Week 3 of the college football season had no shortage of chaos on the field, but the TV numbers told their own story: the sport still delivered a loaded weekend even with weather delays reshuffling part of Saturday’s schedule.
The biggest audience of the week belonged to LSU vs. Ole Miss, which drew 10.90 million viewers on ABC on Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.
ET. That made it the most-watched game of Week 3 and the second-most watched game of the season, according to data compiled by On3.
The matchup had plenty going for it before kickoff, with Lane Kiffin returning to Oxford for the first time since leaving Ole Miss last season. On the field, Trinidad Chambliss took over the spotlight, finishing 33 of 48 for 363 yards and two touchdowns through the air while also scoring the game-winning rushing touchdown with 6:14 left in the fourth quarter.
Weather interruptions had a major effect on Florida State vs. Alabama, but the game still pulled in 7.01 million viewers on ABC before shifting to ESPN2.
ABC only carried the first half because of the delays. Keelon Russell was sharp in Alabama’s win, going 23 of 30 for 320 yards and three passing touchdowns while adding a rushing score as the Crimson Tide got revenge for last year’s upset.
Kentucky’s upset of Texas A&M came next with 5.36 million viewers across ABC and ESPN during the 3:30 p.m. ET window on Sept.
- The Wildcats got a signature Year 1 win for Will Stein in College Station, and Kenny Minchey played efficiently, completing 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns.
CJ Baxter added 19 carries for 87 yards and two scores on the ground.
Georgia’s 45-17 road win over Arkansas was the most-watched noon game of the week, drawing 4.18 million viewers on ABC. The Bulldogs controlled the game in Fayetteville and got a full performance from Gunner Stockton, who went 10-for-13 for 147 passing yards and a touchdown while also leading the team with 97 rushing yards. Chauncey Bowens chipped in three rushing touchdowns.
North Carolina vs. Clemson brought in 3.59 million viewers on ESPN in the early window, though weather once again played a part.
The Tar Heels had a 17-3 lead at one point before Clemson rallied for a 28-20 win. Tait Reynolds passed for 215 yards and a touchdown, and Gideon Davidson added a rushing score.
The game started on ESPN before moving to ESPNEWS, which is not Nielsen-rated.
Michigan State vs. Notre Dame drew 3.24 million viewers on NBC despite competing with LSU vs.
Ole Miss in primetime. Notre Dame trailed 17-10 at halftime, then shut out the Spartans after the break to win 27-10.
Nolan James Jr. powered the run game with 26 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown, while CJ Carr went 18-for-24 for 234 passing yards as the Irish moved to 3-0.
Friday night’s Houston vs. Texas Tech matchup brought in 3.03 million viewers on FOX.
The Top-25 showdown in Lubbock went down to the wire, with Houston nearly forcing overtime before Conner Weigman’s two-point conversion try came up short. Will Hammond led Texas Tech by going 17-for-27 for 257 yards and a touchdown, and Cameron Dickey added 65 rushing yards and a score.
The Red Raiders are now 3-0 with a ranked win on the resume.
Kent State vs. Ohio State rounded out FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff slot with 2.72 million viewers.
Ohio State left no doubt in a 59-3 win at The Horseshoe. Julian Sayin completed 18 of 22 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns before Luke Fahey entered at quarterback, and Ja’Kobi Jackson scored twice on the ground.
Miami vs. Wake Forest also made noise on Friday night, with Darian Mensah putting together a record-setting start in the Hurricanes’ 33-20 win.
He set Hurricanes and ACC records with his 24-for-24 opening stretch and finished 30 of 34 for 220 yards and three touchdowns. Malachi Toney added 12 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
Miami now heads into its first Saturday game of the season after opening with three straight weekday games.
Florida’s win over Auburn gave Jon Sumrall his first SEC victory as Gators head coach, and ESPN picked up a ratings win in the primetime window despite the competition. Jadan Baugh did the heavy lifting, rushing 26 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Florida now turns to a Week 4 home game against Ole Miss.
Week 4 arrives with six ranked matchups on the schedule, including three in Saturday night’s primetime window.
In Other News...
Kentucky Finally Gets To Enjoy The SEC Shorts Joke
SEC Shorts leaned into another round of SEC chaos this week, and Kentucky got a rare turn in the spotlight for the right reasons. The Week 3 video touched on LSUs loss to Ole Miss and Kentuckys upset of Texas A&M, while also playing with Lane Kiffins return to Oxford and even bringing in Morgan Freeman as the voice guiding the mayhem.
For Kentucky fans, the amusing part is not just the win getting noticed, but the tone of the joke itself. After plenty of past sketches where the Wildcats were the punch line, this one had them in a much better place, which is about as good a sign as any that the football season has started to tilt their way. [Read more 🡒]
Kenny Minchey May Have Started A New Kentucky Quarterback Conversation
Kenny Mincheys performance against Texas A&M gave Kentucky something it has been searching for at quarterback, and the reward followed quickly. The Wildcats passer was named a Davey OBrien Great 8 Quarterback of the Week after completing 14 of 18 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in an upset victory that turned plenty of heads.
Mincheys recognition also moved him onto the Davey OBrien Midseason Watch List, adding another layer to a week that already felt significant for his place in the offense. For Kentucky, the bigger question now is whether one sharp outing was just a breakthrough moment or the start of a much larger conversation under center. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky's Upset Left Texas A&M Dealing With A Brutal New Blow
Kentuckys 31-21 upset of Texas A&M in Week 3 did more than hand the Wildcats a notable win. It also left the Aggies trying to absorb a sharp drop in the rankings, from No. 9 to No. 23, after a game that felt costly well beyond the final score.
Texas A&Ms bigger concern came almost immediately, when wide receiver and kick returner Terry Bussey went down on the opening kickoff and never returned. Bussey had been a key piece for the Aggies and entered the season as a preseason All-SEC kick returner, making the loss especially tough for a team already recalibrating after a setback that changed the mood in College Station fast. [Read more 🡒]