College football’s most important people in Week 5

A massive weekend of college football is upon us. Ranked matchups, old rivalries and playoff implications headline the schedule. The first College Football Playoff rankings are only five weeks away, which heightens the drama around each game.

Heading into Week 5, Yardbarker ranked the top 10 most important people for the week. Here’s who we’re keeping an eye on. All games listed are set for Saturday.

Alan Bowman and Avery Johnson | Oklahoma State and Kansas State quarterbacks

Two important quarterbacks face off in a ranked matchup between the No. 20 Cowboys and No. 23 Wildcats. Both teams are coming off a loss in their Big 12 opener, with Oklahoma falling to then-No. 12 Utah 22-19, and Kansas State getting thumped by Top 25 newcomer BYU 38-9, making this game ultra-important. These quarterbacks have proven to be hard to stop, but both are prone to mistakes. Bowman has thrown four interceptions to Johnson’s three. Which quarterback can play a cleaner game Saturday? The fate of this game rests on that question.

Matthew Sluka | former UNLV quarterback

Sluka won’t be suiting up for the 3-0 Rebels this weekend. On Wednesday, he announced he was sitting out the rest of the season, claiming NIL promises were unfulfilled. Sluka’s decision is the first of its kind in the NIL era and will be the talk of the weekend. Questions abound about the impact of his decision and it will hang like a cloud over the games Saturday.

Antario Brown | Northern Illinois running back

An overtime loss to Buffalo last week dampened the mood around the Northern Illinois program, but there’s a chance for another big win Saturday at NC State. Brown holds the key to success. He leads the team in rushing (241 yards, two touchdowns) and receiving (193 yards, one touchdown). NC State has struggled to stop the run this season, allowing 167.8 yards per game. Brown already carved up Notre Dame for 99 yards on the ground and 126 through the air.

Notre Dame defensive line

The Irish host No. 15 Louisville and the Notre Dame defensive line will play a pivotal role in the outcome. Through three games, Louisville has not turned the ball over and quarterback Tyler Shough has only been sacked once. If Notre Dame can get to Shough, it could put Louisville in a position it has not been in yet this season.

Michael Hawkins Jr. | Oklahoma quarterback

Hawkins has been named the starter for Saturday’s tilt at Auburn. The freshman is making his first career start after relieving Jackson Arnold in last week’s loss to Tennessee. The moment didn’t seem too big for him, as he finished 11-for-18 for 132 yards and one touchdown. Oklahoma needs him to protect the ball, something Arnold struggled to do.

Ryan Williams | Alabama wide receiver

Williams has taken college football by storm, racking up 285 yards and four touchdowns in his first three games. Can he break free against a Georgia defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown this season? He’s averaging 28.5 yards per catch and his big play ability could be a difference in what should be a tightly-contested game.

Luke Altmyer | Illinois quarterback

Altmyer has been instrumental in Illinois climbing to No. 19 in the AP Poll. After a win at Nebraska, an even bigger test awaits at No. 9 Penn State. Illinois’s defense ranks 15th in the nation. If that unit is able to hold Penn State’s offense, it’s on Altmyer to crack the Nittany Lions defense, which ranks 22nd in the country in pass defense. He’s been efficient this season, completing 71.4 percent of his passes, and he’s yet to throw an interception. Another game like that Saturday and the Illini might have another upset on their resume.

DJ Uiagalelei | Florida State quarterback

Uiagalelei could be on this list every week because his play is crucial to Florida State. So far this season, it’s been a major hinderance. He did just enough last week to secure the Seminoles’ first win of the season over Cal. SMU does not defend the pass well (82nd in the nation), but Uiagalelei has to be more efficient. He’s completed over 60 percent of his passes in only one game this season.

CJ Allen | Georgia linebacker

Allen is Georgia’s leading tackler and will be tasked with stopping Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. Milroe is explosive through the air and on the ground. Can Allen limit Milroe’s production on the ground? Georgia did a solid job in last season’s loss, but Allen and the defense are going to see Milroe in a different offense this year under new head coach Kalen DeBoer.