2026 MAC Football Week 3 Evening Live Game Thread

It's officially Week 3 of the football season, meaning we're reaching the end of the non-conference season pretty soon.

Below, you'll see each game segmented into its own little space, with observations regarding each game updating in real time, so be sure to bookmark this page and refresh often!

Here's all the previews for the middle window, with broadcast and gambling considerations inside:

2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: Ohio Bobcats at South Alabama Jaguars

Battle-tested foes square off in another tough contest.

By The BeltKeith Gregorski

2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: Western Michigan Broncos at Rice Owls

Western Michigan looks for its second(?) road win against Rice’s option attack.

By The BeltSteve Helwick

2026 MAC Football Week 3 Game Preview: North Dakota State Bison at Sacramento State Hornets

Sacramento State’s ESPN flagship debut comes against a worthy opponent, as the Bison travel to the state’s capital.

By The BeltJack Dann

Western Michigan Broncos vs. Rice Owls

• Rice won the toss and deferred.
• Both teams starting slow in this game, exchanging punts on the first three possessions.
• Jalen Buckley finds the hole and evades the defense to the tune of 66 yards to position the Broncos deep inside the Rice redzone!
• WMU just keeps pounding the rock, and it keeps working, with Broc Lowry keeping the ball on a speed option on fourth-and-one to score from six yards out! Seven plays– all runs– put WMU up 7-0. (1:29 1Q)
• The Broncos get extremely lucky, as Broc Lowry gets dragged for a sack and fumbles the ball in the process. Ben Roebuck falls on top of it, but the play wipes away the progress they had made on the drive. That could have been a disastrous turnover deep in their own territory. Instead, second-and-24.
• Ryan Millmore showing off his all-MAC leg, with a 54-yard boot to pin the Owls at their own 19-yard line.
• Rice's Jacurri Brown finds a gap and totes the ball 29 yards to their side of midfield. It was a great run, and could have gone to the house were it not for a shoestring tackle by Scoop Gardner and Daeh McCullough.
• D'Andre Hardeman's 13-yard run sets up Jacurri Brown's two-yard touchdown, and Rice ties the game up at 7-7 with 5:04 2Q.
• WMU starting to get behind the chains, allowing a nine-yard sack of Broc Lowry. This was after having to convert third-and-five the play before. They manage 14 yards on second-and-19, but third-and-medium is not where this team wants to be.
• Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, as a bad throw by Lowry gets bailed out with defensive holding to grant a new set of downs.
• WMU gets going on play action and Lowry tosses a dart into the hands of Aveion Shenault in the endzone from 34 yards out. There's controversy, however, as officials called the pass incomplete. Shenault appeared to lose control of the ball at the end in live speed, but there's potential he was able to pin it to his hip.
• After review of the play... TOUCHDOWN! The call is overturned, and the Broncos now have a 14-7 lead over Rice on the road. (1:55 2Q)
• WMU got the ball back after forcing a quick Rice drive on offense and at the end met a familiar friend: the added second. They got a shot at a Hail Mary, but the ball was underthrown and a Rice DB swatted it out of danger to end the first half.
• Rice absolutely taking the WMU defense for a ride to start the third quarter, with no incompletions and no yards lost on the run. This is my first extended look at Rice's much-hyped offense; when their unique take on the triple works, it's beautiful.
• Rice caps off a strong drive with a one-yard run by Tyvonn Byars to even the score at 14. Four different Owls had at least one carry on the drive. (9:15 3Q)
• WMU finally gives up their first turnover of the 2026 campaign, as Josh Franklin muffs the kick return and Chris Bruce nabs the ball back. They get the ball at WMU's 34.
• Rice can't make anything of the loose ball, as Enock Gota's 46-yard field goal is missed wide.
• The game is settling into the pattern we thought it might, with both teams going on long, sustained drives based in the power run. WMU is sitting on a 12-play drive over seven minutes at present. It's a wonderful things to see after nearly a decade of Air Raid influence.
• Touchdown, Western Michigan! Jalen Buckley caps the drive with a one-yard run, and the Broncos take back the lead at 21-14 to start the fourth quarter.
• WMU brought out four tight ends to ensure they finished the drive off physical. That's how you put an exclamation mark on an 16-yard drive.
• Rice and WMU exchanging punts, and then Rice goes off script and decided to go for it on fourth-and-three from their 27-yard line, The pass is incomplete, and the Broncos can shut the door on the Owls with a quick score.
• TOUCHDOWN, WMU! Power back Ofa Mataele mashes through the middle and does a little dance as he doubles up the Bronco lead at 28-14. Still in shock Rice opted for the go in that situation, but it's to the visitor's advantage. (1:54 4Q)
• One reason Rice likely went for it was that they only had one timeout; regardless of if they converted or not, it would have been difficult to ensure a second possession to win the game. They could only hope to tie even with a touchdown and XPA.
• An absolutely chaotic scene on fourth-and-the-game, as Jacurri Brown rifles a 22-yard pass into the hands of Barry Jackson Jr., who stretches out to reach the endzone for the touchdown. There was a brief commotion afterwards as WMU defenders thought there may have been a punch-out, but it was confirmed a TD. Rice will now attempt an onsides kick, down 28-21 with eight seconds left.
• WMU easily picks up the onsides kick, and they're going to leave Houston with a vital win over an opponent from a higher-prestige conference. The Broncos will surely look to be on the Top 25 radar now.
• A fun fact about today's victory: Western has nabbed their first-ever win in the state of Texas.

Ohio Bobcats vs. South Alabama Jaguars

• Ohio won the toss and deferred.
• The Jaguars tossing haymakers to start the game, with gains of 40 yards, 17 yards, 11 yards and nine to set up inside the Ohio redzone.
• USA punches it in on a six-yard rush to put the home team up early at 7-0. (12:21 1Q)
• Turns out Matt Vezza was able to recover from his injury suffered against Jacksonville State; he makes his first start at QB as a Bobcat today.
• Vezza finds Riley Neer for a five-yard score to tie the game back up at 7-7. Neer's emergence has really opened up the passing game for the Bobbies. (4:40 1Q)
• USA is finding a little too much room against this Ohio defense early. Don't think there's been a negative play so far, and they're averaging over five yards per play.
• Touchdown, USA. Jared Hollins finds Rod Gibbs for a 34-yard strike, with Gibbs beating his man 15 yards after the catch. Jags up 14-7. (1:39 1Q)
• Ohio ends the quarter by running the ball between Victor Rosa and Matt Vezza. Will be interested to see if their chemistry as second-stringers is actually a help moving forward.
• A bad, bad mistake by Vezza, as he tosses a ball right into the mitts of DJ Moore of South Alabama.
• The Jags convert the turnover two plays later, as Tra'veon Dunbar houses the ball from 32 yards out. USA up 21-7. (14:28 2Q)
• On the TD run, Dunbar broke through two tackles at the line with a well-timed shoulder hit, and outraced five Bobcats. A very impressive, physical rep by the USA halfback.
• Matt Vezza somehow makes something out of nothing as the pocket breaks down, with a 10-yard pickup on second-and-13. Those are the types of plays you need down 14.
• Preston Bowman with an impressive play to put the Bobcats right at the goal line on a 24-yard reception! Ohio has a chance to get within a score.
• Well, never mind. The snap goes high and hits Vezza near the chest and bouncing right back into the line of scrimmage. USA backer Christian Ross alertly falls on top of it, and the Bobbies are really in trouble now.
• USA putting together an incredible drive near the end of this half, standing on play #17 and counting with 1:06 remaining in the 2Q.
• USA kicks a field goal to cap off an 18-play, 66-yard drive lasting nearly eight minutes to extend the lead to 24-7 with :52 2Q.
• We reach the halftime break, with Ohio down three scores. Two first-half turnovers have defined the game for the visitors, including one on the goal line. Last week showed the Bobcats are more than capable of coming back from big deficits. It's a bit different when you're on the road though.
• Now that's how you get out of the tunnel! DJ James-Hamilton gets 56 yards on the kickoff return to start the third quarter, and Victor Rosa breaks free two plays later to get a touchdown from 33 yards out! Ohio trails 24-14 to USA, but there's plenty of time. (13:59 3Q)
• It's the defense's turn to contribute, and they get a fantastic three-and-out. USA shanks the punt, and Ohio gets the ball at the USA 25– thanks in part to an illegal formation penalty. The Jags are really starting to feel the pressure now.
• TOUCHDOWN, Ohio! Matt Vezza finds Riley Neer once again, this time for a nine-yard score. Suddenly, Ohio is only down a field goal, 24-21. (12:22 3Q)
• Ohio getting two TDs on two possessions totaling two plays apiece, and they're right back into this game in just over 90 seconds of game time. The first half was a bit unlucky, as we've said, but they've really buttoned up since the break.
• South Alabama was getting ready to celebrate a 64-yard receiving touchdown which toed down the sideline, but a pretty obvious block in the back puts the ball at midfield instead. That would have been a fairly dramatic turn of events.
• USA gets to celebrate anyways, as Micah Woods beats his man and hauls in a beautiful backshoulder catch from 50 yards out to put USA up 30-21, pending review.
• After review... the TD is off the board, again– much to the chagrin of the home crowd. They get the ball at the Ohio two-yard line and immediately lose a yard.
• Finally, South Alabama is allowed to keep a scoring play on the drive. PJ Martin scores from one yard out on the run, and the Jags go up 31-21 8:04 3Q.
• Matt Vezza's third-down pass got tipped at the line and very nearly into the hands of a wandering Jags defender. That's a lucky break, as they get the opportunity to punt instead, putting USA at their 18-yard line instead of further upfield.
• USA goes on fourth-and-one at Ohio's 22 and makes it on a two-yard rush. That's a pivotal conversion, as they can kill even more clock up 10 and position themselves for at least a field goal.
• Ohio's defense is looking gassed now, and USA is completely winning the trenches. That's been the story of the game in the second half.
• Touchdown, USA. It's Trae'von Dunbar once again, this time from five yards out. USA in command at 38-21. (8:24 4Q)
• Third-string true freshman Levi Davis is in at QB for Ohio, a week removed from his heroics against Jacksonville State. He's looking pretty good on the scramble and has steadily moved the chains since being inserted.
• Touchdown, Ohio! Davis has looked really good on this drive, and pays it off with a 10-yard pass to AJ Miller. The pair also connect for a two-point conversion, and Ohio now trails 38-29. (5:09 4Q)
• As we've seen plenty of times today, five minutes can be more than enough to get two scores.
• The Bobbies go four-and-out in part due to a nine-yard sack, and USA will do their best to wind down the clock from this point onwards.
• USA adds a field goal for dessert with 1:10 remaining and that should about do it in Mobile.
• Ohio just made a few too many mistakes in the first half and couldn't quite maintain their hot start in the second half, as USA found enough explosives to give the Ohio defense fits. This was always going to be a tough game with their injuries on both sides of the ball, but it still hurts the pride a little.
• Really should stop trying to call games before they're done, but really, the odds on such a multiple-score deficit being gapped in under a handful of minutes are so hard.
• Dom Dorwart gets a 21-yard touchdown reception from Levi Davis with eight seconds left to make the score prettier at 41-36. Ohio will be left wondering what could have been.

Sac State Hornets vs. North Dakota State Bison

• NDSU gets the ball to start.
• The Bison go straight to the air on the first play of the game, gaining 38 yards on a pass from Nathan Hayes to Mehki Collins. Sac State was gashed through the air last week vs. Fresno State; that's playing to the tape right there.
• On cue, it's Hayes to Jackson Williams with nobody around on a 33-yard touchdown connection. NDSU up 7-0 early on Sac State. (13:44 1Q)
• Didn't get much of a chance to look at the Sac State offense, as the Hornets fumble the ball on the fourth play of the series. Darius Givance picks up the scoop-n-score to give NDSU the 14-0 win. (11:49 1Q)
• Sac State had some nice early down work on NDSU's next offensive drive, especially Fata Puloka, but gave up a third-and-long through the air. The Bison have been able to go to that whenever they want to move the chains.
• HUGE defensive stop for the Hornets! NDSU opts to get aggressive and go for it on fourth-and-four at the Sac State 40, and it's an overthrow intended for Williams. The Hornets get great field position to mount a response.
• The Hornets get eight yards on their opening play of the series, but get stuffed twice, resulting in a three-and-out.
• Much like against Fresno State, Sac State is holding up pretty well to this point outside of two explosive plays. The teams have exchanged punts the last three possessions.
• Naytel Mitchell being helped off the field by trainers after attempting a tackle on special teams. The redshirt freshman grabbed at his knee after the play without contact, but at least seemed to be able to put some weight on it.
• Nathan Hayes with a teardrop pass into the diving mitts of Jackson Williams for 27 yards. This duo is going to be a headache for the Sac State defense all night, one gets the feeling.
• Touchdown, NDSU. Myles Mitchell finally gets some space and makes the Hornets pay with a nine-yard bounce outside for paydirt. NDSU now up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.
• Jackson Sharman with a nice pass to start the drive, finding Matthew Coleman for 27 yards, but two plays later, Sharman squanders a defensive pass interference to toss an interception directly at Taylen Eady. It's framing up to be one of those days.
• DJ Scott, up the middle, touchdown. This one's from 42 yards out, and the Bison are running ruckshod over Sac State in the first 20 minutes of this contest. 28-0 (11:24, 2Q)
• Typically, a team usually tries to bridge a four-score gap by airing the ball out, but Sac State is finding some success on the ground, with 40 yards on four-consecutive rushes on their latest drive. Isaiah Ene with an angry 24-yard run on the last of those to put the Hornets into the redzone.
• Grant Meadors with a 25-yard field goal to kill the shutout, but it's still a long way to go for Sac State. 28-3 NDSU, like that one Super Bowl back in the day. (6:52 2Q)
• Malik Tullis with a leaping tip of Hayes' pass attempt to force a fourth down– but NDSU hustles to the line and tries a fake punt. The Hornets don't get fooled and Noah King pulls down Kaden Zenzen to give the offense the ball at their own 48.
• Jackson Sharman must have a lot of confidence in his arm, because he tossed the pass to Onterrio Smith with nary a care that DJ Voltz was already in front of the route. Voltz drops it, and the drive continues.
• Cincere Rhaney is the latest runner to get some turf, with 22 yards on three carries. The San Diego State transfer looking good.
• ... And THAT is why Jackson Sharman is comfortable tossing the ball. He absolutely rifles the ball into a near-impossible window over one linebacker and directly past another defensive back into the hands of Jordan Williams from 23 yards away. However, a chop block penalty on Isaiah Ene brings it back. That's absolutely brutal at this juncture in the game. (1:34 2Q)
• We've reached the halftime break, and I really do mean this when I say it: This could honestly be a lot worst than it is for the Hornets. They've shown flashes of what this team could be when everything is on the right tracks– but early mistakes put them in a hole they're not quite ready as a team to be able to dig out of yet. This is part of the growing pains of moving up to FBS play.
• (Yes, NDSU is nominally also an FCS promotion this year, but between you, me and the fencepost, everyone knows they've been an FBS team in FCS clothing for over a decade.)
• Sac State is passing at a 43 percent clip, which is less than ideal, but they've also only had 14 attempts. It's been hard for them to find a rhythm for most of the first half, but they did start figuring it out in the ground game in the second quarter. Something to keep an eye on is if they continue to work on that aspect of the offense despite the margin or if they try to find a different fold in the pass game to give Sharman some confidence.
• Jaylen Patterson gets a snap at QB in a subpackage look, gaining three yards. That's a new wrinkle at least from what I've seen. (Jack, our Sac State writer may know better than I.)
• Amari Wallace coming in like a freight train to break up a pass intended for Myles Mitchell near the line of scrimmage. That's a great play for him after a tough outing last week. Forces a third down. NDSU ends up punting two plays later.
• The Hornets mounting a nice drive here, but are facing fourth-and-one at the NDSU 35, down 28-3. They'll take their time to consider a fourth down. A field goal doesn't help very much and would be nearly 50 yards to boot. So the choice is likely between go to maintain possession and punt to try and pin NDSU.
• Sac State challenged the spot, and it failed. They tried converting on a power run with Isaiah Ene, but the NDSU front four is just too stout, as they have been all night. NDSU is past midfield on the very first play from there.
• You see some simply insane plays watching college football, and the one NDSU just pulled off is one of the best I've seen in 2026. Nathan Hayes stepped up in the pocket to avoid a sack on a broken play, ran into his own blocker, spun back around on an improvised bootleg to shake off trailing defenders, then lasers a pass towards a diving Jackson Williams for an 18-yard conversion on third down. Real schoolyard stuff there. Hayes will have the attention of the pro scouts after his performance today.
• Just realized neither team scored in the third quarter. No drive surpassed 36 yards, a genuinely impressive feat. Sac State forced a three-and-out on the only full NDSU possession of the quarter. They're carrying a nine-play drive into the quarter break, sitting inside Hornet territory.
• North Dakota State finally breaks through, with Drew Klein adding a field goal from 29 yards out to put the Bison up 31-3. After the play, Malik Tullis gets flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. (12:03 4Q)
• The penalty was Sac State's second of the drive; the Hornets also committed defensive holding on a second-and-16 play which went for 15 yards, automatically granting a new set of downs.
• Jackson Sharman with two-straight great passes to set up Sac State in Bison territory to Matthew Coleman (13 yards) and Jordan Williams (21 yards). He's absolutely slinging it out there despite the score. A true fighter.
• TOUCHDOWN, Sac State! Onterrio Smith Jr. leaps into the air and nabs the ball one-handed over the defender! It's a 21-yard strike from Sharman. 31-10 Bison (8:05 3Q)
• Sharman reacting with absolute delight, flexing his muscles and screaming as the lights flicker in celebration– as he should. Sharman finished 5-of-5 for 74 yards on the drive.
• NDSU has the backups in now, but Sac State is still fighting, perhaps too much. They get a roughing the passer call on third-and-five after getting the stop downfield on the pass, and now NDSU continues to run down the clock.
• Matt Coleman is blooming right before our eyes, with eight receptions and counting. He might have an outside chance at all-MAC honors if he can keep up this pace in conference play. (As I say this, he catches a ninth ball for an 18-yard gain that was very nearly a house call were it not for a smart tackle near the sidelines.)
• Oh man, Onterrio Smith Jr. is a walking highlight reel even when he doesn't keep the feet inbounds. He had an absolute poster-worthy one-handed catch along the right sideline of the endzone, but misses by a few inches. Him and Coleman will be fun to watch develop as a tandem in MAC play.
• On the next play, Deron Russell jumps the route and picks off Jackson Sharman. That's NDSU's third takeaway of the game, and the first one of the second half.
• It's a pity the game had to end that way for Sac State, but there's a lot to be proud of here for a program which is largely still FCS in resources. NDSU, on the other hand, is 30-3 in the last three years and one of two teams standing at 4-0 in the NCAA right now. The Hornets held the Bison scoreless in the third quarter, and outscored NDSU 7-3 in the second half, and nearly had another TD at game's end. Lots to hang your hat on if you're the Hornets today.