Under The Radar: Week Six

The college football season continues to roll on as we find ourselves in Week Six of action on the gridiron. With each week, the stakes on the field increase, and we have plenty of incredible matchups to talk about. Of course, all the media attention is focused on the power conferences this weekend. We’ve got you covered with the contests that don’t get as much coverage. Let’s dive into some of the biggest non-power conference football games this week.

South Florida at UTSA

How to Watch: Thursday, October 8th – 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN

Why You Should Watch: South Florida and UTSA both come into this game with 4-1 records. It feels like there is no one team that has really stood out in the American as the top team this year. I don’t know if USF is at that level with the loss to Temple, but I think UTSA could be competitive in the conference this year, and a strong performance in the home conference opener might just kickstart a Roadrunner AAC title push. On the flip side, I’m interested to see how South Florida bounces back from the loss to Temple. The Bulls still have a ton to play for, but the Alamodome is one of the toughest places to win in the conference. This is a wonderful Thursday night matchup.

Montana at Northern Arizona

How to Watch: Saturday, October 10th – 4:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+

Why You Should Watch: Montana State was upset last week by Idaho in the Kibbie Dome, and suddenly the Big Sky title picture becomes wide open. Yes, Northern Arizona has already suffered a defeat to the Bobcats, but the Lumberjacks notched a big-time win over a ranked opponent in Idaho State last week on the road. Meanwhile, Montana is the only undefeated squad in the conference and is looking to maintain that distinction when they head to Flagstaff to face NAU in the iconic Walkup Skydome. Montana comes into this one ranked #2; NAU comes into this one ranked #13. It’s a fantastic matchup that could tell us a lot about the Big Sky title race.

North Dakota State at UNLV

How to Watch: Saturday, October 10th – 6:00 p.m. CT on the CW

Why You Should Watch: If it seems like I’ve highlighted North Dakota State too much this year, I apologize, but the Bison are easily one of the most intriguing squads in the FBS ranks this year. North Dakota State has maintained an undefeated record to this point in the 2026 season, but a road test at UNLV feels like the biggest test thus far. The Rebels have two blemishes on the record to Memphis and North Texas, but are coming off a win over ACC Cal. If NDSU can pressure Jackson Arnold and limit the damage he does with his legs, they will win this one. Perhaps more importantly, by maintaining an undefeated record here, talk of the Bison to the FBS playoffs becomes a legitimate possibility. We talked about the stakes being raised, and this is a prime example as North Dakota State looks to run the table in its first season at the highest division of college football.

Tarleton State at Austin Peay

How to Watch: Saturday, October 10th – 6:00 p.m. CT on ESPN+

Why You Should Watch: A lot of the talk in this series has been centered around the Missouri Valley and Big Sky conferences in regards to the FCS ranks, but there is plenty of great action elsewhere in the FCS ranks, including this top ten matchup from the United Athletic Conference. The third-ranked Texans head to Tennessee to take on the ninth-ranked Governors in a matchup that very well could determine who takes the conference crown (though I wouldn’t count out Abilene Christian just yet). Peay’s lone loss came to SEC Vanderbilt, while Tarleton is undefeated with a win over FBS Bowling Green earlier this year. In short, this is must-watch football for fans of the sport.

Louisiana Lafayette at Louisiana Tech

How to Watch: Saturday, October 10th – 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN+

Why You Should Watch: From 1924 to 2000, Louisiana Tech and Louisiana Lafayette played each other every single year. After the two schools ended up in separate conferences, they have played each other only four times since. The last of those matchups came in 2015. Now, the two schools from the Boot share a conference once more, and I expect this rivalry will heat back up quickly. ULL is one of the favorites in the West Division of the Sun Belt, along with Troy. Louisiana Tech has two losses, but those came against LSU and Baylor, and I’d keep an eye on these Bulldogs to make a run in the conference. Two solid G6 teams in a conference matchup. Rivalry ties with in-state heat. This is the regionality my college football heart yearns for. Not a game you want to miss.

Boise State at Fresno State

How to Watch: Saturday, October 10th – 9:30 p.m. CT on the CW

Why You Should Watch: An old Mountain West rivalry becomes a new PAC-12 rivalry as Boise State and Fresno State meet for the “Milk Can” in Fresno. Boise State once again looks like one of the top contenders for the G6 playoff berth. Fresno State hopes to play spoiler, and in fact, the Bulldogs have won the past three meetings between these squads. The Broncos and Bulldogs both have one loss courtesy of B1G squads, and while Boise has looked more impressive to this point of the season, I have a feeling a fire is going to be lit under Fresno State. This is your nightcap game to finish off the Saturday right.

What under-the-radar games are you most excited about for Week Six? We’d love to hear from you.

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