Every week in NCAA Division 1 College Football this season produces at least 10 intriguing games. Week 3 is no different. Starting with Miami Hurricanes heading to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies, check out the 10 best games of the week in college football for the 2022 season.
NCAA Football Early Rankings of the 10 Best Games in Week 3 of the 2022 Season
2022 NCAAF Week 3
- When: Friday, Sep. 16 – Saturday, Sep. 17
1. Miami Hurricanes at Texas A&M Aggies
Coach Mario Cristobal turned the Oregon Ducks into a College Football Playoff contender. Cristobal turned down a lucrative contract to stay in Autzen so he could coach his alma mater. Don’t sleep on the Caines in this game.
The Aggies have more talent, but it’s all young talent. Miami’s defensive line should give A&M’s offense fits.
2. Mississippi State Bulldogs at LSU Tigers
Brian Kelly and LSU remain a hot underdog play to win the National Championship. It’s tough to go with the Tigers versus Miss State, though.
LSU doesn’t match up well with a Mississippi State Bulldogs program that returns 9 seniors or graduate transfers on defense. State could upset the Baton Rouge Bengals.
3. Florida State Seminoles at Louisville Cardinals
This season, the Seminoles and Cardinals are flying under the radar. Louisville’s Malik Cunningham returns for his senior season. Cunningham gets to throw to a couple of talented transfer wide receivers in Tyler Hudson and Dee Wiggins.
FSU quarterback Jordan Travis could be one of this season’s breakout stars. This Friday night game will bring out the best in both programs.
4. San Diego State Aztecs at Utah Utes
During their magical Rose Bowl run, the Utes lost 3 games last season. One of the losses happened versus a strong San Diego State Aztec squad.
Both teams are different in 2022. On paper, Utah should exact their revenge. But SDSU brought in quarterback Braxton Burmeister, who threw for VA Tech and Oregon earlier in his college career. Burmeister could dominate if the Utes defense takes a backward step now that the great Devin Lloyd is a Jacksonville Jaguar.
5. BYU Cougars at Oregon Ducks
Give new Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks their due. Oregon isn’t shying away from anybody. The Ducks start the season versus Georgia. Then in week 3, they take on a strong BYU side.
If Lanning beats the more talented Cougars, it will be a huge sign of things to come. Pay attention to this game for sure.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions at Auburn Tigers
Who knows? By week 3, Bryan Harsin may no longer be the head coach at Auburn. The other SEC squad in Alabama turns over coaches every 3 to 4 seasons. So it’s a given that Harsin, who Auburn has already soured on, gets his walking papers.
Maybe, the Tigers can’t fire the former Boise State HC. In any case, Penn State is the more stable program. So the Lions could rout Auburn in this.
7. Oklahoma Sooners at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sooners versus Cornhuskers was college football’s greatest rivalry. Now, it’s a mediocre game between a strong program, Oklahoma, and a university that can’t get it together, Nebraska.
But although the Huskers shouldn’t win this game, Nebraska does figure to play competitively. History says this will be a close throw down.
8. North Dakota State Bison at Arizona Wildcats
North Dakota State is one of the top FCS programs in the nation. The Bison have the talent to upset a young Arizona Wildcats squad.Not only that, but AZ fell to the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks last season. So losing to North Dakota State wouldn’t be a huge upset. Don’t handicap this intriguing matchup until the week of.
9. Fresno State Bulldogs at USC Trojans
On paper, USC should roll through Fresno State. But the NoCal Bulldogs are a veteran squad with 6 seniors, a graduate transfer, 2 juniors, and 2 sophomores on offense and the same makeup on defense.
USC has no business losing this straight up. Beating a veteran, well-coached, and 10-3 team from 2021 against the spread is another matter.
10. Michigan State Spartans at Washington Huskies
Some may put Michigan State versus Washington at the top of this list. The contest is in the top ten, but no way it leapfrogs the other games.
The problem for us is that both MSU and Washington will be in transition mode this season. Michigan State’s defense was horrendous last season. Washington is an okay team, but the Huskies won’t be great.
Sparty versus Wash will be a good game. But don’t expect fireworks from either side. Think entertaining but not enlightening.
Every week in NCAA Division 1 College Football this season produces at least 10 intriguing games. Week 3 is no different. Starting with Miami Hurricanes heading to College Station to take on the Texas A&M Aggies, check out the 10 best games of the week in college football for the 2022 season.
NCAA Football Early Rankings of the 10 Best Games in Week 3 of the 2022 Season
2022 NCAAF Week 3
- When: Friday, Sep. 16 – Saturday, Sep. 17
1. Miami Hurricanes at Texas A&M Aggies
Coach Mario Cristobal turned the Oregon Ducks into a College Football Playoff contender. Cristobal turned down a lucrative contract to stay in Autzen so he could coach his alma mater. Don’t sleep on the Caines in this game.
The Aggies have more talent, but it’s all young talent. Miami’s defensive line should give A&M’s offense fits.
2. Mississippi State Bulldogs at LSU Tigers
Brian Kelly and LSU remain a hot underdog play to win the National Championship. It’s tough to go with the Tigers versus Miss State, though.
LSU doesn’t match up well with a Mississippi State Bulldogs program that returns 9 seniors or graduate transfers on defense. State could upset the Baton Rouge Bengals.
3. Florida State Seminoles at Louisville Cardinals
This season, the Seminoles and Cardinals are flying under the radar. Louisville’s Malik Cunningham returns for his senior season. Cunningham gets to throw to a couple of talented transfer wide receivers in Tyler Hudson and Dee Wiggins.
FSU quarterback Jordan Travis could be one of this season’s breakout stars. This Friday night game will bring out the best in both programs.
4. San Diego State Aztecs at Utah Utes
During their magical Rose Bowl run, the Utes lost 3 games last season. One of the losses happened versus a strong San Diego State Aztec squad.
Both teams are different in 2022. On paper, Utah should exact their revenge. But SDSU brought in quarterback Braxton Burmeister, who threw for VA Tech and Oregon earlier in his college career. Burmeister could dominate if the Utes defense takes a backward step now that the great Devin Lloyd is a Jacksonville Jaguar.
5. BYU Cougars at Oregon Ducks
Give new Oregon coach Dan Lanning and the Ducks their due. Oregon isn’t shying away from anybody. The Ducks start the season versus Georgia. Then in week 3, they take on a strong BYU side.
If Lanning beats the more talented Cougars, it will be a huge sign of things to come. Pay attention to this game for sure.
6. Penn State Nittany Lions at Auburn Tigers
Who knows? By week 3, Bryan Harsin may no longer be the head coach at Auburn. The other SEC squad in Alabama turns over coaches every 3 to 4 seasons. So it’s a given that Harsin, who Auburn has already soured on, gets his walking papers.
Maybe, the Tigers can’t fire the former Boise State HC. In any case, Penn State is the more stable program. So the Lions could rout Auburn in this.
7. Oklahoma Sooners at Nebraska Cornhuskers
Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Sooners versus Cornhuskers was college football’s greatest rivalry. Now, it’s a mediocre game between a strong program, Oklahoma, and a university that can’t get it together, Nebraska.
But although the Huskers shouldn’t win this game, Nebraska does figure to play competitively. History says this will be a close throw down.
8. North Dakota State Bison at Arizona Wildcats
North Dakota State is one of the top FCS programs in the nation. The Bison have the talent to upset a young Arizona Wildcats squad.Not only that, but AZ fell to the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks last season. So losing to North Dakota State wouldn’t be a huge upset. Don’t handicap this intriguing matchup until the week of.
9. Fresno State Bulldogs at USC Trojans
On paper, USC should roll through Fresno State. But the NoCal Bulldogs are a veteran squad with 6 seniors, a graduate transfer, 2 juniors, and 2 sophomores on offense and the same makeup on defense.
USC has no business losing this straight up. Beating a veteran, well-coached, and 10-3 team from 2021 against the spread is another matter.
10. Michigan State Spartans at Washington Huskies
Some may put Michigan State versus Washington at the top of this list. The contest is in the top ten, but no way it leapfrogs the other games.
The problem for us is that both MSU and Washington will be in transition mode this season. Michigan State’s defense was horrendous last season. Washington is an okay team, but the Huskies won’t be great.
Sparty versus Wash will be a good game. But don’t expect fireworks from either side. Think entertaining but not enlightening.
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