It’s the game everyone circled when the 2026 college football schedule was released.
Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford, leading the No. 7 LSU Tigers against No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels.
The weekend also begins with another ranked showdown Friday night, as No. 22 Houston visits No. 12 Texas Tech in Lubbock on FOX.
But beyond the marquee matchups, several games are flying under the radar and could offer intriguing betting opportunities.
With that, here are five of the best sleeper games to watch and wager on in Week 3 of the college football season.
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Spread: Virginia Tech -3
Moneyline: Virginia Tech -148, Maryland +124
The Outlook: We have a Big Ten-ACC non-conference battle on our hands. Both quarterbacks enter this matchup after throwing for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns in their previous game. Virginia Tech’s Ethan Grunkemeyer is completing more than 70% of his passes and has thrown four touchdowns, while Maryland’s Malik Washington has also completed more than 70% of his passes with three scores through the air.
James Franklin’s first true test against a Power 4 opponent comes on the road against a familiar conference foe. During his tenure at Penn State, Franklin went 9-2 against Maryland, winning by an average of 25.9 points.
Can Franklin continue his dominance over the Terrapins, even from the other side of the Big Ten-ACC rivalry?
Player To Watch: Luke Reynolds has emerged as one of Grunkemeyer’s favorite targets and a true game-changer for the Hokies. The Penn State transfer leads the team through two games with 13 receptions for 158 yards and three touchdowns. Look for Reynolds to remain a major part of Franklin’s offense.
Spread: South Carolina -4
Moneyline: South Carolina -175, Mississippi State +145
The Outlook: Kamario Taylor has been unbelievable through the first two weeks of the season. Mississippi State has scored 100 points across two games, following up its historic Week 1 victory with a dominant 38-13 road win over Minnesota. Now, Jeff Lebby and the Bulldogs travel to Columbia for their SEC opener against South Carolina.
Shane Beamer has started 2-0 for the third consecutive season and is looking to lead South Carolina to its first 3-0 start since 2012. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers has recorded more than 350 passing yards and 100 rushing yards through two games. He showed just how dangerous he can be on the ground last week, rushing for 119 yards on only seven carries.
These programs have met just 17 times, most recently in 2023. South Carolina has won 10 of those matchups, including eight of the past 10.
If Beamer and the Gamecocks want to continue that success, they’ll have to slow down one of the most explosive offenses in the country.
Player To Watch: It has been the Kamario Taylor show through the first two weeks, and everyone is starting to tune in. Taylor leads the SEC with 581 passing yards and ranks second with seven passing touchdowns. It will be fascinating to see how he and the Bulldogs handle the hostile environment at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Spread: Vanderbilt -3.5
Moneyline: Vanderbilt -166, NC State +140
The Outlook: Clark Lea had to turn to five-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis to lead a second-half comeback against FCS opponent Delaware. The Commodores trailed at halftime before Curtis entered and led the offense on two third-quarter scoring drives. With the QB situation seemingly settled, allowing 26 points to Delaware might now be Vanderbilt’s bigger concern.
NC State responded to a disappointing Week 1 performance by demolishing FCS opponent Richmond 73-0. The Wolfpack rushed for 428 yards and eight touchdowns, led by Jayden Scott’s 128 yards and two scores. Quarterback CJ Bailey also recorded his first two touchdowns of the season, throwing for one and running for another.
Through two games against non-Power 4 opponents, Vanderbilt has not looked like a team capable of reaching 10 wins again.
Whether that is because of inconsistent quarterback play or early-season mistakes, the Commodores will need to clean things up with an ACC opponent coming to town. Meanwhile, NC State has an opportunity to secure a statement non-conference victory before beginning ACC play.
Player To Watch: Jared Curtis entered the season with plenty of hype as a five-star quarterback who flipped his commitment from Georgia, but he began the year as Vanderbilt’s backup. After leading the second-half comeback against Delaware, Curtis could take over as QB1 this week—and he has shown why he deserves the opportunity. The freshman has completed 21 of 31 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown while adding two scores on the ground.
Spread: Northwestern -3.5
Moneyline: Northwestern -175, Colorado +145
The Outlook: Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes followed up their Week 1 thriller against Georgia Tech with a drubbing of Weber State. The Buffs hit the road again, this time facing a Big Ten opponent in Northwestern.
Julian Lewis passed for 336 yards in the win against Weber State, the most yards by a Colorado QB since Shedeur Sanders’ 438 in 2024.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats found themselves in a fourth-quarter dogfight against FCS powerhouse South Dakota State in Week 1. Two late touchdowns in the fourth gave Northwestern a 34-18 win. The Wildcats had almost 500 yards of total offense but also gave up 432 yards of total offense.
A Week 2 bye gave the Wildcats two weeks to correct their mistakes and prepare for this matchup, while Colorado has started to find its offensive rhythm.
Will the extra preparation benefit Northwestern, or will the week off disrupt the offense’s momentum?
Player To Watch: With weather potentially making this another messy game, Colorado could find itself in a situation similar to its matchup against Georgia Tech. The Buffaloes responded by running the ball 49 times for 183 yards. If they lean on the ground game again this week, keep an eye on Micah Welch, Colorado’s leading rusher.
Spread: San Diego State -2.5
Moneyline: San Diego State -135, JMU +114
The Outlook: James Madison scored 87 points last week. Yes, you read that correctly. The Dukes defeated Wagner by 84 points, continuing their seamless transition from Bob Chesney to Billy Napier.
Speaking of Chesney, his UCLA Bruins needed a 21-point fourth quarter to pull away from San Diego State last week. The Aztecs were one of the Mountain West’s best teams last season, finishing 9-4. With 10 returning starters, they are looking to build on that success and now have a major opportunity against one of the nation’s top Group of Six programs.
San Diego State proved it could compete with a Power 4 opponent, so it should not be intimidated by JMU. The Dukes are unlikely to score another 87 points especially against this defense, giving the Aztecs an opportunity to make a statement against one of the best teams in the G6.
Player To Watch: San Diego State running back Lucky Sutton led the Mountain West with 1,297 rushing yards last season and has picked up where he left off. Sutton has rushed for 139 yards through two games, the fourth-most in the Pac-12, while his three rushing touchdowns are tied for the conference lead. If the Aztecs are going to beat JMU, he will need to play a major role in the offense.
