College football scores, rankings, highlights: Alabama notches impressive win as SEC West race widens

The Crimson Tide are 2-0 in SEC play after a blowout victory over Mississippi State in Week 5

The opening month of the 2023 college football season has reached its end with Week 5 now in the books. No. 12 Alabama's 40-17 win at Mississippi State in the nightcap continued a Saturday trend in which most AP Top 25 teams in action were victorious. However, two of the three games that pitted ranked opponents against delivered with thrilling finishes.

While the Crimson Tide moved to 2-0 in a wide-open SEC West race, No. 13 LSU suffered its first conference loss and second defeat overall in a 55-49 barn burner at No. 20 Ole Miss. Alabama's two division foes combined for more than 1,300 total yards of offense as the Rebels squeezed out the victory on a late touchdown. 

Though not nearly as high-scoring, the showdown between No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 17 Duke also had late-game drama. A final-minute touchdown propelled the Fighting Irish to a 21-14 victory, denying the Blue Devils what would have been a 5-0 start with a pair of cornerstone victories. 

Top-ranked Georgia remains undefeated after beating Auburn in its first road game of the season, but it had to overcome a second-half deficit for the second time in three weeks against an unranked SEC opponent. The Bulldogs fell behind 10-0 in the first quarter and didn't take their first lead until early in the fourth quarter of a 27-20 win. 

No. 8 USC is also still unblemished after winning its much-anticipated showdown at Colorado, though it almost got away from the Trojans down the stretch. USC led 48-21 late in the third quarter but had to settle for a 48-41 victory after the Buffaloes scored 20 unanswered points. The rally nearly negated a supreme effort from reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams, who passed for six touchdowns.

CBS Sports was there every step of the way to update you with the latest scores, highlights and storylines throughout the evening, all of which can be seen below.

College football scores, schedule: Week 5

No. 6 Penn State 41, Northwestern 13 -- Recap
No. 8 USC 48, Colorado 41 -- Trojans hold off late rally from Buffs
Kentucky 33, No. 22 Florida 14 -- Davis joins elite company in win over Gators
Clemson 31, Syracuse 14 -- Recap
Texas A&M 34, Arkansas 22 -- Recap
No. 1 Georgia 27, Auburn 20 -- Bowers steps up in crucial road win for Bulldogs
No. 2 Michigan 45, Nebraska 7 -- Recap
No. 3 Texas 40, No. 24 Kansas 14 -- Recap
No. 20 Ole Miss 55, No. 13 LSU 49  -- Rebels, Tigers duel for highest-scoring game in rivalry history
No. 9 Oregon 42, Stanford 6 -- Recap
No. 11 Notre Dame 21, No. 17 Duke 14 -- Fighting Irish rally late for win | Leonard injured in final moments
No. 12 Alabama 40, Mississippi State 17 -- Recap
No. 7 Washington 31, Arizona 24 -- Recap
Check out the entire Week 5 scoreboard

Check these out ...

• Projected top 25: Ole Miss to surge in latest rankings
• Winners & Losers: USC's issues go beyond defense
• Sallee: Brock Bowers is MVP necessary to keep Georgia dynasty on track
• Dodd: Caleb Williams steals show from Deion Sanders as Trojans hold off Buffs
• Iowa points tracker: Where the Hawkeyes stand after Week 5
• Cade McNamara injury: Iowa QB exits after landing awkwardly on left leg 
  
• WATCH: Trent Dilfer rips into assistant coaches after crucial penalty 
• Baylor shocks UCF: Bears rally from 28-point deficit for win 
• WATCH: Michigan WR outmuscles Nebraska defender in crazy TD
• Suspended for stomping: Louisiana Tech LB disciplined for stomping on UTEP player's head
  
• Scary moment: Arkansas DL carted from field after collapsing on field

[Oct 1, 2023 at 1:25 am ET · Cameron Salerno]

Washington improves to 5-0

Final: No. 7 Washington 31, Arizona 24

Arizona made things interesting late in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Noah Fifita tossed his third touchdown of the night to cut UW's lead to seven, but the Huskies recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to improve to 5-0 on the season. Washington star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. continued his hot start to the season and finished 30 of 40 for 363 yards but failed to throw a touchedown pass for the first time since October 10, 2022. Fifta got the start in the absence of starting QB Jayden de Laura, who was dealing with an injury coming into the game. Washington has a bye week before facing Oregon at home in Seattle on Oct. 14.

[Oct 1, 2023 at 12:28 am ET · Dean Straka]

Alabama moves to 4-1

FINAL: No. 12 Alabama 40, Mississippi State 17

No issues here for the Crimson Tide as they cruise to a comfortable road win against the Bulldogs. Alabama ended the game without a passing touchdown, but hardly needed one as the Tide still found the end zone four times -- three times on the ground and once on an interception return -- in moving to 2-0 in SEC play. Mississippi State's inability to take care of the football ultimately prevented the Bulldogs from having any shot of an upset win in this one, as the Bulldogs committed three turnovers in the loss. Alabama has still not lost to Mississippi State since the 2007, which was Nick Saban's fist year coaching the Tide. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 11:23 pm ET · David Cobb]

Notre Dame pulls it off

Faced with a fourth-and-16 at Duke's 47-yard line with just over a minute to play, Sam Hartman could not find an open receiver downfield. Instead, he took off and dove across and dove for the first down. Hartman then spiked the football to stop the clock, and Audric Estime's go-ahead run came on the ensuing play as Duke's home crowd of 40,768 fell silent.

No. 11 Notre Dame rallies past No. 17 Duke as Sam Hartman leads game-winning drive for Fighting Irish

David Cobb

[Sep 30, 2023 at 11:09 pm ET · Will Backus]

Tennessee rolls against South Carolina

Final: Tennessee 41, South Carolina 20

No surprising pitfalls this year -- Tennessee took care of business and covered the spread against South Carolina, avenging last season's 25-point loss to the Gamecocks. The Vols' run game dominated the game for all four quarters. Tennessee rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry. Dylan Sampson iced the game with four minutes left, driving through a few South Carolina tacklers to score from six yards out. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 10:47 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Alabama with strong finish to half

Halftime: No. 12 Alabama 31, Mississippi State 10

That escalated quickly. What was just a seven-point lead late in the half balloons to a three-score Alabama lead after the Crimson Tide score two touchdowns in the final 67 seconds of the second quarter. Jase McClellan's 2-yard touchdown run with 1:07 to spare in the half is followed by Jalen Milroe's second touchdown of the run just 36 seconds later after Alabama gets the ball back via a quick interception. It hasn't been necessarily a dominant showing from the Tide tonight, but they've made the most of their opportunities, and it shows on the scoreboard after 30 minutes of football. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 10:29 pm ET · David Cobb]

Good finish for Oklahoma

Late 4Q: Oklahoma 50, Iowa State 20

Oklahoma led just 21-20 at one point in the first half against Iowa State but absolutely dominated from there as its defense kicked things into gear following a rough start. Dillon Gabriel scored four touchdowns in the first half -- two rush and two passing -- and is now done for the night as freshman Jackson Arnold gets some action. Sooners are in good form heading into Red River against Texas next week.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 10:26 pm ET · Will Backus]

Tennessee in control entering final frame 

End 3Q: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 17 

Tennessee's defense deserves credit for the scoring gap in this game. The Vols scored on a 12-play, 75-yard drive to start the second half and went quiet from there. Tennessee's defense surrendered a 75-yard rushing touchdown on the very first play after the Vols' scoring drive, but pinned its ears back from there. South Carolina worked the ball to Tennessee's 35-yard line, but the defense got a stuff on fourth-and-short. Tennessee then almost forced two safeties after a Joe Milton interception gave the Gamecocks the ball right outside their own goal line. Factor in Tennessee's pick six to end the first half, and the Vols' defense is having a huge impact on Saturday's game. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 10:13 pm ET · David Cobb]

Blue Devils hanging around

Early 4Q: Notre Dame 13, Duke 7

Duke finally got points on the board with its second possession in the third quarter as Riley Leonard led a 75-yard touchdown drive that took 11 plays. Jordan Waters capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run. Irish have the football beginning the fourth quarter after going three-and-out on their last series. Duke's defense has done more than enough to give it a chance in this game, and the offense appears to be coming around.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 10:04 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Alabama leading in Starkville 

2Q: No. 12 Alabama 17, Mississippi State 3

The Crimson Tide jumped out to an early 14-0 lead -- that on a long Jalen Milroe touchdown run and later an interception return by Chris Braswell -- before Mississippi State got on the board with a field goal early in the second quarter. Alabama since responded with a field goal of its own to go back up by 14 points. Neither offense has looked exactly stellar in the early going. Summing up what has been a rollercoaster ride at quarterback, the first quarter ended with Alabama passing for a grand total of zero yards. That number has since increased to 27, with Mississippi State sitting at 21 in that department. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 9:55 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Washington looks to stay on a roll 

Can anyone stop the Huskies offense? It's worth asking in regards to a unit that is off to an absolutely blistering start through four games. Washington enters its road trip to Arizona averaging 593.2 yards and 49.8 points per game for marks that ranked first and third, respectively, among all FBS teams as of Saturday morning. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been the star of the show, entering Saturday as FBS leader in passing yards (1,636) and touchdowns (16) this season. Another explosive performance by the Huskies tonight could vault them even further up in the AP Top 25 rankings. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 9:50 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Ole Miss survives an offensive shootout

Final: No. 20 Ole Miss 55, No. 13 LSU 49

In a game that featured 104 points and over 1,300 combined yards, the Ole Miss defense made a stop at the end of the game to preserve the win. Dart connected with Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris for a 13-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left and the Rebels' defense stood tall in the final moments when LSU reached deep into opposing territory. Dart finished the game 26 of 39 for 389 yards and four touchdowns and Judkins had his best performance of the season by rushing for 177 yards on 33 attempts. 

Daniels was equally as impressive for LSU and finished with 414 yards and four touchdowns in the loss. Tigers RB Logan Diggs rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns and WR Brian Thomas Jr. finished with three touchdown catches. Ole Miss improves to 4-1 and will host Arkansas next weekend. As for LSU, they will travel to Columbia to face unbeaten Missouri next Saturday.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 9:34 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Oregon improves to 5-0

Final: No. 9 Oregon 42, Stanford 6

After Oregon went down 6-0 early in the second quarter in Palo Alto, the Ducks responded by scoring 42 unanswered points to secure a blowout win on the road. Oregon star quarterback Bo Nix had another standout performance and finished 27 of 32 for 290 yards and two of Nix's four touchdown passes on the day went to wide receiver Troy Franklin. The Ducks held Stanford to 222 total yards of offense and gained over 500 yards on the other end. Oregon has a bye next week and then has a highly anticipated showdown with Washington on Oct. 14.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 9:13 pm ET · David Cobb]

Brutal ending

Half: Notre Dame 10, Duke 0

Duke finally moved the football on its final series of the first half, but it ended in heartbreak. Faced with a fourth-and-6 at the Notre Dame 7-yard line, Mike Elko opted for the field goal, and it missed wide right as time expired in the second quarter. The Blue Devils essentially abandoned the traditional running game in the first half, relying almost exclusively on Riley Leonard as a runner and thrower. Yards were difficult to find. Duke's defense has played well enough to keep it in this game.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 9:07 pm ET · David Cobb]

Oklahoma's offense…

Half: Oklahoma 40, Iowa State 20

The Oklahoma defense will have some questions to answer after allowing 270 yards and 20 points to Iowa State's pedestrian offense in the first half. But the Sooners are firing on all cylinders offensively. Dillon Gabriel hit seven different receivers in the first half while completing 13 of 20 passes for 246 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Gabriel also ran for two scores as the Sooners racked up 19 first downs. What a half for Jeff Lebby, Gabriel and an Oklahoma group that has a schedule conducive to competing for the Big 12 crown.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 8:56 pm ET · Will Backus]

Tennessee star WR carted off

Tennessee wide receiver Bru McCoy was taken off the field against South Carolina on a cart. McCoy got wrapped up after logging and 18-yard catch-and-run and immediately stayed down on the turf. It looked as if his right leg got caught under him, and his foot was pointing at an awkward angle after the play. McCoy's right leg was placed in an air cast before he was carted off. He had two catches for 21 yards prior to exiting the game. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 8:47 pm ET · David Cobb]

Notre Dame starts strong

Mid 2Q: Notre Dame 10, Duke 0

Notre Dame is stifling Duke offensively in the first half and leads 10-0. Duke missed a field goal attempt to ends its first drive and has gone interception, punt, punt since then. This is a top-20 matchup and one of the biggest games in program history for the Blue Devils. It seems like there may be some early jitters as a result. Audric Estime put the Fighting Irish ahead with a 6-yard touchdown run early, and the Irish tacked on a field goal on the first play of the second quarter.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 8:45 pm ET · Will Backus]

LSU, Ole Miss trading blows

Early 4Q: LSU 42, Ole Miss 40

LSU was in control for most of the third quarter. The Tigers scored touchdowns on both drives, going 85 yards and 75 yards, respectively, to erase Ole Miss' halftime lead and take a lead of their own. The defense also did a great job of buckling, holding the Rebels to a field goal and allowing the offense to surge ahead. But Ole Miss was right back at it to start the fourth quarter. Three plays in, quarterback Jaxson Dart gave the ball to running back Quinson Judkins, who took it around the right end and ran past defenders into the end zone. The Rebels failed on their 2-point conversion, though, so LSU's lead holds. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 8:25 pm ET · Will Backus]

Track meet in Knoxville

End 1Q: Tennessee 14, South Carolina 10

If you love points, tune into the SEC Network right now. Both South Carolina and Tennessee are firing on all cylinders on offense right now. The Gamecocks did provide one defensive highlight when safety DQ Smith intercepted a Joe Milton pass over the middle of the field and gave the offense the ball on Tennessee's 29-yard line. A handful of plays later and Spencer Rattler rushed the ball in from six yards out to give South Carolina a 10-7 lead. 

It took Tennessee less than two minutes to answer. Vols wideout Squirrel White made a phenomenal catch on a 50-yard bomb from Milton, and running back Jabari Small punched the ball in from two yards out. South Carolina has the ball to start the second quarter. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 8:19 pm ET · David Cobb]

Oklahoma's defense...

Mid 2Q: Oklahoma 21, Iowa State 20

Oklahoma's defense has received its share of praise recently, and deservedly so. But the Sooners are laying an egg defensively against an Iowa State team that isn't exactly known for its offensive explosiveness. The Cyclones just pulled within a point on 48-yard field goal from Chase Contreraz. Sooners have surrendered 264 yards and 11 first downs already with ISU torching them on the ground and through the air.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 8:04 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Iowa QB Cade McNamara hurt 

1Q: Iowa 3, Michigan State 0 

Not a sight that anybody wants to see as Hawkeyes quarterback Cade McNamara goes down with an apparent non-contact injury while scrambling and leaves the game. Backup Deacon Hill enters in his place, and it's unclear as of now if McNamara, who is in his first season at Iowa after transferring from Michigan, will be able to continue in this contest. Losing him would be a tremendous blow for a Hawkeyes offense that is already facing plenty of struggles as is. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 7:36 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Ole Miss up at halftime

Halftime: No. 20 Ole Miss 31, No. 13 LSU 28

What a fun offensive first half in Oxford. Ole Miss leads LSU by three after a big performance by star quarterback Jaxon Dart through the first 30 minutes of play. Dart completed 17 of 23 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins had his best half of the season and already has a season-high 80 yards on the ground. LSU QB Jayden Daniels has been equally as good and completed 14 of 18 for 222 yards and three touchdowns at the break. Ole Miss finished the first half with 387 yards of offense, while LSU had 373.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 7:25 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Notre Dame, Duke clash under the lights 

Can the Blue Devils continue their impressive start under second-year coach Mike Elko and move to 5-0? They already secured a marquee win at home out of the gate against Clemson, and now comes the chance to upend a Notre Dame squad that is fresh off a heartbreaking home loss to Ohio State in Week 4. If Duke pulls it off against the Fighting Irish, the Blue Devils will suddenly have defeated two ranked opponents in a span of five games after previously going without a ranked victory since 2016. A Duke defense that ranks fourth nationally against the pass will be challenged by a familiar face in Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman, who made starts against the Blue Devils each of the past two seasons while still at Wake Forest. He combined for 749 yards and six touchdowns passing with one interception in those two games, guiding the Demon Deacons to 45-7 victory in 2021 before Duke prevailed last season, 34-31.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 7:22 pm ET · Will Backus]

Duke will be without starting left tackle

Duke starting left tackle Graham Barton, a preseason All-ACC selection, will not play tonight against Notre Dame, according to 247Sports. Barton is a huge loss for the Blue Devils. Some view him as a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he's the anchor of a Duke offensive line that ranks fourth nationally in sacks allowed and 16th in tackles for loss allowed. A fourth-year senior, Barton has played in 35 games with 34 starts in his career with the Blue Devils. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 7:19 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Stanford up early over Oregon

Early 2Q: Stanford 6, Oregon 0

We have an early upset alert in Palo Alto. Early in the second quarter, Stanford leads No. 10 Oregon by six points thanks to a pair of field goals by star kicker Joshua Karty. The Cardinal's first drive went 15 plays and 46 yards and the second drive went for 13 plays and 51 yards. It's clear that Stanford coach Troy Taylor wants to control the clock and he sees that as a path to pull a potential upset.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 7:11 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Baylor wins thriller

Final: Baylor 36, UCF 35

What. Just. Happened. 

Baylor trailed 35-7 with 8 minutes remaining in the third before scoring 29 unanswered points to secure the largest comeback win in program history. Baylor starting quarterback Blake Shapen returned to the lineup after missing the last three games with a knee injury and finished 21 of 34 for 293 yards. Baylor kicker Isaiah Hankins drilled a 25-yard field goal with 1:21 left to secure the comeback win.

UCF had one final shot to win the game and converted one of the craziest fourth down conversions you will ever see, but Knights kicker Colton Boomer missed a 59-yard field goal at the buzzer that would've given them their first Big 12 win as a program. UCF starting QB John Rhys Plumlee hasn't played since Week 3 and the Knights will need their star quarterback back soon because the Big 12 schedule doesn't get easier with games against Kansas and Oklahoma on the horizon.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 6:53 pm ET · Will Backus]

Auburn's upset bid comes up short

Final: No. 1 Georgia 27, Auburn 20

Auburn ultimately fell painfully short of an upset against top-ranked Georgia, as the Tigers faltered down the stretch after opening a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Auburn actually got the ball last, down 27-20 with 2:52 left to play. The Tigers worked the ball near midfield, but got held to a fourth-and-10. With the game on the line, quarterback Payton Thorne threw a pass past the first-down marker that was intercepted by Georgia safety Malaki Starks. 

While the defense had the game-winning rep, the Bulldogs have tight end Brock Bowers to thank for their win. Bowers had 148 receiving yards in the second half and raced past defenders for a 40-yard score late in the fourth quarter -- the touchdown that ended up deciding the game for Georgia.

[Sep 30, 2023 at 6:49 pm ET · Will Backus]

Fireworks early in LSU-Ole Miss

End 1Q: Ole Miss 21, LSU 7

For such a high-scoring first quarter, Ole Miss' defense deserves a hat tip. The Rebels forced a punt and then a fumble on LSU's first two offensive drives, the latter of which gave Ole Miss the ball on its own 29-yard line. The Rebels scored just two plays after the fumble, as Ulysses Bentley IV ripped off a 43-yard touchdown run. LSU seems to think defense is optional, though. Jaxson Dart is carving the Tigers' secondary apart. He completed 10 of his 12 pass attempts in the first quarter for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He ended the first quarter by finding wide receiver Jordan Watkins for a 63-yard touchdown. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 6:47 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Michigan moves to 5-0

No. 2 Michigan 45, Nebraska 7 

Michigan moves to 5-0 overall, 2-0 in Big Ten play and now owns a streak of 17 consecutive conference wins as Wolverines roll past Nebraska on the road. Michigan got out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, nearly handing the Cornhuskers what would have been their first shutout loss at home since 1968. Wolverines quarterback J.J. McCarthy ends the day 12 of 16 passing for 156 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for an additional 30 yards and a score. Nebraska, meanwhile, falls to 0-2 in Big Ten play and 2-3 overall, still seeking its first Power Five win of the Matt Rhule era. 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 6:08 pm ET · Will Backus]

Auburn, Georgia trading blows

Early 4Q: No. 1 Georgia 17, Auburn 17

This one is set to come down to the wire. Auburn dominated the first quarter, jumping out to a 10-0 lead, and Georgia answered with a 10-point second quarter to send things tied at halftime. Then each program engineered a touchdown drive in the third quarter. Georgia's covered 98 yards, which gave the Bulldogs plenty of momentum entering the fourth quarter, but Auburn has had its fair share of answers today. Can the Tigers ride Jordan-Hare Stadium's energy to a massive upset win? 

[Sep 30, 2023 at 6:05 pm ET · Dean Straka]

Michigan going for the shutout 

END 3Q: No. 2 Michigan 35, Nebraska 0 

Are the Wolverines en route to blanking the Cornhuskers in Lincoln? Only fifteen separate that from becoming a reality as Michigan remains in total control heading to the fourth quarter. The Wolverines have used a fairly balanced attack on offense -- two passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns -- but its the defense that has stood tall. Michigan has held Nebraska to just 39 yards rushing on day in which the Huskers have only cracked the red zone just twice. Also of note: The Wolverines have not committed a penalty through three quarters, nor have they turned the ball over.