What the Week 3 college football schedule lacks in marquee matchups, it makes up for in rivalry intrigue as mid-September arrives with narratives around the sport taking shape. Though conference action is heating up for some teams, the Saturday slate is full of in-state matchups that will put Power Four teams on upset alert.
In the afternoon window alone, Oregon State hosts No. 9 Oregon, Washington hosts Washington State and Utah State hosts No. 12 Utah. But that’s just the start as the evening puts Deion Sanders and Colorado back in the national spotlight. The Buffaloes are traveling an hour north to play Colorado State in a 7:30 p.m. ET rivalry clash on CBS. Both teams have dealt with early-season stumbles and could use an energizing victory to help build momentum.
Other notable in-state clashes involving Power Four teams on Saturday include No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue on CBS, North Texas at Texas Tech, No. 13 Oklahoma State at Tulsa, Virginia Tech at Old Dominion and UTSA at No. 2 Texas. Even the late-night window has one to offer with Cal hosting San Diego State.
Here’s a viewer’s guide to help you navigate through all of Saturday’s action.
All times Eastern
The best games
No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin — noon on Fox, fuboTV (try for free): Alabama was underwhelming for the first 50 minutes of its Week 2 home victory against South Florida before turning it on late to reach 2-0. Now comes the first road game of the Kalen DeBoer era inside a hostile Big Ten venue. The Badgers looked rickety in their first two victories against lesser opposition but should be amped for the Crimson Tide’s first visit to Madison, Wisconsin, since 1928.
No. 16 LSU at South Carolina — noon on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): LSU’s first visit to South Carolina since 2008 looks significantly more interesting following the Gamecocks’ 31-6 dismantling of Kentucky. The Tigers have major questions to answer on both sides of the ball and will be heading into a hornet’s nest as Carolina looks to continue reshaping the perception of what its ceiling is in 2024.
No. 24 Boston College at No. 6 Missouri — 12:45 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (try for free): Is Boston College for real? Or was BC’s upset win at Florida State in Week 1 just a product of FSU’s ineptitude? We’ll find out as the Eagles head to Missouri to face a Tigers team that has not allowed a point in two wins against overmatched teams. Boston College won a 41-34 overtime thriller against Mizzou in 2021.
No. 18 Notre Dame at Purdue — 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free), Paramount+ with Showtime: After an embarrassing home loss against Northern Illinois, Notre Dame must quickly regroup for a trip to Purdue. The Boilermakers are coming off a rare Week 2 bye and should be licking their chops after the offensive weakness the Fighting Irish showed in their loss to NIU.
No. 9 Oregon at Oregon State — 3:30 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (try for free): Oregon has looked surprisingly vulnerable in its first two games. Now comes a rivalry showdown with former Pac-12 foe Oregon State. This is the marquee game on the Beavers’ schedule, and they’ll be motivated to avenge last year’s 31-7 loss as they play host to the Ducks.
Colorado at Colorado State — 7:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free), Paramount+ with Showtime: Colorado edged Colorado State 43-35 in double overtime in one of the most thrilling games of the 2023 season. Finally, the Rams get a chance at revenge as they host a one-dimensional Buffaloes team coming off a 28-10 loss at Nebraska. Is either team a College Football Playoff contender? No, but this type of game is what college football is all about.
Best of the rest
- Arkansas State at No. 17 Michigan — noon on Big Ten Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- Memphis at Florida State — noon on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- No. 13 Oklahoma State at Tulsa — noon on ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free)
- UMass at Buffalo — 1 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- Ball State at No. 10 Miami — 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- Tulane at No. 15 Oklahoma vs. — 3:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- Texas A&M at Florida — 3:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (try for free)
- Washington State vs. Washington (Seattle) — 3:30 p.m. on Peacock
- No. 12 Utah at Utah State — 4:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
- No. 5 Ole Miss at Wake Forest — 6:30 p.m. on CW
- UTSA at No. 2 Texas — 7 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free)
- Northern Iowa at No. 23 Nebraska — 7:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky — 7:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (try for free)
- Kent State at No. 7 Tennessee — 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (try for free)
- BYU at Wyoming — 9 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
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