Tucker’s Top 10 College Football Matchups: Week 5
By Tucker Harlin
It’s the final week of September?!?!?!?
Yes, we are now one third of the way through college football season. Time flies.
I did a little bit better in predicting the 10 best matchups in the Week 4 slate, scoring 7/10 on intriguing matchups.
I have a feeling Week 5 is going to be less accurate on my end than Week 4. Looking at the slate, there are a bunch of matchups that could turn into something and one that will have the attention of the entire nation. I’ll let you figure out what the one is.
Here’s my Top 10:
10. WASHINGTON STATE (4-0) @ #25 BOISE STATE (3-1)- BSU -7.5, 10 PM FS1
I’m going to try my hardest to make this explanation logical.
These two aren’t actually in the same conference, but the Pac-2 plays Mountain West schools in lieu of actual conference opponents. Boise State is joining the Pac-12 in 2026, and the Pac-12 is now suing the Mountain West for preventing the Pac-12 from expanding by not allowing it to take Mountain West schools.
It’s a mess.
These schools met six times between 1997 and 2017 with the Cougars winning five of the six. The Cougars won the 2017 meeting 47-44 as the back end of a home and home with the Broncos.
If you haven’t seen Boise State play yet this season, you’ll get to watch a master at work in Ashton Jeanty at running back. Jeanty is arguably the best running back in the 2025 NFL draft class, and his numbers in Boise State’s first three games back it up.
Washington State likes to run the football too. Quarterback John Mateer is far and away the lead rusher with just under 500 yards for the year, something we aren’t accustomed to seeing from the program where one of the staple Air Raid coaches once walked the sidelines.
The Cougars have managed alright in life without the other 10 in the Pac-12 so far, dominating Texas Tech, surviving the Apple Cup, and winning a double overtime thriller over San Jose State last week.
I expect an entertaining matchup on the blue turf for those who choose to stay up into the wee hours of the morning.
9. #22 BYU (4-0) @ BAYLOR (2-2)- BAY -3, NOON FS1
I put this one in here because I’m interested to watch BYU perform with a number next to its name.
These two split a home and home in 2021 and 2022 when they weren’t Big 12 foes, the home team prevailing in both.
The Cougars aren’t anything flashy on offense. They ground out an 18-15 win at SMU back on Friday of Week 2, and much of the 38 they scored in their win over Kansas State last week was either not offensive or set up by turnovers.
Dave Aranda is coaching to keep his job in Waco this season. The Bears a 23-12 rock fight at Utah in Week 2, and they fell in an emotionally draining overtime loss to Coach Prime and Colorado last week.
Upset hangover could have an effect on BYU, the probable reason for the line’s slight tilt toward Baylor.
8. COLORADO (3-1) @ UCF (3-0)- UCF -14.5. 3:30 PM FOX
Coach Prime goes to the Bounce House for the Buffs and Knights’ first matchup as Big 12 foes, which also happens to be their first matchup ever.
I already mentioned what Colorado did last week in my #9 game of this week. Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter are who Colorado is all about.
Who Colorado isn’t about is its running backs, something UCF is all about. R.J. Harvey has rushed for no fewer than 126 yards in a game this season, an instrumental part of the Gus Malzahn offense.
With the tropical storm incoming, Orlando figures to be rainy and wet for the Buffs, something that may suit the Knights’ offense better than the pass happy offense of the Buffs.
If that’s the case, UCF could easily win by two scores in a raucous bounce house.
7. WASHINGTON (3-1) @ RUTGERS (3-0) Friday- RUTG -2.5, 8 PM FOX
I’m optimistic the trend of Friday night fun will continue with the very traditional Big 10 matchup of Washington and Rutgers in Piscataway this week.
These two met for a home and home in 2016 and 2017, the Huskies coming out victorious in both places.
Washington’s only loss at this point in the season is the Apple Cup in Week 3. It dismantled a bad Northwestern team 24-5 in its first Big 10 game this week.
Rutgers is coming off a 26-23 survival against Virginia Tech down in Blacksburg. The wins over Howard and Akron aren’t tests of the highest caliber.
The Scarlet Knights and Huskies could not differ more stylistically. Kyle Monangai, one of the best running backs most of you have never heard of, is the centerpiece to Greg Schiano’s offense.
Washington is led by the SEC all-time leader in pass yards, Will Rogers, at quarterback. The Huskies will operate through the air far more than the Scarlet Knights.
My prediction is a one possession game in Piscataway.
6. #19 ILLINOIS (4-0) @ #9 PENN STATE (3-0)- PSU -18.5, 7:30 PM NBC
The first ranked matchup of my Top 10 is the Fighting Illini’s trip to Happy Valley for a night game.
The Nittany Lions hold a 21-6 edge all time, winning 30-13 last year in Champaign. I can’t write this without noting Illinois won a horrible football game 20-18 in nine overtimes at Penn State back in 2021.
The Illini are your typical Big 10 team, playing with a gritty offensive scheme while remaining stout on defense. Illinois is one of two teams in the country with two ranked wins in the first four weeks, taking down Kansas and Nebraska in close battles.
Penn State is a hair above average for the Big 10 offensively while maintaining as similar defensive strength.
A 34-12 win at West Virginia is the Nittany Lions’ only power conference victory to this point. They won a close one against Bowling Green in Week 2 but blasted and abysmal Kent State team last week.
The line is awfully tilted in favor of Penn State. I think the Nittany Lions win, but if the Illini cause trouble for Drew Allar they could cover.
5. #21 OKLAHOMA (3-1) @ AUBURN (2-2)- OU -2.5, 3:30 PM ABC
Oklahoma’s first road test in the SEC is on the plains against a team it has played twice ever and won against by similar margins in a pair of Sugar Bowls.
Both of these teams dealt with quarterback catastrophes last week.
Auburn started Hank Brown over Payton Thorne, only to find out the backup was no better than the guy who threw four picks against Cal. Michael Hawkins at least appeared to be better than Jackson Arnold against Tennessee, but this will be his first full game for the Sooners.
The Tigers’ defensive front won’t pose quite the threat Tennessee’s did to the Sooners offensive line, but it’s safe to say the Sooners will be ultra reliant on their defense in what could very well be a field position battle.
I see the winner of this game scoring no more than 24 points.
4. #20 OKLAHOMA STATE (3-1) @ #23 KANSAS STATE (3-1)- KSU -4.5, NOON ESPN
This is the get right game for somebody’s Big 12 championship bid. The Pokes lead the Wildcats 43-27 all time, taking them down 29-21 in Stillwater last season.
Both Alan Bowman and Avery Johnson are coming off of horrid performances in their losses last week. Between the two, Kansas State has surprisingly had the better rush attack through the first three weeks of the season. The Pokes simply haven’t gotten Ollie Gordon going yet.
Both of these teams have an important power four win to their name in the first month. Oklahoma State came back and beat Arkansas 39-31 in Week 2, and Kansas State blew out Arizona 31-7 in the second half of its Week 3 Friday game.
I should note shaky quarterback play is what resulted in a 48-0 loss for the Pokes to the Wildcats back in 2022.
I trust Bowman more than Gunner Gundy to run the offense, but I wouldn’t get my hopes up if I’m an Oklahoma State fan.
3. #15 LOUISVILLE (3-0) @ #16 NOTRE DAME (3-1)- ND -6, 3:30 PM PEACOCK
Credit: University of Louisville Athletics
Naturally one of the four ranked matchups Saturday is on a subscription streaming service.
It’s a dead split 2-2 all time between the Cardinals and Irish with one win in each location. Louisville prevailed 33-20 last season at Cardinals Stadium.
Similar to the game between Washington and Rutgers, this has a stylistic clash. Jeff Brohm wants Louisville to air the ball out in order to win while Marcus Freeman’s goal for Notre Dame is to rely mostly on its sound defense.
The Irish have been suspect on offense this season, something that cost them in Week 2’s 16-14 home loss to Northern Illinois. Riley Leonard only has one pass touchdown all season.
Louisville ate cupcakes the first two weeks but proved itself nicely when facing an actual test. It used momentum swinging plays to propel itself to a 31-19 win over a gritty Georgia Tech team.
If Notre Dame’s defense gets what it wants, I anticipate a low scoring Notre Dame win. However, if Louisville’s offense comes out firing on all cylinders, it may be a blowout in the other direction.
2. #24 TEXAS A&M vs ARKANSAS (Dallas)- A&M -4, 3:30 PM ESPN
Credit: Texas A&M Athletics
The Southwest Classic is a 42-35-3 advantage for Arkansas all time, but it’s not been so good for the Hogs since the resumption of the rivalry 15 years ago.
Arkansas won the first three meetings, but it only has one win over Texas A&M since the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012.
These are two teams searching for meaning the SEC. Arkansas has come out stronger than many thought it could this season, and a quarterback change was all Texas A&M needed to flip the switch on what felt like another rough season ahead.
Both teams won their first SEC battle. Arkansas won an ugly 24-14 contest on the plains last week, and Texas A&M made it late early in its 33-20 road win over Florida.
Generally speaking, this game is always close and typically not very high scoring. Mental kryptonite is absolutely at play here for Arkansas, so I like Texas A&M to win by no more than a touchdown
1. #2 GEORGIA (3-0) @ #4 ALABAMA (3-0)- UGA -2, 7:30 PM ABC
Credit: University of Alabama Athletics
The game of games in 2024. The one all of us had circled when opponents for the 16-team SEC were revealed for its first two seasons.
Alabama and Georgia have avoided each other like yours truly avoids salads in the regular season over the years, primarily meeting in SEC championships with a pair of meetings in the 2017 and 2021 national titles.
The Tide holds a 43-26-4 edge all time over the Bulldogs, most recently defeating them 27-24 in the SEC title last season. There are two regular season meetings in the last 15 years: a 38-10 rout for the Tide in Athens back in 2015 and 41-24 COVID victory for it in Tuscaloosa.
Both squads had extra time to prepare for one another with a week off in Week 4.
Georgia desperately needed the bye after its 13-12 survival at Kentucky, a game in which it lost All-American guard Tate Ratledge for the next several weeks. The battle in the trenches when the Bulldogs have the ball is something to watch with Ratledge out.
Between the two, Alabama has more explosivity on offense through the first month. While we’re on the subject of Tide playmakers, did you know receiver Ryan Williams was an infant the last time Alabama was a home underdog?
I expect and hope this one lives up to everything we’ve imagined it will this weekend.
