Georgia heads to Alabama this week for a top-five matchup in Tuscaloosa, Ala. It’s a monster game for all the obvious reasons, but there’s a segment of the college football internet that has complained that it’s somehow lacking.

Now obviously it won’t have the same stakes as some of the others recent games between Georgia and Alabama. In the past three years, they have met twice in the SEC championship game and famously played each other in the national championship game in January 2022. A September showdown will never feel the same as those games.

But what I do take issue with is the insinuation that Saturday’s game is meaningless in the era of the 12-team College Football Playoffs. I’ve seen a few experts say this, and I hate this opinion. They think it’s a bad thing that the loser of this Georgia-Alabama game can still easily make the College Football Playoff — which is why they think the expanded Playoff devalues ​​the regular season.

The point is that the loser of a game like this in September would always be alive in the CFP race. The easy parallel is Texas-Alabama last year; both teams ultimately finished in the four-team CFP. If you’re good enough to justify a loss or show the selection committee that you’ve improved over the year, you’ve always been able to overcome a seemingly debilitating defeat, even when there were only four spots available. in the CFP.

RELATED: Week 5 College Football Playoff Projection

I openly admit that the loser of Georgia-Alabama will remain in the mix for a CFP berth in my weekly projections. I think the loser of this game could command the table in December and January and hoist a trophy while the confetti falls. To me, that doesn’t detract from a high-stakes match in September. I would never argue for fewer matches and less football, just to make individual matches seem bigger due to scarcity. I find joy in the sport beyond the pursuit of a national championship. And Saturday’s game means a lot to fans, coaches and players on both sides, not just because of the CFP implications.

It is Kalen DeBoer‘s first big game as Alabama’s new coach. He replaced the greatest coach in college football history and the game’s elder statesman; Kirby Smart stepped into that latter role very well in the months that followed Nick Saban‘s pension. Even though Georgia missed the CFP last season, Smart’s program remains the gold standard in the sport and will serve as a great barometer for Jalen Milroe and co. on Saturday.

I, for one, can’t wait to watch two extremely talented teams battle it out for three and a half hours on Saturday night – even if the result doesn’t completely destroy the loser’s season.

Here’s what else I’m looking forward to in Week 5 of the college football season:

Can Oklahoma solve its offensive problems?

Former five-star quarterback Jackson Arnold was on the bench in the first half of the Sooners’ loss to Tennessee a week ago. Now, true freshmen Michael Hawkins Jr. gets his first start, and it comes against an Auburn team that already appears to be spiraling. The Tigers have their own quarterback issues — which is a problem for Hugh Freeze, who is supposed to be some kind of offensive guru — but both their starter and his backup seem extremely turnover-prone, so their options are limited. Oklahomans might not. Last week against the Vols, Hawkins completed 11 of 18 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, a stat line that isn’t impressive but was significantly better than what Arnold did there. The Sooner defense is good enough to keep this team in SEC games. Can the offense be improved to give the team a chance to win?

Can Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard throw the ball effectively?

He’ll probably need it if the Irish go on to beat No. 15 Louisville at home. Leonard is a very good, tough runner — he’s rushed for over 100 yards in each of Notre Dame’s last two games — but we’ve seen him miss some wide-open receivers and struggle to create enough vertical passing play build to actually emphasize defenses. Jeff Brohm’s offenses are always creative and explosive, meaning the Irish should also be able to keep up when they have the ball. We’ll see what Leonard is capable of.

Will John Mateer’s magic run out against Boise State?

Through four games, the Wazzu quarterback has taken us all on a wild ride. He is just as capable of making a backbreaking interception as he is a long touchdown run. And he has been sensational when the Cougs have had their backs against the wall in recent weeks. Can he lead Washington State to a 5-0 start with a win over No. 25 Boise State? The Broncos are led by a star running back Ashton Jeantya legitimate Heisman Trophy contender. They are also a favorite to win the Mountain West and compete for a spot in the CFP. This matchup could be one of the best of the weekend.