The biggest game of the season (so far) is upon us.
No. 2 Georgia visits No. 4 Alabama in the first top-five matchup of the season on Saturday night. It’s the last of four ranked matchups during a loaded Week 5 slate.
The Cardinals got a statement win over the Irish a season ago at home. And it’s fair to wonder if Louisville is better this season than it was in 2023. Former Oregon and Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough has been very good so far this season, completing over 68% of his passes for eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Notre Dame is still looking to rely on Riley Leonard through the air to complement what’s been a dominant run game through four games despite injuries along the offensive line.
The Illini knocked off previously undefeated Nebraska in overtime in Week 4 and it’s just the third time since 1951 that Illinois has won its first four games. A big reason for that is the improved play of former Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer. Can he keep that up against Penn State on the road? Opposing QBs are averaging just 144 yards per game against the Nittany Lions.
This matchup of perennial playoff teams features two Heisman contenders at quarterback. No QB is responsible for more TDs per game than Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Carson Beck spent much of the offseason as the favorite for the award. Beck’s 2024 season hasn’t lived up to the Heisman hype yet, but it won’t be a surprise in the slightest if Beck has a big game.
Washington State is on the precipice of the AP Top 25 after a 4-0 start that includes wins over Texas Tech and Washington and QB John Mateer is slinging it. But the Cougars defense is allowing almost five yards a carry — that’s an appetizing statistic for Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, who leads the country with an average of 10.5 yards a carry. There’s a reason he’s the non-QB with the best Heisman odds (+2000) at BetMGM.
Live59 updates
Wisconsin ties it up
Meanwhile, the Badgers have knotted it at 7-7 after this deep pass and catch from Braedyn Locke to Vinnie Anthony.
Notre Dame up early in South Bend
The Irish scored to make it 14-7 shortly after this wild sequence. Louisville QB Tyler Shough broke away from the Notre Dame defense only to be stripped after a long run
Colorado-UCF game delayed due to weather
The new expected kickoff in Orlando is at 4:20 ET.
Scoreboard update
While that surprising finish to the first wave of games finished, the afternoon window kicked off in earnest and we have some early scores to update you on.
The Wildcats were the better team throughout and get the much deserved win on the road in Oxford, Mississippi. What a way to start Week 5
Final: Michigan 27, Minnesota 24
Ole Miss FG no good!
The Rebels are going to lose this after kicker Kaden Davis pulled his 48-yard attempt to tie it. What a wild finish in Oxford!
Ole Miss driving
The Rebels are driving and into UK territory after a crucial third-down heave by Jaxson Dart, but he took a sack two plays later. Ole Miss is on the edge of field goal range, down 20-17.
Touchdown Minnesota!
What a catch by Gophers WR Daniel Jackson. He was being interfered with as he attempted the grab. Official initially ruled it no-catch, but he definitely caught it and it’s a 3-point game.
Touchdown Kentucky!
What a turn of events in Oxford! Kentucky’s Gavin Wimsatt actually fumbles the ball on a keeper play but his teammate falls on it in the end zone to give the Wildcats the 20-17 lead.
There’s 2:25 left to play.
UK goes for it on fourth-and-7 and gets it!
Deep in their own territory but desperate for points, Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff throws a deep fade to Barion Brown for a 66-yard catch and run. What a clutch play by the Wildcats!
Michigan adds FG
The Wolverines are up 10 points with 4:33 left after a short field goal.
UK gets ball back, down 4
Ole Miss can’t get anything going and has to punt it back to Kentucky.
It’s 17-13 with just under 5 minutes left in Oxford.
Minnesota staging comeback bid
We have a development in Ann Arbor. The Gophers scored to cut it to a two-touchdown deficit early in the fourth quarter, then Koi Perich did some serious work with a 60-yard punt return. Minnesota scored shortly thereafter to cut it to a one-score game.
Interception K-State!
OSU quarterback Alan Bowman throws his third interception of the game, this time to KSU’s Jacob Parrish, who makes a beautiful contested pick in the end zone.
That’s the end of the third quarter. Kansas State is pulling away.
Touchdown K-State
The Wildcats may have just ended this one early. Avery Johnson finds Will Anciaux on a jump pass at the goal line to take a three-score lead on the Cowboys.
Touchdown Ole Miss!
The Rebels are finally back in the end zone and it comes in dramatic fashion. Jaxson Dart finds Tre Harris on a gutsy fourth-and-7 throw and Harris sprints through the UK defense for a 48-yard gamebreaker.
Ole Miss up 17-13 as the third quarter comes to a close.
Kentucky retakes lead
The Wildcats find some success through the air before their drive fizzles out just outside of the red zone. But they’re back in the lead with a made field goal.
