The contenders and pretenders of the 2026 college football season are starting to shake out.
Alabama looked like it was potentially on upset watch when it traveled to face then-No. 16 Mississippi State on the road. The Crimson Tide quickly spurred any of the Bulldogs’ potential upset chances, though, dominating in all three phases en route to the 56-23 drubbing.
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Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell outplayed fellow Heisman Trophy contender Kamario Taylor, as the first-year starter scored four total touchdowns in the win. Russell’s recent play — 13 touchdowns in Alabama‘s past four games — is enough reason to believe the Crimson Tide are back as full-on national championship contenders.
Bowl projections: Alabama surges, a new Big Ten team joins CFP field
NCAA Re-Rank 1-138: Georgia leads SEC domination of college football after Week 5
Elsewhere, a few unranked teams are starting to show they’re better than people expected, while a pair of usual Big Ten powers are showing some pains under first-year coaches.
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Here’s a look at the latest risers and fallers in college football before Week 6:
College football risers
Alabama
Alabama lost starting quarterback Ty Simpson, a first-round NFL draft pick, in the offseason, but has somehow upgraded at quarterback. Russell, paired with an improved run game and a defense that has excelled under coordinator Kane Wommack the past three seasons, has Alabama back in the top tier of college football programs.
It looks like third-year coach Kalen DeBoer has his best roster since being hired away from Washington, and Alabama aims to prove that notion when it hosts No. 2 Georgia in Week 6 with ESPN’s “College GameDay” in town. Alabama ranks No. 2 nationally in points per game — only behind Georgia — averaging 49.6 points per game.
Northwestern
First-year offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has been in his bag at Northwestern this season. Kelly, one of the brightest offensive minds in college football history, had the Wildcats running plays out of the extinct “Wing T” against Penn State, and it worked to perfection, as they rushed for 413 yards and five touchdowns as a team in their 34-13 win.
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Northwestern nearly pulled off an upset over Indiana in Week 4, falling 29-23 on the road. Coach David Braun deserves some credit, too, but what Kelly has done with Michigan State transfer quarterback Aidan Chiles and the rest of the offense has raised the ceiling for the program, which has all sorts of momentum right now.
Missouri
There was loads of talk last week about Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz having an 0-16 record in the regular season against teams that finished the season ranked. He must’ve heard that talk, as the Tigers came out and throttled then-No. 8 Florida in Week 5, defeating the Gators 45-17.
Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons has quietly been one of the best portal additions in college football, as he leads the sport with the most pass attempts (137) without an interception this season. Simmons has 1,287 passing yards with 13 touchdowns in 2026, revitalizing his career after losing his starting gig to breakout star Trinidad Chambliss last season.
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College football fallers
Florida
There’s no being hungover in the SEC, which Florida showed to Ole Miss and Missouri then showed to the Gators. Florida walloped Ole Miss 52-28 in Week 4, then turned around and was smacked by the Tigers 45-17.
Florida’s high-powered rushing attack was held to a mere 42 combined yards on 25 carries against Missouri, showing the “Florida is back” statements might’ve been a bit premature.
The Gators still have a talented team, and Missouri might’ve been a bit underrated, but to lose in the fashion they did was unexpected.
Penn State
Penn State fans might be wishing it never fired James Franklin. It has been a rough two weeks for first-year coach Matt Campbell, as the Nittany Lions blew a lead to Wisconsin in their 24-20 loss in Week 4 before falling to Northwestern 34-13 the following week.
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Quarterback Rocco Becht doesn’t seem cut out for the Big Ten, either. The multi-year Iowa State starter has three interceptions in his first two conference starts, both of which have been losses.
Michigan
Make it back-to-back Big Ten losses for the Wolverines. Quarterback Bryce Underwood continues to be a problem, and was terrible in Michigan’s 20-14 loss to Minnesota, completing 10-of-21 passes for 101 yards with two interceptions in the loss.
The former five-star recruit’s starting status could be in jeopardy, especially after back-to-back games with the offense failing to score at least 20 points. Michigan’s 17-10 win over Oklahoma in Week 2 looks like it pointed out the Sooners’ faults more than the Wolverines’ at this point.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football risers, fallers: Northwestern makes statement, Michigan crashes out
