Week 3 of the 2025 season basically smacked us in the face with them. Whether you considered Texas A&M-Notre Dame or Georgia-Tennessee the biggest game of the week, it didn't matter -- they both went down to the wire with quarterback heroics and special teams heartbreaks. And two of the sport's wildest rivalries, Pitt-West Virginia and Ole Miss-Arkansas, both gave us classics too.
One of the great things about college football as an experience is that with only 12 games and what feels like 100 teams hoping to play for a championship, every game is loaded with the import of the entire world. When you place that burden on a bunch of 20-year-olds, and coaches constantly on the doorstep of an aneurysm, lots of chaotic and hilarious things will emerge.
Joseph completed 16 of 22 passes and also rushed for 63 yards and a score for the Monarchs (2-1), who registered the program's first road win over an ACC opponent. "We just couldn't get any momentum going," Pry said. "We turned the ball over in the red zone. We get a turnover and we can't cash in on it. There were flashes, in the game, of the ability to run the ball. There were flashes of the ability to throw the ball, but not near consistent enough."
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Ty Simpson threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns, including two to returning star Ryan Williams, and No. 19 Alabama overpowered Wisconsin for the second consecutive year, 38-14 on Saturday. Simpson completed 24 of 29 passes, with two of his misses being drops by Williams and freshman Lotzier Brooks. Williams finished with five receptions for 165 yards after missing last week's game because of a concussion.
But while the new college football playoff format rewards eight-touchdown wins, it does damned little to explain relative strengths and weaknesses, which is why Week 3 is ever so slightly more handy. There are a few games that can help cut down the seasonal thicket, thanks to the networks leaning into September schedule bombs that make people think that there are only two sports in America.
Week 1 had headliners for the casuals. Week 2 had rivalry games and loads of thrillers for the hardcores. In Week 3, we attempt to split the difference. This week gives us high-stakes helmet games (Texas A&M-Notre Dame, Georgia-Tennessee, Florida-LSU) and rivalry games both bitter (Pitt-West Virginia) and, sometimes, silly (Ole Miss-Arkansas). But most of all, it gives us PANIC.
But few shenanigans have felt so utterly bizarre, inherently funny and impactful as Marco Wilson's toss of an LSU player's shoe in the fourth quarter of a rivalry game on Dec. 12, 2020. The throw, which came in a tie game against a heavy underdog, certainly cost Florida a win. It might, too, have kept the Gators from the College Football Playoff.
Mama, what have you done? I trace your steps in the darkness of one Am I what's left? Silver lines whisper to me "Wounded arms must carry the load" We're spitting off the edge of the world, out in the night Never had no chance, nowhere to hide We're spitting off the edge of the world, (nowhere to run) Never had no chance, (out comes the sun) Spitting off the edge of the world -- "Spitting off the Edge of the World"
Clemson trailed Troy 16-3 at halftime before finding its way in the second half to avoid an 0-2 start. After limited cowbell prep, Arizona State's ears will be ringing for a while as a last-minute defensive breakdown doomed the defending Big 12 champs against Mississippi State in Starkville. Michigan quarterback Bryce Underwood's plan to shock the world has been put on hold as Brent Venables' Oklahoma defense humbled the nation's No. 1 recruit in Norman.
Ray: Forty-seven Division I coaches have already lost a game this year, which means that 47 coaches are on the hot seat, because that's the way it's always worked. And frankly, that's how it probably should work now that college football is trying to be like European soccer, jamming all the power into a few hands. For instance, Erik ten Hag was fired after three games at Bayer Leverkusen based on . . . well, that's how soccer works.
Around 5 or 5:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, the second Missouri Tigers home game of the season will go to a commercial break before the fourth quarter begins, and as has become customary in recent seasons, the Killers' "Mr. Brightside" will play over the loudspeaker. It's also become customary that the Mizzou fans in attendance at Memorial Stadium will lob f-bombs in unison at their biggest rival. For the first time, that rival will be in said stadium to hear it.
With Week 1 in the books, the college football season shifts into full gear as contenders begin to separate from pretenders. September is often when momentum is built, hype meets reality, and early missteps can linger all season. From blue-blood clashes such as Michigan- Oklahoma to rivalry battles in Ames, Iowa, and Columbia, Missouri, Week 2 brings both tradition and intrigue. Quarterbacks are already defining the season's storylines, and new coordinators and transfers continue to shape the national conversation.
College football came back in a big way in Week 1. The two high-profile matchups lived up to their billing. The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes defense completely shut down the No. 1 Texas Longhorns and ruined the start of the Arch Manning era. Texas turned the ball over on downs four times and Manning had an interception. The Longhorns are the sixth AP preseason No. 1 to lose the season opener and the first since 1990.
What is SP+? In a single sentence, it's a tempo- and opponent-adjusted measure of college football efficiency that I originally created at Football Outsiders in 2008. SP+ is intended to be predictive and forward-facing. It is not a r e9sum e9 ranking (hence the lack of unbeatens near the top), so it does not automatically give credit for big wins or particularly brave scheduling -- no good predictive system does.
In another hit to the Tennessee Volunteers' secondary, starting cornerback Rickey Gibson III will be out for "an extended period" after injuring his left arm in Saturday's season-opening win against Syracuse. Gibson, a returning starter, left Saturday's game in the second quarter. Coach Josh Heupel did not specify what the injury was or reveal a possible timeline for the return of Gibson, who had 32 tackles, 5 pass breakups and a forced fumble last season, The No. 24 Vols face East Tennessee State on Saturday before hosting No. 5 Georgia on Sept. 13.
CJ Daniels made a spectacular one-handed touchdown grab and Rueben Bain Jr. had an interception on a thrice-deflected pass in the fourth quarter for the Hurricanes, who outgained Notre Dame 324 yards to 314. Malachi Toney had a touchdown catch and CharMar Brown added a TD run for Miami. CJ Carr, in his first start for Notre Dame, finished 19 of 30 for 221 yards with two touchdown passes and an interception -- plus a rushing score with 3:21 left
EUGENE. Ore. -- The Oregon Duck lost his head in the run up to the team's opener against Montana State on Saturday. No, it wasn't out of excitement for the game. The mascot was running out on the field at Autzen Stadium when he tripped and the head of his costume flew off. The headless Duck sprinted back into the tunnel while a helper grabbed the head and ran after him.
"I'm honored to join the FOX Sports family and excited to celebrate the game of football while working with some of the best people in the business telling the stories that matter," RGIII said in a statement. "My goal is to bring that authentic perspective to every broadcast, helping fans understand not just what's happening on the field, but why it matters and what it means to the young men chasing their dreams. Teaming up with Jason Benetti, whom I greatly respect, and working alongside Alexa Landestoy will be special."
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Julian Sayin had a 40-yard touchdown pass to Carnell Tate early in the fourth quarter, Ohio State's defense got a couple key stops in the red zone and the third-ranked Buckeyes opened their season with a 14-7 victory over top-ranked Texas on Saturday. It was the fourth time the AP's No. 1 team in the preseason poll has met the previous season's national champion in the opener. The defending champ has won the last three.
After an entertaining Week 0 appetizer and a smattering of games Thursday and Friday, it's time for Week 1 of the college football season to finally kick off. And the game to start off the first full Saturday of the season couldn't be much better. Editor's Picks It's the Texas Longhorns vs. the Ohio State Buckeyes. It's the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in the preseason AP poll facing off.
