As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• Alabama @ Mississippi State (“Battle for Highway 82”; ABC): One of Bama’s few weaknesses, dating back to the Saban era, has been mobile, dynamic quarterbacks. Miss State has one of those in Kamario Taylor, and the game is in Starkville. This could be a fun one to start the day, and I’ll take the home team.
• Navy @ Air Force (CBS): Navy hasn’t looked great so far this season, and Air Force has at least been in their games. Maybe not the most compelling service academy matchup ever. I like the Falcons.
• Michigan @ Minnesota (FOX): The Little Brown Jug is back on the line, and frankly I’m sticking to my guns that Michigan isn’t good. I’ll go with the Gophers.
• Notre Dame @ North Carolina (ESPN): Irish all the way here.
• Central Florida @ Houston (ESPN2): UCF is going to try to make this game about space, but… yeah I’m going with the Cougs here.
• West Virginia @ Iowa State (TNT): There’s signs of life in Morgantown, while the Cyclones look a little listless in the post-Matt Campbell era. I’ll take the ‘Neers.
• Boston College @ Southern Methodist (The CW): SMU shouldn’t have any issues here.
• Middle Tennessee State @ Kansas (ESPNU): Kansas isn’t good, but they’re not “lose to MTSU” bad either.
• Stanford @ Wake Forest (ACCN): I don’t wanna talk about Stanford last week, especially since they’re going to lose by three touchdowns here.
• Syracuse @ Connecticut (CBSS): Things don’t see great at Cuse, but they should be able to deal with the Huskies.

12:30: Michigan State @ Wisconsin (BTN): I’m trying not to overindex on Wisconsin’s win over Penn State, but that win is definitely something that should inspire confidence for a win over a bunch of Spartans in disarray.

12:45: Vanderbilt @ Georgia (SEC): Oh hey, it’s Week 5 and Georgia is finally playing a team with a pulse. That’s nice, at least, but unfortunately I don’t think this version of Vandy is going to be able to do much in Athens.

1:00: Western Michigan @ Buffalo (ESPN+)

2:00: Texas-El Paso @ New Mexico (MWN)

3:30:

• Ohio State @ Iowa (CBS): Okay, yes, I know Iowa’s whole thing is that they take their Big Ten opponents and drag them down into the mud with them. But… I think Ohio State is just too good for that? I mean, maybe the Hawkeyes have a guy that can shut down Jeremiah Smith, but I suspect they don’t.
• Florida @ Missouri (ABC): Similar to Grampa Simpson, I just don’t believe in Missouri. At least, as a formidable SEC team.
• Auburn @ Tennessee (ESPN): This feels like a game where anything could happen, but I don’t really trust Auburn to execute it as such. I don’t think Tennessee is great or anything, but I do think they’re more put together.
• Virginia @ Florida State (ESPN2): This is a coin flip as far as I’m concerned. Is Virginia as good as they looked early or as bad as they looked against West Virginia? Is FSU just completely toasted? Who knows, but I have to go with the Hoos.
• Wyoming @ North Dakota State (The CW): I legit don’t know who the Bison won’t be favored against on their remaining schedule at this point. They legit have a chance to the be best ever FCS-to-FBS team.
• Louisville @ North Carolina State (ACCN): It’s been a frustrating campaign so far for Louisville, but this should help them get back on track.
• California @ Nevada-Las Vegas (CBSS): This is definitely a matchup that will be happening, and I’ve seen UNLV get some shine out there, but… this figures to be a get right game for JKS and company.
• Bowling Green @ Miami (ESPN+)
• Memphis @ Charlotte (ESPN+)
• Eastern Michigan @ Massachusetts (ESPN+)
• Samford @ Alabama-Birmingham (ESPN+)
• Old Dominion @ Georgia State (ESPN+)
• Akron @ Central Michigan (ESPN+)
• Ohio @ Kent State (ESPN+)

3:45: Marshall @ James Madison (ESPNU): JMU looks primed to repeat their claim as the best of the Sun Belt.

4:00: Maryland @ Nebraska (FS1): September Maryland, we hardly knew ye. Nebraska is rolling and it looks like the end of the Mike Locksley tenure in College Park is fast approaching, and that’s not even getting into the latest off-field issue for the Terps.

4:15:

• Purdue @ Illinois (BTN): Purdue is better, but probably not in a lot of ways that will necessarily show up in the win column.
• Kentucky @ South Carolina (SEC): Kentucky should roll here.

6:00:

• Oregon State @ Colorado State (USA): Definitely taking the Beavers here.
• Texas Southern @ Florida Atlantic (ESPN+)

7:00:

• Georgia Southern @ Coastal Carolina (ESPN+)
• Louisiana-Monroe @ South Alabama (ESPN+)
• Texas-San Antonio @ Rice (ESPN+)

7:30:

• Miami @ Clemson (ABC): I remember when this game was appointment viewing. And sure, it’s still on in primetime on broadcast television, but Miami is a multi-touchdown favorite and that feels like it shortchanges the Canes a little. I think it’d be good if this is close, but I don’t see it.
• Texas Tech @ Colorado (FOX): Colorado is a disaster and they will be blown out by Texas Tech.
• Washington @ Southern California (NBC): USC’s defense is still… problematic, but I don’t think this version of Washington will be able to expose them. But if they do, it’s over for USC in 2026.
• Temple @ South Florida (ESPNU): USF is good again. Temple is not. Next!
• Utah State @ Boise State (CBSS): Boise’s win over Western Michigan last week established them as one of the G6 frontrunners for the playoff bid, and I don’t see anything here to change that.
• Army @ Louisiana Tech (ESPN+)

7:45: McNeesee State @ Louisiana State (SEC)

8:00:

• Indiana @ Rutgers (BTN): Things have been a tad more difficult for the Hoosiers as champions than they did last year. This game will make it feel like 2025, at least for a bit.
• Arkansas State @ Louisiana (ESPN+)

9:30: Fresno State @ Washington State (USA): I always went to believe when it comes to the Cougs, but I don’t they have it this year. I’ll have to go with Fresno.

10:30:

• Baylor @ Arizona State (ESPN): Sun Devils all the way here.
• Texas State @ San Diego State (The CW): It’s weird to go with Texas State here, but SDSU’s offense is just so bad that it defies belief that a team could sustain such a retrograde offense for so long. (I mean, even Iowa eventually figured out that you’re allowed to proactively score points.)
• Eastern Washington @ California-Davis (ESPN2)

11:00: Cincinnati @ Arizona (FOX): Finally, in the designated “Eastern Time Zone team plays a west coast team” slot, we’ve got this. Did you know that Cincy is undefeated? Because I sure didn’t. The following question is, of course, “are they any good, despite that?” And the answer is unclear. Personally, I think they’re kind of “getting away with” and that Arizona will prevail here.

11:59: San Jose State @ Hawaii (MWN)