College Football Week 3 Watchability Tiers: LSU, Georgia Play Sneaky Good Matchups in So-So Week

This week’s slate leaves a bit to be desired, but there’s still intrigue to be found in LSU vs. Mississippi State, SDSU vs. Oregon State and Pitt vs. West Virginia, among other games.

It’s a week of games that only a mother—or the most ardent college football fans among us—can love, and it’s evidenced by the lack of anything in our “definitely good” recommendation column. We at SI’s Watchability Tier Committee value you, the audience, and cannot in good faith predict that before the fact, any of these games will definitely be good. But, college football has a way of providing fireworks thanks to its sheer tonnage of games. There will be a diamond out of this rough, we just don’t know what it will be.

All times Eastern.

Definitely good

Nothing to see here.

Sneaky good (or at least with something of notable intrigue)

LSU vs. Mississippi State (Noon/ESPN)

Last year LSU took a loss to Florida State and blossomed into SEC West champions. If the Tigers are going to do that this year, it starts here with a win over a Mississippi State team that needed four interceptions to get a non-conference game to overtime last week. These aren’t the Bulldogs of the late, great Mike Leach, they more resemble the identity new head coach and former defensive coordinator Zach Arnett is trying to instill. MSU has a defense and run-the-ball outfit, and your mileage may vary on the Bulldogs’ ability to do that against LSU’s good defensive front.

Rattler (7) will have to be effective if South Carolina wants to challenge Georgia on Saturday :: Jeff Blake/USA TODAY Sports

South Carolina vs. Georgia (3:30 pm/CBS)

Speaking of a good front … hello, Georgia. The Dawgs finally get someone that at least belongs on the field with them from a talent perspective. The hope here is you get something close to the Spencer Rattler supernovas of last season for the Gamecocks to have a significant chance in this one. Last year showed how ugly it can get against Georgia if you can’t protect your QB; as did South Carolina’s Week 1 loss to North Carolina. But with an offensive line that has had a game to iron out the kinks, can the Gamecocks hold up against the Bulldogs this time around?

San Diego State vs. Oregon State (3:30 p.m./FS1)

If DJ Uiagalelei really has turned a corner and Oregon State is more than just a darkhorse in the Pac-12, this is a game the Beavers prove they won’t fall for the trap. The Aztecs may not be as good as they were the last few years under Brady Hoke, but they can still present enough on defense to be prickly. Good teams don’t stub their toe though, and find a way to win.

Pitt vs. West Virginia (7:30 p.m./ABC)

It’s the Backyard Brawl, so the notable intrigue is in the walls. It’s just nice to have this rivalry back on a semi-regular cadence (the two schools will take a break from 2026 to 2028). And it goes to show you that despite so many rivalries falling victim to the altar of realignment (looking at you, Bedlam) the game can still be played if there’s enough political will on either side.

TCU vs. Houston (8 p.m./FOX)

Welcome to the big leagues, Houston. The Cougars host their first-ever Big 12 game Saturday night with TCU coming to town. If they can pull off the win, it will soothe a lot of growing consternation after the disappointing loss to Rice last week. The Cougs believe they belong on the power conference stage, and now it’s time for them to prove it.

Tennessee vs. Florida (7:00 p.m./ESPN)

Can Florida be organized enough to match up with Tennessee? If the Gators’ drive-extending penalties rear their head in this game and they can’t get lined up, the Volunteers are built to exploit them with a high-octane offense. That offense is predicated on quarterback Joe Milton proving he’s a complete passer, however, and not just the guy whose howitzer of an arm can sling the ball a seemingly unlimited amount of yards down the field. The Vols were probably in a lookahead spot last week struggling against Austin Peay, so you shouldn’t put too much stock in a game where they didn’t exactly blow out their FCS opponents.

Well, it’s certainly better than watching not football

• Penn State vs. Illinois (Noon/Fox)
• Kansas State vs. Missouri (Noon/SEC Network)
• BYU vs. Arkansas (7:30 p.m./ESPN2)
• Colorado State vs. Colorado (10 p.m./ESPN)
• Georgia Tech vs. Ole Miss (7:30 p.m./SEC Network)