Atlanta — There are weekends in college football that feel like warm-ups, and then there’s Week 5 — when everything you thought you knew got a stern talking to. Rankings cracked. Home fields shuddered. Teams climbed, teams tumbled, and underdogs weren’t just sniffing upsets — they were booking them with confidence.
You had Alabama showing up in Athens and saying, “By the way, that’s not your house anymore.” You had Ole Miss turning Oxford into hostile territory for LSU. You had Oregon giving Penn State a master class in how to lose at home in overtime. You had Virginia crashing Friday night like it was opening night, pulling off the shocker many didn’t see coming. Illinois rewrote its script mid-season. Tennessee survived a squeaker. Houston and Arizona State staged Houdini acts. Indiana kept rolling, Iowa kept regretting trusting them.
In 2025, Week 5 isn’t a checkpoint — it’s a catalyst. Let’s break this down, one bombshell at a time.
Alabama at Georgia: Tide Crashes the Party in Athens
ATHENS, Ga. — Alabama didn’t come to play guest. They came to stay. The Crimson Tide edged No. 5 Georgia 24-21 on the road, handing the Bulldogs their first home loss in six seasons.
Ty Simpson was the man. He threw for 276 yards, two touchdowns, and added a rushing score. He carried the offense and never let Georgia grab momentum for good. In crunch time, Georgia tried to muscle fourth-and-1 from the Alabama 8, but LT Overton dropped Cash Jones for a loss and snatched that shot away.
It ended Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak — the longest active streak among FBS programs. Georgia never led in the game. Meanwhile, Alabama, trailing the narrative for much of the season, suddenly looks like it’s reasserting itself as Vandy comes to town this weekend.
Is Alabama legit? Is Georgia just a Super Bowl game for the Tide? We’ll find out pretty quickly, with Pavia in Tuscaloosa on Saturday.
Ole Miss vs. LSU in Oxford: Rebels Smack Down the Tigers
OXFORD, Miss. — If you doubted Ole Miss’ swagger, this game should change your mind. In front of a raucous home crowd at Vaught-Hemingway, Ole Miss knocked off No. 4 LSU, 24-19.
Let’s talk stats. Ole Miss piled up 480 total yards to LSU’s 254. The Rebels passed for 314 yards (23-of-39), and ran for another 166 on 45 attempts. LSU, by contrast: 197 passing, 57 rushing.
Trinidad Chambliss was electric. He had a hand in nearly everything. He connected with Dae’Quan Wright on a critical fourth-and-three late, and Ole Miss ran out the clock via a trick play to seal it. Kewan Lacy churned out a 15-yard touchdown run, and Logan Diggs punched in a 6-yard score. LSU tried heavy doses of field goals (Damian Ramos kicked multiple), and even after a 48-yard FG in the third quarter narrowed the gap, the Tigers couldn’t finish.
LSU’s defense had looked imposing early this year, but the offense sputtered, and the balance was blown apart. Ole Miss now improves to 5-0, 3-0 in the SEC.
Oregon at Penn State: Ducks Fly in Overtime Chaos
STATE COLLEGE — One of the most talked-about games of the weekend took place in Happy Valley, where Oregon stunned Penn State, 30-24 in double overtime.
“College GameDay” even chose this matchup as its stage, which gives you a hint about how big the hoopla was. Oregon’s quarterback Dante Moore led the charge, and the Ducks continued proving that their move into the Big Ten is no gimmick. Penn State’s fans sat through a “white-out” atmosphere only to see their team crumble in overtime — heartbreaking under the lights.
This win hands Oregon critical legitimacy in its new conference. For Penn State, it’s a blow to their aura — and maybe a cracking in the armor.
Virginia at Florida State: Cavs Drop the Midnight Bomb
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia looked like it had season tickets for shocker mode. Under Friday night lights, the Cavaliers upended No. 8 Florida State, 46-38, in double overtime.
FSU thought it would roll through; instead, Virginia swaggered in, hit clutch throws, made the stops, and handed the Seminoles their first loss. There’s a new public enemy in the ACC, and for now, its name is “Virginia.”
Illinois Bounces Back — Indiana, Tennessee, Others Stay in the Fight
Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Last week’s devastation at Indiana was supposed to be the kind of hangover you can’t shake. Instead, Illinois flipped the script, edging out USC 34-32 on a last-second, 41-yard field goal. (Yes, that really happened.) Want stats? Here you go: Luke Altmyer completed 20-of-26 for 328 yards and tossed multiple scores. This was a rebound game done right — swagger, grit, consequences for doubters.
Indiana vs. Iowa
IOWA CITY — Indiana escaped Iowa, 20-15, holding on when it mattered most. They remain undefeated. (Yes, that still feels odd.) Not much flash, but they do what wins. Iowa will rue trusting Indiana to lay down.
Tennessee at Mississippi State
STARKVILLE — Tennessee and Mississippi State took the long road to resolution. The Vols survived in overtime, 41-34. Vols fans will sigh relief — sure, they hate nail-biters, but they love wins more.
Comeback Theater: Houston and Arizona State
Houston at Oregon State
EUGENE — Houston was nothing if not persistent. The Cougars rallied to win in overtime, 27-24. Oregon State’s defense had gaps; Houston found them.
Arizona State vs. TCU
TEMPE — ASU took down No. 24 TCU, 27-24. The Sun Devils pulled off the late magic and made it a weekend to remember.
Quick Hits — The Rest of the Week
- Ohio State gave Washington a beatdown, 24-6. Let defense remind everyone it matters.
- Several ranked teams bit the dust or nearly did: Georgia, LSU, FSU, Penn State — all got reminders that no lead is safe.
- The AP rankings will jostle hard this week. Oregon, Ole Miss, Alabama — all rising. Some of the old favorites? Cracks showing.
In Summary: Week 5 Was a Reckoning
Call it a recalibration. Call it a cocky midterm from college football. What we saw was a series of statements:
- Alabama reminds us it isn’t dead.
- Ole Miss is gaslighting everyone — “You thought LSU was elite? That’s cute.”
- Oregon is no longer just a “moving team” — they’re a threat.
- Virginia just RSVP’d to the big boys’ table, uninvited.
- Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana all survived, and that resilience means more than hype.
- Houston, ASU proved the comeback isn’t a fluke — it’s a style.
Week 5 didn’t settle things — it rattled them. But in college football, that’s just what we pay for.
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