Push the panic button: 12 Week 3 games, each with its own level of crisis

"Week 1 had headliners for the casuals. Week 2 had rivalry games and loads of thrillers for the hardcores. In Week 3, we attempt to split the difference. This week gives us high-stakes helmet games (Texas A&M-Notre Dame, Georgia-Tennessee, Florida-LSU) and rivalry games both bitter (Pitt-West Virginia) and, sometimes, silly (Ole Miss-Arkansas). But most of all, it gives us PANIC."

"Notre Dame is 0-1 and won't have a ton of quality win opportunities to overcome a potential 0-2 start. Clemson and Georgia haven't looked the part yet and could be severely punished if they don't shift into gear. Supposed Big 12 favorites Arizona State and Kansas State are a combined 2-3 and can't wait much longer to turn into the teams they were supposed to be. And both Florida and Virginia Tech played their coaches onto incredibly hot seats with jarring second-half collapses last week. So many fan bases are either fuming or about to be."

"Between Nov. 16 and last Saturday, Florida went 5-0, beating LSU, Ole Miss and Florida State in successive weeks, allowing just 10.4 points per game and, presumably, playing head coach Billy Napier off of the hot seat. Then the Gators lost to USF. They settled for field goals early and gave up just enough big plays ( and horrid penalties) late to lose 18-16. It happened the way a lot of upsets happen, and USF might turn out to be an awesome team."

Week 3 delivers high-stakes helmet games (Texas A&M-Notre Dame, Georgia-Tennessee, Florida-LSU) and rivalry matchups like Pitt-West Virginia and Ole Miss-Arkansas that amplify stakes and emotions. Several blue-chip programs have underwhelmed early, with Notre Dame facing a potential 0-2 hole and Clemson, Georgia, Arizona State and Kansas State failing to meet expectations. Florida and Virginia Tech suffered second-half collapses that pushed coaches onto hot seats. Florida’s upset loss to USF was marked by missed opportunities, big plays allowed and costly penalties, and the Gators now face a brutal upcoming stretch of opponents.

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