The biggest game of Week 3 might not be the one grabbing the most national buzz.
Sure, LSU’s trip to Ole Miss has the flash, the storyline, and Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford. But when it comes to the ACC race and the College Football Playoff picture, SMU and Louisville may be playing the more consequential game.
The stakes are simple enough: both teams look like the leading candidates to meet Miami in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte. With the Hurricanes appearing to sit well above the rest of the league, Saturday’s winner will gain a real edge in the chase for that spot - and, by extension, a stronger path toward the playoff.
There’s still a lot of football left, of course, and college football loves to blow up neat little projections. But the early schedule has lined up in a way that makes this one hard to ignore.
SMU already picked up a road win at Florida State in Week 1, while Louisville opened with a loss to Ole Miss on a last-second field goal. Both teams then handled FCS opponents in Week 2.
From here, the road looks manageable for each. Outside of SMU’s late-November game against Notre Dame, which won’t count in the ACC standings, both teams are likely to be favored the rest of the way. That makes this matchup in Louisville especially valuable.
And it should be a fun one to watch, too.
SMU brings Kevin Jennings into the matchup, now in his third season running Rhett Lashlee’s offense. The Mustangs have also added some dangerous pieces around him, including Kendrick Raphael and four receivers who have already topped 100 receiving yards through the first two games.
Louisville counters with Jeff Brohm trying to push the Cardinals to the next level behind Lincoln Kienholz. The Ohio State transfer needed a little time to settle in in the opener, but he found his rhythm in the second half and carried that into Week 2. He’ll have plenty of help, with Isaac Brown standing out as one of the best running backs in college football.
Miami remains the clear favorite in the ACC, no matter who ends up facing the Hurricanes in the title game. Still, there’s one detail that adds a little extra intrigue here: SMU and Louisville were the last two teams to beat Miami last season before the Hurricanes went on their run to the national championship game.
Saturday’s game will be played at Louisville, giving the Cardinals a home-field edge. SMU, though, has already dealt with a tough road atmosphere this season in Tallahassee.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, setting the stage before LSU and Ole Miss take center stage later in the day.
In Other News...
Ex-Miami Receivers Arrest Puts The Program In A Brutal Spotlight
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Police say the incident began during a dispute at a local park, where Pope allegedly pistol-whipped a woman and took her cellphone by force. He was booked into a correctional facility and held without bond, and a court order would require a GPS ankle monitor if he is ever released, leaving the legal process to unfold while Miami is left watching another former player face a serious and troubling situation. [Read more 🡒]
Former Miami Playmaker Is At Center Of A Disturbing Arrest Case
A former Miami Hurricanes playmaker is back in the news for all the wrong reasons. Mark Pope was arrested in Miami-Dade County on felony charges that include armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated battery, turning what began as a dispute with an acquaintance into a serious legal case that has quickly drawn attention around the programs fan base.
Police allege Pope pulled a handgun, pistol-whipped the woman and took her cell phone before being booked into a correctional facility. He is being held without bond, and if he is released, a court order requires him to wear a GPS ankle monitor, leaving the next steps in the case to play out in court. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Offense Looks Ready But One Wake Forest Test Still Matters
No. 5 Miami heads to Wake Forest on Friday night with some early momentum and a chance to keep its unbeaten start intact in ACC play. The Hurricanes have handled Stanford and Florida A&M to open 2-0, and the matchup brings an interesting early-season contrast because Wake Forest is also unbeaten after wins over Akron and Purdue.
The offense has looked capable enough to travel, but this is still the sort of road test that can reveal more than a couple of lopsided September results. Predictions around the game lean toward Miami, with attention on key player performances and how the Hurricanes handle a defense that should be more demanding than the first two opponents. [Read more 🡒]