2026 college football schedule: What to watch in Week 5, TV channels, streaming, Saturday kickoff times

Can teams ranked high in the AP Top 25 avoid upsets, especially on the road on Saturday? That’s the big question as we enter week five of the college football season.

Saturday afternoon, No. 5 Ohio State travels to No. 14 Iowa for a critical Big Ten matchup. The last time these two teams played in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes trampled the Buckeyes en route to a 55-24 victory. If Iowa wants to achieve another feat, it may not come so easily, as Ohio State superstar Jeremiah Smith is poised for an 1,800-yard season as he builds a case for the Heisman Trophy.

In Starkville, the bells will be deafening when No. 7 Alabama takes on No. 16 Mississippi State. This game should have fireworks as it features two elite young quarterbacks in Keelon Russell and Kamario Taylor. Can the Bulldogs continue their surprising start or will the Crimson Tide improve to 5-0?

Elsewhere, No. 8 Florida hits the road to face No. 25 Missouri in a tough situation, and Washington takes on No. 18 USC with both teams needing a win in the worst possible way.

College Football Playoff rankings resume: Florida ranks No. 2 as SEC claims top five spots

David Cobb

With the wall-to-wall action of college football on Saturday, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. That’s why we’ve put together a guide to help you prioritize your viewing schedule.

All times ET

The best games

No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Mississippi State — 12 p.m. on ABC, Fubo (try for free): It’s Keelon Russell versus Kamario Taylor, two of the best young quarterbacks in the country. Should I say anything else? We’ll have to start discussing the College Football Playoff paths for Mississippi State if it manages to win at home. You will watch this match. No need to waste more space.

Michigan at Minnesota — 12 p.m. on Fox, Fubo (try for free): PJ Fleck operates at a different level of intensity these days. He just applied a player’s blood to his face after a big win against Washington last week. I shudder to think what he might do if the Golden Gophers beat Michigan on Saturday. The Wolverines are looking to bounce back from a heartbreaking loss to Iowa, but they’ll have to do so in a hostile environment. Bryce Underwood has made positive progress since his early season struggles, but this will be a good road test.

No. 5 Ohio State at No. 14 Iowa – 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, Paramount+: One of the few top 25 matches this weekend will air on America’s most-watched network. The big question in this game is whether Iowa can score enough to stay in this game. The Buckeyes defense hasn’t necessarily been elite thus far, but it’s not necessary to contain the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s defense will likely have to carry the load, but it hasn’t seen a player like Jeremiah Smith, who leads the nation in receiving yards (617) and touchdowns (seven).

No. 8 Florida at No. 25 Missouri — 3:30 p.m. on ABC, Fubo (try for free): Last weekend, Florida beat an Ole Miss team after picking up a major win at home, and the situation was reversed this week. The Gators are in the Rebels’ position, visiting Columbia after notching a top-five win at The Swamp. The positive side for Florida is that Eli Drinkwitz has not performed well against above-average SEC teams since entering the league. He is 0-16 against teams that finished the season with conference winning records, and Florida appears to fall into that category this year.

Auburn at No. 17 Tennessee — 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, Fubo (try for free): The apprentice faces the master this weekend as former Tennessee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh heads to Neyland Stadium to take on Josh Heupel. After a miserable performance in last week’s loss to Texas, the Volunteers’ offense looked as bad as it has at any point in Heupel’s tenure. The offensive line and freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon need a big rebounding effort against a more manageable opponent.

Washington at No. 18 USC — 7:30 p.m. on NBC, Fubo (try for free): Speaking of rebounds, that’s what Washington and USC are looking for Saturday night. The Trojans are coming off a blown opportunity at home against Oregon, and the Huskies have been one of the most disappointing teams in college football, and they are coming off a devastating loss to Minnesota in Seattle. Neither team can really afford a loss here, and it should make for an intense 60 minutes. At their best, Jayden Maiava and Demond Williams Jr. can put on a show at quarterback.

The best of the rest