ATLANTA — Week 3 of the 2025 college football season reminded fans why fall Saturdays feel like national holidays. Powerhouses flexed, pretenders folded, and a few programs showed they might finally be turning the corner. Between dramatic comebacks, blowouts that felt personal, and rivalry wins that left beer cans littering driveways, the week had everything.
Let’s break down the winners, losers and the eyebrow-raisers from a Saturday that didn’t disappoint.
Georgia refuses to die
Kirby Smart’s Georgia Bulldogs once again made everyone ask the eternal question: “How many lives does this program have?” Trailing late, Georgia mounted a comeback that would make a Hollywood script look tame, edging past an upset-minded Tennessee in Knoxville. Gunner Stockton stayed calm under duress, throwing for over 300 yards and delivering when it mattered most. Georgia might not look invincible every snap, but every time they look beat, they end up winning under Kirby Smart. That’s either championship grit or some kind of deal with the devil, resembling the likes of Auburn Jesus from years past.
Georgia Tech gets its moment
Across town, Georgia Tech grabbed what felt like a program-defining win over Clemson. The Yellow Jackets haven’t exactly been synonymous with dominance since the Paul Johnson triple-option days, but Brent Key’s squad just delivered a statement that says, “We’re more than background noise.” Tech’s mix of balanced offense and a swarming defense gave fans something they haven’t had in a long time: real optimism for a special season.
Texas A&M grows up
The Aggies finally delivered a victory that didn’t feel like fool’s gold. For years, A&M has been college football’s king of “just wait until next year.” Well, Week 3 showed that maybe this year actually means something, following a win at Notre Dame. Marcel Reed was sharp, the defense was nasty, and the Aggies suddenly look like a team you wouldn’t want to see in late November.
Miami drowns USF’s buzz
Remember when South Florida opened the year red hot and everyone asked, “Could they be the surprise of 2025?” Yeah, Miami answered that with a sledgehammer. The Hurricanes rolled to a blowout win, showing speed and physicality at every position. It was the type of victory that screams, “We’re back and you’re going to have to take us seriously.”
Vanderbilt gets mean
When Vanderbilt lines up and bullies South Carolina, you know we’re living in a strange college football reality. The Commodores weren’t just efficient — they were nasty. With South Carolina losing quarterback LaNoris Sellers to injury, Vandy smelled blood and feasted. For Clark Lea’s program, that’s as satisfying as it gets.
NC State keeps finding ways
NC State moved to 3-0 with another performance that wasn’t flashy but got the job done in Winston-Salem. Dave Doeren’s team has perfected the art of winning ugly. Call it grit, call it luck, call it a wolfpack of chaos — either way, they’re unbeaten and annoying everyone who picked them to finish in the middle of the ACC after a win over Wake.
Ole Miss, LSU, and Texas all flex
The SEC’s heavy hitters outside of Georgia had their say, too. Ole Miss showed it can score with anyone, LSU leaned on sheer athleticism to fend off Florida, and Texas pulled away late in another tune-up game, albeit with some worries in the first half.
However … all three of these SEC juggernauts showed signs of weakness. Ole Miss is not the same defensive front that knocked off Georgia last fall. LSU can’t find the end zone. Texas has yet to look impressive on offense, even in the tune up games.
All three of these teams feel like a “wait and see” play.
Ohio State pulls away late
The Buckeyes didn’t need fireworks to keep rolling. Efficiency, a suffocating defense, and late scores put a pesky Bobcats team to bed. It wasn’t a 70-point win over Grambling, but it got the job done as Ohio State readies for conference play.
Alabama steadies itself
After some rocky stretches to start the season, Alabama looked more like Alabama against the Badgers. The Tide leaned on their passing game, played clean football, and reminded everyone they’re not fading quietly in the SEC arms race just yet. Alabama may still be a factor this season if it can knock off Georgia or Tennessee and avoid any further road upsets before the Iron Bowl.
Houston, Cal, and the others make noise
Houston picked up a much-needed win on Friday, showing fight that will keep the Cougars relevant in the Big 12 conversation. Cal, meanwhile, looked like a program refusing to fade into the background of realignment chatter, in fending off Minnesota. Even New Mexico and Old Dominion made waves — the Lobos snagged a rare victory while ODU proved they’re no easy out in the GO5.
West Virginia wins the Backyard Brawl
Few things in college football bring the pure venom of the Backyard Brawl, and West Virginia gave its fans another memory to savor by taking down Pitt. The Mountaineers’ defense made life miserable for the Panthers, and Morgantown is buzzing. For Pitt, it was a night of regret. For WVU, it was proof they can still swing with pride, even after an unexpected loss to Ohio.
The losers step forward
As for the underachievers: Clemson continued to sputter offensively, leaving fans to wonder how the preseason hype train got so far off track. Notre Dame sits at 0-2 after making the national title game last year — talk about a hangover. South Carolina is reeling, UCLA and Virginia Tech got embarrassed at home in buy games, and Florida continues to underwhelm with sloppy, uninspired football. These aren’t just stumbles; they’re full-on faceplants.
Looking ahead to Week 4
Week 4 brings heavyweight matchups that could reshape the season. Auburn brings the Jackson Arnold hype train back to Norman, a place all too familiar to the former five-star. Meanwhile, Texas Tech and Utah square off for control of the Big 12. Michigan takes another intriguing road trip, this time to Nebraska. Illinois visits Bloomington in a clash of playoff hopefuls. Then, Sparty visits USC for a late-night clash of unbeaten Big Ten foes.
College football’s chaos is alive and well. Week 3 reminded us that blue bloods aren’t bulletproof, upstarts can land haymakers, and no matter what the Vegas odds say, the sport is always one wild Saturday away from being flipped upside down.
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Looking Back on Vandy Football
