Bleacher Report's Ultimate Guide to College Football Week 3

A football game will commence at 11:59 p.m. ET Saturday night, meaning college football will have real estate on your television for nearly 24 consecutive hours. That is a majestic dispatch for those of us who pride ourselves as football zombies, and UC Davis vs. Hawaii will take us home after what could be a storyline-flooded day. 

Week 2 delivered in almighty, unexpected fashion. After some skepticism concerning the lineup of potentially intriguing games, chaos arrived in the form of “almost.” We didn't quite get there, but we got awfully close. 

Now, with more conference games easing into the equation and ranked opponents ready to touch gloves, Week 3 seems poised to grab the baton and take us to another threshold of welcomed madness.

The eyes will instantly drift to the ranked teams, although the schedule is far meatier than that. As for all the potential lunacy on tap, here is a look at the games, teams and players worth monitoring.

(Well, beyond Hawaii-UC Davis, of course.)

The Buffet: Previewing the Top 5 Games of the Week

Gus Ruelas/Associated Press

5. Stanford at USC (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET, ABC)

Had it not been for Stanford’s Week 1 loss at Northwestern, this game might have had a slightly higher positioning in The Buffet. Still, it’s pretty significant.

In two games, USC outscored Arkansas State and Idaho 114-15. It’s worth noting that these startlingly one-sided victories came against, well, Arkansas State and Idaho. Still, the Trojans have mixed youth with experience and found an early balance on offense. Also, wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, with a helping hand from quarterback Cody Kessler, looks like he’s on the fast track to superstardom. 

Stanford resumed normal operation last weekend with a 31-7 victory over UCF, which isn’t saying much given UCF’s rocky 2015 debut. Despite the offensive ugliness featured in the loss to Northwestern, this team has talent. Quarterback Kevin Hogan is capable, running back Christian McCaffrey is electric and tight end Austin Hooper is a matchup nightmare.

How many times will Cardinal head coach David Shaw elect to punt from the opposition’s side of the field? The answer, if Stanford wants to win this game as a significant underdog, with odds provided by OddsShark, is hopefully none.

4. BYU at UCLA (Saturday, 10:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1)

Before the season began, this looked like it would be a fine game on paper. Not superb, but good enough. Now, after magical moments and magnificent introductions, this one should have your full attention.

In a matter of seven days, BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum has become a player alumni will talk about for generations. His late-game heroics in back-to-back weeks have given the Cougars unexpected life after starting quarterback Taysom Hill went down for the season with a foot injury. The latest came against Boise State, when Mangum found Mitchell Juergens with a 35-yard heave on fourth down with 45 seconds remaining in the game, propelling BYU to victory.

UCLA, meanwhile, quietly went about its business against UNLV—winning 37-3. Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen didn’t bring his Super Mario invincibility star to this particular game, finishing with 223 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Given the fact that he has played in exactly two collegiate games, though, he is still trending exceptionally well. 

Momentum meets momentum of a different kind, and the end result could be wildly entertaining. UCLA is the more talented team at many positions. But that may not translate into a win, considering the voodoo in play.

3. Auburn at LSU (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

The food at this tailgate is going to be exceptional. Perhaps that’s the only guarantee that exists in a game swarmed by uncertainty. 

Let’s start with 2-0 Auburn, which is a label that is both accurate and completely unstable. The Tigers narrowly avoided what would have been one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport in an overtime win against Jacksonville State. Quarterback Jeremy Johnson has not looked comfortable, and the middle of the defense was gashed at times against a team it had no business being gashed against.

LSU’s season started late thanks to a rainout in the first week, although the Tigers hung on against Mississippi State on Saturday night, 21-19. It was not easy, and the ending took on a very Les Miles-ian feel, but it was a win. 

Leonard Fournette looked like his normal self—a tugboat with a 727 engine. Quarterback Brandon Harris only threw for 71 yards in the victory, however, which is a problem. It goes without saying, but that will likely not suffice in many games moving forward.

There will be mistakes. There will likely be poor clock management. This has a chance to be the Rubik's Cube of football games. Get solving.

2. Georgia Tech at Notre Dame (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC) 

This sport is cruel and unusual. Notre Dame knows this firsthand after watching starting quarterback Malik Zaire suffer an ankle injury vs. Virginia that will keep him out for the rest of the season.

This heartbreak was somehow parlayed into a magnificent come-from-behind win, thanks in large part to this throw from DeShone Kizer with less than a minute remaining: 

“He can win games for us,” Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly told ESPN.com's David M. Hale following the win. “But I want to win a championship with him. We need to get him to the next level." 

With Georgia Tech coming to town, the learning process will have to be expedited. Kizer, who was a highly regarded pro-style recruit coming out of high school, has the task of beating a quality program that is clicking on all cylinders.

The Yellow Jackets made quick work of Alcorn State and Tulane in the first two games, and they’ll now take their show on the road to South Bend, Indiana. Quarterback Justin Thomas is a star, and he could watch his profile take off with a victory on this stage. 

As much as we will discuss Kizer’s play, the most significant matchup will be Notre Dame’s defensive line against Georgia Tech's unrelenting rushing attack. Cancel all afternoon plans; do watch this.

1. Ole Miss at Alabama (Saturday, 9:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

When Ole Miss beat Alabama last season, the students carried around the fallen Oxford goal posts for hours. They then cut up these goal posts, which are now resting comfortably on coffee tables and in display cases.

That game had a weight to it, and that part has not changed a year later.

Through two contests, Ole Miss looks like an immovable object in 2015. Even without offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil—perhaps the nation’s most elite lineman—the Rebels are rolling. Against Tennessee-Martin and Fresno State, head coach Hugh Freeze’s team scored 149 points behind the arm of quarterback Chad Kelly. It’s early, but he looks the part. 

Granted, those numbers won’t come into play this week—not against a Nick Saban defense with stellar front seven pieces at his disposal. The focus will once again shift to the place it has been all along: the Tide quarterback. After a solid debut, Jake Coker (214 yards passing, one touchdown, one interception) did not look nearly as comfortable against Middle Tennessee. 

With future NFL players scattered all over the field, this one promises to be a doozy. Revenge, conference standings, College Football Playoff positioning, fanbase sanity—there’s plenty up for grabs, as if you needed any extra motivation to sit down and watch every minute.

The Quiet Killer, aka The Game You Haven’t Made Plans to Watch but Should: Memphis at Bowling Green (Saturday, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

Nick Wass/Associated Press

I can’t begin to tell you how unreasonably excited I am for this game, although I can try.

In two contests, Bowling Green quarterback Matt Johnson has thrown for 915 yards and eight touchdowns. He also kept the Falcons close to Tennessee for much longer than most expected and led his team past Maryland, 48-27.

Memphis, meanwhile, just dismantled Kansas 55-23 after such a fabulous 2014 season. The Tigers, led by head coach Justin Fuente, are on the rise.

It’s not Alabama-Ole Miss, but it could very well be the most watchable game of the weekend. Do yourself a favor and stream this one; points will likely come in bunches.

The Game Your Dad Would Love: Nebraska at Miami, Florida (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN2)

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

At one point not long ago, these were the two biggest brands in college football. Times, of course, have changed, but that shouldn’t take away from A) the history in play with a rather unique matchup, and B) the urgency both teams have to win this game.

Miami did not look fully functional against FAU for much of its game in Week 2. Nebraska, having just beaten South Alabama following its crushing loss to BYU in Week 1, is still very much a work in progress with new head coach Mike Riley.

The winner will not vault to the top of the AP poll like old times, but don’t let that mute your father's enjoyment. (Be a good child and just tell him the last decade has gone as planned.)

The Matchup That Still Looks Like a Typo: Virginia Tech at Purdue (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. E.T, ESPNU) 

Cory Seward/Getty Images

Just look at those programs sitting next to each other. It doesn’t look right, does it? I’m not exactly sure what it is about Virginia Tech playing Purdue that feels so strange, but it does.

This is a rather important matchup for both programs. It's also a game that Purdue could very well win.

Seriously though, is this matchup real?

Show and Tell: Names You Should Probably Get to Know

Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech, QB

Through two games, Texas Tech’s sophomore quarterback has passed for 786 yards, ran for 71 yards and accounted for 10 touchdowns (eight passing, two rushing).

Playing in a system that caters to his abilities, Patrick Mahomes looks like a quarterback who will eventually play on Sundays. Now he’ll get a crack at Arkansas in Week 3, a game that did not go well for the Red Raiders last season. Whether that changes or not, be on the lookout for Mahomes this week and beyond. He can ball.

Will Likely, Maryland, CB

If this is your introduction to one of the nation’s most electric footballers, welcome.

Yes, Will Likely is an excellent defensive back for Maryland. He has eight tackles in two games and led the Big Ten in interceptions a season ago with six. Where he truly excels, however, is on special teams. Likely has returned a punt for a touchdown in each of this season's first two games. He has also totaled 315 return yards on just 10 returns!

Seriously, that is absurd. I would tell teams to stop kicking to him, but quite frankly I want to see more. 

Chris Wormley, Michigan, DE 

I have logged serious hours watching Michigan in the first few weeks, and no Wolverine has jumped out more than defensive end Chris Wormley. He has been everywhere, blowing up offensive lines with great regularity. Through two games, he has six tackles for loss, which ties him for second nationally.

His importance and greatness stretch well beyond numbers. And at 6’5” and 300 pounds, he’s on the verge of making himself a lot of money come NFL draft time. Don’t just tune into Michigan games for Jim Harbaugh’s next sideline tirade; watch his best player go to work.

Coaches Seated on Warm Chairs: Week 3 Installment

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Kyle Flood, Rutgers

Since September started, seven Rutgers players have been arrested. Six have been kicked off the team. The latest player involved in a troubling situation is star wideout Leonte Carroo, who was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident outside of the team’s football stadium. Oh, and Rutgers just lost to Washington State a week after the Cougars lost to Portland State.

And on Wednesday, the school suspended Flood for three games and fined him $50,000 "following a university-led investigation into rules violations," per Keith Sargeant of NJ.com.

Times are tough.

Mike London, Virginia

He was less than a minute away from quieting all hot-seat conversations for the foreseeable future. But when Will Fuller caught a touchdown pass to give Notre Dame the victory over Virginia last Saturday, Mike London’s job status returned to its familiar, unstable position. This picture pretty much says it all. The schedule doesn’t get much easier, either. 

"

This is glorious. Had not seen this yet. pic.twitter.com/CS3ORYOZqV

— In Bud We Trust (@PappyCather) September 14, 2015"

Paul Rhoads, Iowa State 

His team played well against rival Iowa, although the Week 2 loss vs. the Hawkeyes did not help Paul Rhoads’ campaign to keep his job. The Cyclones are an underdog to Toledo this week, per OddsShark, before getting Kansas in Week 4. After that, with conference play really kicking into gear, the wins are hard to come by. What that means is to be determined.

Parting Shot: Embracing College Football’s Great New Underdog Without Jumping the Gun

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

If Temple is undefeated and ranked in the Top 20 when it plays Notre Dame on Halloween, do not be surprised. In fact, with wins over Penn State and Cincinnati in their first two games, the Owls look like a team you want no part of.

Running back Jahad Thomas is becoming a star before our eyes. The defense is a nasty, talented bunch. This isn't just a team on a really good run; it’s deep, athletic and now confident. It’s deserving of your attention. It deserves it not because of what it could do down the line if things stay on this magnificent course, but for what it’s doing right now. 

Oftentimes while embracing college football’s unexpected stories—usually an underdog team, coach or player—we process the ceiling rather than enjoy the journey. We look ahead rather than directly in front. Instead of wondering where Temple can go, let’s watch it live and process it in real time. 

There is something special about this team. What that means in terms of wins or bowl games should take a backseat for now. Just enjoy it instead. The Owls take on Massachusetts this weekend.