College Football Rankings Week 3: Top 25 Rankings (2026)

Week 1 gave us more movement than the schedule initially suggested it would.

Week 2 delivered the kind of results that can completely reshape the college football Week 3 rankings.

Texas owns the biggest win of the season so far after rallying past Ohio State 24-23, LSU remains unbeaten ahead of a major SEC matchup with Ole Miss, and Miami continues climbing after an explosive start. Oregon, meanwhile, suffered the weekend's biggest setback with a surprising loss to Oklahoma State.

Those results create significant movement compared with our college football week 2 rankings.

Texas takes over the No. 1 spot, followed by LSU, Miami, Georgia, and Notre Dame. Ohio State falls to No. 7 after its first loss, while Oregon tumbles to No. 21.

Here are our college football rankings for Week 3, with analysis of all 25 teams and the biggest games that could shake up the rankings again.

College Football Week 3 Rankings: Top 25

25. Virginia Cavaliers

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Virginia 59, Norfolk State 3
Up Next: West Virginia

Virginia remains inside the Top 25 after another dominant result. The Cavaliers have overwhelmed their first two opponents and carry a plus-82 point differential through two games.

West Virginia should provide a better indication of whether Virginia can remain in the rankings once the competition improves.

24. Oklahoma Sooners

Record: 1-1
Week 2: Michigan 17, Oklahoma 10
Up Next: New Mexico

Oklahoma takes a significant hit after managing only 10 points against Michigan.

The Sooners looked polished in their opener but couldn't generate enough offense against a stronger defense in Week 2. There's enough talent here to rebound quickly, but Oklahoma has work to do before returning to the upper half of the Top 25.

23. Louisville Cardinals

Record: 1-1
Week 2: Louisville 59, Villanova 13
Up Next: SMU

Louisville responded exactly as expected following its narrow loss to Ole Miss.

The offense again showed significant upside while scoring 59 points against Villanova. Now comes a much more meaningful test against No. 16 SMU.

22. Houston Cougars

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Houston 77, Southern 6
Up Next: at Texas Tech

Houston has quietly produced one of the most explosive starts in college football.

Scoring 77 points gets attention regardless of the opponent, but Week 3 against Texas Tech will tell us considerably more about the Cougars.

A road win could send Houston climbing quickly.

21. Oregon Ducks

Record: 1-1
Week 2: Oklahoma State 39, Oregon 31
Up Next: Portland State

Oregon takes the largest fall in our Week 3 college football rankings.

The Ducks barely survived Boise State in their opener and then lost 39-31 to Oklahoma State. One uneven performance can be dismissed. Two consecutive concerning games become a trend worth reflecting in the rankings.

Oregon still has a roster capable of climbing back toward the top, but its current résumé doesn't justify a top-10 position.

20. Missouri Tigers

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Missouri 38, Kansas 21
Up Next: Troy

Missouri moves to 2-0 after handling Kansas on the road.

The Tigers are beginning to build a respectable early résumé and should be favored to keep their unbeaten start intact against Troy.

19. Michigan Wolverines

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Michigan 17, Oklahoma 10
Up Next: UTEP

Michigan answered many of the questions created by its 13-12 escape against Western Michigan.

Holding Oklahoma to 10 points was a much more convincing performance and immediately strengthens Michigan's résumé.

The Wolverines are back inside the Top 20 as a result.

18. Iowa Hawkeyes

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Iowa 16, Iowa State 13
Up Next: Northern Iowa

Iowa continues winning games on its own terms.

The Hawkeyes held Iowa State to 13 points and have now won 16 consecutive games when allowing 13 or fewer. The offense doesn't have to be spectacular when the defense consistently creates that kind of margin for error.

17. Utah Utes

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Utah 43, Arkansas 10
Up Next: Utah State

Utah delivered one of Week 2's most impressive wins.

A 43-10 victory over Arkansas was Utah's largest against an SEC program and gives the Utes a legitimate résumé result.

They're an increasingly interesting team to monitor as conference play approaches.

16. SMU Mustangs

Record: 2-0
Week 2: SMU 56, UC Davis 10
Up Next: at Louisville

SMU has comfortably handled its first two games.

Now the Mustangs get their first major measuring stick against Louisville. A ranked road win would give SMU a strong case to move considerably higher in the next set of rankings.

15. Tennessee Volunteers

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Tennessee 45, Georgia Tech 24
Up Next: Kennesaw State

Tennessee's road victory over Georgia Tech moves the Volunteers firmly into the top 15.

Scoring 45 away from home against a respectable opponent represents a much more useful evaluation than the opening win over Furman.

Tennessee looks increasingly dangerous.

14. Penn State Nittany Lions

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Penn State 27, Temple 9
Up Next: at Buffalo

Penn State remains unbeaten after controlling Temple.

The Nittany Lions haven't produced the type of statement that demands a dramatic move upward, but they've been steady and continue to own one of the country's longest active regular-season nonconference winning streaks.

13. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Texas Tech 35, Oregon State 24
Up Next: Houston

Texas Tech passed its first road test with a solid victory at Oregon State.

Now comes an intriguing matchup against No. 22 Houston that should provide valuable information about both Big 12 contenders.

12. USC Trojans

Record: 3-0
Week 2: USC 49, Louisiana 30
Up Next: at Rutgers

USC already has three wins because its season began in Week 0.

The defense wasn't as dominant against Louisiana as it had been against Fresno State, but the offense continues to produce consistently.

A road trip to Rutgers gives USC another chance to strengthen its early résumé.

11. BYU Cougars

Record: 2-0
Week 2: BYU 28, Arizona 17
Up Next: at Colorado State

BYU's win over Arizona gives the Cougars their first meaningful result of 2026.

The Cougars have now opened seven consecutive seasons 2-0 and sit just outside our top 10.

College Football Week 3 Rankings: Top 10

10. Texas A&M Aggies

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Texas A&M 48, Arizona State 20
Up Next: Kentucky

Texas A&M continues to look increasingly convincing.

The Aggies followed their 50-point opener with 48 against Arizona State and now enter Week 3 with a 98-20 aggregate scoring advantage.

9. Ole Miss Rebels

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Ole Miss 41, Charlotte 9
Up Next: LSU

Everything changes for Ole Miss this week.

The Rebels handled their first two opponents, but No. 2 LSU represents one of the biggest tests anywhere on the Week 3 schedule.

Win that game and Ole Miss immediately enters the top-five discussion.

8. Alabama Crimson Tide

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Alabama 45, Kentucky 17
Up Next: Florida State

Alabama's 45-17 road win over Kentucky was one of the stronger Week 2 performances.

The Crimson Tide overcame an early deficit and then created significant separation. Alabama looks more dangerous than it did entering the season and now gets another major-brand matchup against Florida State.

7. Ohio State Buckeyes

Record: 1-1
Week 2: Texas 24, Ohio State 23
Up Next: Kent State

Ohio State loses the No. 1 position after suffering one of the most dramatic defeats of the season.

The Buckeyes held a 20-point fourth-quarter lead over Texas before losing 24-23. Still, losing by one point on the road to the team we now rank No. 1 is hardly grounds for removing Ohio State from the national-title conversation.

The Buckeyes remain one of the country's best teams despite the 1-1 record.

6. Indiana Hoosiers

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Indiana 55, Howard 0
Up Next: Western Kentucky

Indiana just keeps winning decisively.

The Hoosiers have scored at least 50 points 13 times under Curt Cignetti and extended the nation's longest active winning streak to 18 games.

At this stage, treating Indiana as anything less than an elite team requires ignoring too much evidence.

5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Notre Dame 52, Rice 0
Up Next: Michigan State

Notre Dame followed its convincing opener with a 52-0 shutout of Rice.

The Irish have won 12 consecutive games and continue to pair efficient offense with one of the country's more reliable defenses.

Notre Dame remains firmly in the championship tier.

4. Georgia Bulldogs

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Georgia 70, Western Kentucky 20
Up Next: at Arkansas

Georgia has done exactly what an elite team should do against inferior opponents.

The Bulldogs scored 70 against Western Kentucky and extended their winning streak against unranked teams to 50 games.

The schedule will eventually provide tougher tests, but Georgia has offered almost nothing to criticize through two weeks.

3. Miami Hurricanes

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Miami 77, Florida A&M 7
Up Next: at Wake Forest

Miami earns the No. 3 spot after producing one of the most explosive offensive performances in program history.

The Hurricanes generated 856 yards against Florida A&M, setting a school record and finishing just two yards short of the ACC single-game record.

Competition matters, but so does dominance. Miami has been overwhelming through two games.

2. LSU Tigers

Record: 2-0
Week 2: LSU 45, Louisiana Tech 14
Up Next: at Ole Miss

LSU remains No. 2.

The Tigers' demolition of Clemson in Week 1 continues to stand out as one of the best performances of the young season, and they comfortably handled Louisiana Tech afterward.

Now comes the real test: a road game against No. 9 Ole Miss.

That result could substantially alter the next edition of these rankings.

1. Texas Longhorns

Record: 2-0
Week 2: Texas 24, Ohio State 23
Up Next: UTSA

Texas takes over the No. 1 spot in our college football Week 3 rankings.

The Longhorns earned it with the best victory of the season.

Texas entered the fourth quarter against No. 1 Ohio State trailing by 20 points and somehow rallied for a 24-23 victory. Teams facing an AP No. 1 opponent while trailing by at least 20 in the fourth quarter had been 0-197 since 2004.

Texas became the first to win.

That résumé win separates the Longhorns from the field entering Week 3.

Biggest Movers in the College Football Week 3 Rankings

The story at the top is Texas replacing Ohio State at No. 1. The Longhorns now have the strongest individual win of any team in our rankings, while Ohio State falls to No. 7 despite remaining a clear national-title contender.

Miami also continues its rapid climb. The Hurricanes sit at No. 3 after two dominant offensive performances, including the program-record 856-yard effort against Florida A&M.

Oregon is the biggest faller. The Ducks drop to No. 21 following the 39-31 loss at Oklahoma State after already looking vulnerable against Boise State.

Michigan moves in the opposite direction. Its ugly Week 1 performance created significant doubt, but beating ranked Oklahoma 17-10 moves the Wolverines back to No. 19.

For comparison with where the teams stood entering last weekend, see our college football week 2 rankings.

What Are the College Football Rankings for Week 3?

Our complete 2026 college football Week 3 rankings are:

1. Texas
2. LSU
3. Miami
4. Georgia
5. Notre Dame
6. Indiana
7. Ohio State
8. Alabama
9. Ole Miss
10. Texas A&M
11. BYU
12. USC
13. Texas Tech
14. Penn State
15. Tennessee
16. SMU
17. Utah
18. Iowa
19. Michigan
20. Missouri
21. Oregon
22. Houston
23. Louisville
24. Oklahoma
25. Virginia

Week 3 College Football Rankings Predictions

The rankings could change considerably again after Week 3.

The biggest game is No. 2 LSU at No. 9 Ole Miss. LSU can strengthen an already impressive résumé with another quality victory, while an Ole Miss win would likely send the Rebels significantly higher.

Houston-Texas Tech and SMU-Louisville give us two other ranked-vs.-ranked matchups with the potential to reshape the middle of the Top 25.

Ohio State gets an opportunity to reset against Kent State, while Oregon needs a convincing response after its upset loss.

We'll also break down the strongest betting opportunities on the slate in our upcoming College Football Week 3 Picks.

Bettors looking to dig deeper into matchup data, trends, and betting markets can also check out our sports betting research app.

College Football Week 3 Rankings FAQ

Who is No. 1 in the college football Week 3 rankings?

Texas is No. 1 after beating Ohio State 24-23. The Longhorns overcame a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to hand the previous No. 1 team its first loss.

Where is Ohio State ranked after losing to Texas?

Ohio State falls to No. 7. The Buckeyes lost by only one point on the road against our new No. 1 team, so they remain firmly in the national-title conversation.

Where is Oregon ranked after losing to Oklahoma State?

Oregon falls to No. 21 after losing 39-31 to Oklahoma State. The Ducks also struggled against Boise State in Week 1, making the latest result more difficult to dismiss.

Where is Miami ranked in Week 3?

Miami is No. 3. The Hurricanes are 2-0 and produced a program-record 856 yards in their 77-7 victory over Florida A&M.

What is the biggest Week 3 game affecting the rankings?

No. 2 LSU at No. 9 Ole Miss has the biggest immediate implications near the top of the rankings. A road victory could strengthen LSU's case as one of the country's two best teams, while an Ole Miss win could push the Rebels toward the top five.

College Football Week 3 Rankings Outlook

Week 2 gave us our first major shakeup of the 2026 season.

Texas now sits at No. 1 after beating Ohio State, LSU has positioned itself immediately behind the Longhorns, and Miami has forced its way into the top three with overwhelming offensive production.

Georgia, Notre Dame, and Indiana remain undefeated and firmly within the top tier. Ohio State is still dangerous despite its loss, while Alabama continues climbing.

Further down the rankings, Oregon and Oklahoma suddenly have significant ground to recover, while Michigan, Utah, and Missouri have strengthened their positions.

Week 3 should provide another meaningful round of evidence, led by LSU-Ole Miss and multiple ranked matchups throughout the slate. For bettors evaluating those games, our College Football Week 3 Picks will focus on the best numbers and matchup advantages before kickoff.