Week 5 is right here with loads of thrilling matchups between ranked opponents. There’s the SEC championship rematch from final season between No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama, there is a vital Huge 12 showdown between No. 20 Oklahoma State and No. 23 Kansas State, and there is an intriguing assembly within the Huge Ten when No. 19 Illinois visits No. 9 Penn State.Â
That is the final weekend of September, which implies that the season is admittedly solely simply heating up. And we’ll be taught much more about which groups are official Faculty Soccer Playoff contenders as October approaches.
Listed here are the highest 5 video games to look at this weekend:
Minnesota at No. 12Michigan (Midday ET on FOX)
There will not be any surprises right here. Michigan goes to run the ball, so Minnesota must shut it right down to have any hope of leaving Ann Arbor with a win.
As we discovered final week, first-year Wolverines coach Sherrone Moore goes to trip with QB Alex Orji over Davis Warren for the foreseeable future. Orji would not throw the ball very a lot, however he and Michigan’s operating backs can transfer the chains with their legs. Final week, Kalel Mullings obtained scorching and had 17 carries for 159 yards with two touchdowns in an enormous win over USC. That appears to be Moore’s offensive recreation plan, and he is sticking to it.
The Gophers have the nation’s No. 2 passing protection, however that is not going to matter a lot right here. They’re giving up almost 125 ypg on the bottom and allowed 4 dashing touchdowns in final week’s 31-14 loss to Iowa. Switch QB Max Brosmer offers Minnesota an edge within the passing recreation, nevertheless it won’t be sufficient to beat the expertise Michigan has on its protection.
No. 20Oklahoma State at No. 23Kansas State (12 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Each groups are nonetheless very a lot within the hunt to win the Huge 12 regardless of getting into this recreation contemporary off losses. Oklahoma State is coming off a tricky 22-19 end result vs. Utah, whereas Kansas State fell brief on the street at BYU, shedding 38-9.
A key matchup will likely be Wildcats quarterback Avery Johnson towards the Cowboys’ protection. Johnson had a poor efficiency final week, throwing for 130 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. OSU has one of many worst defenses within the nation, although, permitting greater than 460 yards per recreation, so this may be a chance for the younger QB to get again on observe.
Mike Gundy mentioned his offense was “terrible” vs. Utah. Veteran QB Alan Bowman completed with 206 yards and two interceptions, and was benched for the third quarter and a part of the fourth earlier than returning for the ultimate 10 minutes to assist his staff attempt to rally. Working again Ollie Gordon II, who gained the Doak Walker Award final season, hasn’t been capable of get going, dashing for lower than 50 yards in every of the final three video games. This week, he faces one other top-25 run protection, so these struggles might proceed.
No. 15Louisville at No. 12Notre Dame (3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock)
Notre Dame is attempting to do the whole lot in its energy to remain alive within the CFP race. After a surprising 16-14 loss to Northern Illinois at house in Week 2, the Combating Irish should rack up wins to remain within the choice committee’s good graces, and show to followers why they need to cheer for this staff as a substitute of boo them (as was the case final week).
A yr in the past, Notre Dame was in an analogous place getting into its matchup vs. Louisville. The Irish had one loss, however went on the street and have been upset by the Cardinals, 33-20. That one in all probability nonetheless hurts somewhat bit in South Bend, particularly because the Irish have been anticipated to win. This yr’s matchup pits one of many prime scoring offenses in Louisville (47.3 ppg) vs. one of many prime scoring defenses in Notre Dame (9.8 ppg). Cardinals QB Tyler Shough, a switch by the use of Texas Tech and Oregon, has eight passing touchdowns and nil interceptions to this point this season.Â
Irish QB Riley Leonard, in the meantime, is coming off a stellar efficiency towards Miami (Ohio). He handed for 154 yards with one landing and ran for 143 yards with two dashing scores, together with a 50-yard dash up the center of the sector within the ultimate minutes of the sport.
No. 2Georgia at No. 4Alabama (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)
Probably the most extremely anticipated recreation of the week. Final yr, Alabama beat Georgia 27-24 within the SEC title recreation, clinching a spot within the CFP and ending the Bulldogs’ hope of successful three straight nationwide championships. Since then, Nick Saban has retired and Kalen DeBoer has been employed to maintain the successful tradition in Tuscaloosa. That is DeBoer’s first main check as Saban’s alternative, and it is in all probability a bit unfair that his SEC debut has to come back towards Kirby Sensible and the Dawgs.
Off-field story traces apart, the sport itself guarantees to be entertaining, because it at all times is. QB Jalen Milroe is operating much more below DeBoer, so Georgia’s protection goes to want to get stress early and sometimes and restrict explosive performs. Alabama has the nation’s fifth-best scoring offense proper now, averaging 49.0 ppg, whereas Georgia has the nation’s second-best scoring protection and hasn’t allowed a landing in three video games. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs will want QB Carson Beck, whose solely loss as a starter was to Alabama final yr, to get right into a rhythm rapidly. The Bulldogs haven’t scored touchdowns within the first half of two of their first three video games this season, however they’ve an opportunity to succeed right here towards an unproven Bama secondary.
No. 19Illinois at No. 9Penn State (7:30 p.m. on NBC)
James Franklin has referred to as for “White Out power” forward of Penn State’s first convention conflict of the season, a Saturday evening matchup towards Nineteenth-ranked Illinois. The final time the Combating Illini paid a go to to Beaver Stadium in 2021, they upset the then-No. 7 Nittany Lions 20-18 in an unprecedented 9 overtimes.
Three years later, each groups enter this showdown undefeated, ranked within the prime 20 with their CFP hopes intact. Illinois has already knocked off two ranked groups within the first 4 weeks of the season, first beating then-No. 19 Kansas 23-17 in Week 2, after which edging then-No. 22 Nebraska 31-24 final Friday evening in Lincoln. The Illini aren’t intimidated by rowdy environments, although Penn State followers will strive their hardest to affect the sport.
Penn State, in the meantime, is in search of its first high quality win of the season. After taking good care of West Virginia in Week 1, James Franklin’s staff struggled to place Bowling Inexperienced away in Week 2. Following an idle week, the Nittany Lions crushed Kent State 56-0 at house final Saturday. If PSU can get previous this weekend unscathed, it’s going to solely have two prime 25 groups left on the schedule: at No. 13 USC (Oct. 12) and vs. No. 3 Ohio State (Nov. 2).
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand wrote for Sports activities Illustrated, USA In the present day and The Indianapolis Star. She is the creator of “Sturdy Like a Lady,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Comply with her at@LakenLitman.
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