It’s been an interesting college football season so far. Other than Ohio State and Oregon, no team has truly cemented itself as a national title contender. The preseason hype around various quarterbacks has mostly fallen flat.
All that to say, there are plenty of teams with something to prove. Here are four in particular during the Week 6 slate.
There must be a hex on the Bulldogs when it comes to Alabama. The Tide ended Georgia’s 33-game home winning streak on Sept. 27 and defeated Georgia for the seventh time in the last eight tries.
All is not lost, and it’s not time to overreact yet, but there is something to prove. On the defensive side of the ball, Kirby Smart’s team has been slipping. The Dawgs were fifth in team defense in 2023, 23rd in 2024 and are currently 47th this season.
Georgia is allowing 446.5 yards per game through two SEC contests. Kentucky doesn’t pose the threat Tennessee and Alabama did, but will Smart’s team, especially his defense, respond?
Everyone is writing off the Gators and waiting for Billy Napier’s firing after a 1-3 start. But here’s the thing: Florida’s schedule is so tough that there’s still plenty of opportunities to get some big wins. Will it save Napier’s job? That might require a lot of wins, but now’s the time for Florida to decide which way the season will go.
Is it going to be a disaster a la 2024 Florida State, or will the Gators rescue the season like they did last year? Florida’s defense has been solid, and there’s a real opportunity for an upset win against a Texas offense that’s been sleepy at times.
The Seminoles were one of the best stories of the season until a loss at Virginia last week. It tempered expectations, but there’s a massive opportunity this week against rival Miami.
Florida State’s top-ranked offense (600 yards per game) has beaten up on some awful defenses since its Week 1 win over Alabama. Miami is 13th in the country.
Was Week 1 a flash in the pan? Is Florida State really back? Beat Carson Beck and your undefeated rival, and those questions will go away. FSU has not beaten a ranked Miami team since 2016.
After a Week 1 debacle against South Florida, the Broncos have disappeared from the national picture. The preseason Group of Six favorite to make the College Football Playoff has been quietly winning games, winning by an average of 27.3 points per game.
ESPN’s matchup predictor gives Boise State just an 8 percent chance to win Saturday at No. 21 Notre Dame. Might we be in for a shootout? Boise State’s offense ranks 22nd in points per game, while Notre Dame ranks 11th. Defensively, the Broncos rank 75th and the Irish rank 99th.
Want to get back in the CFP conversation? Knock off Notre Dame (which would also send its playoff hopes tumbling). This is Boise State’s last great opportunity for a marquee win.
