Brian’s College Football Top 5: Week 5

Photo by Ryan M. Kelly from Getty Images

This was expected to be a huge weekend of college football, and it did not disappoint one bit.

Here is the top 5 from Week 5.

5. New Mexico Lobos

This is a hard, hard job to succeed in.

And despite that, in year one with Jason Eck as the head coach, New Mexico is 3-1 to start the year with a win over their in state rival, and the one loss being a game against Michigan in which they looked competitive.

They might be headed towards bowl season in year one, and that seemed impossible to me.

4. California Golden Bears

I was all in on Cal just two weeks ago.

Then, right when I started to buy in, they got their doors blown off by San Diego State.

So for Cal to turn the corner and go cross country and get a win against Boston College to get back on track? That’s one hell of a win.

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame prides themselves on their defense, but that defense has had some struggles this year.

Struggles that may have reared their head against a prominent Arkansas offense on the road.

But man, what a time for the defense to wake up, eh?

The Irish pummeled Arkansas 56-13, a game so bad that it cost Arkansas coach Sam Pittman his job.

The first three games for the Irish were lackluster.

Game 4? Dominant.

2. Illinois Fighting Illini

This is a tough sport sometimes.

When you get destroyed, you have all week to stew in it, and that’s what Illinois had to do after losing 63-10 to Indiana just a week ago.

But they had to dust themselves off as they faced undefeated top 25 USC at home, and while the defense struggled and the Illini had a costly endzone turnover, they were able to battle through and upset USC on a last second field goal.

Was it the most impressive win? Not necessarily. There are still flaws here.

But they were able to put last week behind them and focus on what was in front of them.

That’s the quality of a good team.

1. Virginia Cavaliers

What a job Tony Elliott has done in Charlottesville.

In a year where the UVA head coach needed to have a good season to save his job, he found success in North Texas transfer QB Chandler Morris who has been excellent for the Cavaliers prior to Friday night.

But Friday, it was the UVA defense that made big plays and were able to shoulder the Morris mistakes, as the Cavaliers upset number 8 Florida State to move to 4-1 on the season.

Not only has Elliott done enough to save his job so far, he seems to be building something special at UVA.