Week 5 of the 2025-26 college football season is a thing of the past. This week, we witnessed more coaching drama, field storming, and nail-biting victories for ranked teams. It is now time to recap what has been going on!
Arkansas fires head coach Sam Pittman following blowout home loss to #22 Notre Dame
Razorbacks head football coach Sam Pittman was fired following a 56-13 loss at home against #22 Notre Dame. Pittman compiled a 32-34 record as head coach since being hired prior to the 2020-21 season. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, who previously served as Arkansas head coach from 2008-2011 before being re-hired to the staff in 2024, has been named interim head coach.
#6 Oregon spoils #3 Penn State’s White Out game in overtime with game-ending interception, 30-24 on College GameDay
Penn State overcame a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter as QB Drew Allar threw two touchdown passes to WR Devonte Ross, tying the game at 17 with 0:30 left. After Oregon turned the ball over on downs to force overtime, Nittany Lions RB Kaytron Allen put PSU up 24-17 on their first drive with a 4-yard TD run. Oregon QB Dante Moore responded by throwing a TD pass to TE Jamari Johnson (His only reception of the game), tying it up at 24. It only took one play and 25 yards for Oregon to respond in the second OT period, as WR Gary Bryant Jr. hauled in a TD pass to give the Ducks a 30-24 lead (The two-point conversion was no good). In desperation, the Ducks defense responded with an interception on the first play of Penn State’s drive by safety Dillon Thieneman, giving the Ducks a 30-24 road win. PSU coach James Franklin fell to 4-20 against AP top 10 opponents.
#23 Illinois stuns #21 USC at home on Big Noon Kickoff, 34-32, with game-winning field goal
USC took a one-point lead with 1:55 to go after being down 14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter, thanks to two touchdown receptions and 15 points from USC WR Makai Lemon. However, it wasn’t enough, as Fighting Illini kicker David Olano knocked down a 41-yard field goal to win the game, 34-32. This was Illinois’ first win over the Trojans since 1989, and first-ever defeat of USC at home in Champaign.
Virginia upsets #8 Florida State at home in overtime on Friday night, 46-38
Florida State forced an overtime period in Charlottesville thanks to a TE Randy Pittman Jr. 11-yard TD pass to tie the game at 35 with 0:36 left, and then intercepting Cavaliers QB Chandler Morris on their final drive of regulation. Both teams kicked field goals in the first overtime period. Morris ran for a 4-yard Virginia touchdown in the second overtime period and completed a two-point conversion. The Cavs put the game in the cooler by intercepting Seminoles QB Thomas Castellanos on fourth down to win 46-38. Virginia was ranked in the AP poll for the first time since 2019 following the victory.
Arizona State back on the rails after defeating #24 TCU at home on Friday night, 27-24
The Sun Devils’ special teams and defense came to play in the fourth quarter by forcing two punts, recovering a TCU fumble, kicking a go-ahead 23-yard field goal with 1:14 left, and intercepting Horned Frogs QB Josh Hoover with 0:44 on the clock to seal the deal. This was Arizona State’s first victory over TCU since 1975. After a loss to unranked Mississippi State earlier this season, is ASU back in business?
#13 Ole Miss takes Magnolia Bowl over #4 LSU, 24-19
Rebels QB Trinidad Chambliss went 23/39 for 314 yards, a touchdown, and an interceptions passing, and rushed for 71 yards on 14 carries to bring the Magnolia Bowl trophy back to Oxford after a year in Baton Rouge. Ole Miss took a 10-7 lead in the latter half in the second quarter, and never looked back.
#17 Alabama upsets #5 Georgia again, 24-21
Crimson Tide QB Ty Simpson went 24/38 for 276 yards and two touchdowns passing, and ran for another TD as Alabama defeated SEC rival Georgia 24-21. The Tide never gave up their lead following an opening drive touchdown. The defense turned the Bulldogs over on downs, and forced a Bulldogs punt in the fourth quarter. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart falls to a 1-7 record against Alabama, with his only win coming in the 2022 National Championship game.
#9 Texas A&M avoids upset by Auburn at home, 16-10
The Aggies defense came up big in the fourth quarter; despite allowing a one-play touchdown to start the fourth quarter, they forced two Auburn punts and turned the Tigers over on downs to avoid an upset. Auburn never held a lead in the game. Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and WR KC Concepcion hauled in seven catches for 113 yards.
#15 Tennessee, #16 Georgia Tech avoid overtime upsets
Volunteers QB Joey Aguilar’s 6-yard TD run forced an overtime period in Starkville. RB DeSean Bishop immediately ran 25 yards for a touchdown on the first play of OT, altering the score to 41-34 in favor of the Vols. As Mississippi State failed to score on their overtime possession, Tennessee prevented Bulldogs fans from rushing the field again with a 41-34 road win. Vols WRs Mike Matthews and Chris Brazzell each had over 100 yards receiving, and QB Joey Aguilar went 24/40 for 335 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
The Yellow Jackets overcame a 17-point deficit in the second half with two touchdown drives in the third quarter, and two field goals in the fourth quarter; Aidan Birr’s 33-yard field goal with 0:02 on the game clock called for overtime in Winston-Salem. Georgia Tech QB Haynes King rushed for a 2-yard touchdown on the first possession, giving them a 30-23 lead. Demon Deacons RB Demond Claiborne responded with a one-play, 25-yard TD on the next possession, but a potential game-winning two-point conversion was no good. Field storming was a fever dream in Winston-Salem, too, as Georgia Tech left with a 30-29 triumph on the road. King went 28/42 for 243 yards and a touchdown passing, and 106 yards and two rushing TDs on 21 carries.
#11 Indiana, #25 BYU score late touchdowns to win road games
Indiana travelled to the ever-so-tough Kinnick Stadium, and found themselves in a showdown against the Iowa Hawkeyes. In a defensive-minded battle, Hoosiers QB Fernando Mendoza threw the go-ahead 49-yard touchdown pass to WR Elijah Sarratt with 1:28 remaining, giving Indiana a 20-13 lead. Iowa, who lost QB Mark Gronowski late in the game with a knee injury, was turned over on downs to help Indiana seal a road 20-15 victory. Sarratt had six catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Down 21-17 at the start of the fourth quarter, Cougars RB Cody Hagen ran into the end zone for a 32-yard score on the quarter’s first drive, as BYU jumped to a 24-21 lead. Despite missing a field goal on their next drive, they forced two Buffaloes punts and DB Isaiah Glasker recorded a game-ending interception with 0:50 on the clock, as BYU conquered Colorado 24-21 in Boulder. Cougars QB Bear Bachmeier threw 19/27 for 179 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 98 yards on 15 carries. WR Chase Roberts caught two TD passes from Bachmeier.
Other scores!
- #1 Ohio State 24, Washington 6
- Arizona 14, #14 Iowa State 39
- Utah State 35, #18 Vanderbilt 55
- UMass 6, #20 Missouri 42
- Duke 38, Syracuse 3
- Louisville 34, Pittsburgh 27
- California 28, Boston College 24
- Virginia Tech 23, NC State 21
- Houston 27, Oregon State 24
- Cincinnati 37, Kansas 34
- UCF 20, Kansas State 34
- Baylor 45, Oklahoma State 27
- Utah 48, West Virginia 14
- Rutgers 28, Minnesota 31
- UCLA 14, Northwestern 17
- UConn 20, Buffalo 17
- Washington State 20, Colorado State 3
- Kentucky 13, South Carolina 35
