College Football Week 3: Hawkeyes Face Northern Iowa, Buckeyes Look to Bounce Back on FOX

Iowa football fans have a packed Saturday ahead as the No. 18 Hawkeyes host in-state rival Northern Iowa at Kinnick Stadium, while the Big Ten's biggest brands look to tune up before conference play heats up. The action kicks off early and runs deep into the night, with several games carrying major implications for the College Football Playoff picture.

Iowa vs. Northern Iowa: A Battle for State Bragging Rights

The Hawkeyes welcome the Panthers to Iowa City at 4 p.m. on FS1. Iowa enters the matchup ranked No. 18 in the country and looking to build momentum after a strong start to the season. Northern Iowa comes in as a competitive FCS opponent that has historically given in-state FBS teams trouble.

For Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz, this game is about more than just a win. It is a chance to sharpen the fundamentals before the gauntlet of Big Ten play begins. Hawkeye fans know the drill: win the turnover battle, control the line of scrimmage, and let the defense set the tone.

This is a rivalry game, and our guys understand what that means, Ferentz said earlier this week. Northern Iowa always brings their best, and we have to match that intensity from the opening snap.

Ohio State Looks to Rebound Against Kent State on FOX

No. 6 Ohio State will try to shake off last week's heartbreaking 24-23 loss to Texas when they host Kent State at noon on FOX. The Buckeyes were a missed field goal away from knocking off the Longhorns, and head coach Ryan Day will be looking for a sharper performance from his offense.

The noon kickoff on FOX gives the Buckeyes a prime national stage to remind everyone why they were a preseason playoff favorite. Expect Ohio State to lean on its talented skill players early and often against a Kent State defense that has struggled against Power Five competition.

Big Ten Showdowns and Marquee Matchups Across the Country

While Iowa and Ohio State anchor the afternoon for Midwest viewers, the evening slate is loaded with top-tier matchups. No. 19 Michigan hosts UTEP at 3:30 p.m. on BTN, fresh off a gritty 17-10 win over Oklahoma that pushed the Wolverines back into the rankings.

Michigan State faces a stiff test at No. 3 Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. on NBC, while No. 7 LSU travels to No. 8 Ole Miss in a top-ten SEC showdown on ABC at the same time. That game carries extra intrigue as Lane Kiffin returns to Oxford, where he coached before taking over at Ole Miss.

International Flavor: Big 12 Football Heads to London

In a unique twist, Arizona State and Kansas will square off at Wembley Stadium in London at noon on FS1. The game is part of the growing trend of bringing American college football to international audiences. For fans of the Big 12, it is a chance to see two conference programs compete on a global stage.

Victory Bell Renewed: Cincinnati and Miami (OH) Meet at TQL Stadium

The nation's oldest non-conference rivalry gets a new home this year as Cincinnati and Miami (OH) meet at FC Cincinnati's TQL Stadium for the 129th edition of the Victory Bell game. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.

This rivalry dates back to 1888 and has produced some of the most memorable moments in college football history. Playing at an MLS stadium adds a fresh twist to a tradition that both fan bases hold dear.

Full College Football TV Schedule for Sept. 17-19

Here is the complete viewing guide for the weekend, with all times Central:

Thursday, Sept. 17

• 7:30 p.m. Syracuse at Pittsburgh (ESPN)

Friday, Sept. 18

• 7:30 p.m. No. 5 Miami at Wake Forest (ESPN)
• 8 p.m. No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech (FOX)
• 10:30 p.m. Portland State at No. 21 Oregon (BTN)

Saturday, Sept. 19

• 11:30 a.m. Coastal Carolina at Delaware (CBSSN)
• Noon Kent State at No. 6 Ohio State (FOX)
• Noon No. 2 Georgia at Arkansas (ABC)
• Noon Buffalo at No. 14 Penn State (BTN)
• Noon North Carolina at Clemson (ESPN)
• Noon Akron at Minnesota (BTN)
• Noon Arizona State vs. Kansas at Wembley Stadium, England (FS1)
• Noon Tulane at Kansas State (ESPN2)
• Noon Bowling Green at Iowa State (ESPNU)
• Noon Mercer at Georgia Tech (ACCN)
• Noon North Texas at Texas State (USA)
• Noon Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin (Peacock)
• Noon N.C. State at Vanderbilt (SECN)
• 2 p.m. Southern Illinois at Illinois (Peacock)
• 2 p.m. Maine at Boston College (ACCN)
• 3 p.m. Temple at Toledo (CBSSN)
• 3:30 p.m. Miami (OH) at Cincinnati (ESPN+)
• 3:30 p.m. Florida State at No. 10 Alabama (ABC)
• 3:30 p.m. No. 12 USC at Rutgers (CBS)
• 3:30 p.m. Utah State at No. 17 Utah (FOX)
• 3:30 p.m. Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M (ESPN)
• 3:30 p.m. No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville (ESPN2)
• 3:30 p.m. UTEP at No. 19 Michigan (BTN)
• 3:30 p.m. Wagner at California (ACCN)
• 3:30 p.m. Duquesne at Washington State (USA)
• 4 p.m. Western Kentucky at No. 4 Indiana (Peacock)
• 4 p.m. Northern Iowa at No. 18 Iowa (FS1)
• 4 p.m. Stanford at Duke (CW)
• 4 p.m. Louisiana Tech at Baylor (ESPNU)
• 4:15 p.m. Mississippi State at South Carolina (SECN)
• 6:30 p.m. Marshall at Missouri State (CBSSN)
• 7 p.m. Florida at Auburn (ESPN)
• 7:15 p.m. North Dakota at Nebraska (BTN)
• 7:15 p.m. Eastern Washington at Washington (BTN)
• 7:30 p.m. Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame (NBC)
• 7:30 p.m. No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss (ABC)
• 7:30 p.m. No. 11 BYU at Colorado State (CBS)
• 7:30 p.m. Colorado at Northwestern (FOX)
• 7:30 p.m. Virginia Tech at Maryland (FS1)
• 7:30 p.m. New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma (ESPN2)
• 7:30 p.m. West Virginia vs. Virginia at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C. (ACCN)
• 7:45 p.m. Kennesaw State at No. 15 Tennessee (SECN)
• 8 p.m. Arkansas State at TCU (ESPNU)
• 10 p.m. South Dakota at Boise State (CBSSN)
• 10 p.m. James Madison at San Diego State (CW)
• 10:30 p.m. North Dakota State at Sacramento State (ESPN)
• 10:30 p.m. Northern Illinois at Arizona (TNT)
• 11 p.m. Purdue at UCLA (BTN)
• 11 p.m. Montana at Oregon State (USA)
• 11 p.m. Fresno State at San Jose State (FS1)

What to Watch For This Weekend

For Iowa fans, the key storyline is simple: take care of business against Northern Iowa and stay healthy. The Hawkeyes have playoff aspirations, and a dominant performance at Kinnick would send a message to the rest of the Big Ten.

For the broader college football landscape, Saturday night's LSU-Ole Miss matchup could shake up the SEC race, while Michigan State at Notre Dame offers a chance for a Big Ten team to score a marquee non-conference win.

Grab the remote, fire up the grill, and enjoy a full day of college football. It does not get much better than this.