There are winners and there are losers. That’s life, and that’s college football.
Here’s a look at our standout winners and losers from Week 3.
Winners: Pete Golding and Ole Miss
Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss gave Ole Miss a late lead over LSU with a 14-yard touchdown scramble. Thanks to Chambliss’s efforts, the Rebels led the Tigers 30-24 with just over 6 minutes remaining and a pending point-after.
However, Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding decided to keep Chambliss and the offense on the field rather than kick the extra point. The Rebels’ quarterback drew the Tigers defense offside not once, but twice — leading to an easy walk-in 2-point conversion for JT Lindsey from the 1-yard line. 32-24.
Golding knew Lane Kiffin would go for 2 if the Tigers scored on the other end. Obviously, it didn’t matter — Kam Franklin, Jaylon Braxton and the Rebels’ defense kept Sam Leavitt and the Tigers’ offense from scoring on the final possession — but that play-to-win attitude is what it takes to win at the highest level of the sport.
That and Trinidad Chambliss.
The Rebels are not this week’s biggest winner solely because they stuck it to Lane Kiffin. They’re also the week’s biggest winner because Chambliss once again proved that he is the best quarterback in college football. The former Ferris State star threw for 363 yards and accounted for 3 touchdowns to beat his former coach in front of a home crowd. Hotty Toddy.
Loser: Lane Kiffin
I mean, could it have been anyone else?
Lane Kiffin has been the talk of college football since he left Ole Miss just ahead of the Rebels’ 2025 College Football Playoff run. He made headlines as LSU demolished Clemson, then joked “imagine if we had pro players” in the interview before the halftime break. And before his return trip to Oxford, Kiffin said all the pressure is on Ole Miss entering Week 3’s highly anticipated duel.
Then his team tripped over their shoelaces in front of the entire country.
There was no mistaking the better football team on Saturday. Ole Miss is a true contender with Chambliss under center and Oxford is not an easy place to play. Especially considering the circumstances.
LSU, on the other hand, will struggle if Sam Leavitt continues to tuck and run at the first sign of trouble. It was just a brutal, brutal night for Lane Kiffin.
Winners: P4 football teams from Kentucky
Kentucky. Football state.
Ole Miss secured the win of Week 3, but Kentucky’s win over Texas A&M and Louisville’s takedown of ACC rival SMU aren’t too far behind. Now, both have momentum nearing the bulk of conference play.
Will Stein‘s first SEC win was a big one. It wasn’t flukey, either. Kentucky controlled Texas A&M up front in the run game, steadily gaining 4.3 yards per carry to set up for Kenny Minchey through the air. Minchey had his best game as a Wildcat, finishing 14-for-18 (with a few drops) for 252 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Notre Dame transfer impressed in front of a packed crowd at Kyle Field.
Over in the ACC, Louisville looks to be in great shape after beating SMU.
The Cardinals would be favored right now against every opponent remaining on their conference schedule. The toughest of the bunch include contests at home against Pitt and Florida State alongside road game at North Carolina. Other opponents include Georgia Tech, Syracuse and Stanford leading into a Rivalry Week matchup against Kentucky.
Depending on how well the Cardinals fare in ACC play, we may get to see Miami vs. Louisville this year after all.
Loser: Gus Johnson
Is it ridiculous that Kent State at Ohio State was designated this week’s Big Noon Kickoff game? Yes.
Is it equally ridiculous that Gus Johnson sounded like he was on call for a rousing game of checkers at the local library? Also yes.
Folks, Johnson is practically falling asleep as he calls the first touchdown of former 5-star WR Chris Henry Jr.’s career.
This wasn’t a one-time thing, either. Plenty of people took notice on social media. Here’s another example:
Winner: Jadan Baugh
Florida is a team to keep an eye on for a few reasons, but that’s a whole different story. Let’s focus on Gators running back Jadan Baugh, who rushed for 162 yards on 26 attempts with 3 touchdowns, helping the Gators beat Auburn 44-39 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Baugh has been the best running back in the country to start the 2026 season. The Gators star has a level of explosiveness that he simply did not have last season, on full display in this touchdown run to seal it. The play was over as soon as Baugh crossed midfield.
Baugh’s numbers through 3 games are eye-popping. He’s so far totaled 458 yards (8.5 YPG) with a nation-leading 8 touchdowns and 0 lost fumbles. Only Duke’s Nate Sheppared — who has 82 carries to Baugh’s 54 — has more rushing yards than the Gators RB so far this season.
Loser: NC State
The final sequence of NC State at Vanderbilt features one of the most inconceivable things I’ve ever seen happen on a football field.
NC State was tied or in the lead for all but 1 second of Saturday’s loss to the Commodores. Leading 31-28 with seconds to go, NC State was faced with several options. The Wolfpack could punt. They could take the snap and sprint out of the back of the end zone. They could hover and kneel.
Wolfpack QB CJ Bailey seemed to have the last option chosen in his head. Instead of kneeing when the Commodores converged, however, Bailey tried to bleed extra seconds off the clock at the expense of protecting the football. Miles Capers ripped it out, and Vanderbilt is now 3-0.
How does this happen, NC State?
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
