Top 5 college football matchups for week 5

Week 5 of college football opened Friday with a thrilling matchup between Pitt and Virginia Tech, two unranked, undefeated Power Five programs that battled to the end. The Panthers narrowly defeated the Hokies, 35-33. Read more: Top 5 college football matchups for week 5

Now it's Saturday, and most schools are starting or continuing conference play, adding to the excitement. Here are Disruptor Sports' top five college football games to watch for week five.

No. 5: Virginia at Florida State

Our sleeper pick this week is Virginia traveling to face Florida State.

Last season, Florida State shocked the college football world by stunning No. 8 Alabama in week one. The Seminoles started 3-0 and landed on the AP Top 25 after opening the season unranked. That momentum died when Florida State traveled to Charlottesville in week four and lost in overtime to Virginia, 46-38. The loss was season-altering: Florida State dropped its next three games, fell out of the Top 25, and missed a bowl game, finishing 5-7.

Virginia, on the other side, had a strong season. At one point the Cavaliers looked like a College Football Playoff team, but a loss to Duke in the ACC Championship ended those hopes. Virginia beat Missouri in the Gator Bowl, 13-7, and finished the season ranked No. 19.

Now, in 2026, Virginia has again started the season well, while Florida State has yet to beat a Power Four program. The Seminoles have lost to No. 8 Alabama and No. 21 SMU, though neither was a blowout. Virginia has beaten one Power Four opponent this season, NC State, 34-8, but fell to WVU, 38-27, in week three as a 10.5-point favorite.

The Seminoles will want revenge for last season, and despite their two losses, Florida State is not playing poorly. Virginia is only a 2.5-point favorite, which suggests this could be a close one.

No. 4: No. 10 BYU vs. TCU

This could also be considered a sleeper pick, but it has drawn praise from several outlets as a game to watch this week, and looks like the premier matchup on the Big 12 slate.

It's almost the same story as Virginia and Florida State. BYU is establishing itself as a strong team in 2026, while TCU is still looking for its first win against a Power Four opponent.

BYU is the more established team, but history favors the Horned Frogs, especially in Fort Worth. TCU is 7-6 all-time against BYU and 4-2 when the game is in Fort Worth. The Cougars haven't beaten the Horned Frogs on the road since 2006.

TCU, like Florida State, has struggled against Power Four opponents, losing to UNC at home and UCF on the road, though neither was a blowout. The issue for TCU has been offensive inconsistency, with its defense keeping it competitive. Still, the Horned Frogs' offense has had explosive moments, and the team ranks among the leaders in 10-plus-yard runs and 15-plus-yard passes.

BYU will be the best offensive team TCU has faced this season, with higher scoring margins than either UCF or UNC. That's not a prediction of a TCU upset, just a sign that given the history and what we've seen so far, the Horned Frogs should be able to keep it close. BYU is a 6.5-point favorite, and TCU's defense and big-play offense give it a chance.

No. 3: No. 8 Florida vs. No. 25 Missouri

The SEC is dominating college football this season, with 10 conference teams ranked, including Florida and Missouri.

It's a must-win game for Missouri, which will likely fall out of the Top 25 with a loss. The Tigers also need a win to bounce back in the SEC standings after losing their conference opener to Mississippi State. To Missouri's advantage, it has home-field in Columbia, where Florida is 2-4 all-time, and the Tigers are 7-6 against the Gators overall.

Still, this could be one of the best Florida teams in recent memory. Its No. 8 ranking is its highest since 2020, and the Gators put on a show last week against one of the season's top programs, beating Ole Miss at home, 52-28.

Florida still has a lot to prove as a top-10 team. It has played only one true road game, a close one at Auburn, and Missouri is arguably the better team of the two. If the Gators aren't ready for a ranked road test, the Tigers could spoil their momentum.

Still, the Gators are favored here, undefeated and already tested against a ranked program this season, unlike Missouri. Florida is a 4.5-point favorite. Missouri has a chance to keep it close, but if the Gators start fast the way they did against Ole Miss, it could get out of hand quickly.

No. 2: No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 14 Iowa

Over in the Big Ten, Ohio State at Iowa should not disappoint.

On paper, Iowa can be a real test for Ohio State. The Buckeyes' only loss this season was by one point to the nation's No. 1 team, Texas. This is also a big test for Iowa, which is looking to protect its undefeated record after beating two Power Five programs this season, both unranked.

Ohio State has been a juggernaut in college football for years, and it's a 14.5-point favorite despite its 3-1 record and the trip to Iowa City. All-time, the Buckeyes are 17-3 against Iowa, and the Hawkeyes' best chance has historically come at home, where they've won twice.

The last time Iowa beat Ohio State was in Iowa City in 2017, a 31-point win that knocked the Buckeyes out of the College Football Playoff. A repeat Saturday would sting for Ohio State, which remains in good standing despite its loss to Texas but would likely slide further in the rankings with a second defeat.

There's also extra buzz in Iowa City, where ESPN's "College GameDay" is on hand for the first time the Hawkeyes have hosted the show in two decades. The key for Iowa to cover the spread is keeping its defense aggressive against Ohio State's powerful offense, and being effective early rather than counting on a fourth-quarter rally the way it did against Michigan.

No. 1: No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 16 Mississippi State

Our top game of the week is Alabama against Mississippi State, two unbeaten, ranked SEC powerhouses in a game that could shape early SEC Championship projections.

Both teams are led by star quarterbacks in Heisman contention, Keelon Russell for Alabama and Kamario Taylor for Mississippi State. Alabama has won every game this season by at least two scores, and Mississippi State has been effective too, beating three Power Four opponents, though not always by wide margins.

The Bulldogs have proven to be a good program, and this could be the first time this season Alabama doesn't run away with a game. Alabama is a 6.5-point favorite. Historically, the Crimson Tide have the Bulldogs' number, 88-17-3 all-time, and Mississippi State hasn't beaten Alabama since 2007. Alabama has won the last 16 meetings, most by a wide margin.

Alabama has generally been at its strongest beyond the first quarter this season. If Mississippi State can score early and make Alabama play from behind in the second half, that's the Bulldogs' best path to an upset.

When and where to watch

Alabama at Mississippi State kicks off at noon on ABC and ESPN Unlimited. Ohio State at Iowa follows at 3:30 p.m. on CBS. Florida at Missouri is also 3:30 p.m., on ABC and ESPN Unlimited. Virginia at Florida State airs at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2. BYU at TCU closes out the top five at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

The top five matchups this week were dominated by ranked and Power Five teams. Worth checking in on throughout the day: Navy vs. Air Force at noon, No. 4 Miami at Clemson at 7:30 p.m., Baylor at Arizona State at 10:30 p.m., Michigan at Minnesota at noon, Middle Tennessee at Kansas at noon, Eastern Michigan at UMass at 3:30 p.m., California at UNLV at 3:30 p.m., Oregon State at Colorado State at 6 p.m., Auburn at No. 17 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m., and Marshall at James Madison at 3:45 p.m.