Week 3 • 2026
QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s no longer good enough to lose close games. Moral victories, they’re not good enough. We want to win these games. The standard here—I don’t care what it was before—the standard is we’re going to win these games.” - Oregon State captain and linebacker Dylan Layne after the Beavers’ loss to No. 13 Texas Tech
TEAM TO WATCH
TEAM OF THE WEEK
In a game featuring two potential CFP teams, Texas erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to rally past then-No. 1 Ohio State, 24-23, in Austin. The Longhorns are now the consensus No. 1 team in the country.
Oklahoma State pulled off a monumental 39-31 upset over No. 6 Oregon, snapping a 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents dating back to September 14, 2024. The Cowboys have now won 31 straight home openers, which is the longest active streak in FBS and the third-longest overall since at least 1979.
TEXAS
Texas possessed the ball for just over 10 minutes in the fourth quarter and scored three touchdowns on three drives. Heisman hopeful quarterback Arch Manning connected with wide receiver Ryan Wingo for a three-yard score before running back Hollywood Smothers added two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner with :25 left to cap a methodical 12-play, 73-yard drive. The Longhorns defense allowed just three points in the second half and held Ohio State to 94 yards rushing (3.0 ypc). The win marked Texas’ first home victory over an AP No. 1 team since it defeated SMU on November 4, 1950. The Longhorns host UTSA on Saturday, September 19, at 5:00 p.m. PHX on SEC Network.
OKLAHOMA STATE
The win also marked Oklahoma State’s first victory over an AP top six opponent since defeating No. 5 Notre Dame in the 2021-22 Fiesta Bowl. Transfer quarterback Drew Mestemaker completed 26-of-43 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 109 yards, including a clutch 10-yard go-ahead score in which he hurdled a defender into the end zone. His 426 total yards were the most against an AP top 10 team in nearly two years. Mestemaker’s performance earned four weekly honors, including three national awards. The Cowboys outgained the Ducks, 554-281, and held Oregon to 90 yards rushing (3.0 ypc) and Heisman hopeful Dante Moore to 14-of-29 passing. Oklahoma State hosts Murray State on Saturday, September 19, at 4:00 p.m. PHX on ESPN+.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
Week 3
GAMES TO WATCH #22 HOUSTON AT #13 TEXAS TECH
9.18 // 5:00 P.M. // FOX
ARIZONA STATE VS. KANSAS
AP WEEK 3 RANKINGS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Texas (+3) Georgia Notre Dame Indiana (+1) Miami (+2)
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Ohio State (-5) LSU (+1) Ole Miss (+1) Texas A&M (+1) Alabama (+2)
For a full AP Top 25 Rankings, click here.
9.19 // 9:00 A.M. // FS1
#16 SMU AT #23 LOUISVILLE
9.19 // 12:30 P.M. // ESPN2
FLORIDA STATE AT #10 ALABAMA
9.19 // 12:30 P.M. // ABC
FLORIDA AT AUBURN
9.19 // 4:00 P.M. // ESPN
For a full schedule of Week 3 games, click here. (All times in PHX)
GAME OF THE WEEK #7 LSU AT #8 OLE MISS
Lane Kiffin makes his highly anticipated return to Oxford as No. 7 LSU visits No. 8 Ole Miss in a matchup with major CFP implications. Kiffin accepted the LSU head coach position right before Ole Miss’s playoff run last year, a move that was not received well by Rebels fans. Both teams enter 2-0 as LSU cruised past Louisiana Tech, 45-14, behind Princewill Umanmielen’s three sacks, while Ole Miss steamrolled Charlotte, 41-9, led by Trinidad Chambliss’ 225 passing yards and two touchdowns. The Rebels have won 13 consecutive home games, which is the third-longest active streak in FBS. Kickoff at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is set for Saturday, September 19, at 4:30 p.m. PHX on ABC.
2026 BOWL PREDICTIONS CFP QUARTERFINAL at Vrbo FIESTA BOWL
CACTUS BOWL
ESPN Bonagura – No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 4 Georgia
ESPN Schlabach – Illinois vs. Oklahoma State
Sports Illustrated – No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Indiana
Sports Illustrated – Illinois vs. TCU
College Football News – No. 1 Notre Dame vs. No. 9 Texas
College Football News – Illinois vs. TCU
USA Today – No. 4 Miami vs. No. 5 Texas
USA Today – Michigan State vs. TCU
Pro Football Network – Ohio State vs. Miami
Pro Football Network – Minnesota vs. Oklahoma State
Athlon Sports – No. 3 Notre Dame vs. No. 6 Miami
Athlon Sports – Illinois vs. TCU
Week 3
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
TYLER SHOUGH Saints quarterback Tyler Shough put football fans on notice after his gritty performance to open the 2026 NFL season. The Chandler native completed 35-of-56 passes for a league-high 410 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime battle with the Lions, repeatedly keeping New Orleans in the game and leading a comeback attempt. Selected 40th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Shough finished his promising rookie campaign with a 5-4 record in nine starts, passing for 2,794 yards and 13 touchdowns. Shough’s performance against Detroit has sparked hope in New Orleans, which has been searching for a franchise quarterback since Hall of Famer Drew Brees retired in 2021. Before making the NFL, the Hamilton HS graduate played in the 2020-21 Fiesta Bowl, completing 7-of-9 passes for 79 yards and rushing for eight yards in his final game at Oregon. Shough and the Saints visit the Ravens on Sunday, September 20, at 10:00 a.m. PHX on CBS.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
JESSE LEGREE OREGON STATE
NATE SHEPPARD – DUKE
True freshman wide receiver Jesse Legree has quickly emerged as one of college football’s newest stars after two outstanding games to begin his college career. Against No. 13 Texas Tech, Legree caught eight passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, the most in FBS since Xavier Worthy’s 261 yards for Texas in 2021. Legree leads the nation with 376 receiving yards and earned his second straight PAC-12 Freshman of the Week honor.
Nate Sheppard was named ACC Running Back of the Week after posting 188 all-purpose yards (147 rushing, 41 receiving) and three touchdowns in Duke’s 31-27 win over Illinois. In the first half, Sheppard rushed for 102 yards (8.7 ypc) and scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown. Sheppard has recorded three consecutive tripledigit rushing performances, five straight games with a rushing touchdown and has accounted for 30 of Duke’s 48 points through two weeks.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
Week 3
BIG NEWS The Cactus Bowl enters an exciting new era with a fresh rebranding rooted in its Arizona heritage. The game will once again feature Bowl Season’s only Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup and is set for 5:30 p.m. MST on Saturday, December 26, in its grand return to Mountain America Stadium. As we eagerly await kickoff in Tempe, we’re bringing you weekly game highlights, player reports and other updates from the two conferences. Here’s the BIG news heading into Week 3:
BIG TEN •
Following a controversial Week 1 victory, Michigan pulled off a 17-10 upset over No. 11 Oklahoma in Ann Arbor and re-entered the AP Top 25 at No. 19. The Wolverines have surrendered just 22 points in their first two games and are 2-0 for the first time since 2023, when they won the national championship
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Four Big Ten defenses have allowed fewer than 10 points per game through two weeks, led by Penn State, which ranks No. 1 nationally at 4.5 points allowed per game, along with Iowa (6.5), Maryland (7.0) and Indiana (8.0)
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Nebraska quarterback Anthony Colandrea was named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 222 yards and a career-high four touchdowns in the first half of a 56-7 rout of Bowling Green. Michigan defensive end John Henry earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors with eight tackles and three tackles for loss, including a sack in the upset win
BIG 12 •
In the first Big 12 matchup of the season, BYU defeated Arizona 28-17 in front of 64,409 fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier shared Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors with Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, completing 16-of-26 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns, and added 37 yards and a score on the ground
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Oklahoma State’s upset over No. 6 Oregon started with its dominant play in the trenches, earning both Big 12 Offensive and Defensive Line of the Week honors. The Cowboys’ offensive line did not allow a sack and opened lanes for two 100-yard rushers, while their defensive line registered four sacks and held Oregon quarterback Dante Moore to a 22.4 QBR
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No. 22 Houston visits No. 13 Texas Tech in a key early-season Big 12 matchup. The defending conference champion Red Raiders are coming off a 35-24 road win over Oregon State, while the Cougars enter the matchup after their 77-6 dismantling of Southern
HOT TAKES ”Oklahoma State will be going to a bowl game. Coming off a rather disappointing year last season, things seem to be turning around in Stillwater as new head coach Eric Morris led his team to a stunning 39-31 victory over No.6 Oregon last week.” – Tim S., Illinois “Luke Weaver is going to take San Jose State on a Cinderella type of run, and they’re going to be a team we talk about come the playoffs.” – Joseph P., Hawai’i CLICK HERE to submit your hot takes for a chance to be featured in next week’s edition!
Week 3
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
NEWS IN THE FOUNDATION COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2026-27 GRANT RECIPIENTS
CACTUS BOWL TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT PRIMETIME COLLEGE FOOTBALL POSTSEASON ACTION IN TEMPE AT MOUNTAIN AMERICA STADIUM With the college football regular season underway, the new era of the Cactus Bowl is on tap for the 37th annual game on Saturday, December 26. Game tickets are now on sale to guarantee seat locations at Arizona State University’s Mountain America Stadium. The Cactus Bowl will feature college football’s only Big Ten-Big 12 matchup, with a primetime Saturday night kickoff at 5:30 p.m. MST, in Tempe. A variety of Cactus Bowl ticket options, including individual tickets, group tickets and premium experiences are available through the Fiesta Sports Foundation Ticket Office at fiestasportsfoundation.org/tickets, by reaching out to 480.350.0911 or tickets@fiestasports.org.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026
Continuing its legacy of delivering meaningful community impact across the state of Arizona, Fiesta Sports Foundation provided grants to 15 Arizona nonprofit organizations for the 2026-27 season. By the end of the 2026-27 season, the full slate of Fiesta Sports Foundation community impact programming will have enhanced the lives of more than one million Arizonans. By virtue of the funding, programs that will be implemented include providing safe shelter and services for individuals experiencing homelessness, expanding access to sports and recreation for youth with disabilities, delivering financial literacy and arts education to Title I schools and connecting Arizona youth to the outdoors through expanded access to the Grand Canyon National Park. For a full list of 2026-27 Fiesta Sports Foundation grant recipients and how those organizations will utilize the funding, please click here.
Week 3
CFP QUARTERFINAL AT THE Vrbo FIESTA BOWL DECEMBER 30, 2026
CACTUS BOWL
DECEMBER 26, 2026
F I E S TA S P O R T S F O U N D AT I O N . O R G /FIESTABOWL
Week 3
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COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDER // 2026