After a down week, college football is finally back to midseason form. From the jaw-dropping upsets to the stellar performances by many, to the chaos that shakes up the playoff picture, last week delivered everything that college football fans desire and then some.
Here are Week 5’s stunning upsets and top performances, coupled with the upcoming Lato’s Lens Game of the Week.
Biggest Upsets
No. 17 Alabama 24, No. 5 Georgia 21
Since the retirement of Nick Saban, the No. 17 Alabama Crimson Tide has become one of the most scrutinized programs in all of college football. Saban’s replacement, Kalen DeBoer, recorded a 9-4 season in his first year at the helm of the program, which was unsatisfactory for the Crimson Tide faithful. Coupled with a loss to Florida State in their season opener, this 2025 Alabama team was full of uncertainties heading into their Week Four matchup against No. 5 Georgia in Athens.
But for the second year in a row under DeBoer, the Tide came through, defeating the Bulldogs 24-21. Quarterback Ty Simpson led the way for Alabama on offense, completing 24 of his 38 passes for two touchdowns through the air while adding another touchdown on the ground. Also, Alabama’s defense stunted the Bulldogs’ aerial attack, holding star quarterback Gunner Stockton to just 130 passing yards.
With that said, this might not be the last time these two fabled teams see each other. A rematch in the SEC Championship game or in the College Football Playoff would certainly be a sight to behold.
No. 13 Ole Miss 24, No. 4 LSU 19
Landry Kiffin, the daughter of Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, made headlines last week for hard launching a relationship with LSU star linebacker Whit Weeks, just days before her dad’s marquee homestand against No. 4 LSU.
But Lane’s Rebels persisted despite the off-field controversy, exhausting the highly talented LSU defense led by Weeks to an eventual 24-19 defeat over the Tigers. Ferris State (NCAA Division II) transfer quarterback Trinidad Chambliss dazzled in the No. 13 Rebels’ victory. His 385 all-purpose yards and one touchdown pass were just what the Rebels needed to outduel Heisman Trophy hopeful Garrett Nussmeier. The victory boosts Ole Miss into the College Football Playoff conversation and solidifies them as a legitimate SEC title contender.
Virginia 46, No. 8 Florida State 38
Of all the games this week, Virginia upsetting No. 8 Florida State caught me the most off guard.
Before the matchup, it appeared as if the Seminoles would cruise to the ACC title game after their home-opening win over Alabama, especially with the addition of Boston College transfer quarterback Thomas Castellanos.
Virginia, however, simply outplayed the Seminoles in multiple facets of the game during their double-overtime victory. Despite throwing three interceptions, Chandler Morris accounted for five total touchdowns, two through the air and three on the ground. Defensive back Ja’Son Prevard intercepted a Castellanos pass in the back of the end zone to seal the upset win for the Cavaliers. The victory gives Virginia a ranking (24) within the Top 25 for the first time since 2019.
Top Performances
Chris Freeman, PK (UConn) drilled the game-winning 44-yard field goal with 11 seconds left, propelling UConn to a 20-17 away victory over Buffalo.
Dante Moore, QB (Oregon) threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns, tacking on another 35 rushing yards in the No. 6 Ducks’ overtime defeat of No. 3 Penn State in the Nittany Lions’ famous White Out game
Dillon Thieneman, DB (Oregon) intercepted a Drew Allar pass in overtime to seal the 30-24 victory against Penn State.
Jerimiyah Love, RB (Notre Dame) accounted for four total touchdowns, two rushing and two receiving, in the No. 22 Fightin’ Irish’s 56-13 trounce of Arkansas.
Lato’s Lens Game of the Week
No. 16 Vanderbilt at No. 10 Alabama – Saturday 3:30 p.m. at Bryant-Denny Stadium (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
We all know what happened last year.
Fresh off a stunning victory over Georgia, Alabama developed a serious case of “winner’s hangover,” losing to then-unranked Vanderbilt for the first time since 1984. That defeat arguably knocked the Crimson Tide out of playoff contention, a truly odd year for the program.
But little has changed this season for the undefeated Commodores. Now ranked No. 16 and led by veteran quarterback Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt is vying for a College Football Playoff berth for the first time in the CFP era.
With a road trip to Tuscaloosa looming, head coach Clark Lea and the Commodores are seeking their second straight win over Alabama, this time against a much hungrier Crimson Tide team out for vengeance.