The College Football Playoff picture is set up for a major shakeup in Week 6, with the SEC hierarchy, Red River, and a few other pressure points all lined up for a revealing Saturday.
A lot of the attention is landing on Tuscaloosa, where Alabama faces a Georgia team that could help sort out the top end of the conference. The Crimson Tide are in one of those spots where Kalen DeBoer usually does his best work, but the combination of potential weather at Bryant-Denny Stadium and Georgia waiting next means Alabama will need a top-tier performance just to stay unbeaten by Sunday.
There’s also a big test for Boise State, and it comes in a league that doesn’t look like a free pass this season. The Broncos head into a tricky Saturday night matchup with Fresno State, a team that is fully capable of handing them another loss.
Further east, Brigham Young has already taken care of Iowa State on Friday night and can now turn its full attention to a highly anticipated date with Notre Dame. Injuries remain a major issue for Kalani Sitake’s team, especially with the offense looking disconnected without tailback LJ Martin. Miami is dealing with its own injury-related concerns as it heads into an off week, hoping to get a few players back in the lineup before next Saturday.
Elsewhere, some of the weekend’s road favorites are walking into uncomfortable spots. LSU’s trip to Kentucky is not the kind of game that should be taken for granted, and it will take a high-end effort from Lane Kiffin’s team to get out with a win against a scrappy Wildcats group. Indiana, meanwhile, is facing a difficult road assignment of its own, though the Hoosiers at least bring a Top 25 ranking into a Nebraska matchup that has historically been hard for the Cornhuskers to overcome over the past decade.
Ole Miss is finally back on the field after what feels like an eternity following its first loss of the season, and Vanderbilt gives the Rebels a chance to reset on Saturday afternoon. Florida also gets a home game that should be more interesting than it looks on paper, with South Carolina coming in and Gamecocks pass rusher Dylan Stewart returning.
Ohio State has its own matchup that could turn into a mismatch in a hurry. Maryland is well aware that Jeremiah Smith cannot be handled by one defender alone, so the question becomes how many defensive backs the Terps are willing to throw at him in a matinee at the Horseshoe. Even then, it may not matter much, because the Buckeyes have a chance to name their score.
Notre Dame should also have an opportunity to iron out some issues before its next major test. Stanford once had the kind of profile that made an upset in South Bend feel possible, but that’s probably not the case this season as the Cardinal work through a rebuilding effort. The Irish get a chance to clean up both sides of the ball before heading to BYU for what looks like their first real test of the season.
And then there’s the Red River Rivalry, where anything can happen. Texas needs to be sharp against an Oklahoma team that badly wants to spring the upset at the Cotton Bowl and get its season moving in the right direction.
The big question in the SEC may be which team emerges as the one to beat, even if it isn’t the highest-ranked one. Saturday night’s Alabama-Georgia game should go a long way toward answering that.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Has A Bigger Stanford Concern Than Stanford
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Stanford carrying a little more uncertainty on defense than it probably wanted this late in the season. Defensive back Leonard Moore is listed as questionable after suffering a concussion in the previous game, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has already been ruled out because of a left thumb injury. It is the kind of injury report that puts the spotlight on depth, especially with the Irish trying to keep their defensive rotation steady.
The good news for Notre Dame is that the staff has shown a clear willingness to be cautious rather than force players back before they are ready. That approach matters now, because Stanford is less of a concern than the bigger question of how healthy the Irish can be when they need all hands available. Moore's status will be watched closely, and Viliamu-Asa's absence only adds to the need for the next group up to handle its part without much drop-off. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Now Faces A Bigger BYU Test Than Expected
BYUs first full game without LJ Martin did not look like a team searching for answers. The Cougars handled Iowa State 24-10 and got a breakout all-around performance from quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who threw for 329 yards and two touchdowns while also adding 109 yards on the ground. For Notre Dame, that matters because this is no longer shaping up as just another late-season test, but one with real College Football Playoff weight behind it.
The Irish were already preparing for a difficult matchup, and BYUs showing only raised the level of concern. Losing a key back usually forces an offense to adjust and simplify, but BYU looked sharper, more balanced and more explosive than expected without Martin. Now Notre Dame has to account for a quarterback who can hurt defenses in multiple ways, and a game that already carried stakes has become a lot more interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Offense Has A Chance To Prove Something Against Stanford
Notre Dame heads into its matchup with Stanford carrying more than just another chance to win the Legends Trophy. The Irish are also looking at a familiar opponent as a useful measuring stick for an offense that has shown signs of improvement and now has a chance to turn that progress into something more consistent. A strong opening would help set the tone, but so would a performance that lets quarterback CJ Carr keep the passing game moving and, in turn, opens cleaner paths for the running attack.
The bigger test may come in the less glamorous parts of the game. Notre Dame needs to handle the line of scrimmage, sustain drives, and be sharper in the moments that decide whether promising possessions become points. Third downs and red zone trips have a way of revealing how complete an offense really is, and with a 16th straight win over Stanford in play, the Irish have a clear chance to show they can do those things against a conference foe that has long been on the schedule but is still worth taking seriously. [Read more 🡒]