College football Week 6 players to watch: Can Demond Williams Jr. lead Washington to a win over No. 20 Iowa?
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Can you believe the 2026 college football season is almost halfway over?
Week 6 of the 13-week regular season is somehow almost here. And there are plenty of players to keep an eye on outside of the marquee games of the weekend. Here are your players to watch for the week who aren't going to be playing in either Lincoln, Eugene or Tuscaloosa.
Washington QB Demond Williams Jr.
No. 20 Iowa at Washington (9 p.m. ET Friday, Fox/DIRECTV)
Williams is doing nearly everything for the Washington offense this season. Not only is he 110-of-163 passing for 1,327 yards and eight touchdowns, he's also the team's leading rusher with 53 carries and one of two Huskies with multiple rushing touchdowns. Ohio State was able to pick apart Iowa's pass defense a week ago — largely thanks to the greatness of Jeremiah Smith. Will Williams be able to do the same? Washington's offense is averaging 6 yards a play even as the Huskies are 0-2 in conference play.
Army QB Cale Hellums
Tulane at Army (Noon ET Saturday, CBS Sports Network/DIRECTV)
The American doesn't look to have a dominant team this season, so this matchup of teams 1-1 in conference play could prove pivotal in late November. And Hellums' performance will probably reflect Army's chances. The Black Knights are 2-2 overall. Hellums has rushed for 55 yards in each of those losses and at least 87 yards in those two wins. All five of his rushing TDs came in the two victories too. If Hellums is effective on the ground, Army should be 3-2.
Arizona QB Noah Fifita
Arizona at West Virginia (Noon ET, TNT/DIRECTV)
The most experienced QB in the Big 12 is probably licking his chops at this matchup. West Virginia's defense is a mess as opposing QBs have picked the Mountaineers apart this season. WVU is allowing nearly 290 passing yards a game while opponents are completing 66% of their passes and throwing for over two scores a game. Fifita has thrown for 1,415 yards and 13 TDs in five games.
Pitt QB Holden Geriner
North Carolina at No. 25 Pitt (Noon ET, ESPN/DIRECTV)
Geriner will make his first start of the season with QB Mason Heintschel out for the season because of a knee injury he suffered in the Panthers' win over Virginia Tech. All Geriner has to do is keep a very good offense rolling and help keep the Panthers undefeated. No pressure at all there. The 26 passes Geriner has thrown this season are already more than he had in the first four seasons of his career combined. In three years at Auburn and one at Texas State, Geriner tossed 21 total passes.
Florida RB Jadan Baugh
South Carolina at No. 16 Florida (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network/DIRECTV)
Baugh had an absolutely forgettable Week 5 against Missouri. After rushing for 600 yards and 11 scores in Florida's first four games of the season, he had 12 carries for 13 yards in the blowout loss to the Tigers. Can he get back on track against South Carolina? The Gamecocks have allowed 100 or more rushing yards to every FBS opponent they have played so far this season.
Virginia Tech TE Luke Reynolds
Virginia Tech at Cal (3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network/DIRECTV)
Reynolds has been a constant focal point of the Virginia Tech pass game all season. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 3, but he has 12 catches over the last two games and leads the Hokies with 37 grabs for 373 yards. That's already well above his 2025 total of 26 catches for 257 yards.
Oregon State WR Jesse Legree
San Diego State at Oregon State (6 p.m. ET, USA/DIRECTV)
The freshman wide receiver continues to be unstoppable. Legree had five catches for 156 yards and three scores in Oregon State's 56-26 win over Colorado State. That's a win otherwise known as the game where Colorado State parted ways with defensive coordinator Tyson Summers in the first half. Legree has 28 catches for a staggering 741 yards and nine touchdowns this season. It'll be a surprise if he fails to crack the 100-yard mark for the first time on Saturday.
James Madison RB George Pettaway
James Madison at Georgia Southern (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU/DIRECTV)
The Dukes are one of the top teams in the Sun Belt again. No one should be shocked even with a new coach in Billy Napier and a bunch of turnover from the team that made the College Football Playoff a year ago. Pettaway is one of the players who stayed at JMU and is on his way to a 1,000-yard season after he had 14 carries for 206 yards and two scores against Marshall in Week 5. Overall, Pettaway has 74 carries for 497 yards and six touchdowns.
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