Week 3 of college football brought its usual surprises, with moments that left fans feeling a mix of emotions (shoutout to the Florida State and Florida fans) and teams unleashing their frustrations on their opponents, leaving them with more than just injured pride.

It’s time to hand out grades. Similar to last season, only impressive performances will earn high marks, while poor performances won’t be reassessed.

Last week, top honors went to Northern Illinois, which scored both a victory over Notre Dame and a celebratory moment for their quarterback and coach on the sidelines. On the other hand, the defending national champions suffered a disappointing grade as they continue to search for a viable offense, alongside fans looking for some personality and better humor.

Here’s the breakdown for Week 3 regarding how teams, players, coaches, and fans performed:

4 Million Reasons to Struggle

Kent State’s athletic department clearly knows how to manage money — so much so that they seem indifferent about the results on the football field.

What other explanation is there for their performance this season?

After their upcoming game against Penn State, the Golden Flashes will have raked in $4.05 million from guarantees from their three FBS matchups. Their journey to Happy Valley will yield $1.6 million.

So far, their investments have returned a 55-24 defeat to Pittsburgh ($1.1 million gain) and a $1.35 million payment following a devastating 71-0 loss to Tennessee, during which they accumulated only 112 yards and just eight first downs — yet they didn’t turn the ball over even once. Tennessee enjoyed a revelatory practice session with 740 yards of offensive production as they prepared for their upcoming game against Oklahoma.

Additionally, Kent State also suffered a home defeat against FCS opponent St. Francis (Pa.).

While it’s hard to fault Kent for their consistency, at least some of their MAC peers are cashing in, with Toledo pocketing $1.2 million after defeating Mississippi State and Northern Illinois securing $1.4 million from their upset against Notre Dame last week.

Make It Rain: Dismissal

NCAA Shows Some Compassion, at Least This Week

Despite often operating in an outdated and strict manner — particularly concerning rule enforcement — the NCAA occasionally makes commendable decisions. This isn’t just about good sense, it’s likely rooted in the fear of additional ridicule that could further diminish its significance.

Recently, the NCAA gave its approval for the use of a specialized helmet this season for deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes at Gallaudet University, located in Washington, D.C.

This helmet technology enables coaches to send instructions via a tablet from the sidelines. The quarterback can read the signals displayed on a screen inside their helmet and share that information with their teammates.

“It’s fantastic that the NCAA has approved it for the season, allowing us to address any issues that arise,” Gallaudet coach Chuck Goldstein shared with The Associated Press. “We’re excited to work through this and improve.”

Let’s hope that the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel endorses these helmets for ongoing use, similar to their recent approval of coach-to-player communication systems for FBS teams.

Good Rounding Up: A+

Hold Off on the Send Button

This one will be brief. Even though Fox broadcasts college football, it appears their social media team was confused about which teams play in the FBS.

In-game graphics from Fox faced challenges as well.

Google’s Your Friend: F

Highlights from This Week

Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, in a candid moment, shared insights on linebacker Obi Ezeigbo’s journey to Stillwater after playing at Gannon University, a Division II institution in Erie, Pennsylvania.

“Do you want coach speak, or the honest truth? He was a budget-friendly choice,” Gundy remarked. “When it comes to targeted players ready for this level, we struggle to meet the financial demands.”

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Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham had an amusing take during his post-game interview after a strange end to their game against Texas State: “I’m just here so I don’t get fined.”

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Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi received this week’s Foot in Mouth Award, commenting on their in-state adversary, Colorado. The Rams fell 28-9, marking their seventh consecutive loss to the team, with Fowler-Nicolosi contributing to the defeat by throwing two interceptions.

They received a harsh reality check very soon. This illustrates that all the excitement and media attention has its limits. Ultimately, it’s about how 11 players face off against our 11 players, and we’ll see who has the greater desire to win. Let’s see how beneficial having numerous Instagram followers actually is,” Fowler-Nicolosi remarked prior to their loss.

Highlights and Low Points

This is why it’s called the blind side:

Sandra Bullock’s blocking: F

Textbook example of butterfingers:

Fumble, Fumblelaya, Fumblerooski: A+

A lot of chatter:

Giving fans and viewers a run for their money: D-

Pressure is mounting in Tallahassee:

Picture speaks volumes: Time for a break

Picking and sixing:

Table for 6: A+

Quarterback addressing referee issues:

Keep moving forward: Off to graduation

Feline surpassing Air Force:

Cat scratch fever: A

Interesting Stats

11 – Total turnovers by Temple in their three games this season.

17 – Age of Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams, who caught four passes for 78 yards and scored a touchdown in the Crimson Tide’s 42-10 win against Wisconsin.

66 – Total points Purdue allowed against Notre Dame, the highest in the 137-year history of their football program.

69 – Combined ages of Arizona State’s head coach Kenny Dillingham (34) and Texas State’s G.J. Kinne (35). Dillingham’s team emerged victorious with a score of 31-28.

72 – Age of North Carolina’s head coach Mack Brown, making him the oldest coach in the FBS.

$1.3 million – Amount Memphis earned for their game against Florida State, which they won 20-12.

Now, onto the game: Northwestern State at South Alabama

You can probably predict what happens next. Needing a win after losing their first two games against higher-ranked opponents, South Alabama opted to play against Northwestern State from the FCS.

The 87-10 blowout lasted roughly three hours and is absurd on its own, which only scratches the surface of the embarrassment experienced during the game — especially for the poor pups who had to watch. The two teams agreed to shorten the fourth quarter to eight minutes, resulting in some curious interpretations of the rules related to sportsbooks and wagers. After all, the Jaguars were five-touchdown favorites, so betting on a higher score should have been a given.

Aside from the grueling five-hour bus ride back to their campus in Natchitoches, Louisiana, the Demons could have had it a lot worse.

South Alabama managed to have six touchdowns called back due to penalties and still set a record in the Sun Belt Conference for most points scored in a game.