Week 3 arrives with a slate that is packed from noon to night, but the game that jumps off the page is the one bringing Lane Kiffin back to Mississippi. No.
7 LSU visits No. 9 Mississippi in the most anticipated matchup on the 2026 regular-season calendar so far, and the stakes are already clear: the winner gets an early edge in the SEC championship race, even if the loser stays firmly in the College Football Playoff picture.
Kiffin spent six seasons coaching the Rebels before leaving in Nov. 2025, which only adds another layer to a game that already has plenty of weight. It also headlines a Saturday that features several ranked matchups with major implications across the sport.
One of the other most intriguing games of the day comes in Louisville, where No. 16 SMU takes on a Cardinals team that received the second-most votes among squads outside the top 25 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. With more than two months left in the regular season, that one could go a long way toward shaping who is best positioned to meet Miami in the ACC championship game.
There’s also a revenge angle in Tuscaloosa, where No. 10 Alabama hosts Florida State in a rematch of last year’s stunning 31-17 season-opening Seminoles win. Alabama enters as nearly a three-touchdown favorite and will be looking to settle that score.
The day opens with a full set of ranked teams in action at noon, including No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas on ABC, No.
6 Ohio State against Kent State on Fox, and No. 15 Penn State against Buffalo on Big Ten Network.
At 3:30 p.m., the schedule turns crowded fast, with No. 8 Texas A&M facing Kentucky on ESPN, Alabama and Florida State on ABC, No.
11 USC at Rutgers on CBS, No. 16 SMU at Louisville on ESPN2, No.
17 Utah vs. Utah State on Fox, and No.
19 Michigan vs. UTEP on Big Ten Network.
The late window keeps the pressure on. No.
3 Notre Dame meets Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. on NBC, while No. 7 LSU visits No.
9 Mississippi at the same time on ABC. Also at 7:30, No.
13 BYU plays at Colorado State on CBS and No. 21 Oklahoma hosts New Mexico on ESPN2.
No. 25 Virginia takes on West Virginia at 7:30 p.m. on ACC Network in a game being played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Elsewhere, No. 22 Missouri hosts Troy at 7 p.m. on SEC Network+, No.
14 Tennessee plays Kennesaw State at 7:45 p.m. on SEC Network, and No. 1 Texas closes the night against UTSA at 8 p.m. on SEC Network+.
There are also two more ranked teams in action in the midafternoon and early evening slots, with No. 4 Indiana hosting Western Kentucky at 4 p.m. on Peacock and No. 20 Iowa facing Northern Iowa at 4 p.m. on FS1.
For viewers, Week 3’s top-25 games will be spread across ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Fox, NBC, CBS, FS1, the ACC Network and the Big Ten Network on Sept. 19. ESPN-family games can be streamed through the ESPN app with a valid cable login or via Fubo, while over-the-air national broadcasts are also available through Fox Sports Go with a TV login, Fubo, SEC Network+ and Peacock.
In Other News...
LSU Fans Have One More Reason To Hate This Ole Miss Loss
Ole Miss 32-24 win over LSU was already frustrating enough for Tigers fans, with quarterback Trinidad Chambliss putting together a big day through the air and on the ground in a game that helped the Rebels leave with a rivalry win. He threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns, added another score rushing and had just one interception, giving Ole Miss plenty to celebrate after the final whistle.
For LSU fans, though, the irritation did not end with the scoreboard. Chambliss postgame interview with ESPNs Holly Rowe added one more layer to the loss when he let an expletive slip while delivering the Ole Miss cheer Hotty Toddy, a moment that will only sharpen how this result is remembered in Baton Rouge. [Read more 🡒]
Lane Kiffins Family Is Forcing Ole Miss Fans To Confront Something Ugly
As LSU and Ole Miss prepare for a high-profile matchup Saturday night, the attention around Lane Kiffin has spilled far beyond the sideline. His family, including daughter Landry, has been hit with inappropriate jokes on social media, a reminder of how quickly rivalry week can turn ugly when football noise bleeds into personal attacks.
Layla Kiffin, Lanes ex-wife, posted a message calling for kindness, and Landry publicly addressed the offensive comments as well. The game is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and will air on ABC, but the lead-up has already shown how much harder it can be for families attached to a marquee SEC game to stay out of the crossfire. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Suddenly Has A Trey'Dez Green Concern It Can't Ignore
TreyDez Green gave LSU a lift against Ole Miss before the fourth quarter turned troubling, and the Tigers immediately had to adjust to life without their tight end. Green hauled in a 19-yard reception before suffering an apparent right leg injury, then was evaluated on the field by medical staff as the LSU sideline watched a key pass-catching option go down.
By the time he was carted to the locker room, the LSU Football Radio Broadcast had ruled him doubtful to return, leaving the Tigers with a real concern in the passing game. Green had been LSUs leading receiver at the time of his exit with four catches for 60 yards, a reminder of how much the offense had already leaned on him before the injury interrupted the night. [Read more 🡒]