College football Week 3 is in the rearview mirror, leaving behind plenty of unanswered questions and several teams’ playoff hopes. However, it also gifted us some of the best performances seen so far this season as several standout student-athletes made their names known to the world.
Who was the best? Our college football players of the week, powered by the PFSN suite of impact metrics, highlight individual greatness.
Quarterback of the Week: Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss
Week 3 PFSN College QBi Grade: 87.4 (B+)
One of the best players at the DII level in 2024, Trinidad Chambliss led Ferris State to a national title in 2024 before entering the transfer portal. He landed with the Ole Miss Rebels as a backup to Austin Simmons, but when called into action as injury relief, he proved that his talent translates across levels with a sensational performance in a gritty Week 3 win.
MORE: Check out the Latest PFSN 2026 3-Round NFL Mock Draft
Chambliss completed 71.4% of his passes for 353 yards and a score while flashing his dual-threat ability with 62 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Arkansas got regular pressure on the first-time FBS starter, but the Rebels’ passer revelled in the tough spots with a 0.86 pressured EPA per dropback and a 1.22 scramble EPA per rush when forced out of structure. Composed.
Honorable mentions: Taylen Green, Arkansas; Jayden Maiava, USC; Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt; Blake Horvath, Navy; Carson Beck, Miami (FL).
Offensive Player of the Week: Ismail Mahdi, RB, Arizona
Week 3 PFSN College RRi Grade: 90.2 (A-)
Ismail Mahdi established himself as one of the top players in the country with the Texas State Bobcats in 2023, but after a relatively quiet season last fall, he came back with a bang as the catalyst to a statement Arizona Wildcats’ win over Kansas State. The senior back is one of the most versatile and dangerous weapons in the country, and he showed it on Friday night.
Although he snagged two receptions for 32 yards in the win (100% pass success rate), it was his work as a pure rusher that did the damage, averaging 8.6 yards per carry for 189 total yards. Only one Week 3 running back had more than Mahdi’s 7.1 yards per carry before contact, while he boasted a 54.5% offensive rush success rate and 0.37 EPA per rush.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama; Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana; Terrance Carter Jr., TE, Texas Tech; Hayden Hansen, TE, Florida; Donte McMillan, RB, Eastern Michigan; Ahmad Hardy, RB, Missouri; Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana; Josh Hoover, QB, TCU.
Defensive Player of the Week: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Week 3 PFSN College CBi Grade: 90.1 (A-)
For the last few seasons under Brian Kelly, a potent LSU Tigers offense has been let down by some defensive difficulties. Not anymore. That unit is carrying the program right now, and at the heart of some dominant displays is a playmaker who is beginning to earn attention as one of the very best in the nation.
Look up the dictionary definition of a lockdown cornerback and you’ll find a picture of Mansoor Delane against the Florida Gators. The former Virginia Tech Hokie didn’t account for any of the five interceptions of DJ Lagway, but only allowed a 33.3% catch percentage, 0.2 yards per coverage snap, and the second-year Gators quarterback had a 42.4 QB rating when targeting a player who should be considered the Thorpe Award frontrunner.
Honorable mentions: Keyshawn James-Newby, EDGE, New Mexico; J’Mond Tapp, EDGE, Southern Miss; Landon Robinson, DT, Navy; Thomas Collins, DT, Oregon State; Ray Coney, LB, Tulsa; Arion Carter, LB, Tennessee; Hezekiah Masses, CB, Cal; D’Mon Brinson, SAF, UConn; Mister Clark, SAF, FIU.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Aidan Birr, K, Georgia Tech
Aidan Birr, sir. If that line sounds like something from the hit musical ‘Hamilton’, then it’s right at home in the description of this standout member of our college football players of the week, because the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets kicker was absolute theater in college football Week 3.
He nailed the field goal that gave the program a famous win over the Clemson Tigers that could ultimately power an ACC Championship Game appearance.
Honorable mentions: Kaden Wetjen, PR, Iowa; Bennett Brady, LS, Tennessee; Vinny Anthony, KR, Wisconsin; Oliver Straw, P, West Virginia.
Freshman Player of the Week: Bryce Underwood, QB, Michigan
Bryce Underwood caught some flak for his performance in the Week 2 defeat to the Oklahoma Sooners, but the Michigan Wolverines’ true freshman responded with maturity as he evidenced his devastating dual-threat dominance in a Week 3 win over the Central Michigan Chippewas. No sign-stealing required here; just a highly talented true freshman unleashed.
Underwood’s performance was the third-highest graded quarterback showing by the PFSN College QBi metric. Powering the 87.7 score was a 1.49 pressured EPA per dropback that ranked third in the country, while he completed 87.5% of his money down passing attempts. Michigan landed an elite stud who is living up to his recruiting reputation early and often.
