B/R's 2026 College Football Winners and Losers from Week 3

At risk of being prisoners of the moment, there is a very real possibility that we will never forget Week 3 of the 2026 college football season.

Yeah, it featured a hyped showdown between LSU and Ole Miss in prime time as Lane Kiffin returned to Oxford. Sure, we've watched a couple of record-breaking performances, with more excitement to come.

But this unsuspecting Saturday also brought one of the wildest finishes ever.

That shocking moment at Vanderbilt is a must-see moment and highlights the winners and losers of the Week 3 slate.

This piece will be updated throughout Saturday's action.

Winner: Darian Mensah, Again

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In blowout wins against Stanford and Florida A&M, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah completed 41-of-45 passes. Said another way, he'd tossed twice as many touchdowns (eight) as incompletions (four).

All he did Friday at Wake Forest was connect on his first 24 throws.

The streak broke an ACC record for consecutive completions. It helped the Hurricanes build a 24-point lead en route to a 33-20 victory. He finished the night sporting a 30-of-34 line for 220 yards and three touchdowns.

Miami's offense went silent after its opening drive of the second half, so there is still considerable room for Mensah to improve.

That should be a pretty terrifying thought for defenses.

Loser: Houston's Big Chance

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It hardly could've been closer.

Houston went to Texas Tech hoping to throw a wrench in the Big 12 standings. At halftime, UH held a 17-14 edge. When the lead turned into a 28-20 deficit, Conner Weigman connected with Patrick Overmyer for a last-minute touchdown in the fourth quarter. Houston needed a two-point conversion to force overtime.

It hardly could've been closer.

Weigman saw no open receivers and elected to scramble, meeting three Tech defenders at the three-yard line. The veteran QB absorbed the contact, fell toward the end zone and stretched the ball beyond the plane of the end zone—but he'd already touched the turf.

Who knows what would've happened in overtime. Houston, though, will have nightmares about falling literal inches shy of a conference-shifting upset.

Winner: Jeremiah Smith's Legacy

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Jeremiah Smith has locked in his place as one of the most memorable players in Ohio State history. He's a two-time All-American who played a key role in the Buckeyes winning a national championship. Smith is already a legend.

Saturday afternoon, he captured one of the prestigious official honors.

During a 59-3 rout of Kent State, he reeled in a 23-yard pass and overtook Michael Jenkins in OSU's record book. Smith finished with five receptions for 85 yards, bringing his career total to 2,958.

The junior wideout needs 20 catches to leap Emeka Egbuka in career receptions and six touchdowns to clear Chris Olave. If—and more likely when—that happens, Smith will formally be the undisputed No. 1 in Ohio State history.

Loser: NC State's Unconscionable Collapse

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What in the world.

How in the world.

Thanks to a clutch interception by Brody Barnhardt, it seemed North Carolina State was about to win 31-28. Vanderbilt had a couple of timeouts left, but NC State had a clear opportunity to take the clock to triple-zeroes.

So, sure, attempting a 4th-and-7 inside their own 10-yard line appears silly on paper. With only six ticks remaining, however, NC State could take a safety—even if that meant surviving a final special-teams or defensive play—or try to launch an incompletion that burned the rest of the clock.

NC State picked Option A. The coaches didn't expect it to end in a fumble, which was recovered by Vandy's Cayden Daniels in the end zone.

In most improbable fashion, Vanderbilt won 35-31.

Winner: Louisville's ACC Upside

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The consensus belief is that Miami stands atop the ACC hierarchy. Now, we can label Louisville as the primary threat to the 'Canes.

In an entertaining, defense-optional clash with SMU, Louisville pulled out a 41-31 victory. Lincoln Kienholz accounted for 229 yards and three touchdowns, while Keyjuan Brown rushed for 163 yards and two scores of his own.

Looking ahead, who's going to stop the Cards?

There's no Miami, Virginia, Clemson or Virginia Tech on the docket. Pitt travels to Louisville, as does Wake Forest. Louisville's road trips in ACC action are NC State, Syracuse, Georgia Tech and North Carolina—not exactly a scary set of games.

By virtue of this exceedingly favorable path to the ACC Championship Game, Louisville is undeniably on the Playoff radar.

Loser: Texas A&M's CFP Path

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Texas A&M's slate includes trips to LSU, Missouri, Alabama and Oklahoma, plus a home showdown against Texas. The odds of returning to the College Football Playoff were already slim.

Any optimism of surviving that gauntlet is now plummeting.

Kentucky went into College Station and outclassed the Aggies, picking off Marcel Reed twice and rolling to a 31-21 upset. The touted A&M defense surrendered three second-half touchdowns, including one after a turnover on downs that set Kentucky up inside the 35-yard line.

At worst, the Aggies will need a 9-3 record to have a shot at the CFP. There's certainly no guarantee that résumé would be compelling enough.

Panic can be reserved for discourse after A&M's second loss, but falling at home to Kentucky is not a promising sign for the future.

Winner: Rising SEC QBs

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Kamario Taylor

Alabama and Mississippi State both improved to 3-0 on Saturday, taking down Florida State and South Carolina, respectively.

The offenses put on absolute shows, too.

Keelon Russell helped Bama exact some revenge on FSU, which stunned the Crimson Tide last year. They trailed 21-6 early, but Russell exploded for 320 yards and three touchdowns through the air, with 56 yards and a score on the ground to propel the Tide to a 50-36 triumph.

Kamario Taylor, meanwhile, continued his ascent with four touchdowns in a 41-34 win at South Carolina. He passed for 251 yards and rushed for 33 more.

It's only been three weeks, but both first-year QBs are impressing.

Winner: Ole Miss, Forever

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LSU might win a national championship with Lane Kiffin. Ole Miss may struggle to maintain what he built. We cannot know what's on the horizon.

But the Rebels did not lose.

The night that Kiffin returned to Oxford, the Rebels did not lose. They built an early lead, weathered the emotions of a 17-point advantage that became a 24-all tie, scored a late touchdown and grabbed a game-sealing interception to send Kiffin back to Baton Rouge with a 32-24 loss.

LSU might have a more successful year in 2026. Ole Miss may stumble in other marquee SEC games this season.

But on this night—this passion-filled, rage-inducing night—the Rebels did not lose to the coach who deserted them. They'll remember that forever.

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