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Five Week 5 CFB games to watch
Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Five Week 5 CFB games to watch: Colorado aims to spoil No. 8 USC's road trip

By Eric Smithling  |  Last updated 9/28/23

In Week 5, eyes will be on USC-Colorado early and a Heisman front-runner in a night game. Meanwhile, undefeated Texas faces a significant test at home against another unbeaten team. (All games Saturday unless noted.)

The five-star game: No. 8 USC (4-0) at Colorado (3-1) | 12 p.m. ET

Can Colorado be more competitive in Week 5? The game of the week — featuring two of the sport's best quarterbacks (USC's Caleb Williams and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders) — lost some luster after the Buffaloes were steamrolled at Oregon in Week 4, 42-6. They may have better luck against USC. Neither defense is dominant, with USC ranked 40th (20 PPG) and coming off its worst game of the season, a tight 42-28 win over Arizona State (1-3). Colorado, meanwhile, is 116th in the country, allowing 33.2 points per game.

The Heisman game: No. 7 Washington (4-0) at Arizona (3-1) | 10 p.m. ET

Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is the Heisman front-runner, and for good reason. Through four games, Penix is 103-of-138 (74.6 percent) for 1,636 yards, 16 TD passes and two interceptions. Unfortunately for Penix (and college football fans), his Week 5 game at Arizona is relegated to the Pac-12 Network. Arizona's defense might be the biggest test Penix has faced this season. 

Penix is averaging 409 passing yards per game, but Arizona has yet to allow a 300-yard passer. Something must give. It won't be Penix.

Upset special: No. 10 Utah (4-0) at No. 19 Oregon State (3-1) | Friday, 9 p.m. ET

What must Utah do to get respect? The Utes have arguably the best defense in college football. They've given up 38 points all season and held a UCLA offense that averaged 40.3 points through three games to seven points in a 14-7 win in Week 4. Despite the Utes elite defense, Oregon State is a 3.5-point favorite. 

The Beavers are averaging 39.5 points per game, but they'll face their stiffest test by far when Utah comes to town. Veteran Utah QB Cam Rising has missed the first four games after suffering an ACL tear in the Rose Bowl in January. He is splitting reps in practice with Nate Johnson.

Under-the-radar game: Clemson (2-2) at Syracuse (4-0) | 12 p.m. ET

Clemson attempts to avoid a 0-3 start in conference play for the first time since 1998. The Tigers are a 6.5-point favorite despite Syracuse being the better team through four games. The Orange rank in the top 10 in scoring offense (44.2 points per game) and scoring defense (10.8 points allowed per game).

Clemson's defense is better than its 22.5 points per game allowed indicates, but the offense could be an issue. Per data from BCF Toys, the Tigers only rank 48th in the country in offensive drives that either gained 30 yards or resulted in a touchdown. Clemson must keep drives going to quiet the fervent fans in the JMA Wireless Dome. 

Wild-card game: No. 24 Kansas (4-0) at No. 3 Texas (4-0) | 3:30 p.m. ET

In 2021, the last time these teams met in Austin, Kansas pulled off a stunning 57-56 upset in overtime. Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels — the Big 12 media's pick for preseason Offensive Player of the Year — has rewarded his followers by picking up where he left off in 2022. He's averaging career highs in completion percentage (74.7 percent) and yards per attempt (9.4 yards) and Kansas is scoring 37.8 points per game, 26th in the country.

Per BCF Toys, the Jayhawks are first in the country in drives that have gained at least 30 yards or a touchdown. If they can sustain drives against Texas, that will keep Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers — and a suspect Jayhawks defense — off the field.

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