No. 5 Ohio State travels to No. 14 Iowa on Saturday in one of the few top-level Big Ten battles during week five of the 2026 college football season. Both teams enter undefeated in conference play, making this matchup a significant test for the inside track to the Big Ten title.
Ohio State carries a 3-1 overall record and sits fifth in the Associated Press poll, while Iowa is undefeated at 4-0 and ranked 14th. The Buckeyes enter as 14.5-point favorites on CBS, with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time, 2:30 p.m. Central. ESPN’s College Gameday will be on site in Iowa City, underscoring the national interest in the contest.
The Big Ten’s standings and the race for the conference championship hinge on games like this one, especially with No. 1 Texas and other top teams observing byes this week. The Longhorns and Oklahoma will meet next Saturday in the Red River Rivalry after their respective rest weeks.
Ohio State’s recent loss came early in the season against Texas, falling 24-23 in a close encounter during week two. Since then, the Buckeyes have bounced back, aiming to keep pace with the Longhorns and Georgia, who remain undefeated at the top of the AP poll.
For Iowa, the undefeated start has been a strong statement. Their 4-0 record puts them in prime position to challenge for the Big Ten crown. This weekend’s home game against the Buckeyes will be a critical measure of their progress.
Other ranked matchups on Saturday include No. 8 Florida visiting No. 25 Missouri, and No. 3 Notre Dame traveling to face North Carolina and coach Bill Belichick. Notre Dame is favored by 21 points in an early ESPN kickoff at 10 a.m. Mountain Time. Alabama, ranked seventh, visits No. 16 Mississippi, also at 10 a.m. MT, with the Crimson Tide favored by 5.5 points.
The slate features several other notable games. No. 10 BYU visits TCU as a 6-point favorite, while No. 12 Texas Tech takes on Colorado, and No. 4 Miami faces Clemson. Each of these games will influence rankings and postseason positioning as the season moves into its middle third.
BetMGM’s odds to win the national championship list Ohio State and Texas as co-favorites at +500, followed by Georgia (+550) and Notre Dame (+600). Miami and Indiana trail behind, with longer odds for teams like LSU, Florida, and Alabama.
Chip Kelly, now offensive coordinator at Northwestern, has made an impact by leading the team to a 34-13 win over Penn State on October 2, rushing for 413 yards. His presence has turned heads, given his past NFL head coaching stints with Philadelphia and San Francisco and a recent role with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Saturday’s Ohio State-Iowa game will be broadcast on CBS and is the centerpiece of College Gameday’s coverage. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MT/2:30 p.m. CT. This game might influence the Big Ten standings significantly, especially with Ohio State aiming to maintain its position among the national elite.
Later in the fall, Ohio State faces No. 6 Indiana and will host No. 15 Oregon in November, while Texas prepares for upcoming games against Oklahoma, Ole Miss, and LSU. The Big Ten race remains open, with several top teams poised to jockey for position as the season progresses.
According to Yahoo Sports.
