#2 Georgia @ #4 Alabama
The biggest game of the Week 5 slate is between two SEC foes that are very familiar with each other. The (3-0) Bulldogs and (3-0) Crimson Tide face off for the eighth time in the last 10 years, with this being only the third regular season matchup during that time. In their last meeting, Alabama came out on top in the 2023 SEC Championship game in Atlanta, 27-24.
#4 Alabama is undefeated after three wins to begin the season over Western Kentucky (63-0), USF (42-16) and Wisconsin (42-10). Redshirt Junior QB Jalen Milroe has led the charge for the Crimson Tide Offense passing for 590 yards and eight touchdowns, while adding 156 yards and six scores on the ground. The Heisman contender has also yet to commit a turnover in 2024.
#2 Georgia is also undefeated through three games. They have beaten Clemson (34-3), Tennessee Tech (48-3) and Kentucky (13-12). Redshirt Senior QB Carson Beck has been as good as advertised, throwing for 680 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Bulldogs Defense is also one of the best in college football, as they are the only unit in the FBS that has not allowed a touchdown.
Alabama is 6-1 in the last seven meetings against Georgia, with the Bulldogs lone victory coming in the 2021 National Championship Game. This game will kick off Saturday Night at 7:30pm on ABC.
#19 Illinois @ #9 Penn State
In year one of a reconfigured Big 10, two nationally ranked conference rivals, Illinois (4-0) and Penn State (3-0), will face off in Week 5. Penn State has won four out of the last five matchups between these two programs, including last year, 30-13.
#19 Illinois moved up in the AP Top 25 from #24 to #19 this week after their Week 4 overtime victory over #22 Nebraska, 31-24. They also have added wins over Eastern Illinois (45-0), Kansas (23-17) and Central Michigan (30-9). In his season as the starter, Junior QB Luke Altmyer has thrown for 862 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Illinois Defense is also top 15 in college football in points allowed, giving up just 12.5 a game.
#9 Penn State remains unblemished in their 2024 campaign. Their three victories have come against West Virginia (34-12), Bowling Green (34-27) and Kent State (56-0). Junior QB Drew Allar has thrown for 729 yards and 8 touchdowns, while adding two more scores on the ground. Junior running back Nicholas Singleton has carried the ball for 314 yards and tallied four total touchdowns.
The Fighting Illini will travel to University Park, PA for the first time since 2021, when they last defeated Penn State in a 9 OT thriller, 20-18. This game will kick off Saturday Night at 7:30pm on NBC.
Stanford @ #17 Clemson
In their second conference game as a part of the ACC, (2-1) Stanford travels to the Palmetto State Saturday Night to face off against (2-1) Clemson. This will be just the second game all-time between these two schools, with the only other meeting coming in the 1986 Gator Bowl when the Tigers won, 27-21.
Stanford rolls into Week 5 1-0 in ACC play after beating Syracuse last week, 26-24. The Cardinal’s other win came against Cal Poly (41-7) and their lone loss came in Week 1 against TCU (34-27). Junior QB Ashton Daniels leads the offense for Stanford, as he has thrown for 562 yards and 4 touchdowns, while also leading the team in rushing with 163 yards. Sophomore wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has hauled in 17 catches for 234 yards and a score.
#17 Clemson has been able to turn the tides of their season since their Week 1 loss to Georgia (34-3). They have averaged 62.5 points in their last two games with wins over Appalachian State (66-20) and North Carolina State (59-35). A big reason for this scoring outburst can be attributed to junior QB Cade Klubnik. In his last two games, Klubnik has thrown for 587 yards and eight touchdowns while also rushing for three more scores.
This will be the first time Stanford has ever played a football game in the state of South Carolina. This game will kick off on Saturday Night at 7pm on ESPN.
