NCAA Division I FBS football 2026: Week 5 Game Schedule
Several exciting NCAA Division I FBS football matches took place during Week 4. Ohio State defeated Illinois in their most recent Week 4 game. Texas Tech claimed a win over Sam Houston, and Tennessee defeated Texas. Kentucky beat South Alabama in a Week 4 NCAA Division I FBS matchup. In another matchup, Maryland suffered a defeat to UCLA with a final score of 3-54.
Utah beat Iowa State in a Week 4 NCAA Division I FBS matchup. Michigan lost against Iowa, and Florida defeated Ole Miss in the Week 4 games. Boise State defeated WMU in a Week 4 NCAA Division I FBS football matchup. Boise State returned to winning form in the NCAA fixtures this season. Houston defeated GA Southern, while Oklahoma St beat West Virginia. Alabama claimed a victory against South Carolina, and Oregon defeated USC in their Week 4 matchups. LSU defeated Texas A&M, while Texas A&M will need to improve its form to maintain its ranking. MS State defeated Missouri, while SMU beat Missouri State.
Top-Picked Week 5 Fixture Schedule: Venues and Timings
Fixtures
Dates
Time Zone ET
Time Zone PT
Time Zone IST
Locations
Northwestern Wildcats vs Penn State Nittany Lions
October 2, 2026
08:00 PM
05:00 PM
05:30 AM (Next Day)
Ryan Field, Evanston
Houston Cougars vs UCF Knights
October 3, 2026
12:00 PM
09:00 AM
09:30 PM
TDECU Stadium, Houston
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs Michigan Wolverines
October 3, 2026
12:00 PM
09:00 AM
09:30 PM
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis
SMU Mustangs vs Boston College Eagles
October 3, 2026
12:00 PM
09:00 AM
09:30 PM
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park
Clemson Tigers vs Miami Hurricanes
October 3, 2026
07:30 PM
04:30 PM
05:00 AM (Next Day)
Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson University
North Carolina Tar Heels vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
October 3, 2026
12:00 PM
09:00 AM
09:30 PM
Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill
Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
October 3, 2026
12:00 PM
09:00 AM
09:30 PM
Davis Wade Stadium, Mississippi State
Georgia Bulldogs vs Vanderbilt Commodores
October 3, 2026
12:45 PM
09:45 AM
10:15 PM
Sanford Stadium, Athens
LSU Tigers vs McNeese State Cowboys
October 3, 2026
07:45 PM
04:45 PM
05:15 AM (Next Day)
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Indiana Hoosiers
October 3, 2026
08:00 PM
05:00 PM
05:30 AM (Next Day)
SHI Stadium, Piscataway
Week 5 Matchups and All Participating Teams
Dates
Games
October 2, 2026
Northwestern vs Penn State
October 3, 2026
Houston vs UCF, Minnesota vs Michigan, SMU vs Boston College, Clemson vs Miami FL, UNC vs Notre Dame, MS State vs Alabama, Georgia vs Vanderbilt, Tennessee vs Auburn, Missouri vs Florida, NC State vs Louisville, Iowa vs Ohio State, TCU vs BYU, Texas A&M vs Arkansas, USC vs Washington, Colorado vs Texas Tech, LSU vs McNeese State, and Rutgers vs Indiana
Pivotal Teams and Possible Lineups
North Carolina Tar Heels vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Jonathan Agumadu, Daniel Anderson, Jordan Avinger, Jake Bauer, and Ashton Blatt
Projected Lineups for Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
CJ Carr and Noah Grubbs
Running Backs
Nolan James Jr. and Javian Osborne
Wide Receivers
Jerome Bettis Jr. and Elijah Burress
Tight Ends
Cooper Flanagan and James Flanigan
Offensive Lineman
Sullivan Absher, Max Anderson, and Will Black
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
Francis Brewu, Christopher Burgess Jr., Davion Dixon, and Rodney Dunham
Cornerbacks
Khary Adams and Dallas Golden
Safety
Brauntae Johnson
Linebackers
Jaiden Ausberry, Drayk Bowen, Ja’Kobe Clapper, and Thomas Davis Jr.
Team Performances
The North Carolina Tar Heels lost to the Clemson Tigers in their most recent game. Billy Edwards Jr. recorded 135 passing yards and one touchdown. Benjamin Hall earned 130 rushing yards for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish played against the Purdue Boilermakers in the NCAA games. CJ Carr, Aneyas Williams, and Micah Gilbert scored for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. CJ Carr recorded 237 passing yards and three touchdowns. Aneyas Williams earned 80 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Ryan Browne, Fame Ijeboi, and Tra’Mar Harris scored for the Purdue Boilermakers. Browne recorded 111 passing yards, and Harris recorded 36 receiving yards for the Purdue Boilermakers. In the end, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeated the Purdue Boilermakers.
The Pick: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Georgia Bulldogs vs Vanderbilt Commodores
Date: October 3, 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 12:45 PM ET| 09:45 AM PT| 10:15 PM IST
Venue: Sanford Stadium, Athens
Projected Lineups for Georgia Bulldogs
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
Bryson Beaver and Jake Bobo
Running Backs
Micah Bell and Chauncey Bowens
Wide Receivers
Jeremy Bell and Thomas Blackshear
Tight Ends
Ethan Barbour and Brayden Fogle
Center
Zykie Helton
Offensive Lineman
Drew Bobo, Waltclaire Flynn Jr. and Daniel Calhoun
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
Clinton Barlow and Preston Carey
Defensive Backs
KJ Bolden and Braylon Conley
Cornerback
Maurice Hayes
Defensive Ends
Isaiah Gibson and Justin Greene
Linebackers
Nick Abrams II, Eli Barrow, and Khamari Brooks
Safety
Khalil Barnes and Zion Branch
Projected Lineups for Vanderbilt Commodores
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
Blaze Berlowitz and Drew Cowart
Running Backs
Sedrick Alexander and Gabe Fields
Fullback
Gabe Fisher
Wide Receivers
Cole Adams and Kayleb Barnett
Tight Ends
Jayvontay Conner and Adam Gehm
Offensive Lineman
Clinton Azubuike, Lyndon Cooper, and Micah DeBose
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
Simeon Boulware and HaydenBray
Edges
Brian Allen Jr. and Miles Capers
Defensive Tackles
Daryl Campbell, Jiaming Cao, and Mike Diatta
Linebackers
Ty Bartholomew, Josiah Broxton, Bryce Cowan
Cornerback
Blaine McClure
Safety
Bradley Brown and Dontae Carter
Team Performances
The Georgia Bulldogs faced the Oklahoma Sooners in their latest game. The Bulldogs scored consistently throughout the game. They recorded more passing yards and rushing yards, finishing with more total yards than the Sooners. The Oklahoma Sooners failed to score throughout the first and second quarters. The Sooners earned more passing yards but fewer rushing yards, finishing with fewer total yards. In the end, the Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Vanderbilt Commodores faced the Auburn Tigers in their most recent fixture. The Auburn Tigers scored consistently throughout the game. They recorded more passing and rushing yards, finishing with a higher total throughout the match. The Vanderbilt Commodores recorded fewer passing and rushing yards and finished with fewer total yards. The Commodores failed to score in the second quarter. The Vanderbilt Commodores lost to the Auburn Tigers.
The Pick: Georgia Bulldogs
Clemson Tigers vs Miami Hurricanes
Date: October 3, 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 07:30 PM ET|04:30 PM PT| 05:00 AM IST (Next Day)
Venue: Clemson Memorial Stadium, Clemson University
Projected Lineups for Clemson Tigers
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
Brock Bradley and Colson Brown
Running Backs
Gideon Davidson and David Eziomume
Wide Receivers
Cam Blivens and Tyler Brown
Tight Ends
Christian Bentancur and Logan Brooking
Offensive Lineman
Chance Barclay, Gavin Blanchard and Leo Delaney
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
Caden Story
Defensive Ends
Michael Foster, J.R.Hardrick, and Will Heldt
Defensive Tackles
Amare Adams, HevinBrown-Shuler, and Andy Burburija
Linebackers
Jeremiah Alexander and Logan Anderson
Safety
Polo Anderson and Jerome Carter III
Projected Lineups for Miami Hurricanes
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
Judd Anderson and Joe Borchers
Running Backs
CharMar Brown and Mark Fletcher Jr.
Wide Receivers
Cooper Barkate and Brennan Burton
Tight Ends
Israel Briggs and Hunter Carver
Offensive Lineman
Seuseu Alofaituli, Max Buchanan, and Demetrius Campbell
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
Tyson Bacon, Armondo Blount, and Jarquez Carter
Defensive Backs
Ja’Boree Antoine, Takai Azziz, Damari Brown, and Dylan Day
Linebackers
Kamal Bonner, Karsten Busch, Jordan Campbell, and Justin Edwards
Team Performances
The Clemson Tigers defeated the California Golden Bears in their most recent game. Jarvis Green, T.J. Moore, and Tait Reynolds were key contributors for the Clemson Tigers. Green recorded 31 rushing yards, while Moore earned 24 receiving yards. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele, Adam Mohammed, and Ian Strong scored for the California Golden Bears. Mohammed recorded 51 rushing yards, and Ian Strong recorded 44 receiving yards.
By contrast, the Miami Hurricanes faced the Central Michigan Chippewas. Darian Mensah, Chris Wheatley-Humphrey, and Malachi Toney were key contributors for the Hurricanes. Mensah recorded 338 passing yards and three touchdowns. Jadyn Glasser, Nicholas Woodford, and Tayte Vanderleest were key contributors for the Chippewas. The Miami Hurricanes ultimately defeated the Central Michigan Chippewas.
The Pick: Clemson Tigers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs Indiana Hoosiers
Date: October 3, 2026 (Saturday)
Time: 08:00 PM ET|05:00 PM PT|05:30 AM IST (Next Day)
Venue: SHI Stadium, Piscataway
Projected Lineups for Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
Sean Ashenfelder and Dylan Lonergan
Running Backs
Ja’shon Benjamin and Michael Dukes III
Wide Receivers
Vernon Allen III and Ben Black III
Tight Ends
Kam Anthony and Ryan Bayoumy
Offensive Lineman
Raynor Andrews, Logan Anthony, Kwabena Asamoah, and Justin Cesaire
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
DJ Allen, Zaire Angoy, and ReeceBeck
Defensive Backs
Devonte Anderson, Tyler Childress, Sage Clawges, Michael Clayton, and JJ Conyers
Linebackers
Sean Allison, Kamar Archie, and Isaiah Deloatch
Projected Lineups for Indiana Hoosiers
Offense
Position
Players
Quarter Backs
Jacob Bell and Tyler Cherry
Running Backs
Lee Beebe Jr. and Jayreon Campbell
Wide Receivers
Charlie Becker, Lebron Bond, and Davion Chandler
Tight Ends
Andrew Barker and Parker Elmore
Offensive Lineman
Adedamola Ajani and Joe Brunner
Defense
Position
Players
Defensive Lineman
Josh Burnham, Tyrone Burrus Jr., Keishaun Calhoun, and Quentin Clark
Defensive Backs
Byron Baldwin Jr., Jaylen Bell, and Anthony Chung
Linebackers
Clayton Allen, Rolijah Hardy, Isaiah Jones, and Amari Kamara
Team Performances
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeated the Howard Bison in their latest game. The Scarlet Knights recorded more passing yards and rushing yards, finishing with more total yards than Howard. The Howard Bison failed to score in the second, third, and fourth quarters. The Bison recorded fewer passing and rushing yards than the Knights.
In contrast, the Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Northwestern Wildcats. The Hoosiers scored consistently throughout the game. The Wildcats recorded more passing yards and fewer rushing yards.
The Pick: Indiana Hoosiers
Wrap-up
The North Carolina Tar Heels will host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on October 3. The Georgia Bulldogs will host the Vanderbilt Commodores on October 3.
The Ohio State Buckeyes will face the Iowa Hawkeyes on October 3, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. Can Ohio State overcome the road challenge and secure a win? The remaining teams will aim to demonstrate their resilience and potential determination in their Week 5 games.