As Upstarts Bite and Giants Hold Firm.
Week 3 of the 2025 college football season once again showed that rankings are shattered elephants, falter, upsets even the tide, and the story changes at an alarming rate.
Ohio State, Penn State, and LSU kept the number one, two, and three spots in the AP Top 25, and each had good wins, which solidified their early-season momentum.
With a decisive victory over Northwestern, Oregon improved greatly, going as high as No. 4. They have been offensive and fast-paced, which cannot be treated lightly.
The most dramatic of the movements: Texas A&M provided one of the greatest upsets of the season, beating Notre Dame 41-40 in one of their games in South Bend. This outcome not only changed the positions but also made the playoff aspirations of the Irish highly questionable.
Key Results and Game/Match Highlights.
These are some of the largest findings in Week 3, and what they inform us of team trajectories:
Game |
Final |
What It Meant |
|---|---|---|
Ohio State 37, Ohio 9 |
OSU remained flawless, dominating a weaker opponent as expected. Their depth & discipline keep them in CFP talk. NCAA.com |
|
Penn State 52, Villanova 6 |
A blowout showing that Penn State is not letting up. Their offense & defense both look sharp. |
|
LSU 20, Florida 10 |
A somewhat gritty win, LSU didn’t blow out Florida, but in games where you don’t dominate, doing enough counts. |
|
Oregon 34, Northwestern 14 |
Oregon’s rise continues. Balance, scoring, and no apparent letdowns. Northwestern is not the same test, but Oregon passed it. |
|
Miami 49, South Florida 12 |
Dominance. Miami looks polished; South Florida is competitive, but this was one-sided. |
|
Georgia 44, Tennessee 41 |
What a thriller. Georgia scrapes by in a high-pressure game, Tennessee showing they belong in conversations. But Georgia’s ability to keep composure in close ones is notable. |
|
Texas A&M 41, Notre Dame 40 |
The upset that reverberates. Notre Dame can’t afford many slipups if they want a playoff berth. A&M’s late drive, big moment seasoning. |
|
Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 21 |
Clemson’s struggles deepen; Georgia Tech gets a massive win. Field goal on last play setting up drama, opportunity, maybe a turning point for Tech. |
Ranking Shuffle: Who Rose, Who Fell
After Week 3, the AP Top 25 rankings reflect both expected dominance and surprising vulnerability.
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Unchanged at the top: Ohio State stays No. 1; Penn State No. 2; LSU No. 3. These teams continue to earn trust.
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Climbers: Oregon jumped to No. 4. Illinois also moved up (No. 9) after strong performances. New names (or returning names) like Florida State (No. 10) and Utah (No. 20) are starting to make noise.
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Fallers / Under Pressure: Notre Dame drops severely, as losses—and even narrow ones become dangerous. Clemson’s loss especially hurts its national perception. Georgia slips slightly. Clubs like Florida, which lost or underperformed, are starting to feel the heat.
Why Week 3 Matters More Than Many Realize
It’s early, but by Week 3, several patterns begin to expose themselves:
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Playoff Hope vs. Fatigue for Margin of Error
Teams that start strong and avoid close calls are more likely to survive the mid-season gauntlet. For Notre Dame, falling by one point is much worse than winning; every loss eats into hope. -
Roster Depth & Coaching
Big schools with depth are showing it: Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon. At the same time, coaching in tight moments separates the good from the great. Georgia’s narrow win, Texas A&M’s upset, Georgia Tech’s last-second kick: mental toughness matters. -
Momentum & Fan Expectations
Wins build confidence, expectations increase, and television exposure rises. For teams like Florida State, now inside the top 10, there is newfound pressure. For those slipping, Clemson, Notre Dame fans, and media begin to question direction. -
Schedule Strength & Non-Conference Games
Non-conference games still dominate most schedules early, but they have a big impact. Upset wins or losses can shape perceptions, rankings, and recruiting. Upsets like A&M over Notre Dame may factor heavily into how teams are viewed later by the CFP committee.
Historical Perspective: Early Season Upheavals Aren’t New, But the Stakes Are Higher
College football has always had its early-season shake-ups, Florida State vs Alabama(s), Michigan vs Notre Dame, etc. But several factors make upsets now more consequential:
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The 12-team College Football Playoff expands opportunity but also scrutiny. One loss doesn’t always kill hopes, but multiple losses or narrow escapes can be costly.
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Media, analytics, and social sentiment travel faster losses are dissected immediately. A surprising loss spreads doubt.
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Recruiting & NIL mean that programs often build with more volatility; young players are more ready earlier, but also more untested under pressure.
My Take: Weekend Winners & Cautionary Tales
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Winners: Ohio State remains the gold standard. Oregon’s rise is real. Texas A&M showed grit. Georgia’s clutch performances count. Upsets like Georgia Tech beating Clemson reinforce that no team can take anything for granted.
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Caution: Notre Dame and Clemson need responses quickly. Losses like theirs early in the season can linger culturally, affect recruiting, and, in a playoff format, reduce margins. Close wins (like Georgia over Tennessee) are good, but sometimes they hide vulnerabilities.
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Dark Horses: Illinois, Florida State, perhaps Utah. These teams might not be in the top 4 yet, but they have shown enough to stay in the conversation. Their upcoming schedule will tell if that is hype or real.
Final Thought
Week 3 offered a snapshot: dominance from the top, cracks in the usual order, and drama from teams whose reputations were supposed to protect them. College football is reminding us: it isn’t about padding schedules or early prestige, it’s about executing when it matters, depth, coaching, and consistency.
