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College football Week 3 schedule and predictions

By Nicholas Ian Allen

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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As the 2017 college football season heats up, we take a look at the Week 3 schedule, with previews and predictions of the top five games on the slate.

The first two weeks of the 2017 college football season have given us marquee non-conference matchups, beginning with Alabama-Florida State in Week 1 and continuing with Oklahoma’s upset victory over Ohio State in Columbus last Saturday, plus Georgia’s rare trip to Notre Dame.

The Crimson Tide and Sooners picked up signature wins to boost their respective playoff résumés, but as is part of the beauty of such early season heavyweight fights, neither the Seminoles nor Buckeyes should be counted out of the race yet. And though the Noles will have to wait another week to shake off the loss following two cancellations as a result of Hurricane Irma, No. 8 Ohio State jumps back into action with an intriguing matchup with a tricky, undefeated Army West Point squad.

Had Texas not stumbled against Maryland in its first game under new head coach Tom Herman, the Longhorns’ trip to No. 4 USC would give us a third straight weekend of premium non-conference matchups. Nevertheless, any time two of college football traditional powerhouses square off is cause to turn and watch.

Elsewhere, conference play is underway and there two sets of Top 25 division rivals square off in crucial early season games. Following a disappointing loss to Michigan, No. 24 Florida hosts No. 23 Tennessee, and after beating a ranked Auburn team at home, No. 3 Clemson travels to No. 14 Louisville for another primetime showdown.

Overall, with 21 games on the Week 3 schedule feature ranked teams, we preview the top five matchups.

Top 25 Week 3 Schedule, Kickoff Time and TV Info (Eastern)

Friday, Sept. 15

  • Illinois Fighting Illini at No. 22 South Florida Bulls, 7:00 p.m., ESPN

Saturday, Sept. 16

  • Air Force Falcons at No. 7 Michigan Wolverines, 12:00 p.m., Big Ten Network
  • No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys at Pitt Panthers, 12:00 p.m., ESPN
  • No. 25 UCLA Bruins at Memphis Tigers, 12:00 p.m., ABC
  • No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers at BYU Cougars, 3:30 p.m., ABC
  • No. 16 Virginia Tech Hokies at East Carolina Pirates, 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
  • No. 23 Tennessee Vols at No. 24 Florida Gators, 3:30 p.m., CBS
  • SMU Mustangs at No. 20 TCU Horned Frogs, 3:30 p.m., ESPNU
  • Mercer Bears at No. 15 Auburn Tigers, 4:00 p.m., SEC Network
  • Army Black Knights at No. 8 Ohio State Buckeyes, 4:30 p.m., FOX
  • Oregon State Beavers at No. 21 Washington State Cougars, 5:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network
  • Tulane Green Wave at No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners, 6:00 p.m., TBD
  • Colorado State Rams at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide, 7:00 p.m., ESPN2
  • No. 12 LSU Tigers at Mississippi State Bulldogs, 7:00 p.m., ESPN
  • Georgia State Panthers at No. 5 Penn State Nittany Lions, 7:30 p.m., Big Ten Network
  • Samford Bulldogs at No. 13 Georgia Bulldogs, 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
  • No. 18 Kansas State Wildcats at Vanderbilt Commodores, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
  • No. 3 Clemson Tigers at No. 14 Louisville Cardinals, 8:00 p.m., ABC
  • Texas Longhorns at No. 4 USC Trojans, 8:30 p.m., FOX
  • Fresno State Bulldogs at No. 6 Washington Huskies, 9:30 p.m., Pac-12 Network
  • No. 19 Stanford Cardinal at San Diego State Aztecs, 10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network
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