NCAAF · 19 minutes ago

Ranking the Top 5 Best College Football Games for Week 3

Sammy Jacobs

Host · Writer

1. No. 7 LSU Tigers at No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels
Where to Watch LSU @ Ole Miss
- Date: September 18
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV: ABC
- Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
- Location: Oxford, MS
LSU’s trip to Ole Miss is probably the most anticipated regular-season game of 2026, and it has very little to do with the game between the lines. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford for the first time since he bolted for LSU during the Rebels' playoff run last season. The drama is so high that Kiffin wants the National Guard there.

LSU @ Ole Miss Odds
- Spread: LSU -3
- Total: 58.5
- Moneyline: LSU -155 | Ole Miss +130
Best College Football Games of Week 3
Week 3 of the college football season features some of the most anticipated games of the 2026 regular season.

Twenty-two games feature an AP Top 25 team, including three ranked-vs.-ranked matchups: No. 22 Houston vs. No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 16 SMU vs. No. 23 Louisville, and No. 7 LSU vs. No. 8 Ole Miss.

We rank the best five games for Week 3.

2026 College Football Week 3 Games Featuring AP Top 25 Teams

Friday, September 18
- No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech — 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Portland State at No. 21 Oregon — 10:30 p.m. ET, BTN
Saturday, September 19
- No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas — 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC
- Kent State at No. 6 Ohio State — 12:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Buffalo at No. 14 Penn State — 12:00 p.m. ET, BTN
- No. 12 USC at Rutgers — 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- UTEP at No. 19 Michigan — 3:30 p.m. ET, BTN
- Florida State at No. 10 Alabama — 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville — 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
- Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M — 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Utah State at No. 17 Utah — 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX
- Western Kentucky at No. 4 Indiana — 4:00 p.m. ET
- Northern Iowa at No. 18 Iowa — 4:00 p.m. ET
- Troy at No. 20 Missouri — 7:00 p.m. ET
- West Virginia at No. 25 Virginia — 7:30 p.m. ET
- New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma — 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 11 BYU at Colorado State — 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss — 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Kennesaw State at No. 15 Tennessee — 7:45 p.m. ET
- UTSA at No. 1 Texas — 8:00 p.m. ET
5. North Carolina at Clemson
Where to Watch North Carolina at Clemson
- Date: September 19
- Time: 12:00 PM ET
- TV: ESPN
- Stadium: Memorial Stadium
- Location: Clemson, SC
There is a clear drop-off from the top four games to the fifth, but the drama isn't lacking here.

After getting blown out by LSU and struggling last week, the heat on Dabo Swinney's seat will turn up even more with a loss to UNC.
The Tarheels have no shortage of coaching drama of their own, either. Could Bill Belichick be 3-0?

North Carolina at Clemson Odds
- Spread: Clemson -3.5
- Total: 55.5
- Moneyline: Clemson -175 | Clemson +145
4. Florida Gators at Auburn Tigers
Where to Watch Florida at Auburn
- Date: September 19
- Time: 7:00 PM ET
- TV: ESPN
- Stadium: Jordan-Hare Stadium
- Location: Auburn, AL
This is a big game for both first-year coaches at Florida and Auburn. A win could catapult a team to instant success, while a loss could end the honeymoon quickly.

Florida at Auburn Odds
- Spread: Florida -2.5
- Total: 53.5
- Moneyline: Florida -130 | Auburn +110
3. No. 16 SMU Mustangs at No. 24 Louisville Cardinals
Where to Watch SMU at Louisville
- Date: September 19
- Time: 3:30 PM ET
- TV: ESPN2
- Stadium: L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium
- Location: Louisville, KY
It's a big ACC game that will put the winner in a good position to head to the ACC Championship Game in December. Depending on how things shake out in other conferences, this could be the second ACC team to make the College Football Playoff (along with Miami).

SMU at Louisville Odds
- Spread: Louisville -1.5
- Total: 59.5
- Moneyline: Louisville -120 | SMU +100
2. No. 22 Houston Cougars at No. 13 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Where to Watch Houston at Texas Tech
- Date: September 18
- Time: 8:00 PM ET
- TV: FOX
- Stadium: Galaxy Stadium
- Location: Lubbock, TX
This game could determine whether or not Texas Tech is still the favorite to win the Big 12. A Friday night showcase game with major CFP implications.

Houston at Texas Tech Odds
- Spread: Texas Tech -7.5
- Total: 52.5
- Moneyline: Texas Tech -310 | Houston +250
1. No. 7 LSU Tigers at No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels
Where to Watch LSU @ Ole Miss
- Date: September 18
- Time: 7:30 PM ET
- TV: ABC
- Stadium: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
- Location: Oxford, MS
LSU’s trip to Ole Miss is probably the most anticipated regular-season game of 2026, and it has very little to do with the game between the lines. LSU head coach Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford for the first time since he bolted for LSU during the Rebels' playoff run last season. The drama is so high that Kiffin wants the National Guard there.

LSU @ Ole Miss Odds
- Spread: LSU -3
- Total: 58.5
- Moneyline: LSU -155 | Ole Miss +130
Best College Football Games of Week 3
Week 3 of the college football season features some of the most anticipated games of the 2026 regular season.

Twenty-two games feature an AP Top 25 team, including three ranked-vs.-ranked matchups: No. 22 Houston vs. No. 13 Texas Tech, No. 16 SMU vs. No. 23 Louisville, and No. 7 LSU vs. No. 8 Ole Miss.

We rank the best five games for Week 3.

2026 College Football Week 3 Games Featuring AP Top 25 Teams

Friday, September 18
- No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech — 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Portland State at No. 21 Oregon — 10:30 p.m. ET, BTN
Saturday, September 19
- No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas — 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC
- Kent State at No. 6 Ohio State — 12:00 p.m. ET, FOX
- Buffalo at No. 14 Penn State — 12:00 p.m. ET, BTN
- No. 12 USC at Rutgers — 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- UTEP at No. 19 Michigan — 3:30 p.m. ET, BTN
- Florida State at No. 10 Alabama — 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville — 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2
- Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M — 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
- Utah State at No. 17 Utah — 3:30 p.m. ET, FOX
- Western Kentucky at No. 4 Indiana — 4:00 p.m. ET
- Northern Iowa at No. 18 Iowa — 4:00 p.m. ET
- Troy at No. 20 Missouri — 7:00 p.m. ET
- West Virginia at No. 25 Virginia — 7:30 p.m. ET
- New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma — 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 11 BYU at Colorado State — 7:30 p.m. ET
- No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss — 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
- Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame — 7:30 p.m. ET
- Kennesaw State at No. 15 Tennessee — 7:45 p.m. ET
- UTSA at No. 1 Texas — 8:00 p.m. ET