Conference play is here — and UNLV is favored over California

The Power 4 gauntlet is winding down. The Group of 6 is 2-69 against the Power 4 this season — only Tulsa and UMass have won, both in Week 1 — and only three P4 matchups are on the Week 5 schedule. Conference play is taking over.

The G6's game of the week belongs to the Pac-12. No. 24 Oregon State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12) visits No. 23 Colorado State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12) in the only matchup between teams ranked in the Diehard G6 Top 25 this week, with an over/under of 61.5 — the highest of any G6 game this week. Oregon State has won two straight after opening with losses to Houston and Texas Tech. Colorado State has lost two straight after a 2-0 start. No. 1 Boise State (3-1), ranked No. 22 in the AP poll, opens Pac-12 play at home against Utah State (1-3) as a 21-point favorite.

The biggest remaining P4 opportunity belongs to UNLV. The Rebels (2-2), ranked No. 19 in the Diehard G6 Top 25, host California (2-2) as a 2.5-point home favorite — the only G6 team favored over a Power 4 opponent this week. A win would make UNLV just the third G6 team to beat a P4 opponent this season.

For the full Diehard G6 Top 25 rankings, read Diehard G6 Top 25 — Boise State dismantles previous No. 2 Western Michigan, strengthens CFP case.

Here is the full Week 5 G6 schedule with early odds.

Games to watch

Oregon State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12, DG6 No. 24) at Colorado State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12, DG6 No. 23) — Saturday, 5 PM CT, USA

Line: Oregon State -4.5 | O/U: 61.5

The only game this week between two teams ranked in the Diehard G6 Top 25. Oregon State has won two straight after opening with losses to AP-ranked, Big 12 teams Houston and Texas Tech. Colorado State has lost two straight after a 2-0 start. The over/under of 61.5 says points are coming.

Navy (1-2, DG6 No. 25) at Air Force (2-1) — Saturday, 11 AM CT, CBS

Line: Air Force -2.5 | O/U: 47.5

A Commander-in-Chief Trophy game on CBS. Navy has dropped from No. 2 in the preseason Diehard G6 Top 25 to No. 25 after losing two of three games. The Midshipmen are 2.5-point road underdogs against an unranked Air Force team.

North Texas (2-2, 0-0 American) at Tulsa (3-1, 0-0 American, DG6 No. 16) — Thursday, 8 PM CT, ESPN

Line: Tulsa -2.5 | O/U: 57.5

The first game of the week, Thursday night on ESPN. Tulsa is coming off a 34-6 loss at Arkansas — a game the Golden Hurricane played without their starting quarterback. North Texas beat UNLV earlier this season. This game could end up being big in the American Conference race.

Temple (1-3, 0-1 American) at USF (4-0, 1-0 American, DG6 No. 4) — Saturday, 6:30 PM CT, ESPNU

Line: USF -6 | O/U: 51.5

USF is 4-0 and ranked No. 4 in the Diehard G6 Top 25, but the Bulls are only 6-point home favorites. The offense managed only 14 points in a 14-6 win at Bowling Green last week. Temple pushed Army to 21-17 last week and took Toledo to overtime the week before.

Old Dominion (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) at Georgia State (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt, DG6 No. 17) — Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, ESPN+

Line: Old Dominion -1.5 | O/U: 50.5

Georgia State entered the Diehard G6 Top 25 for the first time this season at No. 17 after beating Northern Illinois 35-14 last week. The Panthers are a 1.5-point home underdog against Old Dominion.

Shots at the wall

The Group of 6 is 2-69 against the Power 4 this season. Three games this week could change that number.

California (2-2) at UNLV (2-2, DG6 No. 19) — Saturday, 2:30 PM CT, CBSSN

Line: UNLV -2.5 | O/U: 53.5

The only G6 team favored over a Power 4 opponent this week. UNLV is coming off a 38-10 win at Akron. A win over California would make the Rebels just the third G6 team to beat a P4 opponent this season.

Syracuse (1-2) at UConn (2-2) — Saturday, 11 AM CT, CBSSN

Line: Syracuse -5.5 | O/U: 52.5

UConn dropped out of the Diehard G6 Top 25 this week. A 5.5-point home underdog against an ACC team.

Middle Tennessee (2-2) at Kansas (1-2) — Saturday, 11 AM CT, ESPNU

Line: Kansas -20.5 | O/U: 51.5

A 20.5-point spread. This is what most G6 vs. P4 games look like in 2026.

Ranked (Diehard G6 Top 25) vs. G6

Game | Line | O/U | Time | TV

North Texas (2-2, 0-0 American) at Tulsa (3-1, 0-0 American, DG6 No. 16) | TLSA -2.5 | 57.5 | Thu 8 PM | ESPN

Liberty (3-1, 0-0 CUSA, DG6 No. 15) at Delaware (2-2, 0-0 CUSA) | LIB -7 | 49.5 | Fri 6 PM | CBSSN

Navy (1-2, DG6 No. 25) at Air Force (2-1) | AF -2.5 | 47.5 | Sat 11 AM | CBS

Western Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC, DG6 No. 8) at Buffalo (2-2, 0-0 MAC) | WMU -15.5 | 48.5 | Sat Noon | ESPN+

Toledo (3-1, 0-0 MAC, DG6 No. 13) at Ball State (1-3, 0-1 MAC) | TOL -19.5 | 51.5 | Sat 1 PM | ESPN+

Memphis (3-1, 0-0 American, DG6 No. 6) at Charlotte (0-4, 0-0 American) | MEM -20.5 | 54.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Wyoming (2-2, 1-0 MW) at NDSU (4-0, 1-0 MW, DG6 No. 3) | NDSU -20.5 | 45.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | CW

Eastern Michigan (2-3, 1-0 MAC) at UMass (4-0, 1-0 MAC, DG6 No. 10) | MASS -5.5 | 48.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Old Dominion (1-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) at Georgia State (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt, DG6 No. 17) | ODU -1.5 | 50.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Marshall (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) at JMU (4-0, 1-0 Sun Belt, DG6 No. 2) | JMU -16.5 | 54.5 | Sat 2:45 PM | ESPNU

UTEP (1-3, 0-0 MW) at New Mexico (3-1, 0-0 MW, DG6 No. 5) | UNM -22.5 | 49.5 | Sat 3 PM | MW+

Oregon State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12, DG6 No. 24) at Colorado State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12, DG6 No. 23) | ORST -4.5 | 61.5 | Sat 5 PM | USA

UTSA (3-1, 0-0 American, DG6 No. 7) at Rice (1-3, 0-0 American) | UTSA -10.5 | 54.5 | Sat 6 PM | ESPN+

Utah State (1-3, 0-0 Pac-12) at Boise State (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12, DG6 No. 1) | BOIS -21 | 49.5 | Sat 6:30 PM | CBSSN

Temple (1-3, 0-1 American) at USF (4-0, 1-0 American, DG6 No. 4) | USF -6 | 51.5 | Sat 6:30 PM | ESPNU

Army (2-1, DG6 No. 14) at Louisiana Tech (1-2) | ARMY -3.5 | 46.5 | Sat 6:30 PM | ESPN+

Arkansas State (2-2, 0-0 Sun Belt) at Louisiana (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt, DG6 No. 12) | UL -6.5 | 47.5 | Sat 7 PM | ESPN+

Fresno State (3-1, 0-0 Pac-12, DG6 No. 11) at Washington State (1-3, 0-0 Pac-12) | FRES -1.5 | 46.5 | Sat 8:30 PM | USA

G6 vs. G6

Game | Line | O/U | Time | TV

Western Kentucky (1-3, 0-0 CUSA) at New Mexico State (1-3, 0-0 CUSA) | NMSU -1.5 | 53.5 | Thu 7 PM | CBSSN

Akron (1-3, 0-0 MAC) at Central Michigan (2-2, 0-0 MAC) | CMU -6 | 47.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Ohio (2-2, 0-0 MAC) at Kent State (2-2, 1-0 MAC) | OHIO -5.5 | 50.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Bowling Green (0-4, 0-0 MAC) at Miami (OH) (2-2, 0-0 MAC) | M-OH -14.5 | 47.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Georgia Southern (1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) at Coastal Carolina (1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) | GASO -2.5 | 54.5 | Sat 6 PM | ESPN+

UL Monroe (0-4, 0-0 Sun Belt) at South Alabama (2-2, 0-0 Sun Belt) | USA -14.5 | 55.5 | Sat 6 PM | ESPN+

Texas State (2-2, 0-0 Pac-12) at San Diego State (1-3, 0-0 Pac-12) | TXST -4 | 59.5 | Sat 9:30 PM | CW

San Jose State (2-2, 0-0 MW) at Hawaii (1-3, 0-2 MW) | HAW -3 | 51.5 | Sat 10:59 PM | MW+

G6 vs. Power 4

Game | Line | O/U | Time | TV

Syracuse (1-2) at UConn (2-2) | SYR -5.5 | 52.5 | Sat 11 AM | CBSSN

Middle Tennessee (2-2) at Kansas (1-2) | KU -20.5 | 51.5 | Sat 11 AM | ESPNU

California (2-2) at UNLV (2-2, DG6 No. 19) | UNLV -2.5 | 53.5 | Sat 2:30 PM | CBSSN

G6 vs. FCS

Game | Line | O/U | Time | TV

Samford (1-3) at UAB (2-2) | — | — | Sat 2:30 PM | ESPN+

Texas Southern (1-3) at FAU (3-1, DG6 No. 9) | — | — | Sat 5 PM | ESPN+