NCAAF · 10 hours ago

5 Bold Predictions for College Football Ahead of Week 5

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

5. Indiana's Offense Hits the Gas in the Garden State
The reigning National Champions have not gotten off to an amazing start, with shaky performances against North Texas and Northwestern. Still, the Indiana Hoosiers are 4-0 and are headed on the road for the first time this season. IU will be without running back Khobie Martin (arm) and possibly running back Turbo Richard (ankle), leaving Lee Beebe as the lone man in the backfield next to quarterback Josh Hoover. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have shown little resistance against FBS foes this season, giving up 37 points to UMass, 28 to Boston College, and 42 to USC. Receiver KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond give Rutgers some firepower to hang around in this game if they can protect Dylan Lonergan, and I think that, plus the injuries at running back for IU, necessitate a big day for Josh Hoover and the IU passing game. I think Hoover throws for more than 300 yards and finds targets Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh for multiple touchdowns as the Hoosiers have a big night on offense in Piscataway.

#6 Indiana at Rutgers - 8:00 PM on BTN
1. Virginia Tech Improves to 5-0 in Batte of ACC Unbeatens
The Virginia Tech Hokies and Pittsburgh Panthers are among the more pleasant surprises in the country, with both sitting at 4-0. They’ve gone about it in very different ways. The Hokies are second in the ACC in offense, while the Pitt Panthers have the league's best statistical defense. Of course, a large part of the start could be schedule-related, as Pitt has yet to leave home and Virginia Tech has played Maryland, Boston College, and a pair of non-power conference foes. Which team, if either, is for real? I think Lane Stadium will be rocking on Friday night, and Ethan Grunkemeyer is the best quarterback in this matchup. He has good weapons at running back and with Luke Reynolds at tight end. James Franklin’s team exposes Pittsburgh’s defense, scores 30+ and wins comfortably to move to 5-0.

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech - Friday at 7:00 on ESPN
2. Alabama and Mississippi State Combine for 70+ Points
Speaking of pleasant surprises, how about the Mississippi State Bulldogs? Kamario Taylor, also known as KT1 and Super Kamario, has led a revival in Starkville, and Jeff Lebby’s crew is 4-0 after getting a ranked win over Missouri. Enter the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Tide are led by another awesome young quarterback, and the battle between Keelon Russell and Taylor is well worth the watch. Mississippi State should be concerned about the offensive line going up against an Alabama defense with a ton of length, but the Bulldogs can strike quickly, and Taylor can use his legs to move the pocket and keep plays alive. Both teams are in great rhythm on offense, and I think this game reaches 70 points total in one of the more entertaining matchups of the season.

#7 Alabama at #16 Mississippi State - Saturday at Noon on ABC
3. Minnesota Upsets Michigan
Do you believe in karmic justice? Fans everywhere outside of Ann Arbor likely chuckled as the Iowa Hawkeyes completed a pass in the end zone as time expired and walked out of the Big House with a one-point victory over Michigan. More than the defeat, though, results elsewhere led me to believe that Michigan is just not particularly good. Western Michigan got humbled by Boise State, Oklahoma was drilled again by Georgia and looks broken, and the Wolverines’ offense is toothless. Michigan is averaging only four yards per rush (75th nationally) and just 200.8 passing yards per game (86th nationally). The defense is really strong, but the offense isn’t magically going to take a leap forward. Minnesota was beaten badly at home by Mississippi State (now 4-0), but the Gophers rarely lose at home, and Michigan’s pedestrian offense means nearly every game will be a nail-biter. Minnesota's win over Washington buoys the Gophers heading into this rivalry game.

Michigan at Minnesota - Noon on FOX
4. Kentucky Causes Red Alert in Columbia
The South Carolina Gamecocks entered the 2026 season with cautious optimism. A new offensive coordinator was hoping to get the best out of talented quarterback LaNorris Sellers, and they were able to retain edge defender Dylan Stewart. Around halftime of the third game of the season, things were looking quite rosy after blowout wins over Kent State and Towson, and the Gamecocks were winning at home against Mississippi State. Then Kamario Taylor hit the turbo button, Sellers turned the ball over a couple of times, and the Bulldogs handed South Carolina a loss. They then went on the road and lost in blowout fashion to Alabama. Fans are already discussing who the next coaching targets should be, and I think the atmosphere could turn sour quickly if South Carolina falls behind against Kentucky. The Wildcats have a fun offense led by Kenny Minchey and a good stable of running backs, and I think the defense can force a couple of turnovers against Sellers to pull off an upset win in Columbia and light a fire under Shane Beamer’s already very hot seat.

Kentucky at South Carolina - 4:15 on SEC Network
5. Indiana's Offense Hits the Gas in the Garden State
The reigning National Champions have not gotten off to an amazing start, with shaky performances against North Texas and Northwestern. Still, the Indiana Hoosiers are 4-0 and are headed on the road for the first time this season. IU will be without running back Khobie Martin (arm) and possibly running back Turbo Richard (ankle), leaving Lee Beebe as the lone man in the backfield next to quarterback Josh Hoover. The Rutgers Scarlet Knights have shown little resistance against FBS foes this season, giving up 37 points to UMass, 28 to Boston College, and 42 to USC. Receiver KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond give Rutgers some firepower to hang around in this game if they can protect Dylan Lonergan, and I think that, plus the injuries at running back for IU, necessitate a big day for Josh Hoover and the IU passing game. I think Hoover throws for more than 300 yards and finds targets Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh for multiple touchdowns as the Hoosiers have a big night on offense in Piscataway.

#6 Indiana at Rutgers - 8:00 PM on BTN
1. Virginia Tech Improves to 5-0 in Batte of ACC Unbeatens
The Virginia Tech Hokies and Pittsburgh Panthers are among the more pleasant surprises in the country, with both sitting at 4-0. They’ve gone about it in very different ways. The Hokies are second in the ACC in offense, while the Pitt Panthers have the league's best statistical defense. Of course, a large part of the start could be schedule-related, as Pitt has yet to leave home and Virginia Tech has played Maryland, Boston College, and a pair of non-power conference foes. Which team, if either, is for real? I think Lane Stadium will be rocking on Friday night, and Ethan Grunkemeyer is the best quarterback in this matchup. He has good weapons at running back and with Luke Reynolds at tight end. James Franklin’s team exposes Pittsburgh’s defense, scores 30+ and wins comfortably to move to 5-0.

Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech - Friday at 7:00 on ESPN

5 Bold Predictions for College Football Ahead of Week 5

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