Cancel all other Saturday plans, because Week 5 of the college football season is a doozy. The last weekend of September was one that most college football fans have been looking forward to since schedules were released.
Many of the projected top matchups remain intact and have plenty of postseason implications.
Here is a closer look at the most intriguing matchups set for Saturday across college football.
No. 1 Ohio State (3-0) at Washington (3-0)
Washington will have a chance to prove whether or not its 3-0 record is legitimate Saturday. The top-ranked Buckeyes will head to the Pacific Northwest looking to become the first team since 2021 to defeat UW at Husky Stadium. Jedd Fisch’s Washington offense currently ranks second in scoring and is averaging 55.7 points through three games. The Buckeyes are ranked first in the Associated Press Top 25 for a reason, however. Ohio State heads into the matchup more battle tested after facing Texas in the season opener. Washington has wins over two teams that have yet to crack .500 plus an FCS opponent.
No. 3 Penn State (3-0) vs. No. 6 Oregon (4-0)
The game of the weekend will take place in Happy Valley as Penn State’s annual white out game will come against sixth-ranked Oregon. The Ducks are the juggernaut on the West Coast so far this season. Dan Lanning’s Oregon squad has rolled through its schedule with lopsided victories over Oklahoma State and Northwestern highlighting its wins so far. The Nittany Lions have been just as dominant through three games but have yet to play an FBS opponent. Penn State owns a top-10 defense while the Ducks rank seventh in scoring offense with an average of 50.8 points through four contests.
No. 4 LSU (4-0) at No. 13 Ole Ole Miss (4-0)
While the matchup at Penn State will feature two teams that are a bit more balanced. Saturday’s contest in Oxford, Mississippi will pit two teams against one another that have distinct strengths. Brian Kelly’s fourth-ranked Tigers are built on defense and boast the No. 9 scoring defense in among all FBS teams. LSU is allowing just 9.3 points through its first four games. That includes victories over Clemson and Florida. The Tigers want to control the clock and rank 22nd in time of possession. Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss squad is quite the opposite. The Rebels like to go fast and play with plenty of flash on the offensive side of the ball. Ole Miss ranks ninth in total offense with 543.3 yards per game. The Rebels have secured conference wins over Kentucky and Arkansas already this season.
No. 5 Georgia (3-0) vs. No. 17 Alabama (2-1)
In a classic SEC matchup, Georgia and Alabama will meet with both looking to build on what they have done so far through the first month of the season. The Bulldogs have had some extra time to prepare with a bye week following their overtime road win against Tennessee in Week 3. Alabama has built momentum after a loss to Florida State to open the season. A loss that had plenty of fans calling for Kalen DeBoer’s job. The Crimson Tide are also coming off a bye after defeating Wisconsin, 38-14, in Week 3. Last year’s meeting between the two teams in Tuscaloosa earned a spot on many lists as the game of the year. Will those same fireworks show up in the 2025 edition Saturday at Sanford Stadium in Athens?
No. 21 USC (4-0) at No. 23 Illinois (3-1)
The Big Ten matchup lost a bit of its luster last week when the Illini were throttled by Indiana, 63-10. However, the contest will be a measuring stick for both teams heading into the thick of conference play. Lincoln Riley seemingly has his offense clicking on all cylinders again behind quarterback Jayden Maiava. The Trojans are third in total offense heading into Week 5 and rank fifth in scoring offense. USC picked up wins over Purdue and Michigan State over the last two weeks, but Illinois will be its most formidable foe so far. Saturday’s contest will present another opportunity for Bret Bielema’s squad to earn a victory over a quality Big Ten foe. Illinois allowed an average of just 7.3 points to its first three opponents and will be looking to get back on track defensively this week.