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College football games of note: Week 6
Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

College football games of note: Week 6

College football in Week 5 was kind of a mixed bag — some games fizzled out before they even really started, some games never got off the ground and only a handful offered true edge-of-your-seat entertainment.

I skipped the Alabama game, dozed during Georgia and LSU’s victories but was wide awake for Clemson’s backup QB win and Ohio State’s bubble-screen victory. I’m not going to say I told you so about Stanford, but I did. Oklahoma’s QB Kyler Murray passed for as many touchdowns as BYU scored points in the Cougars loss to Washington, and San Jose State went into almost as many overtimes, which we can’t be sure really happened since no one on the East Coast was awake to see it. UCF remains unbeaten, extending its win streak to 17, and Chip Kelly remains winless at UCLA, with the Bruins at 0-4 for the first time since 1971. Meanwhile, the Colorado Buffaloes are the only unbeaten Pac-12 team left and are 4-0 for the first time since 1998.

This week, college football offers up some solid games between ranked opponents as well as some matchups that could spell upset. Here’s what to keep your eye on in Week 6.

Middle Tennessee at Marshall

I’m not going to NOT include a Blue Raider game after Middle Tennessee's incredible comeback Saturday over Lane Kiffin’s FAU squad. I mean, it made SportsCenter, guys. MTSU came back from being down 21-3 with a late touchdown drive and two-point conversion to win 25-24. No one is happier for Rick Stockstill’s squad than I am. But can MTSU turn around in a short week and take down a 3-1 Marshall team that sits on top of Conference USA and had an equally wild win over Western Kentucky last Saturday? Blue Raiders quarterback Brent Stockstill will need to have a game like he did against FAU when he threw for 259 yards and one touchdown and led the team in rushing with 56 yards. But stopping the Thundering Herd will be difficult for MTSU’s shaky defense — the Herd has put up at least 20 points in every game this season, led by QB Isaiah Green and WR Tyre Brady, who finished with 162 yards on eight catches and two touchdowns last weekend. It’s going to be a lit Friday night in Huntington, West Virginia.

No. 19 Texas vs. No. 7 Oklahoma

I’m kicking off Saturday’s slate of games with two top-20 teams embroiled in a rivalry of Red River proportions. The Longhorns and the Sooners meet at the Cotton Bowl in a game set to determine if Texas is really back. The only way the Longhorns win this game is if they limit Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray, who boasts 1,745 total yards of offense and 21 touchdowns. The Longhorns will need to take a page from Army’s playbook and keep the Sooner’s offense off the field. That hinges on how effectively Texas QB Sam Ehlinger can command the Longhorns offense. Being a rivalry game, I believe it will be close, with Oklahoma ultimately pulling out the W. But look for the Longhorn’s 29th-ranked defense to give the Sooners their hardest test yet.

No. 5 LSU at No. 22 Florida

The Swamp on Saturday can’t be a fun place to play, but the reality is that the Tigers are 5-0 led by unlikely hero and quarterback Joe Burrow, who has thrown for 1,023 yards and six touchdowns so far. But the Gators are coming off a big road win against Mississippi State and have effectively passed last year’s win total. LSU head coach Ed Orgeron has already said that Florida’s defense will be the best the Tigers have seen so far, and to combat the disruption the Gators hope to cause in the backfield, Burrow and the running backs will need to be on their toes. Florida will honor former QB Tim Tebow during this game with his induction into the “Ring of Honor” — fitting as Tebow busted onto the national stage with the “jump pass” and a 23-10 victory over LSU en route to a 2006 national title. And fun fact: Florida head coach Dan Mullen was offensive coordinator at the time. Sounds like another Florida victory over LSU could be in the cards; you can’t fight fate.

Arizona State at No. 21 Colorado

It was a big weekend for the Colorado Buffaloes — by defeating UCLA 38-16 Friday night in Boulder, the Buffs entered the top 25 for the first time since the end of the 2016 season. Colorado is clicking on all levels, from quarterback Steven Montez’s accuracy to Laviska Shenault’s sure hands and the defense's ability to stop opposing offenses in their tracks. But Arizona State also has seen success this season with solid play from quarterback Manny Wilkins and record-setting running back Eno Benjamin, who rushed for the school’s first 300-yard performance in Saturday night’s 52-24 win over Oregon State. This game gives us a chance to see if the Rise is once again real or if CU’s 4-0 start is actually better defined by its opponents' collective one win.

No. 13 Kentucky at Texas A&M

The thing I love most about this season is all the history being made. And the magic from an unbeaten season, well it almost makes me want to go to Disneyland. The Kentucky Wildcats and their Cinderella-esque 5-0 start have been fun to watch, but it could all come to a screeching halt this weekend at Kyle Field. We get to see two truly superb running backs: the Wildcats' Benny Snell has 639 yards, while Aggies RB Trayveon Williams has run for 582 yards, six touchdowns and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The caveat for UK: an offensive line that gave fans pause in the second half of last week’s game against South Carolina. But A&M looked one-dimensional in a close win over Arkansas, so my money is on the magic.

Boston College at No. 23 NC State

I debated putting this game on the list but ultimately my want to write about both the Eagles and the Wolfpack won out. Plus I can’t resist another undefeated — NC State is 4-0 and looking to keep the perfection going. Boston College is 4-1 but struggled against Purdue and Temple recently. The Eagles boast a hell of a run game led by AJ Dillon and Ben Glines, who combined for 181 yards and three touchdowns against Temple. Plus quarterback Anthony Brown has been solid so far this season, throwing for 12 touchdowns. But defensively the Eagles have allowed 33 points per game against Power 5 opponents and 442 yards of offense on the road. That bodes well for NC State’s offense, which has been showing improvement each week and finally has all six wide receivers healthy and ready to go. Also, the Wolfpack’s defense is deadly in the red zone. I think the Pack lives to see another undefeated day.

Hall over the place

Over the course of the 2018 season, Emily Hall Van Buskirk will be traveling across the country, attending as many college football games as humanly possible. In this sacred section, she will share with you the details of her travels as she embarks on this adventure. Follow along as she makes her way across the country, bringing back tales of glory and memoirs of misfortune.

Another week of college football, another doubleheader. This time I flew to Colorado to check in on the undefeated Colorado Buffalos and watch them extend their streak with a decisive win over UCLA. Shenault continued his Heisman campaign, finishing with 10 catches for 130 yards and one touchdown as well as five carries for 18 yards and another touchdown. Even UCLA head coach Chip Kelly couldn't deny his special skill and ability.

Saturday morning I flew back to the Bay to cover the Cal vs. Oregon game, in hopes of seeing another undefeated season extended. But sadly, the Ducks potent offense combined with their turnover-happy defense was too much for the Golden Bears to handle. Cal quarterback Brandon McIlwaine had an impressive night rushing-wise, but his fumbles proved costly for the Bears.


For our full Cal/Oregon game recap with highlights and analysis, click here!

Week 6 is set to be a wild one, but I'm taking the weekend off to experience some college football as a fan. I will be in attendance in Palo Alto as Stanford looks to recover from that nasty Notre Dame loss by hosting Utah. Stay tuned for the real Farm fan experience!

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