The biggest game of the season (so far) is just around the corner.

No. 2 Georgia will face No. 4 Alabama on Saturday night in the first top-five matchup of the season. It is the first game between the schools without Kirby Smart and Nick Saban on the sidelines since Mark Richt coached Georgia in 2015, and the first game against Georgia for an Alabama team coached by someone other than Saban since 2003, when Mike Shula led Alabama.

New Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer also has a strong record against the Bulldogs. Overall, Alabama is 43-26-4 against Georgia dating back to 1895, and Saban’s winning percentage was even better. His teams only lost to Georgia twice. The first came in his first season in 2007. The other came in January 2022 when Georgia beat Alabama for the national championship.

Overall, Saban’s teams were 8-1 against Georgia and 6-1 against Smart during his tenure. Saturday night is a great opportunity for Georgia to reverse that trend.

Here are the five biggest games of Week 5. All times are Eastern and all odds are from BetMGM.

Time: Noon | TV: ESPN | Line: Kansas State -4.5 | Overall: 55.5

Both teams enter this game following losses in their conference opener against teams from Utah. The Cowboys lost 22-19 at home to a Utah team that lacked Cameron Rising, and Kansas State was outscored by BYU in the second and third quarters while losing 38-9 to the Cougars.

Oklahoma State really needs to get All-American RB Ollie Gordon II up to speed sooner rather than later if it wants to return to the Big 12 title game. Gordon has 73 carries for 258 yards and four scores in four games this season. And these statistics are even misleading. After 28 carries for 126 yards and three scores against South Dakota State in the season opener, Gordon has neither exceeded 50 yards nor averaged more than three yards per carry in OSU’s other three games.

Kansas State ran the football much more effectively. The Wildcats are averaging more than six yards per carry and running back DJ Giddens has 417 yards on 68 carries. QB Avery Johnson ran 39 times for 261 yards. That’s 6.7 yards per carrying clip. However, Johnson averages more yards per rush than per pass. He has thrown three interceptions this season and is completing 61% of his passes. Kansas State needs to be less one-dimensional.

Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: Peacock | Line: Notre Dame -6 | Overall: 45.5

The Cardinals earned a statement win against the Irish at home a season ago. And it’s fair to wonder if Louisville is better this season than it was in 2023. Former Oregon and Texas Tech QB Tyler Shough has been very good so far this season, completing over 68% of his passes for eight touchdowns and no interceptions. Shough excelled throughout his college career, but never played more than seven games in a single season. If he’s healthy all season for the first time in seven college seasons, Louisville has a chance to stay atop the conference with Miami and Clemson.

Notre Dame is still hoping Riley Leonard can complement its dominant four-game running game through the air, despite injuries along the offensive line. RBs Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and Leonard all averaged at least seven yards per carry and Leonard scored six points. Leonard hasn’t seemed comfortable as a passer yet. He averages just 5.7 yards per throw and has thrown for 587 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in four games.

Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: NBC | Line: Penn State -18 | Overall: 47.5

The Illini defeated previously undefeated Nebraska in overtime in Week 4, marking just the third time since 1951 that Illinois has won its first four games. A big reason for this is the improved play of former Ole Miss QB Luke Altmyer. In his first season at Illinois in 2023, Altmyer threw for 1,883 yards and had 13 TD passes with 10 interceptions. So far this season, Altmyer has completed 71% of his passes for 862 yards and is already close to surpassing last year’s TD total. He has thrown 10 TDs and has yet to throw an interception.

Can he keep up on the road against Penn State? Against the Nittany Lions, opposing QBs only average 144 yards per game. Penn State’s offense also looks a lot more creative than it did in 2023. QB Drew Allar is completing 70% of his passes, while RB Nicholas Singleton has 37 carries for 314 yards. However, the unit must reduce its penalties. Penn State’s offense has already been reported 22 times in 2024.

Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: ABC | Line: Georgia -1.5 | Overall: 48.5

This clash of perennial playoff teams features two Heisman contenders at quarterback. No QB is responsible for more TDs per game than Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, and Carson Beck was considered the favorite for the award for much of the offseason.

Beck’s 2024 season didn’t live up to the Heisman hype. Still. He threw for just 160 yards against Kentucky in Week 3, but Georgia’s offense was sluggish overall that night. It won’t be the slightest surprise if Beck has a big game, although the Bulldogs will need someone to fill in from the outside. None of Georgia’s three leading receivers are averaging more than 13 yards per catch so far. Replacing Brock Bowers is one thing, but the Bulldogs also need to find a field carry or two.

Ryan Williams has already shown at 17 years old that he can be a difference-maker for the Crimson Tide. The freshman recorded 10 catches for 285 yards and four scores; No other receiver at Alabama has more than 125 receiving yards. If Georgia can shut down Williams effectively, does Alabama have enough receiving depth around him?

Time: 10pm | TV: FS1 | Line: Boise State -7.5 | Total: 64.5

Washington State is on the precipice of the AP Top 25 after a 4-0 start that includes wins over Texas Tech and Washington. QB John Mateer is slinging it. The Texas native has thrown for 1,102 yards despite completing just 54% of his attempts. He is also the team’s leading rusher with 57 carries for 425 yards and five scores. Given the way the Cougars’ last two games have gone, it will be worth staying up this time. Wazzu beat Washington at the goal line and needed a big second-half comeback to beat San Jose State 54-52 in overtime in Week 4.

Opposing offenses rush for nearly five yards per carry against the Cougars. That’s an appetizing statistic for Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty. After an easy 11-carry, 127-yard game against Portland State in Week 4, he’s still averaging over 10 yards per carry this season. Jeanty has 586 yards and nine touchdowns in three games. There’s a reason he’s the non-QB with the best Heisman odds (+2000) at BetMGM.

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Other games to watch

No. 22 BYU at Baylor (Noon, ESPN): With this comfortable win over Kansas State, the Cougars moved into the top 25. Baylor is reeling after losing in overtime to Colorado on a goal-line error after giving up a game-winning Hail Mary at the end of regulation. Unless Baylor is still too devastated, this has the makings of a trap game for BYU.

No. 21 Oklahoma at Auburn (3:30 p.m., ABC): Whoever makes the best quarterback play will probably win this game. Freshman Michael Hawkins will start for Oklahoma after replacing Jackson Arnold in the team’s Week 4 loss to Tennessee. Either Payton Thorne or Hank Brown will start for the Tigers. Thorne took over for Brown after Brown threw three interceptions against Arkansas in Week 3.

Arkansas vs. No. 24 Texas A&M (3:30 p.m., ESPN): This annual game at AT&T Stadium has produced a few thrillers where Arkansas has been on the wrong end. The Aggies have won 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools since 2011. Don’t be surprised if Arkansas bucks that trend this season.

Colorado at UCF (3:30 p.m., Fox): Colorado is riding high after its miracle win over Baylor, but don’t forget about UCF. The Knights are 3-0 after their big comeback against TCU in Week 3. RB RJ Harvey has 59 carries for 448 yards and eight touchdowns in three games. Colorado has rushed for 275 yards in four games as a team.

Florida State at SMU (8 p.m., ACC Network): With an ugly win over Cal, FSU finally got into the win column in Week 4 and enters this game as a 5.5 point underdog. SMU defeated TCU 66-42 a week ago as RB Brashard Smith totaled 151 yards and four touchdowns.