Takeaways from College Football Week 3: Ole Miss gets its revenge and NC State loses in disastrous fashion

By admin — In News — September 20, 2026

   ​College football is unpredictable and delightful, which is why we live for what happens on Saturdays. And Week 3 absolutely delivered, from the instant classic in Oxford to the opposite of an instant classic in Nashville.Each Sunday, I’ll publish my biggest takeaways from the college football weekend. I’ll highlight the most interesting storylines, track College Football Playoff contenders and specifically shout out individual and team performances that deserve the spotlight.1. Ole Miss got its sweet, sweet revenge.Nine months ago, Lane Kiffin left Ole Miss ahead of the program’s first Playoff appearance and burned every single bridge on his way out of Oxford. It wasn’t necessarily that he left that irked Rebels fans as much as how he did it. And all the things he said about Ole Miss and the state of Mississippi after he left.Then, Trinidad Chambliss’ arm and Pete Golding’s defense delivered a victory over Kiffin’s LSU squad that could only be described as cathartic. A truly unforgettable night for a fan base that sure deserved one.2. Sam Leavitt may not be the difference-maker LSU needs him to be.He’s great on the ground. He’s tough and largely fearless. But Sam Leavitt may not give LSU enough as a pure passer to take this team to the College Football Playoff and beyond. I’m not sure I trust him to be accurate or consistent enough, and I worry about his durability with the number of big hits he takes.3. North Carolina State just found a brand-new and excruciatingly painful way to lose a college football game.I’ve never seen anything like it. Usually, when you’re up three points with six seconds left and the ball, you’re going to win the game. But not if you’re CJ Bailey and you’re trying to run out the clock and/or take a safety but then you get hit and end up fumbling the ball and losing the game. I truly think the Wolfpack have invented a novel way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And, unfortunately, NC State fans know the feeling all too well.4. Utah is the best team no one is talking about.The Utes are 3-0 with an average margin of victory of nearly 40 points after crushing Utah State. And it’s quite possible they fundamentally broke the Arkansas football program a week ago. Morgan Scalley has his team humming in Year 1, and it’s time to start paying attention.5. Will Stein has already made his mark at Kentucky.I have said repeatedly that I loved the Will Stein hire for the Wildcats. I think he’s got a great eye for talent, and he puts his players in good positions to succeed. Kenny Minchey and CJ Baxter combined for a monster performance on Saturday, leading Kentucky to an upset of No. 9 Texas A&M in College Station. You don’t often see offenses pick apart Mike Elko defenses like that, and it’s a huge credit to Stein and co. Elko tipped his hat to Stein afterwards, and I will, too. This is a statement win just three games into Stein’s first season, and it surely won’t be the only bri  

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