Top 10 games to watch Week 3 of college football season

Georgia travels to Tennessee on Saturday afternoon in the headline matchup of Week 3. College GameDay will be on site as conference play gets underway across college football. In another schedule twist, No. 13 Oklahoma travels to Temple this week, too.

Four AP top-25 teams lost in Week 2, and more upsets could be brewing entering Week 3. On3 is breaking down the top 10 games of Week 3 with College Football Playoff implications across the board.

1. Georgia at Tennessee

Location: Knoxville
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC

The headline game of Week 3 marks the SEC opener for both teams. College GameDay will be in Knoxville for the expected top-20 matchup. It’s the earliest meeting between Georgia and Tennessee in 30 years, when the Volunteers won 30-27 in September 1995. Kirby Smart has won eight consecutive games against the Vols as a head coach, despite never beating them as a player. Josh Heupel is still searching for his first win against the Bulldogs. Georgia is a 6.5-point road favorite, according to BetMGM.

2. Texas A&M at Notre Dame

Location: South Bend
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC

A year ago, Notre Dame beat Texas A&M in College Station in a statement season-opening win for the Fighting Irish. The Aggies return the favor in the home-and-home series with a trip to South Bend in Week 3 of the 2025 season. Conner Weigman got the start against Notre Dame in 2024, but Marcel Reed took over later in September and started the majority of the games for the Aggies. He will now get his shot against the Fighting Irish. For Notre Dame, CJ Carr will make his debut at Notre Dame Stadium coming off a 27-24 loss in Week 1 at Miami. Notre Dame is a 6.5-point favorite, per BetMGM.

3. Florida at LSU

Location: Baton Rouge
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC

A game that was circled as a possible top-10 matchup was spoiled on Saturday. Florida lost to USF on a last-second field goal in The Swamp, bringing the questions about the future of Billy Napier in Gainesville back to the forefront. LSU is 2-0, touting wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech. The Tigers lost at Florida late in 2024. BetMGM has the Tigers as a 9.5-point favorite.

4. Vanderbilt at South Carolina

Location: Columbia
Time: 7:45 p.m. ET
Channel: SEC Network

Saturday night at South Carolina will feature two of the premier quarterbacks in the SEC. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers is viewed as a Heisman Trophy contender after a breakout year in 2024. Diego Pavia reignited Vanderbilt a year ago, highlighted by a win over Alabama. He’s totaled five touchdowns in two games this season.

5. Arkansas at Ole Miss

Location: Oxford
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN

Ole Miss opened SEC play over the weekend with a 30-23 win at Kentucky. The Rebels had up-and-down quarterback play, however, as Austin Simmons threw two interceptions. The visit to Oxford will mark the SEC opener for Arkansas, which has opened up the season 2-0. Quarterback Taylen Green is in Year 2 with offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and has totaled 11 touchdowns in two games.

6. USF at Miami

Location: Miami Gardens
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CW Network

Alex Golesh picked up his signature win of his tenure at USF on Saturday night, knocking off Florida. The Bulls are now well-positioned for a run at a College Football Playoff bid after beating Boise State in Week 1. Quarterback Byrum Brown is healthy and looks like his 2023 self, as USF is ranked in the top-20 in the AP poll. The win over Florida means the Bulls will not sneak up on Miami, which beat Notre Dame in Week 1 and is averaging 433.5 yards per game through two weeks.

7. Wisconsin at Alabama

Location: Tuscaloosa
Time: Noon ET
Channel: ABC

Alabama was stunned at Florida State in Week 1, raising questions immediately in Year 2 of the Kalen DeBoer era. The Tide cruised to a 73-0 win on Saturday night against Louisiana Monroe. They’ll face their next Power Four test in Week 3 with a visit from Wisconsin. The Badgers are 2-0 with wins over a pair of Group of Six teams. Quarterback Billy Edwards’ status against Alabama remains questionable following his exit in Week 1.

8. Clemson at Georgia Tech

Location: Atlanta
Time: Noon ET
Channel: ESPN

After a Week 1 home loss to LSU, Clemson started slow in Week 2 against Troy and trailed 16-0 at one point. The Tigers rallied for the win, but they’ll face a stiffer test when they visit Georgia Tech in Week 3. The Yellow Jackets picked up a Week 1 win at Colorado and then blew out Gardner-Webb. Quarterback Haynes King missed Week 2 out of caution for a lower-body injury. Clemson has won nine consecutive games against Georgia Tech.

9. USC at Purdue

Location: West Lafayette
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS

USC visits Purdue in Week 3 in the first-ever Big Ten game between the opponents. The Trojans hold the all-time series lead at 3-1, with the last matchup coming in 1998. USC has started 2-0 in Year 4 under Lincoln Riley, but the trip to Purdue will mark the first Power Four opponent of the season. The Boilermakers have opened the Barry Odom era 2-0; Saturday will be a measuring stick for where Purdue stacks up in the Big Ten this season.

10. Colorado at Houston

Location: Houston
Time: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN

Colorado could roll out a new starting quarterback in Week 3 at Houston. The Buffaloes gave third-stringer Ryan Staub playing time against Delaware over the weekend, and he responded by completing 7 of 10 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Deion Sanders did not share whether Staub, Kaidon Salter or Julian Lewis will get the start on Thursday. For Houston, the Cougars have opened the year 2-0 with former Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman.