College football rankings 2024: Georgia and Texas at the top, Illinois in the top 25

Georgia showed signs of breaking down against a Kentucky team that had easily defeated South Carolina just a week ago. That's one perspective.

Kentucky demonstrated the strength of the SEC by standing up to the call against the best team in the sport and the presumptive favorite to win the sport's strongest and most competitive division. That's the second view.

If South Carolina LSU on the ropes until outstanding QB LaNorris Sellers had to leave the game in the second half due to injury, it is the second view that feels right. If Alabama scores the highest score against Wisconsin at Camp Randall since 2008. The second view seems to be correct.

When Texas QB Arch Manning comes off the bench to become only the third player in the last 20 years to run for a 65-yard touchdown and throw for a 65-yard touchdown in a win over UTSA. It's the second view that's correct.

In Week 3 of the 2024 college football season, the SEC proved that its slogan is true: “It just means more.”

So here are my top 25 rankings after an exciting third week:

1. Georgia (3:0)

Result week 3: Kentucky defeated 13-12

The top-ranked Bulldogs had their hands full with Kentucky all night, with Kirby Smart admitting his team had a lot of work to do after a total of nine penalties and a lackluster offensive performance that resulted in just 262 yards.

Georgia has a bye next weekend before traveling to Tuscaloosa on Sept. 28 to face Alabama in an SEC showdown.

2. Texas (3:0)

Result week 3: UTSA defeated 56-7

Quinn Ewers left the game in the first half with what Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian called an abdominal strain. Ewers has never played an entire season without missing a game due to injury.

Enter redshirt freshman Arch Manning, who continued to live up to his reputation as the No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class, completing 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns and also scoring another touchdown on the ground.

3. Ohio State (2:0)

Result week 3: idle

4. Tennessee (3:0)

Result week 3: Kent State defeated 71-0

Nico Iamaleava has been one of the hottest names in sports through the first three weeks of the season, but on Saturday it was the Vols' running game that stole the show. Tennessee totaled a staggering 456 yards and six runs in a dominant win over Kent State.

The Vols have outscored their opponents 191-13 through the first three weeks of the season. Next weekend, things get serious for Josh Heupel's team when they travel to Norman to face SEC newcomer Oklahoma.

5. USC (2:0)

Result week 3: idle

6. Ole Miss (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Wake Forest40-6

Jaxson Dart looks like one of the best, if not the best, quarterback in college football right now. He looked impressive in his first two weeks, but that was against Furman and Middle Tennessee. On Saturday, against a Power 4 opponent, Dart completed 26 of 34 passes for 377 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 13-yard rushing TD late in the third quarter, racing past three Wake Forest defenders and into the end zone.

7. Alabama (3:0)

Result week 3: Wisconsin defeated 42-10

Kalen DeBoer's team scored 42 points against Wisconsin, the most points scored by an opponent at Camp Randall since 2008. With his third consecutive game with two passing and two running touchdowns, Jalen Milroe is a serious candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

The Tide have next week off before facing a Georgia team that got off to a sluggish start against Kentucky in Week 5. A win would make Milroe the favorite for the Stiff Arm Trophy.

8. Penn State (2:0)

Result week 3: idle

9. Oregon (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Oregon State 49-14

For the first time this year, the Ducks showed the offensive and defensive strength we've come to expect from them this season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 20 of 24 passes for 291 yards as Oregon totaled 546 yards of offense in the win over their in-state rival.

Dillon Gabriel throws a DIME for a 20-yard pass touchdown as Oregon extends its lead over Oregon State

10. Miami (Florida) (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Ball State 62-0

Cam Ward threw for 346 yards and five touchdowns in the win. The Heisman candidate has passed for at least 300 yards and thrown for at least three touchdowns in every game this season. The Hurricanes rushed for 750 yards — 507 of them through the air — against the Cardinals, topping off their list of nonconference games.

11. Missouri (3:0)

Result week 3: Boston College defeated 27-21

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown in a comeback win, the Tigers' first this season against a Power 4 team.

After trailing 14-3 early in the second quarter, Mizzou scored 24 straight points to secure the win.

12. State of Oklahoma (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Tulsa 45-10

Quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 396 yards with five touchdowns and an interception in a win over the private Presbyterian program in Tulsa.

13. Utah (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Utah State 38-21

Despite playing without Cam Rising, the Utes were able to keep a tight end on their in-state rival and former starting quarterback Bryson Barnes. Quarterback Isaac Wilson completed 20 of 33 passes for 239 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception.

14. Clemson (1-1)

Result week 3: idle

15. Michigan (2-1)

Result week 3: Defeated Arkansas State 28-18

Davis Warren managed to complete every pass he threw. The only problem was that three of them went to the other team. Warren completed 11 of 14 passes, with all three incomplete passes resulting in interceptions.

Running back Kalel Mullings is currently the Wolverines' best offensive weapon, rushing for 153 yards on just 15 carries. Mullings rushed for just 195 yards all of last season.

16. LSU (2-1)

Result week 3: Defeated South Carolina36-33

LSU fought back and got a win against the Gamecocks, but the team looked lost against South Carolina's one-dimensional offense. LSU gave up 243 yards after giving up 150 yards to Nicholls State last week.

Garrett Nussmeier threw for 285 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in the win. He is averaging 298.3 passing yards per game this season.

17. State of Kansas (3:0)

Result week 3: Arizona defeated 31-7

Avery Johnson appears to be the right fit. The talented second-year quarterback threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for 110 yards on the ground in a win over the Big 12 non-conference opponent.

18. Oklahoma (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Tulane 34:19

Oklahoma's defense hasn't allowed more than 14 points to any opponent all season, but with Tennessee's turn to play, the strength of OU's 2024 program will be tested by one of the SEC's best programs in its first-ever game in the new conference.

19. Louisville (2:0)

Result week 3: idle

20: Syracuse (2:0)

Result week 3: idle

21. Illinois (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Central Michigan 30-9

The Illini are 3-0 after a win over a seeded opponent and will face an undefeated Nebraska team in Lincoln on Saturday to open Big Ten play.

Illinois' defense has forced nine turnovers in three games.

22. State of Iowa (2:0)

Result week 3: idle

23. Nebraska (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Northern Iowa 34-3

Dylan Raiola and the Cornhuskers scored on five of their first six possessions in the game. Raiola finished with 247 yards and two touchdowns, giving Nebraska its best start since 2016.

24. Notre-Dame (2-1)

Result week 3: Defeated Purdue 66-7

The Irish responded to their embarrassing home loss last week by embarrassing the Boilermakers in their own stadium. Notre Dame rushed for six touchdowns and 362 yards in the in-state affair. The Irish totaled 278 of those rushing yards in the first half.

25. UNLV (3:0)

Result week 3: Defeated Kansas 23:20

Kylin James scored on fourth down from the 1-yard line with 1:51 left to give the Rebels a memorable win over Kansas on Friday night. UNLV is the only team in the Mountain West Conference, along with San Jose State, that is still undefeated through the first three weeks of the season.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The number one college football show.“Follow him at @RJ_Young And Subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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