Week 3 of the 2026 college football season delivered a mix of major upsets, comeback victories and statement performances, with several teams entering Saturday carrying national championship expectations leaving the weekend with plenty to address.
The biggest surprise came at Kyle Field, where Kentucky stunned No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21. USC also survived a scare against Rutgers, while Ole Miss secured one of the weekend's most significant wins by defeating No. 7 LSU in a dramatic SEC showdown.
Kentucky stuns Texas A&M at Kyle Field
Texas A&M suffered one of the most damaging results of Week 3 as Kentucky overturned an early 7-0 deficit to win 31-21 on the road.
The Wildcats scored 28 consecutive points during a decisive stretch spanning the second and third quarters. Kentucky repeatedly produced long scoring drives, including three touchdown possessions of at least 75 yards, putting the Aggies under sustained pressure.
Quarterback Kenny Minchey played a central role in the upset, throwing for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while CJ Baxter added two rushing scores. Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed, meanwhile, struggled with his accuracy and threw two interceptions.
The defeat was particularly costly because Texas A&M had been expected to navigate the early portion of its schedule before facing a more difficult stretch. The Aggies are now 2-1 and will need to quickly correct problems on both sides of the football, with LSU next on the schedule.
USC escapes Rutgers but defensive concerns remain
USC avoided an upset but did little to quiet questions surrounding its defense.
The Trojans defeated Rutgers 42-35 after allowing the Scarlet Knights to produce five touchdown drives covering at least 75 yards. Rutgers also registered 26 first downs, turning what looked like a manageable matchup into a high-scoring contest.
The result keeps USC unbeaten, but the defensive performance becomes a major storyline heading into a much tougher stretch. Oregon is next, giving the Trojans little time to solve the issues exposed by Rutgers.
Ole Miss wins dramatic showdown with LSU
One of the night's biggest games ended with No. 8 Ole Miss defeating No. 7 LSU 32-24.
The Rebels controlled the opening half and built a 24-7 advantage behind quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and an aggressive defensive performance. LSU responded after halftime, cutting deeply into the deficit and eventually leveling the game.
Ole Miss regained control late, however, and held on when LSU's final fourth-down opportunity ended with a tipped pass intercepted by Jaylon Braxton.
The victory was especially notable because it came during Lane Kiffin's return to Oxford, adding another layer to an already high-profile SEC matchup. ESPN highlighted the dramatic ending among the defining moments of Week 3.
Alabama rallies after early Florida State surge
No. 10 Alabama also faced significant resistance before eventually defeating Florida State 50-36.
Florida State jumped ahead 21-6, putting the Crimson Tide in an uncomfortable position early. Alabama responded with a powerful offensive performance, led by quarterback Keelon Russell, who threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns and added a 57-yard rushing touchdown.
The result highlighted both sides of Alabama's Week 3 performance: vulnerabilities on defense early and considerable firepower once the offense found its rhythm.
Other notable Week 3 results
Several other ranked teams produced important results:
- No. 1 Texas 30, UTSA 6: Texas remained unbeaten, although its offense struggled to find consistency.
- No. 2 Georgia 45, Arkansas 17: The Bulldogs controlled the game on the ground and through time of possession.
- No. 3 Notre Dame 27, Michigan State 10: Notre Dame's defense delivered a strong performance in a relatively low-scoring contest.
- No. 6 Ohio State 59, Kent State 3: The Buckeyes responded emphatically with a dominant victory.
- No. 23 Louisville 41, No. 16 SMU 31: Louisville won a back-and-forth matchup featuring seven lead changes.
- West Virginia 38, No. 25 Virginia 27: West Virginia moved to 3-0 after another notable upset.
- Vanderbilt 34, NC State 31: Vanderbilt produced one of the weekend's wildest finishes after recovering a late fumble in the end zone for the winning touchdown.
Week 3 report card: Where the contenders stand
CBS Sports' Week 3 assessment gave Texas A&M an F following its home defeat to Kentucky and assigned USC a D despite the Trojans' victory over Rutgers. The report also gave Ole Miss an A after its win over LSU, while Texas received a C following its less-than-dominant victory over UTSA.
The grades reflect a broader theme from the weekend: simply winning was not always enough for teams with championship ambitions. Several contenders survived or won while exposing weaknesses that could become more significant when conference play intensifies.
What Week 3 means going forward
The results have created substantial questions ahead of the next AP Top 25 update. Texas A&M's defeat is particularly significant because the Aggies still have several ranked opponents remaining on their schedule, while USC faces Oregon after allowing Rutgers to score 35 points.
Meanwhile, Ole Miss strengthened its position with a ranked victory, and Alabama showed that it can recover from a difficult start. The next few weeks will provide a clearer indication of whether the Week 3 surprises were isolated setbacks or early signs of larger problems for some of the country's championship contenders.
