Through two weeks of college football action, we’re starting to see who the true contenders are and who might be pretenders. Some teams have raced out of the gate, others are still searching for their identity and a few are already under mounting pressure.
Week 3 ushers in the start of bye weeks and some of the sport’s biggest names will be watching from home. Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State, and USC are all off the slate, meaning we won’t see stars like Cade Klubnik, Drew Allar, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Nicholas Singleton and Makai Lemon take the field this weekend.
But in today’s college football landscape, absence doesn’t mean invisibility. In the “what have you done for me lately” era of social media, even a week off can send a player’s devy stock rising or falling. A breakout performance elsewhere might overshadow them, or buzz from practice reports and depth chart chatter can shift perception. Week 3 becomes not just about who’s playing, but also how those idle programs are talked about while they wait their turn.
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2025 College Football Week 3 Preview: Best Bets & Devy Fantasy Football Storylines
Week 3 Games of the Week & Devy Storylines to Watch
Texas A&M Aggies @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, Ind. — Saturday, Sept. 13
Betting Odds: Notre Dame -6.5 | Total: 48.5
Texas A&M travels to South Bend looking for revenge after last season’s loss and aiming to strengthen its playoff résumé. Notre Dame will counter with a new quarterback and heavy reliance on their running game.
Monitor the Usage for Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
Entering the 2025 season after a strong 2024 campaign, featuring 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, Jeremiyah Love was limited in Week 1 against Miami. He had ten carries for just 33 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per carry (YPC). For many, Love is the RB1 of the 2026 class, and he’ll need to prove he’s healthy and explosive on a bell cow workload to fulfill that status.
Kevin Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M) is Making the Most of a Fresh Start
A high-profile transfer from NC State, Kevin Concepcion looked revitalized in Week 1, gaining three receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. Backing it up in Week 2 was a must, and he did exactly that against Utah State, with six receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns. He could emerge as the Aggies’ top receiver if the bounce-back continues. There were alarm bells when he regressed in every major receiving category from 2023 to 2024, but early signs indicate this may have been a shrewd move for both Kevin Concepcion and the Aggies.
My Picks
Total: Under 48.5
Spread: Texas A&M +6.5
Georgia Bulldogs @ Tennessee Volunteers
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tenn. — Saturday, Sept. 13
Betting Odds: Georgia -3.5 | Total: 49.5
Georgia has dominated this rivalry in recent years, but injury concerns on the offensive line could make for a competitive battle. Tennessee is retooling at QB and receiver, making this clash a critical early test.
Could Nate Frazier be the Next Great Georgia RB?
It’s been ages since fantasy managers had Todd Gurley or Nick Chubb atop their rosters, but Georgia has been known to produce NFL-worthy running backs. With a solid recruiting pedigree, Nate Frazier contributed with increasingly significant touches as his freshman season developed. Now atop the depth chart, Frazier showed burst and vision in Week 1, with 11 carries for 47 yards, averaging 4.3 YPC. His downhill style fits the Bulldog blueprint. In Week 2, Georgia overcame a stubborn battle with Austin Peay State University during which the sophomore scored twice, however he also coughed up the ball on a Georgia possession. If Nate Frazier wants to be the next great Georgia running back, he needs to hold on to the rock!
Sell or Hold Zachariah Branch (WR, Georgia)?
A former devy “sell” candidate due to underwhelming production, the transfer portal move has flipped the script on Zachariah Branch. Following the move from USC to Georgia, Branch excelled in camp and Week 1, with three receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown. He had a much quieter Week 2 (3 receptions for 17 yards), and now he faces a defining matchup against Tennessee’s top cornerback prospect, Jermod McCoy. If he proves up to the test, Zachariah Branch could propel himself back into devy relevance.
My Picks
Spread: Georgia -3.5
Joey Aguilar: Passing Yards Under
Florida Gators @ LSU Tigers
Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, La. — Saturday, Sept. 13
Betting Odds: LSU -8.5 | Total: 50.5
LSU enters off a statement win over Clemson, while Florida will get the first true mid-season test after a shocking defeat last week. The environment under the lights in Tiger Stadium, also known as Death Valley, is notoriously unforgiving.
How Does DJ Lagway (QB, Florida) Handle the SEC Test?
As a freshman in 2024, DJ Lagway finished the season with ~1,915 passing yards, 12 TDs, and 9 INTs, going 6–1 as a starter. In Week 1 versus Long Island University, Lagway had 15 completions on 18 attempts, gaining 120 yards and three touchdowns before sitting down. With so much expected in Week 2, Lagway and Florida’s performance was one of the biggest shocks of the weekend as they lost to South Florida 18-16 at the Swamp. Lagway went 23 of 33 for 222 yards with a touchdown and a pick. However, the sophomore QB wasn’t able to lead his team to victory against AAC opposition. With a daunting schedule ahead, eyes are now firmly on DJ Lagway and the Florida Gators, and his ability (or failure) to rise to this SEC test will define his trajectory.
Jadan Baugh (RB, Florida) Gives Florida a Balanced Attack
Jadan Baugh carried the ball nine times for 104 yards and a touchdown in Week 1. As a sophomore already stepping into a lead role, Baugh’s north-south running style and burst could make him a devy breakout against LSU’s aggressive front and he’s exactly what the Gators will need in the matchup.
Which Anderson Thrives in the LSU Receiver Room?
Nic Anderson entered the season as the presumed target leader, but the much smaller Aaron Anderson outperformed expectations in Week 1, ending with six receptions for 99 yards. It was a similar situation in Week 2, where Aaron Anderson had eight receptions for 94 yards, while Nic Anderson’s workload was much smaller, with three receptions for 17 yards and a touchdown. Barion Brown was also more heavily involved in Week 2 to further muddy the waters, and whether a true WR1 emerges from this LSU receiver room will be crucial for devy managers.
My Picks
Total: Under 50.5
Spread: LSU -8.5
Aaron Anderson: Longest Reception*
*Keep an eye out for the over/under on Aaron Anderson’s longest reception. In both weeks so far, he has had receptions of over 20 yards (23 and 39), however, the line isn’t available at the time of writing.
Devy Spotlight
Malachi Toney (WR, Miami Hurricanes)
A four-star recruit who wasted no time making an impact in Coral Gables, Malachi Toney showed up in Week 1 and posted six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. He backed that up with another six receptions for 80 yards in Week 2 as Miami dominated against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats.
Toney is a sudden mover off the line with excellent short-area quickness, giving him separation ability on slants and option routes. His route pacing already looks advanced for a true freshman, and he can vary tempo to keep corners guessing. With strong hands in traffic and good body control, he profiles as a reliable chain-mover with some juice for yards after the catch. Malachi Toney may not be a burner, but he has enough top-end speed to threaten downfield if safeties cheat and early rapport with Carson Beck is encouraging for sustained devy value.
Malik Washington (QB, Maryland Terrapins)
Maryland fans are already calling Malik Washington the “savior” of the program. Not a five-star recruit, but he’s a prospect who could emerge as a late-rising Devy asset. Washington is a poised dual-threat QB with natural leadership traits. His arm strength is above-average and he’s capable of driving the ball to the sideline, though his release can still tighten up mechanically. He excels in off-script situations, using mobility to extend plays and keeping his eyes downfield. On the ground, the quarterback is slippery rather than powerful, with a good change of direction, quick acceleration and awareness of angles. Developmentally, Malik Washington needs to refine his progression reads and intermediate timing, but his tools suggest fantasy-friendly upside if the passing consistency grows.
Jaron-Keawe Sagopolutele (QB, California Golden Bears)
One of the most polarizing recruits of the 2025 class, Jaron-Keawe Sagopolutele was originally enrolled at Oregon before transferring to California for immediate playing time. He bet on himself and in Week 1, that gamble paid off with an impressive debut stat line of 20 completions on 30 attempts for 234 yards and three passing touchdowns, plus two rushes for 30 yards. As an encore in Week 2, “JKS” completed 26 of 37 passes for 259 yards, while adding a score on a one-yard rush.
Sagopolutele has a prototypical quarterback frame at 6’ 3” and 215 lbs, with a clean throwing motion and easy velocity. His deep-ball touch stood out in high school and carried over into Week 1, throwing with a natural arc and placement that allows receivers to adjust. He’s comfortable working the middle of the field, showing anticipation on digs and posts uncommon for a true freshman. Athletically, he is mobile enough to escape pressure, but his game is built more around processing and accuracy than raw running ability. While his quick transfer raised maturity questions, Jaron-Keawe Sagopolutele looks like a future QB1 candidate if he continues to sharpen decision-making and cut down on risky throws.
2025 Heisman Trophy Outlook
The Heisman market is beginning to take shape after two weeks, and we’ve already seen some movement at the top. Here’s where things stand heading into Week 3:
- Garrett Nussmeier (QB, LSU) | +900
- Carson Beck (QB, Miami) | +1000
- John Mateer (QB, Oklahoma) | +1000
- Dante Moore (QB, Oregon) | +1100
- Arch Manning (QB, Texas) | +1300
Garrett Nussmeier leads the way after a professional showing in LSU’s Week 2 win over Louisiana Tech. He didn’t need to do anything flashy, but his command of the offense, efficiency and mistake-free football solidified his position atop the early odds.
The biggest riser is Carson Beck, now sitting at +1000 after back-to-back wins, including the massive Week 1 upset of Notre Dame. The key question is whether Beck’s odds are a reflection of his individual ability, or more a reflection of Miami’s unbeaten start and momentum. With the Hurricanes looking to surpass Florida’s showing against USF this week, we’ll get another chance to see if Carson Beck can back up the hype.
John Mateer is also charging into the race. After transferring from Washington State to Oklahoma, he shone in his first true big-stage moment. He threw for just under 300 yards and added multiple rushing touchdowns as the Sooners knocked off Michigan in convincing fashion. Familiarity with the scheme, thanks to OC Ben Arbuckle making the move with him, may have been an overlooked advantage for John Mateer that’s only now being priced in by oddsmakers.
Dante Moore and Arch Manning also remain firmly in the mix; however, both will need marquee performances against ranked opponents in the coming weeks to keep pace with the surging trio at the top.
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*Photo Credit: Matt Pendleton – USA TODAY Sports*
