College football Week 3 guide: Florida vs. Tennessee and Deion Sanders
Viewing guide
Lamest time window: The early slate isn’t great, and the whole day looks kind of weak. But schedules like this often provide the most chaos.
Noon: Missouri seems like a tough matchup for No. 15 Kansas State (SEC Network), just as 2-0 Mississippi State will be an intriguing road challenge for No. 14 LSU (ESPN).
3:30: No. 1 Georgia finally plays a team with a pulse by hosting South Carolina (CBS). If that gets out of hand, keep an eye on Minnesota’s upset bid at No. 20 North Carolina (ESPN).
5: Michigan State is reeling from the Mel Tucker scandal and should be in trouble against Tampa Bay Tech product Michael Penix and No. 8 Washington (Peacock).
7: Don’t be surprised if the day’s best game is No. 11 Tennessee at Florida (ESPN).
7:30: The Backyard Brawl between Pitt and West Virginia (ABC) is always a blast. We’ll also start to see how good Arkansas is with a visit from BYU (ESPN2).
10: Coach Prime has made No. 18 Colorado the epicenter of American sports, even if it’s against lowly Colorado State (ESPN).
FSU football history lesson
If you want to talk yourself into No. 3 Florida State’s trip to Boston College, go back a decade. FSU fell behind by 14 in the second quarter and needed Jameis Winston’s Hail Mary to take the lead into halftime. The Seminoles didn’t trail again until the national title game against Auburn.
State history lesson
The Gators, Seminoles, Hurricanes, Bulls and Knights all won last Saturday. The last time all five programs won on the same day: Sept. 22, 2018.
Eye on the NFL draft
Boston College guard Christian Mahogany is one of the ACC’s top offensive linemen. FSU’s defensive front is loaded with draft prospects, including tackle Fabien Lovett. This interior matchup is the most intriguing part of a lopsided matchup.
Jimbo vs. Bowden
Louisiana Monroe’s trip to Texas A&M is noteworthy because the coaching matchup pits Jimbo Fisher against Terry Bowden. Fisher played quarterback for Bowden at Salem College and Samford and succeeded his late father, the legendary Bobby Bowden, at Florida State.
2-Pac
The best story in the sport centers on No. 23 Washington State and No. 16 Oregon State — the two undefeated orphans in the disintegrating Pac-12. It’s the first time since 2003 that both are nationally ranked at the same time. The Cougars should easily improve to 3-0 against Northern Colorado, while a Beavers win over San Diego State would mean their first seven-game winning streak since 2000.
Local of the week
Florida offensive lineman Lyndell Hudson (Brooksville’s Central High)
The transfer from Florida International didn’t play at Utah, where the Gators’ line gave up five sacks, but is ready to go against a Tennessee defense that’s tied for the nation’s lead with 11 sacks. Hudson has a valuable role as a swing tackle; perhaps his presence adds enough depth to help knock off the Volunteers.
Audible
“I don’t have time to enjoy the moment. Santa don’t have time. He got to deliver the gifts. He don’t got time to enjoy his cookies. That’s all he gets. I ain’t got time for that.” — Colorado coach Deion Sanders on whether he can savor his 2-0 start
This week in Coach Prime …
The pregame shows for ESPN and Fox will both be at No. 18 Colorado for the Buffaloes’ game against Colorado State. Unless the Rams corrected a lot during their open date, it’s hard to see them hanging with Travis Hunter and Co. Instead, the drama comes from Rams coach Jay Norvell saying, “when I talk to grown-ups, I take my hat and my glasses off.” Sanders, notably, does not; he responded that it’s now “personal.”
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