We’re in for another entertaining Saturday of college football as we stay focused on conference play.
There are three ranked versus ranked showdowns on the day, as well as some tricky road spots for other ranked teams that could upset some of the best teams in the country.
Here’s what we’re watching closely in Week 5.
Time: Noon | TV: Fox | Line: USC -21.5 | Overall: 73.5
Deion Sanders and Colorado were arguably the biggest story in sports as the Buffaloes surprisingly started the year 3-0. However, things changed last weekend when Colorado was defeated 42-6 at Oregon. Now at home, the Buffs face another extremely difficult challenge: USC and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams visits Folsom Field. USC is off to an easy 4-0 start, averaging a whopping 55 points per game, albeit against lackluster competition. Colorado had major problems on defense, but USC’s defense was also prone to breakdowns. There could be a shootout.
Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: UT -16.5 | Overall: 63.5
Could this be a difficult place for Texas? The Longhorns are 4-0 and ranked No. 3 in the country. The next big game on Texas’ schedule is next weekend against rival Oklahoma. But the Longhorns won’t let that stop them from looking to the Sooners while a dangerous Kansas team visits Austin. Kansas coach Lance Leipold has quickly transformed the Jayhawks into a viable Big 12 team. Kansas is off to a 4-0 start for the second straight season behind a stellar offense led by QB Jalon Daniels, RB Devin Neal and a strong group of receivers. The Jayhawks have a unique offensive system that could cause problems for the Longhorns.
Time: 6 p.m. | TV: ESPN | Line: LSU -2.5 | Total: 66.5
The Tigers started the season with hype for the national title, but their play has been inconsistent so far. LSU was crushed in the second half of its season opener against Florida State but has won three straight since. The offense has been productive, but the defense is still struggling badly – especially in the secondary. Does Ole Miss have the talent to exploit LSU’s weaknesses? On paper it seems so, but on offense the Rebels didn’t look quite right. How will Lane Kiffin’s team respond at home after last week’s uninspiring performance against Alabama?
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: ND -5.5 | Overall: 52.5
Notre Dame is coming off a brutal last-second loss to Ohio State. It had to be incredibly depressing for Marcus Freeman’s program, and now the Irish have to face an undefeated Duke team on the road. Notre Dame has improved significantly with Sam Hartman at QB, but will this team be able to bounce back after such a crushing loss? For Duke, this is the program’s biggest game in years and the first time the school has hosted ESPN’s “College GameDay” for football. Will coach Mike Elko and the Blue Devils be ready for the moment?