College Football Week 3: Top Games, Rankings & Predictions! (2026)

Here are some of the biggest games to keep an eye on as you prepare for Week 3 action.

Saturday kicks off with No. 12 Clemson at Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets look to make an early statement in ACC play. At the same time, No. 19 Alabama hosts Wisconsin in an intriguing nonconference matchup to watch out for.

The afternoon window brings College GameDay's matchup between No. 6 Georgia and No. 15 Tennessee in the first ranked SEC game of the season. And an hour later, freshly ranked South Florida looks to play in-state spoiler again as it takes on No. 5 Miami (Fla.) in Hard Rock Stadium.

But don't overlook the night games that bring a busy night of SEC play, headlined by No. 8 Notre Dame vs. No. 16 Texas A&M in South Bend, Ind. No. 17 Ole Miss could be tested again, hosting undefeated Arkansas, and Florida will look to get back on track as the Gators travel to the Bayou to face No. 3 LSU. Lastly, No. 11 South Carolina hosts Vanderbilt in another pivotal conference matchup.

Here are the game times and TV information for some of Week 3's biggest games:
*All times are Eastern

• No. 12 Clemson at Georgia Tech, 12 p.m. | ESPN
• No. 19 Alabama vs. Wisconsin, 12 p.m. | ABC
• No. 6 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. | ABC
• No. 5 Miami vs. No. 18 South Florida, 4:30 p.m. | The CW Network
• No. 3 LSU vs. Florida, 7:30 p.m. | ABC
• | NBC/Peacock
• No. 11 South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt, 7:45 p.m. | SEC Network

👉 Click or tap here for live scores and stats for Week 3

Week 3 in the FBS begins with an ACC showdown between Wake Forest and NC State on Thursday. Action continues with five more games on Friday before the usual loaded Saturday slate.

Here's a quick look at the early games this week:

Thursday, Sept. 11

7 p.m. | Fort Valley State at Clark Atlanta | ESPN2
7:30 p.m. | NC State at Wake Forest | ESPN
8 p.m. | Northwestern Oklahoma State at Arkansas Tech | YouTube

Friday, Sept. 12

6:30 p.m. | Indiana State at No. 22 Indiana | Big Ten Network
7 p.m. | Colgate at Syracuse | ACC Network
7:30 p.m. | Colorado at Houston | ESPN
9 p.m. | Kansas State at Arizona | FOX
10 p.m. | New Mexico at UCLA | Big Ten Network

🛋️Click or tap here for the complete Week 3 TV schedule

There was not much shift in the top half the latest AP poll, as Illinois (up two to No. 9) and Florida State (up four to No. 10) are the only new teams in the top 10.

Arizona State, Florida and SMU tumbled from the top 20 to outside the poll after losses, while Tennessee made the biggest jump, catapulting seven spots to No. 15 after crushing FCS ETSU.

As for debuts, South Florida made the loudest noise. One week after crushing preseason No. 25 Boise State 34-7, the Bulls stunned then-No. 13 Florida in The Swamp, 18-16. USF is now No. 18 and faces another ranked team this week, traveling to No. 5 Miami (Fla.).

Here is the full Week 3 AP poll:

For the first ranked SEC matchup of the season, the College GameDay crew is headed to Knoxville as No. 6 Georgia travels to Neyland Stadium to take on No. 15 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.

The Dawgs carry an eight-game winning streak into the rivals' 55th all-time meeting, outscoring the Vols 303-104 in that span. Kirby Smart's squad is a win away from matching the longest win streak in the rivalry's history, tying Tennessee's nine straight from 1989-1999.

But Georgia's defense will have its hands full with a Tennessee offense that is coming off a 72-point performance a week after putting up 45 on Syracuse.

SEE YOU SOON ROCKY TOP 🤩

We're heading to Knoxville for an SEC showdown between Georgia and Tennessee 🔥 pic.twitter.com/N4uoj6wDAa

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 7, 2025

👉 Click or tap here for the history of College GameDay

GameDay last visited Knoxville in 2022, going there twice for the Volunteers' home games against Florida and Alabama. Tennessee won both to help it get to No. 1 in the College Football Playoff rankings.