College football’s Week 3 rankings for the 2026 season delivered a shake‑up at the top, with the Texas Longhorns surging to No. 1 in both major polls after a dramatic comeback win.
Texas seized the top spot by scoring 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun previously No. 1 Ohio State, 24‑23, in Austin. The Buckeyes, who had led 23‑3 entering the final frame, slid to No. 6 in both the AP and Coaches polls after the collapse.
Georgia, Notre Dame, Indiana, and Miami now round out the Top 5 in both rankings, marking the first time since 1987 that Indiana has appeared inside the top four of a major poll this late in September.
BYU posted the week’s biggest climb in the AP Poll, jumping four spots to No. 11 after a steady 28‑17 win over Arizona. Oregon suffered the steepest fall, dropping 15 places to No. 21 following its 39‑31 loss at Oklahoma State—a game in which the Cowboys scored on three straight fourth‑quarter possessions.
Despite remaining unbeaten, Washington (2‑0) tumbled out of the AP Poll entirely after narrowly escaping Utah State, 16‑14. The Huskies have now won both of their games by a combined five points, raising questions about their staying power as conference play approaches.
Below are the full AP, FBS Coaches, STATS FCS, and FCS Coaches polls for Week 3 of the 2026 season (first-place votes in parentheses):
AP Poll – Week 3
1. Texas (56)
2. Georgia (3)
3. Notre Dame (1)
4. Indiana (3)
5. Miami FL (4)
6. Ohio State
7. LSU (1)
8. Ole Miss
9. Texas A&M
10. Alabama
11. BYU
12. USC
13. Texas Tech
14. Penn State
15. Tennessee
16. SMU
17. Utah
18. Iowa
19. Michigan
20. Missouri
21. Oregon
22. Houston
23. Louisville
24. Oklahoma
25. Virginia
Others receiving votes: Washington 172, Florida 83, Boise State 57, Oklahoma State 36, Western Michigan 35, Tulsa 18, Mississippi State 17, South Carolina 15, Virginia Tech 11, UCLA 9, James Madison 6, Arizona 5, North Dakota State 3, Kansas State 1, Pittsburgh 1
Dropped from rankings: Washington 19
FBS Coaches Poll – Week 3
1. Texas (42)
2. Georgia (15)
3. Notre Dame (4)
4. Indiana (10)
5. Miami FL (2)
6. Ohio State
7. LSU (1)
8. Texas A&M
9. Ole Miss
10. Alabama
11. USC
12. Texas Tech
13. BYU
14. Tennessee
15. Penn State
16. SMU
17. Utah
18. Oregon
19. Michigan
20. Iowa
21. Oklahoma
22. Missouri
23. Houston
24. Washington
25. Virginia
Others receiving votes: Florida 183, Louisville 160, Boise State 44, Kansas State 24, South Carolina 23, Mississippi State 20, Vanderbilt 19, Duke 19, Nebraska 18, Pittsburgh 16, Oklahoma State 16, Auburn 15, Western Michigan 10, Virginia Tech 9, UCLA 8, Tulsa 7, North Dakota State 5, New Mexico 4, Clemson 3, Wake Forest 1, Arizona 1
Dropped from rankings: Florida 25
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 – Week 3
1. Montana State (57)
2. South Dakota State
3. Montana
4. Tarleton State
5. Illinois State
6. North Dakota
7. Lehigh
8. Rhode Island
9. Youngstown State
10. South Dakota
11. UC Davis
12. Stephen F. Austin
13. Tennessee Tech
14. Austin Peay
14. Lamar
16. Idaho State
17. West Florida
18. South Carolina State
19. Yale
20. Northern Arizona
21. William & Mary
22. Villanova
23. Mercer
24. Southern Illinois
25. Harvard
Others receiving votes: Alabama State 64, Furman 60, Campbell 59, Cal Poly 56, UAlbany 38, Houston Christian 38, Southern Utah 37, Jackson State 30, Wofford 19, Abilene Christian 15, Richmond 11, Elon 10, Prairie View A&M 6, Colgate 3
Dropped from rankings: Abilene Christian 23
FCS Coaches Poll – Week 3
1. Montana State (26)
2. Montana
3. South Dakota State
4. Illinois State
5. Tarleton State
6. North Dakota
7. Lehigh
8. Stephen F. Austin
9. Youngstown State
10. Tennessee Tech
11. UC Davis
12. South Dakota
13. Rhode Island
14. Austin Peay
15. Lamar
16. South Carolina State
17. West Florida
18. Idaho State
19. Northern Arizona
20. Yale
21. William & Mary
22. Mercer
23. Villanova
24. Furman
25. Southern Illinois
Others receiving votes: Richmond 67, Cal Poly 51, Colgate 30, Wofford 27, Jackson State 20, Prairie View A&M 20, Harvard 18, Central Arkansas 16, Southern Utah 13, Alabama State 10, Elon 7, HCU 6, Campbell 4, Robert Morris 4, UAlbany 3, Abilene Christian 2, Dartmouth 2, Nicholls 2, UT Martin 2, Monmouth 1, San Diego 1, Southeast Missouri 1
Dropped from rankings: Richmond 21 Abilene Christian 25
View Comments (2)
The good news is that OSU isn't eliminated from the CFP. Not even close. Especially now that the CFP is 12 teams, and with further expansion possibly on the horizon.
Meanwhile, we are still waiting for our first G6 team to crack the polls. Maybe in a few weeks we will have a clear G6 front-runner.
Hello Z-Man,
I live in the far West.
Do u live East of the Mississippi?
Your Team preferences & Team-Conference Realignment fantasies seem 2 indicate your Eastern uSA predilection.
If the BSU Broncos were in any Trust 4 Conference they would already be ranked in the top 25 A.P. (Associated Press Propaganda) 'rankings'.
A First Week Game vs. the Propaganda No. 2 2025 Franchise & they lost by 1 TD? They would be given the Not ouRe Dame Irish Special Exception Pass & ranked!
Week 2 Home win vs. a solid U. Memphis 1-1 Team ( 63 Grant in Aid Franchises R not an = opponent IMO & I don't count them in B .owl S. ubdivision Records).
If USC played these 2 Games they would be ranked top 25 material.
Where = BSU Broncos? A. Receiving a few votes.