B/R's 2025 College Football Experts Top 25 Rankings After Week 3
Let the chaos begin!
If you had an 0-2 start for Notre Dame, a 1-2 start for Clemson and Vanderbilt knocking off South Carolina on the road among your preseason predictions, count yourself among the minority.
Those surprises and a few other happenings from across college football this weekend once again reshaped the national picture.
Now it's time for Bleacher Report's updated top 25 ranking after all the Week 3 action, with the college football writing staff of David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Joel Reuter and Brad Shepard making up our voting panel.
Nos. 25-21
1 of 11
25. South Carolina (2-1, Previous Rank: 10)
Week 3 Result: LOSS vs. Vanderbilt (7-31)
Next Week: at Missouri
A brutal hit, which resulted in a targeting penalty, knocked quarterback LaNorris Sellers out of the game with two minutes left in the first half and the Gamecocks trailing 14-7. Ultimately, the team was unable to rally after the break without him leading the offense. His health going forward will be a major storyline for a South Carolina team that entered the season with legitimate playoff aspirations following a six-game winning streak to close out the 2024 regular season and with a rising star under center.
24. Michigan (2-1, Previous Rank: 24)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Central Michigan (63-3)
Next Week: at Nebraska
The Wolverines exercised the frustration of last week's loss to Oklahoma on an outgunned Central Michigan team, logging 616 total yards and finishing off nine touchdown drives en route to a 63-point onslaught. Seven different Wolverines found the end zone, and true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood had a strong game with 235 passing yards, 114 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Despite the early loss, Michigan should be favored in every game the rest of the way until its regular-season finale with Ohio State.
23. Auburn (3-0, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. South Alabama (31-15)
Next Week: at Oklahoma
The Tigers used a 21-point second quarter to pull away from a pesky South Alabama team, with Jackson Arnold rushing for two touchdowns and passing for another to help Auburn improve to 3-0 heading into conference play. Two takeaways from the Auburn defense made the difference in a game that was more evenly matched than expected statistically.
22. Louisville (2-0, Previous Rank: 23)
Week 3 Result: BYE
Next Week: vs. Bowling Green
Louisville is now 21-8 under Jeff Brohm after a 2-0 start to the 2025 season. And with games against Miami (Oct. 17) and Clemson (Nov. 14) on the schedule, it has a chance to make some serious noise in the ACC race. USC transfer Miller Moss is off to a slow start under center, but returning 1,000-yard rusher Isaac Brown has 230 yards and three touchdowns on just 18 carries.
21. Vanderbilt (3-0, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 3 Result: WIN at South Carolina (31-7)
Next Week: vs. Georgia State
The Commodores took full advantage of a LaNorris Sellers injury late in the first half and outscored South Carolina 17-0 after the break to cruise to an upset victory on the road. Quarterback Diego Pavia added another marquee win to his Vanderbilt legacy a year after upsetting Alabama, and the Commodores are off to a 3-0 start for the first time since 2017 as they kick off SEC play with a bang. Now they have back-to-back non-conference games against Georgia State and Utah State.
Nos. 20-16
2 of 11
20. Georgia Tech (3-0, Previous Rank: NR)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Clemson (24-21)
Next Week: vs. Temple
The Yellow Jackets had upset wins over No. 10 Florida State and No. 4 Miami last season, and they have played their way onto the national scene this year with an early victory over a highly touted Clemson squad. After sitting out last week with a lower-body injury, quarterback Haynes King had 211 passing yards, 103 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. Aidan Birr drilled the game-winning 55-yard field goal to cap off a 10-play drive, answering a 13-play touchdown drive from Clemson to tie things up.
19. Missouri (3-0, Previous Rank: 25)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Louisiana (52-10)
Next Week: vs. South Carolina
The Tigers piled up 606 yards of total offense and held the Ragin' Cajuns to 121 yards—including just four passing yards—and 1-of-11 on third down in a dominant victory on both sides of the ball. Ahmad Hardy (22 carries, 250 yards, 3 TD) and Marquise Davis (20 carries, 113 yards, 1 TD) both had huge games on the ground for Missouri, and the Tigers should have plenty of momentum heading into next week's matchup with South Carolina.
18. Indiana (3-0, Previous Rank: 22)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Indiana State (73-0)
Next Week: vs. Illinois
Fernando Mendoza had a half to remember against overmatched Indiana State on Friday night, leading seven straight scoring drives to build a 45-0 halftime lead. He completed 19-of-20 pass attempts for 270 yards and five touchdowns while also adding a rushing score—all before spending the second half on the sidelines. The Hoosiers had a staggering 680-77 advantage in total yardage, and the Sycamores offense tallied just five first downs.
17. Utah (3-0, Previous Rank: 18)
Week 3 Result: WIN at Wyoming (31-6)
Next Week: vs. Texas Tech
Devon Dampier continues to be the perfect fit under center for the Utes and one of the most impactful transfer quarterbacks of the year. He tallied 230 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns through the air while also leading the team with 86 rushing yards on a night when they had 311 rushing yards. It was a 3-0 game at halftime, but the Utes found the end zone on all four of their second-half possessions, including a 19-play, 78-yard drive that ran nearly seven and a half minutes off the clock.
16. Texas Tech (3-0, Previous Rank: 21)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Oregon State (45-14)
Next Week: at Utah
The Red Raiders led 45-0 when Oregon State finally put points on the scoreboard for the first time with 5:05 remaining in the fourth quarter, cruising to victory behind a huge game from veteran quarterback Behren Morton, who finished with 464 passing yards and four touchdowns. The Texas Tech defense also limited the Beavers to a paltry seven rushing yards on 22 carries, setting the tone on both sides of the ball for a big road game against Utah next weekend.
Nos. 15-11
3 of 11
15. Alabama (2-1, Previous Rank: 16)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Wisconsin (38-14)
Next Week: BYE
Ty Simpson completed 24-of-29 pass attempts for 382 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Crimson Tide offense, while the Alabama defense picked off Wisconsin quarterback Danny O'Neill twice and limited the Badgers rushing attack to 2.7 yards per carry. Star wide receiver Ryan Williams returned after missing last week's game against Louisiana-Monroe and tallied five receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns for his third career 100-yard game.
14. Ole Miss (3-0, Previous Rank: 19)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Arkansas (41-35)
Next Week: vs. Tulane
The Rebels survived a huge game from Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (305 passing yards, 115 rushing yards, 2 TD) to kick off SEC play with a victory. The game was light on defense in the first half, with Ole Miss building a 31-28 lead. Points were harder to come by after the break, and a 12-play, 93-yard drive late in the third quarter that ended in a Rebels touchdown proved to be the difference. Trinidad Chambliss had 353 passing yards, 62 rushing yards and three total touchdowns in his first game starting in place of the injured Austin Simmons.
13. Tennessee (2-1, Previous Rank: 14)
Week 3 Result: LOSS vs. Georgia (41-44, OT)
Next Week: vs. UAB
The Volunteers jumped out to a 21-7 lead in the first quarter with three straight touchdown drives, but Georgia took the lead on the first possession of the second half, setting up a back-and-forth thriller. Tied at 38-38 with 2:32 left to play, Tennessee went 50 yards in 14 plays, but it missed what would have been a game-winning 43-yard field goal. The Volunteers settled for a made field goal to start overtime, but they couldn't keep the Bulldogs out of the end zone as they fell short in their upset bid. Joey Aguilar threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns, but he was also picked off twice.
12. Iowa State (4-0, Previous Rank: 11)
Week 3 Result: WIN at Arkansas State (24-16)
Next Week: BYE
The Cyclones were the highest ranked team ever to travel to Jonesboro for Saturday's road game against Arkansas State, and the Red Wolves trailed by just one point early in the fourth quarter after kicking a field goal. However, the Big 12 frontrunners survived the score when Rocco Becht led a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by an Abu Sama III touchdown run to seal the victory. Now it's a well-deserved bye week for an Iowa State team that opened the year in Ireland.
11. Illinois (3-0, Previous Rank: 13)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Western Michigan (38-0)
Next Week: at Indiana
A dominant 45-19 win over Duke last weekend vaulted the Fighting Illini into the top 10 in the AP poll for the first time since 2001, and they avoided a letdown on Saturday night with their first shutout of an FBS opponent since they blanked Iowa in 2000. Luke Altmyer threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns while adding a third score on the ground, while Kaden Feagin anchored the running game with his second career 100-yard performance on the ground.
Nos. 10-6
4 of 11
10. Oklahoma (3-0, Previous Rank: 12)
Week 3 Result: WIN at Temple (42-3)
Next Week: vs. Auburn
The Sooners defense completely shut down a Temple offense that had scored 97 points through its first two games, allowing just 104 total yards and a single field goal. The Owls went just 3-for-16 on third down and tallied seven total first downs in the game, while the Oklahoma defense had 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. John Mateer added to his early Heisman Trophy case with 282 passing yards, 63 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
9. Texas (2-1, Previous Rank: 6)
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. UTEP (27-10)
Next Week: vs. Sam Houston
Saturday's game won't convince anyone that the Longhorns are title contenders or that Arch Manning is a Heisman Trophy candidate. But a win is a win. Texas entered the game as 39.5-point favorites but were far from covering that spread even before the Miners found the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Manning completed 11-of-25 passes for 114 yards with a touchdown and an interception, though he did add 51 yards and two scores on the ground.
8. Florida State (2-0, Previous Rank: 8)
Week 3 Result: BYE
Next Week: vs. Kent State
An upset win over Alabama in Week 1 vaulted the Seminoles into the national conversation, and they followed it up with a 77-3 shellacking of East Texas A&M where they held a 729-197 advantage in total yardage. The running game has piled up 591 yards in two games, and dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos has looked like a perfect fit under center. Another cupcake awaits coming out of their early bye week, but an Oct. 4 matchup with Miami is fast approaching.
7. Texas A&M (3-0, Previous Rank: 15)
Week 3 Result: WIN at Notre Dame (41-40)
Next Week: X
After Notre Dame took a 40-34 lead with 2:53 remaining in the fourth quarter but failed to convert on the extra point, the Aggies seized the moment. A 13-play, 74-yard drive on the ensuing possession was capped off by an 11-yard touchdown strike from Marcel Reed to Nate Boerkircher, and Randy Bond drilled the extra point to give the Aggies a signature early win. Reed finished with 360 passing yards and two touchdowns, and Texas A&M overcame 13 penalties and an early 24-10 deficit to emerge victorious.
6. Oregon (3-0, Previous Rank: 5)
Week 3 Result: WIN at Northwestern (34-14)
Next Week: vs. Oregon State
The Ducks, opening Big Ten play with a convincing road win, built a 34-0 lead early in the fourth quarter before Northwestern finally put points on the scoreboard. Dierre Hill Jr. (5 carries, 94 yards, TD and Jayden Limar (11 carries, 38 yards, TD) anchored the rushing game, while quarterback Dante Moore completed 16-of-20 pass attempts for 178 yards with a touchdown and an interception to improve to 3-0 in his first year as starter.
5. Miami Hurricanes (3-0, Previous Rank: 7)
5 of 11
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. South Florida (49-12)
Next Week: vs. Florida
The Hurricanes avoided becoming the third straight victim of upset-minded South Florida thanks to 576 yards of total offense and a significant advantage in time of possession (36:01 to 23:59).
Carson Beck threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns, but he was also picked off twice. It was the running game that carried the day, with Mark Fletcher Jr. (16 carries, 121 yards, 3 TD) headlining a group that racked up 205 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
4. LSU Tigers (3-0, Previous Rank: 4)
6 of 11
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Florida (20-10)
Next Week: vs. SE Louisiana
The Tigers picked off Florida quarterback DJ Lagway five times, sealing the game when Dashawn Spears returned one of those interceptions 58 yards for a touchdown with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter to make it a 20-10 game.
The Gators actually outgained the Tigers by a 366-316 margin, but it's hard to win a game when you hand the opposition five extra possessions.
Garrett Nussmeier was 15-of-27 passing for 220 yards with a touchdown and an interception in another "meh" game for one of the preseason Heisman Trophy favorites. But the Tigers are 3-0, and they're squarely in position to contend for a playoff spot.
3. Penn State Nittany Lions (3-0, Previous Rank: 2)
7 of 11
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Villanova (52-6)
Next Week: BYE
The Nittany Lions defense has allowed two touchdowns so far this year. One came with a 46-3 lead and 25 seconds remaining against Nevada in Week 1, and the other came on Saturday in a 52-0 game as time expired.
It wasn't a great game for quarterback Drew Allar (16-of-29, 209 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), but the Penn State running game pounded out 237 rushing yards at a 6.2 yards-per-carry clip, with Kaytron Allen (10 carries, 86 yards, 1 TD) and Nicholas Singleton (29 carries, 84 yards, 2 TD) shouldering the load out of the backfield.
2. Georgia Bulldogs (3-0, Previous Rank: 3)
8 of 11
Week 3 Result: WIN at Tennessee (44-41, OT)
Next Week: BYE
A road win in the SEC against a ranked opponent is a nice early feather in Georgia's cap, even if it took overtime to come away with the victory.
A 28-yard touchdown pass from Gunner Stockton to London Humphreys with 2:32 remaining in the fourth quarter tied the game, and the defense bent but didn't break on Tennessee's final drive, holding them to a 43-yard field-goal attempt that they missed. Josh McCray delivered the game-winning touchdown run in overtime after the Volunteers settled for a field goal, and the Bulldogs remained undefeated.
Stockton completed 23-of-31 pass attempts for 304 yards and two touchdowns, also adding a rushing score in a standout individual performance.
1. Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0, Previous Rank: 1)
9 of 11
Week 3 Result: WIN vs. Ohio (37-9)
Next Week: BYE
Julian Sayin threw a pair of interceptions, and the Buckeyes didn't have any takeaways of their own. But it ultimately didn't matter, as they outgained Ohio by a 572-181 margin in total yardage en route to a comfortable win.
Sayin offset the picks with 347 passing yards and three touchdowns, while the Ohio State run game had 225 yards and 7.3 yards per carry.
Tip of the cap to the Buckeyes defense for limiting dual-threat quarterback Parker Navarro to just three rushing yards on five carries. He had 1,046 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns a year ago, and 180 yards on the ground through their first two games this season.
B/R Top 25 Rankings After Week 3
10 of 11
B/R Top 25
1. Ohio State
2. Georgia
3. Penn State
4. LSU
5. Miami
6. Oregon
7. Texas A&M
8. Florida State
9. Texas
10. Oklahoma
11. Illinois
12. Iowa State
13. Tennessee
14. Ole Miss
15. Alabama
16. Texas Tech
17. Utah
18. Indiana
19. Missouri
20. Georgia Tech
21. Vanderbilt
22. Louisville
23. Auburn
24. Michigan
25. South Carolina
Others Receiving Votes: South Florida
What's Next
11 of 11
The Week 4 slate provides an interesting mix of high-profile early conference matchups, in-state rivalries, notable bye weeks and the last batch of cupcake games before we fully dive into conference play across the college football landscape.
Top-tier title contenders Ohio State, Penn State and Georgia all have the week off, along with early Big 12 favorite Iowa State and one-loss Alabama. But there are still plenty of compelling matchups on the schedule.
ESPN College GameDay will be in Miami for Florida vs. Miami, and while that game lost some of its luster when the Gators suffered an upset loss to South Florida in Week 2, it is still a long-standing rivalry between two quality teams. The Hurricanes are 8-2 in the last 10 matchups, including a lopsided 41-17 victory a year ago.
Meanwhile, ranked games in the Big Ten (Illinois at Indiana), Big 12 (Texas Tech at Utah) and SEC (South Carolina at Missouri, Auburn at Oklahoma) should pave the way for plenty of shuffling in next week's Top 25 poll.
As far as potential upsets, Tulane traveling to Oxford to take on Ole Miss is one worth keeping an eye on. The Green Wave is off to a 3-0 start and fresh off a quality win against Duke. Former BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff has taken the reins and has them looking like one of the nation's best Group of Five teams.
Nebraska also has a chance to hand Michigan its second loss of the year as the Wolverines head to Lincoln for a tough early test to begin Big Ten play. The Cornhuskers outscored Akron and Houston Christian by a combined 127-7 margin the last two weeks.
See you all next weekend!
