Week 3 College Football Matchups and Predictions Highlight Key SEC Showdowns
The third week of the 2026 college football season features several top-25 contests, including a prime-time clash between No. 8 Ole Miss and No. 7 LSU, with analysts offering game-by-game forecasts.
Week 3 of the 2026 college football season includes a slate of top-25 matchups across the SEC, ACC and Big 12. The centerpiece is a prime-time game at Ole Miss, where the Rebels host former coach Lane Kiffin’s LSU team, both ranked in the top ten and positioning themselves as conference and national title contenders.
In the Big 12, No. 22 Houston travels to No. 13 Texas Tech in Lubbock, a game that could influence the path to the conference championship. The ACC sees No. 16 SMU facing No. 23 Louisville, while other notable contests include No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest and No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas.
Analysts predict Ole Miss to win 30-24 over LSU, Texas Tech to edge Houston 27-23, and SMU to prevail 34-29 against Louisville. Additional forecasts include Miami defeating Wake Forest 41-17, Georgia beating Arkansas 40-13, and Clemson holding off North Carolina 20-16.
The full schedule lists predictions for all Division I games, ranging from high-scoring outcomes such as Oregon’s 63-7 win over Portland State to tighter contests like Kansas State’s 34-17 victory over Tulane. These projections aim to guide fans as the season progresses toward conference play.