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The college football Week 5 2026 results delivered one genuine bloodbath and a lot of contenders quietly taking care of business. Missouri, ranked just No. 25, turned a tied game against No. 8 Florida into a 45-17 rout. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith had another 200-yard day and now owns every major receiving record in Columbus. Up top, the AP top five didn’t budge, with Texas holding No. 1 for another week.
Missouri runs Florida out of Columbia
This was supposed to be a test for the Tigers. Instead it became a statement. Florida led 10-3 early, but a fourth-and-short stop flipped the game, and from 10-10 Missouri piled on 35 unanswered points. Running back Jamal Roberts tore through the Gators for 211 yards and three touchdowns, including an 80-yard score, while quarterback Austin Simmons went 23 from 30 for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Missouri scored on six straight possessions and outgained Florida 560 yards to 325.
The other side of the ledger was brutal for the Gators. Jadan Baugh entered the day leading FBS with 11 rushing touchdowns and was held to 13 yards on 12 carries. It also snapped a nine-game losing run against ranked opponents for Missouri. Voters responded: Missouri leapt 11 spots to No. 14 and Florida slid from No. 8 to No. 16.
Jeremiah Smith owns the Ohio State record book
No. 5 Ohio State went to Kinnick Stadium and beat No. 14 Iowa 31-14, and once again it was Smith’s show. He hauled in 11 catches for 206 yards and two touchdowns from Julian Sayin, a 12-yarder and a 57-yarder, making it back-to-back 200-yard games. That took him to the top of Ohio State’s all-time lists for receptions (207), receiving yards (3,381) and receiving touchdowns (36). Sayin finished 20 from 27 for 324 yards and three scores.
The Buckeyes improved to 4-1 (2-0 Big Ten). Iowa, which had been on a high after edging Michigan the previous week, dropped six spots to No. 20.
Bama and Miami win big on the road
No. 7 Alabama hammered No. 16 Mississippi State 56-23 in Starkville. Keelon Russell threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another and didn’t turn the ball over, while Dijon Lee Jr. added a 30-yard pick-six. The Tide ran for 179 yards to Mississippi State’s 18 and moved up to No. 6 at 5-0.
No. 4 Miami was just as emphatic at Clemson, winning 41-13 to go 5-0 and sit alone atop the ACC. Darian Mensah threw for 227 yards and a touchdown and ran in a 34-yarder, while Mark Fletcher Jr. scored twice on the ground. Notre Dame kept pace too, with CJ Carr accounting for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in a 37-26 win at North Carolina.
Other storylines
- Pittsburgh won a Friday-night shootout 35-33 at Virginia Tech, handing the Hokies their first loss, and entered the AP poll at No. 25.
- Kentucky won but fell out of the Top 25, missing the final spot by just two points.
- BYU climbed to No. 8 and Texas Tech (5-0) and Utah (4-0) both rose a spot, to No. 11 and No. 12.
- Mississippi State’s Anthony Evans III caught 12 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Alabama.
- Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz’s record against AP top-10 sides moved to 2-10.
What it means
The top tier is intact: Texas (4-0), Georgia, Notre Dame and Miami (all 5-0) and Ohio State (4-1) held their spots, with Alabama and Indiana right behind. Texas still collected 61 of the first-place votes.
The SEC’s middle class is a mess of head-to-head contradictions. Mississippi State beat Missouri, Florida beat Ole Miss, and Missouri beat Florida, yet the poll now reads Missouri 14, Florida 16, Mississippi State 17 with Ole Miss way up at No. 9. Expect plenty of those knots to be untied (or tightened) over the next month.
In the Heisman race, Smith’s back-to-back 200-yard games have pushed him firmly into the conversation alongside quarterbacks Mensah, Carr and Russell.
How to watch in Australia
- DAZN: one college football game streams free each week, with more games on its NCAA College Sports subscription.
- ESPN (via Foxtel, Foxtel Now and Kayo Sports) shows selected games.
- Every College Football game with AEDT times and confirmed AU broadcasters: USA Sports TV Guide
One email per day at 7:00pm AEDT. Tomorrow’s College Football games with confirmed AEDT times, exact broadcasters, and pick of the day. Free.
What’s next?
- Live US Sports TV Guide
- Previous College Football Wrap — 27 September 2026
- Next College Football Wrap — 11 October 2026
Results accurate as of 4 October 2026 US time. All times AEST (AEDT from Sunday 4 October). Mac Johannson covers US sports for Australian fans.