Week 5 shook up ESPN’s FPI picture, and Ohio State is the team sitting on top after a convincing 31-14 win over Iowa at home.
The Buckeyes’ rise to No. 1 came on the back of a dominant performance, and Jeremiah Smith was right in the middle of it. Smith continues to build out an already impressive Ohio State resume, and his latest outing against the Hawkeyes added another line to the school record book. He now holds program records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, a big reason the Buckeyes looked so comfortable in the victory.
Ohio State heads to Maryland next, but the path gets steeper soon after. The Buckeyes are set for a highly anticipated meeting with Indiana on Oct. 17.
Missouri also made a loud statement in Week 5, rolling past Florida 45-17. That loss sent the Gators tumbling five spots in the rankings and dropped them into dangerous territory as the season tightens up.
That’s where college football is right now: every week matters more, the margin for error keeps shrinking, and the playoff race is starting to take shape in real time. The teams at the top are trying to hold their ground while others are trying to claw their way back after one bad Saturday.
Here’s ESPN’s FPI Top 25 before Week 6:
Ohio State (+2)
Georgia (-1)
Notre Dame (-1)
Texas
Miami
Alabama
Indiana
LSU
Oregon
Tennessee (+1)
Texas Tech (+2)
Utah
Nebraska (+1)
Texas A&M (+2)
Florida (-5)
BYU (+1)
Northwestern (+11)
Missouri (+17)
USC (-1)
Penn State (-5)
Oklahoma
Ole Miss (-3)
Pittsburgh (-1)
Auburn
Houston (+2)
In Other News...
Greg McElroy Just Added To Floridas Misery After Mizzou Rout
Missouris 45-?? rout of Florida only deepened an already rough stretch for the Gators, and the Tigers left little doubt about where they belong in the national conversation. Missouri improved to 4-1 and was rewarded in the AP Poll, climbing from No. 25 to No. 14 after piling up 560 total yards and smothering Florida on the ground, where the Gators managed just 42 rushing yards.
The damage kept building as the game wore on, with Missouri outscoring Florida 25-7 in the second half. Austin Simmons carved up the Gators for nearly 240 passing yards in the first half, and Jamal Roberts punished them on the ground with 211 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the kind of performance that leaves Florida searching for answers long after the final whistle. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Snap Count Shifts Raise Tough Questions After Missouri Loss
The snap counts from Floridas loss to Missouri offered a clearer picture of how the Gators are sorting through their roster than the final score did. Several players who figured to have larger roles were used sparingly, with Eric Singleton Jr. and JVari Flowers among the names whose playing time stood out, while the staff also mixed in different combinations across the depth chart as it searched for answers in a difficult game.
Tramell Jones brief late appearance at quarterback added another wrinkle to a night full of questions about usage and rotation. For a team still trying to settle on dependable pieces, those snap-count shifts matter because they can hint at where the coaching staff is leaning next, and where it still isnt sure who fits best when the games get tight. [Read more 🡒]
Florida Injury Update Could Matter More To Mizzou Fans Than Expected
Floridas receiver room got a bit of encouraging news this week when Vernell Brown III was cleared to participate in practice and ran on Monday after injuring his knee in Week 4. The update matters beyond Gainesville, too, because Brown sat out Floridas Week 5 game against Missouri, and the Gators are still trying to sort out what theyll have available on offense as they prepare for South Carolina.
Even with the positive signs, Jon Sumrall said Browns status for the next game remains uncertain, and there is still no firm timeline for his return. The MRI brought relief in that it did not reveal a long-term injury, but for now Florida is left waiting on how much he can do and when he can get back into game shape. [Read more 🡒]