Updated October 2, 2026, 10:45 a.m. ET
It’s officially starting to feel like fall. The summer heat had subsided. The calendar has moved to October. Pumpkin is in the air. And the College Football Conference is in full swing.
That means higher stakes as teams fight for positions in the College Football Playoff race against the opponents who know them best. Familiarity often breeds upheaval. The question is where these upheavals will come from.
Week 5 offers a unique opportunity. Seven of the nine top 10 teams playing this weekend will be on the road in conference play. Three ranked opponents face to face. Could we see Ohio State fall to Iowa? What about Florida heading to Missouri or Alabama visiting Mississippi State?
USA TODAY Sports’ college football team is here to answer those questions with their bold Week 5 predictions.
Bold College Football Predictions Week 5
Michigan faces major struggle against Minnesota
PJ Fleck doesn’t have a Minnesota team capable of contending for the Big Ten title or a College Football Playoff berth, but the Golden Gophers will prove problematic for a Michigan team that is falling out of the national rankings with this loss. The Wolverines will continue to face offensive questions; they scored a paltry 36 total points against two Power Four opponents and only had seven before their controversial Hail Mary game against Western Michigan. — Jean Brice
Auburn hurts Tennessee even more
A bounce-back game for Tennessee. A chance to advance to the SEC after giving up chances last week to beat the No. 1 team in the country. A loud crowd, a statement game for the new quarterback and a coach who needs a big win. And I go against all of that. Auburn’s win over Vanderbilt was not only impressive, it also highlighted new coach Alex Golesh’s ability to bounce his team back from an ugly loss. Auburn understood the value of QB Byrum Brown running early – instead of forcing the passing game – and dictating the tempo. — Matt Hayes
Northwestern opens new stadium in grand style
It’s a monumental opportunity for Northwestern to open the new Ryan Field, and it welcomes a quality opponent in Penn State. The Nittany Lions are coming off a loss when the offense really fell flat in the second half against Wisconsin, and it won’t get any easier against a Northwestern defense that handled Indiana quite well. It won’t be a pretty game, but the Wildcats will make the necessary plays while the defense creates problems for Rocco Becht. Northwestern overtakes Penn State and begins its new era of football 1-0. — Jordan Mendoza
Could Ohio State fall to Iowa?
Iowa scores a non-offensive touchdown, slows down Jeremiah Smith and scores a huge upset of Ohio State that throws the entire Big Ten into chaos. Plus, another loss would spell disaster for the Buckeyes after last month’s loss at Texas. The Hawkeyes will need mistake-free play from Hank Brown and an epic defensive performance, but both are possible. — Paul Myerberg
Florida hesitates during exhibition trip to Missouri
In this space last week, we talked about the challenge for Mississippi to get back on the road after an emotional victory. Florida took advantage of the Rebels being hungover after beating LSU. Now it’s the Gators heading to Missouri after their big win that vaulted them into the top 10. Can they stay down to earth While the Tigers aren’t an amazing team, they will do their best at home in a game to stay in the SEC race. Expect the home side to spring a surprise and dampen the excitement over Jon Sumrall’s early departure. — Eric Smith
Little Brown Jug stays in Minnesota
One of the unfortunate side effects of conference expansion has been the reduced frequency of traditional rivalry games. Then again, maybe Minnesota fans aren’t terribly disappointed about missing out on Michigan the last two years. The Golden Gophers haven’t beaten the Wolverines in the Twin Cities since 1977 and haven’t toppled Michigan at all since 2014. But that’s about to change. The Wolverines have already failed to score 20 points three times, while the Gophers are feeling good after winning their first Big Ten game on the road at Washington. This time, the Little Brown Jug will stay in Minnesota. — Eddie Timanus
Alabama silences Mississippi State’s bells
Mississippi State broke the record for simultaneous bells ringing last week against Missouri. Didn’t you know there was a record for such a thing? Well, then you don’t appreciate cow bells enough! If MSU could get an official record certification team back to town for its game against Alabama, it would likely break the record again. But prepare to say goodbye to the Bulldogs’ undefeated record. MSU and its star quarterback Kamario Taylor became one of the top stories of September. They deserve the congratulations. Now prepare some congratulations for Keelon Russell. Alabama’s quarterback has been fantastic as a freshman starter, and in the fourth quarter the bells will quiet down as Alabama pulls away and the SEC wheat begins to separate from the chaff. More bells in the first half, but Cinderella makes a splash in the second half. — Blake Toppmeyer
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