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...
Virginia Tech Brings Back A Familiar Look For A Huge Maryland Test
Virginia Tech is going with a familiar look for a major early-season test, unveiling an all-white uniform combination for Saturday nights Week 3 matchup against Maryland. The Hokies have had some success in the look over the years, and the switch gives the team a clean, classic presentation as it heads into a game that should carry plenty of attention.
The numbers in white have been solid overall, with Virginia Tech posting a 20-12 record in the uniform set and splitting its games in the 2020s. The Hokies and Terrapins are set for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on FS1, so the wardrobe choice will be part of a primetime backdrop for a game that already feels like an important measuring stick. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland Faces One Huge Test In A Season Defining Spot
Maryland heads into its meeting with Virginia Tech carrying the kind of questions that tend to follow a team into a season-defining week. The Terrapins have shown enough on offense to make this matchup interesting, but their recent rhythm and the injury situation around the roster add a layer of uncertainty against a Hokies defense that has been the steadier side of the ball. It is the sort of setup where every drive can matter and every mismatch gets magnified.
Virginia Tech, meanwhile, has the kind of defensive strengths that can make life difficult if Maryland is not clean early and often. The history between the two programs also gives the game a little extra edge, even if the present-day stakes are what really matter now. For Maryland, this is one of those spots where the season can either settle into a better shape or start raising louder questions, and Virginia Tech is well positioned to make the answer difficult. [Read more 🡒]
Virginia Tech Faces A Maryland Defensive Threat That Could Swing Saturday
Marylands defense has already given opposing offenses plenty to sort out this fall, and Virginia Tech is next in line to deal with it on Saturday. The Terps have been especially stingy against the run, giving up just 77 rushing yards on 62 carries with no rushing touchdowns allowed, and they enter the matchup ranked fourth nationally in total defense while sharing the top spot in red zone defense.
The pressure has come from several places, with Holmes, Thomas and Delhomme helping fuel a front that has piled up 10 sacks and made life difficult both in the backfield and near the goal line. For Virginia Tech, that makes this more than just another ACC meeting, because Marylands ability to disrupt the run, force uncomfortable passing situations and shrink scoring chances could end up shaping the whole day. [Read more 🡒]