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We highlight the college football games of the week that are the most important or should be the best games to maximize your viewing pleasure.
The 25 Best College Football Games Of Week 5
Last week, our top spot wasn’t a great game unless you’re an Indiana fan. The Oklahoma-Auburn game had a lot of everything we wanted and some that we didn’t. Texas Tech-Utah was good until the backup game in for Tech. All in all, we had some good ones in there. Syracuse got its first-ever win at Clemson. North Texas and Army went to overtime. Arizona State and Baylor went to the very end. Arkansas and Memphis saw a huge comeback. SMU got beat with an Iron Skillet. And Nebraska lost its 29th straight game to a ranked opponent.
Every college football game is available if you know where to look. Which ones are worth seeking out? Which ones are worth using the multi-screen view on? Which ones absolutely can’t be missed? RotoBaller puts together the top 25 games in Week 5 and where you can find them. With some of these games on streaming services, it makes it a little more difficult. Most of these games are on networks, but that doesn’t mean the best games are. ESPN owns 70% of everything and only has so many channels to show games on. All times are Eastern time.
25. UCLA at Northwestern
Where to watch: Big Ten Network, 3:30 p.m.
You have to hate yourself a little bit to watch this game. Or maybe you just love the great lakefront views that Northwestern offers in its little palace by the lake. I’m going to be sad when the Ryan Field renovations are finally done. The views from this stadium are amazing. Usually, it is more amazing than the game taking place on the field.
UCLA played so poorly in the first three games that Deshaun Foster, a UCLA legacy, became the first coach fired in 2025. I’m curious to see if UCLA’s problems were all because of Foster. By the way, I blame the Bruins for putting Foster in a position to fail and tarnishing his legacy. Northwestern is only a 6.5-point favorite in Vegas, but the Wildcats are a heavy favorite according to FPI (74.4%). I want to see if UCLA has any fight in them at all.
24. Appalachian State at Boise State
Where to watch: FS1, 7:30 p.m.
Before the season started, this looked like a playoff game. The winner of this game was supposed to have a leg-up on the other Group of 5 teams. That ended in Week 1 when South Florida demolished Boise. App State then lost to Southern Mississippi, nearly ending the chances of either team making the CFP. That said, they aren’t completely buried yet. One will be after this game. If Boise were to win this, they still have an outside shot.
FPI (85.65 Boise) and Vegas (-16.5 Boise) don’t think much of this game, but Vanderbilt transfer AJ Swann has looked almost as good as Boise’s Maddux Madsen. Arkansas transfer Rashod Dubinion has been exciting in the Mountaineer backfield. I’m expecting a closer matchup on the Smurf Turf.
23. Baylor at Oklahoma State
Where to watch: ESPN2, 3:30 p.m.
This whole week has been weird for the Cowboys. First, they lost to Tulsa at home for the first time since 1951 on Friday. Coach Mike Gundy made it through the weekend and even did the press conference talking about the upcoming game on Monday. He was fired on Tuesday. This has to be one of the most bizarre coach firings I’ve seen in a while. It’s right up there with USC firing Steve Sarkisian on the tarmac in 2015. Now we get to see if the game had passed Mike Gundy by, or if it really is the personnel. Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham will finish the season as Oklahoma State’s coach.
The metrics and Vegas don’t expect much of a game here. I just want to see what the Cowboys look like when they come out of the tunnel. Did firing Gundy light a fire under this team? Did he lose the team, and no one would say anything? Or is OSU cooked, and 2025 can’t end soon enough? This is going to be a hell of a test against Baylor, but it can also tell us quite a bit about where this team is mentally in the wake of Gundy’s dismissal.
22. Tulane at Tulsa
Where to watch: ESPNU, 4 p.m.
Tulane still has a shot at being the Group of 5 representative in the College Football Playoff. South Florida’s strength of schedule is slightly better, and both got blown out by upper-tier Power 4 teams. Memphis beat Arkansas last week, which makes the sledding a little tougher. Tulsa got a win over Oklahoma State that cost Mike Gundy his job. If the Tulsa defense and the budding quarterback controversy at Tulane rears its head, things could get weird in Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon.
21. Bowling Green at Ohio
Where to watch: CBS Sports Network, noon
Never say no to MACtion! You never know what you’re going to get! These are two of the better offenses in the MAC. Ohio got Sieh Bangura back after a sojourn to Minneapolis for a couple of years, where he rarely played. He has 299 yards and four touchdowns for the Bobcats so far. Dual-threat Parker Navarro continues to make waves for the Ohio offense. Bowling Green has Notre Dame transfer Drew Pyne under center. This team isn’t the same without Harold Fannin Jr., but there hasn’t been a significant drop-off either. The Bobcats are pretty heavy favorites (70.2% FPI, -10.5 spread), but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Falcons hang around.
20. Kentucky at South Carolina
Where to watch: SEC Network, 7:45 p.m.
South Carolina is off to another 0-2 start in conference play. Last year, it didn’t matter since there were almost no expectations. This year is a lot different. The chances of the Gamecocks making the CFP are almost nil, and September isn’t even over yet. Even though Kentucky is likely the worst the SEC has to offer this year, the Wildcats are only 6.5-point dogs on the road. That suggests South Carolina is closer to the bottom than many think. FPI also doesn’t think a lot of the Gamecocks. Their win percentage is only 57.8%. The metrics and Vegas expect a close game. However, just because it’s close doesn’t mean it will be good…
19. California at Boston College
Where to watch: ACC Network, 3:30 p.m.
This game features two of the most exciting young quarterbacks in the ACC. Cal was an absolute disaster against San Diego State last week, but true freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is still an elite talent. He should bounce back in this one. On the Boston College side, we get to take a look at Alabama transfer Dylan Lonergan. Lonergan has thrown for 991 yards with nine touchdowns to just one interception.
The Eagles are a heavy favorite at home according to FPI (78.5%), but the spread in the desert is only 6.5 points in favor of the Eagles. It’s hard to say Cal will put up a fight after how horrible they looked last week, but if Sagapolutele is back on track, this could be one of the better games of the day.
18. Duke at Syracuse
Where to watch: ACC Network, noon
You know what? They have a basketball court stowed away there in a storage room. Let’s say they break that out for a basketball game instead. It beats Syracuse trying to adjust to life without Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli. Angeli suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the win at Clemson last week. The starting QB job will be turned over to LSU transfer Rickie Collins. He has completed 7 of his 14 pass attempts this year for 99 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Vegas had Duke favored by 5.5 when the line opened, but it is already up to -6.5. Surprisingly, FPI gives the Orange a 62.2% chance to win this game at home. Someone is wrong. Whenever the spread and the predictive metrics don’t line up, we are usually in for an interesting game.
17. (1) Ohio State at Washington
Where to watch: CBS/Paramount+, 3:30 p.m.
The biggest storyline here is that this is Julian Sayin’s first road start. I want to see what Demond Williams Jr. and Denzel Boston can do against this Ohio State defense. On paper, Washington is severely overmatched, and FPI agrees. Ohio State has a 68.8% chance at a road win. This line is down five points to -8.5 for Ohio State. The sailgating on Lake Washington creates a very unique atmosphere, but I’m afraid that the game may not live up to the atmosphere. Ohio State looks better at every position.
16. Central Florida at Kansas State
Where to watch: FS1, noon
I find this game fascinating since it’s almost like Scott Frost never left Central Florida for an ill-fated stint at his alma mater. The Knights are 3-0 under Frost, though the competition has been nothing to write home about. K-State is 1-3 for the first time since 1989, which was Bill Snyder’s first year in the Little Apple. What’s strange about this game is that FPI favors the 1-3 team at 56.7%. Vegas also has Kansas State as a 6.5-point favorite at home. This seems to belie how lost Kansas State looked against Army the last time they played on this field. Dylan Edwards is supposed to be fully healthy for the first time since the season started. Can he reverse the fortunes for the Wildcats?
15. (8) Florida State at Virginia
Where to watch: ESPN, 7 p.m. Friday
I recall a time long ago (1995) when a highly ranked Florida State team visited Charlottesville during the week. Virginia beat them behind a career day from Tiki Barber. I’m not sure that Virginia has the firepower to pull off the same caliber of upset here, but it makes for a good story. FPI gives Virginia a decent chance (39.6%) of an upset. Even the Vegas spread is now under a touchdown (-6.5). That means some sharp money is coming in on Virginia. The plot thickens…
14. New Mexico State at New Mexico
Where to watch: Spectrum/Mountain West Network, 4 p.m.
The Rio Grande Rivalry is always hotly contested. This is a unique rivalry in the sense that it started before New Mexico was even a state, and it has never taken place on a neutral site in the 114-year history of the game. The Lobos lead the series 74-35-5, but this game hasn’t been decided by more than two touchdowns since 2018. That is the only time the margin of victory has been that large since 2013. That’s why this game is worth watching, and why I don’t think the 13.5-point spread in Vegas is all that accurate. Besides, a New Mexico team with Devon Dampier only won by 10 points last year.
13. Louisville at Pittsburgh
Where to watch: ESPN2, noon
The lasting image of Louisville so far this year is letting James Madison hang around for 50 minutes. Pitt was tested and failed in the Backyard Brawl. The hallmark of Louisville so far this year seems to be a war of attrition on defense and outlasting the teams in the fourth quarter. This is what Pitt used to do. We are going to see two really good running backs in this one: Isaac Brown from Louisville and Desmond Reid from Pittsburgh. Expect an old-fashioned defense and running the football-based game.
FPI has Louisville as a slight favorite (57%) on the road. Vegas feels the same with the Cardinals favored by 3.5 points. We saw West Virginia RB Tye Edwards take over in the Backyard Brawl. If Isaac Brown can do the same, this game may not be as close as the experts and metrics think.
12. Rutgers at Minnesota
Where to watch: Big Ten Network, noon
Athan Kaliakmanis makes his return to Minneapolis, where he started his collegiate career. He has grown a lot as a passer since he was a freshman at Minnesota, and the coaching staff almost refused to let him throw. Kaliakmanis has 1,150 passing yards already this season. Minnesota is coming off a loss at Cal and the bye week. FPI gives Minnesota the edge (54.8%) at home. Vegas agrees, with the spread opening at -3.5. It is now up to 4.5. The Rutgers defense has been an adventure so far this year, but Kaliakmanis is going to stick it to his former team.
11. (11) Indiana at Iowa
Where to watch: Peacock, 3:30 p.m.
This is a case of NBC paying too much money for the Ryder Cup, so they have to put a game like this on Peacock. I’m over it. The Hoosiers demolished an Illinois team that is built like Iowa is. They are built on a strong defense and a power run game. Indiana literally ran circles around the Illini. Was it just the fans being hyped at arguably the most important home game in Indiana football history? Vegas seems to think that since the Hoosiers are only 3.5-point favorites at Kinnick Stadium. FPI gives the Hoosiers a big chance (78.4%) at picking up the road win. Iowa’s Mark Gronowski has thrown the ball around more in the last two games for the Hawkeyes. Is that the beginning of the Iowa offense starting to look like a modern offense?
10. (25) BYU at Colorado
Where to watch: ESPN, 10:15 p.m.
After a lot of late games last week, this is the only late game this week. BYU true freshman QB Bear Bachmeier looked really good in his first road start at East Carolina last week. Bachmeier still has not turned the ball over in BYU’s first three games. FPI doesn’t give Colorado much of a chance (22.7%), but the Vegas spread suggests a closer game. The Cougars are only favored by 6.5 points. We know that Folsom Field is a tough place to play, but BYU plays its home games at 4,650 feet…less than 1,000 feet below Colorado. Altitude won’t be a factor here. We just have to see if a Bear is afraid of a buffalo. He did just fine with the Pirates.
9. (22) Notre Dame at Arkansas
Where to watch: ABC, noon
I really enjoy these unconventional matchups that we don’t see every year, especially when the Irish are in a true road game instead of a neutral site game. Notre Dame is always a big deal because they have fans everywhere. Fayetteville is going to be rocking on Saturday morning. FPI has the Irish as a slight road favorite (56.4%). This line opened with the Irish as 6.5-point favorites, but the line has dipped to 3.5 with some money coming in on the Hogs. Arkansas usually plays well at home. QB Taylen Green is a dangerous player who is tough to contain, but I have serious questions about whether the Arkansas defense can handle the Notre Dame backfield of Jeremiyah Love and Jadrian Price. This should be a fun game with plenty of offense, if you’re into that sort of thing.
8. Arizona at (14) Iowa State
Where to watch: ESPN, 7 p.m.
Arizona has rebounded from a dismal 2024 season to start 3-0 with a win over Kansas State. The Cyclones had a brutal travel schedule before the bye as they didn’t have a week off after returning from the Week 0 game in Ireland. Noah Fifita has adjusted to life without Tetairoa McMillan for the first time since middle school rather well. Iowa State is who we thought they were. The backfield is built on giving two backs plenty of carries, while having a strong passing game to back it up. The tight ends have been the stars this year instead of the receivers. FPI has Iowa State as a solid home favorite (61.3%), while Vegas has them as a slightly stronger favorite (-6.5). This line opened above a touchdown, so the bettors are being swayed by Iowa State’s lackluster showing in Jonesboro in Week 3. Will the Cyclones turn out a strong performance to silence the doubters?
7. Auburn at (9) Texas A&M
Where to watch: ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
Auburn has a physical defense that is going to get after Marcel Reed in a way that he hasn’t yet been harassed this year. Reed has made exceptional strides in 2025, but this will be his toughest test of the season. The Aggies have done a good job of getting the tools around Reed to help him succeed. Auburn imported a mostly new offense with a lot of success. We saw this team run up and down the field in Waco in the first week. We also saw Notre Dame get to this Aggies defense, so this could be a higher-scoring game than most expect.
6. (15) Tennessee at Mississippi State
Where to watch: SEC Network, 4:15 p.m.
Anyone who bet the under on Mississippi State’s win total has already lost that bet. The Bulldogs are off to their first 4-0 start since 2014. The offense has looked sharp behind former Baylor QB Blake Shapen and former South Alabama wrecking ball Fluff Bothwell. Meanwhile, Joey Aguilar has been everything that Tennessee was missing at quarterback last year. Chris Brazzell II has been a threat at WR. The Mississippi State defense has been tough so far, so this will be a test for the Tennessee offense. FPI has Tennessee as a heavy favorite (73.7%), as does Vegas (-9.5). Few gave the Bulldogs a chance against Arizona State. I think the Bulldogs hang around at home.
5. (24) TCU at Arizona State
Where to watch: FOX, 9 p.m. (Friday)
We don’t have to wait until Saturday for a top-five game of the weekend. The Horned Frogs, who just skilleted rival SMU for possibly the last time, head to the valley of the sun to take on the 2024 conference champion. The Sun Devils lost in StarkVegas, but all four teams that Arizona State has played are at or above .500 (one is an FCS school). TCU hasn’t played any that are currently above .500.
FPI has this as a great one, with the Frogs a very slight (50.6%) road favorite. Vegas has the Fun Devils favored by 1.5 at home. We are going to see some elite offense with Josh Hoover for the Horned Frogs and Jordan Tyson for Arizona State. This may cut into your sleep on the East Coast, but my advice is to stay up and watch this game and just skip the beginning of College GameDay in the morning.
4. (21) USC at (23) Illinois
Where to watch: FOX, noon
We just saw Illinois get manhandled by an athletic Indiana offense and a tough Indiana defense. USC’s offense is certainly explosive, but the defense won’t be able to push Illinois around as the Hoosiers did. The Illinois defense will once again face a power struggle with a team full of athletes in the USC offense. FPI has USC as a heavy road favorite (72.9%), but Vegas has this as a much closer game. The Trojans are favored by 6.5 after the line opened at 1.5. This line did open before Illinois got smoked by the Hoosiers, so that accounts for some of the movement. That said, the Trojans were in a fight with Michigan State last weekend, which is a team similar to Illinois, just with less experience. The Trojans will likely have their hands full again.
3. (4) LSU at (13) Mississippi
Where to watch: ABC, 3:30 p.m.
The FPI has Mississippi as a huge favorite (73.3%) at home. The analytics say what we’re all thinking. That LSU hasn’t looked that great. Clemson and Florida’s defenses haven’t been the problem, and the fact remains that the LSU defense picked off DJ Lagway five times. Ole Miss is rolling out a quarterback in his third FBS start, but Trinidad Chambliss was a national champion at Division II Ferris State. He has some experience in big games. Can the LSU defense rattle him the way that they did Lagway? Vegas has this as a much closer game, with the fighting Kiffins favored by 1.5 points at home. This is a great appetizer for the two big games we have at night.
2. (6) Oregon at (2) Penn State
Where to watch: NBC/Peacock, 7:30 p.m.
I swear, if this had been one of the Peacock-only games, I would have rioted. The last meeting between these two teams was in Indianapolis last year, with Oregon outlasting Penn State. It will be different in a whiteout at Happy Valley. FPI has this as basically a toss-up (51.1% Penn State), meaning that the analytics say that Oregon is better on a neutral field. Vegas agrees, with Penn State only a 3.5-point home favorite. We don’t know anything about Penn State because of their Charmin-like out-of-conference schedule, but they have mostly looked the part against inferior opponents. Oregon has already blown out two Big Ten (18) foes.
1. (17) Alabama at (5) Georgia
Where to watch: ABC, 7:30 p.m.
This may not look like much with Alabama ranked 17th, but the Tide have beaten Georgia in nine of the last 10 meetings. The only win for the Bulldogs was in the 2021 National Championship Game. That includes three SEC Championship wins for the Tide and two games in Athens. For some reason, Alabama has Georgia’s number. FPI supports this, with only a 54.8% chance of a Georgia win. We know that home games weigh heavily in FPI analytics, so this is a little surprising. Vegas is on board as well. The line opened at -3.5 for Georgia, but is already down to -2.5. However you analyze this game, it should be another great one!
