It’s time for our first top 10 race of the season.
Week 2 features a matchup between two of the four playoff teams from a season ago, as Texas visits Michigan. The game is the first of a home-and-away series between the two college football powerhouses, as Michigan heads to Austin in 2027. In between, Texas has a pair of games against Ohio State.
That’s not the only intriguing matchup of the weekend. While there’s only one other game between teams ranked in the AP Top 25, there’s a game that could be a first-round preview of the College Football Playoff in Eugene and a fascinating matchup between old Big 12 rivals looking to reach a bowl game this season.
These are the five biggest matches of the weekend.
(All times are Eastern and all odds are from BetMGM.)
Time: Noon | TV: Fox | Line: Texas -7.5 | Total: 42.5
Yes, the reigning national champion is the underdog by a touchdown at home. It’s a line you don’t see often in college football, but there’s a good reason Texas is the favorite in the biggest matchup of the weekend.
The Longhorns looked fantastic in their Week 1 win over Colorado State. A revamped receiving corps was led by five-star freshman Ryan Wingo (four catches, 70 yards) and Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond (five catches, 61 yards), while coach Steve Sarkisian made sure enough players were rehearsed in the run game after preseason injuries decimated Texas’ running back depth.
Michigan, meanwhile, leaned on its defense in a 30-10 win over Fresno State. The Wolverines led just 13-3 at the end of the third quarter before breaking the game open in the fourth with the help of a Will Johnson pick-six. Michigan’s defense is going to be very, very good again this season.
The biggest question against the Longhorns is the passing game. Davis Warren is set to start for the second straight week, but averaged just 4.7 yards per pass against the Bulldogs. He was 15-of-25 passing for 118 yards, a TD and an interception, while Alex Orji completed a 3-yard TD pass and carried the ball five times. Expect another timeshare under center for the Wolverines, but there should be some explosive plays in the passing game to take the pressure off the defense.
Time: 3:30 PM | TV: CBS | Line: Iowa -3 | Total: 35.5
Iowa’s offense started sluggishly against FCS opponent Illinois State in Week 1 before scoring 34 second-half points in a 40-0 victory. Cade McNamara’s 251 passing yards in the win are the most passing yards Iowa has had in a single game since Oct. 1, 2022.
Iowa’s offense isn’t suddenly one of the most explosive in college football, but an average passing game could play a big role in opening the way for a run game that averaged six yards per carry in Week 1.
Iowa State, meanwhile, held North Dakota to under 300 total yards in a 21-3 win over the Fighting Hawks. Rocco Becht had just six incompletions and found Jaylin Noel eight times for 135 yards and a TD.
Iowa has won seven of the last eight games in the series and recent history suggests the under is in play. Iowa won last year’s game 20-13 and four of the last five games have been by 35 or fewer points. However, we think both offenses are good enough to make this game happen.
Time: 7:30 PM | TV: NBC | Line: Nebraska -7.5 | Total: 58.5
These two longtime Big 12 rivals will face each other for the fourth time since they were last in the same conference in 2010. Now the Buffs are back in the Big 12 as Nebraska looks to become relevant in the Big Ten under Matt Rhule.
The Huskers showed some serious signs of life in Week 1 when true freshman QB Dylan Raiola made a stellar college debut in a 40-7 win over UTEP. Raiola was 19 of 27 for 238 yards and two TDs as Nebraska scored 30 points in the first half. The big lead allowed Raiola to watch much of the second half from the sidelines.
Colorado struggled to shake FCS powerhouse North Dakota State in Week 1, and many of the things that plagued the Buffaloes in Deion Sanders’ first season are on display heading into 2024. The Buffs couldn’t run the ball, the defense got clobbered on the ground in the first half, forcing just four incompletions. And there was even a bizarre clock management lapse that gave NDSU one final chance to steal the win.
Whoever wins this match will have an exceptionally good feeling about the chances of a comeback in 2024.
Time: 19:30 | TV: ABC | Line: Tennessee -7.5 | Total: 61.5
Both teams had wins over FCS opponents in Week 1, but they were dramatically different. NC State struggled against Western Carolina on Thursday before a 21-point fourth quarter propelled them to a 38-21 victory. Western Carolina averaged more than six yards per carry against the Wolfpack.
Tennessee, meanwhile, blitzed Chattanooga and quickly made it clear the Mocs had no chance. QB Nico Iamaleava was 22-of-28 passing for 314 yards and three TDs in the first half and didn’t throw a single pass in the second half. The Vols mustered more than 700 yards of total offense.
NC State’s chances hinge on a much better defense than it did in Week 1. The Wolfpack lost leading tackler Payton Wilson to a unit that has allowed fewer than 21 points per game in each of the last three seasons. Given Tennessee’s passing attack, NC State could be without DB Devan Boykin in this game. He’s out until September after suffering an ACL injury in December 2023.
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Time: 10:00 PM | TV: Peacock | Line: Oregon -19.5 | Total: 61.5
Yes, one of the biggest games of the weekend won’t be on linear TV, as Oregon is now part of the Big Ten. At least more people have access to Peacock than the Pac-12 Network.
Both teams struggled more than expected against their opponents in Week 1. Boise State needed a 21-point run in the fourth quarter to beat Georgia Southern 56-45, while Oregon dropped four spots in the AP Top 25 after a 24-14 win over FCS opponent Idaho.
The Broncos and star running back Ashton Jeanty went wild against the Eagles. Boise State rushed 35 times for 371 yards as a team, while Jeanty had 20 carries for 267 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 13.4 yards per rush, while his backup Sire Gaines had 12 carries for 110 yards and a TD. Oregon’s defensive focus will undoubtedly be on stopping the run.
We also expect Oregon’s passing offense to get on the field more often. New QB Dillon Gabriel was 41-of-49 passing but averaged just 7.6 yards per attempt. The Ducks were also just 7-of-16 on third downs against the Vandals and committed eight penalties.
Other games to check out
Arkansas at No. 16 Oklahoma State (noon, ABC): Both teams posted impressive Week 1 wins over FCS opponents. Oklahoma State had no trouble against reigning FCS champion South Dakota State and Arkansas scored 10 TDs in 10 drives against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. A season ago, Oklahoma State lost at home to South Alabama in Week 2.
No. 17 Kansas State at Tulane (noon, ESPN): The Green Wave defeated Kansas State in Manhattan two years ago, and now it’s the Wildcats’ turn to hit the road in this series. Tulane started QB Darian Mensah ahead of returning QB Kai Horton and Oregon transfer Ty Thompson in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana. Kansas State averaged more than nine yards per carry against Tennessee-Martin in Week 1.
Baylor at No. 11 Utah (3:30 p.m., Fox): It’s a big test for the turnaround at Baylor after a disappointing 2023. Toledo transfer Dequan Finn had three touchdowns in his Baylor debut in Week 1. Utah, meanwhile, has a fully healthy Cam Rising at QB, and he threw five touchdowns on just 15 passes in the Utes’ season opener.
South Florida at No. 4 Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN): Alabama’s passing stats were comical against Western Kentucky in Week 1. Jalen Milroe was 7-of-9 for 200 yards and three touchdowns and the Tide also rushed for 334 yards. USF is an AAC contender and only lost 17-3 to the Tide a year ago, though Milroe did not play after being benched in Alabama’s loss to Texas.
No. 19 Kansas at Illinois (7 p.m., Fox Sports 1): Kansas’ 34-23 win over Illinois last season was a statement for the Jayhawks, who finished the regular season at 8-4. Saturday night’s game is expected to be the first sellout at Illinois’ Memorial Stadium since North Carolina visited in 2016.
Appalachian State at No. 25 Clemson (8 p.m., ACC Network): This isn’t an easy rebound game for Clemson after the Tigers’ 34-3 loss to Georgia in Week 1. App State is one of the favorites in a tough Sun Belt. Clemson needs to show at least some offensive improvement after the Tigers were stifled by Georgia’s defense.
