This weekend’s selection of college football games may not seem like the most exciting on paper, but there are a few matchups and rivalries that will provide more definition for several teams that have shown promise but so far remain opaque. Week 3 features some intriguing competitions and several teams to keep an eye on. Let’s take a look at the top 10 games this week:
Starting with the honorable mentions; UNLV visiting Kansas, number 18 Notre Dame taking on Purdue, the much-anticipated clashing of number 1 Georgia and Kentucky, Colorado’s matchup against Colorado State, and UCF’s contest against TCU. At number 10 on our list is the Washington State (2-0) versus Washington (2-0) game. This early Pac-12 meeting offers a rivalry that continues through the current repositions. With quarterback Will Rogers and running back Jonah Coleman performing well so far, we’re also keeping an eye on John Mateer and his notable dual-threat dynamism.
At number 9, we have Tulane (1-1) and number 15 Oklahoma (2-0). After a close call against Kansas State, Tulane looks to disrupt Oklahoma’s current winning streak, a challenge that may be possible given Oklahoma’s recent lukewarm performance against Houston. Following up at number 8, there’s number 16 LSU (1-1) meeting South Carolina (2-0). Both teams have shown promise, given the recent performances, albeit displaying some inconsistency.
The number 7 spot goes to Texas A&M’s visit to Florida. This stands as a pivotal game in Florida coach Billy Napier’s future, in addition to being a well-deserved moment in the spotlight for freshman quarterback DJ Lagway who broke a school record in his latest performance. The number 6 game of the week is the rivalry clash between West Virginia and Pitt. Despite both teams not being top contenders in their respective conferences, the stakes remain high for this matchup.
At number 5 we have an unexpected ranked showdown between number 24 Boston College and number 6 Missouri, with the latter surprisingly climbing to sixth place after two very impressive shutout games. Next up at number 4 is a surprising rivalry matchup between number 9 Oregon and Oregon State. Oregon has shown their prowess so far, though potential defensive issues were highlighted in their recent encounter with Boise State.
Number 3 highlight is Memphis’s visit to Florida State. Memphis is a prominent Group of 5 team and has shown consistency this season, while Florida is hoping to salvage their championship hopes. The number two spot features fourth-ranked Alabama’s game at Wisconsin. Both teams have had shaky starts this season and will be looking for a reassuring victory.
Taking the top spot for this week’s games is number 20 Arizona taking on number 14 Kansas State. Both these teams are seen as potentials for the Big 12 title race, and this game will surely be an electric kickoff to this series. Despite having a top-tier receiver on their side, Arizona had some issues in their recent win over Northern Arizona. On the flip side, Kansas State had a close call with Tulane, but is looking to solidify their position in the Big 12 with a win against Arizona.
