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The games worth watching in the third week of college football include rivalry games

By Hudson Brooklyn
The games worth watching in the third week of college football include rivalry games

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If we've learned anything about college football over the years, it's that the sport can produce crazy results time and time again. Even though it may seem like there are no big games on the Week 3 schedule, you should always, well, expect the unexpected.

With that in mind, here are our picks for the weekend's best games, ranked by entertainment potential and national significance. As always, keep one eye on the scoreboard and one hand on the remote in case a game not listed here suddenly becomes interesting (Northern Illinois, anyone?).

No. 18 Arizona at No. 15 Kansas State

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The only top-25 matchup in Week 3 starts the weekend early. In this re-alignment, these two Wildcats are now conference mates in the Big 12. However, this game was scheduled before Arizona joined the league and thus does not count toward the conference standings. It should still be a fun affair, as both teams can move the ball in different ways. The primary means of transportation for the Tucson Wildcats is by air from QB Noah Fifita to WR Tetairoa McMillan. The home Wildcats of the “Little Apple” were most effective on the ground, primarily via RB DJ Giddens, although QB Avery Johnson also contributed.

Why it might disappoint: It shouldn't. Neither defense is stingy enough to stop the opposing offense outright. The only way it could be defeated is if one team starts committing a series of turnovers.

WEEKEND FORECAST: Experts for every Top 25 game in Week 3

No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin

Time/TV: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: The Crimson Tide hit the road to face what could be their toughest non-conference challenge before embarking on their packed SEC schedule. The Badgers, for their part, are poised for a huge jump in competition after a few unremarkable performances. Wisconsin hasn't done particularly well in the passing game, but QB Tyler Van Dyke has kept the ball out of harm's way. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe also struggled with his deep ball in his last outing, but the Badgers also have to worry about his speed when he leaves the pocket.

Why it might disappoint: Quite simply, Wisconsin is not built for comebacks. If the Crimson Tide get a lead of several points, they could blow it.

No. 6 Oregon at Oregon State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: Do you think there could be an upset in this game? The Beavers, one of the teams that are out of a spot in the latest round of conference travel to Jerusalem, would love nothing more than to dash the top-ranked Ducks' ambitions before their first taste of the Big Ten. Oregon loyalists are no doubt glad the team is done with Idaho State, but this visit to Corvallis will be anything but a mere dry run. The Ducks' offense has yet to get going in 2024 and needs some special teams scores to compete against Boise State. QB Dillon Gabriel has an excellent 84.3 completion percentage but has been sacked seven times with little ground support. Oregon State's RB duo of Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson have combined for 475 rushing yards and six TDs in two games, potentially bad news for a Ducks defense that has proven vulnerable on the ground.

Why it might disappoint: The Ducks have been unable to shut down their opponents early, so it's unlikely they'll be able to overcome the aggressive Beavers. It's possible Oregon can still shift gears, but this has the makings of another four-quarter battle.

Boston College ranked 8th Missouri

Time/TV: Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network.

Why watch: Everyone had that in mind, right? The Tigers have lived up to their lofty expectations without drama so far, but this visit from the Eagles could be more of a challenge than expected. BC had an equally drama-free week, with no hangover after the big win at Florida State, and now has a chance to stand out even more. Mizzou's offense has tremendous explosive potential thanks to the presence of WR Luther Burden III, but QB Brady Cook hasn't had to throw many long balls yet. The Eagles have averaged a time of possession advantage of over nine minutes, with agile QB Thomas Castellanos making extensive use of RBs Treshaun Ward and Kye Robichaux.

Why it might disappoint: What we don't know about the Eagles is whether they can handle comeback mode. The same goes for the Tigers, of course, so the early ups and downs could be quite exciting.

No. 22 Washington vs. Washington State

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock.

Why watch: Like the rivalry a state further south, the usual host venue for the season-ending Apple Cup became another casualty of the Pac-12 split. It's technically a neutral-site game in Seattle, as it's being played at the Seahawks' Lumen Field rather than Husky Stadium, but it should still be a home crowd for Washington. The Huskies got off to a bit of a slow start last week against Eastern Michigan, but showed solid offensive balance between QB Will Rogers and RB Jonah Coleman. The Cougars are coming off an impressive Power Four win over Texas Tech and would love to claim another as well as the rivalry trophy. Their offense is usually in the hands of QB John Mateer, who has accounted for six air touchdowns and two more on land for 719 total yards of offense.

Why it might disappoint: The Huskies' defense is the only unit that could have a decisive advantage, so the first few drives will be of utmost importance for the Cougars. If they are able to move the ball, the contest will likely remain exciting.

No. 19 Notre Dame at Purdue

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Why watch: Life as an independent in the 12-team era isn't getting any easier for the Fighting Irish, who now face the prospect of having to top the standings just to make the playoffs. None of that matters to the Boilermakers, who see this as just an opportunity to beat their sometimes-stronger, nationally-branded Hoosier State rival. We don't know much about Purdue yet, as they steamrolled Indiana State 49-0 in their only previous game. But well-traveled QB Hudson Card was nearly flawless in this test game, and he and the rest of his arsenal, which includes TE Max Klare and RB Devin Mockobee, will be fresh after a week off. Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard is still waiting for his first TD pass of the season. Having RB Jeremiyah Love in its backfield has helped, but expect Purdue to pressure the line of scrimmage until Leonard shows he can cross the line effectively.

Why it might disappoint: Given the lack of data, it's hard to say how the Boilermakers will fare at the line of scrimmage, but the Fighting Irish have been uneven at best in the trenches, making a decisive scoring drive seem unlikely.

No. 17 LSU in South Carolina

Time/TV: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET, ABC.

Why watch: The SEC continues to slowly get into league play. The Gamecocks actually already have a conference win under their belt after crushing Kentucky last week. The Tigers did manage to pick up a win, but had more trouble than expected defeating FCS visitor Nicholls State, so they head into SEC territory with unsolved issues. The connection between QB Garrett Nussmeier and WR Kyren Lacy has not been a problem for LSU, and they will pose a threat to the Gamecocks defense in the air that Kentucky was not able to pose a week ago. South Carolina's passing attack is stuck on defense, but RB Raheim Sanders has found the end zone a couple of times.

Why it might disappoint: LSU fans are sincerely hoping that this works out. The Gamecocks will likely have to work hard on defense to keep the win close.

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