B/R Experts Week 5 College Football Rankings 2024 | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Kansas State, Oklahoma, Nebraska and USC all suffered their first loss of the season in Week 4, but rebounded well on Saturday to avoid the dreaded second loss and stay alive in the fight for a playoff spot.

• Kansas State 42, Oklahoma State 20
• Nebraska 28, Purdue 10
• Oklahoma 27, Auburn 21
• USC 38, Wisconsin 21

The biggest matchup of the group was also the most one-sided, as No. 23 Kansas State demolished No. 20 Oklahoma State and the Cowboys also lost to No. 1 Utah last week. Quarterback Avery Johnson scored five total touchdowns for the Wildcats, who also forced three turnovers on the defense.

The Cornhuskers were the only one of those four teams to fall completely out of the top 25 after last week's loss to Illinois, but they picked up a win on the road against Purdue thanks to 21 fourth-quarter points.

The Sooners trailed 21-10 early in the fourth quarter, but an offensive touchdown, a defensive pick-six and a field goal in the final 8:32 were enough to avoid further disappointment. after suffering a blow at home from Tennessee last week.

The second half against Wisconsin was all about USC as the Trojans outscored the Badgers 28-0 after halftime. Miller Moss finished the game with 308 yards and three touchdowns through the air and added another score on the ground, and this USC team is back on track after last week's 27-24 loss to Michigan.

Thanks to the expanded playoff field, a single loss isn't as bad as it used to be, but it was crucial that all four teams avoided their second loss of the season, and they did just that on Saturday.