Week 6 of college football promises more chaos, with several exciting matchups between top-ranked teams.
No. 9 Missouri Tigers at No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies (12 PM EST on ABC)
Game Setup: Missouri’s biggest road test
Missouri hits the road for the first time this season after four home games, taking on Texas A&M. After narrowly escaping close games against Boston College and Vanderbilt, the Tigers now face a Texas A&M team that has improved but struggled against ranked opponents.
Key Matchup: Missouri’s passing game vs. Texas A&M’s secondary
Missouri has had issues replicating their explosive passing attack from last season, with fewer explosive plays and lower completion rates on deep throws. Against an Aggies secondary ranked 94th in the nation in coverage, Missouri will try to regain their form.
SMU Mustangs at No. 22 Louisville Cardinals (12 PM EST on ESPN)
Game Setup: A fight for ACC relevance
Both Louisville and SMU aim to establish themselves as a top challenger behind Miami and Clemson in the ACC. Louisville will be looking to rebound from a close loss to Notre Dame, while SMU enters the game after a strong stretch of performances.
Key Matchup: Louisville’s play-action vs. SMU’s secondary
Louisville thrives on play-action, especially with Tyler Shough stretching the field deep. SMU’s secondary has struggled against similar attacks, ranking poorly in coverage. Louisville’s ability to exploit this mismatch could determine the game’s outcome.
Iowa Hawkeyes at No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (3:30 PM EST on CBS)
Game Setup: Ohio State faces its first real test
The Buckeyes, sitting at No. 3, face their toughest competition yet in Iowa. After cruising past lesser opponents, Ohio State must prove their mettle against a top-30 defense, while Iowa hopes to continue its solid season on the back of running back Kaleb Johnson.
Key Matchup: Kaleb Johnson vs. Ohio State’s run defense
Iowa’s offense relies on Johnson’s dynamic rushing attack, which will be tested by Ohio State’s formidable run defense. If Iowa can establish the run, they can control the clock and keep Ohio State’s potent offense off the field.
No. 12 Ole Miss Rebels at South Carolina Gamecocks (3:30 PM EST on ESPN)
Game Setup: Ole Miss looking to bounce back
After an upset loss to Kentucky, Ole Miss faces a challenging road game against South Carolina, who had a bye week to prepare. South Carolina nearly pulled off an upset against LSU in their last game and will look to capitalize on a shaken Rebels squad.
Key Matchup: Ole Miss’ offensive approach vs. South Carolina’s defense
Ole Miss needs to rely less on deep passes and more on a balanced offensive attack after last week’s struggles. South Carolina’s defense, led by a strong pass rush, will make life difficult for Jaxson Dart if he doesn’t adapt.
No. 10 Michigan Wolverines at Washington Huskies (7:30 PM EST on NBC)
Game Setup: National championship rematch
A rematch of last year’s national title game, Michigan looks to repeat its success against Washington. Both teams have new coaches, and while Michigan is climbing back after an early loss, Washington has had a shaky start to the season.
Key Matchup: Washington’s offensive line vs. Michigan’s defensive line
Washington’s rebuilt offensive line has struggled this season, and they’ll be up against Michigan’s elite defensive front, which has been dominant in both the pass rush and run defense. Washington’s offense will need to find creative ways to manage this matchup.
No. 8 Miami (FL) Hurricanes at California Golden Bears (10:30 PM EST on ESPN)
Game Setup: A showdown in Berkeley
California will host ESPN’s College GameDay for the first time in program history, setting the stage for a marquee matchup against undefeated Miami. The Hurricanes barely escaped an upset last week, and California is eager to pull off a statement win.
Key Matchup: Cam Ward vs. California’s secondary
California’s secondary leads the nation in interceptions, and they’ll need to create turnovers to slow down Miami’s high-powered offense led by Cam Ward. If Cal can force Ward into mistakes, they’ll have a chance to keep this game close.
