Road to the Natty is your weekly guide to the highs, lows, and inevitable chaos of college football season. From major upsets and shifting rankings to Heisman hopefuls and playoff contenders, I’ll break down the biggest storylines each week, with a little Seminole perspective along the way, as we follow the road to the national championship.
Welcome to Road to the Natty, where I’ll be keeping up with the chaos of college football, so you don’t have to spend your entire weekend glued to ESPN! Whether you’re the girl who knows every player on the roster or you’re just here for the tailgates, rivalries, and occasional drama, there’s room for you here.
College Football Updates
Leading into Week 5, Texas sat comfortably at No. 1 in the AP Top 25, with Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, and Ohio State rounding out the top five. Alabama was undefeated, defending national champion Indiana hadn’t lost a game this season, and Miami was looking a little too good for my liking.
Meanwhile, Florida State has been giving us an emotional roller coaster, but on Oct. 3, the Seminoles finally delivered the kind of performance we’ve been waiting for. If the first five weeks are any indication, we’re in for a season where even the most confident predictions can age terribly by halftime.
A much-needed win in Tallahassee.
FSU fans finally had something to celebrate when the Seminoles defeated Virginia 38-7 at Doak Campbell Stadium. Quarterback Ashton Daniels had his day, rushing for five touchdowns and setting a school record in the process. One of those was an 81-yard touchdown run, because apparently scoring four times wasn’t enough.
The defense deserves some love, too, recording 10 sacks and holding Virginia to just 205 total yards. After a rocky start to the season, Tallahassee needed a convincing win, and they got it.
Does this mean all our problems are solved? Absolutely not, but for one Saturday, we could enjoy being FSU fans without unnecessary emotional distress.
Florida’s comeback era was short-lived.
If you thought Florida was officially back after beating Ole Miss in Week 4, I have some unfortunate news. After jumping 13 spots to No. 8 in the rankings, the Gators suffered a 45-17 loss to Missouri. Just as everyone was starting to take Florida seriously again, the Tigers definitely humbled them.
The result sent Florida tumbling eight spots to No. 16, while Missouri jumped from No. 25 to No. 14. It’s a reminder that college football has absolutely no patience for a redemption arc. One week you’re celebrating your return to the top 10, and the next you’re wondering what went wrong.
The rankings are getting interesting. Florida wasn’t the only team whose Week 5 performance affected the AP Top 25. Ohio State defeated then No. 14 Iowa 31-14, but even that impressive, ranked win wasn’t enough to move the Buckeyes beyond No. 5. Meanwhile, Alabama’s 56-23 victory over Mississippi State moved the Crimson Tide up just one spot to No. 6.
Indiana actually dropped from No. 6 to No. 7 despite beating Rutgers 47-15. Imagine winning by 32 points and still getting demoted. With so many strong teams fighting for the same few spots, the rankings are becoming increasingly competitive. While the AP Poll doesn’t determine the playoff field, it gives us an early look at which programs are building momentum.
The contenders are making themselves known.
Miami continued its undefeated season with a 41-13 win over Clemson, improving to 5-0 and holding onto No. 4. As an FSU student, I’d love to have something negative to say about that performance. Unfortunately, the Hurricanes are making a pretty convincing case for themselves.
Alabama also looks increasingly dangerous, while Indiana keeps finding ways to win. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith deserves a mention after recording 206 receiving yards against Iowa. His performance only adds to the growing Heisman conversation.
At this point, Texas, Georgia, Notre Dame, Miami, and Alabama are all worth keeping a close eye on. The road to the national championship is still long, but the contenders are starting to separate themselves from the crowd.
If Week 5 taught us one thing, it’s that nobody’s position is completely safe. Teams can rise, fall, or completely reinvent their season in a single Saturday. Personally, I wouldn’t have college football any other way.
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