Top 5 matchups for Week 3 of the 2024 college football season
1. No. 20 Arizona vs. No. 14 Kansas State – Friday, 8:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Arizona and Kansas State have played just seven times 鈥� with all games being held in Tucson 鈥� but will begin seeing each other more frequently as Big 12 opponents. Arizona leads the all-time series with a 5-1-1 record, winning the last matchup between the programs in 1978. However, Kansas State will enter the first battle between these teams in Manhattan as a touchdown favorite in one of the few contests this weekend between ranked opponents.
Following a dominant Week 1 win over New Mexico, Arizona struggled a bit this past weekend against Northern Arizona. Even so, the Wildcats haven鈥檛 missed much of a beat under new head coach Brent Brennan as young quarterback Noah Fifita continues to look good as has star wideout Tetairoa McMillan who posted a 300-yard receiving effort in the Wildcats鈥� season-opener.
On the other side, Kansas State continues to excel under head coach Chris Klieman, but it did take some extra effort for the Wildcats to come back from a 10-point halftime deficit to Tulane this past weekend following a Week 1 blowout win over UT Martin. Young quarterback Avery Johnson continues to get better while DJ Giddens remains a force in the backfield. However, it was the Wildcats鈥� defense that stepped up to defeat the Green Wave, and whichever defense plays better on Friday night could ultimately be the key to a win in what is likely to be a shootout.
