The college football season has reached the point where conference play starts taking center stage.

All three Associated Press Top 25 matchups Saturday are conference games with intriguing storylines.

In the Big 12, No. 17 Texas Tech and its high-scoring offense visit No. 16 Utah, which has a revived offense to go with its traditionally strong defense.

In the Southeastern Conference, No. 22 Auburn goes to No. 11 Oklahoma, where Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold faces the team he left in December to search for the fresh start that's turned out well for him.

In the Big Ten, No. 9 Illinois heads to No. 19 Indiana, which has outscored three overmatched opponents 156-23. The Big Ten has another spotlight game with No. 21 Michigan going to Nebraska for a matchup of two of the eight FBS programs with at least 900 all-time wins.

A couple nonconference matchups merit watching.

Florida, with its embattled coach Billy Napier and struggling quarterback DJ Lagway, plays a rivalry game at No. 4 Miami, which is on a roll and got three first-place votes in this week's Associated Press Top 25 college football poll.

Texas' home game against Sam Houston usually wouldn't merit much buildup, but there will be lots of eyeballs on Austin given Arch Manning's early struggles.

Best game

No. 21 Michigan (2-1) at Nebraska (3-0), 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)

Five-star freshman QB Bryce Underwood didn't respond well in a hostile road environment in the 24-13 loss at Oklahoma on Sept. 6. His confidence should be restored after he accounted for 349 yards and three touchdowns in a 60-point rout of Central Michigan. Biff Poggi will be the Wolverines' acting coach a second straight game as Sherrone Moore completes his two-game suspension.

Nebraska's first three games didn't offer a clue as to whether Matt Rhule's third year would be a breakthrough for the Cornhuskers. They barely hung on to beat Cincinnati in their opener and QB Dylan Raiola and his teammates fattened their statistics in blowouts of Akron and Houston Christian by a total of 120 points.

The Wolverines hammered Nebraska 45-7 when they visited Lincoln during their 2023 national championship season. Oddsmakers expect this one to be much closer. Michigan is listed as a 2 1/2-point favorite, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Under the radar

South Carolina (2-1, 0-1 SEC) at No. 23 Missouri (3-0), 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)

A hit to the head knocked South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers out of the game against Vanderbilt, and coach Shane Beamer was hopeful he would be available against the Tigers. Sellers threw for five touchdowns against Missouri last year, his final one with 15 seconds left giving the Gamecocks a 34-30 win at home.

As SEC schedules go, the Tigers have a favorable one going forward. Missouri needs a win here if it plans to build off last year's 10-win season and be a factor in the conference race.

Heisman watch

Miami QB Carson Beck's performance in a 49-12 win over South Florida put him in strong position in what is becoming a wide-open race for the Heisman Trophy.

Beck goes into Saturday's home game against Florida as the favorite among the wagering public at 7-to-1, according to BetMGM Sportsbook. He threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another against the Bulls and leads the nation in passing accuracy at 79.3%.

Oklahoma QB John Mateer was mostly sharp against Temple and is 9-to-1 heading into his home game against Auburn.

Georgia's Gunner Stockton and Tennessee's Joey Aguilar put up big numbers in their QB duel last week and are serious contenders. Stockton gets this week off. Aguilar probably will have a short day against UAB.

Numbers to know

3 — Vicari Swain's punt returns for touchdowns for South Carolina, tying the program season record set by Dick Harris in 1971.

7 — Florida's remaining games against AP top-15 opponents, including five in the top 10.

27 — Nebraska’s consecutive losses against Top 25 opponents entering its home game against No. 21 Michigan.

104 — Meetings between SMU and TCU in the “Battle for the Iron Skillet." The teams have no future games scheduled after they play Saturday in Fort Worth.

223 — Auburn QB Jackson Arnold's consecutive passes without an interception since he was picked off against Tennessee last September when he was playing for Oklahoma.

Hot seat

UAB's Trent Dilfer and his team will go to No. 15 Tennessee on Saturday, pick up a $1.65 million guarantee and return to American Conference play against Army on Oct. 4.

The Blazers are 9-18 overall and 5-12 in the American since Dilfer took over in 2023. Their two wins this season are against Alabama State and Akron, and the Blazers needed a touchdown in the last two minutes to get past ASU. In their 38-24 conference loss at Navy, they committed three turnovers while getting shut out in the second half.

Defensive improvement was the priority for this season. The Blazers are actually worse on that side of the ball so far, ranking 131st in yards allowed. Dilfer's buyout would be $2.4 million at the end of the season.

Average winning margin in FBS after Week 3 is widest since at least 2000

If you think there have been a lot of lopsided games through the first three weeks of the season, you're right.

Let us count the ways:

The average winning margin in the Football Bowl Subdivision is 25.5 points per game and 28.9 per game when one of the teams is from a power conference. A total of 53 games have been decided by at least 40 points. All those figures are the highest through a Week 3 since at least 2000, according to Sportradar.

There have been eight games where the winner amassed at least 70 points; the 25 games where the winner scored at least 60 are the most since 2018. Eight FBS teams are averaging at least 50 points per game, most at this point in a season since 2019.

Is the run of blowouts an aberration, a product of there being a record 126 FCS-FBS matchups this year or talent hording by programs that can pay the most? It's anybody's guess right now.

The picks for this week’s FBS vs. FBS games, with Associated Press Top 25 rankings and lines from BetMGM Sportsbook:

Florida at No. 4 Miami (minus 7 1/2)

Florida's DJ Lagway is coming off his five-interception nightmare at LSU. Carson Beck is the most accurate passer in the country through Week 3. Beleaguered Gators coach Billy Napier said Monday, “We’re close to being pretty dangerous." Miami already is.

Pick: Miami 27-17.

Oregon State at No. 6 Oregon (minus 35 1/2)

Oregon has blown out the Beavers two straight years in the Civil War and are fixing to do it again. The Ducks just have to resist looking ahead to next week's game at Penn State. Beavers are 0-3 for first time since 2011.

Pick: Oregon 52-10.

Kent State at No. 7 Florida State (minus 45 1/2)

The Seminoles are only the fourth team since the Top 25 era began in 1989 to go from unranked in the preseason to the top 10 by Week 3. Kent State hasn't beaten a team from a power conference since 2007.

Pick: Florida State 55-6.

Sam Houston (plus 39 1/2) at No. 8 Texas

Arch Manning's struggle against UTEP last week is causing anxiety in Austin. How he fares against one of the worst pass defenses in the country will set the tone for the start of SEC play.

Pick: Texas 45-7.

No. 9 Illinois (plus 4 1/2) at No. 19 Indiana

Indiana gets an opportunity to show naysayers it wasn't a one-hit wonder in 2024. Illinois is fighting the perception it's overrated. If the Illini want to validate themselves as a College Football Playoff contender, this is as close to a must win as there is in September.

Pick: Illinois 31-24.

Auburn at No. 11 Oklahoma (minus 6 1/2)

It will be key for Auburn to get its run game going to keep the ball out of Oklahoma QB John Mateer's hands. Tigers QB Jackson Arnold returns to Norman to face his old team. Auburn has allowed seven sacks, so expect the Sooners to come after him hard.

Pick: Oklahoma 30-21.

Tulane (plus 11 1/2) at No. 13 Mississippi

If QB Austin Simmons isn't ready to go, the Rebels have confidence in Division II transfer Trinidad Chambliss after his impressive outing against Arkansas. Tulane goes for a third win against a power-conference opponent.

Pick: Mississippi 35-27.

UAB at No. 15 Tennessee (minus 39 1/2)

Volunteers will bounce back with a vengeance from their heartbreaking loss to Georgia. Tennessee's offense averages 569 yards per game to rank sixth. UAB's defense allows 473 per game to rank 131st.

Pick: Tennessee 56-10.

No. 17 Texas Tech (plus 3) at No. 16 Utah

These are the top two offenses in the Big 12. Tech's Behren Morton is putting up prolific passing numbers to lead a unit averaging a nation-leading 58 points per game. The Utes lean on a run game averaging 290 yards per game.

Pick: Texas Tech 38-31.

Temple at No. 18 Georgia Tech (minus 23 1/2)

The Yellow Jackets must guard against an emotional hangover after their win over Clemson. Temple gave up 515 yards to Oklahoma last week and now goes against a Haynes King-led offense that's just as good.

Pick: Georgia Tech 45-10.

Georgia State at No. 20 Vanderbilt (minus 26 1/2)

The priority for Vanderbilt the next two weeks against Georgia State and Utah State is to keep everybody healthy and to get the backups some work.

Pick: Vanderbilt 38-3.

No. 21 Michigan (minus 2 1/2) at Nebraska

If he can get comfortable in his first Big Ten game on the road, Bryce Underwood's ability as a passer and runner will make him a tough matchup. Nebraska gave up 96 yards on the ground to Cincinnati QB Brendan Sorsby in its opener.

Pick: Michigan 28-24.

South Carolina (plus 11 1/2) at No. 23 Missouri

Gamecocks are desperate to bounce back from last week's home loss to Vanderbilt and they'll need QB LaNorris Sellers to do it. He entered the week recovering from a hit in the head. Missouri has won seven straight SEC home games.

Pick: Missouri 34-28.

Purdue (plus 24 1/2) at No. 24 Notre Dame

The Irish's two losses are by a total of four points. They shouldn't have to worry about this one being close. But Purdue, which lost 66-7 to Notre Dame at home last year, does look better under first-year coach Barry Odom.

Pick: Notre Dame 35-14.

Michigan State at No. 25 Southern California (minus 18 1/2)

USC's Jayden Maiava is throwing for 330 yards per game and has the highest passer rating in the country. The Spartans give up a lot through the air.

Pick: Southern California 45-21.

AP predictions scorecard

Last week: Straight-up — 17-2; Against spread — 12-7.

Season: Straight-up — 42-6; Against spread — 25-23.