Florida, Alabama and Michigan top Week 5 college football winners and losers
Week 5 saw Florida drop after a blowout loss to Missouri, while Alabama and Ohio State posted dominant victories; Michigan and South Carolina suffered setbacks.
Florida entered the weekend ranked No. 8 after recent wins over Auburn and Mississippi, but a 45-17 defeat at No. 25 Missouri sent the Gators tumbling back down the polls. New head coach Jon Sumrall praised the team's effort, though the loss highlighted defensive and offensive line issues that allowed Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons to rush for 211 yards.
Alabama continued its offensive surge, with quarterback Keelon Russell throwing for 285 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-23 win over Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide’s balanced attack and strong defensive performance kept them in contention ahead of a matchup with No. 2 Georgia.
Ohio State responded to a recent loss to Texas with a 31-14 road win over Iowa, limiting the Hawkeyes to 238 yards. Wide receiver Jeremiah Smith recorded 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns, reinforcing the Buckeyes’ bid for the Big Ten title.
Missouri broke a long streak of defeats to ranked opponents by beating Missouri 34-27, propelled by transfer quarterback Austin Simmons, who threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Michigan fell to 2-2 after a 20-14 loss to Minnesota, with the offense managing only 180 yards and turning the ball over three times. Quarterback Bryce Underwood completed 10 of 21 passes for 101 yards and two interceptions, prompting speculation about a possible quarterback change.
South Carolina’s season took a further downturn after a 35-34 overtime loss to Kentucky, leaving coach Shane Beamer under heightened scrutiny following earlier defeats to Mississippi State and Alabama.
Washington, ranked No. 19 in the preseason, dropped to 0-2 in conference play after a 25-21 loss to Southern California, surrendering a lead in the third quarter and failing to protect the ball in the final minutes.
Navy’s early-season decline continued with a 14-9 loss to Air Force, dropping the Midshipmen to 1-3 and jeopardizing bowl eligibility.
Quarterback Camario Taylor’s Heisman candidacy suffered after two interceptions, including a pick-six, in Alabama’s win over the Crimson Tide, despite finishing with 258 yards and three touchdowns.