Ranking the 3 Worst Losses of College Football Week 4

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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College football week 4 was full of impactful results. What three losses were worse than the rest?

The college football season has raged on as four weeks are now in the books. With each passing week the landscape gets more and more clear and cloudy all at the same time. It’s the beauty of the game, its a week to week sport.

However, your season can be ruined any given week. A few teams saw their season go up in smoke this past weekend.

The USC Trojans lost on a last second touchdown to Utah and saw their record fall to 1-3. They are clearly out of any serious contention for a big bowl game and they also have their work cut out if they want to get to six wins to even make a bowl game. It’s ugly there.

Florida, albeit with a backup QB, just got manhandled by Tennessee to fall into a hole in the SEC East race. Georgia took a 45-14 beating by Ole Miss to fall from the undefeated ranks in ugly fashion. Oregon lost to Colorado as the Ducks continue to struggle in the post Marcus Mariota era.

However, these losses were not the worst. Let’s get to it.

Sep 24, 2016; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly reacts on the sideline in the second quarter against the Duke Blue Devils at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

3. Notre Dame Loses to Duke

The Irish lost at home to Duke 38-35 on Saturday. Notre Dame was already out of the title hunt with two early losses so this isn’t as much about them losing a playoff chance as it is about who they lost to.

If Notre Dame still claims to be a premiere flagship program like they and their fans do, they should never lose to Duke ever, especially at home. This Duke team already had losses to Wake Forest and Northwestern but somehow was able to come into South Bend and win. Not a good look.

The loss cost defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder his job and although head coach Brian Kelly has brought ND back from the ashes, he may even start hearing some questions about his job if this season keeps going downhill.

Sep 24, 2016; Auburn, AL, USA; LSU quarterback Danny Etling (16) runs for a first down during the fourth quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium. The Auburn Tigers beat the LSU Tigers 18-13. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

2. LSU Loses to Auburn

In one of last week’s under-the-radar games, LSU lost on a crazy last second sequence to Auburn. It was a loss that ultimately cost longtime head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron their jobs.

On the last play of the game LSU seemingly won the game on a Danny Etling touchdown pass but that was eventually overturned when it was ruled the snap wasn’t off in time. It was a gut wrenching way to lose. It prevented Miles from saving his job one last time.

LSU now has two losses and are definitely out of any contention. Coming into the season they were a trendy playoff pick and now before September is over they are out of it and their coach is fired.

Auburn is in the same spot and arguably has less talent on their roster so losing to them hurts even more. It’s rebuilding time in Baton Rouge.

Sep 24, 2016; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans players enter the field prior to a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

1. Michigan State Loses to Wisconsin

The Spartans were embarrassed at home in a 30-6 loss to the Badgers on Saturday. A week after gaining some momentum and a top 10 ranking after beating Notre Dame, they came out flat in a huge Big Ten game.

They were emerging and getting people to believe they could just as good as Michigan and Ohio State in the Big Ten East and just like that it’s gone one week later.

Quarterback Tyler O’Connor threw three picks and the offense was bogged down all game. They now have to beat both Michigan and Ohio State to have any chance of getting to the Big Ten title game again.

It wasn’t a typical Michigan State loss and it was certainly a shocking score to come across. It certainly will have a lasting impact on the Big Ten landscape and was the biggest loss of the week four slate.