CFB Game Guide Week 2: Longhorns with a chance to show title hopes are real
Week 1 of College Football was enough to leave you in a spin! While the Top 25 got through largely unscathed, there were still surprises and close calls. Week 2 allows us to refocus and see if those missteps were outliers or signs of larger problems.
Here’s our game guide for Week 2 of College Football.
Early Kickoff Window
Big Screen Billing: Texas @ Michigan (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, FOX)
The Longhorns roll into Ann Arbor, ready to prove themselves as legitimate contenders against last year’s national champs. While Texas has retained plenty of talent, the Wolverines’ offense was clearly a step off where they would like to be, struggling in Week 1 against Fresno State.
Quinn Ewers and his talented receivers will have to be at their best, though, against a quality Michigan defense. Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Will Johnson have first-round potential, which will make racking up points difficult in this one.
I expect Michigan to keep it close early, but unless they find a spark at quarterback, perhaps from backup Alex Orji, I think Texas is too strong.
Upset Potential: Kansas St @ Tulane (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, ESPN)
Tulane may have lost head coach Willie Fritz and experienced signal-caller Michael Pratt, but the Green Wave remain one of the favourites to challenge for the Group of 5 playoff spot. Jon Sumrall is an up-and-coming head coach, and redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah was on point as Tulane beat Southeastern Louisiana in Week 1.
This matchup will be much more difficult. Kansas State arrives as 10-point favourites and has two exciting pieces on offense. Dual-threat quarterback Avery Johnson and running back DJ Giddens will be the key players when the Wildcats are in possession. Tulane is a difficult place to travel to so it’s worth keeping an eye on this one.
Primetime Window
Big Screen Billing: Iowa St @ Iowa (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, CBS)
Who doesn’t love a rivalry game in Week 2? Iowa can take some confidence in its offense, given that it overcame Illinois State 40-0. However, the real test starts now as it takes on its in-state rivals. I don’t have much fear that Iowa can keep this a low-scoring affair, but can it continue to score touchdowns against a real defense?
The Cyclones also debuted solidly, overcoming North Dakota in Week 1. Rocco Becht completed 20 of 26 for 267 yards and 2 TDs, 135 of those yards going to his favourite target, Jaylin Noel. While I don’t think Becht will move the ball as easily against the Hawkeyes, I think Iowa State can pull off the road victory if they can control Iowa’s main threat, tight end Luke Lachey.
Keep an eye on: Baylor @ Utah (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, FOX)
Dave Aranda is on the hot seat at Baylor this year and could probably do without an early visit from Utah. The Utes looked absolutely dominant under returning quarterback Cam Rising in Week 1. He linked up with old-timer Brant Kuithe for three touchdowns against Southern Utah. Aranda must hark back to his defensive coordinator days in LSU to slow that combo down.
The Bears are bedding in transfer quarterback Dequan Finn from Toledo. He was impressive in the opener against Tarleton St, throwing for 192 yards, two scores, and a touchdown with his legs. He will need to be more disciplined against the Utes, however. His two picks show that Finn is not quite the finished article.
Utah should be comfortable here, but the margin of victory will be important to the pressure it puts Aranda under.
After Dark Window
Big Screen Billing: Colorado @ Nebraska (7.30PM ET / 12.30AM GMT, NBC)
You’ll receive no apologies from this column for including Deion Sanders content. Sanders and his Buffaloes are box office and will feature regularly in our games to watch section. Particularly this week when they renew hostilities with Nebraska. The Buffs were big winners in this game last year, beating Matt Rhule’s Cornhuskers convincingly 36-14 and getting the hype train rolling.
Rhule has got some plaudits himself this offseason, particularly by bringing in 5-star Dylan Raiola at quarterback. He had a strong start in week one and should cause a still-porous Colorado defense problems.
Deion’s son Shedeur was another QB who got off to a flyer. While Colorado were unconvincing in the running game and defensively, Sanders had a near-faultless game.
I’m giving Nebraska the edge here and will be paying close attention to whether corner Travis Hunter can take care of Nebraska wideout Isaiah Neyor who has been on my radar for a while. This one should be a classic.
Keep an eye on: Boise State @ Oregon (10PM ET / 3.00AM GMT, Peacock)
This matchup shows how much Week 1 can affect your view of things. Before last week I would have had this one as a fairly straightforward Oregon win, but now there is some doubt. Seeing Ashton Jeanty demolish Georgia Southern’s defense with a 267 rushing yards and 6 TD performance leads me to believe life may not be quite as easy for the Ducks on defense.
Pair that with an uninspiring first outing for Oregon on offense against Idaho in a 24-14 victory, and the projection of an upset doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Boise has playoff aspirations and a strong showing here would boost that. I think Oregon have too much, but if Boise can strike early in the run game, nerves could take hold.
Upset Potential: Appalachian State @ Clemson (8PM ET / 1AM GMT, ACC Network)
What Dabo Swinney wouldn’t do for an in-state matchup with an FCS foe like Furman. Instead, he has to fend off an Appalachian State team who must surely be smelling the blood in the water. Swinney cut a forlorn figure after being crushed by Georgia last weekend. It was the definitive proof that Clemson was no longer in the same bracket as the SEC powerhouses.
Now, rather than a week where they can lick their wounds and find solace in the demolition of a minnow, they must prepare for a frisky group of 5 team desperate to be the headline story come Sunday morning. Mountaineers QB Joey Aguilar did all the right things, going 22/37, 326 yards and two touchdowns in the opener against East Tennessee State. Now he gets his shot at a big fish.
Clemson’s defense hung around against the Bulldogs, and you’d expect that side of the ball to keep the Tigers in this one. Then it will be up to Cade Klubnik. It was a poor showing from a guy with obvious talent. Perhaps this can be a get-right game for him.
Clemson should hold here, but App State will give them everything.
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.