College Football Week Five Highlights
The fifth week of college football in 2025 brought a mix of excitement and drama.
Fans stormed the field on Friday night, and among the buzz was the connection between a star linebacker and the daughter of the opposing coach. This all happened right before a fierce matchup featuring two top-10 teams that ended up going into double overtime.
Meanwhile, Bowling Green’s beloved mascot, Pudge, took a well-deserved week off to rest.
With the conclusion of this week’s games, we’re looking ahead—three teams are on the rise, while three others are facing downward trends.
At Vault Hemingway Stadium, with less than two minutes to go, Mississippi State held a slim lead of 24-19 against LSU. Tension was building on the field.
Coach Lane Kiffin found himself at a crossroads. Facing a crucial fourth down situation at the LSU 35-yard line, would he opt for kicker Lucascalneiro’s long field goal or stick with backup quarterback Trinidad Chamblis and the offense?
Kiffin decided to press on with the offense, and it paid off as his backup sealed the game for them.
After the win, the Mississippi State head coach expressed some joy on social media, remarking, “What a victory. What a sport.”
Back at Scott Stadium on Friday night, Virginia fans were on the edge of their seats, moments away from a surprising upset over the then 8th-ranked Florida team. But excitement turned to suspense as Florida’s quarterback, Tommy Castellanos, connected with tight end Randy Pittman Jr. to bring the game within one point.
In the second overtime, Virginia’s Chandler Morris scored from four yards out, and fans erupted as Florida State’s next possession ended in an interception.
This was a tough loss for the Seminoles and head coach Mike Nobel, who noted their slow start in the game. “They capitalized on our early mistakes,” he reflected, admitting they didn’t get the start they needed.
Looking ahead, the Seminoles are set to face Miami next week, which promises to be a significant matchup. Nobel emphasized the importance of the opportunity, saying, “It’s a big game for us, for our program, and our university.” He also acknowledged the need for discipline and execution as they head into that challenge.
Meanwhile, in Oregon, a second overtime victory for the Ducks over Penn State was the highlight of the day. Dillon Thieneman’s interception sealed the win in the much-anticipated “whiteout” game.
This game was one of the most talked-about of the weekend, with the ranked teams fighting hard for dominance. Oregon took an early lead but found themselves on the ropes as Penn State rallied back to tie the game.
After trading touchdowns in the first overtime, Oregon’s quarterback Dante Moore connected with Gary Bryant Jr. for the win. Coach Dan Lanning, somewhat at a loss for words after the game, celebrated the hard-fought victory.
This win improved Oregon’s standing, tying them with Indiana at the top of the Big Ten, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup next week against USC.
On another note, following a 20-10 victory over Florida, LSU’s head coach Brian Kelly faced questions about his team’s offensive performance, which he was understandably defensive about.
“Really? Is that really the best question after a win?” he challenged reporters, sharing a bit of frustration before ultimately apologizing for his tone. Yet, the issues around LSU’s offense lingered after their 24-19 loss to Mississippi State.
Although LSU didn’t have their star running back Caden Durham, they only managed 57 rushing yards. Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier completed 21 of 34 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown, but his interception early in the second quarter hampered the offense.
In his postgame remarks, Kelly noted the lack of “complementary football” and emphasized the need for a more cohesive game as they approach stronger opponents. Despite two solid wins against Clemson and Florida, doubts remained as both teams weren’t even ranked in the top 25.
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama fans were anxious about Coach Calendo Boer after a rocky start to the season. The atmosphere grew tense following a 14-point loss to Florida, sparking speculation about his future.
However, following a decisive victory against Georgia, sentiments began to shift in favor of Alabama’s coach. The Crimson Tide managed to score three touchdowns from quarterback Ty Simpson and effectively shut down Georgia’s attempts to rally.
Despite a challenging start to their season, Alabama could regain some footing in the rankings with key upcoming games. As for Georgia, head coach Kirby Smart faced tough reality, noting his struggles against Alabama.
Still, there were signs of hope for Georgia, as they limited Alabama’s scoring in the second half, despite the initial setback. Though this loss will impact Georgia’s rankings, the Bulldogs remain in contention with several critical games against ranked teams ahead.
