With a new No. 1 team in the AP Top 25 following Texas’ dramatic 21-point comeback victory over Ohio State, Week 3 of the college football season features another heavyweight matchup.
Here are five games to keep an eye on as the season rolls on.
No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss
Not only is this the only top-10 matchup of the weekend, but also the storyline goes well beyond the rankings.
Tigers coach Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford for the first time since leaving the Ole Miss program to take over as LSU’s head coach. Kiffin led the Rebels to a College Football Playoff berth last season before leaving for Baton Rouge.
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding, who served as Kiffin’s defensive coordinator before taking over the Rebels, will face his former boss for the first time as a head coach.
Golding took over as interim coach late last season and guided Ole Miss into College Football Playoff, including wins over Tulane and Georgia before a 31-27 loss to Miami in the semifinal.
Florida State at No. 10 Alabama
These two programs have recent history, as Florida State defeated Alabama last season in Tallahassee, giving the Crimson Tide an additional reason to come out ahead of the Seminoles on Saturday.
Alabama enters with an offense that has looked increasingly comfortable under first-year starting quarterback Keelon Russell, following a 48-10 win over East Carolina in Week 1 and a 45-17 win over Kentucky in Week 2.
Florida State enters the matchup with a 1-1 record after defeating New Mexico State in Week 1 before pushing No. 16 SMU to the brink at home and ultimately falling 27-24 to the Mustangs.
West Virginia at No. 25 Virginia
The Cavaliers entered the rankings for the first time since 2021 after opening the season 2-0, including victories over NC State and Norfolk State while allowing just 11 points through two games.
West Virginia is also 2-0 following a 52-7 win over UT Martin in Week 2, setting up a matchup between two unbeaten teams at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. Virginia and West Virginia have not met since the 2002 Continental Tire Bowl, when the Cavaliers won 48-22.
Virginia has won the last three meetings, but the Cavaliers lead the all-time series 12-10-1.
No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville
Since SMU joined the ACC, this matchup has clear conference title race implications, as a victory for the Mustangs would allow the program to keep pace alongside Miami.
SMU has already won the first two meetings between these programs since joining the ACC and holds a 4-0 all-time record against Louisville.
The Cardinals moved up one spot in the AP Top 25 following a narrow road loss to Ole Miss, 41-38, while scoring a combined 97 points through two games.
Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame
The Fighting Irish have opened the season by outscoring their opponents 93-13, while Michigan State enters after a pair of wins and could push for a spot in the next AP Top 25.
Pat Fitzgerald took over the coaching reins at Michigan State after Jonathan Smith’s 4-8 season in 2025. The Spartans are looking to return to the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2022 and will face their toughest test of the season.
A victory over No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday would mark the Spartans’ first win over a ranked opponent since they took down the Illinois Fighting Illini in November 2022.
