College football is unpredictable and delightful, which is why we live for what happens on Saturdays. And Week 3 absolutely delivered, from the instant classic in Oxford to the opposite of an instant classic in Nashville.
Each Sunday, I’ll publish my biggest takeaways from the college football weekend. I’ll highlight the most interesting storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders and specifically shout out individual and team performances that deserve the spotlight.
1. Ole Miss got its sweet, sweet revenge.
Nine months ago, Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss ahead of the program’s first Playoff appearance and burned every single bridge on his way out of Oxford. It wasn’t necessarily that he left that irked Rebels fans as much as how he did it. And all the things he said about Ole Miss and the state of Mississippi after he left.
Then, Trinidad Chambliss’ arm and Pete Golding’s defense delivered a victory over Kiffin’s LSU squad that could only be described as cathartic. A truly unforgettable night for a fan base that sure deserved one.
2. Sam Leavitt may not be the difference-maker LSU needs him to be.
He’s great on the ground. He’s tough and largely fearless. But Sam Leavitt may not give LSU enough as a pure passer to take this team to the College Football Playoff and beyond. I’m not sure I trust him to be accurate or consistent enough, and I worry about his durability with the number of big hits he takes.
3. North Carolina State just found a brand-new and excruciatingly painful way to lose a college football game.
I’ve never seen anything like it. Usually, when you’re up three points with six seconds left and the ball, you’re going to win the game. But not if you’re CJ Bailey and you’re trying to run out the clock and/or take a safety but then you get hit and end up fumbling the ball and losing the game. I truly think the Wolfpack have invented a novel way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And, unfortunately, NC State fans know the feeling all too well.
4. Utah is the best team no one is talking about.
The Utes are 3-0 with an average margin of victory of nearly 40 points after crushing Utah State. And it’s quite possible they fundamentally broke the Arkansas football program a week ago. Morgan Scalley has his team humming in Year 1, and it’s time to start paying attention.
5. Will Stein has already made his mark at Kentucky.
I have said repeatedly that I loved the Will Stein hire for the Wildcats. I think he’s got a great eye for talent, and he puts his players in good positions to succeed. Kenny Minchey and CJ Baxter combined for a monster performance on Saturday, leading Kentucky to an upset of No. 9 Texas A&M in College Station. You don’t often see offenses pick apart Mike Elko defenses like that, and it’s a huge credit to Stein and co. Elko tipped his hat to Stein afterwards, and I will, too. This is a statement win just three games into Stein’s first season, and it surely won’t be the only bright spot of his tenure.
6. Miami is in the driver’s seat in the ACC. But Louisville is now in the passenger’s seat.
The Cardinals beat SMU to lay their claim to be the second-best team in the ACC behind Miami. Now, Jeff Brohm does have a history of let-down games after big wins so I’m not saying this is smooth sailing from here on out. But Lincoln Kienholz, the Brown duo and the rest are clearly talented enough to get this team to Charlotte to play for an ACC title.
Related: I will now refer to Jeff Brohm as a passenger princess.
7. The Big 12 race might be wide open.
Texas Tech held on for a two-point win over Houston Friday night, stopping Connor Weigman’s would-be game-tying two-point conversion attempt by literal inches in the game’s final minute. It was a thrilling finish to a very evenly matched game, and it was certainly a relief for Joey McGuire and co., as Texas Tech entered the season as the heavy favorite to win a second consecutive Big 12 title. But through three games, this version of Texas Tech has been largely underwhelming. The defense hasn’t been as dominant as it was a year ago — David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez were exceptional college football players, as it turns out — and the run game hasn’t been as reliable as expected, either.
All that to say, I don’t think it’s Texas Tech and everybody else in the Big 12 this year, like it was last season (and like how Tech wants it to be from now on). It also might not matter until the Big 12 title game, because the Red Raiders don’t play either BYU or Utah in the regular season. But I think Texas Tech is gettable — whether it’s on a random Saturday afternoon or perhaps in Dallas in the Big 12 title game. And that is intriguing!
8. Neither UNC nor Clemson is very good. The Tigers got the win on Saturday, but both head coaches should feel the heat.
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory!
9. It’s time to rank Mississippi State. It’s also time to put Kamario Taylor in the Heisman Trophy conversation.
I know, I know. It’s September. But this team is for real, and its quarterback is special. There’s a reason the buzz has been building around Starkville, and the Bulldogs backed it up with a statement win at South Carolina. Taylor is a dual-threat quarterback in every sense of the descriptor.
10. David Braun backed up his extension with a big win over Colorado.
Deion Sanders is arguably the most famous (and certainly flashiest) active head college football coach. David Braun doesn’t get recognized at the local Jewel. But Braun is proving to be a great fit at Northwestern, and his players backed up his new extension with a 34-point win over the Buffs.
