October has arrived! We’re into the thick of the college football season now, with Week Five. That means we have plenty of college football games to choose from each Saturday, with stakes, rivalries, and fun all around. We’ve got you covered for some great college football games outside of the power conferences. Let’s dive into some of the best under-the-radar games on the fit college football Saturday of the year.
As a sidebar, I wanted to include Brown at Rhode Island on the list this week. That’s an in-state rivalry that has been played over 100 times and should be a competitive game. However, that game is streaming on FloSports, and while I encourage you to watch it if you have FloSports, it’s not as likely that you have that as, say, ESPN+.
Eastern Michigan at UMass
How to Watch: Saturday, October 3rd – 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+
Why You Should Watch: This one is all about the Minutemen. UMass has not gone 5-0 to start a season since 1975. At the time, the Minutemen were in the Yankee Conference. In fact, UMass has not won five games since moving up to the FBS ranks. Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium has not sold out since 2014, and that is also on the table for Saturday, if the game hasn’t sold out already. For a team that went 0-12 last year, this is a monumental turnaround already. Eastern Michigan will look to play the spoiler. That’s storyline enough for me to make this must-watch television.
Wyoming at North Dakota State
Let's turn it up. pic.twitter.com/3CIIgSgYwz
— NDSU Football (@NDSUfootball) October 2, 2026
How to Watch: Saturday, October 3rd – 2:30 p.m. CT on the CW
Why You Should Watch: I don’t like when folks just try to force rivalries into existence, but I’ll make an exception for this one. Wyoming and North Dakota State have met just one time on the gridiron, a win for the Cowboys back in 2008. Now, they will meet as conference foes in a newly minted trophy game called the Battle of the Basins. I think we should’ve gone with some Great Plains theming here instead of the oil industry, but I do think these two programs serve as the most natural rivalry fit for each other in the new-look Mountain West. The programs also have a bit of shared history with regard to former head coach Craig Bohl. With that being said, I do think North Dakota State takes this one handily. Still, it’ll be fun to witness the start of a new trophy game that has potential down the line, so tune in!
Oregon State at Colorado State
How to Watch: Saturday, October 3rd – 5:00 p.m. CT on USA
Why You Should Watch: I’m still wrapping my head around the new look of the PAC-12, but Colorado State and UTSA put on one heck of a show last week, even if the Roadrunners did end up pulling away. The Rams are an exciting offense, and no one can deny that. Oregon State is 2-2 after losses to Houston and Texas Tech to start the season, but the Beavers were respectable in both contests and have a fun offense of their own. I’m expecting a ton of points here.
South Dakota State at Illinois State
Big-time battle under the lights🌟
— Illinois State Football (@RedbirdFB) October 1, 2026
Get your ticket → https://t.co/lScWzfrLqv pic.twitter.com/2JUp4pR2Xg
How to Watch: Saturday, October 3rd – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+
Why You Should Watch: Year after year, the Missouri Valley Football Conference proves to be one of the deepest conferences in the country. Even with North Dakota State bumping up to FBS, the MVFC is still ultra-competitive. Enter this top-ten conference matchup between South Dakota State and Illinois State. The Jackrabbits are #2 in the FCS ranks. Illinois State finished #2 in the FCS ranks last season. Must-watch television here.
Northern Arizona at Idaho State
How to Watch: Saturday, October 3rd – 7:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+
Why You Should Watch: If you aren’t talking about the MVFC as the best conference in the FCS ranks, you’re probably talking about the Big Sky. We have another ranked matchup in the conference this week as Northern Arizona heads to the ICCU Dome to take on Idaho State. Both squads will likely factor into the playoff picture, and Idaho State is still riding high after upsetting FBS Utah State earlier this year. This should be a fun one.
What under-the-radar games are you most excited about for Week Five? We’d love to hear from you.
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