CBS Sports Network has another loaded schedule of college football action in store Saturday as we dive into Week 3 of the 2021 season. Four intriguing nonconference games are on the slate, featuring No. 14 Iowa State’s road trip to face UNLV at Allegiant Stadium in the last game of the day. The Cyclones’ attempt to bounce back after last week’s rivalry loss to No. 5 Iowa will be the nightcap, but there is plenty of action to enjoy throughout the day.
UConn is still looking for its first victory (and first touchdown against an FBS opponent) after an 0-3 start that included a loss against Holy Cross of the FCS. The Huskies are traveling to play a 2-0 Army team at noon to begin the slate on CBS Sports Network. The middle two games of the day feature a couple of Group of Five programs jockeying for national visibility: SMU will look to improve to 3-0 at Louisiana Tech while San Diego State hosts Utah. Knocking off the Utes would constitute a breakthrough victory for the Aztecs and their well-traveled coach, Brady Hoke.
The action then culminates with the Iowa State-UNLV showdown in a contest that will run well into the early-morning hours of Sunday for viewers in the Eastern time zone.
Here is the full rundown of all the Week 3 action on CBS Sports Network.
Louisiana Tech vs. SMU
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18 | Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Joe Aillet Stadium — Ruston, Louisiana
TV: CBS Sports Network [Channel finder]
Live stream: CBSSports.com | Mobile: CBS Sports App
Storylines: All of the attention in the AAC seems to be on Cincinnati and UCF. The Bearcats are ranked No. 8 and the Knights are now led by former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. But SMU, led by Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai, is off to a 2-0 start and can take some momentum into next week’s showdown at TCU if it handles Louisiana Tech. The Bulldogs have a transfer quarterback of their own, ex-West Virginia signal caller Austin Kendall, who led them to a near-upset at Mississippi State in Week 1. Coincidentally, Kendall began his career at Oklahoma, where he and Mordecai were teammates.
San Diego State vs. Utah
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18 | Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Dignity Health Sports Park — Carson, California
TV: CBS Sports Network [Channel finder]
Live stream: CBSSports.com | Mobile: CBS Sports App
Storylines: The Mountain West is proving to be a tough league. San Diego State, Utah State and Nevada already own victories against Pac-12 teams this season. Boise State and Fresno State also narrowly missed out on big road wins against UCF and Oregon, respectively, in Week 1. San Diego State can pick up a second straight victory over a Pac-12 South team after last week’s 38-14 thrashing of Arizona as it welcomes the Utes to town. This could be a tough spot for Utah as it tries to recover from last week’s emotional loss to BYU.
UNLV vs. Iowa State
Date: Saturday, Sept. 18 | Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
Location: Allegiant Stadium — Las Vegas, Nevada
TV: CBS Sports Network [Channel finder]
Live stream: CBSSports.com | Mobile: CBS Sports App
Storylines: UNLV hung tough with No. 23 Arizona State last week, trailing by just four at halftime before falling 37-10. The Rebels get another crack at a power conference foe by welcoming No. 14 Iowa State to town. The Cyclones are recovering from a crushing 27-17 loss to rival Iowa and need to get a promising season back on track. They are heavy favorites, but UNLV did beat Iowa State in the last meeting back in 2008 in Las Vegas.
