Conference play is ramping up in college football.
The telltale sign is that the schedule gives us six Top 25 matchups this week, the most in a week in a regular season in three years. The first three weeks brought a total of just five Top 25 matchups.
Four of the Top 25 matchups are in the Southeastern Conference, which is no fluke given the SEC has 10 teams in The Associated Press Top 25.
No. 1 Texas, two weeks removed from its dramatic comeback to beat Ohio State, goes on the road for the first time, playing No. 14 Tennessee in the programs' first meeting since the 1969 Cotton Bowl.
No. 4 Mississippi, fresh off its emotional win over LSU and Lane Kiffin, was made a surprising underdog by oddsmakers for its game at No. 21 Florida.
No. 19 Missouri visits No. 24 Mississippi State, which is going for its first 2-0 SEC start since 2014.
No. 23 Texas A&M goes to No. 10 LSU for a game with playoff implications between teams coming off devastating losses.
The Big Ten, which has seven teams in the Top 25, has the other two Top 25 matchups: No. 17 Iowa at No. 18 Michigan and No. 20 Oregon at No. 12 Southern California.
Best game
No. 20 Oregon (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at No. 12 Southern California (4-0, 1-0), 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)
This is a crucial measuring-stick game for an Oregon team picked to be at or near the top of the Big Ten and for a USC team that was expected to be the best one Lincoln Riley has had since he took over five years ago.
We all know what happened when Oregon went to Oklahoma State two weeks ago. The 84-0 rout of Portland State that followed means nothing. The focus will be on the Ducks' offensive line and defense, two areas that struggled mightily in Stillwater.
The Trojans shut out Fresno State in their second game but otherwise have been unimpressive. Last week they didn't put away woeful Rutgers in a 42-35 win until the final four minutes.
Heisman Trophy watch
Mississippi QB Trinidad Chambliss surged to the front of the Heisman race on sportsbooks and in the prediction markets after leading the Rebels past LSU. He can strengthen his bid with another big performance at Florida.
Chambliss threw for 363 yards and accounted for three touchdowns against LSU and now leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the country with an average of 308 yards per game through the air and leads the SEC with 25.7 completions per game.
Numbers to know
4 — Indiana, Kansas State, Ohio State and Utah are the only four teams to average 45 points per game and allow less than 10 points per game.
5 — Interceptions by Florida Atlantic through three games, surpassing its total of three in 12 games last season.
6 — Touchdowns by Nebraska freshman running back Jamal Rule, most through three games by a Husker since 2011.
11 — Texas wins against Top 25 opponents since 2024, the most of any FBS program.
19 — Consecutive games New Mexico State has forced at least one turnover, the nation's longest active streak.
Under the radar
Boise State (2-1) at Western Michigan (2-1), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
This game will help set the pecking order for Group of Six contenders for a playoff spot.
Boise State, the Pac-12 favorite, played Oregon close on the road and picked up a solid victory over Memphis before surviving against South Dakota of the Championship Subdivision last week.
Western Michigan, the Mid-American Conference defending champion and preseason favorite, won a lot of hearts with its effort at Michigan in the game the Broncos would have won had it not been for that clock issue and second-chance Hail Mary.
Hot seat
NC State's Dave Doeren is the definition of a survivor by modern college football standards. He's in his 14th year and has won eight or nine games eight times but has finished above .500 in ACC play only five times.
He's generally well-liked by the fans and, better yet, he's 9-4 with five straight wins over hated rival North Carolina. But the temperature got cranked up a bit with CJ Bailey's infamous end-of-game fumble and Vanderbilt touchdown in a 35-31 loss last week.
Bailey was supposed to roll to his right and burn as much of the remaining 6 seconds as possible. He erred by running into traffic, and Vandy edge Miles Capers took advantage and knocked the ball loose. Had Bailey taken a safety immediately, NC State would have still led 31-30.
Doeren has taken his share of the blame, and there's plenty go to around. Fans won't forget, but another eight- or nine-win season would help. As it is, Doeren's contract runs through 2029 and he would be owed about $10 million if fired.
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