Week 3 College Football
Undefeated BYU Visits Colorado State in Week 3 College Football Action
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Key Points
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Colorado State’s Week 2 win over Southern Utah was powered by quarterback Hauss Hejny’s 325 passing yards and four touchdowns, running back Mel Brown’s 171 yards and two scores on just nine carries—including an 80-yard run—and 296 total rushing yards, the program’s highest single-game total since at least 2018.
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Washington State enters its home opener after producing only 166 total yards in a 34-7 loss to Kansas State, while Duquesne was routed 70-13 by Youngstown State after trailing 49-10 at halftime.
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Despite Louisiana’s 49-30 loss at USC, quarterback Lunch Winfield delivered a strong individual performance, rushing for 91 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 212 yards and another score on 72.7% completions.
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Oklahoma State’s upset of Oregon featured 237 rushing yards, including 109 yards and a touchdown on six carries from quarterback Drew Mestemaker; kicker Sam Keltner also contributed four field goals for 12 points.
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Liberty’s narrow Week 2 win over Gardner-Webb exposed a continuing discipline problem: the Flames committed for 96 penalty yards, extending their streak of games with at least 70 penalty yards to four dating back to last season.
Week 3 college football brings undefeated teams and surprising storylines to Saturday's slate on Sept. 19, 2026. SportsLine projects No. 11 BYU to roll over undefeated Colorado State 41-17 in Fort Collins, while Oklahoma State—fresh off a stunning 39-31 upset of No. 6 Oregon—looks to build momentum against Murray State. The weekend also features a historic matchup: No. 25 Virginia and West Virginia meet in Charlotte for the Duke's Mayo Classic, their first regular-season meeting in 41 years.
Colorado State enters the game riding a dominant Week 2 performance. Quarterback Hauss Hejny threw for 325 yards and four touchdowns while running back Mel Brown rushed for 171 yards and two scores on just nine carries, including an 80-yard touchdown run. Colorado State totaled 296 rushing yards—its highest single-game output since at least 2018—but Hejny suffered a right hamstring injury and exited early, leaving his availability unclear for Saturday.
Oklahoma State Shock Still Reverberating
Oklahoma State's upset of Oregon has reshaped the Big 12 narrative just one week in. AP named quarterback Drew Mestemaker the National Player of the Week after he rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown on six carries while throwing for 317 yards and two scores. Kicker Sam Keltner added four field goals for 12 points. Mestemaker credited his teammates after his goal-line leap: "I believe in these guys... these guys are built for these moments." The Cowboys, entering 2026 with 88 new players under first-year coach Eric Morris, are suddenly legitimate contenders after a disastrous 2025 season.
Washington State Struggles Before Duquesne Test
Washington State enters its home opener in dire form. The Cougars managed just 166 total yards in a 34-7 loss to Kansas State—a performance that exposed major offensive issues heading into Saturday's matchup against Duquesne. The Dukes fared worse: they were routed 70-13 by Youngstown State, trailing 49-10 at halftime. SportsLine projects Washington State to dominate, winning 48-6, but the Cougars must rebuild offensive confidence quickly.
Virginia-West Virginia Rivalry Renewed After 41 Years
Saturday's Duke's Mayo Classic in Charlotte marks Virginia and West Virginia's first regular-season meeting since 1985. Both teams arrive 2-0 after dominant wins, setting up a clash between ACC and Big 12 philosophies. Virginia coach Tony Elliott emphasized depth ahead of the rivalry game: "This is a violent game, physical game. Guys are gonna get banged up and we're gonna need them all." West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez countered that his run-heavy offense will be key: "It starts with the run game... We thought we should be able to run for a few hundred yards."
The teams represent contrasting recent trajectories. West Virginia averages 298.5 rushing yards per game under Rodriguez's scheme, while Virginia's defense will test whether quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. can succeed in drop-back situations. A victory for either team secures a 3-0 start and strong momentum for bowl eligibility and Mid-Atlantic recruiting.
Liberty's Penalty Problem Persists Into Week 3
Liberty's narrow win over Gardner-Webb in Week 2 exposed an ongoing discipline issue. The Flames committed 96 penalty yards against Gardner-Webb, extending their streak to four consecutive games with at least 70 penalty yards dating back to last season. SportsLine projects Liberty to beat Ball State 41-20 on Saturday, but the penalty pattern could derail the Flames if they face tougher competition. Correcting the discipline gap is critical if Liberty hopes to compete in its Group of Five conference.
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