Three weeks into the season and we already have a new No. 1, a Heisman race changing by the week, college football at Wembley, and Florida State somehow conceding 50 points whilst convincing me things are heading in the right direction.
College football is a gloriously unserious sport.
Three weeks ago we thought we knew who the contenders were.
Two weeks ago we thought we knew who the pretenders were.
Now we’re all updating playoff predictions and hoping nobody asks us to explain them.
Exactly as nature intended.
Wembley. At Last.
Before heading stateside, let’s start with something closer to home, and close to the hearts of the AAW team.
The inaugural Union Jack Classic brought major college football to Wembley Stadium, as Arizona State and Kansas gave UK fans a rare opportunity to watch a meaningful regular-season FBS game without boarding a plane.
The atmosphere wasn’t quite Austin. The tailgates weren’t quite Baton Rouge.
And nobody released a live bison.
But it was ours.
For those of us who’ve spent years explaining why we’re voluntarily watching college students play American football until 3am, it felt like a small vindication for the UK community.
Ole Miss, LSU And The Lane Kiffin Soap Opera
Every season delivers one game that feels bigger than the result.
This was one of them.
Ole Miss beat LSU 32-24, with Trinidad Chambliss delivering another huge performance and strengthening his early Heisman credentials. The added subplot of Lane Kiffin facing his former programme only added to the theatre.
The SEC likes to market itself as football’s version of Game of Thrones.
Most weekends that’s an exaggeration.
This weekend?
Not so much.
Vanderbilt Just Produced The Ending Of The Season
Week 3’s defining moment came from Nashville.
Vanderbilt somehow beat NC State 35-31 on the final play of the game.
Trailing 17-0 early and 24-7 in the third quarter, the Commodores fought back before producing one of the most absurd endings you’ll ever see. With 6 seconds left, NC State attempted to run out the clock.
Instead, quarterback CJ Bailey was hit in his own end zone, fumbled, and Cayden Daniels recovered for a game-winning Vanderbilt touchdown. The review upheld the play and chaos ensued.
If you’d scripted it, people would complain it wasn’t realistic.
College football remains undefeated.
Texas Continue Looking Like Texas
For years we’ve lived through the cycle:
- Texas are back.
- Texas are not back.
- Repeat.
This year’s version is becoming slightly annoying.
Texas comfortably handled UTSA to move to 3-0 and reinforce their position at the top of the rankings.
Our resident Texas supporter, Sam, is understandably delighted.
The rest of us are considerably less thrilled by the number of times we’re being reminded that the Longhorns are No. 1.
Notre Dame And Michigan Keep Winning Quietly
Whilst everyone else was generating headlines, Notre Dame calmly improved to 3-0 by beating Michigan State 27-10.
They’ve become the football equivalent of the neighbour with the perfectly maintained garden. No drama. No noise. Just results.
Nick definitely won’t mention that every week. Absolutely not.
Meanwhile, Michigan followed up their win over Oklahoma with a 52-17 victory over UTEP, quietly turning a Week 1 near-disaster into a respectable 3-0 start. Bryce Underwood continues to develop nicely.
A fortnight ago everyone was discussing clock reviews. Now they’re discussing rankings.
That’s elite crisis management.
Fletch has shown admirable restraint throughout. By which I mean he’s mentioned it every seven minutes.
Oregon’s Group Therapy Session
Last week Oregon were the punchline.
This week they beat Portland State 84-0.
Does that erase the Oklahoma State loss? No.
Does scoring 84 points make everyone feel better? Also yes.
Adam will undoubtedly tell us this proves Oregon are completely fixed. The rest of us remain unconvinced.
Kentucky Chooses Violence
Every year one team emerges from nowhere and decides rankings are optional.
This week it was Kentucky.
The Wildcats marched into Kyle Field and knocked off Texas A&M 31-21 behind a superb performance from Kenny Minchey
Predicting the SEC should come with a medical warning.
A Quick Florida State Wellness Check
Nope, thank you for asking.
Florida State lost 50-36 at Alabama.
The offence occasionally looked competent.
Unfortunately Alabama scored fifty.
As a Seminoles fan, I’ve reached the point where saying:
“There were some positives.”
Actually means:
“Please stop looking at the scoreboard.”
The Week 3 Awards Nobody Asked For
Most Predictable Outcome: SEC Chaos
Most Responsible Adult: Notre Dame
Largest Overreaction Generator: Kentucky
Most Therapeutic Performance: Oregon
Most College Football Play Of The Weekend: Vanderbilt’s walk-off fumble recovery touchdown
A play so ridiculous it somehow out-chaosed the rest of Week 3.
Final Thoughts
Three weeks in and the season is already thriving.
Texas remain No. 1, which means Sam remains insufferably happy.
Notre Dame continue quietly winning.
Michigan have gone from clock controversy to playoff discussion.
Oregon have temporarily stopped the bleeding.
Ole Miss are contenders.
Kentucky are troublemakers.
Vanderbilt may have invented a new category of ending.
And Florida State continue to test the limits of fandom!
Meanwhile, college football came to Wembley Stadium. That alone makes Week 3 feel a little bit special for those of us on this side of the Atlantic.
Because that’s what makes this sport great.
Sometimes it’s about championships.
Sometimes it’s about rankings.
And sometimes it’s about a team accidentally fumbling away victory in its own end zone.
Week 3 is done.
The chaos is thriving.
And somehow, we’re only just getting started.
