saturday’s road trip to Arkansas will reveal whether that progress was real as the Hogs boast one of the best defenses in the SEC in terms of creating pressure on the backfield. — Alex Scarborough


Previous ranking: 3

Week 4 result: 52-21 win over Wisconsin

What’s next: vs. Rutgers (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Ohio State had no problems with Wisconsin, winning by a large margin and dominating most of the game. The Buckeyes remain undefeated and have the offense playing at an elite level. Quarterback C.J. Stroud is still among the Heisman favorites and continues to put up big numbers. Ohio State has Rutgers, Michigan State and Iowa next on the schedule. If any of those teams are going to try to compete with the Buckeyes, they’ll have to figure out how to stop this offense. — Tom VanHaaren


Previous ranking: 4

Week 4 result: 34-27 win over Maryland

What’s next: at Iowa (Saturday, noon ET)

The Wolverines are 4-0 and have to go on the road to play Iowa in a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Championship game. Michigan got its first test of the season against Maryland where quarterback J.J. McCarthy said he didn’t have his best performance. McCarthy and the offense leaned on running back Blake Corum to help win against the Terps and they will likely need Corum to have another big game against the Hawkeyes. McCarthy said he is going to learn from his mistakes against Maryland and use it to improve the offense going forward. — VanHaaren


Previous ranking: 5

Week 4 result: 51-45 2OT win over Wake Forest

What’s next: vs. NC State (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

The concern for Dabo Swinney shifts from the offense to the defense, which couldn’t get to Sam Hartman or stop the Wake Forest quarterback, who carved up the Tigers for an ACC-record six touchdown passes. First-year coordinator Wes Goodwin must evaluate both personnel and scheme before hosting Devin Leary and NC State in a game that could decide the ACC’s Atlantic Division. The good news is Clemson can lean more on its own quarterback, D.J. Uiagalelei, after his best passing performance since his first start in 2020. — Adam Rittenberg


Previous ranking: 7

Week 4 result: 17-14 win over Oregon State

What’s next: vs. Arizona State (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET)

After a tough battle in Corvallis that kept their undefeated season on track, the Trojans get to come down a bit and face what’s likely their easiest conference opponent of the season when they host Arizona State. Against the Sun Devils, whose lone win is against Northern Arizona, USC’s offense should have no trouble getting back on track while the defense will continue to sustain its ridiculous takeaway rate (14 in four games). — Paolo Uggetti


Previous ranking: 8

Week 4 result: 31-23 win over Northern Illinois

What’s next: at Ole Miss (Saturday, noon ET)

The Wildcats are going to take a 4-0 start to the season every time. But Saturday’s win over Northern Illinois lacked the kind of dominant effort you’d expect from a top-10 program nationally. One potential area of concern is the running game, which managed 103 yards on 34 carries against the Huskies. The good news: Chris Rodriguez, the leading returning rusher in the SEC, will make his debut on Saturday against Ole Miss after being suspended to start the season. — Alex Scarborough


Previous ranking: 11

Week 4 result: 38-33 win over Florida

What’s next: at LSU (Oct. 8)

The Vols were able to shake their Florida hex — barely. They almost blew a big fourth-quarter lead, but held on to win Saturday over the Gators to move to 4-0. Given Tennessee’s woes against Florida over the years, nobody was complaining. It was a huge win for the Vols, but they have some issues on defense to correct in a hurry, especially in the secondary. The good news is that they have an open date this weekend before going to LSU. They hope to get star receiver Cedric Tillman back for that game, and quarterback Hendon Hooker can also use a week off after taking several big hits in the Florida game. — Low


Previous ranking: 9

Week 4 result: Open date

What’s next: at Baylor (Saturday, TBD)

The Cowboys travel to Waco to face Baylor in a rematch of last season’s Big 12 championship game, a key game as the Big 12 race starts to take shape. OSU beat Baylor in Stillwater last year 24-14 before losing a heartbreaker, coming up just inches short on a goal-line stop in the 21-16 loss at AT&T Stadium. The good news: The Cowboys are coming off a bye week and had a chance to get ready to face a Bears team that just ended Iowa State’s 11-game home streak in conference play. — Dave Wilson


Previous ranking: 12

Week 4 result: 41-10 win over UConn

What’s next: at Clemson (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET)

OK, so you survived a closer-than-expected season-opener against East Carolina and then took care of business against Charleston Southern, Texas Tech and UConn. But now comes the real test — which could define the rest of season — with Saturday’s road game at No. 5 Clemson. Devin Leary is playing well at quarterback and could attack a Tigers’ secondary that didn’t look sharp in a close win at Wake Forest on Saturday. — Scarborough


Previous ranking: 14

Week 4 result: 33-14 win over Central Michigan

What’s next: vs. Northwestern (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

James Franklin had imposed orders to try and improve on the running game coming into the season. After churning out over 200 yards rushing in each of the past two weeks — including 245 yards in a road win at Auburn last week — Penn State ran for 166 yards on Saturday in a 33-14 win against Central Michigan. Freshman Kaytron Allen led the way with 111 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Nittany Lions welcome Northwestern to State College next week, which is followed up by a bye prior to a trip to the Big House and a date with Michigan on Oct. 15. — Blake Baumgartner


Previous ranking: 13

Week 4 result: vs. Arizona State

What’s next: vs. Oregon State (Saturday, TBD)

From a national perspective, the Week 1 hiccup against Florida still lingers, but the Utes are just as strong a conference-title favorite as when the season began. They’ll get an important test this week with Oregon State coming to Salt Lake City before back-to-back games against the L.A. schools (UCLA, Oct. 8; USC, Oct. 15) to start October. — Kyle Bonagura


Previous ranking: 15

Week 4 result: 44-41 win over Washington State

What’s next: vs. Stanford (Saturday, TBD)

After a hard-fought win over Wazzu, things get easier for the Ducks over the next few weeks. Oregon welcomes Stanford to town next week, and it will be interesting to see whether Dan Lanning’s team and quarterback Bo Nix can keep up the recent offensive production. They’ve now scored 40 points or more in their last three games after only mustering a field goal against Georgia. — Uggetti


Previous ranking: 16

Week 4 result: 35-27 win over Tulsa

What’s next: vs. Kentucky (Saturday, noon ET)

The constants for Ole Miss this season had been running the ball with a vengeance and playing stout defense. The Rebels still ran the ball well Saturday in a win over Tulsa but were outscored 13-0 to end the game. It hasn’t been the toughest of schedules for Ole Miss to this point, but that changes this weekend when unbeaten Kentucky visits Oxford. A win over the Wildcats could send the Rebels on their way to a 7-0 start. They play at Vanderbilt on Oct. 8 and then come back home to face Auburn on Oct. 15. — Low


Previous ranking: 18

Week 4 result: vs. Stanford

What’s next: at UCLA (Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET)

After starting the season with four straight home games, the Huskies travel to UCLA to begin a stretch that includes just one home game (Arizona, Oct. 15) through the end of October. There is a case for UW as the most impressive team in the conference to this point, and a win against undefeated UCLA would further establish the Huskies as a conference-title favorite. — Bonagura


Previous ranking: 17

Week 4 result: 31-24 win over Iowa State

What’s next: vs. Oklahoma State (Saturday, TBD)

After starting Big 12 play with a gritty, physical win at Iowa State, Baylor might have to raise its game even further now, returning home to face Oklahoma State. Then again, quarterback Blake Shapen already raised his game. He enjoyed maybe the best performance of his career against Iowa State, going 19-for-26 for 238 yards and three scores. The Baylor defense will have its hands full against a high-flying OSU offense, but Shapen and the Bears passing game could land some blows, too. — Bill Connelly


Previous ranking: 23

Week 4 result: 23-21 win over Arkansas

What’s next: at Mississippi State (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET)

The Aggies’ running game got going on Saturday against Arkansas as Devon Achane had a 63-yarder en route to a 159-yard day on 19 carries. They’ll need his help controlling the ball as the passing came continues to be a work in progress with a trip to Starkville against Mike Leach’s offense coming off a 409-yard, 6-TD performance by QB Will Rogers against Bowling Green on Saturday. — Dave Wilson


Previous ranking: 6

Week 4 result: 41-34 loss to Kansas State

What’s next: at TCU (Saturday, noon ET)

OU managed to trip up at home against Kansas State once again, but the tests have just begun for the Sooners. They will make two straight trips to the DFW region — first to TCU to face the unbeaten Horned Frogs, then to Dallas to face a Texas team that also suffered a Week 4 upset. Dillon Gabriel and the Sooner offense was mostly fine against KSU, but Brent Venables’ defense got lit up for the first time. How will it respond against a TCU offense averaging 46 points per game? — Connelly


Previous ranking: 19

Week 4 result: vs. Wyoming

What’s next: vs. Utah State (Thursday, 8 p.m. ET)

The Cougars remain at home again next week for an in-state game against Utah State before heading to Las Vegas on Oct. 8 to play Notre Dame. If BYU can win out, a New Year’s Six bowl could be within reach, but the margin for error remains small. — Bonagura


Previous ranking: 10

Week 4 result: 23-21 loss to Texas A&M

What’s next: vs. Alabama (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

The Razorbacks will be upset after letting a win over Texas A&M get away in a game they could’ve finished. There’s no time to stew on it, however, with Alabama coming to town. Sam Pittman has worked wonders in a short time in Fayetteville, but the Hogs haven’t beaten the Tide since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa, and last won when Houston Nutt beat Mike Shula 24-23 in 2006. — Wilson


Previous ranking: unranked

Week 4 result: 34-7 win over Michigan State

What’s next: vs. Purdue (Saturday, noon ET)

Minnesota responded quite well in its first road test of the season and its first test without senior wide receiver Chris Autman-Bell, who suffered a season-ending injury last week against Colorado. The Golden Gophers racked up 508 total yards — their third straight week going over 500 total yards offensively. Senior QB Tanner Morgan threw for 268 yards with three touchdowns and connected with 10 different receivers, with six of them hauling in at least two passes. Morgan found junior wide receiver Daniel Jackson for a pair of scores. Off to their second 4-0 start under PJ Fleck and first since 2019, the Golden Gophers host Purdue next week before traveling to Illinois on Oct. 15 after their bye. — Baumgartner


Previous ranking: 21

Week 4 result: 51-45 2OT loss to. No. 5 Clemson

What’s next: at Florida State (Saturday, TBD)

The Demon Deacons won the ACC Atlantic Division in 2021 despite a Clemson loss, so there’s still plenty out there for Sam Hartman and his teammates. The defense is the immediate concern after allowing a combined 87 points in the past two games, both at home. Wake Forest now heads to Florida State to face a confident Seminoles team, which hasn’t beaten the Deacons since 2017. The status of starting cornerback Caelen Carson, who missed the Clemson loss with a leg injury, will be worth monitoring. — Rittenberg


Previous ranking: unranked

Week 4 result: 44-14 win over Boston College

What’s next: vs. Wake Forest (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET)

Jordan Travis continues to impress at quarterback for the Seminoles. With some questions about his health last week after suffering a leg injury against Louisville, Travis not only started against Boston College but was sharp, completing 16 of 26 passes for 321 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. But now the junior from West Palm heads into the treacherous part of the schedule with games against Wake Forest, NC State and Clemson in consecutive weeks. — Scarborough


Previous ranking: 24

Week 4 result: 45-24 win over Rhode Island

What’s next: vs. Georgia Tech (Saturday, TBD)

Coach Pat Narduzzi said going into the season he wanted his team to be a much better running team. Israel Abanikanda has made that a reality, with at least 125 yards rushing over the past three games. Next up is Georgia Tech, a team that has struggled across the board. While the running game is improving week after week, the Pitt passing game remains a work in progress and something that the Panthers will need to work on once the ACC schedule becomes more challenging. — Adelson


Previous ranking: unranked

Week 4 result: 41-34 win over Oklahoma

What’s next: vs. Texas Tech (Saturday, noon ET)

Chris Klieman recorded his third career victory over Oklahoma in four tries behind the heroics of senior quarterback Adrian Martinez. Martinez ran circles around the Sooners’ defense to the tune of 148 rushing yards and a career-high four touchdowns on 21 carries as the Wildcats secured the victory. The Nebraska transfer led an offense that churned out 277 rushing yards and Saturday was the 10th time in Martinez’s career he had run for multiple touchdowns in a game. With last week’s home loss to Tulane now a memory, Kansas State hosts Texas Tech — an 37-34 overtime winner over Texas — next week before a trip to Ames beckons on Oct. 8. — Baumgartner


Dropped out: Miami, Texas, Florida

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Suárez out at Trackhouse Racing at end of 2025

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Suárez out at Trackhouse Racing at end of 2025

CONCORD, N.C. — Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, is out at Trackhouse Racing at the end of the 2025 season.

Trackhouse and Suárez officially called the parting a “mutual decision” that allows the driver an earlier opportunity to pursue a new ride for next season.

While Trackhouse did not name a replacement in the No. 99 Chevrolet, Suárez’s departure opened the door for the team to promote teen sensation Connor Zilisch into the ride. Zilisch, who drives in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports, has run three Cup races for Trackhouse this season, including Saturday night at Atlanta.

Suárez has just two wins in 305 career Cup starts, and is a distant 29th in the points standings this season. The 33-year-old Suarez is in his fifth season with Trackhouse Racing and was the team’s first driver in 2021. He made NASCAR’s playoffs two times with Trackhouse.

“We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021 and in just a couple of years we were winning races and running upfront on a weekly basis,” Suárez wrote on social media. “Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change and we have agreed to each go in our own direction.”

Trackhouse founder and owner Justin Marks thanked Suárez for his contributions.

“The role Daniel has played in the Trackhouse origin story and its first five years will remain a valued part of the company’s history forever,” Marks said. “His commitment, work ethic and dedication to the effort is one of the most impressive things I personally have seen in my career.”

Trackhouse Racing also has Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen under contract, along with Zilisch is its development driver. Chastain has six career wins and was the 2022 Cup Series runner-up while van Gisbergen has a win this year and is in the playoffs.

Suárez, who became an American citizen last year, also has three Xfinity Series wins and one Truck Series win. His 2016 championship in the second-tier Xfinity Series made him the only foreign-born driver to win a national series title.

He made a triumphant return last month to his home country when he won the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City driving for JR Motorsports at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Yet the balance of celebrating a homecoming with looming contract negotiations weighed on Suárez.

“It’s not the first time that I’ve been in this position. Definitely the first time with the Mexico race, but it’s not the first time that I’ve been in the position that we have to win or in the position that we have a contract negotiation in the middle of the season,” Suárez said. “It’s definitely a distraction. I won’t sit here and tell you that it doesn’t really matter. I’m trying to be as smart as possible and to put all this stuff on the side and just do my thing on the track.”

He’ll do his thing at the track in 2026 with yet another new team.

Suárez started his Cup career with Joe Gibbs Racing and has raced for Stewart-Haas Racing and Gaunt Brothers Racing. He has Cup wins in 2022 at Sonoma and last year in Atlanta.

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NASCAR’s downtown Chicago future unclear

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NASCAR's downtown Chicago future unclear

CHICAGO — When it comes to NASCAR’s upcoming return to downtown Chicago, Julie Giese has a long list of responsibilities. The track president is monitoring an ambitious construction schedule for the street course, to go along with everything else that goes into the busy weekend.

What happens next is going to have to wait.

The future of NASCAR in Chicago is murky going into its third edition on the first weekend in July. The three-year contract between the motorsports organization and the city that was announced in 2022 has two mutual options, and their fate is unclear.

Giese said there have been “good conversations” between NASCAR and the city, and there is time to work on the possibilities beyond the event.

“So really right now the focus is on let’s execute a really great 2025,” Giese said. “We’ll continue to have the conversations with the city. But right now, honestly, the more consistent conversations are the planning conversations.”

Jason Lee, a senior adviser to Mayor Brandon Johnson, praised NASCAR for its involvement in the community and its improvements with the event. He described almost parallel discussions going on inside of the organization and the city when it comes to the future of the partnership.

Johnson’s predecessor, Lori Lightfoot, was in charge when the original agreement for the weekend was finalized.

“We remain available to have any conversations about the future,” Lee said Monday. “I know they’ve been laser focused on executing this year’s event because there are lessons they’ve learned that they want to apply. And I think some of that, whether you successfully do that, will play a role in how they want to proceed.”

One possible change that could interest the city is moving to a different weekend, something it has discussed with NASCAR in the past.

“It may make more sense to move that event to a different weekend where we don’t have as many demands on our law enforcement and other emergency personnel,” Lee told the AP. “And so that’s definitely something that we’ve contemplated, but there is also some constraints in terms of other events in the city of Chicago and the NASCAR schedule.”

The Athletic reported June 18 that NASCAR was nearing an agreement to put a street race in the San Diego area next year. An announcement could come as soon as July.

Asked if she had spoken with NASCAR or anyone in the San Diego area about a Southern California street race, Giese said her focus is on Chicago. She also said she believes there is room for multiple street courses on NASCAR’s calendar.

“We have multiple road course races on the schedule,” she said. “So I mean … I’ve not ever heard where it has to be one or the other. I mean there is room. This event, we went into it that first year knowing full well it was a proof of concept. And we showed that it is possible.”

The Xfinity and Cup Series races in Chicago — held on a 12-turn, 2.2-mile course against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park — are the main events in a festival-like weekend that also includes music and entertainment options.

It is geared as much to a new audience in one of NASCAR’s most important regions as it is to the most ardent racing fans. NASCAR used to race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, a 45-mile drive from downtown, but it pulled out after the 2019 season.

“This is a top-three market for us, worldwide frankly, for NASCAR fans,” NASCAR executive Ben Kennedy said when the Chicago event was announced in 2022.

There was some concern for drivers and their teams about the course ahead of the first weekend, and it wasn’t exactly warmly received by local businesses and residents because of the street closures in a heavily trafficked area for tourists in the summer.

But organizers have shrunk the construction schedule from 43 days in 2023 to 25 this year. Based on input from fans, they also have made adjustments to the race viewing areas and moved the concert stage to the start-finish line. Admission is free for kids 12 and under on Saturday and Sunday this year.

The weekend also has won over at least some people inside of NASCAR.

“This was very different. But now it’s fun to see and hear from people in the industry that are coming in early, and they’re going to just enjoy the city for a few days,” Giese said. “The one piece that I hear from our drivers, especially, is they love just staying right at a hotel right across the street. They’re walking across Michigan Avenue and they’re at the course.”

Quite often with an umbrella. Wet weather had a major effect on each of the first two editions. Heavy rain nearly scuttled the inaugural weekend, and last year’s Cup Series race was shortened because of a rain delay and fading sunlight.

When the drivers were on the course, the racing was compelling. Shane van Gisbergen outdueled Justin Haley and Chase Elliott en route to a historic Cup victory in 2023, and Alex Bowman stopped an 80-race drought with his victory last year.

“They’ve been up against it as far as conditions are concerned,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin said. “The track has been good, it’s been racy and has passing zones and the scenery is fantastic as far as the backdrop we are racing in. There’s a lot of positives for the Chicago Street Race.

“It will probably move around in the future, but it’s in the mold in which I would like to see any street race they continue to implement in the future.”

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Elliott uses last lap to post ‘unbelievable’ win

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Elliott uses last lap to post 'unbelievable' win

HAMPTON, Ga. — Home-state favorite Chase Elliott passed Brad Keselowski on the final lap and won the crash-filled NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta on Saturday night for his 20th career victory.

Elliott, the popular driver from Dawsonville, Georgia, earned a spot in the NASCAR playoffs with his first victory since April 2024 at Texas. It was his first win in Atlanta since 2022.

“I’ve never in my whole life, this is unbelievable,” Elliott said. “This is something I’ll remember the rest of my life.”

The race’s second crash early in Stage 2 took out many of the sport’s biggest names and left others with damaged cars. Pole winner Joey Logano, who led the first 36 laps before light rain forced the first caution, was among the many drivers caught up in the big crash.

Among others knocked out of the race: William Byron, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Josh Berry, Corey LaJoie and Daniel Suarez.

“It wrecked the whole field,” Logano said. “I still don’t know exactly how it started … but it was total chaos. Cars were sideways and on the brakes. I got hit from every corner possible.”

Added Denny Hamlin, who suffered damage to his Toyota in the crash: “Some zigged. Some zagged. Most crashed.”

The Atlanta race at EchoPark Speedway, formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway, was the debut of the 32-driver In-Season Challenge, a five-race, bracket-style tournament.

The parade of highly regarded drivers to be knocked out so early in the race showed the perils of trying to pick NASCAR winners on a March Madness-style bracket sheet. The top two seeds were among the early casualties.

Hamlin, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, finished 31st and lost to Ty Dillon, who finished eighth.

Chase Briscoe, who held off Hamlin for his first win for Joe Gibbs Racing last week at Pocono Raceway, was the No. 2 seed before being knocked out in a crash and losing to Noah Gragson in the tournament.

A $1 million prize awaits the winner as part of a new media rights deal that includes TNT.

Elliott and Keselowski were on the front row when a caution with 33 laps to go forced a decision on whether to pit for fresh tires. Both stayed on the track, and Elliott faded following the restart until making his decisive charge at the very end.

Ryan Blaney was knocked out on a wreck late in the first stage. Christopher Bell hit the wall, triggering the crash that ended the stage with Cindric in the lead.

Cindric was involved in the bigger crash early in Stage 2. Kyle Busch, Hamlin and Bubba Wallace were among others involved in the crash.

Photo finish

Tyler Reddick beat Elliott to the finish line by 0.001 to win Stage 2 in a battle between drivers looking for their first stage win and overall victory of the season.

Weather woes

Lightning and rain delayed qualifying Friday and the Xfinity race won by Nick Sanchez late Friday. More lightning and rain threatened Saturday night’s race. Fans were encouraged to leave the stands about 90 minutes before the race due to severe weather in the area but were allowed to return as the pre-race was conducted as planned.

Up next

The Cup Series moves to Chicago for the Chicago Street Race on July 6.

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