College football today: Top 25 games you *need
Week 5 of the 2026 season opens with fresh rankings and loaded schedules, and College football today centers on the top 25 games that carry playoff weight. The latest CBS 138 and AP polls show Texas still at No. 1, Georgia close behind, and Florida surging into the top 10 after a dominant Week 4 win. Viewers looking for decisive matchups and shifting narratives have plenty to track this weekend.
Alabama meets Mississippi State
Alabama enters at 4-0 and travels to Starkville to face an undefeated Mississippi State squad. The Crimson Tide’s defense has allowed just 13 points per game, while the Bulldogs rely on a balanced offense that produced 31 points in their last outing. A win here would push Alabama closer to the top three.
Mississippi State’s ground attack averages 168 yards per contest, and their passing game has stayed efficient under new coordinator play-calling. Alabama’s secondary must contain the dual-threat quarterback who has thrown for 850 yards already. A road upset would jolt the SEC standings.
ABC carries the game in prime time, and early odds list Alabama as a 6.5-point favorite. Both fan bases expect a physical, low-scoring grind that could decide the West Division early.
Ohio State heads to Iowa
Ohio State sits at 3-1 after a Week 4 loss and now faces the hottest team in the Big Ten. Iowa is 4-0 and riding a last-second touchdown that stunned Michigan. The Hawkeyes’ defense leads the nation in points allowed per game at 9.5.
The Buckeyes lost their starting tight end to injury last week, forcing a change in red-zone packages. Iowa’s linebackers will look to crowd the box and dare quarterback Julian Sayin to beat them outside. CBS will broadcast from Kinnick Stadium, where crowd noise has already produced eight false-start penalties this season.
Win probability models give Iowa a 38 percent chance to pull the outright upset. A victory would mark the program’s first win over a top-five opponent since 2019.
Notre Dame hosts North Carolina
Notre Dame improved to 4-0 after a road win at Purdue and returns to South Bend to host North Carolina. The Irish defense has forced 11 turnovers through four games, the highest total in the FBS. North Carolina counters with a high-tempo offense averaging 78 plays per contest.
Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli has completed 71 percent of his passes, while North Carolina’s secondary has allowed 312 passing yards per game. The Tar Heels need a signature win to stay bowl eligible after last season’s late collapse.
NBC’s broadcast window starts at 3:30 p.m. ET. Weather forecasts call for mild temperatures, which should favor the passing attacks on both sides.
Florida looks to stay hot
Florida cracked the top 10 for the first time since 2021 after routing Ole Miss 52-28. The Gators now host Missouri, another ranked opponent, in a matchup that will test their new offensive identity. Running back Jadan Baugh leads the SEC with 512 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Missouri’s defense ranks 14th nationally in sacks but has struggled against mobile quarterbacks. Florida’s offensive line has allowed just one sack through four games, giving Baugh lanes to exploit. A second straight win over a ranked team would lock the Gators into the playoff conversation.
ESPN’s noon slot features the game, and the line has moved from Florida minus-three to minus-six after heavy ticket action on the Gators.
Oregon travels to Michigan State
Oregon sits at 4-0 after a 41-27 win over USC that came at a cost. Starting quarterback Dante Moore suffered a concussion on a targeting hit, and the program awaits further medical updates. Backup Austin Novosad will start if Moore is ruled out.
Michigan State’s defense has allowed 28 points per game but creates turnovers at a top-20 rate. The Spartans need a signature victory to quiet growing fan unrest after last season’s 4-8 finish. Oregon’s depth chart at skill positions remains strong even without Moore.
The Pac-12 Network carries the game at 7:30 p.m. PT. Betting markets list Oregon as a 17-point road favorite.
USC tries to right the ship
USC fell to 2-2 after the loss to Oregon and now hosts Wisconsin in a contest that could determine the fate of head coach Lincoln Riley. The Trojans have allowed 31 points per game, second-worst among Power conference teams.
Wisconsin’s run-heavy scheme averages 48 carries per contest and could keep USC’s defense on the field for long stretches. Riley’s seat temperature has risen quickly on social media, with several former players publicly questioning scheme choices.
The Big Ten Network slot begins at 4 p.m. ET. A loss would mark USC’s first 2-3 start since 2019.
Miami continues its streak
Miami improved to 4-0 behind quarterback Darian Mensah, who leads the nation with 18 touchdown passes and only two incompletions. The Hurricanes host a struggling Virginia Tech squad that has dropped three straight games.
Virginia Tech’s defense ranks 120th in total yards allowed, giving Miami’s skill players favorable matchups across the field. Mensah’s completion percentage sits at 78 percent, the highest single-season mark in program history through four games.
ACC Network airs the matchup at 8 p.m. ET. Early lines list Miami as a 24.5-point favorite.
Texas enjoys a bye week
Texas remains at No. 1 with a 4-0 record and uses the open date to prepare for next week’s trip to Oklahoma State. The Longhorns have outscored opponents 168-48 this season, the largest margin among top-five teams.
Coach Steve Sarkisian has used the extra week to install new third-down packages after the offense converted just 38 percent of those situations against Tennessee. Running back Quintrevion Wisner leads the FBS with 148 yards per game.
Betting markets have already opened next week’s game, listing Texas as a 14-point road favorite. The Longhorns sit alone atop the Big 12 standings.
Georgia reloads after dominant win
Georgia moved to 4-0 with a 41-13 dismantling of Oklahoma and now prepares for an SEC matchup at Kentucky. The Bulldogs’ defense has recorded 14 sacks, tied for the national lead.
Kentucky’s offense has leaned on a committee backfield that averages 210 rushing yards per game. Georgia’s front seven will test that ground attack on the road in what could be a trap game for the No. 2 team.
SEC Network carries the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Georgia has covered the spread in each of its last nine road games against unranked opponents.
Looking ahead
College football today offers a slate where every ranked team on the field faces direct playoff implications. The results will shape next week’s rankings and set the tone for conference races that now stretch into November. Viewers can expect decisive swings in both the SEC and Big Ten, with streaming options making every game accessible coast to coast.
