dawgbonejr

Dawgbone Jr's Weekend Observations

Born barkin', raised on Kirby's domination of rivals, and fueled by SEC and National championships - Dawgbone Jr recaps the weekend's biggest games all season long.

9.28.25

Week 5: Tide Rolls UGA Again, OT Thrillers Across the Country

#8 Florida State 38 – Virginia 46 (OT)

A trap game for FSU turned into a brutal loss, capped off by an unbelievable field rush from the Cavaliers. Virginia came out hot, jumping to a 14-point lead, but FSU battled back, and the rest of the game was a back-and-forth shootout. Despite the high score, both offenses were sloppy, each committing three turnovers. After trading field goals in the first overtime, UVA struck first in the second with a touchdown and two-point conversion. FSU had a golden chance to tie, but WR Duce Robinson dropped an easy touchdown pass, a mistake that ultimately sealed the Seminoles’ upset loss.

#21 USC 32 – #23 Illinois 34

After last week’s blowout loss to Indiana, Illinois desperately needed a win and got one against a tough USC team. The Illini offense shined with 331 passing yards and 172 on the ground. Illinois controlled most of the game until late in the fourth quarter, when RB Ca’Lil Valentine fumbled into the end zone, giving USC a touchdown and the lead. With little time left, Illinois executed a flawless final drive, setting up David Olano’s game-winning field goal.

#4 LSU 19 – #13 Ole Miss 24

Two rivals clashed in Oxford in what turned into a sloppy but hard-fought game. Despite committing 14 penalties, Ole Miss’ defense stifled LSU’s offense. The Tigers started strong, but the Rebels stole momentum with two late first-half touchdowns. From there, Ole Miss controlled the second half and never let LSU find a rhythm. In recent years LSU has relied on explosive offense while struggling defensively; this season it’s been the reverse. For Ole Miss, this was a huge revenge win, and so far, this year’s team looks sharper than last year’s.

#15 Tennessee 41 – Mississippi State 34 (OT)

When Mississippi State has a good team, Starkville is one of the toughest places to play, and it showed on Saturday. Like the FSU-UVA game, this one was a back-and-forth battle that needed overtime. The game was defined by turnovers: Tennessee gave the ball away three times, all leading to MSU touchdowns, but also scored on a pick-six and a scoop-and-score. In overtime, Tennessee struck first with a quick touchdown. Mississippi State had a chance to tie but failed on 4th-and-goal, giving the Vols their first SEC win of the season.

#6 Oregon 30 – #3 Penn State 24 (OT)

The game of the week was the White Out at Beaver Stadium, but Oregon didn’t flinch. The Ducks dominated for three quarters, outgaining Penn State by 148 yards overall. QB Dante Moore, in just his second road start, looked like a seasoned veteran, outdueling Drew Allar. Despite the sluggish first three quarters, Penn State stormed back with two late touchdowns to force overtime. After trading scores in the first OT, Oregon struck first in the second but failed the two-point try. PSU had a chance to win but was picked off by Dillon Theineman, sealing Oregon’s statement victory in a rematch of last year’s Big Ten Championship.

#17 Alabama 24 – #5 Georgia 21

The Crimson Tide continue to have the Dawgs' number, pulling off a gritty road win in Athens. QB Ty Simpson, in his second tough road start, showed clear improvement from the FSU game and carved up the Bulldog defense. Georgia stumbled early but, as usual, clawed back into the game, only this time, they couldn’t finish despite multiple opportunities. These two teams seem destined to meet again, whether in the SEC Championship or the Playoff, a rematch that may not bode well for Georgia. Next up, the Dawgs try to rebound against a struggling Kentucky squad, while Alabama returns home for a revenge matchup against surprisingly red-hot Vanderbilt.

Big Ten Power Rankings After Week 5

1. Oregon

2. Ohio State

3. Penn State

4. Indiana

5. Michigan

6. Illinois

7. USC

8. Washington

9. Nebraska

10. Iowa

11. Maryland