The third Saturday in October delivers a lot of good things in college football, and not just
Watch college football and much more in the newly enhanced ESPN App. Stream the biggest games
Ole Miss-Georgia: Can Georgia’s defense get off the field on third down to get the ball back to its offense? Can Ole Miss’ offense keep moving the chains the way it has for much of the season? The Rebels are converting more than 50% of their third downs, and the Bulldogs have allowed opponents to convert about 40%. Mobile quarterbacks have given the Bulldogs fits over the past few seasons, and the Rebels have two of them in Trinidad Chambliss and Austin Simmons, who has been slowed by a sprained ankle. Georgia had three turnovers and couldn’t run the ball in last season’s 28-10 loss to Ole Miss. The Bulldogs couldn’t protect quarterback Carson Beck in that game, and they’ll have to do a better job with what has been a banged-up offensive line. If Georgia is going to win, it can’t afford another slow start, which put it in big holes against Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn. The Bulldogs have made great adjustments at halftime, but getting off to a fast start might be imperative in this one. — Mark Schlabach
USC-Notre Dame: Which defense will bend and which will break? Coming into this game, both USC and Notre Dame sport two of the best offenses in the country — per SP+, the Trojans are ranked first and the Irish are ranked fourth and both are led by two of the most impressive quarterbacks in Jayden Maiava and CJ Carr. Their respective defenses (ranked 45th and 23rd) are less accomplished so far this season, giving Saturday’s top-20 matchup the potential for a shootout. USC’s defense has been more inconsistent and shaky than its counterpart, but it’s coming off a game in which the Trojans were able to dominate Michigan in the trenches. The Trojans will need to do the same against a more talented Notre Dame front on the road. The running game, in particular, will be crucial. USC has two injuries to its top two backs (Eli Sanders and Waymond Jordan) and will turn to walk-on King Miller — who broke out for 158 rushing yards and three total touchdowns against Michigan — while the Irish have the luxury of handing off the ball to Jeremiyah Love. Love has nine total touchdowns over the past four games; even with an improved defensive unit, USC might not be able to stop him. — Paolo Uggetti
Quotes of the week
“I don’t know, that’s a good question. I walked by the TV and saw his press conference today, so I don’t think he’s burned too many calories. But he does have a lot of energy in games and he coaches really passionate. I’ve given him heat before about the weight loss part. He says he’s too stressed to work out.” — Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, when asked if he or Georgia coach Kirby Smart burns more calories during a game.
“You know, I’m just going to focus on us this week. Our guys, our coaches. So I’m not going to give much thought on the opponent this week. So, really, you have to ask them what they think of Bear.” — Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, when asked what he has seen from BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier ahead of its Holy War rivalry game.
“Halt! No. We haven’t tried it. Let’s be real now. We have not tried it. I’m not going to get into what we do have. We have not tried it. All due respect to everybody who put forth their effort. We have not tried it. Not at a Division I level. Forget Big Ten level, we have not done it at the Division I level. Let’s be clear on that.” — Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, on the school’s efforts to be competitive in NIL.
“Look, there’s three things you go through when you’re a coach. You’re in the honeymoon phase, you’re in the ‘please don’t leave’ phase and you’re in the ‘please leave now’ phase.” — Duke coach Manny Diaz, reacting to the firing of his former boss, James Franklin, at Penn State.
“I don’t know if I’m going to walk outside and my car is going to start or not, I think it is. I have an expectation it will. But if my car doesn’t start enough, then I will evaluate that and make decisions about my car. But that’s not my expectation at this point about our football program.” — Auburn athletic director John Cohen, when asked whether he expects Hugh Freeze to be the Tigers’ head coach in 2026.
