Week 3 proved to be a huge moment for top-10 teams around college football. No. 7 USC improved to 3-0 in Lincoln Riley’s first season on Saturday night by defeating Fresno State 45-17 behind a potent all-around offensive attack. Quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, while running backs Travis Dye and Austin Jones each scored touchdowns and surpassed 100 yards on the ground. The hot start to Riley’s tenure marks USC’s first time scoring at least 40 points in the first three games of the season since 2005 — the year the Trojans played Texas for the national championship.
Fresno State star quarterback Jake Haener had to be carted off the field early in the third quarter after suffering a leg injury when he was sacked by USC’s Solomon Byrd. The Bulldogs were trailing just 21-10 at the time, but losing the All-Mountain West performer proved to be an insurmountable loss.
While USC’s showing was impressive, the best offensive outing for a top-10 team on Saturday belonged to No. 3 Ohio State. The Buckeyes totaled 763 yards — second-most in school history — and 36 first downs in a 77-21 rout of Toledo. Quarterback C.J. Stroud threw for five touchdowns and the receiver trio of Emeka Egbuka, Jayden Ballard and Marvin Harrison Jr. each surpassed 100 yards receiving.
While every top-10 team in action during Week 3 won by double digits, there was plenty of drama throughout the sport as No. 11 Michigan State, No. 12 BYU and No. 13 Miami each lost. Check out the full scoreboard recapping the action below.
College football scores, schedule: Week 3
No. 6 Oklahoma 49, Nebraska 14 — Recap, takeaways
No. 1 Georgia 48, South Carolina 7 — Recap, takeaways
No. 4 Michigan 59, UConn 0 — Recap
No. 22 Penn State 41, Auburn 12 — Recap, takeaways
No. 25 Oregon 41, No. 12 BYU 20 — Recap
No. 2 Alabama 63, Louisiana-Monroe 7 — Recap
No. 3 Ohio State 77, Toledo 21 — Recap
No. 10 Arkansas 38, Missouri State 27 —Recap
Washington 39, No. 11 Michigan State 28 — Recap
No. 5 Clemson 40, UTSA 28 — Recap
No. 21 Texas 41, UTSA 20 — Recap
No. 24 Texas A&M 17, No. 13 Miami 9 — Recap, takeaways
No. 7 USC 45, Fresno State 17 — Recap
Check out the entire Week 3 scoreboard