Takeaways from CFB Week 3: A lot to track in the ACC

Another wild week of college football was in full effect Saturday, providing upsets, coaches’ hot seats warming and breakout performances that reshaped early playoff narratives.

Here are seven takeaways from Week 3 of the college football season.

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Georgia Tech is coming for the ACC title

Georgia Tech delivered one of the most dramatic wins of Week 3, stunning No. 12 Clemson with a 55-yard game-winning field goal from Aidan Birr. The kick not only kept the Yellow Jackets undefeated but also sent a clear message across the conference on how they are a legitimate contender for the ACC.

Quarterback Hayes King made a triumphant return from his Week 1 injury, totaling 319 yards and a touchdown, while Georgia Tech’s defense backed him up, holding preseason Heisman hopeful Cade Klubnik to just 15 completions. 

Under head coach Brent Key, the Yellow Jackets have now gone 7–1 against ranked ACC opponents, and this win marks their first over Clemson since 2014. With a favorable conference schedule that avoids both No. 5 Miami and No. 10 Florida State, Georgia Tech’s path to the ACC Championship is open.

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Luke Fickell’s spark for Wisconsin is losing steam

Wisconsin’s 38-14 loss to Alabama was another reminder of how far the Badgers have fallen from Big Ten contention. Fickell is now 15-14 since taking over the Badgers, and 0-7 in games against ranked opponents. With five ranked opponents remaining on the schedule, Fickell faces mounting pressure to deliver his signature win with the Badgers.

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Georgia and Tennessee are high-octane offenses

No. 6 Georgia and No. 15 Tennessee proved why they boast two of the most explosive offenses in college football following the Bulldogs’ 44-41 overtime win. Both teams finished with over 500 yards of offense, with Georgia’s Gunner Stockton throwing for 304 yards and two touchdowns, and Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar throwing for 371 yards and four touchdowns.

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Miami continues to thrive with Carson Beck at the helm

After an injury-plagued final season at Georgia, Beck has quickly reestablished himself in Miami, leading the Hurricanes to a 3-0 start. In their dominant 49-12 win over No. 18 USF, Beck delivered another strong performance — throwing for 340 yards and three touchdowns, while adding another score on the ground. It marks Miami’s second ranked win this season.

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Brent Pry’s Tenure at Virginia Tech is nearing its breaking point

Virginia Tech’s 45-26 loss to Old Dominion felt like a tipping point in Brent Pry’s time in Blacksburg. The Hokies have now dropped their first three games of the season, marking their worst start since 1987. The defensive identity Pry was brought in to restore has completely collapsed, as the Hokies have given up 89 points over their last two games.

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Diego Pavia has Vanderbilt rolling

Vanderbilt is no longer a punchline in the SEC. The Commodores have opened the 2025 season 3-0 after upsetting No.11 South Carolina 31-7. Quarterback Diego Pavia has been the key contributor, holding the ninth-highest QBR in college football.

While the Commodores will have to face six more ranked SEC opponents, the lopsided win over South Carolina shows an early, positive sign.

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Notre Dame is in trouble

After a 27-24 loss to Miami in Week 1, No. 8 Notre Dame suffered another gut punch at home, falling 41-40 to No. 16 Texas A&M. It marks the first time in program history the Irish have opened a season with back-to-back losses to ranked opponents. 

With no conference title to chase, Notre Dame will likely need to run the table to stay in the playoff conversation. The one silver lining is that Texas A&M was the last ranked opponent on their regular-season schedule, meaning the Irish now control their destiny — but the margin for error is razor-thin.

Taylor Bretl

Taylor Bretl writes about Major League Baseball with a focus on the Milwaukee Brewers. He is founder of Around the Globe Baseball.