Introduction
Week 5 of the college football season proved to be a pivotal point, delivering some of the most exciting action we’ve seen so far in 2024. With No. 4 Alabama facing off against No. 2 Georgia in a top-five showdown, and several other high-stakes matchups across the country, this Saturday was filled with drama, big plays, and surprises. Alabama emerged victorious in a thrilling contest, while two other top-10 teams fell to unranked opponents, shaking up the College Football Playoff picture.
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs clashed in a game that had huge implications not only for the SEC race but also for the national title hunt. Alabama jumped out to a 28-0 lead early, but Georgia battled back, making for an electrifying fourth quarter that saw the lead change multiple times. A miraculous 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown by Alabama’s freshman wide receiver, Ryan Williams, and a game-sealing interception by cornerback Zabien Brown finally gave the Crimson Tide the 41-34 win.
Elsewhere, top-10 teams like Ole Miss and Utah fell to unranked opponents in stunning upsets, highlighting just how unpredictable college football can be. Kentucky and Arizona both pulled off big wins, altering the rankings and creating more questions than answers as we head into the second half of the season.
Alabama vs. Georgia: An Instant Classic
Early Dominance by Alabama
Alabama came out firing on all cylinders against Georgia, building a commanding 28-0 lead in the first half. Quarterback Jalen Milroe was nearly perfect, both through the air and on the ground, as he led the Tide to four consecutive scoring drives. Georgia, on the other hand, seemed unable to find a rhythm offensively, with quarterback Carson Beck struggling against a relentless Alabama pass rush.
The Crimson Tide’s defense was equally dominant in the early going, bottling up Georgia’s running game and forcing two turnovers. By halftime, it looked like Alabama was going to cruise to an easy victory.
Georgia’s Furious Comeback
But the Bulldogs didn’t get to the No. 2 ranking without having some fight in them. After a fiery halftime speech by head coach Kirby Smart, Georgia came out in the second half looking like a completely different team. Beck settled down and began picking apart the Alabama secondary, leading Georgia on four straight scoring drives to close the gap.
By the start of the fourth quarter, Georgia had cut the deficit to just seven points. With Alabama’s offense stalling and the momentum squarely in Georgia’s favor, the Bulldogs took their first lead of the game with just over two minutes remaining, making it 34-33.
Ryan Williams’ Heroics Save the Day
With Alabama needing a big play to avoid a heartbreaking collapse, freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams delivered in a huge way. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Milroe found Williams on a back-shoulder pass near the sideline. Williams spun around his defender, accelerated past two more Georgia defenders, and sprinted 75 yards to the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.
It was a play that will be remembered for years to come in Alabama football lore. Williams, who is just 17 years old and only a few games into his college career, has already shown flashes of greatness. His performance against Georgia solidified his status as one of the top freshmen in the country.
Alabama Defense Seals the Win
Georgia had one last chance to tie or win the game, but Alabama’s defense, which had been shaky in the second half, stepped up when it mattered most. True freshman cornerback Zabien Brown intercepted a pass in the end zone to seal the victory, setting off a wild celebration on the Alabama sideline.
With the win, Alabama improved to 4-0 on the season and strengthened its position as a national title contender. For Georgia, it was a tough loss, but one that showed the Bulldogs have the resilience and talent to compete with anyone.
Top-10 Teams Upset: Ole Miss and Utah Fall to Unranked Opponents
While Alabama and Georgia were duking it out in Tuscaloosa, chaos was unfolding elsewhere in the college football landscape. Two top-10 teams—No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 10 Utah—were stunned by unranked opponents, shaking up the national rankings and adding more intrigue to the playoff race.
Kentucky Stuns No. 6 Ole Miss
In one of the biggest surprises of the day, Kentucky went into Oxford and knocked off No. 6 Ole Miss, 20-17. The Wildcats played a physical, hard-nosed game, frustrating Ole Miss’ high-powered offense and forcing two turnovers in the fourth quarter. The game came down to a field goal attempt by Ole Miss that would have tied it, but the kick sailed wide right, giving Kentucky its first win over a top-10 team since 2018.
Arizona Takes Down No. 10 Utah
Out west, Arizona pulled off an equally shocking upset, beating No. 10 Utah 23-10 in a game that was never as close as the final score indicated. The Wildcats jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, shutting down Utah’s offense and dominating the line of scrimmage. With the win, Arizona improved to 4-1 and put itself in the conversation as a dark horse contender in the Pac-12.
Other Notable Games from Week 5
No. 21 Oklahoma Outlasts Auburn
In a thrilling SEC matchup, No. 21 Oklahoma rallied late to beat Auburn 34-27, thanks to a pick-six in the final minutes. The Sooners, playing their first season in the SEC, have now won three straight games and look like a team on the rise. Auburn, meanwhile, continues to struggle in close games and will need to find answers quickly if it wants to stay in the bowl game conversation.
Notre Dame Holds Off Louisville
In another top-25 matchup, No. 16 Notre Dame held off No. 15 Louisville 27-24 in a game that went down to the wire. The Fighting Irish took the lead on a late field goal and then stopped Louisville’s final drive to secure the win. With the victory, Notre Dame moved up in the rankings and put itself in a strong position heading into the second half of the season.
Penn State Dominates Illinois
No. 9 Penn State continued its impressive start to the season with a 31-14 win over No. 19 Illinois. The Nittany Lions’ defense was the story of the game, holding Illinois to just 180 total yards and forcing three turnovers. Penn State is now 5-0 and looks like the team to beat in the Big Ten.
Colorado Blows Out UCF
In the late-night game, Colorado went on the road and dominated UCF, winning 45-24. The Buffaloes’ offense was unstoppable, racking up over 500 yards of total offense. With the win, Colorado improved to 4-1 and put itself in the mix for a possible New Year’s Six bowl game.
What’s Next?
After a wild Week 5, the college football landscape has been shaken up. Alabama’s win over Georgia solidified its status as a national title contender, while the upsets of Ole Miss and Utah opened the door for other teams to move up in the rankings.
Key Games to Watch in Week 6
The action doesn’t stop in Week 6, as several top teams face tough matchups. No. 1 Ohio State travels to play No. 7 Michigan in a game that will have major playoff implications, while No. 3 Texas takes on No. 8 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. With so much on the line, Week 6 is shaping up to be another thrilling weekend of college football.
Stay tuned as the drama unfolds and the race for the College Football Playoff continues to heat up!
