Week 3 arrives with several major tests, including four ranked-versus-ranked matchups and the first significant conference games of the season.
The biggest storyline is the return of LSU head coach Lane Kiffin to Oxford to face his former program, Ole Miss.
Game of the Week: No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss
This is the marquee matchup of the weekend. Both teams enter 2–0, and Kiffin’s first return to Ole Miss as LSU’s head coach adds considerable attention to an already important SEC game.
College GameDay is also scheduled to be in Oxford.
Key matchup: LSU’s offense against an Ole Miss defense that will have to deal with the Tigers’ ability to create explosive plays.
Other Games to Watch
No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech
Friday night’s ranked Big 12 matchup features Houston coming off a 77–6 win over Southern and Texas Tech entering 2–0 after beating Oregon State.
Florida State at No. 10 Alabama
A major ACC-SEC intersectional game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama enters ranked 10th, while Florida State gets an opportunity to make a national statement.
Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s defense and home-field advantage will be tested against a Michigan State team looking to make its mark against a top-three opponent.
No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas
Georgia enters Week 3 ranked second nationally and faces its first SEC road challenge of the season.
No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest
Miami opens the weekend’s ACC action Friday night. The Hurricanes are ranked fifth after a strong opening to the season.
No. 1 Texas vs. UTSA
Texas enters its first game as the AP’s No. 1 team after its dramatic 24–23 comeback over Ohio State.
Teams Under the Microscope
Texas: Can the new No. 1 maintain its focus after the enormous Ohio State victory?
LSU: Can the Tigers handle the atmosphere in Oxford?
Ole Miss: Can the Rebels turn the Kiffin storyline into an on-field advantage?
Alabama: Florida State provides a substantially more meaningful test than Alabama’s previous opponent.
Notre Dame: A win over Michigan State would strengthen the Irish’s early-season résumé.
Miami: The Hurricanes have quickly moved into the national spotlight and now must avoid a letdown.
Week 3 Storylines
The latest AP poll has Texas No. 1, Georgia No. 2, Notre Dame No. 3, Indiana No. 4 and Miami No. 5, while Ohio State fell to No. 6 after its loss to Texas. LSU and Ole Miss occupy Nos. 7 and 8.
The weekend also begins conference play in several leagues, with the ACC featuring Syracuse-Pitt, Miami-Wake Forest, Florida State-Alabama and SMU-Louisville among its notable games.
Atlantic Coast Conference
What to Watch For
LSU–Ole Miss: The weekend’s biggest game and storyline.
Houston–Texas Tech: An important early Big 12 measuring stick.
Florida State–Alabama: A high-profile SEC-ACC clash.
Michigan State–Notre Dame: A significant test for the No. 3 Irish.
Texas: The first look at the new No. 1 after the Ohio State comeback.
Bottom line: Week 3 may not have the sheer number of heavyweight games that some later Saturdays will feature, but the LSU-Ole Miss showdown, Florida State-Alabama, Houston-Texas Tech and Michigan State-Notre Dame give the weekend plenty of national significance.
