Top 25 Predictions: What the AP Poll Will Look Like After Week 3

The game of the year came and went. And if you were a fan of the home team Saturday night in Oxford — or among the large contingent of college football viewers whom Lane Kiffin has rubbed the wrong way over the years — it was a celebratory occassion.

Read more BKB 61: Lee Selby to Headline London Return at the O2

No. 8 Ole Miss downed No. 7 LSU in Kiffin’s long-awaited return to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Trinidad Chambliss accounted for three total touchdowns and Kewan Lacy ran in one more in the Rebels’ 32-24 revenge win over the visiting Tigers.

That was naturally the headliner of Week 3. And with those teams sharing the field on Saturday, at least one top-10 team had to go down. But another fell earlier in the day when Kentucky scored its first signature win of the Will Stein era with a 41-31 upset over No. 9 Texas A&M.

Two other meetings between top-25 teams assured two more ranked losses. No. 13 Texas Tech barely hung on against Houston on Friday night. The Red Raiders eked out a 28-26 home win over the Cougars. And No. 23 Louisville beat SMU 41-31. That was the Cardinals’ first win against the Mustangs in program history, and it was a big one.

Losses and poor performances by teams in the bottom half of the top 25 might allow for some teams on the cusp to crack the rankings for the first time this season in what figures to be another sizable shakeup.

Read more Biggest Winners and Losers From UCLA’s Week 3 Win Against Purdue

The forthcoming poll will be released on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET. Here’s Athlon Sports’ projection for the AP Top 25 after Week 3.

More College Football Essentials

• Athlon Sports 2026 CFB Preseason Predictions
• Best College Football QBs: Ranking All 138 FBS Starters
• Highest-Paid College Football Players, Ranked
• College Football Overtime Rules, Explained
• Every Heisman Trophy Winner and Runner-Up Since 1935

Related: Why Trinidad Chambliss Can Be the No. 1 Overall Pick in the 2027 NFL Draft

Related: Virginia Tech, Maryland Moving in Different Directions After Hokies’ Win

Related: Notre Dame Legend Aaron Taylor on O-Line Play, Transfer Portal and College Football’s Future

Read more Biggest Takeaways From UCLA’s Late-Night Shootout Win Over Purdue

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved

This story was originally published September 20, 2026 at 2:35 AM.