College Football Week 3 2026: Every Marquee Game, from Ohio State–Texas to the London Stage
Two straight Saturdays — Sept. 12 and Sept. 19 — pack the 2026 calendar with ranked-on-ranked football. Here is every marquee matchup, plus the jerseys fans are pulling right now.
Two Saturdays that define September
The 2026 college football season reaches its first real boiling point across two straight Saturdays — Sept. 12 and Sept. 19 — and the marquee board is loaded with ranked-on-ranked football. Defending national champion Indiana set the bar by winning the 2025–26 College Football Playoff, and every contender is now measured against that standard.
This guide walks every marquee matchup on the board, from the No. 1 vs. No. 5 heavyweight in Austin to the Union Jack Classic in London, and points you to the jersey each fan base is pulling off the rack right now. All times Eastern.
Saturday, Sept. 12 — the ranked-on-ranked showcase
Ohio State at Texas — the game of the year (so far)
No. 1 Ohio State visits No. 5 Texas at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC, with College GameDay on the ground in Austin. It is a rematch of last year's season opener in Columbus, which the Buckeyes won 14–7 behind Julian Sayin's touchdown pass; Arch Manning threw for 170 yards and a score in the losing effort. Ohio State leads the all-time series 3–2 and has not played in Austin since a 2006 win — so the Longhorns' home crowd gets its first real crack at the Buckeyes in two decades.
The quarterback duel headlines everything: Sayin returns for Ohio State with eight offensive starters back, while Manning anchors a Texas offense that added Cam Coleman — the former Auburn receiver widely viewed as the top transfer available — to pair with Jeremiah Smith, the Buckeyes' All-American wideout who led the Big Ten with 1,243 receiving yards. Whoever wins the trenches in Austin likely wins the national-title conversation for September.
Oklahoma at Michigan — blue bloods collide
No. 10 Oklahoma travels to Ann Arbor to face No. 16 Michigan at noon ET on FOX. It is a rare meeting of historic programs from different conferences, and a measuring-stick afternoon for a Wolverines team rebuilding its identity at home. Expect a physical, low-scoring affair decided in the fourth quarter.
Oregon at Oklahoma State — precision vs. chaos
No. 2 Oregon opens Big 12-country with a noon ET visit to Oklahoma State on ESPN. The Ducks bring one of the nation's most efficient offenses; the Cowboys bring the kind of home-field noise that has upset far bigger names. This is the clearest trap game on any top-five schedule.
The rest of the Sept. 11–12 slate
| Matchup | Ranking | Kickoff (ET) | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama at Kentucky | No. 13 at UK | Sept. 12, 3:30 p.m. ET | ABC |
| Tennessee at Georgia Tech | No. 20 at GT | Sept. 12, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN |
| Missouri at Kansas | No. 25 at KU | Sept. 11, 8 p.m. ET | FOX |
Each of these carries ranked-team stakes — Alabama tightening its grip on the SEC race at Kentucky, Tennessee testing itself against an ascending Georgia Tech, and border-rival Missouri visiting Kansas a night earlier.
Saturday, Sept. 19 — the Week 3 headliners and London
Florida State at Alabama
The Seminoles, now coached by Deion Sanders, visit Alabama at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. It is the kind of Southern-rivalry spotlight that defines a season — and a chance for Florida State to announce itself against the sport's standard-bearer.
Michigan State at Notre Dame
The Spartans travel to South Bend at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock. Notre Dame's home slate rarely gets bigger this early, and a ranked-or-near-ranked Michigan State team makes for a primetime test under the lights.
London calls: Arizona State vs. Kansas
The Union Jack Classic sends Arizona State and Kansas to London at noon ET on FS1. It is the marquee international showcase of the month — a chance for two programs with real 2026 momentum to play in front of a global crowd.
The jerseys every fan base is pulling right now
From the burnt-orange of Manning's Longhorns to the scarlet of Ohio State's Heisman heritage, here are the kits worth wearing to the biggest games of mid-September. Every piece ships worldwide free over $49.9.
Archie Griffin Ohio State Buckeyes Heisman Football Jersey, Scarlet
Arch Manning Texas Longhorns NIL Player Football Jersey, Texas Orange
#1 Oklahoma Sooners Brand Game Jersey, Crimson
Michigan Wolverines Spirit Football Jersey - Navy
Tennessee Volunteers Home Premier Jersey, Tennessee Orange
Oregon Ducks LaMichael James #21 Green Men Stitch Jersey Nike
Kentucky Wildcats Custom Football Game Jersey, Royal
#1 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Replica Football Jersey - Gold
Oklahoma State Cowboys Custom Football Game Jersey, Black
#1 Missouri Tigers Replica Football 100th Anniversary Jersey - Black
Nike Alabama Crimson Tide #2 Ryan Williams Youth Stitch Jersey - Crimson
Youth(Kids) Florida State Seminoles (FSU) #2 Deion Sanders White Nike Jersey
Men Notre Dame Fighting Irish #3 Joe Montana White Adidas Stitch Jersey
Indiana Hoosiers #15 Fernando Mendoza Men Stitch Jersey - White
Arizona State Sun Devils (ASU) Pat Tillman #42 Black Men Stitch Jersey Nike
Men Kansas Jayhawks #22 Darryn Peterson White Stitch Jerseys
When is Ohio State vs Texas in 2026?
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What are the other top college football games of mid-September 2026?
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Shop the marquee-matchup jerseys
Every game on this board has a kit worth wearing. Pull the jersey of the team you're backing — Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon and the rest — and get it shipped free worldwide over $49.9.
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