Among the many things that likely swirled through Lane Kiffin's mind as he walked off the field at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium late Saturday was a sobering lesson -- the team he left is better than the one he now coaches.
Kiffin also learned (if he didn't know already) that the quarterback he used to coach, Ole Miss' Trinidad Chambliss, is the nation's best. Fueled by Chambliss, Ole Miss delivered the biggest win of Week 3, outlasting LSU 32-24 in the Kiffin revenge/reunion game in Oxford. Saturday night showed the Rebels are a national title contender, Chambliss is the early front-runner for the Heisman Trophy and coach Pete Golding continues to thrive in the biggest games.
Week 3 brought other lessons. NC State learned that you can lose a game in which all you have to do is fall down or step out of the end zone. The SEC learned that first-year coaches in Florida's Jon Sumrall and Kentucky's Will Stein will have an immediate impact. The ACC learned that Louisville could challenge Miami and possibly become a second CFP contender from the conference, but don't forget about defending league champion Duke, which is off to an impressive 3-0 start. The Big 12 learned its race could be more wide open than ever, as BYU and Utah look strong, Texas Tech continues to win and West Virginia might be a surprise contender. USC is relieved to be undefeated after Week 3, and teams like Texas A&M and SMU aren't so fortunate.
The pecking order in conferences is ever changing, and the same goes for the power rankings. Here's our latest version. -- Adam Rittenberg
1. Texas Longhorns
Previous ranking: 1
The Longhorns' defense dominated UTSA, giving up only 142 yards, but warning signs flashed on offense with an inconsistent performance by Arch Manning (17-of-33, 164 yards, 2 TDs). Coach Steve Sarkisian said none of Manning's nine carries for 50 yards were called runs and said Manning "fell in love with his legs" and didn't want him having to shoulder that load as much. On the upside, five Texas running backs ran for a combined 178 yards, on 4.6 yards per carry. With a road game against Tennessee this week, Manning said he'll have to play better for the offense to have a good game. -- Dave Wilson
2. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous ranking: 9
After watching Chambliss work his magic in the Rebels' 32-24 victory against LSU on Saturday, Kiffin might have wondered if a better legal strategy could have helped his team. Instead of trying to get two former NFL players on its roster, LSU might have been better off trying to overturn Chambliss' court injunction that allowed him to play a sixth season of college football. The one-time Division II star completed 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for a 14-yard touchdown with 6:14 to play, which ended up being the winner. He's clearly among the early Heisman Trophy favorites. -- Mark Schlabach
3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Previous ranking: 2
CJ Carr was ordinary (234 yards, no TDs) and the ground game again was more quantity than quality, though Nolan James Jr. did rack up 121 yards rushing. Instead, it was the defense that really shined for the Irish in a 27-10 win over Michigan State. Notre Dame held the Spartans to 167 yards -- making it the first time the Irish have held back-to-back opponents to less than 200 total yards since the first two games of the 2023 season. Notre Dame had four sacks and two interceptions, and utterly swallowed Michigan State's ground game. If it wasn't exactly a dominant win, it was yet another reminder that the Irish can beat teams in a lot of ways, and they don't need to always rely on Carr to be exceptional to come away with an easy victory. -- David Hale
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous ranking: 4
After Georgia opened the season against overmatched Tennessee State and Western Kentucky, we still didn't seem to know much about the Bulldogs. That's probably still the case after they ran past Arkansas 45-17 in their SEC opener on Saturday. Georgia led 38-3 when coach Kirby Smart eased up. The Bulldogs ran for 254 yards and four touchdowns and averaged six yards a carry. Quarterback Gunner Stockton ran for a career-high 97 yards on seven attempts, with 62 coming on one play. One concern was tailback Nate Frazier leaving the game in the second half, but Smart said he was only dinged up and could have returned. Georgia probably will need him for this week's home game against Oklahoma. -- Schlabach
5. Miami Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 3
The Hurricanes had to show resilience in the fourth quarter of a 33-20 win at Wake Forest. After Darian Mensah started the game with an ACC record 24 straight completions to help Miami build a 33-7 lead, the offense started to sputter. Wake Forest took advantage of a depleted Miami secondary and started hitting big plays down the field. Suddenly, the Demon Deacons had made it a game. The Miami defense came through in the clutch with a safety, two fourth-down stops and then an interception near the goal line to seal the win. The bigger concern are the injuries that Miami is dealing with. Both running backs Mark Fletcher Jr. and Marty Brown left the game, and receiver Malachi Toney was working through an upper-body injury as well. -- Andrea Adelson
6. Ohio State Buckeyes
Previous ranking: 6
Star wideout Jeremiah Smith broke the Buckeyes' career receiving record, passing Michael Jenkins' mark of 2,898 yards on a 23-yard reception in the first half of a 59-3 victory over Kent State. Smith now has 2,958 receiving yards just three games into his third season. He is also closing in on Emeka Egbuka's school receptions record (205) and Chris Olave's touchdown receptions mark (35). The NFL is filled with star receivers who played for Day at Ohio State. Asked where Smith ranks among those Buckeyes greats, Day answered: "It's hard to put anybody above him." Smith just keeps adding to his legacy. -- Jake Trotter
7. Indiana Hoosiers
Previous ranking: 7
After scoring 34 first-quarter points in the first two games, the Hoosiers failed to record a point against Western Kentucky until 10 minutes remained in the first half. Then, IU recaptured its standard rhythm on offense, while shutting out consecutive opponents at home for the first time since recording three straight in 1958 and 1959. The Hoosiers really clamped down against the run, giving up only 2.3 yards per carry. Quarterback Josh Hoover had another efficient performance, completing 18 of 24 passes, and Boston College transfer Turbo Richard had 149 rushing yards on only 15 carries. Rolijah Hardy led the defensive effort. -- Rittenberg
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous ranking: 11
Slow starts might eventually catch up to the Crimson Tide. But it didn't at Kentucky a week ago and it didn't at home against Florida State on Saturday. It took a while for the offense to settle in, but once it did, you saw the whole package. First-year starting quarterback Keelon Russell -- who had multiple "wow" throws when he pushed the ball downfield and a 57-yard touchdown run on which he scrambled, found daylight and shot past the defense showing off sprinter's speed. If he can build on that, Alabama might have something special. -- Alex Scarborough
9. LSU Tigers
Previous ranking: 5
Well, at least it's out of the way now. Losing at Ole Miss might have come as a shock to the exuberant LSU fan base, but the Rebels had a lot of advantages in the matchup -- from being at home, to having a quarterback who has been running that offense for more than a year now at an incredibly high clip. Plus, of course, Pete Golding knows Kiffin and Charlie Weis Jr. better than anyone. And despite all that -- and an early 17-point deficit -- the Tigers still had a shot to win in the red zone late in the fourth quarter. It's not an ideal outcome, but it should probably be more reassuring than deflating. The playoff is still a realistic goal in Year 1 of a long-term play for Kiffin. -- Hale
10. BYU Cougars
Previous ranking: 12
What stood out about the Cougars' 41-23 win against Colorado State was how explosive they were on offense. They averaged 13.4 yards per pass attempt and 8.1 yards on the ground -- both season bests. That part had been missing from the offense last season and if the trend continues, BYU should overtake Texas Tech to be the favorite in the Big 12. -- Kyle Bonagura
11. USC Trojans
Previous ranking: 10
So, about that defense. With much anticipation and fanfare about Gary Patterson's arrival at USC, the first few games showcased some promise: The Trojans' defense appeared to have size, speed and plenty of bite. Then, they traveled to Piscataway to face Rutgers and that all seemed to go out the window in a needlessly stressful 42-35 victory. The Scarlet Knights (who were 0-2 with losses to UMass and Boston College) put up 460 yards on USC's defense. If it wasn't for two turnovers USC forced (one of them being a 99-yard pick-six), this could have been the upset of the day. To be fair, it wasn't just the defense; the Trojans looked sloppy across the board in their first road game. And though they were able to sneak home with a win, it was certainly not one that inspired much confidence as Lincoln Riley's team now heads into the toughest stretch of its season. -- Paolo Uggetti
12. Penn State Nittany Lions
Previous ranking: 14
The Nittany Lions have passed their first test under first-year coach Matt Campbell, rolling to three easy victories during the nonconference slate. With a 55-13 victory over Buffalo, Penn State outscored its nonconference opponents (including Marshall and Temple) by an average of five touchdowns. But the tune-up is over, as the Nittany enter Big Ten play. An improved Wisconsin visits State College this weekend, followed by a Friday night trip to Northwestern for the Wildcats' new stadium debut. Then comes the showdown at home against USC. The next three games will reveal whether the Nittany Lions can emerge into a legitimate Big Ten title and playoff contender. -- Trotter
13. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Previous ranking: 13
The Red Raiders found themselves in a dogfight early Friday night in Lubbock, with Houston jumping out to a 10-0 lead, after Tommy Castellanos, who made a surprise start, threw an interception on the first play of the game. Will Hammond, the full-time starter, finished 17-of-27 with 257 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and the running game came through to help the Red Raiders grind out a win. Cameron Dickey, J'Koby Williams and Castellanos each had rushing touchdowns as Texas Tech ran for 168 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. -- Wilson
14. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous ranking: 15
In a lot of ways, the first three games on the Vols' schedule -- first Furman, then unranked Georgia Tech and finally Kennesaw State -- were a perfect way to build confidence for a program that had some pretty big questions coming out of the offseason. Freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon was able to settle in, finishing that three-game stretch with six touchdowns and no interceptions. The defense, under new coordinator Jim Knowles, was able to work out the kinks. Average points allowed: 14. What stood out most, though, was the running game, which averaged 298.6 rushing yards. Whether the progress of the early part of the season holds up with the first major test when No. 1 Texas comes to town Saturday remains to be seen. -- Scarborough
15. Florida Gators
Previous ranking: 22
The Gators' offense travels well, but the defense still has some issues to work through following a 44-39 win over Auburn. Headed into the game, running back Jadan Baugh had been the best player on offense and that continued on the road in a hostile environment, with 26 carries for 162 yards and three touchdowns. In three games, Baugh has 458 yards, is averaging 8.5 yards per carry and has eight rushing touchdowns. The defense remains a work in progress, particularly the secondary. Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown, who beat Florida while at South Florida last season, threw three touchdown passes -- including a 35-yard score to Chas Nimrod with 24 seconds left to give Auburn a late chance. Florida recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win. The biggest test of the season for that secondary looms Saturday against Ole Miss. -- Adelson
16. Utah Utes
Previous ranking: 17
Wide receiver Braden Pegan looks the part for the Utes. After a big season in 2025 for Utah State (60 catches, 926 yards, five TDs), his transfer to Utah was a huge get for the Utes. And against his former team Saturday, Pegan showed why, catching eight passes for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Utes have looked like a complete team each week with Pegan's emergence another positive sign. -- Bonagura
17. Louisville Cardinals
Previous ranking: NR
There was so much to like about the Cardinals' 41-31 win over then-No. 16 SMU; continued consistency from quarterback Lincoln Kienholz, a potent run game that totaled 265 rushing yards and a defense that finally put a lid on SMU star Kevin Jennings. All of that should -- and did -- bolster the Cardinals' place in the ACC title race. But the same lack of discipline that has limited coach Jeff Brohm's teams of the past hasn't gone anywhere, and that's a problem. Louisville notched its double-digit victory Saturday in spite of 110 penalty yards on 11 individual penalties, including five personal fouls. The Cardinals' 282 yards through three games are the fifth most nationally. "Both sides have to clean that up, and we've got to be way smarter," Brohm said. Despite all the progress elsewhere, Louisville's lack of discipline remains a major liability. -- Eli Lederman
18. Oregon Ducks
Previous ranking: 18
They can beat Portland State! In some ways, beating up on a far lesser opponent on a Friday night in Eugene is exactly what Oregon needed to get its frustration out after losing to unranked Oklahoma State the week before. The Ducks did it to the tune of a historic 84-0 scoreline -- the largest for the program at home in its history. On the other hand, it's impossible to gauge what a result like that actually means for the Ducks' goals this season, that is, winning a national title. If anything, the fact that they were able to dispatch Portland State so vigorously is proof of their ability given we have already witnessed a game this season in which they squandered that very thing. Regardless, the true test begins now. The Ducks head to Los Angeles to face off against undefeated USC next. -- Uggetti
19. Iowa Hawkeyes
Previous ranking: 23
Coach Kirk Ferentz's team enters Big Ten play with wins of 40-0 and 55-0 against weaker opponents but also a grind-it-out 16-13 victory against in-state rival Iowa State. Is the Hawkeyes' offense substantially better, or will the team revert to its typical formula of defense and special teams in conference play? Iowa showed against Northern Iowa that it has options in the run game, as three backs not named Kamari Moulton or L.J. Phillips Jr. -- Xavier Williams, Braeden Jackson and Nathan McNeil -- all eclipsed 100 rushing yards and combined for six touchdowns. Iowa eclipsed 400 rushing yards for the first time since 1997. Perhaps more important, quarterback Hank Brown completed all 12 of his pass attempts to further cement himself as Iowa's starter. -- Rittenberg
20. Michigan Wolverines
Previous ranking: 20
The Wolverines got through an eventful nonconference slate at 3-0 and showed true offensive firepower for the first time this season Saturday in the final three quarters against UTEP. Michigan piled up 52 points, scored on six consecutive possessions and received 223 passing yards and two touchdowns from quarterback Bryce Underwood, who didn't attempt a pass in the final 10-plus minutes against Oklahoma. The Wolverines were still prone to sloppiness early, committing two turnovers, but held massive edges in first downs (27-9) and yards (431-150). They will try to build on a more balanced offensive effort as Big Ten play opens next week against Iowa. -- Rittenberg
21. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous ranking: NR
Kamario Taylor and the Bulldogs just keep scoring and rolling. This week, they stared down a 16-0 deficit on the road at South Carolina after a sloppy start and fought back for a 41-34 triumph. Taylor led the rally with 251 passing yards and four touchdowns, and the defense opened the second half with four consecutive quick stops, including two interceptions of LaNorris Sellers. Coach Jeff Lebby has this squad in the AP Top 25 for the first time in his tenure, and the trajectory going forward looks legitimately exciting for a program that had dropped 19 of its past 20 SEC games entering Saturday. -- Max Olson
22. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous ranking: 8
Kentucky jumped to a 28-7 lead at Kyle Field, with quarterback Kenny Minchey going 14-of-18 for 252 yards, and the Aggies couldn't mount a comeback. Marcel Reed struggled, going 26-of-49, 236 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, and had several misfires on short throws. Coach Mike Elko said there were no positives in this performance and compared Reed's struggles to a pitcher who can't throw strikes, and Reed agreed. A night game at Baton Rouge against LSU on Saturday will be quite a test for A&M to get things straightened out. -- Wilson
23. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous ranking: NR
The early returns from Morgantown are that quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. has been a great fit for Rich Rodriguez's offense. Through three games, both Hawkins and running back Cam Cook have run for over 300 yards, with both going for 123 yards in a win against then-No. 25 Virginia. This is West Virginia's first 3-0 start since 2018, when it started 5-0. The Mountaineers have an interesting test Saturday against Oklahoma State to open Big 12 play. -- Bonagura
24. SMU Mustangs
Previous ranking: 16
The Mustangs' matchup with Louisville felt big -- two ranked teams, both playing well, with the winner getting top billing as Miami's closest competition in the ACC. SMU certainly looked up to the task in a back-and-forth affair, but Kevin Jennings' fumble just before he crossed the goal line in the fourth quarter allowed Louisville to break serve, and SMU couldn't recover. Still, the Mustangs offered strong evidence that they belong in the conversation -- for both the ACC and for the College Football Playoff. SMU has had enough success at the Power 4 level now that there aren't moral victories, but if Louisville was the real winner, the Mustangs can at least feel certain they're not far off. -- Hale
25. Missouri Tigers
Previous ranking: 21
The Tigers appeared to have a little bit of a hangover from last week's rivalry win at Kansas, coming home and starting slow against their Group of 6 opponent, Troy. Quarterback Austin Simmons had by far his least productive game in a Missouri uniform, finishing with 10-of-19 passing for 91 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. But the running game picked up the slack as Jamal Roberts continues to fill in admirably for injured star Ahmad Hardy. Roberts ran for 128 yards and a touchdown against Troy. Against a dangerous Mississippi State offense next week, headlined by standout quarterback Taylor, Missouri will probably need more production all around. -- Scarborough
