Week 3 of the 2026 college football season brings a handful of teams that could be in real trouble if things go sideways.
Texas Tech is unbeaten, but the Red Raiders haven’t looked clean getting there. They’ve already failed to cover in both wins, and the 35-24 road escape at Oregon State came with plenty of baggage.
Oregon State led 24-21 in the fourth quarter before Texas Tech closed with two touchdowns in the final seven minutes, but the box score told a messy story: the Red Raiders were outgained 472-352, punted seven times, committed seven penalties and missed a field goal. Now they’re back home on a short week to face No.
22 Houston, and Conner Weigman’s offense has enough firepower to make this uncomfortable. Weigman is completing nearly 70% of his passes and has thrown for 4 touchdowns against 1 interception, and he also has the memory of leaving the 35-11 loss to Texas Tech in 2025 with a shoulder injury.
South Carolina is another team that has to be on guard. Shane Beamer is under pressure after the Gamecocks missed a bowl game in two of the last three seasons, and so far this year they’ve only cruised through blowouts against Kent State and Towson.
Mississippi State is a different kind of test in the SEC opener, and the Bulldogs appear to be trending up in Jeff Lebby’s third season. Sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor has taken a big step, bumping his completion percentage up by 12.1%.
He’s 38 of 56 for 581 yards with 7 touchdowns and no interceptions, and he’s added 145 rushing yards and another score on 19 carries. Mississippi State just went into Minnesota and handled the Golden Gophers 38-13.
Clemson also enters Week 3 with more questions than answers. The Tigers were overwhelmed in Baton Rouge in Week 1, then came home and turned in a flat 22-7 win over Georgia Southern.
The offense managed only 6 points in the second half, finished 2-for-14 on third down, averaged 3.8 yards per rush, turned it over twice and took 10 penalties. Dabo Swinney is changing quarterbacks against North Carolina, going with true freshman Tait Reynolds.
Reynolds has completed 20 of 33 passes for 200 yards and has added 19 rushing attempts for 29 yards, without scoring or throwing a turnover. North Carolina hasn’t been explosive, but the Tar Heels have allowed only 13 total points and showed up when it mattered in the Week 0 win over TCU.
Virginia Tech’s trip to Maryland has upset-alert potential too, even if the Hokies have started 2-0 with easy work against VMI and Old Dominion. Ethan Grunkemeyer threw for 327 yards and 2 touchdowns in the 44-21 win over Old Dominion, and Virginia Tech piled up a 34-3 lead before cruising.
The run game was the one area that lagged, producing just 89 yards at 2.1 yards per carry. Maryland, though, has been sharp on defense.
The Terrapins have allowed only 154 yards per game, which ranks No. 4 nationally, and just 38.5 rushing yards per contest. Malik Washington has also looked much more comfortable as a sophomore, going 53 of 72 for 533 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions.
With home-field advantage and some momentum, Maryland looks capable of making this a fight.
Northwestern is also a slight favorite that could be in danger. The Wildcats were idle last week, but their opener against South Dakota State was much tighter than the final score suggested.
They led only 20-18 in the fourth quarter before two late touchdowns made the result look more comfortable. Northwestern finished with nearly 500 yards of offense, including 224 on the ground, and Aidan Chiles threw for 273 yards in his first start.
Still, the Wildcats have to clean things up early against a Colorado team that is 2-0 and has already survived a wild Week 1 win over Georgia Tech before rolling past Weber State. Julian Lewis has thrown for 490 yards with 5 touchdowns and no interceptions in two starts, and Colorado’s defense has been sturdy against the run, giving up fewer than 100 yards per game.
Chiles can’t afford mistakes, especially after leading the Big Ten in interceptions two years ago. If Colorado gets this one, the Buffaloes would match last year’s win total in just three games.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Defense Could Get Timely Boost Before Houston Showdown
Texas Techs defense may be headed for a much-needed lift as the Red Raiders prepare for their Big 12 matchup with Houston. Defensive coordinator Shiel Wood said Brenden Jordan is expected to start returning to action, while also pointing to Trey Whites positive impact when he has been available and the value he brings to the unit.
Wood also gave an encouraging update on Jayden Cofield, who is working back from a serious injury and continues to progress well. With White expected to return from injury and Cofield likely to see more snaps as the season goes on, Texas Tech could have more options to lean on at a key point in the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Faces An Early Offensive Truth Against Houston
Texas Tech heads into its matchup with Houston still trying to get a clearer read on what this offense really is early in the season. The Red Raiders have shown enough to suggest there is firepower here, but the bigger question is how much of the playbook has actually been put on display and how much more is waiting to come as the competition stiffens.
Houston brings a defense that should give Texas Tech a better sense of where the unit stands right now, which is what makes this one so interesting from the Red Raiders' side. A game like this can expose whether the early production was sustainable or simply a product of favorable matchups, and the preview around it leaves room for the possibility that Houston is the team better positioned to control the night. [Read more 🡒]
Will Hammond Faces A Bigger Texas Tech Test Than Fans Realize
Will Hammond has given Texas Tech a steady start at quarterback to open the 2026 season, completing 76.7% of his passes over two games while averaging 243.5 yards per game with two touchdowns and one interception. The accuracy has been there, but the Red Raiders have largely kept things in front of them, leaning on short throws and check-downs rather than asking Hammond to push the ball downfield very often.
The next step may be less about efficiency and more about volume. Texas Techs running game has not produced enough to take pressure off the passing attack, which means Hammond could be asked to shoulder a bigger load as the schedule stiffens, starting with a key matchup against No. 22 Houston. How much Texas Tech is willing to open up the offense could say plenty about how ready Hammond is for the kind of test that usually exposes a young quarterback. [Read more 🡒]