Last Updated 12:57 PM, September 25, 2025
NCAA staff

College football Week 5: Schedule, rankings, preview and more

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7:02 pm, September 24, 2025

😮 6 surprises a month into the season

We are already four weeks into the 2025 college football season, and it's safe to say there are a handful of storylines that even the best college football analyst probably didn't see coming. Here are six September shockers as you get ready for a stacked Week 5:

  1. Who are the top quarterbacks? Think back to August. Names such as Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar and DJ Lagway were being thrown around all over the place as fans and media discussed who would take home the Heisman. Well, none of those names are in the top 50 in total QBR. The closest of the four is Manning at 75th in the nation. There are obviously other quarterbacks playing well and a lot of football to be played, but these slow starts have been surprising to say the least. 
  2. Clemson. The preseason No. 4 team in the nation is off to a 1-3 start. The last time Clemson was 1-3, Miami was entering its first season in the ACC. That was 2004. What is going on with the Tigers?
  3. Ole Miss continues to roll with backup QB. Last season, Trinidad Chambliss was guiding Ferris State to a DII national championship. Now he's guiding the Rebels through the SEC after starter Austin Simmons went down with an ankle injury in Week 3. He has his hands full against No. 4 LSU this weekend, but right now, Chambliss looks comfortable at the helm. 
  4. Are the Noles back? Florida State has already surpassed its win total from last season. While I don't believe anyone expected the Seminoles to put together another two-win season, but Mike Norvell's squad has certainly surpassed its 2025 expectations after rolling over Alabama in Week 1. This Florida State team is on track to be a serious CFP contender. 
  5. Times are changing in Nashville. After one of the best seasons in Vanderbilt's relatively modest football history, the Commodores are out to prove 2024 was not a fluke. Clark Lea's squad is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2008 with convincing wins over Virginia Tech and South Carolina. It has an SEC gauntlet ahead, but this team is not the Vanderbilt of old. 
  6. The American in control of Group of Five bid. The conference has three undefeated teams. There is only one remaining undefeated G5 school not in the American. It's too early to call of course, but the conference is in the driver's seat for a CFP bid. 

👉 Click or tap here to read the full breakdown of the 6 biggest September surprises

2:53 pm, September 24, 2025

📝 Midweek CFB roundup

As you prepare for one of the best college football weekends of the year, here is a rundown of some of the biggest storylines heading into Week 5. 

Oklahoma State fires Mike Gundy 
After 20 seasons at the helm in Stillwater, Oklahoma State and Mike Gundy are parting ways. The Pokes promoted their offensive coordinator, Doug Meacham, to interim head coach. The former Cowboy quarterback spent 35 years in Stillwater as either a player, assistant or head coach. 

Before Gundy took over, OSU had four winning seasons in 16 years. The 58-year-old led the Pokes to 18 straight winning seasons. His only two losing seasons came in his first and last full years. 

John Mateer to undergo surgery
Heisman candidate and Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer will undergo thumb surgery on Wednesday stemming from an injury he suffered in Week 4 against Auburn. He is expected to miss three or more weeks, but Sooner head coach Brent Venables said he expects Mateer to return this season. 

The Washington State transfer was putting together a phenomenal season in the SEC, tallying 1,215 passing yards with 11 total touchdowns and three interceptions. 

Sophomore Michael Hawkins Jr. will take over under center. Hawkins played sparingly last season, backing up now Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold. The Sooners have a bye week and Kent State before the Red River Rivalry against Texas on Oct. 11. 

7:26 pm, September 23, 2025

🚍 College GameDay headed to Happy Valley

The GameDay crew is headed to Happy Valley for the second straight season for a top-10 matchup between No. 3 Penn State and No. 6 Oregon. The two schools have a short history, matched up only five times before Saturday. 

However, the two teams faced off in the Big Ten Championship last season in what ended up being a thriller in the Ducks' 45-37 win. Dan Lanning's squad led the whole way, but the Nittany Lions had an opportunity to tie the game with under two minutes to play before a Drew Allar interception at midfield iced the conference championship. 

This game will have serious CFP implications, with the winner sitting comfortably in the driver's seat for a spot in the Big Ten Championship. James Franklin's squad still has a date with Ohio State down the road, while the Ducks avoid the defending national champs in the regular season. 

 Neither team has really been tested this season, with no ranked teams on either schedule until this week's showdown. Through three games, Drew Allar and company have outscored their opponents 132-17, while quarterback Dante Moore has the Ducks up 203-27 through four games. 

This will be a measuring game for both squads in Week 5 as each prepares for a long Big Ten schedule for the rest of the season. 

6:20 pm, September 23, 2025

🍿 Week 5 games to watch

Welcome to potentially the best weekend of college football this season!

The noon slate kicks us off with a ranked Big Ten matchup between No. 21 Southern Cal at No. 23 Illinois, while No. 22 Notre Dame travels to Fayetteville for a date with Arkansas. 

In the afternoon, the SEC takes over with No. 4 LSU at No. 13 Ole Miss, as Lane Kiffin will look to avenge an OT loss to the Tigers last season. No. 9 Texas A&M will attempt to stay perfect against Auburn in College Station, and No. 15 Tennessee gets an interesting road matchup with a surprising, undefeated Mississippi State squad. 

But cancel your dinner plans and find an extra TV for the night slate. Choose one or choose both, but either way, fans should be in for a treat with No. 6 Oregon at No. 3 Penn State and No. 17 Alabama at No. 5 Georgia. Both teams played in one-score thrillers last season, and the outcome of these heavyweight bouts will certainly reverberate in the rankings. 

Here are the times and TV channels for some of the biggest games of the week:

👉 Click or tap here for the complete top 25 schedule 

5:33 pm, September 23, 2025

📈 Week 5 AP Top 25 poll breakdown

Here is the Week 5 AP Top 25 Poll, which saw a shake-up in the top three for the first time since Week 1: 

RANK SCHOOL POINTS RECORD PREV
1 Ohio State (52) 1629 3-0 1
2 Miami (Fla.) (7) 1479 4-0 4
3 Penn State (5) 1460 3-0 2
4 LSU 1433 4-0 3
5 Georgia 1420 3-0 5
6 Oregon (1) 1404 4-0 6
7 Oklahoma (1) 1194 4-0 11
8 Florida State 1183 3-0 7
9 Texas A&M 1072 3-0 10
10 Texas 1057 3-1 8
11 Indiana 990 4-0 19
12 Texas Tech 890 4-0 17
13 Ole Miss 843 4-0 13
14 Iowa State 779 4-0 12
15 Tennessee 635 3-1 15
16 Georgia Tech 598 4-0 18
17 Alabama 595 2-1 14
18 Vanderbilt 546 4-0 20
19 Michigan 458 3-1 21
20 Missouri 452 4-0 23
21 USC 264 4-0 25
22 Notre Dame 219 1-2 24
23 Illinois 145 3-1 9
24 TCU 138 3-0 NR
25 BYU 131 3-0 NR

Others receiving votes: Auburn 122, Mississippi State 102, South Florida 77, Utah 45, Arizona State 30, Memphis 23, Louisville 23, Maryland 6, UNLV 3, UCF 3, North Texas 2.

📈 Risers

Indiana owns the largest jump of the week, moving up eight spots after a dominant performance over then-No. 9 Illinois. The Hoosiers took it to the Fighting Illini, posting the most points against a top-10 team in Big Ten history in their 63-10 rout. 

Texas Tech moved up five spots to No. 12 after an impressive 34-10 road win over then-No. 16 Utah. The Red Raiders have earned their highest ranking since 2013, and they seem to be in the running in what's looking like a wide open Big 12. 

Is Miami back? The Canes pushed Penn State and LSU out of the way for the No. 2 spot, securing their highest ranking since 2017. Miami already owns wins against Notre Dame and South Florida, and it just controlled Florida 26-7 this past weekend. Mario Cristobal's squad gets a bye week before likely its biggest game of the season against No. 8 Florida State in two weeks. 

📉 Fallers

Illinois owns the biggest drop of the week, falling from No. 9 to No. 23 after a demoralizing loss to Big Ten foe Indiana. It was the Illini's worst loss since falling 63-0 against Iowa in 2018. 

Utah dropped from No. 16 to out of the poll following a its loss to Texas Tech, while Auburn is also back on the outside looking in after falling to Oklahoma.  

After Illinois, Alabama made the biggest drop inside the top 25, falling three spots on its bye week, making room for Georgia Tech, Texas Tech and Indiana in front of the Tide. 

👉 Click or tap here for a full breakdown of the Week 5 AP poll