COLLEGE FOOTBALL E-NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

College football continues to deliver, even when the lights are the brightest. The hype wasn’t even enough for Tennessee v. Georgia and Notre Dame v. Texas A&M. Those two games, alone, were enough for the price of admission, but the rest of the college football slate was bonkers as well. How about Georgia Tech’s win over Clemson in Atlanta? Wild. Let’s dive into a review of week three as well as looking forward to a number of fun/sneaky hot matchups in week four.

Week 3 Players of the Week

Kinder’s Texas Bowl Player of the Week - (tie) LSU DB Dashawn Spears - Doing a search on the world’s largest internet AI search engine, here’s what it shot back to me

Spears - recorded eight tackles and a pass breakup, helping LSU defeat Florida in a road win.

First of all, the Tigers won at home and Spears had just two tackles. But, AI buried the lede…BADLY. (and it’s why I don’t use it - I was looking up how to spell Dashawn actually) Spears had TWO interceptions of Florida QB D.J. Lagway, one of them going for a pick six in LSU’s HOME victory 20-10. The sophomore safety was all over the field, baiting Lagway into poor decisions and, eventually, five interceptions, of which Spears had two. Trust HI, Harris Intelligence to give you the right answers.

Texas A&M WR Mario Craver - In the offseason, the Aggies offensive staff and Elko sought out pass catchers that could get separation from defensive backs and Craver and KC Concepcion fit that ticket 100%. The decisions to sign those two all came to fruition, especially for Craver, on Saturday night in South Bend. He finished with seven catches for 207 yards and an 86-yard touchdown against what many thought entering the season was the best secondary in the country. Last year, the Aggie defensive backs raved about Craver after facing him and then Elko and company went out to make him an Aggie this year when he went into the transfer portal. GREAT move.

National Player of the Week - Georgia Tech QB Haynes King - Against what many thought heading into 2025 was the best defense in the nation, King went 200/100, throwing for 211 yards and rushing for 103 yards in an upset win over Clemson 24-21. He led the Yellow Jackets on the game winning drive, setting up the 55-yard game winning field goal as time expired. As tough as they come, King is driving Georgia Tech to amazing victories each and every week. What more can he do? I don’t know, but I’m here for it!

Week 3 Teams of the Week

Kinder’s Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Texas A&M - The win at Notre Dame wasn’t just a simple victory. This is the victory that Aggies head coach Mike Elko had been wanting/needing for the past two years (and Aggies clamoring for a win like this for decades). Since losing to Notre Dame in week one last year, it felt as if the Aggies desired not only a win, but revenge and got it when QB Marcel Reed hit TE Nate Boerkircher in the end zone with just 13 seconds to pull the 41-40 upset. Reed was magnificent down the stretch and he also threw for 360 yards, a number MANY never imagined he’d reach leading this Aggie offense.

National Team of the Week - Vanderbilt - Beating #1 Alabama at home is one thing, cakewalk really (okay, tongue in cheek). But, going to #11 South Carolina and putting up a 30-burger, while holding the Gamecocks to seven points??? Wow. QB Diego Pavia continues to lead the way for the Commodores, but former defensive coordinator-turned-head coach Clark Lea MUST LOVE what his defense is doing to teams this year. His ‘Dores defense has given up a total of just 30 points in wins over Charleston Southern, Virginia Tech and aforementioned South Carolina. Two sure wins are up on the docket for Vandy before the Gauntlet hits - @ Alabama, v LSU, v Mizzou, @ Texas and v Auburn. But, the way that Vandy has played, those games are just as difficult for those NAME opponents now. It’s a five star matchup because of Vandy, remember that.

Week 3 Kudos

…to New Mexico head coach Jason Eck and the Lobos for DOMINATING a B1G team in their own building UCLA 35-10.

…to West Virginia for the OT win in the Backyard Brawl. That was a Pitt win…until it wasn’t. Congrats to Rich Rodriquez v 2.0 after WVU lost to Ohio the week prior.

…to Georgia Tech’s field goal team for executing the perfect Firedrill field goal opportunity as the clock ticked down to zero against Clemson. Georgia Tech K Aidan Birr knocked home a 55-yard field goal to give Georgia Tech a huge 24-21 win over the 12th ranked Tigers in Atlanta.

…to Willie Fritz and the Houston Cougars for their 3-0 start. I’ve seen so much Houston football in my lifetime and this is the most disciplined, organized and competent team I’ve seen. Yes, it’s early, but it’s tracking with the Fritz Way as it did at Sam Houston, Georgia Southern, Tulane and now Houston.

…to Georgia/Tennessee/Texas A&M/Notre Dame for living up to the hype. Wow, those two ball games were Games of the Year types in just the third week of the year.

…to Alabama S Bray Hubbard for his two picks, including a pick six over Wisconsin. Hubbard was called out by MANY on social media for what they perceived as “loafing” in the week one loss to Florida State. Then, to bounce back like this two weeks later? Kudos, my man.

…to Oklahoma for not falling prey to the Owls of Temple after a big night win over Michigan the week prior and Auburn coming up this week. It was the perfect trap game until Oklahoma went to Philly and took care of business.

…to Stanford for its first win of the year as interim head coach Frank Reich beat Boston College led by Bill O’Brien. It’s not the first time Frank’s squad has beaten an O’Brien coached unit, but it was the first time in college.

…to Mizzou RB Ahmad Hardy for racking up 250 rushing yards on 22 carries and three TD in the Tigers’ blow out win over Louisiana 52-10.

…to Georgia QB Gunner Stockton for his 304 yard/two TD performance in his first road start, leading Georgia back to a 44-41 OT win. Throw in 38 yards rushing and a rushing TD and it was Stockton’s best performance as a Dawg. His 4th down TD throw to London Humphreys in the 4th quarter? Ridiculously good.

…to Tennessee WR Chris Brazzell II, in a losing effort, six catches for a whopping 177 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia. The NFL paid attention to that performance for sure.

…to Utah QB Devon Dampier for his brilliant second half performance against Wyoming. Perhaps sleepwalking a bit, or looking ahead to the matchup with #17 Texas Tech in week four, Utah had just three points at half. However, Dampier led the Utes to four straight TD drives and a 31-6 win in Laramie.

…to North Texas QB Drew Mestemaker for his 24/29 for 211 yard/four TD performance against Washington State. The two Texas schools (North Texas and Texas Tech) beat the Pac-12 in Texas a combined 104-24

Week 4 Preview

#22 (3-0) Auburn at #11 (3-0) Oklahoma

There are so many story lines in this one, but the biggest one is that Auburn QB Jackson Arnold returns to the place that many thought he was going to be a better Baker Mayfield. It never clicked for Arnold in Norman, but it seems to be doing so at Auburn. Oklahoma QB John Mateer is the QB that the Oklahoma fans thought they were getting when they signed Arnold. Regardless, there is going to be a TON of NFL talent locking horns on Saturday afternoon in Norman, OK.

#17 (3-0) Texas Tech at #16 (3-0) Utah

The sneakiest HOT game of this short season thus far is this game. Wow. Utah QB Devon Dampier has given the Utes life on offense and a chance to put points up on the board at any time. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders became the hottest team this summer for NIL signings/Free agents and, thus far, it’s worked magically. This is Texas Tech’s first road trip and that means the MUSS will be loud and obnoxious for the Red Raiders offense, led by QB Behren Morton. Also, it’s the first time that these two teams have faced one another since 1973 (although AI tried to tell me they met in 1996 and 2000). I love this matchup.

#9 (3-0) Illinois at #19 (3-0) Indiana

Speaking of sneaky hot, the B1G is all about the Ohio State, Penn State and Oregon love triangle, but these two teams have done nothing but improve the past few years. Indiana hasn’t played anyone with a pulse and QB Fernando Mendoza will get his first true B1G test against Bret Bielema’s fast and physical Illinois defense. QB Luke Altmyer has been through many tests throughout his career, but this one on the road might be his toughest in a while.