Miami and Alabama dominate as college football week five highlights emerge
Miami and Alabama posted strong performances in week five, while several coaches faced scrutiny and Missouri earned a notable victory over Florida.
Miami continued its unbeaten run in week five, extending its record to 5-0 and scoring 45 or more points in each game. Analysts noted that the Hurricanes have not yet faced a top-tier opponent, and their true standing may not be clear until they meet Notre Dame later in the season.
Alabama also recorded five consecutive games with at least 45 points, matching a feat last achieved by the program in 2018. Quarterback Keelon Russell led an offense that displayed depth at the receiver position.
Coaches on the so-called "hot seat" experienced mixed results. Florida State defeated Virginia 38-7, providing a boost for Mike Norvell, while Wisconsin improved to 4-1 after a 31-3 win over Michigan State, easing pressure on Luke Fickell. Baylor saw a strong performance from transfer quarterback DJ Lagway, and Dave Aranda's Texas Christian program continued to rely on his play.
Conversely, South Carolina and Maryland suffered overtime and blowout losses, respectively, under Shane Beamer and Mike Locksley. Colorado, led by Deion Sanders, struggled to replicate its previous success, and TCU's offensive overhaul under Sonny Dykes has not yielded the expected results.
Missouri earned its first regular-season win over a top-10 opponent, shutting down Florida 31-24. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said, "It’s a good win against a really good team today. That’s all it was," and added that the team remains focused regardless of conference reputation.
Northwestern's offense, overseen by coordinator Chip Kelly, posted 413 rushing yards in a 34-13 victory over Penn State, marking a strong start at the new Ryan Field. After the game, Curt Cignetti remarked, "I tried to tell everybody Northwestern was a good football team, but nobody was buying that," highlighting the program's rising profile.
Overall, week five showcased dominant offensive displays by Miami and Alabama, a significant upset by Missouri, and ongoing challenges for several programs and their coaches.