Week 2 of the 2023 college football season was a momentous one, with the season’s biggest non-conference showdown turning into a potential passing of the torch from one dynasty to another. Meanwhile, Deion Sanders continues to defy expectations at Colorado and the Pac-12 continues its remarkable run of success out of conference in what could be its final year of existence.
What does Week 3 have in store for us? Well, honestly…not nearly as much excitement as Week 2, at least on paper. Last week’s fireworks have given way to a much more predictable-looking group of games this week but beware: sometimes college football is at its most chaotic just when you think you’ve got it figured out.
In week’s like this one, it’s more important than ever to know how to best spend your valuable viewing time and that’s why we’ve compiled this list of the five most watchable games of Week 3. Get those remotes warmed up and get ready to channel-surf between these games on Saturday.
5
No. 4 Texas vs. Wyoming (Saturday, 8 p.m. ET on Longhorn Network)
Favorite: Texas (-28.5)
Texas is the belle of the ball right now in college football after knocking off Alabama but how will Steve Sarkisian’s squad handle the burden of success? The talent gap between Texas and Wyoming is wider than the Rio Grande but Wyoming is not a team you want to play on a hangover and can probably test the Longhorns’ defense in ways that Alabama couldn’t.
4
No. 6 Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky (Saturday, 4 p.m. ET on FOX)
Favorite: Ohio State (-29)
The Buckeyes are heavy favorites here and will almost certainly come away winners…BUT! All is not fine and dandy in Buckeye Land at the moment as Ryan Day continues to come under fire for less-than-dominant offensive performances so far. Western Kentucky is the kind of team that can force Ohio State to be at its best in order to avoid disaster.
3
No. 20 North Carolina vs. Minnesota (Saturday, 3:30 pm ET on ESPN)
Favorite: North Carolina (-7.5)
A battle between two teams that are far from perfect but have shown toughness and an ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Drake Maye and the Tar Heels are always exciting to watch, for better or worse, while Minnesota has put on two fantastic defensive performances to start the season and will present a formidable hurdle for UNC.
2
West Virginia vs. Pitt (Saturday, 7:30 pm ET on ABC)
Favorite: Pitt (-1)
The 2023 edition of the Backyard Brawl certainly doesn’t seem to be a game that will have national championship implications but sometimes those are the nastiest, meanest, most intense rivalry games of all. Both teams are backed into a corner, desperate for something positive to relaunch their seasons and get going in the right direction again, and nothing would be sweeter than doing so at your most-hated rival’s expense.
1
Arkansas vs. BYU (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2)
Favorite: Arkansas (-8.5)
Arkansas and BYU have both flown under the radar thus far and now is the time to reveal what kind of teams they are. In many ways 2023 feels like a year Arkansas has been building towards, with KJ Jefferson returning and a host of other established playmakers on both sides of the ball. In what looks like a wide-open SEC West, can Arkansas finally have a breakthrough moment? BYU will make them earn it, with a tenacious defense that is absolutely no fun to play against.
