CFB Week 5 winners and losers: Jalen Milroe becomes Heisman front-runner

Winner: Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe

Milroe was unbelievable in a Heisman-worthy performance for Associated Press No. 4 Alabama (4-0, 1-0 in SEC) against No. 2 Georgia (3-1, 1-1 in SEC) in Week 5’s marquee game.

During the first half of a 41-34 thriller, Milroe was 18-of-20 for 186 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He added 106 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. 

As Fox Sports college football insider Bruce Feldman wrote on social media, Milroe’s 305 yards through two quarters were “more than half of the total yards Georgia has allowed (606) in its first three games combined.”

Arguably Milroe’s best play was on a fourth-and-one from the Georgia 35-yard line when he found the edge and accelerated down the sideline to give the Tide a 28-0 lead.

Georgia had an incredible comeback, but Milroe capped Bama’s win with a 75-yard touchdown pass to freshman Ryan Williams. 

With the way Milroe played, he could become the first quarterback since Joe Burrow (2019 LSU) to win the Heisman and national championship in the same season.

Loser: Ole Miss

This was supposed to be Ole Miss’ year. The Rebels (4-1, 0-1 in SEC) added one of the top transfer portal classes and returned Heisman contender Jaxson Dart at quarterback. Instead, Lane Kiffin’s squad flinched at the first sign of pressure, losing to Kentucky (3-2, 1-2 in SEC) 20-17 in the Rebels’ first test this season.

Tougher SEC games lie ahead, making Ole Miss’ home loss as a 15.5-point favorite a troubling sign for what’s to come.

Winner: Big 12’s new blood

The Big 12’s additions over the past two seasons are taking the conference by storm. BYU (5-0, 2-0 in Big 12) is tied atop the Big 12 standings after Saturday’s win at Baylor (2-3, 0-2 in Big 12), 34-28. 

Colorado (4-1, 2-0 in Big 12) matched its 2023 win total with the best win of the Deion Sanders, a 48-21 romp over previously undefeated UCF (3-1, 1-1 in Big 12).

Loser: Cheerleaders being your best tacklers

Auburn (2-3, 0-2 in SEC) blew an 11-point lead at home in a 27-21 loss to No. 21 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1 in SEC), its third at Jordan-Hare Stadium in 2024.

Based on how Sooners freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. ran over the Tigers, they might want to offer one cheerleader a scholarship.

As Oklahoma entered the field before the game, an Auburn cheerleader flipped into a Sooners player, flattening him on the turf. 

In his first collegiate start, Hawkins was 10-of-15 for 161 yards with 14 carries, 69 yards and a rushing touchdown.

That Auburn cheerleader’s tackling form needs work, but that’s the type of effort the Tigers needed more of against the Sooners.

Winner: Divorce lawyers in Alabama

Lawyers in Alabama might be lining up for a new client. During ESPN’s “College GameDay” live from Tuscaloosa, one man set himself up for 18 years of child support payments with a confession he probably should have kept to himself.

“My wife is having a baby, but I choose to be here,” read the sign.

That future episode of “Divorce Court” will be must-watch television. 

Loser: Playing on Peacock

Saturday served as a warning for college football fans. If your favorite team is playing on Peacock, save yourself the $7.99 a month.

In Nebraska’s 28-10 win over Purdue (1-3, 0-1 in Big Ten), the teams combined to miss four first-half field goals, including three from Nebraska (4-1, 1-1 in Big Ten). The Cornhuskers and Boilermakers also combined for a staggering 24 penalties for 259 yards.

No. 15 Louisville’s 31-24 loss to No. 16 Notre Dame (4-1) featured a comedy of errors, beginning with a fumble by the Fighting Irish on the opening kickoff, followed by two more fumbles (one by each team), a snap going over Louisville punter Brady Hodges’ head and the Cardinals turning the ball over on downs.

The nightcap, No. 3 Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Michigan State (3-2, 1-1 in Big Ten), didn’t disappoint. The Spartans had a turnover on downs on their first possession. Later, back-to-back drives ended with a Michigan State fumble and an Ohio State interception. 

Winner: UNLV

A tumultuous week that included former starting quarterback Mathew Sluka leaving the program due to an NIL dispute culminated with the Rebels asserting their place atop the Mountain West.

UNLV (4-0, 1-0 in MWC) defeated Fresno State (3-1, 1-1 in MWC) 59-14. Quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams was an improvement over Sluka, going 13-of-16 for 182 yards and three touchdowns while adding 12 carries for 119 yards and another touchdown.

The Rebels improved to 4-0 for the first time since joining Division I football in 1978, according to ESPN’s “SportsCenter.”

Loser: Celebrating “nearly” stopping 75-yard touchdowns

UCF wide receiver RJ Harvey scored a 75-yard touchdown against Colorado in a 48-21 loss, but social media accounts were too mesmerized by Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter almost tackling him to notice. 

Hunter, a legitimate Heisman contender, did a lot of incredible things on Saturday, including scoring a touchdown and intercepting a pass. We don’t need to fawn over the plays he doesn’t make.

Winner: LSU running back Caden Durham

During a season dominated by freshman wide receivers Jeremiah Smith (Ohio State) and Ryan Williams (Alabama), LSU running back Caden Durham has quickly established himself as one of the Tigers’ most dangerous offensive weapons.

He scored a touchdown 24 seconds into the game on LSU’s first offensive play, taking a swing pass from quarterback Garrett Nussmeier 71 yards to the end zone. Per LSU Athletics general content manager Todd Politz, it was the first opening-play touchdown by the Tigers since a 15-yard rushing touchdown from former running back Dalton Hilliard in 1982.

On LSU’s next play, Durham gained 86 yards on a run up the middle of South Alabama’s defense, nearly scoring a touchdown but being ruled down inside the one-yard line.

Durham finished the 42-10 win with 10 touches, 217 yards and two touchdowns.

You didn’t think we’d let Florida State (1-4, 1-3 in ACC) escape its 42-16 loss at SMU (4-0, 1-0 in ACC) without notice, did you?

The Mustangs dominated, outgaining the Noles 467-297, including a 213-75 advantage on the ground.

Florida State quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei was 12-of-30 for 222 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Mike Norvell’s squad only needs three more losses to miss a bowl game, and with games against No. 17 Clemson (3-1, 2-0 in ACC), No. 7 Miami (5-0, 1-0 in ACC) and No. 16 Notre Dame remaining, a seven-loss season feels like a safe bet.