Five weeks into the college football season, several top 25 teams including Indiana and Ole Miss are showing signs of struggle that could affect their title hopes. Indiana is coping with injuries to two of its three key ballcarriers, while Ole Miss is grappling with a porous run defense, raising questions about how these issues will play out as conference games intensify.
Indiana’s offensive troubles are linked to injuries suffered by Khobie Martin, who broke his arm, and Turbo Richard, sidelined with a leg issue during last week’s win over Northwestern. That leaves Lee Beebe Jr., the team’s leading rusher with 398 yards on 71 carries, to carry much of the ground game burden alone. Despite quarterback Josh Hoover’s solid numbers—11 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 70% completion rate—the Hoosiers rank only 52nd nationally in explosive plays, the lowest among unbeaten top-10 teams. Indiana’s coach Curt Cignetti has urged patience, reminding fans not to get anxious before their Big Ten opener. The team remains on a 20-game winning streak, but questions linger over whether they’ll find the momentum and depth they showed last season.
Ole Miss’s difficulties are more pronounced on defense. Head coach Pete Golding has criticized his secondary for poor angles and broken coverages, but the bigger concern lies in run defense. The Rebels have allowed 19 runs of 10 or more yards, second worst in the SEC, and eight runs of 20 or more yards, tied for 128th nationally. After surrendering 302 rushing yards in a loss at Florida, Ole Miss sits last in the SEC with opponents averaging 194.7 rushing yards per game against them—nearly 68 yards more than the next-worst team in the conference. Golding openly addressed the team’s defensive effort, saying, “There was a lack of courage, in my opinion… You’ve got to go chest-to-chest with him whether you like it or not,” referring to the Florida running back. With upcoming opponents ranked in the bottom half of the SEC in rushing, there is hope for improvement, but the issue remains largely mental and physical.
Texas Tech has struggled with offensive slow starts, a problem new coach Joey McGuire acknowledged after a 28-26 win over Houston that saw the Red Raiders trail 10-0 after the first quarter. Quarterback Will Hammond has shown inconsistency, throwing at least one interception in three of four starts, including three in the first half against Sam Houston. The defense bailed out the offense with two touchdowns from linebacker Austin Romaine, helping Texas Tech avoid a halftime deficit despite being heavy favorites. McGuire challenged his team to translate practice execution to the field, saying, “When you have a play that you’ve repped four, five, six times…it doesn’t make any sense” to fail to execute in games. This weekend’s matchup with Colorado provides a chance to regain confidence before a potentially tougher home game against Arizona State.
At USC, defensive woes persist in Lincoln Riley’s fifth season as head coach. The Trojans have allowed big plays and dropped crucial games, including a recent loss to Oregon. Riley’s record against top-25 opponents at USC stands at 5-15, and the defense has yet to find a consistent solution. Former coach Gary Patterson was brought in to help shore up the defense but has not turned things around. USC’s struggles against ranked teams continue to raise questions about the program’s trajectory under Riley’s leadership.
Louisville, another team to watch, began the season with promise, holding its own in a shootout against Ole Miss and winning a top-25 battle against SMU. However, a home loss to Wake Forest revealed vulnerabilities that could be exploited as conference play intensifies. The Cardinals’ early-season performance suggests they may not have the depth or consistency required to sustain a title run.
These early-season struggles highlight the challenges that come with sustaining success in college football. Injuries, defensive lapses, offensive inconsistencies, and mental toughness all play roles in shaping the trajectory of teams that entered the season with high expectations. With conference play ramping up, the coming weeks will test whether these programs can address their weaknesses or fall further behind in the race for postseason glory.
According to CBS.
