As college football fans, both seasoned and casual, we tend to jump to big conclusions based on just one week of games. The recently completed Week 5 gave us plenty of talking points to dissect.

We’re back to highlight the five most significant overreactions from this weekend, and it should come as no surprise that three of them originate from one unforgettable matchup. We’ll kick things off with two reactions that are essentially different angles of the same issue.

Following that, we will focus on a standout player performance from that game and quickly glance at other conferences that have recently undergone changes.

Is Georgia Done for Playoffs?

It certainly appeared that way during the first half of Saturday’s match in Tuscaloosa. As previously mentioned, losing a close game at Alabama isn’t necessarily a deal breaker.

However, the Bulldogs now face a tough path to the SEC Championship. With one loss already, they still have away games against Texas and Mississippi, as well as a home game against Tennessee coming up. To stay in contention for the top two spots in the final standings, Georgia likely needs to win all of these games and avoid any unexpected losses.

That said, in this era of playoff expansion, there are multiple routes to qualify. If the Bulldogs finish with just one more loss, a 10-2 record, especially considering their strong schedule—it includes a win against Clemson—could see them earn an at-large playoff spot. They need to improve in certain areas to achieve this, and playing an additional game would complicate their playoff journey, but they aren’t out of the race just yet.

Jalen Milroe Looks Like a Heisman Contender

His stats—374 passing yards, 117 rushing yards, and four touchdowns—on such a big stage cannot be overlooked. If the season ended today, it’s likely he’d take home the award.

Although there’s still more than half the season left, Milroe has set the pace in the Heisman race. Yet, other players may emerge weekly with impressive performances. This week saw several standout contributions: Travis Hunter from Colorado delivered impactful plays on both offense and defense, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty rushed for over 250 yards and scored four touchdowns again, and Ohio State’s promising freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith continues to impress. Nonetheless, given Milroe’s incredible outing in the current top matchup of the season, he likely has New York travel plans in December on his horizon.

A Rematch Between Alabama and Georgia Seems Inevitable

While it was thrilling to watch, a lot must align for the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide to face each other again, either for the SEC championship or the playoffs.

As mentioned, Georgia faces a challenging road ahead to reach the SEC Championship game. Alabama, while currently well-positioned, also has to go on the road to Tennessee. They won’t play Texas during the regular season, but they still need to contend with LSU, Oklahoma, and Missouri—all of whom will also be vying for a limited number of playoff spots. (And yes, kids, that’s a reference to an actual phone booth!) Further complicating this, numerous factors will need to fall into place for a potential rematch in the playoffs.

Could they meet again? Absolutely. Will they? It’s too early to make that prediction.

SMU Hits the Jackpot with Realignment

Even the most optimistic fans of SMU, who effectively helped the school enter the ACC, might not have imagined such a strong entrance against a highly ranked and defending conference champion like Florida State.

Florida State’s struggles began before the season, but even then, SMU seemed unready for a power conference after barely defeating a struggling Nevada team and suffering a disappointing loss to Brigham Young. However, after a coaching change at quarterback, the SMU offense surged, leading to a decisive 42-16 win against FSU on Saturday.

Things are projected to become more challenging for SMU in the ACC, starting next week against Louisville, but their initial performance in what’s considered a power conference has been a clear success so far.

The Unexpected Winner of Big 12 Realignment

This may still be Utah, particularly if they can get Cam Rising back on the field. However, Arizona’s recent win against the Utes threw the league competition wide open.

As it stands, only three teams are currently 2-0 in conference play: BYU, Colorado, and Texas Tech—all of whom were anticipated to perform well this season.

A standout achievement outside of conference play is Iowa State’s impressive win over Iowa.

The impact of Texas and Oklahoma leaving the conference is undeniable. However, fans across the widely spread league should adopt a positive mindset, viewing this change as a chance to excel in a landscape without clear frontrunners.