The top 5 college football games to watch in Week 5
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An absolutely loaded Week 4 slate of the 2026 college football season certainly delivered in a big way, and now it's on to Week 5. While there aren't as many massive games to watch this weekend, some extremely important contests still deserve your attention.
Most teams are locked in conference battles, as a month of the season is already behind us. With a third of the season in the rearview mirror, every game gets bigger and bigger as the season moves along.
While the Oklahoma Sooners are on their bye week this week, there are a number of games that we'll have our eyes on here at Sooners Wire. After a rough start to the season, OU needs to use the off week to figure some things out before playing their remaining eight games in eight weeks.
Here are the top five games to watch in Week 5
1. Ohio State at Iowa, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT
Ohio State and Iowa play in the week's most important Big Ten game, as a top-heavy conference begins to see its true contenders separate over the next few weeks. The Buckeyes have rolled through the season so far, with the exception of their loss to Texas. Still, head coach Ohio State has to be considered one of the Big Ten's favorites. Quarterback Julian Sayin will look to help this squad prove that on Saturday.
The Hawkeyes burst into the picture with a last-second win over Michigan last week, and now they'll play host in Iowa City for another chance to turn the league's standings on its head. Head coach Kirk Ferentz and his team win with their tried-and-true method of defense and special teams, but quarterback Hank Brown and the offense will have to keep pace with a powerful opponent on the other sideline.
2. Alabama at Mississippi State, Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CT
Alabama and Mississippi State didn't look like an exciting matchup on paper when the season began, but now it's one of the clear-cut games of the week. The Crimson Tide haven't been truly tested yet, but that will change when they go on the road Saturday afternoon. Head coach Kalen DeBoer has his team undefeated heading into this one, with quarterback Keelon Russell at the controls on offense. With even bigger games looming, this isn't a game the Tide can overlook.
The Bulldogs are one of the surprises of the season so far, having beaten South Carolina and Missouri in consecutive weeks. Now, a much bigger test awaits, and Starkville is going to be a madhouse on Saturday. Head coach Jeff Lebby looks to be building something strong at MSU, but games like this are the true measuring stick. Quarterback Kamario Taylor is having an excellent season, and it'll have to continue this week in order to pull off the upset.
3. Florida at Missouri, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT
Florida and Missouri both had big games last week, but come into this week with opposite results. Now, they'll meet in another big SEC clash in the first half of the season. The Gators are undefeated and rolling so far this year, with consecutive impressive wins over Auburn and Ole Miss. Now, head coach Jon Sumrall's team will hit the road again to continue their hot streak. With quarterback Aaron Philo under center, the offense has been very strong so far this year.
The Tigers fell at the hands of Mississippi State last week, but they can come home and make a statement by knocking off an unbeaten team this week. In a crowded SEC, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his team are still in the thick of things with just one loss. Quarterback Austin Simmons and the offense lost a shootout last week, and they might be in another one on Saturday afternoon.
4. Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech, Friday at 6:00 p.m. CT
Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech play in the biggest ACC game of the week, and only one of these two squads will leave Friday night's clash undefeated. The ACC looks fairly wide open at this point in the year, so this is a statement game for both teams. The Panthers haven't played a road game yet, and their offense has been strong to start the year, led by quarterback Mason Heintschel. He's thrown for six touchdowns in a game twice this season. Head coach Pat Narduzzi knows his team hasn't been tested yet, and that changes this week.
The Hokies are also getting their first test of the new season, and head coach James Franklin has been impressive in his debut year in Blacksburg so far. Last week's grimy win kept this team unbeaten, and they'll look to be a factor as we figure out the ACC. Quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer will have the might of Lane Stadium behind him in this primetime clash.
5. Cincinnati at Arizona, Saturday at 10:00 p.m. CT
Cincinnati and Arizona face off in the latest Big 12 game with major implications, and this one will take place during the late-night in Tucson. For the Bearcats, it's been a promising start to the year, but head coach Scott Satterfield and his team have been here before. It's all about how they perform once the rigors of conference play are in place week after week. Quarterback JC French IV wants to keep this team undefeated and notch a big road win.
The Wildcats already have one loss, falling at the hands of BYU earlier this year. In a crowded Big 12, a second conference loss could be too much to overcome, so they have their backs against the wall. Quarterback Noah Fifita is a veteran who has played in a lot of games like this, and head coach Brent Brennan will be leaning on him to win at crucial game after dark at home.
- Week 0 – Featured Game: North Carolina vs. TCU (in Dublin, Ireland)
- Week 1 – Featured Game: Louisville vs. Ole Miss (in Nashville, Tennessee)
- Week 2 – Featured Game: Ohio State at Texas
- Week 3 – Featured Game: LSU at Ole Miss
- Week 4 – Featured Game: Texas at Tennessee
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: The top 5 college football games to watch in Week 5
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