The biggest game of the season (so far) is just around the corner.
No. 2 Georgia visits No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night in the first top-five game of the season. It’s the last of four ranked matchups during a loaded Week 5 slate.
Here are the biggest games of the day. Follow along as we break down all the action below.
The Cardinals won at home over the Irish a season ago. And one wonders if Louisville is better this season than it will be in 2023. Former Oregon and Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough has been very good so far this season, completing over 68% of his passes for eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Notre Dame is still looking to rely on Riley Leonard through the air to complement a dominant run through four games despite injuries along the offensive line.
Time: 7:30 PM | Television: NBC | Line: Penn State -18 | Total: 47.5
The Illini defeated previously undefeated Nebraska in overtime in Week 4, marking only the third time since 1951 that Illinois has won its first four games. A big reason for that is the improved play of former Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer. Can he keep that up on the road against Penn State? Opposing QBs are averaging just 144 yards per game against the Nittany Lions.
This matchup of perennial playoff teams features two Heisman contenders at quarterback. No QB is responsible for more TDs per game than Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Carson Beck spent much of the offseason as the favorite for the award. Beck’s 2024 season hasn’t lived up to the Heisman hype yet, but it won’t be a surprise if Beck has a big game.
Washington State is on the precipice of the AP Top 25 after a 4-0 start, including wins over Texas Tech, and Washington and QB John Mateer are swinging it. But the Cougars’ defense is allowing nearly five yards per carry — that’s a tasty stat for Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, who leads the nation with an average of 10.5 yards per carry. There’s a reason he’s the non-QB with the best Heisman odds (+2000) at BetMGM.
The Wolverines are up 10 points with 4:33 left after a short field goal.
UK gets the ball back, 4 down
Ole Miss can’t get anything going and has to go back to Kentucky.
It’s 17-13 with just under 5 minutes to go in Oxford.
Minnesota stages a comeback bid
We have a development in Ann Arbor. The Gophers scored to cut a two-touchdown deficit early in the fourth quarter, then Koi Perich did some serious work with a 60-yard punt return. Minnesota scored soon after to make it a one-score game.
K-State Interception!
OSU quarterback Alan Bowman throws his third interception of the game, this time to KSU’s Jacob Parrish, who makes a beautiful contested pick in the end zone.
That’s the end of the third quarter. The state of Kansas withdraws.
K-State Touchdown
The Wildcats may have just ended this one early. Avery Johnson finds Will Anciaux with a jump pass at the goal line to take a three-score lead over the Cowboys.
Touchdown Ole Miss!
The Rebels are finally back in the end zone and it happens in dramatic fashion. Jaxson Dart finds Tre Harris on a brave fourth-and-7 throw and Harris sprints through the UK defense for a 48-yard gamebreaker.
Ole Miss leading 17-13 as the third quarter comes to a close.
Kentucky regains the lead
The Wildcats find some success through the air before their drive fails just outside the red zone. But they are back in the lead with a field goal made.
Ref makes big block on accident
Check out the referee’s assist on this long TD from Maryland’s Roman Hemby, which tied the score in the Terps’ game against Indiana.
K-State Interception!
OSU’s Alan Bowman makes another crucial mistake, throwing the ball directly to KSU’s Marques Sigle for the Cowboys’ third turnover of the game.
Ole Miss ties it up
The Rebels tied things up at 10-10 with their opening possession of the second half.
The Wildcats’ game plan so far is clear: run, run, run some more. Will one possession be enough to topple Ole Miss in Oxford, or will they have to take to the air to stay in it?
Touchdown State Kansas!
After a quick three-and-out from OK State, Kansas State takes over and DJ Giddens sprints through the OSU defense for a 66-yard touchdown.
That’s 153 rushing yards for Giddens just two minutes into the second quarter, and the Wildcats lead 28-13.
We’re back for the second half of Ole Miss-Kentucky and OK State-Kansas State. The Rebels and Cowboys start their respective games with the ball.
Scoreboard update
This is the state of play as the first series of matches reaches halftime:
Scoreboard update
Halftime: Kansas State 21, Oklahoma State 13
In the first half, both teams managed to move the ball quite well. The Cowboys seemed determined to get Ollie Gordon going early, but reverted to a pass-first offense once they started trailing.
Halftime: Kentucky 10, Ole Miss 7
The Wildcats controlled the clock in the first two quarters (almost 22 minutes of possession) and the result is a halftime lead.
Touchdown Kentucky!
The Wildcats have taken the lead as time ticks away in the first half in Oxford. That was a methodical 13-play, 81-yard drive by Kentucky, capped off by a pass from Brock Vandagriff to Dane Key. It took 5:30 off the clock.
Kentucky leads 10-7 with 27 seconds left in the first half.
Touchdown K-state!
The Wildcats get another one, this time Jayce Brown catches a deep pass from Avery Johnson for a 55-yard touchdown.
Kansas State now leads 21-13 with just over 3 minutes left in the half.
K-State recovers fumble!
OSU QB Alan Bowman is unable to corral a botched snap and Kansas State comes up with it.
There are five minutes left in the first half in Manhattan.
Baylor is cutting the deficit
The Bears have woken up a bit in Waco after BYU’s hot start, but still trail by two touchdowns as the first half comes to a close.
