Week 5 Predictions – 2025

Cory Steger:  Ohio State opens Big Ten play with a trip out to Seattle to face Washington. The Huskies have not really played anybody of note yet, but they are 3-0, and are coming off a dominant win over rival Washington State. Washington is led by its do-everything quarterback Demond Williams, who is completing 74 percent of his passes, is second on the team in rushing, and has yet to turn the ball over. He is the type of quarterback that gives Ohio State fits, so it will be important for linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese to be on their assignments at all times. The Buckeyes have the advantage of coming off a bye week. Traveling out west is never easy, and Washington is a very difficult place to play so taking the crowd out of the game early will be a boon for Ohio State. Let’s hope to see more Bo Jackson in this game to help out with that aspect. Because Washington is a decent team and Husky Stadium is tough to play in, I can see this game being closer than expected.   Ohio State 35, Washington 24 

Dave Culver:  Ohio State 39  Washington 24 

Frank Berkopec:  Ohio State  42  Washington 10 

Gregg Watson:  Washington campus is a great place for football, and I am hoping this year’s Buckeye team makes the most of the trip by coming away with a win. We have heard plenty of bad press about the AP polls this year, the Huskies are just another victim. It is disrespectable enough that they are not ranked, but they don’t have a single vote either (yes, the AP poll is still a joke).  If the home team is for real this season this is a week they can prove it.  However, I expect the Buckeye defense to continue their dominance and give Julian Sayin and the powerful OSU offense enough reps to come away with the fourth win a of the year.   Ohio State 38  Washington 17 

Jason Harris:  Top-ranked Ohio State hits the road for the first time this season with redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin leading the charge. Their opponent, Washington, has yet to be tested against a quality opponent, but with the Buckeyes coming to town in what’s being billed as one of the biggest games ever at Husky Stadium, the defense will need to rise to the moment. So far, Washington’s defensive front has struggled to generate consistent backfield pressure and needed three quarters to finally contain Washington State.

On offense, the Huskies have been efficient, avoiding turnovers and converting an impressive 75% of their third-down attempts. They are led by dynamic quarterback Demond Williams, who, despite being undersized, has a strong arm and the mobility to make plays with his legs. Washington should land a few early punches and keep things competitive deep into the first half, but the advantage in the trenches on both sides of the ball, combined with Ohio State’s unmatched depth at the skill positions, should allow the Buckeyes to separate after halftime and secure a comfortable victory.   Ohio State 31 Washington 14

Joe Hylton:  OSU over Washington – Don’t make the Huskies out to be bigger than they really are.  OSU’s the better team, just go prove it.  I’ll take my chances with Reese and/or Downs spying Williams, and their defense is nothing to write home about

John Seibert:  While the Texas game was a good test, the first real test for a team with championship aspirations is that first road game against a quality opponent and the Washington trip fit that bill.  Williams is a dynamic QB that can make plays with his feet, so will be a good test for the defensive front seven who will need to play with disciple to keep him contained.  I think Texas’s D is better the UW, so I do expect OSU to score some points, but the first road start in a hostile environment can be interesting.  Expect a close on.   Ohio State  31  Washington 24

Josh Watson: This road trip is the Buckeyes’ first true test away from the Horseshoe, and all eyes will be on how Julian Sayin handles the environment at Husky Stadium. Washington will try to ride its crowd and test Ohio State’s rebuilt defensive line with tempo and quarterback mobility. The Buckeyes, however, have shown balance in their offense: Sayin distributing the ball to stars like Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, while Bo Jackson provides a legitimate home-run threat in the run game. Defensively, Ohio State has given up just 16 points over its last three contests combined, and their ability to contain Washington’s scrambles will be the difference.   Ohio State 38, Washington 24

Steven Smith:  Ohio State has won 19 straight road games against unranked opponents. Washington has a 22 game home winning streak. One of those streaks comes to an end this week. It being the first road game, I expect coach Day to play a bit more conservative and try to wear out the Washington defense with a healthy dose of Bo Jackson and the ground game in the first half. Expect the Bucks to lead by maybe a touchdown at half, and start to open it up in the second. Ohio State’s QB Julian Sayin and Washington’s Demond Williams have similar stat lines, it is fair to say Williams has played well and Sayin really has been held back by play calling and overall offensive scheme. This week, Williams will be held back primarily by a suffocating OSU defense. Saturday seems like it will be a bit of a happy medium, which means calculated strikes when open and a lot of run support to chew up clock.   Bucks 35-17.

Stefan Armintrout:  This should be the Buckeyes biggest test yet. The Huskies may prove to be a really good team. They’ve played no one of note, but they’ve won all their games handily. I still am picking the Buckeyes to win, but I think it will be somewhat close. This is Sayin’s first road test, and I think he may have some nerves because of the environment. But I can see him shaking the nerves off early, and playing to the standard he has set for this year. Washington will keep it close. Their QB may cause some fits for the Buckeye defense. The game should be close or tied going into the forth, and the Buckeyes are able to slightly pull away. The Huskies put up a good fight, but relent late, and allow the Buckeyes to win by 2 scores.   (Ohio State, 27-17)

Final Score:  Ohio State 24   Washington 6 

Cory:  When LSU beat Clemson in the season opener, it appeared to be a feather in the cap for Brian Kelly’s squad. Now that Clemson is 1-3, nobody is too sure just how good LSU is at this point. We will get to find out this week as the Tigers travel to Oxford to face Ole Miss. LSU is glad to have quarterback Garrett Nussmeier back, especially since all they do is throw the ball. That is not an exaggeration – the Tigers currently have just 467 rushing yards on the season. Ole Miss is dealing with an injury at quarterback, but it might be a blessing in disguise as Trinidad Chambliss has been terrific for them in relief duty. Chambliss, a Ferris State transfer, has gone over 300 passing yards in both of his starts and has yet to throw an interception. I’m not a believer in Brian Kelly being able to win big games so Ole Miss takes this one to remain unbeaten.   Ole Miss 30, LSU 24

Dave:  LSU 35  Mississippi 14

Frank:  Ole Miss 28  LSU 24

Gregg:  Once again, the AP does not watch college football.  Ole Miss is 2-0 in SEC play, has scored an average of 44 points a game, and just entered the AP for the first time this week.  I am still saying LSU has a great defense but can they stand up to the Rebels offense. The fans will be loud and proud (and maybe a little juiced up) and will carry Ole Miss to the victory to keep them at the top of the conference standings.   Ole Miss 38  LSU 17

Jason:  While Alabama–Georgia will draw the national spotlight in the SEC, LSU–Ole Miss may be the more compelling matchup. Both teams are unbeaten, with recent history producing tight, high-scoring thrillers between them. LSU has leaned on Garrett Nussmeier’s steady play at quarterback, but to win this one, the Tigers must establish the run against a Rebel defense giving up over five yards per carry. Ole Miss counters with senior transfer Trinidad Chambliss, who has quickly become the centerpiece of Lane Kiffin’s fast-paced attack thanks to his dual-threat ability. LSU’s defense is stout against the run and thrives on third downs, but the Rebels’ tempo at home should tilt the game their way. Expect another close battle, with Ole Miss pulling out the win late.   Ole Miss 28  LSU 24

Joe-S-U: LSU over Ole Miss –  Can they both lose?  If the Rebs can somewhat keep the Tiger offense in check, the post-game press conference will be must-see TV.  This’ll be the 3:30 game on ABC while OSU is working over the Huskies.  You know, the game you can flip to during commercials in our game only to see THEY’RE in commercial, too…

John:  If OSU Washington ends up being a snooze fest, you can always flip over to this one on ABC.  LSU is #4, mainly on the strength of a week one win over Clemson that look les impressive with each passing week.  This is the first ranked opponent for Ole Miss.  Regardless, expect whomever wins this game to be pimped hard by the E$PN circle jerk club as the best team since the ’84 Bears.  Vegas has LSU as a 1 ½ point favorite, but I like the Rebels at home.   ‘Ole Miss  28  LSU 24

Josh: This SEC West clash feels like a toss-up. LSU enters undefeated but has not faced a balanced offense like the Rebels’. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has been on a roll, pairing big-arm throws with his ability to run. LSU counters with depth at the skill positions, but the Rebels’ defense is quietly improving, holding their last two opponents under 20 points. Oxford will be rocking, and the margins are thin here — turnovers and red-zone execution will be decisive. With home field tilting things slightly, Ole Miss edges it in a thriller. Ole Miss 29, LSU 27

Steven:  This match comes down to strength against strength. LSU’s passing game goes up against the number 25 pass defense in the country and Mississippi’s ground game meets LSU’s top 10 run defense. The line so far is 1.5 and that seems right. This could go either way. In fact, the entire SEC looks the same to me. No truly great teams in the conference means we’ll see them cannibalize themselves this year. But of course, the SEC homers will just point to that and say that’s indicative of how tough the conference is. True, but to make a mark, you have to rise above the also-rans, not wallow with them. With no clear frontrunner, I’ll go with home field advantage, although I’m not comfortable with either team.  Ole Miss 27-24.

Trout:  I am picking Ole Miss in this game. I am not sure how good they are, but I think LSU’s lack of a running game is going to finally bite them. If they can’t run the ball, their offense becomes one note. And I can see Kiffin taking advantage of that. I see the game being low scoring and sloppy, much like the Tigers game with Florida. The Rebels pull out to a lead late , and LSU are not able to get their offense going to respond. LSU gets their first loss of the season.   (Mississippi, 17-13)

Final Score:  Mississippi 24   LSU 19 

Cory:  While there are a lot of good games this week, the one that everybody’s going to be watching features a rematch of last season’s Big Ten Championship game when Oregon travels to Happy Valley to play Penn State. The Ducks had two tough road tests last season in their first season of Big Ten play – Michigan and Wisconsin – so they are no stranger to a big trip like this. I really like the way Oregon is playing right now. Dante Moore looks like a completely different player than his freshman season at UCLA. He’s completing 75 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns, and might very well be the front runner for the Heisman right now. Aside from that the Ducks are a very well-balanced offense as they’ve got over 1,000 yards both rushing and passing. Penn State has been a good but not great team under James Franklin. The Nittany Lions always seem to come up short in games like this. Oregon in a close one.   Oregon 31, Penn State 28

Dave:  Penn State 32  Oregon 28

Frank:  Penn State 24  Oregon 21

Gregg:  Repeat of Big Ten championship from last season, should be a great game.  But I always remind myself that Coach Franklin is 4-20 at Penn State against AP top 10, then again what do the AP voters know.  This game does feature two of my least favorite coaches in the Big Ten though.  I do think the Ducks are for real and may be the best team in the country.  Oregon continues their quest to be the #1 team in the playoffs two years in a row, and the Nittany Lions continue their weak record in ‘white-out’ games.   Oregon 27  Penn State 20

Jason:  Oregon–Penn State feels bigger than any matchup so far this season, and it could easily be the first of multiple meetings between these two. The winner of this Big Ten Championship rematch positions itself for a clear path to the College Football Playoff, while the loser still has plenty of margin—especially if it’s Oregon, who avoids a regular season matchup with Ohio State.

The Ducks have looked like the nation’s best team through four weeks, dominating in every phase, protecting quarterback Dante Moore, and avoiding mistakes. Penn State, meanwhile, remains untested after a soft early schedule and hasn’t shown much explosiveness in the passing game. The Nittany Lions’ defense and front seven will provide Moore his toughest challenge yet, but Oregon’s balance, depth, and efficiency give it the edge. Expect Penn State to hang around in the White Out, but the Ducks’ sharp play carries them to another statement win.   Oregon 34 Penn State 31

Joe-S-U: Oregon over Penn State – The on-field cast of characters has changed, but does anyone get the feeling that Senor Lanning has used that Rose Bowl ass-kicking to focus and motivate his squad?  Here’s saying “Big Game” James takes another on the chin, although I do wish for a close game so NBC’s ratings blow ABC’s out of the water….speaking of which-

John:  The biggest fan benefit of brining in the old Pac 12 teams is the potential for more marquee in conference matchup early in the season as shown by this week.  This game pitting #3 vs #6 is probably bigger on the national stage then OSU/Washington.  The “White Out” games a Beaver Stadium create one of the best home filed advantages in college football, but will that offset having James Franklin on the Lions sideline?  Until PSU starts consistently winning these games it’s hard to pick them.   Oregon  35  Penn State 21 

Josh: This could be the best game of the week — a Whiteout in Happy Valley with massive playoff implications. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has kept the Ducks humming, spreading the ball with poise. Penn State’s defense, though, is built for games like this, led by a stout defensive front that can collapse the pocket. Drew Allar and Kaytron Allen will need to control tempo and limit mistakes against a quick Oregon defense. Expect a back-and-forth contest, where Penn State’s ground game and crowd give them the edge late. Penn State 30, Oregon 27

Steven:  This game is virtually a must win for coach Franklin and Penn State. If Oregon wins, that puts enormous pressure on the Lions to win on the road in Columbus, so this game becomes all the more important. At this point, I have more faith in Dante Moore as a QB vs. Drew Allar and Oregon’s Dan Lanning over Penn State coach Franklin. Allar hasn’t been asked to do too much this year, and he’s lived up to those expectations. I’ve never seen Allar as a guy that can put a team on his back and carry them to a victory. To me, he’s Christian Hackenberg 2.0. Even after flying cross-country, I like the Ducks to make a statement.   Oregon 38-21.

Trout:  I think the Ducks win this game. Penn State might have the best team in the Big Ten on paper, but they haven’t looked the part on the field. Plus under Franklin, the Nittany Lions don’t beat the big teams. The game should be close for a while. I feel like it will be almost like the Big Ten Championship with both teams putting up points. But towards the end, Oregon will strike and get the go-ahead score, and Penn State will not be able to respond. Most likely making a crippling mistake, like a turnover or massive TFL. Oregon walks into Happy Valley and gets the win.   (Oregon, 35-28)

Final Score:  Oregon 30   Penn State 24  2OT

Cory:  Let’s be honest: Georgia should have lost to Tennessee. If not for some bad clock management by the Volunteers, the Bulldogs wouldn’t be unbeaten at this point. Georgia’s defense was uncharacteristically bad in that game as Tennessee found plenty of space to run and pass. The big benefit to Georgia this week is that they are coming off a bye week, and they are playing at home. Their opponent this week, Alabama, is also coming off a bye week and prior to that they beat Wisconsin with ease in Madison. I’m not sold on Georgia right now, but I’m even less sold on Alabama. The Crimson Tide can’t run the ball – they’ve got just 371 rushing yards on the season! A strong running game used to be the hallmark of those great Alabama teams and now it’s afterthought.   Georgia 28, Alabama 24

Dave:  Georgia 28  Alabama 27

Frank:  Georgia 35  Alabama 14

Gregg:  They don’t play every year (of course with that weak SEC scheduling) but Georgia has not won at home for 22 years against the Tide.  Alabama already has one loss and may risk their playoff hopes with a second loss this early.  Georgia has played solid ball but not a dominate top 5 team in my opinion.  The winner of this game will probably end up in the top of the SEC standings, and the losing team will need to pick it up to keep post season hopes alive.  Bulldogs will get their signature home win between ‘the Hedges’ and keep there season on course.  Alabama will drop out of the AP polls and have to work to get back in it.   Georgia 27  Alabama 17

Jason:  Alabama and Georgia meet again with everything on the line, and history suggests we’re in for another classic. Ty Simpson has caught fire in Kalen DeBoer’s offense, completing nearly 85% of his throws over the last two games and giving Alabama the explosiveness it lacked earlier. Georgia’s defense, though loaded with NFL talent, hasn’t generated much pressure and has been vulnerable through the air, but it has been strong against the run and excels at forcing third-and-long.

Expect Simpson to put up big numbers and keep the Tide in control for much of the night, but Georgia’s balance, physical ground game, and ability to wear teams down will swing it late. Look for Gunner Stockton to steady the Bulldogs’ offense, extend drives, and lead the Dawgs on a big TD drive in the fourth quarter. Georgia survives another thriller in Athens.   Georgia 38 Alabama 31

Joe-S-U: Georgia over Alabama – On this 50th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live”, here’s saying the Tide isn’t quite ready for prime time.  Georgia is still the king of the hill down there, no matter how much ESecPN wants to flaunt these other pretenders

John:  Alabama looked absolutely awful in week one.  Let’s be honest, they quit against FSU.  However, they took care of business against an FCS team and Wisconsin team that you have to think the seat is getting a little warm under Coach Fickle.  Georgia won a shootout on the road in Knoxville last week.  Tennessee exposed some weaknesses early in the Georgia defense that I don’t think ‘Bama will be able to exploit, especially with the game in Athens.   Georgia  34  Alabama 21

Josh: Two SEC heavyweights meet again, and the matchup always delivers. Alabama has found rhythm behind Ty Simpson’s passing attack, but Georgia has been methodical, leaning on Gunnar Stockton’s ability to push the ball downfield and a defense that’s been nearly impossible to wear down. Alabama’s wide receivers could create problems in space, but Georgia’s home environment and its veteran defensive front should give the Dawgs the answers in the trenches. Expect another tight, physical battle with playoff seeding implications. Georgia 31, Alabama 28

Steven:  Well, at least we know one of these teams is going to lose. You can pretty much cut and paste my LSU pick here. These are 2 teams trying to find out if either can crawl their way to the top. Georgia’s run defense is stout, but uncharacteristically, their pass defense is not good. The Dawgs got torched last week by Teneessee to the tune of 371 yards through the air. Alabama is on par with UT in passing, so expect the Tide to try and exploit the Dowgs weakness. Look for Tide QB Ty Simpson to outduel Georgia’s Gunner Stockton. Going with the slight upset… Georgia escaped Knoxville last week in OT. They don’t get away this time. ‘Bama wins on the road. 34-28.

Trout:  The game should come down to the wire, but in the end the Bulldogs will be on top. I think both teams are good, but not great. I am giving the edge to Georgia because they do have a quality win, where the Crimson Tide does not. I just think Georgia is the slightly better team right now. Maybe Deboer will be able to right the ship, and get them to be a playoff team, but I don’t think it will be this year. Alabama keeps it real close. I see the game going back and forth for a while. Each team will take the lead in different parts of the game. I think it will come down to the final drive. I see Georgia marching down the field and getting a walkoff field goal. The Bulldogs win and hand Alabama their second loss of the season.   (Georgia, 34-33)

Final Score:  Alabama 24   Georgia 21 

Cory:  USC is quietly off to a 4-0 start, but we are about to find out if the Trojans are for real. In the next four weeks they play No. 23 Illinois, No. 19 Michigan, No. 22 Notre Dame, and then travel to Nebraska. That’s going to be quite the stretch. This week looks the most manageable of those games despite it being on the road. Illinois got blasted 63-10 by Indiana last week, showing that the Illini may have been a bit overrated at No. 9. I’m concerned about Illinois’ inability to run the ball. Luke Altmeyer is a good quarterback, but he cannot win games on his own and right now he is being asked to do too much. I see the Trojans remaining undefeated after this week.   USC 35, Illinois 28 

Dave:  USC 32  Illinois 28 

Frank:  USC 31  Illinois 24

Gregg:  USC, welcome to Big Ten.  They had a rough year in their rookie season in the B1G at 7-6 but they are off to a great start this year.  But are they for real, this week may tell us.  Illinois is having a great season, in spite of the bad loss they took to Indiana last week.  The winner of this one stays in the conversation for a playoff spot but will either of them break into that group of Penn State, Ohio State and Oregon?  Game will be close, but I think the Trojans edge out the Illini for the road win.   USC 24  Illinois 21    

Jason:  Illinois’ 63-10 loss to Indiana was ugly, but it still counts as just one L. Bret Bielema’s team is better than it showed and badly needs a rebound to steady the season, and with Ohio State looming in a few weeks, this feels like a must win game to keep the Illini’s hopes of an outside shot at the CFP alive. USC, has seemingly come out of nowhere and has quietly started the season 4-0, with Jayden Maiava thriving in Lincoln Riley’s offense with a unrelenting pass rush that leads the nation in sacks.

Illinois should look better than they did a week ago, leaning on its physicality up front, but USC’s depth of talent edge, especially on defense, will take over. Expect the Trojans to pressure the Illini into mistakes, hit big plays downfield, and pull away late for a 2 score win.   USC 38 Illinois 28

Joe-S-U:  USC over Illinois – I doubt the Illini are over the shell-shock from last week, and I’m not ready to sell on the Trojans just yet.  Decent Big Noon matchup, though, to start a fun day

John:  This may the be the most interesting game of the weekend, simply to see how Illinois responds after getting boat raced in Bloomington 63-10 last week.  Those types of losses tend to leave scars, and this is a better than average Trojan’s team coming into Champaign.  If the Illini have any hope of getting back into the playoff conversation they have to get a win here as after this week there is only one ranked team left on the schedule, and that is Ohio State.  I expect good effort from Illinois, but unless Indiana is much better than I think they are I don’t know that effort is enough.  Last week looked an awful lot like schematic deficiencies on both sides of the ball.   USC  30  Illinois  20 

Josh: This one has the makings of a shootout. USC’s Jayden Maiava has led an offense averaging over 30 points per game, while Illinois has been up and down but capable of striking quickly. Fernando Mendoza’s connection with Elijah Sarratt gives the Illini a dangerous vertical option, but USC’s skill talent may be too much over four quarters. Illinois can keep this close with turnovers or special teams plays, but the Trojans’ firepower tilts it late in Champaign. USC 35, Illinois 30

Steven:  After the cruel beatdown Bert and Illinois took last week, there should be a bit of a bounceback for Illinois, but USC isn’t a team you get healthy against. Trojan QB Jayden Maiava is feasting on opposing defenses. He has yet to throw an interception through 4 games. He is averaging over 14 yards per completion. Illinois, in last week’s drubbing at the hands of Indiana, could hardly convert a 3rd down while Indiana converted 8 of 11 attempts. Illini QB Luke Altmyer wasn’t bad, but wasn’t helped at all by a run game that could not get going. Including -27 yards in sacks, the Illini amassed 2 yards on 2 carries. It would take a herculean effort to right the ship. One game really can define a season, and for Illinois, last week was it. USC piles on a battered and beaten Illini squad. Dad never liked Champaign anyway.   USC 38-14.

Trout:  I can see the Illini playing better than they did last week, but the Trojans still win this game. I just think USC is currently the better team. Illinois had their shot at a ranked team, and they blew it. So, I am always going to be hesitant to pick them until they prove me wrong. I do think it won’t be a repeat of last week. I think they deliver a more respectable performance and keep up with the Trojans for a while. However, the Trojans will be able to pull ahead and maintain the lead until the end of the game. USC wins and end the Fighting Illini’s hopes of making the playoffs.   (USC, 24-16)

Final Score:  Illinois 34   USC 32