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Week 5 of the 2026 college football season featured significant upsets that disrupted the AP Top 25. No. 25 Missouri defeated No. 8 Florida 45-17, while No. 5 Ohio State beat No. 14 Iowa 31-14. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith broke multiple program records, and No. 18 USC rallied from a deficit to defeat Washington 25-21. Alabama also secured a dominant 56-23 victory over Mississippi State.
UCLA head coach Bob Chesney offered to personally visit Oregon quarterback Dante Moore in the hospital after a severe injury, a gesture Oregon coach Dan Lanning praised as genuine. This act of sportsmanship stands in sharp contrast to the criticism facing USC coach Lincoln Riley, who was faulted for missing the aftermath of the hit that hospitalized Moore. While Chesney has led UCLA to a 4-0 start, Riley’s program faces scrutiny over its handling of the incident and recent losses.
USC suspended linebacker Desman Stephens II for one game after he delivered a late hit to Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, resulting in a concussion. The controversy intensified after Stephens was seen smiling on the sideline while Moore received medical attention. Both the player and USC coach Lincoln Riley issued public apologies, and Moore was transported to the hospital for treatment.
A historic Saturday in college football saw six Big Ten teams win road games, with all eight road teams covering the spread. This performance pushed the conference's road win rate to 70% for the season, a stark contrast to the 42.6% average in its first two seasons as an 18-team league. The surge was driven by former Big Ten West division members, including Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Minnesota, who delivered decisive victories against traditional powerhouses. While Ohio State and Indiana won at home, visitors Illinois and Northwestern also covered the spread. The results exposed weaknesses in Michigan's offense and USC's defense, placing coaches Kyle Whittingham and Lincoln Riley on the hot seat. Meanwhile, Texas remains undefeated, and the College Football Playoff bracket features Texas, Ohio State, Florida, and Notre Dame as the top four seeds.
USC suspended linebacker Desman Stephens II for one game following a targeting hit that hospitalized Oregon quarterback Dante Moore during a 41-27 loss. The incident, which occurred in the second quarter, drew severe criticism for Stephens' celebratory reaction, prompting apologies from the player and coach, while NBC analyst Chris Simms also apologized for insensitive comments about the injury.
USC suspended linebacker Desman Stephens II for one game following his targeting hit on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore. Moore was hospitalized with a concussion, and Stephens faced criticism for celebrating the injury. Coach Lincoln Riley called the actions unacceptable, while the Big Ten supported the suspension. Stephens will miss the Oct. 3 game against Washington.
The transition from summer to fall in sports was marked by significant upsets in college football and a content strategy shift by golf influencer Paige Spiranac. Three ranked Big Ten teams lost at home on Saturday, including No. 12 USC to No. 20 Oregon, No. 18 Michigan to No. 17 Iowa, and No. 13 Penn State to unranked Wisconsin. Spiranac used social media to bid farewell to summer golf while highlighting her continued content output.
Week 4 features a slate dominated by high-scoring matchups, with analysts favoring overs in Ole Miss-Florida and USC-Oregon. A broader trend shows underdogs winning at a historically low rate this season.
Retiring U.S. Senator Gary Peters will join the University of Southern California as an endowed chair in practical politics, co-lead the Center for the Political Future, and teach on USC’s Los Angeles and Washington campuses, describing the move as a capstone to his public service and a chance to engage students in civics and civic activism.
Texas A&M earned an F after Kentucky upset them in Week 3, while USC received a D despite a win at Rutgers; the piece notes only one team earned an A and ranks national title contenders with odds and upcoming tests.
A lawsuit accuses USC basketball coach Eric Musselman of launching a racially charged tirade at forward Chad Baker-Mazara after a February loss and removing him from the USC roster to avoid paying the rest of his NIL contract. The complaint alleges Musselman shouted racist remarks, including “Go back to the f-ing Dominican Republic!”, and that Baker-Mazara was barred from team facilities the next day. Baker-Mazara seeks damages, arguing the actions harmed his NBA prospects, while USC says the allegations are unfounded and that the removal was for other reasons; the school plans to fight the lawsuit as Musselman enters his third season at USC.
CBS Sports updates its 12-team playoff projection after Week 2: USC replaces Oregon in the field and joins a lineup led by Miami and Georgia, while Ohio State and Texas stay in playoff contention; Boise State remains the Group of Five favorite, and the bracket will continue to shift as schedules and conference outcomes unfold.
Week One exposed Clemson's decline after a 51-10 thrashing by LSU, while Michigan looks flawed on offense despite a narrow win; Pitt’s Mason Heintschel dazzled in an air‑raid opener; USC’s shutout of Fresno State hints at defensive improvements under Gary Patterson; Rutgers stumbled to UMASS, snapping a 16‑game skid and signaling a rough path ahead for the season.
Week 1's overreactions run the gamut: Malachi Toney and Jeremiah Smith headline early Heisman chatter; USC looks like a Big Ten contender with efficient QB play and a surge of playmakers; Arch Manning shows improved poise and a stronger supporting cast; the Big 12 appears unsettled after a string of eye-opening results; Keelon Russell flashes as Alabama's dynamic quarterback; Lane Kiffin's LSU looks formidable and signals a real SEC challenge; Clemson's Dabo Swinney era may be nearing its end as roster turnover and NIL dynamics reshape the ACC.
USC rolled to a 39-0 win over Fresno State, with Jayden Maiava going 23-for-25 for 349 yards and three touchdowns, and freshman Trent Mosley totaling 104 receiving yards and two scores. The defense harassed Fresno State all night, recording five sacks, a safety, and an interception, marking USC’s first shutout since 2024 as it advances to 2-0 ahead of a Louisiana game and the Oregon showdown.