Five Top-25 College Football Teams Face Upset Risks This Weekend

Five teams ranked in the top 25 face difficult matchups this weekend that could derail their College Football Playoff aspirations. These games occur just hours before the selection committee releases its first official rankings on Tuesday.

No. 2 Ohio State travels to play No. 22 USC, a contest listed as a 6.5-point underdog spot for the Trojans. Head coach Ryan Day has not officially named a starting quarterback, though true freshman Luke Fahey is expected to start after relieving Julian Sayin against Indiana. Day emphasized the need for the entire program to support the young signal-caller.

"We all got to be tighter here. We got to help a young quarterback get his first win as a Buckeye. And it's going to take our best," Day said. "And that means everyone that's part of the program has got to be really good in everything that we do. So extra focus this week."

No. 3 Georgia hosts No. 23 Florida in a rivalry game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Gators are an 11.5-point underdog, but their quarterback situation complicates Georgia's defensive preparation. Freshman Tramell Jones Jr. performed well in place of the injured Aaron Philo, forcing Florida coach Jon Sumrall to keep his plans secret until the game.

Georgia must manage its turnover margin, which ranks fourth in the SEC at plus-3. The Bulldogs lost to Auburn earlier in the month after Gunner Stockton threw three interceptions. Florida presents a similar threat if the Bulldogs fail to protect the ball against a double-digit underdog.

No. 6 Utah visits No. 6 Cincinnati, another 6.5-point underdog scenario. The Utes are one of three remaining unbeatens in the Power Four conferences. They feature the Big 12's second-best scoring offense at 37.4 points per game and a top-tier run defense. Cincinnati must contain Utah running back Cole Tabb, who leads the conference with 9.6 yards per carry.

Two other ranked teams face critical tests. No. 13 Texas Tech hosts No. 22 Arizona, a 3.5-point underdog matchup. Arizona has won five straight games and features quarterback Noah Fifita, who has thrown for 2,064 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. Meanwhile, No. 23 Missouri travels to Arkansas, a 9.5-point underdog spot. Missouri running back Ahmad Hardy returned to practice this week after recovering from a gunshot wound in May, though his availability for Saturday remains undecided.