College Football Week 5: Georgia vs Alabama, Key Matchups, Top QBs

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Week 5 of the 2025 college football season is almost here, and fans are buzzing. High-stakes matchups are lined up, and some could seriously shake up the conference title races and the College Football Playoff chase.

All eyes are on the No. 6 Oregon vs. No. 3 Penn State showdown. But it’s not just about them—Alabama vs. Georgia, Auburn vs. Texas A&M, and Ole Miss vs. LSU are all set to deliver some drama. There’s a lot to keep track of, so let’s get into the key storylines and players who could make or break the weekend.

Table of Contents

Top Matchup: Oregon vs. Penn State

The big ticket this week is absolutely No. 6 Oregon heading to face No. 3 Penn State. It’s more than just a game; it’s a fight for Big Ten bragging rights and maybe even a playoff spot.

Both teams bring sky-high expectations. There’s a lot riding on this for both sides, and you can feel the tension building already.

Quarterback Duel: Drew Allar vs. Dante Moore

Penn State’s Drew Allar and Oregon’s Dante Moore are the two to watch here. Allar’s shown real flashes, but he’ll have to tighten things up against Oregon’s defense.

Moore’s still getting his feet under him as a first-year starter, and Beaver Stadium isn’t exactly a welcoming place for visitors. This could be a real growth moment for him and the Ducks’ younger guys.

Key SEC Matchups

Sure, Oregon vs. Penn State is the headline, but the SEC slate is no slouch. Several games could reshape the conference races and have ripple effects on the playoff picture.

Georgia vs. Alabama

Georgia hosts Alabama for the first time in almost ten years. The Bulldogs have only beaten Bama once in their last 11 tries, so there’s a lot of history here.

Georgia’s defense will have its hands full with Alabama’s new quarterback, Ty Simpson, who’s been lighting it up lately. Offensively, keeping Gunner Stockton upright and getting the ball to Zachariah Branch are top priorities for the Dawgs.

Alabama, meanwhile, needs better play up front. Getting defensive lineman Tim Keenan III back could tip the scales. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has pointed out the importance of handling adversity—especially with the crowd noise in Athens.

Auburn vs. Texas A&M

This matchup has been a coin flip since 2021, with each team defending home turf. Auburn’s coming off a rough loss to Oklahoma, and their offensive line gave up eight sacks—yikes.

The Aggies, fresh after a bye, are hoping that receivers Mario Craver and KC Concepcion can keep Auburn’s defense guessing. It’s hard to predict what’ll happen with these two.

LSU vs. Ole Miss

Last year’s LSU-Ole Miss game went to overtime, and this one feels like it could go down to the wire again. Third-down conversions are going to be huge for both sides.

Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been clutch on third downs. LSU really needs to get something going on the ground, or else Garrett Nussmeier could be in for a long night.

Quarterbacks Making Waves

Some quarterbacks have been grabbing headlines this season. Here are a few who’ve really stood out:

Fernando Mendoza: Since transferring to Indiana, he’s looked like a legit Heisman contender—14 touchdowns, zero picks. Not bad at all.
Tommy Castellanos: He talked a big game over the summer, then backed it up with a win over Alabama. His 91.6 Total QBR is third-best in the country.
Beau Pribula: After moving to Missouri, Pribula’s thrown 11 touchdowns and has the Tigers undefeated. That’s a surprise, honestly.
Brendon Lewis: Memphis seems to be the right fit for him. He’s led the Tigers to a 4-0 start and has them eyeing a Group of 6 playoff spot.
Drew Mestemaker: The North Texas walk-on has tossed 10 touchdowns with no interceptions. The Mean Green are 4-0, and he’s a big reason why.

Quotes of the Week

Week 5 is almost here, and you can feel the buzz in the air. Coaches and players are already tossing out some interesting takes and expectations:

Penn State coach James Franklin says they’re counting on a real home-field advantage in their White Out game against Oregon.
Oregon’s Dan Lanning admits Beaver Stadium is a tough place to play, and he even mentioned the stadium’s unique musical traditions.
Georgia’s Kirby Smart gave Alabama’s Ty Simpson some big praise, calling him the hottest quarterback in college football right now.
Colorado’s Deion Sanders shrugged off any talk of revenge against BYU, saying he’s just focused on the next game.
Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin joked about the stress of game-planning for LSU, as only Kiffin can.
Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy had a laugh about the pressure he’s under, right before heading out from the program.

Want more details and some deeper analysis on these matchups? Check out the full article on ESPN.

Joe Hughes is the founder of CollegeNetWorth.com, a comprehensive resource on college athletes' earnings potential in the NIL era. Combining his passion for sports with expertise in collegiate athletics, Joe provides valuable insights for athletes, fans, and institutions navigating this new landscape.

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