The Week 5 college football schedule features the potential for one of the most explosive games yet of the early 2026 season.
And it takes place in Starkville, Mississippi, with two wunderkind quarterbacks leading the way. No. 7 Alabama and No. 16 Mississippi State will both put their undefeated records on the line as the Crimson Tide's Keelon Russell and Bulldogs' Kamario Taylor face off.
Russell has completed 78 of 110 passes (70.9%) for 1,129 yards and eight touchdowns to two interceptions, adding 168 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. Taylor has been just as impressive, if not more so, completing 83 of 120 passes (69.2%) for 1,192 and a nation-leading 14 touchdowns. He too is a threat with his legs, rushing for 185 yards and a score.
Elsewhere, No. 14 Iowa will host No. 6 Ohio State in a rare "College GameDay" visit to Iowa City — just the third in the program's history. The Hawkeyes are coming off a literal last-second victory over Michigan to see them preserve their undefeated record, but will they be able to slow down an Ohio State offense spearheaded by record-breaking receiver Jeremiah Smith?
Then there's No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri. The Tigers are coming off a tough Week 4 loss to Mississippi State and will look to take it out on a visiting Florida team that's among the hottest in the country. Can Jon Sumrall, even with Jadan Baugh in tow, keep the Gators from a hangover after thrashing a top-10 Mississippi team?
Here's how our experts are picking those games and more in Week 5:
College football Week 5 top-25 predictions, picks
Odd courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Sept. 28
Vanderbilt at No. 2 Georgia
- Odds: Georgia (-24.5)
- Spread: 52.5 points
- Moneyline: Georgia (-2500) | Vanderbilt (+1450)
- Craig Meyer: Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 10
- Austin Curtright: Georgia 45, Vanderbilt 10
- John Leuzzi: Georgia 38, Vanderbilt 20
- Jordan Mendoza: Georgia 44, Vanderbilt 13
- Adam Bittner: Georgia 48, Vanderbilt 10
What our experts are saying: "There hasn’t been a more dominant team in the country on both ends of the ball than Georgia to start the season. That continues against Vanderbilt, who put up a good fight against Auburn last week. Gunner Stockton throws for three touchdowns while Georgia scores at least 35 points for the fifth straight game. Jared Curtis has a rough going against the program from which he flipped his high school commitment." — John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Sports
No. 3 Notre Dame at North Carolina
- Odds: Notre Dame (-21)
- Spread: 47.5 points
- Moneyline: Notre Dame (-2000) | North Carolina (+1100)
- Craig Meyer: Notre Dame 34, North Carolina 9
- Austin Curtright: Notre Dame 41, North Carolina 10
- John Leuzzi: Notre Dame 34, North Carolina 10
- Jordan Mendoza: Notre Dame 48, North Carolina 9
- Adam Bittner: Notre Dame 35, North Carolina 15
What our experts are saying: "Notre Dame has been stampeding over anything in front of it so far, and that shouldn’t change when another suspicious Bill Belichick team is up next. The Fighting Irish put this game away early and the questions get louder in Chapel Hill." — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY Sports
No. 4 Miami at Clemson
- Odds: Miami (-17)
- Spread: 48.5 points
- Moneyline: Miami (-800) | Clemson (+600)
- Craig Meyer: Miami 30, Clemson 17
- Austin Curtright: Miami 45, Clemson 13
- John Leuzzi: Miami 38, Clemson 24
- Jordan Mendoza: Miami 35, Clemson 17
- Adam Bittner: Miami 30, Clemson 24
What our experts are saying: "Clemson is not very good, and Miami might have the best offense in college football. Darian Mensah continues his historic start to the season and picks apart a Tigers defense that has struggled at times this season." — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports
No. 5 Indiana at Rutgers
- Odds: Indiana (-24)
- Spread: 56.5 points
- Moneyline: Indiana (-2500) | Rutgers (+1300)
- Craig Meyer: Indiana 41, Rutgers 12
- Austin Curtright: Indiana 38, Rutgers 17
- John Leuzzi: Indiana 31, Rutgers 20
- Jordan Mendoza: Indiana 45, Rutgers 17
- Adam Bittner: Indiana 30, Rutgers 20
What our experts are saying: "Don’t look now, but the Scarlet Knights have averaged 33.8 points per game through four outings. That early loss to UMass doesn’t look quite as bad — the Minutemen are 4-0 and clearly much improved from their winless campaign in 2025. And Rutgers stayed in the game with USC two weeks ago on its home field.
"The Hoosiers, meanwhile, looked far from dominant in their first Big Ten game against Northwestern last week. Perhaps Josh Hoover goes off in this one and makes the game against the Wildcats look like a blip. But we see potential for some peskiness from the Knights in this spot against the defending champs." — Adam Bittner, USA TODAY Sports
No. 6 Ohio State at No. 14 Iowa
- Odds: Ohio State (-13.5)
- Spread: 45.5 points
- Moneyline: Ohio State (-600) | Iowa (+450)
- Craig Meyer: Ohio State 27, Iowa 17
- Austin Curtright: Ohio State 30, Iowa 13
- John Leuzzi: Ohio State 24, Iowa 10
- Jordan Mendoza: Ohio State 29, Iowa 20
- Adam Bittner: Ohio State 30, Iowa 12
What our experts are saying: "Despite being the home to college football's most heartwarming in-stadium tradition, Kinnick Stadium has historically been a place where Big Ten championship dreams go up in smoke. Expect a feisty Hawkeyes team to keep this close after their thrilling, last-second win against Michigan, but they simply don't have the offensive firepower to keep up with the Buckeyes." — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Sports
No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Mississippi State
- Odds: Alabama (-5.5)
- Spread: 59.5 points
- Moneyline: Alabama (-225) | Mississippi State (+185)
- Craig Meyer: Alabama 36, Mississippi State 31
- Austin Curtright: Alabama 45, Mississippi State 34
- John Leuzzi: Alabama 42, Mississippi State 35
- Jordan Mendoza: Alabama 43, Mississippi State 40
- Adam Bittner: Alabama 38, Mississippi 20
What our experts are saying: "Alabama-Mississippi State has a chance to be one of the most fun quarterback matchups of the season between Keelon Russell and Kamario Taylor, two young Heisman Trophy contenders. The Crimson Tide has a bit more firepower, though. I'm expecting lots of points from the two high-powered offenses." — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports
No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri
- Odds: Florida (-5)
- Spread: 56.5 points
- Moneyline: Florida (-210) | Missouri (+170)
- Craig Meyer: Florida 37, Missouri 28
- Austin Curtright: Florida 31, Missouri 23
- John Leuzzi: Florida 27, Missouri 21
- Jordan Mendoza: Florida 33, Missouri 20
- Adam Bittner: Florida 31, Missouri 17
What our experts are saying: "Jon Sumrall has made the Gators legit, but a trip to Missouri has trap written all over it following a major victory. Luckily, the Tigers aren’t that scary, so Jaden Baugh and company shouldn’t have too much trouble running over Mizzou to remain undefeated." — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY Sports
No. 9 BYU at TCU
- Odds: BYU (-6.5)
- Spread: 48.5 points
- Moneyline: BYU (-235) | TCU (+200)
- Craig Meyer: BYU 31, TCU 13
- Austin Curtright: BYU 28, TCU 16
- John Leuzzi: BYU 21, TCU 17
- Jordan Mendoza: BYU 28, TCU 16
- Adam Bittner: BYU 38, TCU 31
What our experts are saying: "The Cougars look like one of the favorites in the Big 12 while the Horned Frogs have looked atrocious offensively, averaging just 11.5 points per game against power-conference opponents under new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis. If BYU's the team we think they are, this one shouldn't be all that close." — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Sports
No. 10 Texas Tech at Colorado
- Odds: Texas Tech (-13.5)
- Spread: 50.5 points
- Moneyline: Texas Tech (-525) | Colorado (+400)
- Craig Meyer: Texas Tech 32, Colorado 13
- Austin Curtright: Texas Tech 34, Colorado 10
- John Leuzzi: Texas Tech 38, Colorado 14
- Jordan Mendoza: Texas Tech 30, Colorado 14
- Adam Bittner: Texas Tech 35, Colorado 14
What our experts are saying: "Colorado's struggles continue with or without JuJu Lewis under center. This also feels like a big passing game for Will Hammond and Texas Tech’s offense, who have just four passing touchdowns on the season. Colorado’s defense has held opponents to under 118 rushing yards per game through four weeks." — John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Sports
Auburn at No. 17 Tennessee
- Odds: Tennessee (-7)
- Spread: 54.5 points
- Moneyline: Tennessee (-285) | Auburn (+230)
- Craig Meyer: Tennessee 34, Auburn 24
- Austin Curtright: Tennessee 27, Auburn 21
- John Leuzzi: Tennessee 31, Auburn 14
- Jordan Mendoza: Tennessee 24, Auburn 22
- Adam Bittner: Auburn 30, Tennessee 17
What our experts are saying: "Which Byrum Brown are we getting here at QB for the Tigers? Will it be the mistake-prone version we saw throw three picks in the opener against Baylor? Or will it be playmaking version we saw put up 336 scrimmage yards to keep Auburn in the game against what’s proven to be a pretty solid Florida team here in the early going?
"If it’s the latter, he could out-duel Tennessee freshman Faizon Brandon, who hasn’t quite shown it yet against power conference competition." — Adam Bittner, USA TODAY Sports
Washington at No. 18 USC
- Odds: USC (-8.5)
- Spread: 57.5 points
- Moneyline: USC (-350) | Washington (+275)
- Craig Meyer: USC 38, Washington 20
- Austin Curtright: USC 34, Washington 24
- John Leuzzi: USC 28, Washington 24
- Jordan Mendoza: USC 38, Washington 34
- Adam Bittner: USC 38, Washington 28
What our experts are saying: "Both sides are in the dumps after disappointing Week 4 results, and one team will have two losses by the end of the week after hopeful campaigns to start the season. The hot seat is on Lincoln Riley, but his offense is still in good shape and power the Trojans to get the season somewhat back on track." — Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY Sports
Boston College at No. 19 SMU
- Odds: SMU (-20.5)
- Spread: 56.5 points
- Moneyline: SMU (-1400) | Boston College (+950)
- Craig Meyer: SMU 41, Boston College 17
- Austin Curtright: SMU 42, Boston College 20
- John Leuzzi: SMU 34, Boston College 7
- Jordan Mendoza: SMU 35, Boston College 24
- Adam Bittner: SMU 38, Boston College 24
What our experts are saying: "The Mustangs have offered plenty of doubt that they can make it back to the College Football Playoff this season. Kevin Jennings' propensity for turnovers has ended his charade of a Heisman campaign. Last week, SMU played with its food in a closer-than-expected win over Missouri State. Even with all of that, they should have no trouble blowing past an overmatched BC team." — Craig Meyer, USA TODAY Sports
UCF at No. 20 Houston
- Odds: Houston (-12)
- Spread: 51.5 points
- Moneyline: Houston (-450) | Central Florida (+360)
- Craig Meyer: Houston 28, Central Florida 17
- Austin Curtright: Houston 30, UCF 17
- John Leuzzi: Houston 27, UCF 21
- Jordan Mendoza: Houston 23, UCF 17
- Adam Bittner: Houston 31, UCF 21
What our experts are saying: "While the betting line is just under two touchdowns in favor of Houston, this one feels like a toss-up. But I’ll side with Connor Weigman and the Cougars at home, as Houston picks up its first conference victory of the season by winning the fourth quarter." — John Leuzzi, USA TODAY Sports
No. 22 Penn State at Northwestern
- Odds: Penn State (-2.5)
- Spread: 46.5 points
- Moneyline: Penn State (-145) | Northwestern (+120)
- Craig Meyer: Northwestern 24, Penn State 20
- Austin Curtright: Northwestern 23, Penn State 17
- John Leuzzi: Penn State 21, Northwestern 17
- Jordan Mendoza: Northwestern 17, Penn State 16
- Adam Bittner: Northwestern 24, Penn State 17
What our experts are saying: "The Wildcats beat the Nittany Lions in Happy Valley a year ago to prompt James Franklin’s firing. They’ll have the juice of opening a new stadium in this one, plus the momentum of taking reigning national champion Indiana to the brink of an upset.
"Penn State has none of that mojo going on after blowing a 17-0 lead to Wisconsin at home. It’s hard to imagine QB Rocco Becht playing much worse in this one. But even a better day still might not be enough without leading receiver Koby Howard still missing because of injury. Just one Penn State wide receiver caught a pass against Wisconsin." — Adam Bittner, USA TODAY Sports
No. 24 Michigan at Minnesota
- Odds: Michigan (-5.5)
- Spread: 43.5 points
- Moneyline: Michigan (-220) | Minnesota (+180)
- Craig Meyer: Michigan 23, Minnesota 21
- Austin Curtright: Michigan 24, Minnesota 20
- John Leuzzi: Michigan 21, Minnesota 17
- Jordan Mendoza: Minnesota 23, Michigan 21
- Adam Bittner: Minnesota 24, Michigan 20
What our experts are saying: "Minnesota is capable of giving Michigan a scare, but I'll take the Wolverines to rebound from their tough loss to Iowa last week. Michigan only scored 19 points against the Hawkeyes last week, but its offense showed some signs of life, although the bar has been low this season." — Austin Curtright, USA TODAY Sports
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football picks: Week 5 expert predictions, odds for every top 25 game
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