CFB Week 6: Four Games to Watch

By: Jonathan Howard, Staff Writer
October 1, 2025

No. 14 Iowa State (5-0) at Cincinnati (3-1)

Kickoff: Noon (EST) TV: ESPN2 FanDuel line: Cincinnati -1.5 VSS line: Cincinnati -1.89

It’s not every day an unranked team enters a game against a top-15 opponent as the betting favorite, but that’s exactly what we have with No. 14 Iowa State traveling to face Cincinnati. The Bearcats are coming off a thrilling back-and-forth victory over Kansas that was sealed with Tawee Walker’s second rushing touchdown of the day with just 29 seconds to play.

The Cincinnati hype train comes with quarterback Brendan Sorsby as the conductor. The Indiana transfer is averaging 260 yards through the air with 10 touchdowns, and also leads the team in rushing at 56.8 yards per game with four ground scores. Nearly half of his completions are to Cyrus Allen (23-273, 5 TDs) and speed demon Caleb Goodie (13-251, 1 TD). Sorsby and Walker have had a near even split in carries through four games and the running back is averaging 56 yards per game.

As for Iowa State … The Cyclones have just kept on winning. It hasn’t always been pretty (238 yards of total offense in a win over Iowa), but head coach Matt Campbell’s squad has continued the momentum built off last year’s school-record 11 wins. One of the keys to that momentum has been a veteran presence. Fourteen starters returned from last season’s team. However, that number has been reduced by at least two, and at the worst possible time to be facing a hot quarterback. Starting defensive backs Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper have both been ruled out for the season due to knee injuries.

It’s worth noting that Sorsby’s rise comes after Cincinnati’s season-opening loss to Nebraska in which he rushed for 96 yards, but threw for just 69 yards and his lone interception. The only other team to hold him to under 100 yards passing since his transfer to Cincinnati? Iowa State.

No. 16 Vanderbilt (5-0) at No. 10 Alabama (3-1)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ABC FanDuel line: Alabama -10.5 VSS line: Alabama -10.14

A year ago, almost down to the day, Vanderbilt shocked the country by upsetting then top-ranked Alabama 40-35 in Nashville. It was a signature win in a turnaround season for Clark Lea’s Commodores, who finished with a winning record (7-6) for the first time since 2013. For Alabama, it was the first sign of a crack in the armor under Kalen DeBoer after he replaced Nick Saban as head coach.

This season, Vanderbilt, led by quarterback Diego Pavia, won’t be able to sneak up on the Crimson Tide. A year after transferring to Pavia leads the SEC in total touchdowns (15) and passing efficiency rating (184.6) while completing just shy of 75 percent of his passes. He also leads his team’s rushing attack, averaging just under 60 yards per contest. Vanderbilt hasn’t just started the season undefeated – nobody has been within three touchdowns of the Commodores. This includes a 31-7 victory at South Carolina three weeks ago. The No. 16 ranking is the highest for Vanderbilt since week six of the 2008 season.

Alabama seems to have turned things around since losing to Florida State in week one. The Crimson Tide were thoroughly handled by the Seminoles in a 31-17 loss, but have since won three straight games, including last week’s 24-21 road win over Georgia. Ty Simpson has taken the reins as the leader of the team and has thrown for 1,138 yards (284 yards per game) and 11 touchdowns through four games.

This game will serve as a major point of reference for both teams. Vanderbilt doesn’t have to win this one – but doing so, or simply keeping it extremely competitive, will show that the team is truly a contender in the SEC moving forward this season. For Alabama, it’s a chance for revenge, but also a massive opportunity to show that the team has truly progressed since week one and that last week wasn’t a flash in the pan. Yes, beating Georgia, which had a 33-game home winning streak snapped, is supremely more impressive than beating Vanderbilt at any time. However, if the Crimson Tide can recover from the emotional victory and take care of business, those asking about DeBoer’s buyout a month ago will surely be quieted down.

No. 24 Virginia (4-1) at Louisville (4-0)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ESPN2 FanDuel line: Louisville -7.5 VSS line: Virginia -3.83

Who knew this would be a matchup worth watching before basketball season? Fresh off an upset victory over Florida State, Virginia finds itself ranked for the first time since 2019. Louisville is once again off to a hot start after pitching a second-half shutout to come back from 10 down at half in a 34-27 win over Pittsburgh.

The way in which these teams have operated so far this season lies at opposite ends of the spectrum. Virginia boasts the fifth ranked offense in the country, averaging just shy of 540 yards per game. To date it’s been a fairly balanced attack between quarterback Chandler Morris (111-155-1279, 10 TDs) and his favorite targets Cam Ross (24-286, 1 TD) and Trell Harris (21-366, 3 TDs) and lead running back J’Mari Taylor (75-397, 7 TDs). On the other sideline, Louisville has allowed less than 270 yards per game and has the 18th ranked defense in the country through four weeks. The Cardinals boast six interceptions – good for 9th nationally – as well as 15 pass break ups and 12 sacks.

But while both teams have their strengths, questions remain. Virginia’s four wins have all come at home, with its lone loss coming on the road against ACC rival N.C. State. The Cavaliers were shut out in the fourth quarter of that game and were outscored 21-7 in the second half. While Louisville’s defense has been impressive, have they done it against anyone noteworthy? Of Louisville’s three Division I opponents, James Madison ranks highest in the Versus Sports Simulator performance rankings at 46th. However, the Dukes have yet to beat an opponent with a winning record.

Both teams ultimately have a lot to prove here. Virginia is in a classic letdown spot here, playing on the road against an undefeated opponent the week after one of the better wins in program history. Louisville has a lot to gain with a win over a ranked opponent, and with an open date before a road trip to Miami, the Cardinals will come out running hot.

No. 3 Miami (4-0) at No. 18 Florida State (3-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST) TV: ABC FanDuel line: Miami -4.5 VSS line: Miami -0.82

This game had a lot more juice a week ago, before Florida State’s double overtime loss to Virginia (see above). Nonetheless, this is easily the most meaningful game between the Hurricanes and Seminoles since the “Block at the Rock” in 2016. Miami has done nothing but take care of business this season. After pulling out a late fourth-quarter victory over Notre Dame, the Hurricanes have easily dispatched in-state rivals South Florida and Florida as well as FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman. Until last week, Florida State had done the same – handling Alabama at home, 31-17, and easily defeating FCS East Texas A&M and Kent State by a combined 143-13.

This is a game where up-to-date statistics don’t really tell the whole story. Florida State leads the NCAA in total offense at 600 yards per game. However, taking out the performances against the two weaker opponents, the number becomes 448 yards, which is more in line with what Miami has done against its Division I opponents. So, despite the offensive fireworks that have been displayed so far, this game could come down to defense, where each squad is allowing less than 300 yards per game. Florida State will be tasked with the best quarterback it has seen to date in Carson Beck, who is completing 73 percent of his pass attempts, as well as running back Mark Fletcher, who ranks second in the ACC with 388 yards (5.9 YPC) to go with five touchdowns. It’ll be up to Florida State linebackers Justin Cryer and Elijah Herring to seal gaps and keep Fletcher from reaching the second and third level.

The Miami defense has one mission – keep Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos in the pocket. The dual threat is averaging 212 yards through the air and another 54 on the ground. While his passing efficiency (176.3) is tops in the ACC and among the best in the country, his completion percentage (64.3 percent) puts him towards the middle of the pack, and his pass attempts (70) is 16th of 17 qualified quarterbacks.

Beat the Books: Week 6

Each week we highlight games where the Vegas line and Versus Sports Simulator don’t see eye to eye. Here are five matchups we’re tracking this week: