One thing we’ve learned from college football over the years is that it’s full of unexpected twists and turns. While Week 3 may not seem to showcase any major matchups at first glance, surprises are always a possibility.

With that in mind, here are our top picks for the most exciting games of the weekend, ranked by their entertainment value and importance on a national scale. As usual, keep an eye on the score and your remote ready in case an unexpected game catches your attention (looking at you, Northern Illinois!).

No. 18 Arizona at No. 15 Kansas State

Time/TV: Friday, 8 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: This is the only Top 25 matchup this week, kicking off the weekend early. In this era of conference realignment, these two Wildcat teams are now part of the Big 12. However, this game was arranged before Arizona joined the league, so it won’t affect conference standings. Expect an entertaining contest, as both teams excel in different offensive strategies. The visiting Wildcats from Tucson rely on quarterback Noah Fifita’s passing to wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, while the home team from the ‘Little Apple’ focuses on a strong ground game led by running back DJ Giddens, with quarterback Avery Johnson also playing a key role.

Why it could disappoint: This matchup is unlikely to be boring. Neither defense is strong enough to completely stifle the opposing offense, and the only scenario that could lead to a lopsided score would be a barrage of turnovers from one side.

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No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.

Why watch:The Crimson Tide travel for what is expected to be their biggest non-conference test before diving into their intense SEC schedule. Meanwhile, the Badgers are stepping up their competition level after a couple of average performances. Wisconsin hasn’t been particularly dynamic in the passing game, but quarterback Tyler Van Dyke has been effective in avoiding mistakes. Alabama’s quarterback Jalen Milroe also faced challenges with his deep throws in the last game, but his speed while running can pose threats for Wisconsin’s defense.

Why it could disappoint: Wisconsin is not built for comebacks. If Alabama pulls ahead by several scores, they may be able to control the game from there.

No. 6 Oregon at Oregon State

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox.

Why watch: There may be some bad blood in this matchup. The Beavers, left out of the latest conference shifts, want to spoil the Ducks’ highly ranked season before they even start Big Ten play. The Ducks are happy to leave Idaho behind, but this game in Corvallis is a serious challenge. Oregon’s offense struggled to perform last season, relying heavily on special teams to secure a win against Boise State. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel has an impressive completion rate of 84.3 but has faced seven sacks without much help from the run game. Oregon State’s running back duo, Jam Griffin and Anthony Hankerson, have accumulated 475 rushing yards and six touchdowns in two games, which could be troublesome for Oregon’s defense, which has shown weaknesses against the run.

Why it could disappoint: The Ducks haven’t been able to take control of games early, making it hard to believe they’ll easily dominate the determined Beavers. While Oregon may find their rhythm, this one seems likely to go down to the wire.

Boston College at No. 8 Missouri

Time/TV: Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network.

Why watch: This game has been marked as a must-watch! The Tigers have handled their high expectations without issues so far, but the Eagles will be looking to present more of a challenge than expected. BC came off a big win against Florida State and is eager to create an upset. Missouri’s offense holds explosive potential with wide receiver Luther Burden III, but quarterback Brady Cook hasn’t had to rely heavily on long passes. Meanwhile, Boston College has maintained an average possession time advantage of over nine minutes, thanks to agile quarterback Thomas Castellanos and strong performances from running backs Treshaun Ward and Kye Robichaux.

Why it could disappoint: We still don’t know if Boston College can handle stressful comeback scenarios, a question that also applies to Missouri. The early phases of this game will be particularly intriguing.

No. 22 Washington vs. Washington State

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, Peacock.

Why watch: Similar to another rivalry to the south, the traditional Apple Cup has been affected by the breakup of the Pac-12. Although it will take place at Seattle’s Lumen Field, which is the home field for the Seahawks, there should be a significant Washington crowd present. The Huskies started off slow against Eastern Michigan but managed to find a balanced offensive attack between quarter Will Rogers and running back Jonah Coleman. The Cougars, on the other hand, boast a solid Power Four win against Texas Tech and will be eager to add another victory along with the rivalry trophy. Their offense revolves around quarterback John Mateer, who has six touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns while amassing 719 total offensive yards.

Reasons for potential disappointment: The defense of the Huskies may hold a significant edge. Consequently, the initial drives will be crucial for the Cougars. Their ability to advance the ball early on could keep the game competitive.

No. 19 Notre Dame at Purdue

Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

Reasons to watch: As an independent team in the new 12-team playoff landscape, the Fighting Irish find themselves in a challenging position, requiring a perfect record for playoff contention. The Boilermakers, however, see this match as a chance to outperform their state rival who carries a national profile. Purdue remains somewhat of a mystery, having dominated Indiana State 49-0 in their lone game thus far. Quarterback Hudson Card was exceptional in that matchup, and he, along with other key players like TE Max Klare and RB Devin Mockobee, comes into this game rested after a week off. On Notre Dame’s side, quarterback Riley Leonard is still on the hunt for his first touchdown pass of the season, with RB Jeremiyah Love supporting him. Expect Purdue to fortify the line until Leonard proves he can effectively throw deep.

Reasons for potential disappointment: It’s challenging to gauge the Boilermakers’ performance upfront due to limited previous data. Meanwhile, the Irish have shown inconsistency in their line play, suggesting a high-scoring game may not be in the cards.

No. 17 LSU at South Carolina

Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ABC.

Reasons to watch: The SEC is gradually transitioning into conference play. The Gamecocks already have one conference victory after a strong performance against Kentucky last week. The Tigers also found success recently but faced a tougher match than expected against Nicholls State. Thus, they enter SEC competition with unresolved issues. The relationship between QB Garrett Nussmeier and WR Kyren Lacy hasn’t been problematic for LSU, and they could pose a significant aerial threat to South Carolina’s defense, unlike Kentucky the previous week. While the Gamecocks’ passing game has been sluggish, RB Raheim Sanders has managed to score a few touchdowns.

Reasons for potential disappointment: LSU fans are indeed hoping for a more low-scoring and defensive game to keep it competitive.