QB questions and a top-five showdown: What to watch for in Week 5 of college football

Georgia travels to Alabama this week for a top-five showdown in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It’s a monster matchup for all the obvious reasons, but there’s a portion of the college football internet that has complained that it’s somehow lacking.

Now of course there won’t be the same stakes as some others current games between Georgia and Alabama. In the last three years, they met twice in the SEC championship game and famously played each other in the national championship game in January 2022. A September showdown will never feel like these games.

What I don’t agree with, however, is the insinuation that Saturday’s game is meaningless in the 12-team College Football Playoff era. I’ve seen a few experts say that and I hate that attitude. They think it’s a bad thing that the loser of this Georgia-Alabama game could easily still make the College Football Playoff – and that’s why they think the expanded playoffs devalue the regular season.

The thing is: The loser of a September game like this would always stay alive in the CFP race. The easy parallel is Texas-Alabama last year; Both teams ultimately made it to the four-team CFP. If you’re good enough to declare defeat or show the selection committee that you’ve improved over the year, you could always overcome a seemingly debilitating loss, even when there were only four spots available in the CFP.

RELATED: College Football Playoff Week 5 Projection

I freely admit that the loser of Georgia-Alabama will remain in the running for a CFP spot in my weekly predictions. I think the loser of this game could be on top come December and January, hoisting a trophy while confetti falls. To me, that doesn’t mean anything detrimental to a high-stakes game in September. I would never advocate for fewer games and less football just to make individual matches seem bigger because of the scarcity. The sport brings me joy that goes beyond chasing a national championship. And Saturday’s game means a lot to fans, coaches and players on both sides, and not just because of its implications for the CFP.

It is Kalen DeBoeris the first big duel as the new Alabama coach. He replaced the greatest coach in college football history and the game’s elder statesman; Kirby Smart has settled into this latter role quite well in recent months Nick Saban‘s retirement. Even though Georgia missed out on competing in the CFP last season, Smart’s program remains the gold standard in the sport and will serve as a great barometer of that Jalen Milroe and Co. on Saturday.

I, for one, can’t wait to watch two extremely talented teams compete for three and a half hours on a Saturday night – even if the result doesn’t completely derail the loser’s season.

Here’s what else I’m watching for in Week 5 of the college football season:

Can Oklahoma fix its offensive woes?

Former five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold was benched in the first half of the Sooners’ loss to Tennessee a week ago. Well, true newbie Michael Hawkins Jr. gets his first start and takes on an Auburn team that already appears to be in a spiral. The Tigers have their own quarterback issues – which is a problem for Hugh Freeze, who is supposed to be something of an offensive guru – but both their starter and his backup appear to be extremely turnover-prone, so their options are limited. Oklahoma may not be. Last week against the Vols, Hawkins completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, a stat that isn’t impressive but was significantly better than what Arnold was doing out there. The Sooner defense is good enough to keep this team in SEC play. Can the offense improve to give the team a chance to win?

Can Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard throw the ball effectively?

He’ll probably have to do it, when the Irish beat No. 15 Louisville at home. Leonard is a really good, tough runner – he’s rushed for over 100 yards in each of Notre Dame’s last two games – but we’ve seen him miss some wide-open receivers and struggle to establish a sufficient vertical passing game, to actually cause stress defenses. Jeff Brohm’s attacks are always creative and explosive, meaning the Irish have to keep up even when they have the ball. We’ll see what Leonard is capable of.

Will John Mateer’s magic run out against Boise State?

In four games, the Wazzu quarterback took us all on a wild ride. He’s just as capable of throwing a hard-hitting interception as he is breaking off a long touchdown run. And he was sensational when the Cougs had their backs against the wall in recent weeks. Can he lead Washington State to a 5-0 start with a win over No. 25 Boise State? The Broncos are led by their star running back Ashton Jeantya legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. They are also a favorite to win the Mountain West and are fighting for a spot in the CFP. This matchup could be one of the best of the weekend.