Week 3 of the college football season did little to disrupt the sport's on-field hierarchy. The top eight teams in the AP poll won their games by an average score of 57-12, and the only two ranked teams that lost (BYU and Miami) did so on the road against other ranked teams (Oregon and Texas A&M). In that way, this was about as orderly a weekend as you'll see.
Why did it feel so wild, then? Because of everything else. Teams on the rebound, such as Penn State, Washington, Oregon and LSU, dropped hints that those rebounds have picked up speed. Lots of games finished far away from the spread (Tulane upsetting Kansas State and UNLV blowing out North Texas, for example). And ... well ... certain teams just kept not losing.
Maybe the single wildest tidbit of this young season: Kansas, Duke, Rutgers, Indiana, Syracuse and Tulane all remain unbeaten. In football! Some of them have yet to score particularly impressive wins, but (a) some have, and (b) who cares??? Kansas, Duke, Rutgers, Indiana, Syracuse and Tulane are a combined 18-0!!! Only 25% of the FBS remains blemish-free after three weeks, and that group includes a number of underdog tales.
We celebrate these things while we can. Let's both commemorate and rank the remaining unbeatens. (What criteria am I using for this? A combination of computer rankings and my own opinions. I tend to adhere mostly to what the numbers say, but I reserve the right to overreact to things.)
33. Coastal Carolina (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 70th and 92nd, respectively
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 118th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 1.1%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Buffalo 38-26
Why they're still unbeaten: The offense is still efficient. The Chanticleers are averaging 35.7 points per game and 6.8 yards per play, and they averaged 9.5 yards per play in their win over Buffalo. The reason Coastal won by only 12? Four lost fumbles.
Why they're ranked here: The defense is giving up too many big plays (it is 93rd in defensive SP+), and while the Buffalo win was a nice step forward, Coastal was lucky to beat Gardner-Webb in Week 2. And while it survived 31-27, that's a pretty hefty point deduction right there.
32. Indiana (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 82nd and 79th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 101st
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0% (0.02% of 10-2, 0.16% of 9-3)
What they did in Week 3: defeated Western Kentucky 33-30 (OT)
Why they're still unbeaten (and why they're ranked here): Good fortune. The Hoosiers' postgame win expectancy -- which takes the key, predictive stats from a given game, tosses them into the air and says, "With these stats, you could have expected to win this game X% of the time" -- was 31% in their 23-20 win over Illinois and 11% in their win over Western Kentucky.
Hoosier fans deserve to feel good -- and already being halfway to bowl eligibility (with probably four more semi-winnable games on the schedule) is huge -- but this recipe for going 3-0 is not particularly sustainable.
31. Duke (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 90th and 74th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 125th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0% (0.02% of 11-1, 0.2% of 10-2)
What they did in Week 3: defeated NC A&T 49-20
Why they're still unbeaten: Their passing game is sharp. The Blue Devils have scored at least 30 points in every game, and Riley Leonard is combining a 73% completion rate with an average of 15.1 yards per completion. Jalon Calhoun and Eli Pancol have combined for 19 catches and 360 yards.
Why they're ranked here: The "ain't played nobody" factor is high. Beating Temple and NC A&T doesn't stand out, and the shine of beating Northwestern was canceled out by the Wildcats' loss to Southern Illinois. Beat Kansas in Lawrence next weekend, and we'll talk.
30. James Madison (2-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 79th and 75th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 127th
Odds of reaching 11-0, per SP+: 0.4%
What they did in Week 3: bye
Why they're still unbeaten: The Dukes were ready. Against a Middle Tennessee team that has since stomped Colorado State and Tennessee State, JMU rolled 44-7. That was an incredibly good sign, even if its other win (63-7 over Norfolk State) didn't say much.
Why they're ranked here: One real game proves only so much. Incredibly, there are only three unbeaten teams remaining from the Group of 5, and JMU should feel great about being one of them, but the Dukes head to Appalachian State this week. Win that one, and they'll leapfrog a few teams here.
29. Rutgers (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 74th and 72nd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 121st
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0% (0.02% of 10-2, 0.4% of 9-3)
What they did in Week 3: defeated Temple 16-14
Why they're still unbeaten: Defensive efficiency (and a weak schedule, obviously). The Scarlet Knights rank 21st in scoring defense (14.0 points per game) and 14th in success rate allowed (32%). We should expect no less from a Greg Schiano defense against weak competition.
Why they're ranked here: The passing game is likely still a disaster. In two games against FBS defenses (BC and Temple), Rutgers passers are a combined 23-for-39 for just 169 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. That's not going to cut it when Big Ten East opponents show up on the schedule.
28. Kansas (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 81st and 53rd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 81st
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0% (0.03% of 10-2, 0.4% of 9-3)
What they did in Week 3: defeated Houston 48-30
Why they're still unbeaten: Jalon Daniels, basically. He was great in a thrilling overtime win over West Virginia (219 passing yards, 85 rushing yards), and he might have been even better in the Jayhawks' strangely easy road upset of Houston (158 passing yards, 123 rushing yards). This offense has clicked.
Why they're ranked here: The defense is still lacking. SP+ is slow to respond to up-and-comers like this, but while I have no doubt that the Jayhawks are playing above a No. 81 level right now ... only their offense is. Allowing 72 points and 6.4 yards per play to two FBS opponents will take you only so far.
27. Tulane (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 60th and 43rd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 78th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.1%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Kansas State 17-10
Why they're still unbeaten: Maybe the biggest defensive rebound in the country. Tulane ranked 108th in defensive SP+ last season in Chris Hampton's first year as coordinator. His second year has started incredibly well: Tulane has allowed just 20 points and completely confounded Kansas State's Adrian Martinez on Saturday.
Why they're ranked here: Last year's 2-10 collapse means Willie Fritz's Green Wave aren't completely trustworthy yet, but the offense and defense have both flashed upside, and if they're for real, they'll have every chance in the world at snaring the G5's New Year's Six bowl bid.
26. Syracuse (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 49th and 34th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 54th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.02%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Purdue 32-29
Why they're still unbeaten: A magic act against Purdue. After a statement win over Louisville -- which was made a statement more by how easy it was than by whom they beat -- Dino Babers' Orange blew out UConn and pulled off a huge, late win over the Boilermakers thanks to a pick-six and two Oronde Gadsden II touchdown catches in the fourth quarter.
Why they're ranked here: They've been losing the big-play battle, and they've allowed a 0% goal-to-go touchdown rate thus far. The former seems likely to be costly at some point, and the latter is rather unsustainable. But that only explains why the Orange won't go unbeaten -- this is still a hell of a story thus far.
25. TCU (2-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 40th and 39th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 128th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.05%
What they did in Week 3: bye
Why they're still unbeaten: They've treated bad teams like bad teams. Sonny Dykes' first Horned Frogs squad beat Colorado and Tarleton State by a combined 97-30. That's certainly what you're supposed to do against a second-year FCS team and maybe the worst power-conference team in FBS.
Why they're ranked here: I'm not going to pretend we've learned much yet. Last year's TCU defense plummeted to 116th in defensive SP+, and honestly, giving up 30 points to those two dreadful teams might tell us as much as scoring 97. If the Frogs win at SMU this Saturday, however, I'll start to believe.
24. North Carolina (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 44th and 42nd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 106th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.3%
What they did in Week 3: bye
Why they're still unbeaten: Drake Maye and the passing game. Maye has thrown for 930 yards and has an 11-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio in his first three games as the starter, and redshirt freshman Kobe Paysour has emerged as a serious efficiency option, something Sam Howell didn't really have last year.
Why they're ranked here: There's just no reason to trust the defense yet. The Tar Heels were 112th in defensive SP+, and in Gene Chizik's first three games as coordinator, they've allowed 37.6 points per game.
23. Washington State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 59th and 62nd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 48th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.03%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Colorado State 38-7
Why they're still unbeaten: Defensive domination. Before he took over as head coach for the fired Nick Rolovich, Jake Dickert was in the process of completely revamping the Cougars' defense. They jumped from 115th to 48th in defensive SP+ last season, and they're currently 22nd after allowing 38 points in three weeks.
Why they're ranked here: The offense hasn't had to do much yet. Cameron Ward has been hit or miss at quarterback, and while he was excellent against Colorado State, there are much better defenses on the schedule soon. We'll learn what we need to know soon.
22. Oregon State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 46th and 36th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 63rd
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.2%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Montana State 68-28
Why they're still unbeaten: The Beavers have ripped off 21 plays of 20-plus yards thus far -- only 10 FBS teams have more -- and quarterback Chance Nolan is blessed with a bounty of explosive options in the skill corps. Montana State has an elite FCS defense, and OSU hung 68 points and 7.6 yards per play on it.
Why they're ranked here: I'm still in wait-and-see mode regarding the Beavers' defense. They haven't finished higher than 71st in defensive SP+ since 2012; they're currently 52nd, however, and if they keep improving, they're sleeper Pac-12 contenders.
21. Wake Forest (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 42nd and 40th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 109th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.4%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Liberty 37-36
Why they're still unbeaten: The offense continues to hum. Wake is basically a more extreme Oregon State, with an even better offense -- it hummed before Sam Hartman's return, and it's still humming now (his two interceptions against Liberty aside) -- and an even worse defense. The former did enough to beat Liberty on Saturday; the latter almost did enough to lose.
Why they're ranked here: Because of the offensive upside Hartman and receivers A.T. Perry, Donavon Greene, Ke'Shawn Williams and Taylor Morin bring to the table, I trust Wake just a hair more than the Beavers. Even if I will never trust its defense.
20. UCLA (3-0)
Nicholas Barr-Mira kicks a game-winning FG as UCLA defeats South Alabama 32-31.
SP+ and FPI rankings: 29th and 46th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 126th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 1.8%
What they did in Week 3: defeated South Alabama 32-31
Why they're still unbeaten: They wake up just in time. The Bruins trailed Bowling Green 17-7 after 21 minutes in Week 1, and they trailed South Alabama 17-6 after 26 minutes in Week 3. They rallied both times but still needed a last-second field goal to beat the Jaguars on Saturday.
Why they're ranked here: We know by now how much upside Chip Kelly's Bruins have, especially on offense with the likes of quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and running back Zach Charbonnet. They survived an easy nonconference slate without a blemish, but wow, do they need to remember how to play a full 60 minutes. Washington comes to town in two weeks.
19. Florida State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 43rd and 31st
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 42nd
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.3%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Louisville 35-31
Why they're still unbeaten: Resilience. Mike Norvell's Seminoles watched LSU drive 99 yards for the potential game-tying touchdown in Week 1, then blocked the PAT to secure the win. They lost quarterback Jordan Travis, defensive end Jared Verse and others to injury Friday night in Louisville but rode backup QB Tate Rodemaker to the victory all the same.
Why they're ranked here: An argument could be made to rank the Noles a few spots higher -- their offense is wonderfully efficient, and they usually win the big-play battle -- but we'll see how long Travis, Verse & Co. are out.
18. Maryland (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 39th and 29th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 85th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.01%
What they did in Week 3: defeated SMU 34-27
Why they're still unbeaten: The playmakers shined against SMU. Freshman Roman Hemby had 213 combined rushing and receiving yards, and Taulia Tagovailoa completed 17 of his 23 passes (importantly, with no picks) as the Terps outlasted Rhett Lashlee's game and the explosive Mustangs after easy wins over Buffalo and Charlotte.
Why they're ranked here: We're used to Maryland having speed on offense (particularly in the skill corps), but it's been a while since the Terps were reliable on the other end. Can the defense hold up against Michigan next week? Or a number of other dangerous Big Ten East teams down the line?
17. Iowa State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 37th and 27th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 74th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.07%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Ohio 43-10
Why they're still unbeaten: No big plays. The Cyclones have allowed just 22 gains of double-digit yards thus far (eighth in FBS) and only two gains of 30-plus (ninth). They force opponents to drive the length of the field, then hold them to field goals in the red zone. Against admittedly iffy offenses, they've allowed just nine points per game.
Why they're ranked here: We'll find out if we can trust Hunter Dekkers soon enough. Against SE Missouri State and Ohio, he was nearly perfect; against a great Iowa defense, not so much. ISU's expectations were low because of what the Cyclones lost from last year's team, but the new players have held up. So far.
16. Arkansas (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 21st and 38th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 30th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.1%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Missouri State 38-27
Why they're still unbeaten: The offense has saved the day. Arkansas' rebuilt defense has struggled with big plays thus far, and the Hogs have allowed at least 24 points in all three games (including against FCS team Missouri State on Saturday). But quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Raheim Sanders compose one of the best backfields in the country.
Why they're ranked here: The Missouri State win spooked me. I would've had the Razorbacks in the top 10 before Saturday, but they've now allowed at least 325 passing yards and at least 5.5 yards per play in every game. That's scary considering there are quite a few strong offenses left on the schedule.
15. Washington (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 35th and 22nd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 61st
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 1.8%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Michigan State 39-28
Why they're still unbeaten: Kalen DeBoer is pushing all the right buttons. The former Fresno State head coach (and a multiple national title winner at the NAIA level) picked up a talented but disorganized and demoralized roster, brushed it off, and got it playing back to its potential.
Why they're ranked here: I'm defying the numbers and ranking the Huskies pretty high here, in part because I trust DeBoer and in part because they absolutely showed out against Michigan State on Saturday, jumping on the Spartans immediately and keeping their distance throughout. It could have been worse too -- they were up by 25 midway through the fourth quarter.
14. NC State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 19th and 33rd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 83rd
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 3.7%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Texas Tech 27-14
Why they're still unbeaten: The defense is as good as advertised (or close to it). The Wolfpack jumped to 22nd in defensive SP+ in 2021, and against prolific East Carolina and Texas Tech offenses, they allowed only 34 combined points. They're a solid 18th overall in points allowed per drive.
Why they're ranked here: In terms of both stats and perception, it feels like State is on the dividing line between the semi-surprising up-and-comers below them and the more proven entities above. Quarterback Devin Leary has been extremely mediocre so far; he'll need to raise his game if the Pack are to meet their grand ambition this year.
13. Minnesota (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 16th and 19th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 129th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 2.2%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Colorado 49-7
Why they're still unbeaten: All-around dominance of weak opposition. All three of Minnesota's nonconference opponents rank 112th or worse in SP+, and the Gophers predictably cruised by a combined 149-17. That might not mean much, but their success comes on the back of a strong rise to 21st in SP+ last season. Tanner Morgan and the Gophers have a track record.
Why they're ranked here: It's impossible to completely trust PJ Fleck's team as a Big Ten West contender (or even front-runner) until we see it against a team with a pulse. The next two games -- against wounded Michigan State on the road and Purdue at home -- should tell us what we need to know.
12. USC (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 26th and 11th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 87th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 2.3%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Fresno State 45-17
Why they're still unbeaten: The offense is every bit as good as expected. Caleb Williams ranks fourth in Total QBR, and Lincoln Riley's first USC offense is averaging 50.7 points per game and 8.0 yards per play. Ridiculous numbers.
Why they're ranked here: It comes down to trust. This offense will give the Trojans a chance to win every game they play, but the defense has benefited massively from turnover luck, and even while allowing just 17 points to Fresno State, it allowed 6.8 yards per play. The Trojans are going to be in a lot of Pac-12 track meets if the defensive progress doesn't pick up speed.
Then again, with this offense, they might also win those track meets.
11. Kentucky (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 10th and 26th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 66th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 0.9%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Youngstown State 31-0
Why they're still unbeaten: Nothing comes easy. Mark Stoops' Wildcats beat Miami (Ohio) and Youngstown State by a combined 68-13 but needed a rally to beat Florida in Gainesville (and therefore show up on this list instead of the Gators). The defense came through. UK ranks fourth in success rate allowed and has allowed a red zone touchdown rate (33%) that is barely half the national average (60%).
Why they're ranked here: The Wildcats have proved that their identity and a high floor can take them far. I'd feel better if I knew their offensive line was going to come around, though. It was the weak link against Florida, and, well, there are defensive fronts better than Florida's left on their schedule.
10. Oklahoma State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 13th and 17th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 92nd
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 1.2%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 63-7
Why they're still unbeaten: An old-school OSU attack. Granted, Arizona State took some shine off the Cowboys' nonconference résumé by losing to Eastern Michigan, but Mike Gundy's Pokes still outscored three opponents by a combined 155-68, and with an experienced and explosive receiving corps at his disposal, quarterback Spencer Sanders is producing Heisman-level numbers: 916 passing yards (14.8 per completion) and a 10-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio.
Why they're ranked here: Winning 12 games and finishing sixth in SP+ earns a team some benefit of the doubt. A rebuilt defense has been particularly all or nothing so far, but OSU is making far more big plays than it allows and is tilting the field with aplomb.
9. Tennessee (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 8th and 8th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 70th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 1.0%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Akron 63-6
Why they're still unbeaten: Complementary football. Against two overwhelmed MAC opponents, Tennessee put up gaudy totals and won by a combined 122-16. (No coach destroys outmanned defenses like Josh Heupel.) But the Vols had to labor at Pitt in Week 2, and while both offense and defense misfired at times, both units made enough plays in the clutch to survive in OT. They might have to follow that formula again this Saturday against Florida.
Why they're ranked here: The defense has played mostly well so far, and the offense almost always shows up. We'll find out exactly what the Vols are capable of soon -- five of their next six opponents are 33rd or better in SP+, and three are in the top 10.
8. Penn State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 9th and 10th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 39th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 1.5%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Auburn 41-12
Why they're still unbeaten: They were ready from the start. Going by SP+ rankings, James Franklin's Nittany Lions have already played two of their three most difficult road games of the season. They won 'em both, first outlasting Purdue in Week 1, then grinding Auburn into dust on Saturday. Manny Diaz's defense has been as good as advertised, and if the run game keeps showing up the way it did Saturday -- 245 rushing yards, 6.3 per carry -- this is a potential top-five team.
Why they're ranked here: PSU went just 11-11 in 2020-21, but the Nittany Lions aren't far removed from a run of three 11-win seasons in four years, and their talent level is as high as ever. That trip to Michigan on Oct. 15 could be utterly enormous.
7. Ole Miss (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 6th and 7th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 120th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 2.0%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Georgia Tech 42-0
Why they're still unbeaten: Steady improvement. Lane Kiffin's Rebels were projected ninth in SP+ to start the season and fell after beating Troy by a mere 28-10 margin. But they've exceeded projections twice in a row in pummeling Central Arkansas and Georgia Tech by a combined 101-3. This team is making and preventing big plays equally well.
Why they're ranked here: Now they have to do this against real opponents. Last year's 10-win season (and top-10 SP+ finish) was proof of concept for Kiffin, and the defense seems to keep getting better. Beat Tulsa this Saturday, and the following matchup with Kentucky could be huge.
6. Clemson (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 7th and 5th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 124th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 8.7%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Louisiana Tech 48-20
Why they're still unbeaten: The defense is still loaded. The Tigers are allowing 2.4 yards per carry (10th in FBS) and have 8.7 tackles for loss per game (11th), and neither Bryan Bresee nor Myles Murphy have gotten rolling yet. That's a good sign. And while the passing game is still awfully inconsistent at times, the run game is dynamite. This recipe alone should be worth about 10 wins this year.
Why they're ranked here: I still need to see DJ Uiagalelei engineer a huge performance against a good defense before I trust the Tigers' top-five potential. He ranks 55th in Total QBR, which is an absolute improvement over last season, but he's got to potentially trade blows with Wake Forest's Sam Hartman in Week 4, then beat an excellent NC State defense in Week 5. Can he?
5. Oklahoma (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 4th and 9th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 112th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 14.7%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Nebraska 49-14
Why they're still unbeaten: Everything has worked (against bad teams). Against UTEP, Kent State and a demoralized Nebraska, the Sooners have averaged 3.3 points per drive (19th in FBS) and 7.2 yards per play (16th) and allowed 0.8 (15th) and 4.1 (11th), respectively. They suffered brief first-half funks in the first two games, but the overall numbers are tremendous. And they destroyed Nebraska.
Why they're ranked here: Now do it against real teams. Beat Kansas State's defense next week, then hold TCU's, Texas' and Kansas' offenses in check after that. Brent Venables' Sooners have looked the part; now they have to keep doing it.
4. Michigan (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 5th and 4th
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 130th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 8.5%
What they did in Week 3: defeated UConn 59-0
Why they're still unbeaten: Everything has worked (against really bad teams). "It's not who you play -- it's how you play." That's one of my go-to lines when reacting to early-season performances. We can still learn a lot about teams if they're blowing out opponents the way they're supposed to. Michigan has beaten the teams ranked 120th, 126th and 128th in SP+ by a combined 166-17. The upside is obvious and has become more clear since J.J. McCarthy took over as starting quarterback. (He's 30-for-34 passing for 473 yards so far.)
Why they're ranked here: Now, like Oklahoma, the Wolverines will have to do all of this against teams with a pulse. That starts with Maryland on Saturday. The numbers say they'll do it.
3. Ohio State (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 3rd and 3rd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 38th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 20.4%
What they did in Week 3: defeated Toledo 77-21
Why they're still unbeaten: The defense beat Notre Dame, and the offense took it from there. The Buckeyes had to lean on efficiency rushing and Jim Knowles' new defense to survive a physical test against Notre Dame. That hasn't left a great impression considering the Fighting Irish's struggles since (they lost to Marshall and thought seriously about losing to Cal too), but since then, the Ohio State offense has shifted into fifth gear. Or maybe 17th gear. Against a Toledo team that ranked 35th in defensive SP+ in 2021, the Buckeyes put up a jaw-dropping 77 points and 763 yards. C.J. Stroud has averaged 14.1 yards per throw since the Notre Dame game, and everything is clicking.
Why they're ranked here: They're ridiculously talented -- especially in the offensive skill corps (sophomores Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka: 38 catches, 666 yards, eight touchdowns) -- and the defense has definitely answered the call when required. I don't know if the Buckeyes are better than the next two teams, but they're better than the rest.
2. Alabama (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 2nd and 2nd
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 51st
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 20.3%
What they did in Week 3: defeated ULM 63-7
Why they're still unbeaten: Bryce Young saved them in Austin. A 20-19 win over Texas kept the Crimson Tide unbeaten and gave Nick Saban plenty of fodder for getting after his guys in practice. Whether that game was a moment of growth or a warning sign, we'll find out soon enough. But as long as the Tide have got Young, the reigning Heisman winner, they'll have a chance to dig out of any hole they find themselves in.
Why they're ranked here: They're Alabama. They've rebounded from stubbed toes before, and they're just about the most trustworthy entity in sports. We're likely going to look at the Texas game as a "You should have gotten them while you had the chance" moment.
1. Georgia (3-0)
SP+ and FPI rankings: 1st and 1st
SP+ strength of schedule to date: 29th
Odds of reaching 12-0, per SP+: 40.0%
What they did in Week 3: defeated South Carolina 48-7
Why they're still unbeaten: They've played a top-30 schedule and treated it like a bottom-30 schedule. Oregon and South Carolina aren't exactly national title contenders, but beating them by a combined 97-10, both away from Athens (though the Oregon game was in Atlanta), is jarring. The defense has barely missed a beat after major turnover, and now the offense might be the nation's most efficient. It's ridiculous, honestly.
Why they're ranked here: Because they're the best team in the country at the moment. Easy as that.
Who won the Heisman this week?
We're attempting an experiment this season: What happens if I award the Heisman every single week of the season and dole out weekly points, F1-style (in this case, 10 points for first place, nine for second, etc.)? How will this Heisman race play out, and how different will the result be from the actual Heisman voting?
Here is this week's Heisman top 10:
1. C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (22-for-27 for 367 yards and five TDs vs. Toledo)
2. Michael Penix Jr., Washington (24-for-40 for 397 yards and four TDs vs. Michigan State)
3. Jalon Daniels, Kansas (14-for-23 for 158 yards and three TDs, plus 123 rushing yards and two TDs vs. Houston)
4. Bijan Robinson, Texas (183 rushing yards, 19 receiving yards and three combined touchdowns vs. UTSA)
5. Bo Nix, Oregon (13-for-18 for 222 yards and two TDs, plus 35 rushing yards and three TDs vs. BYU)
6. Stetson Bennett, Georgia (16-for-23 for 284 yards and two TDs, plus 36 rushing yards and one TD vs. South Carolina)
7. Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (5 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one sack, one pick-six vs. ULM)
8. Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma (16-for-27 for 230 yards and two TDs, plus 55 rushing yards and one TD vs. Nebraska)
9. Daiyan Henley, Washington State (13 tackles, 3 sacks, two forced fumbles vs. Colorado State)
10. John Rhys Plumlee, UCF (25-for-36 for 339 yards, one TD and one INT, plus 121 rushing yards and two TDs vs. FAU)
Through three weeks, here's how the point totals have shaken out.
Bryce Young, Alabama (17 points)
Caleb Williams, USC (16)
Stetson Bennett, Georgia (15)
Jalon Daniels, Kansas (15)
C.J. Stroud, Ohio State (14)
Spencer Sanders, Oklahoma State (9)
Michael Penix Jr., Washington (9)
Derek Parish, Houston (8)
Drake Maye, North Carolina (7)
Bijan Robinson, Texas (7)
Evan Hull, Northwestern (6)
Bo Nix, Oregon (6)
Anthony Richardson, Florida (6)
Raheim Sanders, Arkansas (5)
Will Anderson Jr., Alabama (4)
Tory Taylor, Florida (4)
Jordan Addison, USC (3)
Braelon Allen, Wisconsin (3)
Dillon Gabriel, Oklahoma (3)
Daiyan Henley, Washington State (2)
Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland (2)
Jacoby Windmon, Michigan State (2)
Todd Centeio, James Madison (1)
John Rhys Plumlee, UCF
Garrett Shrader, Syracuse (1)
The top five thus far consist of four of the most celebrated quarterbacks in the country ... and Jalon Daniels, who has shown up on this list twice in three weeks and currently ranks first in Total QBR. Man, oh man, has he been a game-changer for the Jayhawks.
My 10 favorite games of the weekend
Limiting myself to 10 games per week has been a massive challenge so far, and Week 3 was no exception. Not many ranked teams played classics, but there were plenty of classics all the same.
Indiana 33, Western Kentucky 30 (OT)
Florida State 35, Louisville 31
Bowling Green 34, Marshall 31 (OT)
No. 19 Wake Forest 37, Liberty 36
Charlotte 42, Georgia State 41
FCS: Southern Utah 17, Western Illinois 10
I had to save a spot for SUU-WIU at the end. Why? Because WIU tied it with less than a minute left, and the tie lasted exactly two plays.
oh MYYYY | Birds for 7 🙌
— Southern Utah Football (@SUUFB_) September 17, 2022
⚡️: 17
🐶: 10 pic.twitter.com/Bn2XVAskFh
Justin Miller to Isaiah Wooden for 73 yards and a Thunderbirds win.