Essential College Football Week 5 Trivia and Must-Read Insights
College football’s Week 5 already kicked off with a bang. Virginia shocked No. 8 Florida State on Friday night.
This Saturday looks wild, packed with marquee matchups. You’ve got No. 4 LSU at No. 13 Ole Miss, No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State, and No. 17 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia all on the slate.
If you want to get ready for the action, check out our pregame quiz and some essential reads. There’s Oddly Specific Predictions by Manny Navarro and a top 10 game countdown from Justin Williams, plus staff picks against the spread.
For even more details, here’s the full article link.
No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State
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The annual White Out at Beaver Stadium is back. This rematch of last year’s Big Ten title game, which Oregon won 45-37, feels like it’s got extra juice.
Penn State, led by James Franklin, usually racks up wins but often falls short in the biggest moments. This year, with their highest preseason ranking since 1997, fans are hoping for a breakthrough.
Key Players and Strategies
Penn State’s optimism comes from returning a bunch of key players from last year’s College Football Playoff run. Quarterback Drew Allar, who looked shaky against nonconference teams, now faces a huge test.
Oregon’s quarterback Dante Moore has started strong, and he’s protected by the No. 1 offensive line in our new O-line rankings. That combination could spell trouble for Penn State’s defense.
NFL Draft Prospects
Both teams have NFL Draft hopefuls drawing attention. Drew Allar leads Penn State’s offense, while Dante Moore is the centerpiece for Oregon.
These guys want to impress scouts and boost their draft stock.
No. 17 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia
Last season, Alabama missed the Playoff in Kalen DeBoer’s first year but still managed to knock off Georgia. Kirby Smart, Georgia’s head coach, sits at 1-6 against Alabama, where he once coached under Nick Saban.
The Rivalry
Last year’s 41-34 thriller featured a 75-yard touchdown from then-freshman Ryan Williams. This time, Georgia’s hoping the Sanford Stadium crowd gives them an edge.
The rivalry’s fierce. If Georgia pulls this off, it could change the narrative for Kirby Smart.
Player Spotlight
Ryan Williams, Alabama’s standout, has an inspiring backstory. After surviving a car accident at age 11, he plays with a contagious joy that stands out on and off the field.
No. 4 LSU at No. 13 Ole Miss
LSU has three Weeks brothers at linebacker, and one of them’s dating Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s daughter. That adds a personal twist to this matchup.
Brian Hamilton spent time with the family to capture their dynamic up close.
Key Matchups
Whit and West Weeks are two of LSU’s top eight tacklers. They’ll play a big role in trying to slow down Kiffin’s high-powered Ole Miss offense.
Ole Miss’s quarterback situation has been a bit unpredictable. Division II Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss has started the past two weeks while Austin Simmons recovers from injury.
No. 1 Ohio State at Washington
Ohio State lost eight defensive players to the NFL Draft and defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to Penn State. Still, the defense looks strong with Matt Patricia at the helm.
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At the heart of it all is safety Caleb Downs. He’s a Swiss Army knife and one of the smartest players in the country.
Defensive Strength
Caleb Downs reads the game so well and makes clutch plays. He’s the guy to watch in this matchup.
Washington’s Offense
Washington’s offense features quarterback Demond Williams Jr. and running back Jonah Coleman. That duo will test Ohio State’s defense all game long.
Jonah Coleman and coach Jedd Fisch have a close bond, which adds a little extra intrigue to this one.
No. 11 Indiana at Iowa
Indiana grabbed headlines with a 63-10 win over Illinois last week. Cal transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza led the charge.
People are starting to wonder if Mendoza could be QB1 in the NFL Draft. Is Curt Cignetti turning Indiana into a football powerhouse? Maybe.
Coaching Carousel
Cignetti’s success has made him a hot name in coaching circles. Indiana might need to fight to keep him for the long haul.
Other Notable Updates
Oklahoma State joined UCLA and Virginia Tech in making a September coaching change, firing Mike Gundy after a brutal 66-point loss to Oregon and a home loss to Tulsa.
Justin Williams and Sam Khan Jr. have broken down what went wrong for Gundy. Bruce Feldman listed possible replacements, and Chris Vannini ranked Oklahoma State among the top open jobs, along with Stanford.
Breakout Stars
This season’s already delivered some breakout stars. Players, coaches, and even Bowling Green’s Pudge the Cat—who’s gone viral under new coach Eddie George—are making headlines.
Heisman Watch
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer started as an early Heisman favorite. He just had hand surgery, though, and will miss about a month.
The Sooners are off this Saturday. They’re expected to be heavy favorites against Kent State next week before their big Oct. 11 showdown with Texas.
Conclusion
Week 5 in college football looks wild. There are a bunch of high-stakes matchups on tap.
Maybe you’re pulling for a powerhouse, or maybe you love a good underdog story. Either way, this weekend’s slate has a little something for everyone.
If you want a deeper dive into the games and some extra insights, check out the full article here.