The New York Times Previews Key College Football Week 5 Predictions

In a set of college football predictions published on September 25, 2025, The New York Times previewed several key questions for the sport's upcoming fifth week of play. The publication focused on the high-profile matchup between Georgia and Alabama, specifically questioning if Georgia's defense would be able to secure enough stops to beat the Crimson Tide. The preview also highlighted a potential upset, asking if the Tennessee Volunteers were at risk in their road game against Mississippi State in Starkville. The source did not detail the specific reasoning behind the upset alert but posed it as a central question for the game.

247sports.com reported, Additionally, the analysis considered individual player performance, questioning if Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith would have a breakout game. The article’s title, “Big Game James … wins a big game!,” further implied a specific prediction for a prominent coach, a title often associated with Penn State's James Franklin. The description did not elaborate on the coach's identity or the specific game. The piece from The New York Times frames these questions and predictions as central narratives heading into the Week 5 games.