The race to the College Football Playoff is in full swing, with seasonal altering matchups taking place across the CFB landscape. As the season unfolds, contenders are proving themselves while pretenders are being exposed. This week brought notable upsets and compelling storylines, headlined by a thrashing delivered by Indiana and a marquee Southeastern Conference (SEC) matchup between Auburn and Oklahoma. Here's everything you need to know from this week in college football.
Texas Tech 34, Utah 10
In one of three ranked-on-ranked matchups of Week 3, the Red Raiders dominated Utah, using a big fourth quarter to pull away. The Texas Tech defense was the star in this one, stifling the Utes both on the ground and through the air. Utah quarterback Devon Dampier struggled all game to find big completions. Despite going 25-of-38 passing, he managed just 162 yards, no touchdowns and threw two interceptions. The run game wasn’t much better — Utah’s leading rusher, NaQuari Rogers, totaled only 37 yards.
Indiana 63, Illinois 10
In the surprise of the week, Indiana beat the brakes off a highly rated Illinois team. The win pushed the Hoosiers to 4-0 on the season and sets them up for a significant jump in the rankings. This one got out of hand early, resulting in one of the largest margins of victory ever in a game between two ranked opponents. Indiana’s offense dominated in every phase, rushing for over 300 yards and adding five touchdowns through the air. Indiana football has been a surprise in recent years, consistently outperforming expectations over the past two seasons. The Hoosiers are now in a strong position to push for a College Football Playoff berth — especially if they can knock off either Oregon or Penn State later this year.
Oklahoma 24, Auburn 17
The final ranked matchup of the week featured two SEC foes in a pivotal showdown for both programs. The Sooners came out on top despite a nonexistent running game. The star of the game was Oklahoma’s pass rush, which tallied 9 sacks — including a 2.5-sack performance by defensive lineman Jayden Jackson. Quarterback John Mateer added another solid outing to his growing résumé, throwing for 271 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a score. With five undefeated teams in the SEC, every in-conference game is crucial. Oklahoma starting their SEC slate with a win gives them a major boost in the playoff race. With limited spots available in the new playoff format, these matchups are must-wins for any team hoping to earn a bid.
Texas 55, Sam Houston 0
One of the biggest storylines this season has been the early struggles of Arch Manning. He looked uninspiring in his first three games, and the media scrutiny — amplified by the Manning name — has been relentless, speculating on potential injuries or other issues. However, Manning looked sharp in an expectedly one-sided win over Sam Houston, throwing for 309 yards and three touchdowns. All eyes will remain on the young quarterback as he heads into a much tougher test this week against Florida.
Michigan 30, Nebraska 27
In a battle of contrasting styles, the Wolverines edged out the Cornhuskers with an unwavering ground attack. Michigan racked up nearly 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while Nebraska leaned on the air raid, throwing over 40 times. Despite the loss, Cornhuskers quarterback Dylan Raiola played well, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns, with just one interception. A late Nebraska comeback effort came up short, and Michigan secured a crucial win to keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
