College football is off to a roaring start, with a Kickoff Week for the ages and a Week 5 that ... well, it's one for the ages too. Week 5 is the first time since 1978 that we've had three conference matchups of top-10 teams and the first time since 2002 that we've seen three top-10 games of any kind on the same Saturday.

That means a slew of stars will collide on the field this Saturday. What better time to reboot our preseason #CFBrank and see how our experts assess the nation's best players after the first month of the season?

We asked 10 writers to grade players from across the country on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best early season performance possible. We ended up with a clear No. 1 player, a guy who has scored 25 touchdowns in four games and netted 10 perfect 10 scores from our panel.

After Louisville's breakout Lamar Jackson, though, things got interesting. Here are our top 50 players after four weeks.

Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson

Louisville Cardinals

Sophomore | Quarterback

Score: 10.0

Preseason rank: 51

Jackson has scored 25 total touchdowns this year (13 passing, 12 rushing), emerging as a top Heisman candidate through four games. He has more touchdowns than 123 FBS teams. -- Andrea Adelson

Christian McCaffrey

Stanford Cardinal

Junior | Running back

Score: 9.6

Preseason rank: 3

Through three games (the Cardinal had a Week 2 bye), McCaffrey is leading the Pac-12 with an average of 145.3 rushing yards per game. With three rushing touchdowns and a fourth receiving TD, he's the centerpiece of the offense in the run and pass game, with a team-high 12 catches for 119 yards. -- Kevin Gemmell

Myles Garrett

Texas A&M Aggies

Junior | Defensive lineman

Score: 9.5

Preseason rank: 5

The junior defensive end is off to a solid start pressuring the passer this season. He has picked up three sacks, five tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries in the Aggies' first four games. --Sam Khan Jr.

Jabrill Peppers

Michigan Wolverines

Junior | Linebacker

Score: 9.4

Preseason rank: 9

Michigan players have run out of adjectives for the versatile sophomore linebacker. Whenever he wows the team now, they just turn to one another and say, "Jabrill is really good at football." With the most tackles for loss and punt return yards in the nation through four weeks, Peppers' teammates have had a lot of reasons to say that recently. -- Dan Murphy

J.T. Barrett

Ohio State Buckeyes

Junior | Quarterback

Score: 9.3

Preseason rank: 12

Completely healthy and unchallenged as the starter, Barrett is again breaking records while leading Ohio State's high-octane offense. With 10 touchdown passes already, it's just a matter of time before he becomes the most prolific passer in the school's storied history. -- Austin Ward

Jonathan Allen

Alabama Crimson Tide

Senior | Defensive lineman

Score: 9.2

Preseason rank: 15

Coming back for another season seems like a risk worth taking, now that Allen is playing even better than he did the past season. Not only has he continued to play well against the run, but he has also already tallied three sacks and four quarterback hurries. -- Alex Scarborough

Arden Key

LSU Tigers

Sophomore | Defensive end

Score: 9.1

Preseason rank: 60

Key said before the season that he wants to record 20 sacks this season, and we laughed. Maybe it wasn't so funny after all. The LSU sophomore leads the SEC with 6.5 sacks through four games, so he's right on pace. -- David Ching

Greg Ward Jr.

Houston Cougars

Senior | Quarterback

Score: 9.05

Preseason rank: 27

Ward has been the catalyst for Houston's high-powered offense that has the No. 6 Cougars at 4-0, starting with an upset of Oklahoma. He has thrown for five TDs and run for three more so far this season.

Derwin James

Florida State Seminoles

Sophomore | Defensive back

Score: 9.0

Preseason rank: 16

James got hurt in Week 2 against Charleston Southern, and his absence has made it abundantly clear how valuable he is. Without him, the Seminoles struggled defensively against Louisville and USF. -- Andrea Adelson

Derek Barnett

Tennessee Volunteers

Junior | Defensive end

Score: 8.95

Preseason rank: 23

His typical sack total isn't there yet, but Barnett has been a regular presence in opponents' backfields. The Tennessee defensive end ranks fourth in the SEC with six tackles for loss and is always priority No. 1 for opposing tackles. -- David Ching

DeMarcus Walker

Florida State Seminoles

Senior | Defensive end

Score: 8.9

Preseason rank: 61

Walker is tied for the ACC lead with 5.5 sacks, and 4.5 of them came in a comeback win over Ole Miss. He has been the most consistent lineman for the Seminoles this season. -- Andrea Adelson

Pat Elflein

Ohio State Buckeyes

Senior | Offensive lineman

Score: 8.85

Preseason rank: 25

The move from guard to center has perhaps gone even better than the Buckeyes imagined. There have been no issues with Elflein's snapping, his surgically repaired shoulder is back to full strength, and his veteran leadership has been invaluable for a unit with three new starters on the line. -- Austin Ward

Malik McDowell

Michigan State Spartans

Junior | Defensive lineman

Score: 8.8

Preseason rank: 24

The massive middle of Michigan State's defensive line is a game plan-altering force for anyone who faces the Spartans. McDowell's eight tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss don't tell the full story of how much he can affect a game. -- Dan Murphy

Raekwon McMillan

Ohio State Buckeyes

Junior | Linebacker

Score: 8.75

Preseason rank: 17

The steady centerpiece of one of the nation's toughest defenses continues to be a tackling machine, making the most of any play that comes his way. A couple blowouts have given McMillan breathers late in games, but he has still racked up 20 tackles and a forced fumble already for the Buckeyes. -- Austin Ward

Desmond King

Iowa Hawkeyes

Senior | Defensive back

Score: 8.7

Preseason rank: 8

Opponents have mostly given up on throwing the ball in King's direction. The senior has 19 tackles through four games and has broken up two passes. He's also averaging 30 yards per kick return, on which it's harder to keep the ball away from him. -- Dan Murphy

Evan Engram

Ole Miss Rebels

Senior | Tight end

Score: 8.65

Preseason rank: Unranked

Everybody talked up Alabama's O.J. Howard after last season's national championship game, but it's Engram who leads all tight ends nationally with 26 receptions, 397 yards and three touchdowns through the first four games. -- Greg Ostendorf

Devonte Fields

Louisville Cardinals

Senior | Linebacker

Score: 8.6

Preseason rank: 45

Fields has been a big reason the Louisville defense has been so dominant in the early part of the season. So far, he has 20 tackles, two sacks and a team-high three pass breakups. -- Andrea Adelson

Eddie Jackson

Alabama Crimson Tide

Senior | Defensive back

Score: 8.55

Preseason rank: 33

The senior has emerged as the heart and soul of the Alabama secondary. He has also become quite the playmaker, with a pick-six and a punt return for a touchdown. -- Alex Scarborough

Dalvin Cook

Florida State Seminoles

Junior | Running back

Score: 8.5

Preseason rank: 4

Cook got off to a slow start but posted his best game of the season against USF, running for 267 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first game this season with 100 or more yards rushing. -- Andrea Adelson

Carl Lawson

Auburn Tigers

Junior | Defensive lineman

Score: 8.45

Preseason rank: 31

Fully healthy, Lawson has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks this season. Through the first four games, he has eight QB hurries and three sacks, including a critical one at the end of Saturday's game against LSU. -- Greg Ostendorf

Malik Hooker

Ohio State Buckeyes

Sophomore | Defensive back

Score: 8.4

Preseason rank: Unranked

There might not be a first-time starter anywhere in the country who has burst onto the scene quite like the game-changing safety has for the Buckeyes. The Ohio State secondary could have easily battled growing pains after losing three starters to the NFL draft, but Hooker was apparently just biding his time. He has nabbed three interceptions and a touchdown return in just three games. -- Austin Ward

Teez Tabor

Florida Gators

Junior | Defensive back

Score: 8.35

Preseason rank: 20

He didn't have his best day against Tennessee, but it's hard to deny that Tabor ranks among the SEC's top cornerbacks. Tabor has picked off two passes and broken up one in three games for a star-studded Florida secondary. -- David Ching

Deshaun Watson

Clemson Tigers

Junior | Quarterback

Score: 8.3

Preseason rank: 1

Through four games, we have not yet seen the best out of Watson, though he did throw for more than 300 yards against Georgia Tech. His production in the run game is down compared to where it was a year ago. -- Andrea Adelson

Leonard Fournette

LSU Tigers

Junior | Running back

Score: 8.25

Preseason rank: 2

He isn't even healthy, and Fournette still leads the SEC in rushing. Against Wisconsin, Fournette reinjured the ankle he hurt during preseason practice. Even so, he's averaging 128.7 rushing yards per game and is one of the lone bright spots for LSU's offense. -- David Ching

Ben Boulware

Clemson Tigers

Senior | Linebacker

Score: 8.2

Preseason rank: Unranked

Boulware has been the heart of another top-notch Clemson D, with 23 tackles in three games (he missed one because of an injury). Clemson ranks No. 1 in total defense. -- Andrea Adelson

Tre'Davious White

Auburn Tigers

Senior | Defensive back

Score: 8.15

Preseason rank: 35

White seems to have made a good decision by returning for his senior season. He ranks among the SEC's top cover corners and has already scored two touchdowns, one after an interception and one on an amazing, 60-yard punt return. -- David Ching

Donnel Pumphrey

San Diego State

Senior | Running back

Score: 8.1

Preseason rank: 90

Pumphrey is finally getting some well-deserved Heisman hype. He leads the nation with 599 rushing yards, is averaging a robust 8.2 yards per carry and has found the end zone seven times. Fun note: Pumphrey's 199.76 yards per game average is more than that of 83 FBS teams. As his own team, he'd rank 46th nationally. He wears on opponents, as 400 of his 599 yards have come in the second half. -- Kevin Gemmell

Patrick Mahomes II

Texas Tech

Junior | Quarterback

Score: 8.05

Preseason rank: 42

Mahomes is putting up monster numbers, with 1,493 passing yards, 18 total touchdowns and just two interceptions. If he can win some big games, he'll be in the Heisman hunt. -- Max Olson

Calvin Ridley

Alabama Crimson Tide

Sophomore | Wide receiver

Score: 8.0

Preseason rank: 14

After a slow start against USC, the former Freshman All-American is back on track, as he leads Alabama in receptions (20) and receiving yards (224). As the passing game picks up steam under true freshman QB Jalen Hurts, so should Ridley's numbers. -- Alex Scarborough

Christian Wilkins

Clemson Tigers

Sophomore | Defensive lineman

Score: 7.95

Preseason rank: 85

Wilkins has shown his versatility for the Tigers, playing both defensive end and defensive tackle with exceptional results. He has five tackles for loss, two sacks and four quarterback pressures. -- Andrea Adelson

Adoree' Jackson

USC Trojans

Junior | Defensive back

Score: 7.9

Preseason rank: 21

The do-it-all Jackson has been one of the few bright spots for the Trojans this year. As a defensive back, he's fourth on the team with 19 stops, an interception and one recovered fumble. But his impact has really been felt on special teams, where he has returned a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. He has been quiet offensively, with no catches and one rush for 11 yards. -- Kevin Gemmell

Chad Kelly

Ole Miss Rebels

Senior | Quarterback

Score: 7.85

Preseason rank: 40

After the first month of the season, Kelly is behind Missouri's Drew Lock in passing yards (1,235) and touchdowns (12), but considering the caliber of opponents Kelly has faced, it's hard to argue that Kelly isn't still the SEC's best quarterback. -- Greg Ostendorf

Mike Williams

Clemson Tigers

Junior | Wide receiver

Score: 7.8

Preseason rank: 48

Williams returned after missing nearly all of the past season because of a neck injury, and he leads the Tigers with 303 yards receiving. He has one touchdown catch on the season. -- Andrea Adelson

Seth Russell

Baylor Bears

Senior | Quarterback

Score: 7.75

Preseason rank: 36

Russell came back strong from his neck injury and has the Bears rolling at 4-0, with 1,294 total yards and 14 touchdowns. He is now 12-0 as a starter. -- Max Olson

Jake Butt

Michigan Wolverines

Senior | Tight end

Score: 7.7

Preseason rank: 54

Butt's first two catches of the season were touchdowns. Since then, he has led Michigan's passing attack with 19 catches for 234 yards through four games. He has proven to be the reliable, middle-of-the-field threat the Wolverines expected. -- Dan Murphy

Marshon Lattimore

Ohio State Buckeyes

Sophomore | Defensive back

Score: 7.65

Preseason rank: Unranked

The Buckeyes have long raved about Lattimore's potential impact in the secondary, if he could just stay healthy, and he has more than lived up to the billing through three games at full strength to open the season. With three interceptions and a touchdown to Lattimore's credit, testing him has been a bad idea for opposing quarterbacks. -- Austin Ward

Dan Feeney

Indiana Hoosiers

Senior | Offensive lineman

Score: 7.6

Preseason rank: 37

Indiana's stalwart offensive lineman suffered a concussion in the first half of his second game of the year. He didn't play in a loss to Wake Forest the following week, and his status for Saturday is still up in the air. -- Dan Murphy

Nick Chubb

Georgia Bulldogs

Junior | Running back

Score: 7.55

Preseason rank: 11

Chubb failed to break the 100-yard mark in the past three games, but Georgia's opener against North Carolina was an instant reminder of his greatness. He ran for 222 yards and two touchdowns against the Tar Heels in his return from injury. -- David Ching

Royce Freeman

Oregon Ducks

Junior | Running back

Score: 7.5

Preseason rank: 7

A leg injury has slowed Freeman this season. But when healthy, he has been efficient per usual. He's averaging 8.8 yards per carry with 325 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Despite missing almost two full games, he's still among the Pac-12 leaders in rushing and one of just two backs in the league who averages more than 100 yards per contest. -- Kevin Gemmell

Josh Reynolds

Texas A&M Aggies

Senior | Wide receiver

Score: 7.45

Preseason rank: Unranked

Reynolds has quietly had a stellar opening month to the season, with 17 receptions (tied for third in the SEC) for 370 yards (also third) and three touchdowns. When accounting for games against only Power 5 opponents, no SEC receiver has more yards than Reynolds (317). -- Sam Khan Jr.

James Washington

Oklahoma State Cowboys

Junior | Wide receiver

Score: 7.4

Preseason rank: Unranked

One of the game's best home-run threats has 488 receiving yards on just 25 catches, including a 296-yard performance against Pitt. -- Max Olson

Marquis Haynes

Ole Miss Rebels

Junior | Defensive lineman

Score: 7.35

Preseason rank: Unranked

Haynes does not receive as much attention as the SEC's top pass rushers, but he should. Blessed with dynamic speed off the edge, Haynes already has two sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble. -- David Ching

Jake Browning

Washington Huskies

Sophomore | Quarterback

Score: 7.3

Preseason rank: 93

Washington's offense rolled through a weak nonconference schedule, and Browning didn't play down to the competition. The Huskies hit a road bump in their first conference game against Arizona but still emerged 4-0. Through four games, Browning has been stellar, tossing 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions while completing 70.5 percent of his throws. -- Kevin Gemmell

Chad Hansen

California Golden Bears

Junior | Wide receiver

Score: 7.25

Preseason rank: Unranked

Hansen is the national leader with 50 catches (a whopping 12.5 per game) so far, and he already has 656 receiving yards and six touchdowns, tied for second nationally. Within the conference, he's miles ahead of any other receiver. Hansen averages 164 yards per game; the next is 96.2. -- Kevin Gemmell

Tommy Armstrong Jr.

Nebraska Cornhuskers

Senior | Quarterback

Score: 7.2

Preseason rank: Unranked

One of the best offensive Big Ten players of the season thus far, Armstrong has contributed 12 touchdowns and more than 1,000 yards of offense so far. He's leading an undefeated team that is averaging nearly 40 points per game. -- Dan Murphy

Curtis Samuel

Ohio State Buckeyes

Junior | Running back

Score: 7.15

Preseason rank: Unranked

Most of the attention might focus on quarterback J.T. Barrett, but Samuel's versatility has perhaps made him every bit as valuable for the explosive Buckeyes. Samuel leads Ohio State in receptions after lining up at receiver, he has been more involved as a rusher, with 32 carries already, and he's even taking snaps as a Wildcat quarterback as part of his impressive start to the season. -- Austin Ward

KD Cannon

Baylor Bears

Junior | Wide receiver

Score: 7.1

Preseason rank: 71

Cannon has been slowed by a groin injury but has still put up 360 receiving yards and four scores in limited action. -- Max Olson

Jayon Brown

UCLA Bruins

Senior | Linebacker

Score: 7.05

Preseason rank: Unranked

Brown picked up right where he left off the past season, when he was plugged in as Myles Jack's replacement and flourished. He leads the Bruins with 33 tackles, including 23 solo. He also has a sack and 1.5 tackles for a loss. He has been extremely effective in coverage, where he has broken up three passes. -- Kevin Gemmell

Cordrea Tankersley

Clemson Tigers

Sophomore | Wide receiver

Score: 7.0

Preseason rank: Unranked

Tankersley has drawn praise from coach Dabo Swinney for his ability to match up one-on-one. He leads the team with four pass breakups. -- Andrea Adelson

Kalen Ballage

Arizona State Sun Devils

Junior | Running back

Score: 6.95

Preseason rank: Unranked

Ballage fit a career into one game. Against Texas Tech, he matched an NCAA record by scoring eight touchdowns, including seven on the ground, as the Sun Devils won 68-55 in an offensive extravaganza. But Ballage isn't trading on that one game. He has also scored against UTSA and Northern Arizona, which gives him 10 touchdowns in four games. -- Kevin Gemmell