NCAA Football Week 5 Top 10 Poll

This past Saturday was a statement for several ranked teams, who used the occasion to prove they belonged in the conversation for their respective conferences, while other teams failed to live up to the moment, resulting in some notable changes across the college football rankings this week. With conference play getting in full swing across the country, plenty more movement is on the way. 

1. Ohio State Buckeyes

Off this past weekend, the reigning national champion Buckeyes hit the road for the first time this season this coming Saturday in their Big Ten opener across the country against Washington, which sits at 2-0

behind college football’s 4th ranked rushing attack. Ohio State plays a sneaky tough road game against a good Washington team. Ohio State's first Big Ten test comes this weekend at Washington, one of the most under-the-radar matchups on Saturday. The Huskies are unbeaten and unranked in anticipation of the national spotlight against the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes are loaded, although this will be their first road test of the season. We've seen the line drop from 10.5 to 8.5, so a lot of early money is on Washington keeping the game competitive. 

2. Penn State Nittany Lions

There’s a lot to like about the Nittany Lions’ defense, which ranks among the nation’s five best in scoring, but there are still questions around if this passing attack is living up to its potential with all that talent. We’ll know more next week as Penn State welcomes reigning Big Ten champion Oregon to Happy Valley.
Penn State hosts Oregon in one of the biggest games of the season. The Nittany Lions are -3.5 at home, and I think that line is pretty tight. If Ohio State and Penn State both win on Saturday, look for my top two teams to both be undefeated when they clash in Columbus on Nov. 1. Hosting a dangerous Oregon team.

3. Georgia Bulldogs

In a good place after taking out rival Tennessee by three points the weekend prior, the Bulldogs were idle on Saturday, getting some needed rest before returning home to take on Alabama in one of the most consequential games in the SEC this season. I'm concerned about a Georgia defense that has been declining for two years and got lit up by Tennessee. Kirby Smart will feel great about his team if they're able to beat Alabama between the hedges this weekend. That would be the Bulldogs' second straight victory over one of the league's fellow elites and provides another quality mark in the resume column ahead of the selection committee's first rankings in a few weeks. Vs Alabama

4. Oregon Ducks

Dante Moore had over 300 yards passing with 4 touchdowns and no interceptions as the Ducks predictably beat up on winless rival Oregon State in another tune-up before heading back east in a monster test of their Big Ten bona fides at Penn Stat this weekend. The Oregon Ducks are coming into this one hotter than expected with Dante Moore sizzling at quarterback. Despite Penn State's 3-0 record, it's unclear if the Nittany Lions' first three opponents have actually prepared this team for what they'll face under the lights in Happy Valley. Oregon has two more games against top 25 teams after this one and both come inside Autzen Stadium -- against Indiana and USC. Another unbeaten regular season and berth in the Big Ten title game should essentially guarantee a top-4 seed and first-round bye given the resume. At Penn State

5. Miami Hurricanes

Down a spot from last week, Miami found itself in a close game through three quarters last time out against Florida. However, the Hurricanes got two fourth-quarter touchdowns to eventually create separation in the win over the Gators. Whatever you think of the Gators and Notre Dame, those are two quality opponents that Miami dominated physically. Miami has a bye week this Saturday.

6. LSU Tigers

Now that we have a month's worth of data points for the Tigers, they're no longer our projected SEC champion. The win at Clemson isn't nearly as sexy given Dabo Swinney's abrupt fall and there are still running game issues to sort out offensively for Brian Kelly, who's now dealing with an injury to chief ballcarrier Caden Durham ahead of Saturday's bout at Ole Miss. I am still high on LSU, and the Tigers have a chance to earn a quality win at Ole Miss on Saturday.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide

You know it's a huge Saturday when Alabama-Georgia isn't the marquee game. I still have question marks about both teams. On a two-game winning streak since the opening loss to the Seminoles, the Crimson Tide took this past Saturday off after putting up 111 combined points against Monroe and Wisconsin, but heads into another massive test for Kalen DeBoer, on the road against Georgia. Alabama hammered two bad teams but got rolled by Florida State. It's feasible that Kalen DeBoer's team could lose this weekend in Athens and still finish with 10 wins. Alabama obviously moves up with a win at Georgia this Saturday.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

OU has been the biggest riser in my rankings the last couple of weeks after wins over Michigan and Auburn. The Sooners have a date with Texas on Oct. 11 in a matchup between two of the country's top defenses. OU quarterback, Mateer suffered the injury in the first half of Saturday’s win, though he still put together a monster day. Michael Hawkins will get the start in his place when OU comes out of the bye, but all eyes are on whether the Washington State transfer will be able to suit up against Texas. Note that their 2-point safety to cover vs Auburn is in the top 5 bad beats in sports betting. They get this weekend off on their bye. 

9. Texas Longhorns

Arch Manning had his best game as UT’s starting quarterback in Week 4, going 18 of 21 and three touchdowns while adding two rushing touchdowns. Texas flew past Sam Houston State in the effort and will now prepare to take on Florida in Week 6. A much better feeling for Arch Manning, the subject of some big criticism after a sluggish start to the season, going off for 309 passing yards and 7 all-purpose touchdowns as the Longhorns smashed Sam Houston in a 55-0 rout with the SEC opener at Florida next. However, it’ll have to wait as Texas has their bye week. 

10. Indiana Hoosiers

Are the Hoosiers as good as their blowout win against Indiana last week? Any doubters who thought the Hoosiers were a one-year wonder were summarily silenced this weekend after Fernando Mendoza led an offensive blitzkrieg, putting away No. 9 Illinois by a shocking 63-10 count, a statement to the Big Ten and the country that this squad is in position to do something special again in 2025. They are at Iowa this week.