Photo by Alex Parker, TexAgs
Texas A&M Football
Storyline Saturday: What to watch in college football's Week 5
October 2, 2015
1,559
The 'push for October' may be a baseball term, but the tightest of pennant races would have a hard time stacking up to college football entering its second month.
Everywhere you look, conference favorites are as murky as we’ve seen in recent memory. In the first four weeks, teams have believed they captured a good win, only to see it lose its luster soon after. The opposite can happen in the blink of an eye as well. A team like Michigan appears to be a mere footnote win for Utah, until it’s not.
No one is proven; nothing is set in stone until the best teams get their stage to shine. In Week 5, the lights are bright and the curtain is drawn. Who’s ready?
Where: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.
When: 2:30 pm, CBS
This game could serve as an early litmus test for nearly the entire SEC. How good was the Ole Miss win in Tuscaloosa? How elite is Nick Chubb? These questions and likely a lot more will be answered by Saturday evening. Georgia has been the perennial poster child for dropping the ball in big games, but with Alabama one loss away from a serious stumble, this is the Dawgs' chance.
The opportunity in this game is what makes it so compelling. Whichever squad comes out on top will have made a statement to the rest of the league — and you best believe they'll be listening.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
Getting a ranked SEC opponent at home will tell many whether Kevin Sumlin's 2015 Aggies have staying power on the national stage.
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Who: No. 21 Mississippi State at No. 14 Texas A&M
Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
When: 6:30 pm, SECN
While the need for a stellar quarterback isn’t a full-blown necessity, try telling that to the Bulldogs and Aggies. In addition to this game carrying two of the best gunslingers in the south, Texas A&M and Mississippi State are out to gain the respect they deserve. As you’ve no doubt heard, the Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the West. Yeah, about that…
On the other side, A&M is dead-set on telling the world that last year is just that: in the past. With these two offenses going toe to toe, it will likely come down to defense.
That is to say, stopping Prescott or Allen would be as impressive as it sounds — and just as difficult, too.
Who: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 12 Clemson
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
When: 7:00 pm, ABC
If Notre Dame is going to get into the playoff over a Power 5 team, it must make the most of its opportunities. So far, the Irish have done just that, but Clemson is possibly the biggest test of the year.
When we last saw the Tigers, they narrowly avoided an upset at the hands of Louisville. To win this one and knock off a top ten Irish squad, they’ll need to be much cleaner and keep their focus in the backfield. Coming Clemson's way is one of the best backs in the country in C.J. Prosise. Through four games, the senior is off to the best statistical start in ND history. What will it look like after five?
Other games to watch
No. 23 West Virginia at No. 15 Oklahoma, 11:00 am, FS1
Texas Tech at No. 5 Baylor, 2:30 pm, ABC
No. 3 Ole Miss at No. 25 Florida, 6:00 pm, ESPN
This week the Bears get a new challenge in Kliff Kingsbury's Raiders, who were one tipped ball from upsetting the other great hope in the Big 12 (TCU). If the Bears continue their rolling ways, you may want to take a look.
Minnesota nearly toppled TCU with something barely resembling an offense; Matt Davis and Chad Morris put their heads together and made the Battle for the Iron Skillet a closer game than the score says. Lastly, there was Texas Tech. We don’t know exactly how good TCU is, but we know the Frogs are beatable.
In the sliver of East Texas this weekend, you’ll also find A&M against Mississippi State. While the Aggies have removed themselves from the Big 12, they are still very much a part of the discussion for best in the state. If A&M puts together a resounding victory over the visitors, it could claim the title without much hassle.
With all the chaos in college football, this may be one answer we come a little closer to finding out this weekend. Who is the best in Texas? (Put your hand down, Ford.)
Everywhere you look, conference favorites are as murky as we’ve seen in recent memory. In the first four weeks, teams have believed they captured a good win, only to see it lose its luster soon after. The opposite can happen in the blink of an eye as well. A team like Michigan appears to be a mere footnote win for Utah, until it’s not.
No one is proven; nothing is set in stone until the best teams get their stage to shine. In Week 5, the lights are bright and the curtain is drawn. Who’s ready?
The big games
Who: No. 13 Alabama at No. 8 GeorgiaWhere: Sanford Stadium, Athens, Ga.
When: 2:30 pm, CBS
This game could serve as an early litmus test for nearly the entire SEC. How good was the Ole Miss win in Tuscaloosa? How elite is Nick Chubb? These questions and likely a lot more will be answered by Saturday evening. Georgia has been the perennial poster child for dropping the ball in big games, but with Alabama one loss away from a serious stumble, this is the Dawgs' chance.
The opportunity in this game is what makes it so compelling. Whichever squad comes out on top will have made a statement to the rest of the league — and you best believe they'll be listening.
Alex Parker, TexAgs
Getting a ranked SEC opponent at home will tell many whether Kevin Sumlin's 2015 Aggies have staying power on the national stage.
{"Module":"photo","Alignment":"left","Size":"large","Caption":"Getting a ranked SEC opponent at home will tell many whether Kevin Sumlin\u0027s 2015 Aggies have staying power on the national stage.","MediaItemID":60090}
Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas
When: 6:30 pm, SECN
While the need for a stellar quarterback isn’t a full-blown necessity, try telling that to the Bulldogs and Aggies. In addition to this game carrying two of the best gunslingers in the south, Texas A&M and Mississippi State are out to gain the respect they deserve. As you’ve no doubt heard, the Bulldogs were picked to finish last in the West. Yeah, about that…
On the other side, A&M is dead-set on telling the world that last year is just that: in the past. With these two offenses going toe to toe, it will likely come down to defense.
That is to say, stopping Prescott or Allen would be as impressive as it sounds — and just as difficult, too.
Who: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 12 Clemson
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
When: 7:00 pm, ABC
If Notre Dame is going to get into the playoff over a Power 5 team, it must make the most of its opportunities. So far, the Irish have done just that, but Clemson is possibly the biggest test of the year.
When we last saw the Tigers, they narrowly avoided an upset at the hands of Louisville. To win this one and knock off a top ten Irish squad, they’ll need to be much cleaner and keep their focus in the backfield. Coming Clemson's way is one of the best backs in the country in C.J. Prosise. Through four games, the senior is off to the best statistical start in ND history. What will it look like after five?
Other games to watch
No. 23 West Virginia at No. 15 Oklahoma, 11:00 am, FS1
Texas Tech at No. 5 Baylor, 2:30 pm, ABC
No. 3 Ole Miss at No. 25 Florida, 6:00 pm, ESPN
Not alone in the Lone Star State
The Big 12 is set up for a cannibalistic weekend that might land itself on Hannibal Lecter’s wishlist. With Texas Tech squaring off with Baylor, you’re guaranteed to see a shootout. So far this season Baylor looks to be doing what Baylor does. That is, lighting up the scoreboard on a schedule full of nobodies.This week the Bears get a new challenge in Kliff Kingsbury's Raiders, who were one tipped ball from upsetting the other great hope in the Big 12 (TCU). If the Bears continue their rolling ways, you may want to take a look.
We don’t know exactly how good TCU is, but we know the Frogs are beatable.
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Meanwhile, across the Metroplex, TCU is taking on a Texas group that — defying long odds — keeps coming up with new ways to lose. With that said, the Horns' quarterback play has improved and that may mean something against the Horned Frogs. Minnesota nearly toppled TCU with something barely resembling an offense; Matt Davis and Chad Morris put their heads together and made the Battle for the Iron Skillet a closer game than the score says. Lastly, there was Texas Tech. We don’t know exactly how good TCU is, but we know the Frogs are beatable.
In the sliver of East Texas this weekend, you’ll also find A&M against Mississippi State. While the Aggies have removed themselves from the Big 12, they are still very much a part of the discussion for best in the state. If A&M puts together a resounding victory over the visitors, it could claim the title without much hassle.
With all the chaos in college football, this may be one answer we come a little closer to finding out this weekend. Who is the best in Texas? (Put your hand down, Ford.)
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