College Football Scores Today: Ole Miss Beats LSU, Florida Tops Auburn and Clemson Rallies Past North Carolina
College football Week 3 delivered major SEC drama, ranked-team upsets and several dominant performances across the country. No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s emotional return to Oxford, Florida survived Auburn 44-39, Clemson rallied past North Carolina 28-20, and Kentucky stun
major college football results from Week 3, including Ole Miss vs LSU and other key matchups
Table of Contents (25 sections)
Updated: September 20, 2026
College football fans searching for scores on Sunday have plenty to digest after a packed Saturday schedule dramatically altered the early-season picture.
The biggest result came in Oxford, Mississippi, where No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 7 LSU 32-24, handing Lane Kiffin his first defeat as LSU’s coach in his highly anticipated return to the school he previously led.
Elsewhere in the SEC, Florida defeated Auburn 44-39 in a high-scoring conference opener, while Kentucky shocked No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21.
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India finished fourth at the 2026 Asian Games with 85 medals, including 21 golds, while NFL Week 4 Sunday produced major results led by the Rams' 24-20 comeback win over the Eagles.
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka to become the new women’s world No. 1, while India beat Sri Lanka by 72 runs in the Women’s Asia Cup final, defeated Afghanistan in the first T20I and completed a men’s-and-women’s Junior Asia Cup hockey double.
In the ACC, Clemson recovered from an early deficit to defeat North Carolina 28-20.
The weekend also featured comfortable victories for Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas, while West Virginia produced another ranked upset by beating No. 25 Virginia.
Key Takeaways
No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford.
Florida survived Auburn 44-39 in a high-scoring SEC matchup.
Clemson rallied from a halftime deficit to beat North Carolina 28-20.
Kentucky upset No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21.
Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas all remained unbeaten.
West Virginia knocked off No. 25 Virginia.
Major College Football Scores
Matchup
Final score
No. 8 Ole Miss vs No. 7 LSU
Ole Miss 32-24
Florida at Auburn
Florida 44-39
North Carolina at Clemson
Clemson 28-20
Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M
Kentucky 31-21
No. 10 Alabama vs Florida State
Alabama 50-36
No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas
Georgia 45-17
No. 6 Ohio State vs Kent State
Ohio State 59-3
No. 3 Notre Dame vs Michigan State
Notre Dame 27-10
No. 1 Texas vs UTSA
Texas 30-6
No. 23 Louisville vs No. 16 SMU
Louisville 41-31
No. 12 USC at Rutgers
USC 42-35
No. 19 Michigan vs UTEP
Michigan 52-17
No. 17 Utah vs Utah State
Utah 33-0
No. 25 Virginia vs West Virginia
West Virginia 38-27
No. 24 Oklahoma vs New Mexico
Oklahoma 14-6
No. 15 Tennessee vs Kennesaw State
Tennessee 42-9
No. 20 Missouri vs Troy
Missouri 27-17
No. 4 Indiana vs Western Kentucky
Indiana 38-0
No. 11 BYU at Colorado State
BYU 41-23
Reuters' national Top 25 roundup confirms the major ranked results, including Kentucky's upset of Texas A&M, Ole Miss' victory over LSU, Alabama's comeback against Florida State and West Virginia's win over Virginia.
Ole Miss 32, LSU 24: Kiffin’s Return Ends in Defeat
The game receiving the most national attention was always going to be LSU at Ole Miss.
It delivered.
No. 8 Ole Miss improved to 3-0 with a 32-24 victory over No. 7 LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, while LSU dropped to 2-1.
The matchup carried significance beyond the rankings because LSU coach Lane Kiffin was returning to Oxford after previously coaching Ole Miss.
Ole Miss supporters made their feelings clear before kickoff, and the Rebels gave the home crowd an ideal start.
Ole Miss raced to a 24-7 halftime lead, controlling both sides of the ball during the opening two quarters.
Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was central to the Rebels' success.
He completed 33 of 48 passes for 363 yards and two touchdowns, while also scoring the decisive rushing touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Ole Miss finished with 426 total yards compared with LSU's 330.
LSU Fights Back from 17-Point Deficit
The game appeared close to getting away from LSU at half-time.
Instead, the Tigers responded.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt scored on a four-yard run in the third quarter and later connected with Winston Watkins Jr. for a 26-yard touchdown.
LSU then added a short field goal early in the fourth quarter to complete a run of 17 unanswered points, tying the score at 24.
What initially looked like an Ole Miss runaway had become a one-possession finish.
Chambliss then produced the game's defining drive.
Ole Miss moved 75 yards on 13 plays before Chambliss ran for a 14-yard touchdown with a little more than six minutes remaining.
A successful two-point conversion made it 32-24.
LSU nevertheless had another opportunity.
The Tigers drove deep into Ole Miss territory in the final minutes, but Leavitt's fourth-down pass near the goal line was tipped and intercepted by Jaylon Braxton, effectively ending LSU's comeback attempt.
The victory also extended Ole Miss' home winning streak and produced another major early-season result for the Rebels.
Florida 44, Auburn 39: Gators Win SEC Shootout
Florida and Auburn produced one of Saturday's highest-scoring conference games.
The Gators escaped Jordan-Hare Stadium with a 44-39 victory, improving to 3-0 while Auburn fell to 2-1.
Florida accumulated 495 total yards, including a powerful rushing performance.
Running back Jadan Baugh was the central figure.
He carried the ball 26 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns, including a 53-yard fourth-quarter touchdown that helped Florida establish a significant late advantage.
Quarterback Aaron Philo completed 15 of 22 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown.
Florida's offensive balance repeatedly forced Auburn to defend both the run and intermediate passing game.
Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown kept the Tigers competitive, finishing with 271 passing yards and three touchdown passes while also adding a rushing touchdown.
Auburn scored twice during a frantic fourth quarter and pulled within five points on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Chas Nimrod with 30 seconds remaining.
But Florida recovered Auburn's onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.
The final score: Florida 44, Auburn 39.
Florida Survives Despite Penalty Problems
The Gators' victory was not particularly clean.
Florida was penalized 16 times for 138 yards, a number that could become a concern as the schedule becomes more difficult.
Still, Florida controlled the ball for more than 39 minutes and outgained Auburn by more than 120 yards.
For Auburn, Brown's late surge demonstrated the offense's ability to generate explosive plays, but the Tigers were unable to overcome Florida's rushing production.
Clemson 28, North Carolina 20: Tigers Erase Halftime Deficit
North Carolina looked positioned to leave Clemson with an important ACC victory after an impressive opening half.
The Tar Heels led 17-6 at half-time.
Clemson then changed the game.
The Tigers outscored North Carolina 22-3 after half-time to secure a 28-20 victory at Memorial Stadium.
Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds, making his first start, completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown.
Running back Gideon Davidson rushed for 105 yards and scored the touchdown that put Clemson ahead late in the fourth quarter.
North Carolina running back Benjamin Hall was one of the Tar Heels' strongest performers, rushing for 130 yards.
But UNC's passing game struggled to maintain its early momentum.
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. finished 13-of-30 for 135 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Clemson took its first lead when Davidson scored on an eight-yard run with just over five minutes remaining.
North Carolina then failed on a fourth-down attempt inside the final two minutes.
Clemson immediately capitalized, with Tyler Brown breaking a 34-yard touchdown run to increase the advantage.
An interception on North Carolina's final possession ended any remaining comeback hope.
The result moved Clemson to 2-1 and handed North Carolina its first defeat of the season.
Kentucky Produces the Upset of the Day
One of the weekend's most significant ranking results came in College Station.
Unranked Kentucky defeated No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21.
Quarterback Kenny Minchey threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while running back CJ Baxter scored twice on the ground.
The victory ended Texas A&M's regular-season home winning streak that had stretched back to 2024 and marked Kentucky's first victory over the Aggies since 1952.
The loss almost certainly puts Texas A&M under pressure when the new rankings are released.
Kentucky, meanwhile, gains one of the strongest résumé victories of the young season.
Alabama Rallies Past Florida State
Florida State threatened another major upset early against No. 10 Alabama.
The Seminoles built an early advantage, but Alabama recovered and ultimately won 50-36 in a game interrupted by weather.
The Crimson Tide's ability to respond after falling behind was one of the day's notable comeback performances.
Alabama improved its position ahead of another demanding stretch of SEC competition, while Florida State left with a loss after showing enough offensive ability to make the game competitive for long periods.
Georgia Remains Unbeaten with Convincing SEC Victory
No. 2 Georgia opened conference play with a 45-17 road victory at Arkansas.
The Bulldogs controlled the matchup and remained unbeaten.
Unlike several other ranked teams that found themselves involved in tight finishes, Georgia avoided a major scare and continued its strong opening to the season.
The result should keep Georgia close to the top of the national rankings entering Week 4.
Ohio State Rolls 59-3
No. 6 Ohio State produced one of Saturday's most dominant results, beating Kent State 59-3.
Quarterback Julian Sayin helped direct another productive offensive performance, while Ohio State's defense prevented Kent State from finding the end zone.
The game also featured another career milestone for star receiver Jeremiah Smith, who continued adding to his already substantial Ohio State production.
Notre Dame Handles Michigan State
No. 3 Notre Dame defeated Michigan State 27-10, remaining among the highest-ranked unbeaten teams.
The Fighting Irish controlled enough of the game defensively to avoid the kind of late drama seen elsewhere around the country.
With LSU and Texas A&M losing, Notre Dame could benefit when voters reassess the Top 25.
Texas Wins but Leaves Room for Improvement
Top-ranked Texas defeated UTSA 30-6.
The final margin was comfortable, although Reuters described the Longhorns' overall performance as sluggish compared with expectations for the nation's No. 1 team.
Still, Texas avoided the upset and remained unbeaten, which matters most during the opening weeks of the season.
Louisville Knocks Off Ranked SMU
No. 23 Louisville defeated No. 16 SMU 41-31 in another matchup between ranked teams.
The Cardinals used a productive rushing attack and important defensive takeaways to secure the victory.
The result should push Louisville upward in the next rankings while sending SMU lower following its first major setback.
West Virginia Knocks No. 25 Virginia Out of Unbeaten Ranks
West Virginia produced another notable upset with a 38-27 victory over No. 25 Virginia.
The result added to a weekend in which several ranked teams suffered losses to unranked opponents.
For Virginia, the defeat could mean an immediate exit from the AP Top 25.
Oklahoma Survives New Mexico Scare
No. 24 Oklahoma did not have an easy evening.
The Sooners defeated New Mexico just 14-6, escaping a game in which their offense struggled to create separation.
Oklahoma got the victory, but the narrow margin could influence how voters evaluate the Sooners when the new rankings are released.
USC Survives Rutgers
No. 12 USC defeated Rutgers 42-35 in one of the more competitive Big Ten games of the weekend.
The Trojans escaped with the victory despite Rutgers remaining within one score late.
USC's offense again demonstrated its scoring ability, although allowing 35 points gives the coaching staff defensive issues to address.
Michigan, Penn State, Indiana and Utah Win Comfortably
Several other ranked teams avoided drama.
No. 19 Michigan defeated UTEP 52-17.
No. 14 Penn State beat Buffalo 55-13.
No. 4 Indiana shut out Western Kentucky 38-0.
No. 17 Utah blanked Utah State 33-0.
No. 18 Iowa overwhelmed Northern Iowa 55-0.
No. 20 Missouri defeated Troy 27-17.
No. 15 Tennessee beat Kennesaw State 42-9.
Those results kept several potential playoff contenders moving in the right direction.
Friday Results Also Shaped the Weekend
College football Week 3 began before Saturday.
No. 5 Miami defeated Wake Forest 33-20 on Friday.
No. 13 Texas Tech survived No. 22 Houston 28-26 in a ranked Big 12 matchup.
No. 21 Oregon produced one of the most lopsided scores of the entire weekend, defeating Portland State 84-0.
Those games added additional context to Sunday's rankings debate.
What LSU’s Loss Means for the Rankings
LSU entered the weekend ranked No. 7.
Losing to No. 8 Ole Miss on the road is not a disastrous defeat from a résumé standpoint, particularly because the Tigers nearly erased a 17-point half-time deficit.
However, LSU is likely to fall in the next poll.
Ole Miss should move upward.
The Rebels are now 3-0 and possess a top-10 victory, giving voters a strong reason to move them ahead of several teams that entered the weekend above them.
The emotional circumstances surrounding Lane Kiffin's return only increased the national attention, but the ranking impact will ultimately come from Ole Miss beating a top-10 opponent on the field.
Texas A&M Faces a Bigger Rankings Drop
Texas A&M's situation is different.
The Aggies entered the weekend at No. 9 and lost at home to an unranked Kentucky team.
That represents one of the most damaging defeats suffered by a Top 10 team this weekend.
Kentucky could receive Top 25 consideration following the victory, while Texas A&M is likely to drop substantially.
College Football Playoff Picture Begins to Take Shape
It remains far too early to describe any September result as decisive for the College Football Playoff.
But Week 3 provided the first meaningful separation among several contenders.
Ole Miss now has a major résumé victory.
Georgia remains unbeaten.
Texas continues winning as the No. 1 team.
Notre Dame remains firmly in contention.
Ohio State continues to dominate lesser opposition.
At the same time, LSU and Texas A&M have their first losses, while SMU and Virginia have also suffered setbacks that could become significant later in the season.
Conference play will increasingly determine which teams remain in the national championship conversation.
College Football Scores Today: What Fans Should Know
For fans searching “college football scores today” on Sunday, September 20, the key point is that the major Week 3 FBS slate was played Saturday in the United States, with several late games finishing after midnight in other time zones.
The most important completed results are:
Ole Miss 32, LSU 24
Florida 44, Auburn 39
Clemson 28, North Carolina 20
Kentucky 31, Texas A&M 21
Alabama 50, Florida State 36
Georgia 45, Arkansas 17
Ohio State 59, Kent State 3
Texas 30, UTSA 6
Notre Dame 27, Michigan State 10
Louisville 41, SMU 31
The next major development is the release of updated national rankings, where the losses by LSU and Texas A&M — combined with Ole Miss' top-10 victory — are expected to reshape the order entering Week 4.
Bottom Line
College football Week 3 delivered major drama and ranking shifts. No. 8 Ole Miss defeated No. 7 LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, Florida survived Auburn 44-39, Clemson rallied past North Carolina 28-20, and Kentucky upset No. 9 Texas A&M 31-21.
Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas remained unbeaten, while several other ranked teams suffered setbacks. The results are expected to reshape the Top 25 heading into Week 4.
Key Takeaway
Ole Miss beats LSU 32-24 in Kiffin’s return.
Florida edges Auburn 44-39; Clemson rallies past UNC.
Kentucky upsets No. 9 Texas A&M.
Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame and Texas stay unbeaten.
The Rajatheertha Team publishes news, explainers, guides and updates across India and the world. Our coverage follows Rajatheertha's editorial, verification and corrections standards.
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