Recap Rundown: Week Five
In our in-season segment 'Recap Rundown', we will give you the Cliff's Notes on every team that played in the past week. You'll get the 'need-to-knows' from each team's performance, notes, and news.
The ‘Recap Rundown’ is a compilation of the work of our fantastic team at CFBDepth.com, working diligently to update and make thoughtful observations for each of our 136 schools. This team includes the following individuals, who must be followed on social channels:
Ryan Coacher: @CoacherRyan
Eric Lilly: @bearcatbunch
Jaden Del Guercio: @guercio_jaden
Ryan West: @ryanwest1513
Will O’Connor: @WillOC_94
Note: Clicking on the team name will take you to their live depth chart.
Note: The “PGWE” stands for “post-game win expectancy” number.
So, enjoy this week’s edition of the ‘Recap Rundown’ presented by CFBDepth:
Southeastern Conference
Alabama ::: WIN, at Georgia, 24-21 PGWE: 20% -- The Crimson Tide went into hostile territory in week five and beat the Georgia Bulldogs for a signature win for Kalen DeBoer. A much-needed signature win after the loss in week one to the Seminoles. QB Ty Simpson was everything they needed him to be in the win, throwing for 276 yards and accounting for all three touchdowns. The turning point was provided by the defense when they stuffed the Dawgs on a 4th-and-1 from their own 8-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Simpson and the offense then converted two key third downs on a final drive to run out the clock. Overall, they converted 12 of 19 attempts on third down, which was a significant factor in their success.
Auburn ::: Loss, at Texas A&M, 10-16 PGWE: 0% -- The Tigers call to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in SEC play after falling to the Aggies in College Station in week five, 16-10. They hung in with a stellar defensive performance, but just couldn’t get over the hump. Offensively, they managed just 176 total yards and went zero for 12 on third-down conversion attempts. Their only touchdown was even set up on a tee by the defense, who returned an interception to the two-yard line before QB Jackson Arnold ran it in on the next play. Hugh Freeze called the offense ‘unacceptable’ following the game. They have a bye week to get things figured out and they’ll need it.
Georgia ::: Loss, Alabama, 21-24 PGWE: 80% -- The Dawgs fell to the Crimson Tide at home in week five, snapping a 33-game home winning streak. The loss was marred by an inability to get stops on third down and fell behind 14-0 early, a hole they could not fully recover from. RB Chauncey Bowens was the offensive star, running for 119 yards and a score. QB Gunner Stockton could never find a groove, however, going just 13/20 for 130 yards and a score. They could not convert on third downs of their own, going just 2 of 8 on those attempts. They were then stuffed on a 4th-and-1 from the Alabama 8-yard line to help seal the win for the Crimson Tide. The Dawgs fall to 3-1 on the season, but all is not lost. They can still run the tables and make the SEC title game.
LSU ::: Loss, at Ole Miss, 19-24 PGWE: 30% -- The Tigers dropped their first game of 2025 to their rival Ole Miss on the road, falling 24-19. The passing game continued to struggle as QB Garrett Nussmeier recorded a career-low 197 passing yards. They couldn’t hold an early lead after Nic Anderson caught a touchdown pass; the Rebels rattled off 17 straight to take that lead into the half. The Tigers couldn’t finish drives and settled for field goals to get it at least within striking distance, but could not get over the hump. The defense was solid most of the game, but couldn’t get a cruicial fourth down stop late in the game as the Rebels sealed the deal.
Missouri ::: WIN, Massachusetts, 42-6 PGWE: 100% -- Ahmad Hardy led the way with 130 yards rushing and three scores, his fifth 100+ yard rushing game of the season thus far. The Tigers easily move to 5-0 on the season. QB Beau Pribula broke a Missouri record with 21 straight completions, en route to a 26/29 passing day for 241 yards and a score. They didn’t go downfield much, and leading receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. caught 12 of those passes for 108 yards. Prubula’s one mistake was an interception that was returned and set up the only UMass score on the day. The Tigers were able to get some backup work late in the game and now focus their attention on utilizing the upcoming bye week to prepare for the SEC gauntlet that awaits them, starting with Alabama in week seven.
Ole Miss ::: WIN, LSU, 24-19 PGWE: 71% -- The Rebels move to 5-0 on the season with a key victory over rival LSU in week five. QB Trinidad Chambliss continued his hot run, throwing for 314 yards and a score, along with another 71 rushing yards against a tough defense. He has now had three straight 300+ yard passing outings since taking over as the starter here. The defense was the story, making life difficult for LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, recording just one sack, but eight more hurries. They held the Tigers to just 2-for-11 on third-down tries. This marks the first time they have beaten a top-5 ranked LSU team since 1965.
Arkansas ::: Loss, Notre Dame, 13-56 PGWE: 0% -- The Razorbacks’ 56-13 loss to Notre Dame in week five spelled the end of the road for head coach Sam Pittman. The school parted ways with their leader since 2020 -- this blowout loss being the final straw. He likely knew what was coming by halftime as the Irish held a 42-13 lead and the fans quickly hit the exits. They allowed Notre Dame to score on all six of their first-half drives and did nothing in the second half to revive any hope, going scoreless on offense. Offensive Coordinator Bobby Petrino was named the interim head coach, reclaiming the title he held at the school from 2008 to 2011. He fired defensive coordinator Travis Williams and much of the defensive staff as his first move in the job.
Texas A&M ::: WIN, Auburn, 16-10 PGWE: 100% -- The Aggies handled their business in week five against Auburn, sneaking out a 16-10 victory to move to 4-0 on the season. They dominated on defense, holding the Tigers to zero (0) third-down conversions on 12 attempts. They allowed just 115 total net yards on the day, and that defense got back to the basics after using the bye to get back on track after a rough outing against Notre Dame in week three. It certainly wasn’t pretty, as the offense struggled much of the game, and they wound up with 13 penalties for 119 yards, seemingly allowing the Tigers to stay in the game. RB Le’Veon Moss was the best offensive player, running for 139 yards despite getting dinged up.
Kentucky ::: Loss, at South Carolina, 13-35 PGWE: 1% -- The Wildcats again struggled offensively, spotting the Gamecocks two touchdowns in the span of three plays in the second quarter after holding a 10-7 lead. That offense looked good on the first two drives, getting those ten points, including opening the scoring with an 8-play, 65-yard drive capped by a Seth McGowan 20-yard touchdown run. They then went 76 yards, but stalled and settled for three points. They were then completely shut down in the second half, managing just 33 yards. They now fall to 2-2 on the season and 0-2 in SEC play with a trip to Athens, Georgia, on tap next week, and the Dawgs are not happy.
South Carolina ::: WIN, Kentucky, 35-13 PGWE: 99% -- The Gamecocks needed their defense to step up and help register their first SEC win of 2025. And, they did so, both holding the Wildcats down outside of their opening drive, and also scoring two touchdowns. They did so in the span of three plays in the second quarter to grab the lead after trailing 10-7. They added six sacks to the tally and limited Kentucky to just 33 yards of total offense in the second half. The Gamecocks also leaned heavily on the run game, a strategy they had not employed thus far, and although they struggled to generate many big plays, they effectively controlled the clock and kept the defense fresh. WR Mazeo Bennett got loose a couple of times, providing the threat in the passing game with five catches for 108 yards. They go into the bye week feeling much better about themselves.
Tennessee ::: WIN, at Mississippi State, 41-34 PGWE: 63% -- The Volunteers got the job done in a tough road atmosphere in Starkville, MS, against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. They were trailing by a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, QB Joey Aguilar led the drive and scored on the ground to force overtime. They then got a 25-yard scamper from DeSean Bishop on the first play in the extra time to take the lead. The defense stepped up and held the Bulldogs down on their first OT attempt to get the win. It was a back-and-forth affair that had its positives and struggles, but ended with their fourth win of the season and avoided a 0-2 start in SEC play.
Mississippi State ::: Loss, Tennessee, 34-41 PGWE: 37% -- Despite the result, an overtime loss to Tennessee, the Bulldogs have confirmed that they are indeed back on the scene in the SEC. They heartbreakingly fell 41-34 despite a solid running game, execution in the red zone, and key defensive plays throughout the game. They led on four occasions, including late in the fourth quarter after a Blake Shapen touchdown toss. The defense couldn’t hold Joey Aguilar and the Volunteers down as they scored to force overtime. The Vols then needed just one play in overtime to score on a 25-yard run, and then the Bulldogs stalled out inside the 5-yard line, sealing their fate. It is the 13th straight SEC loss, but again, Mississippi State is back to respectability after a rough 2024 season.
Vanderbilt ::: WIN, Utah State, 55-35 PGWE: 100% -- The Commodores are 5-0 with another impressive offensive win over Utah State in week five, 55-35. QB Diego Pavia had a career-best day, accounting for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) in a 26/34 passing day with 321 yards. He also ran for 79 yards in the win. WR Junior Sherrill caught three of those touchdown tosses and racked up 91 yards. It wasn’t always that easy, though, as the Aggies held a 14-7 lead in the second quarter after a slow start. Pavia had had enough of that and kick-started the offense in a big way, and they never looked back. The defense was solid in the third quarter, holding them down to just 15 yards, but it did allow two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter after the game was all but wrapped up.
Big Ten Conference
Ohio State ::: WIN, at Washington, 24-6 PGWE: 100% -- The Buckeyes remain undefeated after outlasting the Huskies in Seattle, 24-6, in week five. The defense remained the story, as they smothered a rather solid offense, holding them to 234 yards, with just 70 of those yards coming on the ground. They whipped up six sacks and stopped the Huskies down on third down, allowing just one conversion (on 11 attempts) all game. RB Bo Jackson is emerging as a lead back for the Buckeyes, as he ran for 80 yards on 17 carries. WR Jeremiah Smith came up big as well, catching an 18-yard touchdown pass to give Ohio State a 7-3 lead, one that they never relinquished.
Penn State ::: Loss, Oregon, 24-30 PGWE: 23% -- It just took too long for the offense to get into gear against Oregon in the “White Out,” and it cost them in the end, as they fell to the Ducks 30-24 at home. They managed just 109 yards and had nothing going in the run game, finding themselves down 17-3 early in the fourth quarter. They eventually woke up and made a game of it, as QB Drew Allar led them to two touchdowns, both passes to Devonte Ross, including one with just three seconds left to tie it up and force overtime. They took the lead after Kaytron Allen scored on their first OT possession, but the Ducks matched it, and an Allar interception ended their hopes. James Franklin’s inability to win games against top opponents continues another week.
Northwestern ::: WIN, UCLA, 17-14 PGWE: 83% -- The Wildcats get their first Big Ten win of the season, coming off a bye and hosting the UCLA Bruins, who are going through a big transition. It was a tale of two halves as the offense was humming along in the first 30 minutes, gaining 212 yards and taking an early 17-0 lead. QB Preston Stone was more of a ‘game manager’ in this one, going 12/18 for 115 yards and a touchdown. Running backs Caleb Komolafe (119 yards) and Joseph Himon II (58) combined to lead the way on the ground and helped run out some clock and hold on for the three-point win, 17-14.
Indiana ::: WIN, at Iowa, 20-15 PGWE: 97% -- Indiana escaped Kinnick Stadium with an unconventional 20-15 win over the Hawkeyes in week five. That moves the Hoosiers to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in Big Ten play. They had some fortunate moments, including a missed 42-yard field goal, which helped preserve their lead. They were also happy to see backup QB Hank Brown in the game after an injury to the starter Mark Gronowski. Brown threw a costly interception when he entered the game. QB Fernando Mendoza found WR Elijah Sarratt on a catch-and-run, who broke free and scored the go-ahead touchdown late. While there were some fortunate events, the PGWE numbers suggest that they wholly deserved to win this game. Sometimes you just have to find a way and they did just that in week five.
Minnesota ::: WIN, Rutgers, 31-28 PGWE: 75% -- The Gophers flipped the script a bit in their first Big Ten game, hosting Rutgers, featuring QB Drake Lindsey a bit more with RB Darius Taylor still on the mend from an injury suffered a couple of weeks back. Lindsey responded with a 324-yard, three-touchdown performance, including the game-winner, a short strike to Javon Tracy with just over three minutes remaining. The defense struggled to stop Rutgers RB Antwan Raymond (161 yards) and, if forced, created a bit of a back-and-forth affair, one that the Gophers generally try to avoid. In the end, Lindsey out-dueled former Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis
Iowa ::: Loss, Indiana, 15-20 PGWE: 4% -- The Hawkeyes fell to Indiana in week five, 20-15, in a battle at home against the high-flying Hoosiers. That drops them to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in Big Ten play. They hung in there with some solid defensive effort and a creative approach on offense, gaining 284 yards, and had to lean on the passing game as Indiana had a clear focus on stopping the run. QB Mark Gronowski suffered an injury in the second half and did not return to the game. He was replaced by Auburn transfer Hank Brown, who threw a costly interception. Drew Stevens missed a 42-yard field goal, which would have given the Hawkeyes the lead. The defense was mired by some tackling woes despite an overall solid outing against a very good Indiana attack.
Rutgers ::: Loss, at Minnesota, 28-31 PGWE: 25% -- The Scarlet Knights fell to Minnesota 31-28 in their first game away from home in 2025. They got off to a hot start as former Minnesota QB Athan Kaliakmanis led them to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter. The defense was hanging in there. Then, the Gophers’ new quarterback, Drake Lindsey, led a comeback that included a game-winning, four-yard pass with 3:19 left in the game. It was a back-and-forth affair that was led on the ground by RB Antwan Raymond and his career-high 161 rushing yards. On defense, DL Bradley Weaver racked up a couple of sacks and LB Dariel Djabome was all over the field, piling up nine tackles, but the unit as a whole missed too many tackles. The Knights now fall to 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in Big Ten play.
Illinois ::: WIN, USC, 34-32 PGWE: 73% -- This was a ‘bounce back’ performance in week five for the Illini after the debacle in Bloomington a week ago. They avenge that embarrassing loss by handing USC their first loss of 2025, 34-32 with a game-winning field goal. QB Luke Altmyer was big in this one, going 20/26 for 328 yards and two scores. He even caught a touchdown on a trick play. The offensive line play was noticeably improved, keeping a pocket for Altmyer and allowing him time to make plays. They almost blew a 31-17 lead early in the fourth quarter and needed some help to make that happen, but a win is a win, and this one was particularly needed. They now prepare to head to Purdue to take on the Boilermakers in week six.
Washington ::: Loss, Ohio State, 6-24 PGWE: 1% -- The Huskies were just overmatched on both sides of the ball in a 24-6 loss to the Buckeyes at home in week five. The loss drops the Huskies to 3-1 on the season. The offense couldn’t muster much of anything against a stout Buckeyes defense, and eventually the defense wore down under the pressure of the star power on the other side. The game was close for a good portion of the first half before the defending Champs made some adjustments and pulled away in the second half. The Buckeyes never punted in the game and ended Washington’s 22-game home winning streak in the process. The Huskies now must regroup and travel cross-country to take on Maryland, which enjoyed a bye this week.
USC ::: Loss, at Illinois, 32-34 PGWE: 27% -- The Trojans were put in a tough spot in week five, playing an early game in Champaign, Illinois against the Illini. Great teams can overcome these situations and the Trojans overcame a noticeably slow start to make a game of it -- but eventually fell on a game-winning field goal as time expired, falling 34-32. QB Jayden Maiava was really good, completing 30 of 43 for 364 yards and two scores, both to WR Makai Lemon, who finished with 11 grabs for 151 yards. RB Waymond Jordan did his part (again) with 94 yards and a score. It was costly mistakes that did them in, primarily poorly timed penalties and their inability to generate a pass rush on Illinois QB Luke Altmyer, who picked them apart in this one. C Kilian O’Connor lef the game with a knee injury and will be monitored closely as they head into a bye week sitting at 4-1.
Oregon ::: WIN, at Penn State, 30-24 PGWE: 77% -- The Ducks invaded Happy Valley and stole an overtime thriller from the Nittany Lions in week five. The win moves them to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 to begin Big Ten Conference play. The game featured a dominant defensive performance for the first three quarters. QB Dante Moore was really good, throwing for 248 yards and three touchdowns, often looking more poised than his veteran opponent on the other side, Drew Allar.
Moore tossed two OT touchdowns to get them the lead, and then Allar’s miscue in their second possession ended things. The Ducks were unable to close it out in regulation as the defense finally sprung some leaks. They earn the week six bye week and prepare for Indiana in a week seven showdown in Eugene.
UCLA ::: Loss, at Northwestern, 14-17 PGWE: 17% -- Tim Skipper was back leading a program as the Bruins fell by a field goal on the road at Northwestern in week five. The final score was 17-14, dropping the Bruins to 1-4 and 0-1 in Big Ten play. They staged a comeback after falling behind 17-0 and cut the lead to that 3-point disadvantage with just over six minutes left when Nico Iamaleava found Kwazi Gilmer for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The inconsistent and undisciplined play overall continued to hamper this offense. The defense did show some real improvements, including shutting out the Wildcats in the second half with some timely plays. Overall, the run defense struggled again, allowing Northwestern to run for 199 yards in the game.
Big 12 Conference
TCU ::: Loss, at Arizona State, 24-27 PGWE: 47% -- The Horned Frogs suffered a 27-24 loss to Arizona State in the desert in week five. Their first loss of the season was marred by untimely turnovers (three of them) and sacks allowed that really disrupted any offensive flow. They also failed to establish a running game and quickly became one-dimensional. They managed just ten (10) yards on 25 carries in total, including the sack yardage. The defense did all they could, including getting key stops deep in their own territory and an impressive individual effort from Kaleb Elarms-Orr, who racked up 13 tackles. Two costly penalties also cost the defense on Arizona State’s final drive was the nail in the coffin.
Baylor ::: WIN, at Oklahoma State, 45-27 PGWE: 99% -- The Bears pulled away late to avoid a major upset at the hands of the now Mike Gundy-less Cowboys in week five. QB Sawyer Robinson made sure of that with a 393-yard and five total touchdown performance. He captured Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors. In all, the offense managed 612 yards and Robertson found four different receivers for scores, including a 73-yard connection to Kobe Prentice in the second half to help pull away. After the Cowboys had success offensively in the first half, the Bears’ defense tightened in the second, holding them to just 99 total yards (eight rushing yards). The Bears move to 3-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
Oklahoma State ::: Loss, Baylor, 27-45 PGWE: 1% -- In their first effort in 20 years without Mike Gundy on the sidelines, the Cowboys hung around for a while against Baylor, ultimately falling to the Bears, 45-27. The offense was humming, racking up 349 yards at the half and trailed just 28-20 at halftime. However, in the second half, the Baylor side made some adjustments and stalled, allowing the Bears to pull away. Some of the disciplinary issues that plagued them under Gundy led to too many costly penalties. The defense struggled mightily throughout the game, prompting another change as the program let defensive coordinator Todd Grantham go after the game.
Kansas State ::: WIN, UCF, 34-20 PGWE: 92% -- The Wildcats used the bye week to bounce back from a two-game losing streak and a 1-3 start ot the season with an impressive 34-20 win over UCF. QB Avery Johnson got back to the basics and had a solid day, throwing for 168 yards and adding 75 yards on the ground. Speaking of 75 yards on the ground, another key contributor who has struggled with injuries thus far is Dylan Edwards, who broke free for a key 75-yard touchdown scamper, a part of his 166-yard outing. The defense forced three turnovers, held the Knights to 3/13 on third downs, and racked up eight sacks. Everything mentioned here is a recipe for success as K-State gets to 1-1 in Big 12 play and hope this is the start of a turn around in 2025.
West Virginia ::: Loss, Utah, 14-48 PGWE: 0% -- Utah overwhelmed West Virginia 48–14, burying the Mountaineers under a 28–0 halftime deficit and a five-TD day from Devon Dampier. WVU shuffled quarterbacks—Henderson started, then Khalil Wilkins found Cam Vaughn for a 39-yard strike—and the run game produced volume (261 rushing yards) with a late Diore Hubbard score, but sustained drives were scarce against Utah’s pressure and third-down execution. The Utes controlled the ball (34:45 TOP) and yardage (532–346), while WVU’s lone bright spots were on the ground and a cleaner turnover sheet. Postgame brought no fresh injury disclosures; the headline remains Nicco Marchiol’s foot issue that kept him out, alongside a banged-up skill group from the week’s availability report.
Iowa State ::: WIN, Arizona, 39-14 PGWE: 100% -- Iowa State bludgeoned Arizona 39–14, asserting control at the line with five rushing TDs and a defense that stole two possessions. Rocco Becht (243 pass, three keepers for scores) leveraged vertical shots to Chase Sowell (146 yards) and a gadget toss from Ben Brahmer to crack open chunk yardage. Carson Hansen finished drives (two TDs), and the Cyclones kept Arizona one-dimensional, holding the Wildcats to 107 on the ground and forcing two interceptions. The only damper: Campbell said DB Jeremiah Cooper is done for the year (knee), while Khijohn Cummings-Coleman and a few defenders took knocks. Even with those hits, the game never wobbled—ISU led 36–7 mid-third and coasted to 5–0.
Kansas ::: Loss, Cincinnati, 34-37 PGWE: 75% -- The Jayhawks had this week’s five-game series in Cincinnati well within their grasp, but let it slip away. QB Jalon Daniels was brilliant (again), throwing for 445 yards and four scores. Yet, despite his brilliance and a four-point lead with under two minutes to play, the defense could not come up with a stop against the Bearcats when it mattered most. Cincy scored with under 30 seconds to play, and that was the ball game. It started with a bang as Daniels found Emmanuel Henderson Jr. for a 93-yard scoring play on their first offensive play of the game. The pair connected later for a 75-yard strike. The Jayhawks continued the depressing trend of losing close games, and this one stings a bit more as the PGWE numbers suggest they should have won this one.
BYU ::: WIN, at Colorado, 24-21 PGWE: 30% -- BYU rallied past Colorado 24–21 with a composed second half and a handful of timely big plays. Freshman QB Bear Bachmeier delivered a clean night (179 yards, two scores; 98 rushing), Chase Roberts hauled in both TDs, and Cody Hagen sprinted 32 yards for the go-ahead TD early in the fourth. After the Buffs exploded to a 14–0 start, the Cougar defense clamped down, conceding just one touchdown the rest of the way before Isaiah Glasker iced it with a last-minute interception. It wasn’t flashy so much as resilient—BYU won situational downs, avoided giveaways, and leaned on Bachmeier’s legs when the pocket collapsed to bank a road win and a 4–0 start.
Cincinnati ::: WIN, at Kansas, 37-34 PGWE: 25% -- The Bearcats defeated Kansas in a thrilling week five matchup that included a game-winning touchdown scored with under 30 seconds left in the game. The offense flourished, accumulating 603 total yards, and QB Brendan Sorsby was brilliant, leading them throughout the game and culminating the performance with a game-winning drive that led to a Tawee Walker 2-yard run to give them the lead. That drive went 75 yards in just one minute and 16 seconds. They converted a 4th-and-10 on that drive. The offensive line was the story, keeping Sorsby protected (just one sack surrendered) and creating clear running lanes all game long. They overcame four (yes, four) touchdowns called back due to penalties throughout the game. A big win for Cincy to begin Big XII play.
UCF ::: Loss, at Kansas State, 20-34 PGWE: 8% -- The Knights ran into a K-State team that used its bye week to prepare and get right, ending Scott Frost’s 16-game winning streak as UCF head coach, which spanned back to his first tenure in Orlando. UCF moved the ball just fine on offense, racking up over 400 yards, but three turnovers and untimely penalties hamstrung them. Starting QB Tayven Jackson dealt with an AC joint sprain and tried to play through it, which may have been the wrong decision. Backup Jaccuri Brown also suffered a similar injury in the game and former starter Cam Fancher was close to being called upon. The loss drops the Knights to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in Big 12 play. Kansas is on tap for week six back in Orlando.
Houston ::: WIN, at Oregon State, 27-24 PGWE: 41% -- The Cougars left Corvallis with a victory, keeping their undefeated campaign intact and moving to 5-0. They were trailing 24-10 in the fourth quarter after struggling to get going in a rather hostile environment (for a winless Beavers team). QB Conner Weigman took over for the last six minutes, hitting on two long passing touchdowns to tie the game. The Cougars again appeared cooked as the Beavers lined up for a game-winning field goal, but they were able to block that kick and force overtime. With all of the momentum going their way, they got a 4th-and-1 stop and kicked a short field goal of their own to secure the win. It certainly wasn’t pretty, but you need a couple of those to go your way in special seasons.
Arizona ::: Loss, at Iowa State, 14-39 PGWE: 0% -- Arizona fell 39–14 in Ames, undone by turnovers and an explosives deficit. Noah Fifita (253, 2 TD, 2 INT) piled up completions but two picks and a 4/13 third-down mark kept drives from cashing. The run game had moments (107 yards), yet Iowa State flipped the night with vertical shots and five short rushing TDs, winning yards per pass 13.1 to 5.3. A Stukes interception and sturdy pass pro from Bounds were positives, but field position and finishing were not. Postgame, Brent Brennan cited execution over health—no new injuries disclosed as Arizona turns the page to league play at home.
Arizona State ::: WIN, TCU, 27-24 PGWE: 53% -- The Sun Devils took advantage of some miscues by TCU to move to 4-1 and 2-0 in Big 12 play. They focused on stopping any semblance of a running game from the Horned Frogs, forcing them to be one-dimensional on offense. They also came from behind after trailing 17-0 early in the second quarter, something clicked for QB Sam Leavitt, who finished 26/38 for 278 yards and a couple of touchdowns. He also did it with his legs, adding 62 rushing yards and a score. WR Jordyn Tyson was big again, grabbing eight passes for 126 yards and was there when they needed him most. RB Raleek Brown racked up 174 total yards of offense as well. Prince Dorboh made the play of the game, strip-sacking Josh Hoover and setting up the game-winning field goal. It was his third sack of the game.
Utah ::: WIN, at West Virginia, 48-14 PGWE: 100% -- Utah smashed West Virginia 48–14 with a wire-to-wire offensive clinic. Devon Dampier answered last week’s lull by dealing four touchdown passes and adding a keeper, and the Utes stacked drives early, scoring on their first three possessions. Utah owned the efficiency battle—532 total yards, a 34:45 time-of-possession edge, and 8-for-13 on third down—while a swarming defense kept WVU behind the sticks. The Utes mixed in explosives to multiple targets, including a scoring grab by Wayshawn Parker, and never let the crowd back in after a 28–0 halftime lead. Whittingham said several Utes were banged up (notably Nate Ritchie, Jackson Bennee, Dallas Vakalahi) and would be evaluated.
Colorado ::: Loss, BYU, 21-24 PGWE: 70% -- Colorado sprinted out to a 14–0 lead, but stalled in the second half and fell 24–21 to No. 25 BYU. Kaidon Salter supplied a rushing score and a 19-yard TD strike to Dre’lon Miller, yet the Buffs’ last two quarters were defined by empty possessions, a –1 turnover split and drive-killing penalties. BYU flipped control with a fourth-quarter 32-yard end-around and closed it with a late interception, leaving CU at 3/9 on third down and 0/1 on fourth despite a solid 172 rushing yards. No new injuries were announced postgame; the more pressing takeaway was situational execution—Colorado created early explosives but couldn’t cash key downs when it mattered.
Atlantic Coast Conference
Florida State ::: Loss, at Virginia, 38-46 PGWE: 65% -- Virginia stunned No. 8 FSU 46–38 in double overtime, overcoming the Seminoles’ late fourth-down TD drive to force OT and then sealing it with a second-OT score and interception. FSU’s offense (514 yards) rode Tommy Castellanos and Duce Robinson, while TE Randy Pittman Jr. delivered a rare pass/rush/receive TD trifecta, but early turnovers and a leaky run defense (211 UVA rush yards) proved costly. An overturned FSU TD in 2OT and a field-storm that followed the final play added controversy to the night.
Louisville ::: WIN, at Pittsburgh, 34-27 PGWE: 48% -- Louisville erased an early 17-point hole and finished off Pitt 34–27 with defense and timely shot-plays. Miller Moss steadied after an early pick-six, throwing for 339 and three scores—two in the fourth—while Chris Bell owned the intermediate windows and the TEs cashed red-zone chances. The run game never got traction (1.6 YPC), but a flurry of takeaways reset momentum. Antonio Watts’ goal-line interception denied a sure score, then T.J. Quinn grabbed two in the fourth, including the dagger in the final seconds. In this game the Cards leaned on protection, perimeter spacing, and a swarming back seven to bank their ACC opener on the road.
North Carolina State ::: Loss, Virginia Tech, 21-23 PGWE: 33% -- NC State fell 23–21 in a margins game defined at the line of scrimmage. CJ Bailey (26–34, 240, 2 TD) did enough through the air, but the ground attack stalled, and protection cracked with five sacks on the day. Defensively, the Pack yielded explosives, including an 85-yard Terion Stewart gallop that flipped the third quarter, and the decisive points came on a 49-yard Hokies field goal. A late drive reached the VT 44 before a 4th-and-1 breakup; with no turnovers either way, the game hinged on situational ball—6/14 on third down and 1/3 on fourth didn’t get the job done for the Pack. Injuries compounded things as S Brody Barnhardt and LB Sean Brown exited, and nickel Jackson Vick remained unavailable, thinning a back seven already under stress.
Virginia Tech ::: WIN, at North Carolina State, 23-21 PGWE: 67% -- Virginia Tech edged NC State 23–21 by owning the trenches and landing the night’s biggest explosives. Terion Stewart ripped off 174 yards on 15 carries, including an 85-yard sprint that flipped the third quarter, while Kyron Drones delivered two TD throws without a turnover. Special teams finished the job—John Love drilled three field goals, capped by a 49-yarder with 6:31 left. Defensively, the Hokies piled up five sacks and closed with a textbook situational stop as Christian Ellis denied a 4th-and-1 near midfield. With no new injuries reported postgame and Terion Stewart back to full usage, VT exits Raleigh with momentum and a clear identity: lean on the run game, trust the defense in money downs, and trust John Love to make clutch kicks.
Duke ::: WIN, at Syracuse, 38-3 PGWE: 100% -- Duke throttled Syracuse 38–3 with a clean, explosive blueprint: Nate Sheppard’s pace-setting runs and Darian Mensah’s precision passing built separation, and the defense smothered drives with three takeaways and a late goal-line stonewall. The Blue Devils controlled early downs, stayed out of obvious passing situations, and flipped the field with explosive plays rather than grinding. With no fresh health concerns and the ground game humming behind a cohesive front, Duke leaves the Dome with a road rout that reinforces how they want to win games—fast starts, turnover discipline, and finishers on both sides of the ball.
Syracuse ::: Loss, Duke, 3-38 PGWE: 0% -- Syracuse was overrun 38–3 as turnovers and explosives flipped the day after a 3–3 start. With Steve Angeli sidelined for the season, Rickie Collins moved the ball between the 20s (229 yards), but an opening-drive pick and later fumbles undercut field position. Duke answered with a 49-yard TD burst, then layered on two Mensah-to-Barkate strikes and a power run game to reach 504 yards and 35 straight points. The Orange did notch an early goal-line stand and an Antoine Deslauriers sack, but losing the turnover battle and failing to generate explosives left little margin before the game got away. Fran Brown apologized for the performance and said Yasin Willis needs a bigger role going forward.
Georgia Tech ::: WIN, at Wake Forest, 30-29 PGWE: 22% -- No. 16 Georgia Tech rallied from 20–3 down to edge Wake Forest 30–29 in OT, leaning on Haynes King’s dual-threat night (243 pass, 106 rush; 3 total TDs) and perfect red-zone execution (6/6). Aidan Birr drilled three field goals, including the 33-yard kick with two seconds left to force overtime. The Jackets lost the rushing battle at times (210 allowed) but answered with timely drives and 7/16 on third down, then ended it when Clayton Powell-Lee picked off the Deacs’ two-point attempt. An ACC admission of a missed offside added late drama, but Tech’s protection (zero sacks allowed) and King’s short-yardage finishing were the difference as the Jackets stayed unbeaten.
Pittsburgh ::: Loss, Louisville, 27-34 PGWE: 52% -- Pitt sprinted to a 17–0 lead behind a 75-yard Rasheem Biles pick-six and an Eli Holstein TD strike, but stalled after halftime and fell 34–27. Louisville’s defense blanked the Panthers over the final 30 minutes while Pitt’s offense unraveled: five turnovers, 1-for-10 on third down, and 1-for-4 on fourth crushed drives despite splash plays from Blue Hicks and Poppi Williams Jr. Eli Holstein was lifted late, yet Narduzzi said he remains QB1 (for now). With Desmond Reid sidelined, the run game couldn’t steady things, and Nick Keller’s 57-yard Louisville field goal helped tilt the momentum before two fourth-quarter Cards touchdowns. Pitt’s path was clear: early explosives were there, but giveaways, situational failures, and lopsided possession (20:38) flipped a winnable game.
Boston College ::: Loss, California, 24-28 PGWE: 50% -- Boston College let a winnable game slip late in a 28–24 loss to Cal. Turbo Richard’s burst (171 yards, 71-yard TD) briefly put the Eagles ahead, and Luca Lombardo’s 52-yarder sent them to halftime up 17–14. But discipline and margins told the story: 15 penalties, a –1 turnover split, and a red-zone miss in the final seconds. Dylan Lonergan moved BC to the 5-yard line before a potential go-ahead catch came loose, and on the next snap, Cal’s Luke Ferrelli intercepted in the end zone. The offense finished with 375 yards but couldn’t finish drives; the defense limited Cal most of the night before surrendering the decisive 51-yard TD strike from Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele to Mason Mini.
Virginia ::: WIN, Florida State, 46-38 PGWE: 35% -- Virginia outlasted No. 8 Florida State 46–38 in double overtime at Scott Stadium, securing the program’s first home win over a top-10 opponent since 2005. Chandler Morris accounted for five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing), hit Trell Harris for the two-point in 2OT, then scored the go-ahead four-yard TD; behind a patchwork line, UVA still churned out 211 rushing yards with J’Mari Taylor’s 99 leading the way. The Hoos raced to a 14–0 lead by turning two early takeaways into touchdowns, but FSU rallied and forced OT. In the second overtime period, Ja’son Prevard sealed the win with an end-zone interception of Tommy Castellanos as 50,107 fans poured onto the field.
Wake Forest ::: Loss, Georgia Tech, 29-30 PGWE: 79% -- Wake Forest let a 17-point lead slip in a 30–29 OT heartbreaker to No. 16 Georgia Tech. Behind Demond Claiborne (119, 2 TD) and a run-heavy script, the Deacs controlled the middle quarters, but the night pivoted when Robby Ashford injured his ankle on a long third-quarter run—he returned, yet the offense lost its rhythm. After an ACC-acknowledged missed offsides extended GT’s late chance, the Jackets forced OT and answered Claiborne’s OT score with one of their own, then picked off the two-point try to end it. Wake still posted its most productive offensive outing against an FBS foe and showed real ground identity; health updates on Ashford and Claiborne will shape the week ahead.
California ::: WIN, at Boston College, 28-24 PGWE: 50% -- Cal rallied from 14–0 down to stun Boston College 28–24 in its ACC opener, leaning on poise and two late defensive takeaways. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele steadied the offense (254 yards, two scores) and hit Mason Mini for a 51-yard strike with 1:30 left after a drive extended by 4th-and-11 defensive pass interference. On the ground, Kendrick Raphael powered for 119 yards as the Bears controlled possession (35:15) and flipped field position. Defensively, Hezekiah Masses’ interception set up a fourth-quarter TD, and Luke Ferrelli’s end-zone pick with 19 seconds remaining ended a last-gasp Eagles march. Cal finished +1 in turnovers, 6/12 on third down, and overcame 11 flags, showing resolve one week after the SDSU setback.
Stanford ::: WIN, San Jose State, 30-29 PGWE: 48% -- Stanford edged San José State 30–29 with a two-minute drill straight off the whiteboard—Ben Gulbranson (444 yards, 2 TD) hit Caden High on 4th-and-10 for 34, then Sedrick Irvin plunged in from the 1 with 19 seconds left. The Cardinal lived through the air—CJ Williams and Caden High carried the explosives—because the ground game never got going (37 rush yards). The defense bent to Walker Eget’s 473 passing yards, but held just enough in the final minutes to set up the comeback.
Pac-12 Conference
Washington State ::: WIN, at Colorado State, 20-3 PGWE: 93% -- The unpredictability of college football was on full display with the Cougars in week five. After giving up 59 points to their last two opponents (North Texas and Washington), they were able to shut down Colorado State, holding them to just a single field goal in a 20-3 win. That stops a two-game losing streak and pushes the Cougars to 3-2 on the season. QB Zevi Eckhaus took over and was efficient for the offense, throwing for 189 yards and two touchdowns. Most importantly, he did not turn the ball over. The defense allowed that lone score to occur on the Rams’ first possession and then clamped down, racking up four sacks and nine TFL’s on the day. They got fourth-down stops when needed and also forced a key turnover.
Oregon State ::: Loss, Houston, 24-27 PGWE: 59% -- It’s been a rough go of it for the Beavers in 2025. Week five was no different. They surrendered a commanding 24-10 lead in the fourth quarter, allowing the Cougars to come back and force overtime. That included two long touchdown passes and a blocked game-winning field goal attempt. The momentum carried over into the extra time, and after the Beavers were stopped on a 4th-and-1 play on their possession, Houston kicked a short field goal to win it. The Beavers played a clean game with no turnovers, controlled the time of possession, and still found a way to lose this one, despite the PGWE metrics heavily being in their favor. They head to Appalachian State in week six seeking their first win.
The American Conference
Memphis ::: WIN, at Florida Atlantic, 55-26 PGWE: 100% -- Memphis had a late offensive explosion in week 5 to beat FAU 55-26 on the road in their first conference game of the season. The offense was led by their two-headed monster in the backfield, RB Greg Desrosiers Jr. and QB Brendon Lewis. Desrosiers Jr. ran for 207 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns. Lewis added two touchdowns on the ground and 2 through the air in what was a highly efficient passing game for him. WR Cortez Braham Jr. had six catches, 127 yards, and 2 TDs as well. The defense allowed yards, primarily through the air, but did enough to keep it close. They excelled in stopping the run and will look to build on this game.
Tulsa ::: Loss, Tulane, 14-31 PGWE: 7% -- Tulsa hosted Tulane on Saturday and couldn’t slow down the running game enough as they lost 31-14. QB Baylor Hayes got another start as they eased Kirk Francis back from a concussion, but he was only able to complete 50% of his 36 attempts on the day for 245 yards, 1 touchdown, and a pick. WR Brody Foley had an explosive 72-yard touchdown catch, which was needed with Tulsa missing two of their best receivers. The running game managed just 2.4 yards per carry on 38 carries. Defensively, they had three sacks and forced a fumble, but the Tulane offense was just too much. Elijah Green and Ray Coney were the tackle leaders on defense.
Navy ::: WIN, Rice, 21-13 PGWE: 100% -- It wasn’t pretty, but Navy got the win on Saturday, beating Rice 21-13. As always, the Navy was led by its running game. QB Blake Horvath ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. RB Alex Tecza had a nice day himself, running for 104 yards on 11 carries. Horvath was efficient through the air, going 8 for 13 on passes for 172 yards, although he did throw an interception. The defense had several stars led by LB MarcAnthony Parker and his 13 total tackles. Luke Pirris and Griffen Willis each had a sack and five total tackles as well. They held Rice to just 234 total yards and kept them to just 4 of 15 on 3rd down.
East Carolina ::: WIN, Army, 28-6 PGWE: 100% -- ECU had a big Thursday night beating the defending American champion Army at home 28-6. QB Katin Houser was solid, going 15 for 22 with 251 yards and two touchdowns. WR Anthony Smith was the leading receiver with three catches and 87 yards, along with a 41-yard TD reception. The top three running backs had split duties, with each having over 10 carries and at least 36 yards. It was slot receiver Kyler Pearson who had the big 32-yard TD run. The defense was stifling, holding Army to just two successful third-down conversions and 290 total yards. Teagan Wilk had nine total tackles and Samuel Dankah had a sack and 2 tackles for a loss.
Tulane ::: WIN, at Tulsa, 31-14 PGWE: 93% -- Tulane went on the road and picked up a nice American Conference win against Tulsa, 31-14. Freshman RB Javin Gordon was the offensive star with 78 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries. QB Jake Retzlaff scored one on the ground as well while throwing for 242 yards. It was the defense that really stood out on Saturday, as they held Tulsa to just 14 points, 92 rushing yards, and 5 for 16 on third down conversions. Santana Hopper was all over the backfield, registering a sack and four tackles for a loss, while Harvey Dyson had two sacks and two tackles for losses as well. The defense had six sacks, a pick, 13 tackles behind the line, and six deflections.
North Texas ::: WIN, South Alabama, 36-22 PGWE: 100% -- Arguably the most surprising team of the 2025 season, North Texas just kept on rolling, beating South Alabama 36-22 on Saturday. We may look back on this as a game when a star was born, as freshman RB Caleb Hawkins had 140 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries (8.8 yards per carry). He also had two catches, 78 yards, and a TD in the passing game. Lead back Makenzie McGill II had 13 carries as well, but managed just 47 yards. QB Drew Mestemaker was solid, throwing for 234 yards and a touchdown. Trey Fields and Shane Whitter were everywhere as they logged 26 total tackles between the two. Ethan Wesloski had an interception.
Florida Atlantic ::: Loss, Memphis, 26-55 PGWE: 0% -- FAU hosted Memphis and took a 55-26 loss on Saturday. While he wasn’t the most efficient, QB Caden Veltkamp had a nice game, throwing for 318 yards along with 28 rushing yards and a touchdown. The run game was largely inefficient as well, with just 75 total yards, but the group did score three touchdowns. The receivers really carried the load as both Easton Messer and Jayshon Platt each had nine catches and over 100 yards. LB Leon Hart Jr. ended up with 11 total tackles, a sack, and a tackle for a loss. The problem for FAU was stopping the run as Memphis ran for 291 yards and 6.3 yards per carry. 10 penalties were also costly.
Rice ::: Loss, at Navy, 13-21 PGWE: 0% -- Rice deserves a ton of credit for going on the road to battle a veteran Navy team and keeping it a game, losing just 21-13. HC Scott Abell and the Rice Owls have shown a ton of fight throughout the season, and that was evident again Saturday. The offense struggled for most of the game, with QB Chase Jenkins accumulating just 114 yards in the air and 33 on the ground. They had just 234 total yards and managed just four successful third downs. It was the defense that showed the “bend don’t break” mentality, especially for a group that didn’t record a sack and had just 2 TFLs. A game the team can learn and build from.
Army ::: Loss, at East Carolina, 6-28 PGWE: 0% -- It was a Thursday to forget for the Army Black Knights as they lost 28-6 to ECU on the road last Thursday. RB Noah Short carried the load with 127 yards on just 11 carries. They really didn’t get much else going as QB Dewayne Coleman managed just 2.3 yards per carry on 22 carries. Third downs really held Army back, as they were just 2-for-15, unable to sustain drives. The defense really struggled to stop a balanced ECU attack that put up 431 yards on Army. LBs Andon Thomas and Kalib Fortner combined for 24 total tackles while Gavin Shields had a sack and 1.5 TFLs. Army is going to have to bounce back quickly if it wants to achieve its goals this season.
Independents
Notre Dame ::: WIN, at Arkansas, 56-13 PGWE: 100% -- The Irish obliterated the Arkansas Razorbacks in Fayetteville in week five, 56-13. They scored touchdowns on their first six offensive drives, and CJ Carr looked like a star, throwing for 294 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone. RB Jeremiyah Love scored four times (two rushing, two receiving) and racked up 127 all-purpose yards. WR Jordan Faison had 189 receiving yards in the blowout. The defense was strong as well, something they had not yet achieved this season, holding the Razorbacks down and coming up with turnovers when needed, including an interception by S Luke Talich in the end zone. That marks the second straight game putting up 56 points against Power Five opponents, after doing so last week against Purdue.
Connecticut ::: WIN, at Buffalo, 20-17 PGWE: 43% -- The Huskies secured their second consecutive win, following two overtime losses, by beating Buffalo 20-17 on the road in week five. They move to 3-2 on the season. It took a Chris Freeman field goal with just 11 seconds remaining to secure the win over the Bulls. Tied at 7-7 at halftime, the Huskies jumped out to a lead in the third quarter before Buffalo tied it late. They then drove down the field with a drive to set up the winning field goal. QB Joe Fagnano was okay, going 19/31 for 155 yards and a touchdown, adding 64 rushing yards. WR Skyler Bell came up big with six grabs for 54 yards and that touchdown. The UConn defense took advantage of the Bulls missing their starting quarterback, as Ta’Quan Roberson (a former Huskie himself) was forced to sit out with an injury.
Mountain West Conference
Colorado State ::: Loss, Washington State, 3-20 PGWE: 7% -- Colorado State was hoping to find some firepower after benching Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. Backup, now starter, Jackson Brosseau did not make too many huge mistakes, but was not able to convert late in drives, which led to only three points on Offense. Overall, the team appears morally depleted, and the offense struggled to find any rhythm throughout all four quarters. It seems that the Rams may be in for a long season, and head coach Mike Norvell’s hot seat might be getting warmer by the week.
San Diego State ::: WIN, at Northern Illinois, 6-3 PGWE: 75% -- After a promising 34-0 victory last week against Cal, the Aztecs traveled a couple of time zones to face an unfamiliar MAC foe, Northern Illinois. The game was very slow-paced and not a ton of explosive plays as San Diego State finished its first drive in the second quarter. Even with two interceptions and no touchdowns by QB Jayden Denegal, the Aztecs narrowly escaped with a 6-3 win off a game-winning field Goal. The Mountain West should be on notice, as the Aztecs have only allowed three points in two weeks as they head into conference play with some significant momentum.
Boise State ::: WIN, Appalachian State, 47-14 PGWE: 100% -- A lot of people had this matchup marked on their calendars, as these have been two of the premier Group of Five teams over the last decade or so. In this unique late September matchup, Boise put on a clinic with all three phases playing lights-out football. With five sacks and three interceptions paired with a dominant offensive performance, the Broncos cruised to a 47-14 victory. Maddux Madsen played his best game of the season, and the defense was playing as a cohesive unit, unlike week one against USF. This was a promising weekend for Boise State as they have reestablished themselves as a threat in 2025.
Utah State ::: Loss, at Vanderbilt, 35-55 PGWE: 0% -- Utah State could not keep up with Vanderbilt’s high-octane offense as the Aggies fell to a score of 55-35. The Aggies have had a prolific run game to start the 2025 season, but Vanderbilt did a fantastic job of shutting that down and forcing Utah State to throw a lot more than they are comfortable with. With an already damaged roster due to injuries, Vanderbilt’s pace forced them to use many players who had not seen the field frequently this season. Although Utah State threw for five touchdowns and had zero interceptions, the defense, which was constantly out of position and lacked discipline, led to a dominant Vanderbilt victory. Bryson Barnes looked outstanding in a hostile road environment, but got banged up and is questionable heading into week six. He is a vital part of this team’s culture, and missing any time would be a massive blow for Utah State.
Air Force ::: Loss, Hawaii, 35-44 PGWE: 74% -- Air Force once again had an outstanding offensive performance, but the defense was not acceptable. They have passed the ball a lot more than expected, but that is due to the team constantly trailing by a big margin to start games. Air Force cannot play into their true identity and scheme if they are down double digits early in most games. Liam Szarka threw it well all night, besides a brutal turnover, but Hawaii was just relentless for 60 minutes. The Falcons had no chance of competing with that high-octane tempo.
Hawaii ::: WIN, at Air Force, 44-35 PGWE: 26% -- When you combine Micah Alejado and Timmy Chang’s offense with the altitude at Air Force, you may find a result similar to Saturday. Alejado threw it for 450+ yards and three touchdowns while consistently airing it out all day. Hawaii’s defense could not contain Air Force’s QB Liam Szarka, who had over 400 yards and three touchdowns himself, but with a few timely stops late in the game, the Rainbow Warriors were able to hold onto the lead for all 60 minutes and go into the bye week with a win.
New Mexico ::: WIN, New Mexico State, 38-20 PGWE: 100% -- Quarterback Jack Layne has been impressive so far in this 2025 campaign. Against in-state rivals New Mexico State, Layne threw for over 300 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Lobos to a 38-20 victory in the Rio Grande Rivalry. Even with two costly fumbles, New Mexico was elite on third and long, which helped them prevail in a clean win as they start diving into conference play. With a few key starters returning from injury, the Lobo’s might be the most underrated team in the Mountain West.
San Jose State ::: Loss, at Stanford, 29-30 PGWE: 52% -- The 2025 edition of the long-time Bay Area rivalry ended epically. With a back-and-forth game that featured over 900 passing yards, Stanford drove the field 80 yards and scored with 2 minutes left, ultimately defeating the Spartans 30-29. Walker Eget played fantastically all night, but the game did not go their way. San Jose State did many things well in this game and gave itself a great chance to pull off a victory. The Spartans look to turn it around after a frustrating non-conference stretch as they suit up against a surging New Mexico team on Friday night.
Conference USA
Western Kentucky ::: WIN, at Missouri State, 27-22 PGWE: 94% -- The Hilltoppers moved to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in CUSA play with a win over Missouri State on the road in week five. The final score of 27-22 indicates that it was a close game, and in the end, it was, but the PGWE metrics suggest it should not have been this close. The Bears actually led at halftime, 16-10, before QB Maverick McIvor and company figured it out and went on a 17-0 run to take control. McIvor finished with 317 passing yards and a score, while RB La’Vell Wright led the runners with 91 yards on just ten carries and two scores, both off direct snaps. The defense made some critical stops when they were needed, including both on third downs and forcing field goal attempts.
Louisiana Tech ::: WIN, at UTEP, 30-11 PGWE: 99% -- Once again, the defense stepped up and helped deliver a win for the Bulldogs over UTEP in week five, 30-11. They move to 4-1 on the season and 2-0 in the CUSA to begin 2025. They made life difficult for a pair of UTEP quarterbacks, picking off Malachi Nelson four times and Skyler Locklear once, holding them to 22/44 passing. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns, proving crucial as the offense wasn’t exactly clicking on all cylinders, turning it over four times themselves after doing so just once in the previous three games combined. They will enjoy a bye and then a trip to take on Kennesaw State in week seven.
Middle Tennessee ::: Loss, at Kennesaw State, 16-24 PGWE: 11% -- The Blue Raiders fall to 1-4 on the season with a 24-16 road loss to Kennesaw State in week five. It was a tale of a quarter and a half in this one. A horrific start in the first quarter, trailiing 21-3, gave way to a dominant second half effort, but ultimately they came up short. They outgained the Owls by over 100 yards and controlled the clock, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the rough start. RB Jekail Middlebrook ran for 109 yards and two scores, while QB Nicholas Vattiato threw for 285 yards, spreading it around to ten different receivers. It was his first quarter interception that thwarted a promising drive and contributed to that first quarter hole that they were unable to climb out of.
UTEP ::: Loss, Louisiana Tech, 11-30 PGWE: 1% -- Malachi Nelson would like a redo in this one. He was confused and ineffective against Louisiana Tech, leading to a miserable outing. That line finished at just 18/38 passing for 73 yards and four, yes four, interceptions. Two of them were returned for scores, and the Bulldogs harassed him all evening long. Skyler Locklear replaced Nelson and threw another interception himself. The defense was strong, forcing four turnovers themselves, but the offense continually gave it back or failed to convert those into points. They smothered the LA Tech running game (95 yards on 42 carries) and kept things within striking distance. They ultimately fell and drop to 1-4 on the season, 0-1 in CUSA.
Liberty ::: Loss, at Old Dominion, 7-21 PGWE: 0% -- The bad dream that is the 2025 Liberty season continued as they dropped another game, this time to Old Dominion, 21-7. The Flames are now 1-4 on the season, and there is little optimism that this will be turned around anytime soon. The game started slowly for both offenses before the Monarchs broke through for two scores, taking a 14-0 lead. The Flames were on their way to cut the lead in half just before halftime, but fumbled on the one-yard line. The defense managed to force four turnovers, including one to directly set up their only score as the offense struggled behind backup quarterback Michael Merdinger, who played in place of the injured Ethan Vasko.
New Mexico State ::: Loss, at New Mexico, 20-38 PGWE: 0% -- Not only did the Aggies lose to their rivals, the Lobos, in week five, 38-10, but they also lost a few contributors to injury. They held a 17-10 lead at halftime before the wheels fell off in the second half. QB Logan Fife was pretty good considering the circumstances, going 20/37 for 255 yards and one interception. He was under some significant duress throughout the game, sacked nine times, and had a non-existent running game (15 yards). LB Bernok Iya scored on a 42-yard scoop-and-score in the second quarter to give them a 17-7 lead. The Aggies fall to 2-2 on the season. Those injuries will need to heal quickly, as they have a short turnaround playing on Thursday night against Sam Houston in their second C-USA game.
Jacksonville State ::: Loss, at Southern Miss, 25-42 PGWE: 0% -- The Gamecocks committed four costly turnovers that led to 21 Southern Miss points in a 42-25 loss in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles came out swinging, recording a strip sack on the first play of the game. Caden Creel took over at quarterback and threw for 109 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He flashed his athleticism with 161 rushing yards and a score as they played from behind all game. The defense struggled to stop the Southern Miss running game as well, allowing 227 yards on 49 carries (4.6 average) en route to their third loss of the season. They will enjoy a bye in week six, before entering back into CUSA play with Sam Houston in week seven.
Kennesaw State ::: WIN, Middle Tennessee, 24-16 PGWE: 89% -- The Owls rode a fast and fortunate first-quarter lead to a victory, their third in a row, and got off to a 1-0 start in CUSA play with a 24-16 win over MTSU. That first quarter featured a 21-3 lead, thanks to multiple explosive plays from the offense and a timely interception that thwarted a Blue Raiders’ drive. From that point, things tended to level out, but they were able to hold on to win, despite being outgained by over 100 yards in the contest. The defense tightened in the second half, forcing two crucial turnovers on downs in the fourth quarter to seal the win. RB Coleman Bennett ran for 101 yards on just 12 carries, and LB Caleb Offord was all over the field, earning CUSA Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Missouri State ::: Loss, Western Kentucky, 22-27 PGWE: 6% -- The Bears put up a spirited fight against CUSA front-runner WKU at home in week five, eventually falling 27-22. They lost the catalyst of their offense for a good portion of the game, as Jacob Clark was injured in-game. The nature of the exact injury has been contested, but it impacted things on offense. Backup Deuce Bailey struggled passing the ball, going 7/16 for 57 yards and a touchdown. He did avoid making any critical mistakes while they leaned on the running game to keep them in the game. RB Shomari Lawrence busted free for a 32-yard scoring run to give them a lead of 16-10. That didn’t last long as the Hilltoppers went on a 17-0 run to take control and then closed it out.
Mid-American Conference
Toledo ::: WIN, Akron, 45-3 PGWE: 100% -- Toledo took out their frustrations from their loss to Western Michigan on an easy target in Akron. The Rockets sense blood in the water early with a hefty injury report for the Zips, and this one was comfortably over by halftime. Gleason and the offense did what they wanted with 545 total yards. They were on 3rd down just 8 times despite possessing the ball for 31 minutes. The Rockets defense was just as dominant, allowing just 148 total yards even with heavy rotations in the second half. Akron averaged just two yards per rush attempt due in large part to the nine tackles for loss by Toledo. The Rockets sucessfully righted the ship as they head into their bye week 1-1 in MAC play.
Ohio ::: WIN, Bowling Green, 35-20 PGWE: 94% -- Ohio continued to assert itself as a leading contender for the MAC championship this year. After a challenging non-conference schedule, they opened MAC play with a reasonably strong performance vs. Bowling Green. The offense was balanced with 238 yards on the ground and 208 through the air. Sieh Bangura had a dominant day, rushing for 115 yards on just 18 carries. QB Parker Navarro was good, but was under pressure a bit and had a couple of fumbles lost as well as an interception. The Bobcats’ defense made life uncomfortable for opposing QB Drew Pyne. They had five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and three interceptions. Ohio has a tricky road game vs. Ball State off its bye week.
Miami (OH) ::: WIN, Lindenwood, 38-0 PGWE: 100% -- Henry Hesson started at quarterback for the injured Dequan Finn and performed well, albeit against FCS competition. He finished the day 13/21 for 208 yards and two touchdowns. It was the Redhawks giving a steady dose of handoffs to Kenny Tracy that was the key to the game, though. Miami controlled the ball for 37 minutes, chewing up yardage on the ground. The defense put in a stellar effort after their breakdowns against UNLV last week. They allowed just 147 yards on the ground and held Lindenwood to 1/13 on the 3rd downs. They added two more INTs for a total of 5 on the season. A showdown at NIU is next in week 6.
Western Michigan ::: WIN, Rhode Island, 47-14 PGWE: 99% -- WMU proved their upset over Toledo was not a fluke as they routed a strong FCS program this year in Rhode Island. The Broncos were trailing after the first quarter 7-3, but put together two strong drives and then turned the Rams over twice for a 28-point second quarter outburst. Starting RB Jalen Buckley did not play, but a committee of runners filled his absence, most notably Ofa Mataele, who had 10 carries for 60 yards and a TD. QB Broc Lowry has fully asserted himself as the starting QB now as well. Dame Tucker and the Broncos’ front 7 continued to wreak havoc with seven sacks and nine tackles for loss. Up next, an away game at UMass.
Central Michigan ::: WIN, Eastern Michigan, 24-13 PGWE: 99% -- Matt Drinkall got his first taste of the ‘Directional School’ rivalry, and he had the Chips ready to play. Similar to W1 vs. San Jose State, CMU was able to impose its will on the ground, getting contributions from everyone for a total of 48 rushes for 311 yards. They continued with two QBs (Labas passing and Flores for option plays), and Flores finished with 134 yards on the ground. Despite a limited pass rush, the CMU DBs were effective in coverage and did not allow many big plays. CMU held onto the ball for nearly 36 minutes of the game. This ball control is the recipe for success and they will look to continue that with a trip to an injury-riddled Akron team next.
Northern Illinois ::: Loss, San Diego State, 3-6 PGWE: 25% -- The NIU offense hit a new low point this season, failing to score a touchdown in their 6-3 loss to San Diego State. Josh Holst managed just 49 yards passing on 14 attempts. Only one player caught more than one pass (DeAree Rogers (5 catches for 51 yards) NIU stuck to the run but did not get very far as they racked up 41 carries for only 122 yards. Backup QB Brady Davidson spelled Holst for a series but threw an interception. The NIU defense had another stellar day, bottling up the San Diego State rushing game (3.4 yards per rush) and picking up a couple of interceptions as well. NIU hosts Miami-Ohio next in a MAC showdown.
Eastern Michigan ::: Loss, at Central Michigan, 13-24 PGWE: 2% -- EMU has been dealing with injuries on the offensive line, and it finally appears that unit is getting healthy, which is a positive. However, everything else for the offense was a disappointment. Noah Kim is not offering much of a threat as a passer, and defenses have adjusted accordingly. CMU did not bring much pressure and just dropped a lot of players in coverage, which was enough to blanket the EMU pass attack. On defense, they were bullied in the trenches and missed several tackles at the second level, allowing bigger gains. There are several injuries in all three levels of the defense right now, and it’s showing. Things won’t get easier with a trip to Buffalo next.
Akron ::: Loss, at Toledo, 3-45 PGWE: 0% -- The injury report worsened pregame as Ben Finley was listed as out. Additionally, three of the top four RBs were listed as out as well. Once that news broke, it was difficult to see any positive outcome for the Zips at Toledo. Michael Johnson Jr. got the start in Finley’s absence, and he got very little going and was replaced by 3rd string QB Brayden Roggow, who also struggled. The Toledo defense also bottled up the ground game. On the defensive side, there wasn’t much success either. The Rockets average almost seven yards per rush and also had 300 yards through the air. Things won’t get easier as Akron hosts a CMU team fresh off a rivalry win.
Bowling Green ::: Loss, at Ohio, 20-35 PGWE: 6% -- Many thought the Falcons were a dark horse to win the MAC, but it became clear relatively early against Ohio that this would be more of a rebuild year in Eddie George’s first year. It started on the first drive with a 71-yard pick-six on Drew Pyne. Pyne struggled with what seemed like an injury, and while he toughed it out, his play was erratic, as he finished with three interceptions. The BG ground game was effective but had to be abandoned due to the consistent deficit during the game. The BG defense was unable to slow down Ohio QB Parker Navarro, as he finished with four total TDs. The secondary has been struck with the injury bug, and they will hope that the room gets healthy during their bye.
Buffalo ::: Loss, Connecticut, 17-20 PGWE: 57% -- With TQ Roberson hurt, Gunnar Gray started and, despite pretty good pass protection, could not get much going through the air (17/29 for 125 yds). RB Al-Jay Henderson was also bottled up in the run game, and it was Lamar Sperling who had the banner day with nine rushes for 106 yds, including a 63-yard TD. The Bulls’ defense was once again stout, although they did not force any turnovers this week. Their downfall was allowing scrambling yardage (64) by UConn QB Joe Fagnano. Hard to fault the defense, though, as they kept the game within one score through the third quarter. It was the inability to make critical plays on offense (4/15 on 3rd down) that cost Buffalo yet again.
Massachusetts ::: Loss, at Missouri, 6-42 PGWE: 0% -- The good news for UMass is that its brutal non-conference schedule is finally behind it. The bad news is that they head into MAC play with a growing injury list, as well as uncertainty about who will lead this team under center. AJ Hairston started this game and managed to get UMass on the board with a first-quarter touchdown after a long interception return set it up. Nothing else happened after that, though -- UMass gained 124 total yards. On defense, Timy Hinspeter was everywhere with 17 total tackles and that interception. Unfortunately, the massive injury list for the UMass secondary contributed to some easy pass plays, and Mizzou, a formidable foe, gained 133 yards after the catch. UMass will host a WMU team next that is growing in confidence.
Sun Belt Conference
Appalachian State ::: Loss, at Boise State, 14-47 PGWE: 0% -- App State was overwhelmed 47–14 in Boise as turnovers and field-position swings buried a brief third-quarter rally. After Rashod Dubinion’s 39-yard burst set up a Jaquari Lewis TD to cut it to 24–14, the night unraveled with protection issues (five sacks) and two pick-sixes against a swarming Broncos defense. The Mountaineers mustered just 184 total yards—including 65 through the air—while a –4 turnover margin and 2-for-13 on third down kept drives short. AJ Swann’s lone TD came late in the first half, but repeated negative plays and flags (11 for 94) halted momentum.
Arkansas State ::: Loss, at Louisiana-Monroe, 16-28 PGWE: 0% -- Arkansas State fell 28–16 at ULM in a game tilted by the trenches. The Red Wolves grabbed an early 10–0 lead on Brandon Greil’s pick-six, but the offense bogged down as protection eroded—seven sacks and just 12 rushing yards left too many long-yardage downs. Jaylen Raynor still found a few big plays to Chauncy Cobb and Corey Rucker (both 100+), yet drives stalled on third down (3/15), and red-zone chances went 2/4. ULM answered with balance and a late 75-yard march to put it away.
Louisiana ::: WIN, Marshall, 54-51 PGWE: 34% -- Down 34–17 late in the third, Louisiana flipped the game behind backup QB Lunch Winfield, who delivered five touchdowns and the 10-yard winner in double OT to beat Marshall 54–51. The Cajuns layered explosive plays at the right moments—Winfield’s 45-yard shot to Charles Robertson and a 24-yard dart to Dale Martin with 16 seconds left—while Zylan Perry hit TD runs from 19 and 25. Special teams kept it on schedule with two Tony Sterner field goals. Even while losing the yardage battle (503–461) and absorbing a pick-six, Louisiana’s tempo and finishing drives carried the comeback.
South Alabama ::: Loss, at North Texas, 22-36 PGWE: 0% -- South Alabama fell 36–22 in Denton despite a steady ground game (204 rushing yards) and a clean turnover sheet. Bishop Davenport found chunk gains to Devin Voisin (97), and the backs kept USA on schedule, but penalties and an explosives gap flipped control. North Texas rode true freshman Caleb Hawkins to three touchdowns—two on the ground and a 68-yard screen that ignited a 21-0 run out of halftime—pushing the Mean Green to 429 total yards at 6.6 YPP. USA ran 80 plays and cut it to one score in the fourth on Kentrel Bullock’s TD before UNT closed it out late.
Louisiana-Monroe ::: WIN, Arkansas State, 28-16 PGWE: 100% -- ULM snapped a 16-year drought against Arkansas State with a 28–16 homecoming win built on balance and backfield pop. Aidan Armenta delivered two TD throws—including a deep shot to Jake Godfrey—and the run game chewed clock as Zach Palmer-Smith (84, TD) and Braylon McReynolds (65, TD) shared the load. The defense did the rest: six sacks, 11 tackles for loss, a blocked field goal to close the half, and a Kristopher Robinson interception as the Warhawks limited A-State to 12 rushing yards. After the Red Wolves crept within five, ULM answered with a 75-yard fourth-quarter march capped by Palmer-Smith from the 2 to put it away.
Georgia Southern ::: Loss, at James Madison, 10-35 PGWE: 0% -- Georgia Southern fell 35–10 in Harrisonburg as JMU’s ground game and pass rush set the tone. The Eagles managed just 27 rushing yards and were swallowed by pressure—seven sacks on JC French—while the Dukes piled up 331 on the ground and controlled possession. Camden Brown remained the bright spot (111 yards), and French found Taylor Bradshaw for the lone TD late in the third, but an 88-yard kickoff return right before halftime and repeated backfield losses stretched the gap. Third- and fourth-down inefficiency (4/14, 0/1) kept drives short, leaving the defense on the field as JMU stacked five straight scoring possessions.
Old Dominion ::: WIN, Liberty, 21-7 PGWE: 100% -- Old Dominion muscled past Liberty 21–7 in a rain-soaked grinder, pairing explosive shots with a suffocating defense. Colton Joseph accounted for 347 total yards and three touchdowns, twice finding Ja’Cory Thomas and hitting TJ Johnson to build a two-score cushion. The defense did the heavy lifting, limiting the Flames to 210 yards and slamming the door on fourth-and-2 near midfield before Thomas’ 55-yard knockout. It wasn’t clean—ODU coughed up four turnovers, including three inside the 10, and missed a long field goal—but the Monarchs controlled the line, won explosives when they mattered, and closed without drama.
Southern Miss ::: WIN, Jacksonville State, 42-25 PGWE: 100% -- Southern Miss handled Jacksonville State 42–25, setting the tone early with Jeffery Pittman’s two short scores and a balanced plan that piled up 225 rushing yards. Braylon Braxton added a 6-yard keeper before halftime and later hit Kadinn Morris and Carl Chester for touchdowns to keep the Gamecocks at arm’s length. The defense produced the exclamation point when Ian Foster jumped a route for a 49-yard pick-six in the final minutes, capping a night in which USM capitalized on multiple Jax State giveaways.
Marshall ::: Loss, at Louisiana, 51-54 PGWE: 66% -- Marshall put up 503 yards and four Del Rio-Wilson touchdowns but fell 54–51 in 2OT after a painful fourth-quarter swing. The Herd led 34–17 late in the third behind Michael Allen’s 131 yards and two scores and a long 53-yard Quinn field goal, yet explosive answers from Louisiana flipped momentum. A 45-yard Cajuns strike set up the late rally, the tying 24-yard TD came with :16 left, and after trading OT touchdowns, Louisiana punched in the winner in the second overtime. Marshall’s offense was efficient and explosive, but the defense couldn’t close drives in the final 20 minutes.
James Madison ::: WIN, Georgia Southern, 35-10 PGWE: 100% -- James Madison beat Georgia Southern 35–10 with a blueprint of ground dominance, field-flipping special teams, and a ferocious rush. Wayne Knight and Jordan Fuller powered a 331-yard rushing day, while Curtis Harris-Lopez’s 88-yard kickoff return broke the game open before halftime. On defense, Trent Hendrick led a seven-sack onslaught that smothered the Eagles to 27 rushing yards and under 200 total. The Dukes controlled tempo, stacked explosive plays on schedule, and never let GS settle after the second-quarter surge.
Bye Weeks:
Florida; Texas; Oklahoma; Wisconsin; Michigan; Nebraska; Michigan State; Maryland; Purdue; Texas Tech; Clemson; Miami; North Carolina; SMU; South Florida; Temple; Charlotte; UTSA; UAB; Wyoming; Nevada; UNLV; Fresno State; Florida International; Sam Houston; Delaware; Ball State; Kent State; Troy; Georgia State; Texas State; Coastal Carolina
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