NCAA football scores from Saturday, September 19, 2026, featured a series of decisive victories as ranked teams moved through a busy Week 3 schedule.
No. 2 Georgia opened the day with a 45-17 win over Arkansas, while No. 6 Ohio State defeated Kent State 59-3. No. 14 Penn State also cruised past Buffalo 55-13.
Table of Contents
NCAA football scores from the early window
| Matchup | Final score |
|---|---|
| Georgia at Arkansas | Georgia 45, Arkansas 17 |
| Kent State at Ohio State | Ohio State 59, Kent State 3 |
| Buffalo at Penn State | Penn State 55, Buffalo 13 |
| Akron at Minnesota | Minnesota 41, Akron 7 |
| Tulane at Kansas State | Kansas State 31, Tulane 20 |
| Bowling Green at Iowa State | Iowa State 55, Bowling Green 7 |
| Arizona State at Kansas | Arizona State 24, Kansas 17 |
| Eastern Michigan at Wisconsin | Wisconsin 54, Eastern Michigan 10 |
| Mercer at Georgia Tech | Georgia Tech 44, Mercer 11 |
| North Texas at Texas State | Texas State 49, North Texas 35 |
Georgia sets the tone in SEC opener
Georgia pulled away from Arkansas after a relatively controlled opening quarter, building a 21-3 halftime advantage before adding 24 points after the break.
The Bulldogs finished with a 45-17 victory in Fayetteville, as confirmed by the official Georgia-Arkansas box score. The result moved Georgia to 3-0 and gave the team an early conference win, while Arkansas dropped to 1-2.
Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton accounted for 147 passing yards and 97 rushing yards. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson passed for 212 yards, while Sutton Smith led the Razorbacks with 17 rushing attempts.
Ohio State and Penn State deliver dominant wins
Ohio State controlled Kent State from the opening quarter and finished with a 59-3 win. The Buckeyes led 31-3 at halftime and added 28 unanswered points in the second half.
The game also marked a notable milestone for Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, who became the program’s career receiving-yardage leader, according to the team’s game coverage.
Penn State produced a similarly emphatic result against Buffalo. The Nittany Lions led 31-6 at halftime and added 24 more points after the interval in a 55-13 victory.
Rocco Becht threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State, while Koby Howard scored twice as the Nittany Lions improved to 3-0.
More notable Week 3 results
Several other teams recorded convincing wins during the day. Minnesota defeated Akron 41-7, Iowa State beat Bowling Green 55-7 and Wisconsin scored 54 points against Eastern Michigan.
Kansas State remained unbeaten with a 31-20 win over Tulane. Avery Johnson contributed 227 passing yards, 152 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns for the Wildcats.
Arizona State also collected a notable result overseas, defeating Kansas 24-17 in London. Jaren Hamilton returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the Sun Devils’ win.
Georgia Tech secured its first victory of the season by beating Mercer 44-11. Justice Haynes scored three touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets.
What to watch next
The September 19 schedule continues with several high-profile games involving ranked teams and major conference matchups. Among the most closely watched contests are Florida State against Alabama, LSU against Ole Miss, Michigan State against Notre Dame, Colorado against Northwestern and BYU against Colorado State.
Late games include Utah against Utah State, Southern California against Rutgers, Michigan against UTEP and Washington against Eastern Washington. Results from those games will shape the next round of conference standings and national rankings.
For Canadian fans following the NCAA football scores, kickoff times and broadcast availability vary by network and streaming service. Score updates can change quickly as the remaining Saturday games reach halftime and the final whistle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the biggest NCAA football scores on September 19, 2026?
Ohio State beat Kent State 59-3, Penn State defeated Buffalo 55-13, Georgia beat Arkansas 45-17 and Iowa State defeated Bowling Green 55-7.
Did Georgia win its Week 3 game?
Yes. Georgia defeated Arkansas 45-17 on September 19, 2026, improving to 3-0.
What was the Ohio State score against Kent State?
Ohio State defeated Kent State 59-3.
What was the Penn State score against Buffalo?
Penn State defeated Buffalo 55-13.
Which major NCAA football games remained on the September 19 schedule?
Later matchups included Florida State-Alabama, LSU-Ole Miss, Michigan State-Notre Dame, Colorado-Northwestern and Michigan-UTEP.
Fact-Checked: Key scores and game details were checked against NCAA football coverage, official team information and current scoreboard data. ([georgiadogs.com](https://georgiadogs.com/sports/football/stats/2026/arkansas/boxscore/26389?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Scores and game status can change during live play; this roundup reflects the results available for the September 19, 2026 schedule at publication time.