College football schedule, Week 5: Times, viewing guide, TV channels, what to watch

There are college football games on Saturday and we know you want to watch them

By Tom Fornelli

Sep 29, 2017 at 5:10 pm ET • 2 min read

With an unusual number of exciting games being played on Thursday and Friday this week, the Saturday slate is a bit diluted. The good news is that there are still two games between ranked teams taking place in the evening, and they don't start at the same time.

It's a minor miracle, so you should appreciate it.

All times Eastern

All-Americans

No. 2 Clemson at No. 12 Virginia Tech, ESPN, 8 p.m.: It's a rematch of last year's ACC Championship Game (as well as 2011's) as the defending national champs head to Blacksburg to take on the Hokies.

Clemson looked like it was sleeping for three quarters against Boston College last week before exploding in the fourth to pick up an easy win, but it's possible the Tigers were caught looking ahead to this matchup. The Hokies have been impressive so far this season, but this is by far the toughest test they'll have faced so far.

No. 24 Mississippi State at No. 13 Auburn, ESPN, 6 p.m.: A key divisional matchup for both teams. Auburn looked to work out some kinks in its offense against Missouri last week, but Missouri isn't exactly a good team, so who knows how serious we should take it.

Then there's Mississippi State, which beat LSU by 30 points two weeks ago and got whipped by 28 points by Georgia last week. Which Mississippi State team shows up this week? And which Auburn team will it be facing? Only one way to find out!

Starters

Northwestern at No. 10 Wisconsin, ABC, Noon: So far this season, Wisconsin has quietly been the most impressive team in the Big Ten. Of course, the reason it's quiet is that Wisconsin has played Utah State, FAU and BYU. This week the Badgers face a Northwestern team many pegged as its toughest competition in the Big Ten West this year.

No. 7 Georgia at Tennessee, CBS, 3:30 p.m.: After beating up on Mississippi State last week, Georgia has established itself as the best team in the SEC East, and to this point, it's looked like the only team in the conference that's slightly capable of posing a threat to Alabama. Now, the Bulldogs take on a Tennessee team that may be 3-1, but it hasn't been the most impressive of 3-1 starts. The Vols can change the narrative with a win here, however.

Florida State at Wake Forest, ABC, 3:30 p.m.: How often is it that Wake Forest and Florida State play when the Deacons are the undefeated team? That's the case here as Wake is off to a 4-0 start while Florida State's 0-2 for the first time since 1989. Another loss for the Seminoles this week and it's time to panic.

Ole Miss at No. 1 Alabama, ESPN, 9 p.m: The odds are not high that Ole Miss is going to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night, but the Rebels have been the SEC team that has given Alabama the most trouble recently. So maybe?