Houston and Texas Tech really was that good
The CFB season is just heading into week four, but we may have already had our game of the year. Let’s look back and then look ahead to a wild, emotional week four.
Week 3 Look Back
Team that made the biggest statement - Ole Miss - When your ex comes to town, you want to make sure he/she sees what he/she missed out on. Ole Miss wanted its ex, LSU head coach Lane Kiffin, to see what he left behind and my goodness, did they show him? Mainly, it was “Win”idad Chambliss who turned Saturday night into his personal playground in a 32-24 victory. Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding has now beaten LSU this year and Georgia in the playoff last year in two of the four games in which he’s been head coach. And his other wins were over JMU in the playoff and #23 Louisville in Orlando. Dude can coach. His QB can play. This team can win.
…and right behind them - Northwestern - The Colorado Buffaloes were just about to take the field to face Northwestern and numerous players were poking a ton of fun at the facility and everything Northwestern. Then, the Wildcats put a 41-7 hurting on Coach Prime’s Buffs, smoking the formerly undefeated Buffaloes. QB Aidan Chiles accounted for five TDs in the win.
Player that showed out
Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss - put on a show in front of a nationwide audience
Northwestern QB Aidan Chiles - accounted for five TDs for his Wildcats
Sam Houston QB Landyn Locke - 322 yards passing, four passing TDs in 59-0 rout
North Carolina DE Xavier Lewis - two sacks and two TFLs, general menace in a losing effort
Florida RB Jadan Baugh - 162 rushing yards and three TDs in 44-39 win over Auburn
Louisville RB Keyjuan Brown - 163 rushing yards, 58 yard rush TD, 53 yard rush TD
Best Game of the Weekend - #13 Texas Tech - 28 vs. #22 Houston - 26 - It came down to two inches, maybe one. Houston QB Connor Weigman drove the Cougars on a potential game tying TD, just a maestro led drive. Then, he took off for the goal line on a two point play, dove…and his waist touched down with the ball just an inch away from the goal line. No good. My gosh, what a finish; it was a game in which both teams “won”.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy that showed out - BYU RB LJ Martin - Been a big fan for a while, but he’s more than just a big back. He has great feet, light on said feet and runs with power. Tore through Colorado State with 176 rushing yards and three TDs.
“John’s Crush Roster” Member i.e Player I’m still crushing on - Clemson CB Ashton Hampton - the best player on the Clemson roster and he's a tough matchup for any receiver he faces. Physical man cover corner with ball skills.
Week 4 Look Ahead
Team that can make the biggest statement - Florida - The Jon Sumrall era truly got off to a great start with a win at Auburn last week, but the Gators can cement his arrival with a win over #4 Ole Miss.
Player(s) to Watch - Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed - Usually, I put a player in here that I’m expecting a big performance or output this Saturday. I’m putting Reed here because no player has more pressure to play well this week than him. He did not perform well last week and Kentucky walked into Kyle Field and beat the Aggies as a result. I don’t think this is Reed’s last dance, if you will, but if he struggles against LSU, it's a possibility.
Best Game of the Weekend - the Battle of UT’s - Texas heads to Knoxville for the first time, in fact, these two teams have never met in the regular season. The Longhorns go on the road for the first time, so this should be fun.
Like the Draft? Here’s your guy to watch - Iowa IOL Kade Pieper - I LOVE to watch this guy on every snap. I feel like he’s going to put an opponent in the turf if I watch long enough. He and his Hawkeyes OL will have a tough one in Ann Arbor against Michigan.
John’s Top 3 - Statements made in week 3 (not named Ole Miss) - Each week I’ll give a quick top 3 on any topic, and this week, it’s simply the three best games of the weekend.
3. Florida knocking off Auburn on the road - scoring 44 points in a statement win? Yes, please. Florida HBC Jon Sumrall can coach his guts out and his Gators went on the road and got a big one on the Plains.
2. Louisville putting up 41 on SMU, taking a big step forward in the ACC with a 41-31 win over #16 SMU.
1. Mississippi State, also, putting up 41 but doing so in Columbia against South Carolina. The Bulldogs are for real and head coach Jeff Lebby has MSU playing outstanding football in September.
The Big 12 Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
Texas Tech and Houston put on a show on Friday night. What a contest that was in Lubbock! 28-26 and then it comes down an inch…or less. What a game! Add in BYU’s throttling of Colorado State and it feels like the Big 12 has a trio that can play with anyone, anywhere.
The SEC Pulse - Who’s rising, who’s slipping, who to watch
Oklahoma’s offense has seemingly been on hiatus throughout the entirety of the 2026 season. Just points against a decent Michigan defense on the road. Only 14 last week at home against New Mexico. Quite frankly, it doesn’t have an identity right now. QB John Mateer takes such a beating running the ball, so he’s not able to throw accurately. The OL is a mess. Heading to Georgia won’t help matters but Mateer and company better go compete in Athens.
Top 5 to Watch - This will give you an idea of where my eyes will be this weekend
5. Will Stein is THE TRUTH - Kentucky’s new head coach has Big Blue Nation thinking that football is BACK in The Commonwealth. South Alabama won’t push them this week, but this UK offense is FUN to watch
4. Loser Leaves Town Match? - LSU and Texas A&M both lost last week, in somewhat surprising fashion. A second consecutive loss for one of these two will make things VERY uncomfortable back home.
3. A Legend Rising? - Alabama QB Keelon Russell has gotten better each and every week and his offense is averaging over 47 points per game. South Carolina’s defense got shredded last week at home, so Russell could put on another show in T-Town.
2. Top Ten Team going down? - A top ten team has gone down to defeat each of the past two weeks. Who’s vulnerable this week?
1. Like the good ‘ol Pac-12 days - Oregon and USC will meet in the Coli after locking horns in Eugene last year, the first one in the B1G. USC had a lot to say before Oregon ran them out of the building.