The Oklahoma Sooners are 4-0 in the 2025 college football season, and Brent Venables' team is hoping to stay that way in Week 6. Coming off of a bye week, OU will host their final nonconference game of the year, against the Kent State Golden Flashes. With starting quarterback John Mateer recovering from his hand surgery, backup quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. will make his first start of the season this week in Norman.
While the Sooners were off, a loaded Week 5 slate delivered. Big results in Athens, Happy Valley, Oxford, and Champaign, among others, were just part of a big-time Week 5. With Oklahoma remaining out of the spotlight this week, there aren't as many pivotal matchups, but there's a potential for major chaos in the college football landscape.
After Kent State, it's all SEC foes for the rest of the way this year for Oklahoma. While our focus will be on how the Sooners look against the Golden Flashes in their final tune-up for the rest of the league slate, here are the top five games to watch across college football this weekend.
The Hurricanes and the Seminoles will renew their rivalry in Week 6. Miami is undefeated and looks like the team to beat in the ACC, while Florida State fell in double overtime last week at Virginia. While this rivalry has not typically been the main focus of the nation over the past few years, it will be this season. A game that meant so much to the championship race back in the day is back in the public eye this year.
Mario Cristobal's team wants to stay in the driver's seat in the ACC, and this is one of their biggest tests to do so. The 'Canes looked like the league's best at this point last season as well, but faltered late in the year. Mike Norvell and the 'Noles hit a major speed bump last Friday night, when they saw a perfect season go up in flames. However, it's still a remarkable turnaround for FSU, especially considering they went 2-10 last year.
In years past, a matchup between Vanderbilt and Alabama would have drawn few eyeballs outside of Nashville and Tuscaloosa. In 2025, it's one of the games of the week in college football. The Commodores dealt the Crimson Tide a shocking loss in 2024, and they are capable of making it two straight against 'Bama this year.
Clark Lea and Vandy are undefeated so far, and they're enjoying an incredible year. The win in this matchup a season ago was a springboard for them, as this program has finally climbed out of the cellar in the SEC. The Tide are coming off a big-time win over Georgia last week, but now Kalen DeBoer has to get his team ready for another physical battle back at home.
Jeff Lebby has Mississippi State 4-1 in Year 2, and he had them within an eyelash of upsetting Tennessee last week. Now, the Bulldogs will go on the road to face Texas A&M, where Mike Elko, also in Year 2, has the Aggies undefeated. They also notched a close win last week, taking down Auburn.
MSU has looked much more formidable than they did a year ago, already knocking off Arizona State earlier this season. It looks like things may be starting to take shape in Starkville, but a big measuring stick comes up on Saturday. Texas A&M hasn't been flawless this year, but it looks like they are going to be a factor in the SEC conversation, having already beaten Notre Dame. Another game that wouldn't get a second look most years is all of a sudden pretty important in College Station.
This is a matchup that is under the radar with the ACC's mammoth game this week, but the Cavaliers are fresh off of that big upset win last week, and there's some energy in that program. On the other side, the Cardinals staged a big comeback last week against Pittsburgh, and they remain unbeaten heading into Week 6.
Tony Elliot's Virginia team has rebounded nicely from an early loss to NC State, and quarterback Chandler Morris is playing well in his sixth year of college football. The Cavs will face a tough road test against Jeff Brohm's Louisville squad, which is led by a fellow transfer veteran quarterback in Miller Moss. The winner of this one takes another step towards a berth in the conference title game in a league that looks differently than we thought in would preseason.
Texas Tech is one of many teams in the wide-open Big 12 that think they are the squad to beat, and Houston would love to burst onto the scene with a big win at home. Joey McGuire and the Red Raiders beat Utah on the road two weeks ago to firmly place themselves in contention in the league, but now another road test awaits them.
The Cougars find themselves heading into this game also undefeated, as they've had a surprising rise under Willie Fritz. In short order, he's taken his team from a cellar-dweller in the new Big 12 to one of the teams that wants to stake a claim as a contender in the league. To do that, you've got to play well at home against a team from Lubbock that has unlimited resources and will certainly have the talent advantage in this matchup.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.