College Football Playoff 2014: Final NCAA Outlook Before Saturday's Week 5 Games
College football fans waiting for the first true week of great matchups will have to wait a little while longer. Week 5 provides some punch with a few intriguing games, but there are no ranked teams playing one another on Saturday.
Upsets in Carter-Finley or AT&T Stadium may be on the horizon, but most teams still have cupcakes coming up. On paper, this week looks drab, but fireworks are sure to take place no matter how weak the schedule looks.
Conference play is slowly beginning to build up steam, but the top teams are setting themselves apart. The likes of Florida State and Alabama are still in the top three in both polls, with the Seminoles facing a test this weekend.
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Before the Saturday slate gets underway, here's a look at the current College Football Playoff outlook and a breakdown of the top games.
| Florida State | 3-0 |
| Alabama | 4-0 |
| Oregon | 4-0 |
| Oklahoma | 4-0 |
Breakdown of Week 5 Schedule
Will there be another shocker in Raleigh? In the last six games that Florida State has played on the road against N.C. State, the Wolfpack is a surprising 4-2. Sure, that dates back to 2002, but the Seminoles have gone 0-2 at Carter-Finley Stadium in their last two trips.
The Pack has a quarterback in Jacoby Brissett who has looked phenomenal, throwing for 1,005 yards, 10 touchdowns and just one interception thus far. Then again, the team hasn't been tested and stands at 4-0 after close wins over Georgia Southern and Old Dominion.
Florida can speak to the difficulty of playing Georgia Southern.
One of the biggest keys for N.C. State will be winning the turnover battle, something that seems possible with Brissett throwing just one interception. Joe Giglio of The News & Observer pointed that fact out when looking at Florida State's recent record:
Jameis Winston will be back on the field for the Seminoles, meaning the offense will be at full strength again. N.C. State's defense surrendered a combined 57 points against Georgia Southern and Old Dominion. The Wolfpack stands a chance but will need to play the game of its life on defense.
Meanwhile, down in Fort Worth, Texas, Arkansas will look to make a statement against undefeated Texas A&M. The Razorbacks lost their home opener against Auburn but have sense routed Texas Tech and Northern Illinois by an average of 29.5 points.
The Aggies head into Arkansas with hopes of making the College Football Playoff but haven't had a difficult matchup since smashing South Carolina. Coach Kevin Sumlin spoke about where the team stands heading into Arkansas, per Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle:
One thing we do know about Texas A&M is its offense is one of the best in the nation. Sumlin's team is currently fourth in the nation in passing yards (405 per game) and second in points scored (55.3).
That potent offense is led by Kenny Hill, who has emerged as a Heisman candidate through the first four games. ESPN College Football takes a look at the sophomore's current stats and pace of play:
If Texas A&M can get its offense rolling in Fort Worth, it might be a long day for the Hogs. But with a rushing duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams that has combined for 881 yards and 12 touchdowns, the Aggies' defense will be tested as well.
Texas A&M and Florida State have a chance to improve their chances at the playoff or come away with their first loss of the season. A lot is on the line on Saturday, with the intrigue boiling over for both programs on the road.
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