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The 2024 College Football is starting to roll. Most fan bases across the country still have hope that their team can reach the 12-team CFP. With an expanded playoff field, more programs entered the season with dreams of winning it all than ever before. These are the 20 key matchups to watch in Week 3…
#20 Arizona @ #14 Kansas State
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On Friday night, the first huge matchup of the Big 12 slate takes place in Manhattan, Kansas. For the first time since 1978, Arizona (2-0) will take on Kansas State (2-0). The former Pac-12 members have played two completely different games so far. In its first win, Arizona’s offense was dominant but the defense struggled. Last week, the offense misfired but the defense allowed just 10 points. Kansas State dominated UT Martin to begin the year and nearly lost last week to Tulane. K-State overcame a 10-point deficit to take down the Green Wave, but it may not have as much room for error against Arizona. For two teams hoping to contend for the Big 12 Championship, this is a massive game.
Indiana @ UCLA
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This will be a fun matchup in a few months when basketball season begins, but what can we expect this weekend when Indiana (2-0) and UCLA (1-0) meet at the Rose Bowl? Saturday’s showdown will be the first time these two programs have met on the gridiron. Indiana has been impressive in its two wins — outscoring its opponents 108-10. The Bruins put forth an incredibly mediocre performance in their win over Hawaii two weeks ago. We expect UCLA to play better against the Hoosiers, but Indiana appears to have more firepower heading into this game.
#4 Alabama @ Wisconsin
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For just the third time, Alabama (2-0) and Wisconsin (2-0) will go to battle. For the Tide, the No. 4 team in the nation is coming off a lackluster showing at home against South Florida. While the final score was ugly (42-16), Alabama held just a one-point lead entering the fourth quarter and the game was within five points with 6:45 to play. On the other side of the field, Wisconsin has had two uninspiring victories — topping Western Michigan and South Dakota by 14 points apiece. For either team, a loss this weekend could result in back-to-back defeats. Following a Bye Week for both programs, Alabama will host No. 1 Georgia, and Wisconsin will travel to Los Angeles to take on No. 11 USC.
Memphis @ Florida State
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This will be a fascinating game. Regarded as one of the top Group of 5 teams in the country, Memphis (2-0) travels to Tallahassee to take on Florida State (0-2) — a team led by former Memphis head coach Mike Norvell. The Seminoles are in dire need of a win but there aren’t many reasons to believe they will secure one this weekend. Led by running back Mario Anderson (171 yards and four TDs in 2024), the Tigers will pull off the upset as FSU continues to spiral.
Texas A&M @ Florida
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Texas A&M and Florida both have a ton to prove. A&M (1-1) is in the midst of a culture shift with first-year coach Mike Elko just beginning his tenure, while Florida (1-1) is playing for a head coach (Billy Napier) who is firmly on the hot seat. Following their Week 1 loss to Notre Dame, the Aggies dropped 52 points on McNeese to secure their first win. The Gators were embarrassed at home by Miami to open the season and Napier made a change at quarterback as a result. Prized recruit DJ Lagway lived up to the hype in his first start, throwing for 456 yards and three TDs in a 45-7 win over Samford. Can Lagway come close to matching that performance against A&M?
Oregon @ Oregon State
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The Civil War will look a bit different this year, but we are glad it is still taking place. One of two remaining members of the Pac-12, Oregon State (2-0) will host the rival Oregon Ducks (2-0) in the 128th edition of the game. The Beavers lost their head coach to Michigan State in the offseason and saw a slew of players transfer — including star running back Damien Martinez joining Miami. Against Oregon, the plan will likely be to run the ball throughout the game. In two games, Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson have combined to rush for 475 yards and six TDs. Oregon cannot overlook the Beavers.
Washington State @ Washington
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Like Oregon vs. Oregon State, this game historically took place at the end of the season. However, Washington’s decision to join the Big Ten resulted in a Week 3 tilt against its rival. Washington State (2-0) is trying to give the Pac-12 a big win over one of its former high-profile members. Washington (2-0) is not the team it was last year, but it is still plenty capable of winning a lot of games. The Cougars have scored 107 points so far and are coming off an impressive 37-16 win over Texas Tech. For the Huskies, the key to this game may be slowing down Wazzu QB John Mateer. In addition to throwing for 467 yards and six TDs, Mateer is leading the Cougars with 252 rushing yards.
#5 Ole Miss @ Wake Forest
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Does Wake Forest have enough to put a scare into Ole Miss? Probably not. The Demon Deacons (1-1) blew a big lead last week in a home loss to Virginia. A 17-3 lead in the second quarter was cut to three points by halftime. Then, Wake took a 30-17 lead into the fourth before being outscored 14-0 in the final 15 minutes. Virginia had no trouble throwing the ball which doesn’t bode well in a matchup against Jaxson Dart and the Rebels (2-0). A Heisman candidate, Dart should have no trouble dismantling Wake through the air en route to an easy win.
UTSA @ #2 Texas
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This is a game that lost a bit of steam last weekend. Texas (2-0) was always going to be a big favorite in this matchup, but USTA (1-1) was expected to be a bit better than shown so far. Last week, the Roadrunners were obliterated by Texas St., 49-10. Barring a complete disaster, the Longhorns will trounce UTSA — this game should be over before halftime.
#1 Georgia @ Kentucky
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Here is another game that lost a bit of steam following last weekend’s results. No. 1 Georgia (2-0) has dominated both of its games and will now take on an opponent they haven’t lost to since 2009. The Bulldogs have owned the matchup with Kentucky (1-1) — losing just four times dating back to 1990 — and they should handle the Wildcats once again. Last week, Kentucky was embarrassed at home by South Carolina. A 9.5-point favorite entering the game, UK lost 31-6 as starting QB Brock Vandagriff went 3-of-10 for 30 yards and one interception.
Tulane @ #15 Oklahoma
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Here is my upset pick of the week. The Sooners (2-0) barely beat a poor Houston team last week in Norman. 16-12 winners, Oklahoma totaled 249 yards on offense and struggled to find success on the ground or through the air. Meanwhile, Tulane (1-1) gave No. 14 Kansas State all it could handle in a 34-27 loss. The Green Wave led by 10 at halftime and held a 27-20 lead in the fourth quarter before the Wildcats mounted a comeback. Tulane QB Darian Mensah will win the game for the underdogs with two TDs in the fourth quarter.
#16 LSU @ South Carolina
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College GameDay is headed to Columbia this weekend to watch No. 16 LSU (1-1) take on South Carolina (2-0). This may be a very telling game. LSU had a great chance to beat USC to begin the season but fell short. Last week, the Tigers found themselves in a close battle with Nicholls in the third quarter before putting the game away with three TDs in an eight-minute span. South Carolina began its season with a 23-19 win over Old Dominion and proceeded to shock everyone last week by dismantling Kentucky, 31-6, on the road. Are either of these teams above-average? We’ll see.
#18 Notre Dame @ Purdue
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Oh, Notre Dame. A huge win in College Station over a ranked Texas A&M team was immediately overshadowed by a humiliating loss at home to Northern Illinois. Now, the Fighting Irish (1-1) hit the road again to face Purdue (1-0). The Boilermakers blanked Indiana State, 49-0, in their opening game behind a big game from former Texas QB Hudson Card. Card torched the Sycamores for 273 yards and four TDs. Notre Dame is facing a ton of pressure entering this game, and a second loss in a row is certainly in play.
Air Force @ Baylor
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While the result of this game won’t carry a ton of weight, it should be a fun tilt between a Mountain West program and an average Big 12 team. Air Force (1-1) defeated Merrimack in its opener and was upended by San Jose State last week. Baylor (1-1) handled Tarleton State — shocker — before falling to No. 12 Utah last week. While a 23-12 loss to a ranked team is not bad, the final score was misleading. Utah built a 23-0 lead in the first half with star QB Cam Rising on the field, but it failed to score following Rising leaving the game with a hand injury. Air Force will try to burn the clock by leaning on its running game, while Baylor is likely to air it out.
Colorado @ Colorado State
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Last year’s edition of this game was awesome. On the heels of big wins over TCU and Nebraska, Colorado entered the showdown with the Rams as the No. 18 team in the nation. The Buffaloes barely survived a fiery double-OT game, but that was the last good moment of their season. Now, we get the rematch. Colorado (1-1) was thrashed by Nebraska last weekend while Colorado State (1-1) secured its first win with a 38-17 win over Northern Colorado.
UCF @ TCU
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This is the first-ever matchup between TCU (2-0) and UCF (2-0). The Horned Frogs are coming off a disappointing 2023 season but have opened the year with two solid wins — including a victory at Stanford in Week 1. UCF has dominated both of its opponents, outscoring its foes 102-17. Despite being the visitors, the Knights are a 2.5-point favorite this weekend. UCF is led by former Arkansas star QB KJ Jefferson and running back RJ Harvey. The Knights have three strong backs, but Harvey is currently the go-to man — he has rushed for 268 yards and six TDs on 30 carries. If TCU wants to win, it will need to have success on the ground. The Frogs are currently averaging 3.3 YPC.
San Diego State @ California
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Ah, a classic battle between an Atlantic Coast Conference member and a team from the Mountain West. The Golden Bears (2-0) are returning to their home state following a huge win at Auburn last weekend. Their opponent, the Aztecs (1-1), enters the game on the heels of a 21-0 loss at home to Oregon State. California has a great opportunity to enter ACC play with a perfect record. SDSU will lean on RB Marquez Cooper (6.9 YPC), but may not have enough to hang with the Golden Bears.
Virginia Tech @ Old Dominion
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At first glance, this is a mismatch. Virginia Tech (1-1) has a strong history and has competed at the top of college football. Meanwhile, Old Dominion (0-2) is a member of the Sun Belt. The Hokies should win this game — but it is far from a guarantee. The Monarchs opened the season with a 23-19 loss at South Carolina and played another close game last week — a 20-14 loss to East Carolina. Tech won last year’s matchup, 36-17, but ODU knocked the Hokies off in 2022 and also claimed a win in ’18. Don’t be fooled by their record, the Monarchs can win this game.
West Virginia @ Pittsburgh
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Who doesn’t love the Backyard Brawl? The first meeting between these two schools came in 1895. After an 11-year hiatus, the rivalry reignited in 2022. Pittsburgh won in ’22, and West Virginia won last season. Now, the Panthers (2-0) and Mountaineers (1-1) are ready to fight for bragging rights. Pittsburgh trailed 24-6 last weekend before coming back from the dead to beat Cincinnati, 28-27. WVU was manhandled by Penn State, 34-12, to start its season, but trounced UAlbany in its second game. The Mountaineers are entering a daunting stretch of games — vs. Kansas, @ No. 13 Oklahoma State, vs. No. 21 Iowa State, vs. No. 14 Kansas State, @ No. 20 Arizona — so this feels like a must-win.
#24 Boston College @ #6 Missouri
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This is a fascinating game. Missouri (2-0) entered the season with high expectations. Meanwhile, Boston College (2-0) was viewed as a bit of a mystery. Led by former Texans head coach Bill O’Brien, the Eagles dismantled Florida State in Tallahassee in their first game. Their second game was also impressive as they shut out Duquesne, 56-0. The Tigers boast arguably the nation’s best receiver in Luther Burden III, but they have cruised to two wins without Burden hitting his groove. Mizzou won its opener 51-0 and trounced Buffalo, 38-0, last weekend. Missouri appears to be a CFP contender, while a win for BC would vault the Eagles into the mix, as well.
