Can No. 1 Texas outlast Oklahoma in the "Red River Rivalry" to remain the top team? Will Keelon Russell continue his efficient freshman season against No.
6 Alabama's rival, No. 2 Georgia? In the Big Ten, Bob Chesney and No.
21 UCLA will try to stay undefeated as they travel to No. 13 Oregon. Matt Rhule will try to earn his first win against a ranked team when Nebraska plays No.
7 Indiana on "Big Noon Kickoff." Week 6 of the college football season features two historic rivalries with College Football Playoff implications, and more. We’re breaking down our straight-up picks and the matchups to watch closely throughout the weekend. When: Friday, 9:00 p.m.
ET (FOX)Where: Husky Stadium, Seattle, WashingtonLine: Washington -3 RJ Young: IowaI know what to expect from Iowa's offense and defense. I also know that unless Demond Williams Jr. is having a Kyler Murray day rather than a Jackson Arnold one, Washington is cooked. Laken Litman: IowaThe Hawkeyes rebound from a big loss to Ohio State with a decisive road win over the Huskies to keep them in the Big Ten title race.
Michael Cohen: IowaBack-to-back losses for Washington have left the Huskies teetering, and the Hawkeyes are more than capable of grinding out another impressive road win. Ben Portnoy: IowaWashington has basically been Demond Williams Jr. and everyone else so far. Iowa got handled relatively routinely by Ohio State last week, but the Hawkeyes are far and away the better team in this matchup.
When: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, NebraskaLine: Indiana -7.5 Young: IndianaWhile it won't be the 56-7 beatdown it was last year, I expect the Hoosiers to handle Nebraska in Lincoln with little-to-no trouble. Litman: IndianaIn what could be viewed as a look-ahead game before hosting Ohio State next week, coach Curt Cignetti ensures Indiana escapes Lincoln with another win. Cohen: IndianaThere are levels to coaching, and Curt Cignetti is more than a cut above Matt Rhule.
Leaning on defense, the Hoosiers should win comfortably. Portnoy: IndianaThe last time Indiana and Nebraska played in a pseudo-prove-it game in 2024, the Hoosiers won 56-7. It won't be that lopsided, but Curt Cignetti and co. win on the road in Lincoln.
When: Saturday, noon ET (ABC)Where: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MissouriLine: Missouri -3.5 Young: MissouriQuarterback Austin Simmons is coming off a 300-yard passing performance against a Florida defense that we thought was good. Texas A&M's defense, we know, is not. Litman: MissouriTwo weeks ago, everyone was down on Mizzou after a loss to Mississippi State, but that decisive win over Florida has the Tigers back with momentum.
It will continue against the struggling Aggies. Cohen: MissouriQuarterback Austin Simmons has now thrown 13 touchdowns without an interception for Missouri. He should be able to handle a Texas A&M defense ranked outside the top 40 nationally.
Portnoy: MissouriMissouri shocked me and just about everyone else with its throttling of Florida last week. Austin Simmons is the best QB in the country no one is talking about. Give me the Tigers over a reeling Aggies squad.
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OregonLine: Oregon -11.5 Young: OregonDan Lanning might think UCLA reminds him of Indiana, and that might be enough to wake his team up as the Hoosiers are the last team to come into Autzen and walk out with a win. Unfortunately, UCLA doesn't have the quarterback play this season that Indiana had last season.
Litman: OregonUCLA is flying high under new coach Bob Chesney, but this game is at Autzen and the Ducks — whether they're led by quarterback Dante Moore or Dylan Raiola — seem to be heading in the right direction after a massive win over USC. Cohen: OregonIf this game was being played in Los Angeles, it would be quite tempting to take UCLA. But Autzen Stadium is a tough environment for a UCLA team that might be overachieving right now.
Portnoy: OregonI know we all kind of left Oregon for dead after Oklahoma State, but after the USC win and a bye week, I think Dan Lanning will get things rolling again. UCLA has taken massive strides under Bob Chesney. This just may be too tall of a task this early.
When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TexasLine: Texas -8.5 Young: TexasName the number, Longhorns. Oklahoma is a terrible offensive team.
Litman: TexasYou never really know with a rivalry game, but Texas has never lost to Oklahoma when ranked No. 1 in the country and that trend won't change now. Cohen: TexasNot much to overthink in this one.
Yes, it's a rivalry game, but the Longhorns might be the most complete team in the country. A lopsided win. Portnoy: TexasRed River has a tendency to get weird, but Oklahoma might be the worst team in the SEC outside of Arkansas.
Give me the Longhorns, huge. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KansasLine: KSU -2.5 Young: HoustonHouston is one-inch from being undefeated and one of the favorites to win the Big 12 title.
Litman: HoustonConner Weigman may not have passed for a TD last week, but he ran for three scores, and he'll probably use his legs again against Kansas State's lowly run defense. Cohen: HoustonThe only loss for the Cougars this season came on the road against a team now ranked No. 11 nationally in Texas Tech.
Houston can take down K-State on the road. Portnoy: Kansas StateThe Wildcats have flown under the radar a touch in Collin Klein's first year, but they might just have unlocked what we've been hoping for out of Avery Johnson for years. I like Kansas State in a mild upset.
When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET (CW)Where: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NevadaLine: NDSU -3 Young: North Dakota StateThe Bison are the only team in the country I expect to finish 12-0. Litman: North Dakota StateFirst-year FBS team North Dakota State continues its march toward a potential Group of Six CFP berth with an impressive road win over coach Dan Mullen and UNLV.
Cohen: North Dakota StateCredit the Rebels for bouncing back from a blowout loss to North Texas with back-to-back victories, including one against an ACC opponent. But there's a reason big-time programs almost never want to play NDSU. And UNLV is about to find out why.
Portnoy: North Dakota StateNobody just waltzes into the Fargodome and leaves with a win. Dan Mullen may be angling for his next SEC head coaching job (Hello, South Carolina), but the Bison have been uber-impressive in their first season in FBS. I like the home team here.
When: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)Where: Kroger Field, Lexington, KentuckyLine: LSU -8.5 Young: LSUThe No. 2 scoring defense in thhe country should buoy an offense that hasn't been firing on all cylinders.
Litman: LSUWhile Will Stein has been a home run hire for Kentucky, Lane Kiffin's LSU is the more talented team and has the nation's No. 2 defense. Cohen: LSUEven though quarterback Sam Leavitt has thrown at least one interception in every game this season, the Tigers should handle Kentucky thanks to the No.
2 defense in the country. Portnoy: LSUKentucky was lucky to leave South Carolina with a win last week, but I like what I've seen from Kenny Minchey. Still, I'm rolling with LSU's overall talent and this gives Lane Kiffin a nice win to get things rolling again post-Ole Miss.
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, PennsylvaniaLine: Penn State -1.5 Young: USCPenn State has found its level, and USC can't afford to drop a game to an unranked opponent. Litman: USCLincoln Riley is safe for another week, while Penn State — which gave up more than 400 yards rushing to Northwestern last week — loses its third game in a row.
Cohen: USCAlready regretting this choice given Lincoln Riley's propensity to struggle in difficult environments. But Penn State has looked downright dreadful in back-to-back losses. There's no good option here.
Portnoy: Penn StateIs this the end of the Lincoln Riley era? Perhaps. It's been an angsty week in State College as fans have revolted against administration in the wake of the Northwestern loss.
I'll take Matt Campbell to get a win in his first White Out game. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, AlabamaLine: Alabama -1.5 Young: GeorgiaAlabama's shot-play offense against UGA's suffocating defense?
I'll take the Dawgs. Litman: GeorgiaSure, Georgia hasn't been challenged yet this year, but in primetime, the Bulldogs show they're for real and overcome a good performance by Alabama's Heisman-contending quarterback, Keelon Russell. Cohen: GeorgiaIf Texas isn't the most complete team in the country, then Georgia probably is.
The Bulldogs lead the country in scoring offense and rank seventh in total defense. That's too much for the Crimson Tide to handle. Portnoy: AlabamaI was incredibly skeptical of the Alabama defense early this season, but that may just simply not matter the way the Tide are scoring points.
Keelon Russell has the first of what could be a few Heisman moments and Kalen DeBoer wins another huge game as Alabama head coach. When: Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET (CW)Where: Valley Children's Stadium, Fresno, CaliforniaLine: Boise State -6.5 Young: Boise StateFresno State has done little this season to show me its capable of such an upset.
Litman: Boise StateThe Broncos keep their winning streak alive and CFP hopes intact with a quality road win over a 4-1 Fresno State team. Cohen: Boise StateAs ever, the Broncos remain legitimate contenders to reach the College Football Playoff. They'll have no problem traveling to the West Coast and taking down a Fresno State team that got shut out by USC's leaky defense earlier this year.
Portnoy: Boise StateBoise has been the class of the Group of Six this year, and they should remain so in this one. That said, Matt Entz has been doing one of the most underrated clean-up jobs in college football the last two years at Fresno State. This game could get a little frisky for the Broncos if they're not careful.
