College Football Top 25: 9 Week 3 Games Guaranteed to Shake Up the Rankings

In what ESPN is billing as "Road Test Weekend," 12 ranked teams travel to face their opponents, while 14 games feature undefeated squads playing each other.

While they all carry some significance, Kansas vs Georgia Tech does not carry the cachet of No.1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State.

This is a list of the games that will help move the needle nationally and would change the rankings should the cards fall right.

9. No. 18 West Virginia at Maryland

Right now, West Virginia is sitting pretty at 2-0.

New coach Dana Holgorsen has the Mountaineers' offense rolling.

They will hit the wall that will slow them down on Saturday.

Maryland and young quarterback Danny O'Brien took down Miami in their first contest in those eye-catching uniforms.

The Terps have only played one game, but both teams are averaging 340+ passing yards per contest.

The difference between the two?

Maryland did it against a solid BCS squad; WVU did it against Marshall and Norfolk State.

This will be a high scoring shootout, but Maryland will edge WVU, placing themselves squarely in the top 25.

8. UCF at FIU

How in the world is UCF not ranked?

This is only one example of why the preseason polls are not the best way to go.

The Knights are 2-0 and absolutely humbled Boston College last week. Quarterback Jeff Godfrey has five scores on the ground already and leads an explosive offense.

FIU's T.Y. Hilton might be the most exciting player in the college game right now, but after that, the Panthers are pretty thin.

UCF should win this one, and with that win, they will propel themselves into the rankings.

7. Washington at No. 11 Nebraska

Taylor Martinez has been less than stellar for the Huskers over the first two games, which has been mildly surprising.

On top of that, the defense was torched last week by Fresno State, which was really surprising.

Bo Pelini is likely to blow up a time or two in this one.

A week ago, there would be no question about this matchup, but after that performance by the defense last week, there are some lingering questions.

The pressure will be huge this week for the Huskers, and the Huskies have shown they can throw points on the board.

This game may be more interesting than expected.

Even if the Huskers win, if they struggle once more, voters will start to give them less love in the polls, and they will be leap-frogged.

6. Eastern Michigan at Michigan

I know what you are thinking.

"Why this game?"

It's simple, really.

Michigan was the last team out of both the Coaches' and AP poll.

While this game won't really affect the polls in and of itself, as long as the Wolverines don't have another Appalachian State experience, they will easily be in.

Given their recent history, however, let's not assume to much.

5. No. 8 Oklahoma State at Tulsa

Keep an eye on this one.

The Golden Hurricanes are absolutely loaded on offense.

Take the over.

This upset is a very distinct possibility. Oklahoma already beat Tulsa in Norman and beat them handily. However, Okie Lite does not have the defense that the Sooners have and could struggle to stop Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne.

Brandon Weeeden is putting up Heisman-like numbers but has thrown some interceptions.

Look for Tulsa to push Oklahoma State to the limit.

And if this game is even close, Texas A&M will jump the Cowboys in the AP poll, as they are separated by only 10 points.

4. No. 17 Ohio State at Miami

Anybody who watched the Ohio State game last week knows the Buckeyes are in trouble.

Toledo repeatedly dared Joe Bauserman to throw the ball down the field by stacking the box, and he couldn't do it. There was a third-and-12 play late in the game where the Rockets had nine guys in the box.

Al Golden is likely salivating right now at the thought of his athletic defense facing an offense that can't move the ball effectively.

It might be a good time to use Braxton Miller, Coach Fickell.

Either way, the Hurricanes are at home and are amped up for revenge.

If the Buckeyes thought Toledo was rough, they are in for a surprise.

3. No. 15 Michigan State at Notre Dame

Look, the Irish are not that bad.

They lost to USF and Michigan by virtue of their stupid turnovers. They are averaging five per game. Anyone who thinks that trend is going to remain a constant is crazy.

Besides that, Kirk Cousins and company have struggled recently away from home with good teams.

The Spartans are currently allowing only three points per contest, but the competition has been less than stiff. Tommy Rees, Michael Floyd and Cierre Wood will have no trouble putting up points against Michigan State.

This is where the Irish get the ship righted, and MSU drops.

2. No. 3 LSU at No. 25 Mississippi State

Is it just me, or has almost every game not played on Saturday this season been an absolute thriller?

This one is looking like another dogfight.

These teams may not be as unevenly matched as some would have you think, LSU always seems to struggle with Dan Mullen's squad in Starkville.

Either way, whether the Tigers win or not, this one will create some movement in the rankings.

A slip-up by MSU would allow Michigan, USC or UCF  into the rankings, while the upset to LSU would move the needle more at the top of the pecking order.

Just hunker down for a good one, regardless of result.

1. No. 1 Oklahoma at No. 5 Florida State

Look, we all know about the pounding the Seminoles received last season in Norman.

This is their chance at revenge.

However, when you look at the two teams, there are few places that the Seminoles appear to have the advantage.

One that sticks out is in the defensive backfield.

FSU's Greg Reid and Xavier Rhodes are the best cornerback tandem in the country, and will need end Brandon Jenkins to pressure Landry Jones into making mistakes.

Last season, Reid was torched by Jones to Ryan Broyles, and you better believe the battle of the night will be Reid and Rhodes against Broyles and Kenny Stills. Jones' struggles on the road have been well-documented, and these are not the same two teams that met last season.

Either way, whoever loses will drop from the top 10, while the winner will solidify a spot in the top five.