After a fiery week one, week two of the college football season looks much more tame. However, there are excellent matchups scattered throughout the nation. These are the top 10 games (plus an honorable mention) of the week, accompanied by context, analysis, and predictions.
Honorable Mention. Liberty @ Jacksonville State
The Liberty Flames certified their status as a perennial threat from the Group of 5 after going 13-1 in their first season in the CUSA. For their 2024 campaign, though, they went 8-4, a record that is especially disappointing when considering that they had the easiest schedule in the entire nation. So what team swooped in for the CUSA crown in the meantime? The Jacksonville State Gamecocks who have already picked up 18 wins in their first two seasons in the FBS. With a new head coach, Charles Kelly, at the helm, though, they basically have an entirely new roster. The last two CUSA champions are kicking off their conference schedules by facing each other, and both are on the hunt for more: a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Liberty
Head coach Jamey Chadwell has made a name for himself by creating a lethal rushing offense; last year, Liberty was fourth in the nation in rushing yards, and the year before that, it was first. In their 28-7 victory over Maine last week, things were a little different. Despite QB Ethan Vasko showcasing his dual-threat ability, the Flames’ whopping 197 rushing yards fell over 50 yards short of their average from last year — a disappointing result, considering their opponent. At least the defense shined all game long; the unit forced three turnovers on downs, a fumble, and an interception. Meanwhile, 21 of the offense’s 28 points came in the final 10:24 of the game; it was an impressive scoring barrage, but not a good sign for the team’s consistency in getting the ball moving. Liberty sits at 1-0, but their opening performance did not look nearly as dominant as it should’ve been.
Jacksonville State
Losing 10-17 at UCF, the Gamecocks held their own in perhaps the hardest game they’ll have all season. Their defense held strong, allowing just three points up to the final half of the fourth quarter. After that though, it all fell apart. UCF drove deep into Jacksonville State territory on each of their final three drives and took their first lead of the game with just over a minute remaining. Though a disappointing loss in a game that could have boosted them deep into CFP conversations, it was a very promising performance for the team, especially considering that this was Kelly’s first game as head coach. DB Chase Alexander shined with two tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble, but QB Gavin Wimsatt will have to be the one to step it up if the Gamecocks want to win those types of games; the Kentucky transfer threw for just 4.8 yards per pass attempt. With clear things to fix, Jacksonville State’s looking to make this loss their only one of the season.
The Matchup
These two teams had opposite stories in week one. Liberty lit on fire to pull away in the fourth quarter against an FCS team. Jacksonville State went dry to lose a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter against a Power 4 team. What team do I trust more? Well, Liberty pretty clearly. They still have arguably the best coach in the Group of 5 and showed signs of life on offense. Meanwhile, all of Jacksonville State is almost entirely new, and they didn’t do much impressively on offense. Still, it’s difficult not to like the Gamecocks here. The two teams were in the exact same position heading into the fourth quarter of their games. Add on that Jacksonville State was 5-1 last season at home, and it feels like this is the type of game where you’ve got to take the home underdog.
Yi Key to Victory
Liberty: Take advantage of Gavin Wimsatt’s career 46.5% completion percentage. Don’t look for big defensive plays; just stay patient.
Jacksonville State: Don’t gas out. Liberty simply outlasted Maine, so another strong first half should win the game here.
Prediction: Liberty 13, Jacksonville State 21
10. Vanderbilt @ Virginia Tech
These teams meet for the second half of a home-and-away series, this time in Blacksburg. Last year, Vanderbilt won in a thrilling overtime victory to kick off one of the most exciting (and surprising) seasons in the entire nation. Meanwhile, Virginia Tech had a rather disappointing year after being expected to compete in the ACC. The reality is that they both finished the regular season 6-6, and now they meet in one of the most even matches of the week.
Vanderbilt
Any conversation about the Commodores’ 2025 season is impossible to have without mentioning QB Diego Pavia and HC Clark Lea. They were arguably the hottest duo in the nation last season, gaining all of the attention after a historic victory over Alabama. They’re coming back this year with their best team since the early 2010s, but whether that will show in the win column is in the air since they have the seventh hardest schedule in the nation. At the very least, Pavia was electric in week one, throwing for an SEC-high 11.0 yards per attempt and three touchdowns in a 45-3 victory over Charleston Southern. He’s looking to turn things around for this offense. They were last in the SEC in yards, first downs, and plays. So how did they compete? Well, they were first in the nation in turnovers with just 0.5 a game; Pavia threw four interceptions all season, fourth in the nation amongst quarterbacks with more than 250 pass attempts. The team didn’t make costly mistakes, which led them to victory. When winning the turnover battle, the Commodores were 6-1 last season.
Virginia Tech
Last season, the Hokies had high expectations. They were sixth in odds to win the ACC and slated at an O/U win total of 8.5. Most will look at their last season as a disappointing showing, which it was, but I dare say that this team was just as good as we thought they would be (it just didn’t show in the win column). Five of their seven losses came by one possession, and the other two losses was by 10 against Clemson and by 14 in their bowl game against Minnesota. Meanwhile, five of their six wins were by three possessions, and the one other win was by 15 against Georgia Tech. This was a very competitive team that came just plays away from taking down the likes of Clemson, Miami, and Syracuse. Their competitiveness with top teams continued into week one of this season; they battled South Carolina in an 11-24 loss, failing to score a touchdown with QB Kyran Drones throwing two interceptions. It was a disappointing performance, but it proved that there aren’t any teams on their schedule that they can’t go the distance with. Even more so, it may have proved that there aren’t any quarterbacks on their schedule that they can’t contain. South Carolina QB Lanorris Sellers threw for 209 yards and rushed for just 25 yards. If they can contain more guys like him, it would be big for their rise up the ACC.
The Matchup
These teams looked about as expected in week one. The Commodores were exciting. The Hokies were competitive but couldn’t put it all together against a top opponent. This game should be like last year’s. The only difference is that the Hokies already got a taste of the SEC, and they are hungry for blood. Their loss last season adds even more fuel to the fire, as they’ll try to protect their home field this time around. The home field isn’t what makes me lean to VT though. Instead, it was the Hokies’ ability to completely suffocate Sellers in week one after his 15-yard rushing touchdown on the first drive of the game. If they can do the same to Pavia, another quarterback known for their dual threat ability, they should be able to get their sweet revenge.
Yi Key to Victory
Vanderbilt: Win the turnover battle, which should be easy if Drones continues to turn the ball over.
Virginia Tech: Contain Pavia. Try to cause turnovers, but more realistically, do not let him kill you with his legs.
Prediction: Vanderbilt 24, Virginia Tech 27
9. Baylor @ (17) SMU
These two have a rather rich history as in-state rivals. Since 1916, they’ve faced off 82 times, mostly as Southwest Conference rivals, where they both played from 1915 to 1995. SMU won most of the time, but now the Bears are on a dominant 13-game win streak dating back to 1989, right after SMU got the death penalty. Now, these two finally face off again for the first time since 2016.
Baylor
It was a very disappointing season opener for the Bears last week, as they invited Auburn down to Waco just to lose 38-24. Going into the season, they were tied for the highest odds in the Big 12 to win the national championship, but now it’s looking a little shaky. At the very least, star QB Sawyer Robertson looked fine. He threw for three touchdowns and 419 yards, connecting to his stacked offensive weaponry in RB Bryson Washington, TE Michael Trigg, WR Kole Wilson, and WR Kobe Prentice. The offense overall actually looked really good, a direct result of bringing back a whopping eight starters. With the 20th-best offense in the nation last season, they could slide into the top 5 if they start rolling. Their defense, however, also carried into this season based off of their subpar performance against Auburn. They let up a disgusting 307 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, leading to the loss. Baylor is looking very one-dimensional after week one, but they still have the potential to be so much more.
SMU
The Mustangs are coming off their first-ever CFP appearance, and they’re deep in the conversation of teams that will return. Leading them is QB Kevin Jennings, who stole the starting spot last season and hasn’t looked back. Despite taking over the offense in week four, he was 18th in the nation in passing yards with 3,245. His play led SMU to be the ninth-best scoring offense in the nation. In their 13-42 win over Texas A&M Commerce last week, though, the offense showed its booming potential, but it was messy. They had 400 yards and mixed in air and ground touchdowns, but they also had three turnovers — absolutely unacceptable against an FCS team. Two of those turnovers came from Jennings, one turnover and one fumble. It was still a dominant performance from both the offense and defense, but SMU no longer has time for critical errors.
The Matchup
These teams both have a lot on the line here. If Baylor wins this game, the rest of their schedule favors them to make the CFP. Their most difficult conference games (against Arizona State, Utah, and Kansas State) are all home games. SMU has a similar story. They face Louisville and Miami (Florida) at home, meaning their biggest challenge after this is facing Clemson at Death Valley. With a win there being about as hard as they come, a loss at home against the Bears would practically end their season. Both teams are in for very long, arduous seasons, but a loss tonight could make it all for nothing if the one goal is to make it into the playoffs. This is going to be a shootout. Last season, both of these teams had below-average passing defenses and very good passing offenses. It’s difficult to judge how much those defenses have translated over into this season, but I’m very confident that both of these offenses are still the cream of the crop. I’ll have to take the Mustangs here. SMU is 12-1 at home in the past two seasons. Across the board, they’re simply more talented, the same reason behind Auburn’s victory over Baylor in week one. Robertson vs Jennings will be quite the show, and I’ll put my money on Jennings here.
Yi Key to Victory
Baylor: Defense must hold on tight. Last season, SMU had a -28 point differential and a 2-3 record in games they scored 31 points or less.
SMU: Get the running game going. It clearly worked last week.
Prediction: Baylor 31, SMU 42
8. West Virginia @ Ohio
This is a sneaky contender to be the upset of the week. Ohio is coming off a dominant season in the MAC, where they won the championship by 35 points. With a new head coach, Brian Smith, they’re looking to repeat and more. Meanwhile, West Virginia also brought in a new head coach, Rich Rodriguez, who is coming off a CUSA championship at Jacksonville State. These are two teams heading into new eras, one hoping for continued success, while the other attempts to turn it all around.
West Virginia
Rodriguez is returning to Morgantown, his previous time with West Virginia totaling a 70.1% win percentage over eight seasons. He’s got a rich history with the team and is shooting to bring the program back to the similar glory of his last stint. With the coaching change, the Mountaineers had to completely turn their roster upside down, having a total of 90 players incoming or leaving through the transfer portal. With just three, they are second-to-last of all Power 4 teams in returning starters. One of them, RB Jahiem White, shined in WVU’s 3-45 victory against Robert Morris, scoring two touchdowns and totaling 105 yards. QB Nicco Marchial, who isn’t a returning starter but was on the bench lats year, also looked great, going 17/20 and throwing a touchdown in the process. Now, the team will be facing their first challenge under Rodriguez, but he seems to be more than ready for the occasion.
Ohio
After the Bobcats lost HC Tim Albin, it seemed that they wouldn’t be able to produce similar results to last season. However, after week one, it feels like they might just be better. They lost a nail biter on the road to Rutgers, suffering a 31-34 loss after a 17-point comeback. They were arguably the better team. QB Parker Navarro was electric; he threw three touchdowns and rushed for one more. Ohio had 54 more rushing yards on six fewer attempts. Both teams did an excellent job of keeping the ball safe with no turnovers, and they were evenly matched with 24 first downs each. The Bobcats’ one error came on a blocked punt, where Rutgers scored a touchdown, making the difference despite their better performance on offense and defense. Now, they move on from the Big Ten opponent and go to the Big 12, before they head off to a deadly match at The Shoe.
The Matchup
Ohio is the most underrated Group of 5 team in the nation, and they’re going to pull off the upset here. They just look like the more complete team. West Virginia has brought in over 80 new players this offseason and are making their first road trip of the season up to Athens without having faced a competitive opponent yet; it’s the type of sight that just shouts “UPSET.” Ohio also has the most hostile stadium in the MAC, a point proven by their 17-1 home record since 2022. With two new head coaches, it’s difficult to look at last season’s stats and get any clues here, but one thing is clear: Ohio can compete with lower Power 4 teams, and that is exactly what West Virginia is.
Yi Key to Victory
West Virginia: Rodriguez described Navarro as “one of the best in the country.” Do not let him get into a rhythm.
Ohio: Keep up with Rodriguez’s signature, fast-paced, and explosive offense.
Prediction: West Virginia 24, Ohio 30
7. Ole Miss (20) @ Kentucky
Our first taste of SEC play comes with a matchup that may not seem elite on the surface, but it might just round out to be. Last season, Kentucky upset Ole Miss (ranked No. 6 at the time) on the road to give the Rebels their first loss; it ended up being a crucial reason that Ole Miss was left out of the playoffs. This year, as both teams kick off disgustingly hard conference schedules, neither can afford a loss here at all. Here, we’ll see exactly what the best conference in football has to offer.
Ole Miss
The Rebels have just five returning starters, a problem that they quickly solved by gathering in the fourth best transfer portal class in the nation. Their transfers immediately made an impact in the Rebels’ 7-63 victory over Georgia State: the class consisted of three of their top four receivers in yardage, four of their top seven tacklers, five of their six players to record a tackle for loss, and all four of their players to record a pass defended. Most impressively, transfer RB Kewan Lacy scored three rushing touchdowns. Clearly, Kiffin has carefully gathered a very special group here. Once again, they’ll shine on defense, attempting to match the dominance of last year’s unit. Out of the entire nation, Ole Miss was second in points allowed and first in rushing yards allowed, leading the team to victory on multiple occasions, like when they upset Georgia by holding them to just ten points. EDGE Suntarine Perkins is the biggest star returning to the program; he had 14 tackles for loss last season, tying for first on the team with three players now in the NFL (Walter Nolen, J.J. Pegues, Princely Umanmielen). The defense’s other returning star is LB T.J. Dudely, who’s 76 tackles was only less than Chris Paul Jr, another player now in the NFL. Overall, this team may have less talent than last season, but they are much more prepared.
Kentucky
Last season, the Wildcats were one of just three teams in the SEC to not qualify for a bowl game. They had just one win in the SEC: an improbable road game victory at Ole Miss. Though most expect them to perform similarly badly across the year, most don’t expect them to pull off another upset this time around. One thing is true, though: this team will look very different. They’ve brought in seventh-year QB Zach Calzada in the hope that he can move the offense better, which he did the opposite of in the season opener against Toledo. They still managed to get the win 16-24 after a stellar performance on the ground; their two new transfer running backs, Seth McGowan and Dante Dowdell, combined for 207 yards and two touchdowns. Perhaps the most impressive performances came from the defense. LB Alex Afari Jr led the SEC in solo tackles with nine, LB Steven Soles Jr led the nation with two fumbles, and DB JQ Hardaway picked up an interception. Beating Toledo, one of the best Group of 5 teams in the nation, is impressive, especially with such a bad performance at quarterback. If Calzada turns it around, there’s a good chance that they could pick up a few more upsets this year.
The Matchup
It’s difficult not to like the upset here; Mississippi is worse than last year and has to travel to Lexington this time. However, the main reason that Kentucky pulled off the upset last season was that Brock Vandagriff was able to keep up with Jaxson Dart’s play. In games where Vandagriff threw above 63%, the Wildcats went 4-0; otherwise, they were 0-7. Kentucky needs Calzada to step up, or at least, be on the level of sophomore QB Austin Simmons. In his first start against Georgia State, Simmons had a strong game despite his two interceptions. Now, it’s his first time on the road. If the Wildcats come in big on defense, there is a real possibility that they can shut down the Ole Miss offense. But at the end of the day, I highly doubt Calzada plays well, even if the defense comes through again. Beating Toledo by eight is nice, but Ole Miss is a whole other beast. The Rebels are going to get their revenge, but it won’t come easily.
Yi Key to Victory
Ole Miss: Expose Zach Calzada. He’s just not good.
Kentucky: The new offensive line has to hold up against one of the best rushing lines in the nation.
Prediction: Ole Miss 17, Kentucky 10
6. South Florida @ (13) Florida
This has the chance to be the most electric matchup of the week. South Florida has already established themselves as a killer ready to step up to the occasion, but can they do that against a powerhouse like Florida? Most thought that the Gators’ gauntlet of a schedule would start next week at LSU, but it seems that they already have their hands full with this in-state opponent. And of all teams, they would know not to take USF lightly. These two teams met in 2022 in a similar scenario: Florida was 18th in the nation and hosting the Bulls, when USF missed a field goal with 23 seconds left, resulting in UF escaping with a 28-31 victory. This Saturday, they meet again with much more on the line.
South Florida
It was reasonable to think that USF could pull off the upset as home underdogs in week one, but I don’t think anybody expected for them to obliterate Boise State 34-7. It was scary. QB Byrum Brown threw 210 yards on a 66.7% completion percentage in his first game since fracturing his left leg last season. In Brown-fashion, though, he did the heavy damage on the ground, rushing for two touchdowns and drawing Cam Newton comparisons. They did it all. There was a gorgeous fake punt leading to a touchdown. They forced three fumbles. They held Boise State QB Maddux Madsen to 4.9 yards per pass attempt. Frankly, the Bulls looked like they could have beaten anybody that game, but that’s going to be tested over the next two weeks, where they face Florida and then Miami (Florida) both on the road. There are no notes for USF except that they better prepare well.
Florida
It’s easy to get upset when teams schedule insanely easy opponents, but I will give Florida the pass. Last week, they destroyed Long Island 55-0, and other than a week seven bout against Mississippi State, that will be their last easy game until next year. A schedule like theirs would usually mean that you can count them out of the playoffs, but this team is good enough to consider otherwise. QB DJ Lagway is one of the nation’s brightest stars. DT Caleb Banks is one of the nation’s top prospects. The offensive line, led by C Jake Slaughter and OT Austin Barber, is one of the nation’s best. Truly, this team has it all, but with HC Billy Napier on the hot seat, there is no time to relish in what’s on paper. This team needs to start winning big right now, and they cannot afford any errors all year long.
The Matchup
Florida did not get much experience last season facing dual threat quarterbacks. The closest thing they had to that was against Jaxson Dart, who ran for a very good 71 yards. However, they shut him down on offense and won the game. Now, Byrum Brown is a much better runner than Dart, but a much worse passer than him. I struggle to say that this game will come down to containing Brown though for the Gators. The thing that stood out the most in the Bulls’ victory over Boise State was how prepared they were. The play calls were killer, and the Broncos could not find their identity in the mess of it all. Despite how exciting USF is and how talented they are, though, I can’t help but lean toward the favorites. The Swamp is one of the most difficult stadiums to play in, and against an in-state opponent, it will be even more hostile. Florida hasn’t quite gotten a taste of competitive football yet, so they may be rattled to start the game against this explosive offense, but the talent should outperform South Florida here. The end result may seem boring, but I expect the game to be one of the most exciting we have all week.
Yi Key to Victory
South Florida: Need the guts for explosive plays. UF let up four touchdowns last season of 50+ yards, so they must see opportunities and not be afraid to strike.
Florida: The redzone defense must be ready for the run. Three of the Bulls’ touchdowns last week came on runs of less than 25 yards.
Prediction: South Florida 20, Florida 34
5. (11) Illinois @ Duke
This is an outrageous matchup for week two. Both Illinois and Duke are coming off of excellent 2024 seasons. Illinois finished 16th in the nation with a Citrus Bowl victory over South Carolina, while Duke finished 9-4, losing the Gator Bowl to Ole Miss. As Illinois has reached their highest placement on the AP Poll since 2001, they’ve got way too much on the line to head to Durham expecting an easy win; the Blue Devils are looking electric with Manny Diaz in his second year at the helm. This is a high-class affair that could decide both of these teams’ seasons.
Illinois
The Fighting Illini have never had back-to-back double-digit win seasons in a row. Luckily for them, they have the second-most returning starters of Power 4 teams with an absurd 16; their nine returning offensive starters are tied for the most in the Power 4. The list is headlined by QB Luke Altmyer, a top-three quarterback in the Big Ten. He had a strong 22:6 TD/INT ratio, and he’s due for a huge breakout after showing consistent improvement throughout his career. The biggest hit to this offense came with losing their top two receivers, but Hank Beatty seems to be holding the fort down after leading the Big Ten in receiving yards in week one. This offense should take a leap out of mediocrity and into the spotlight. The defense is also bringing back its heavy hitters with SAF Xavier Scott, one of the best safeties in the nation, and LB Gabe Jacas, one of the best pass rushers in the conference. This is a deep roster where most of the players contributed to a 10-win season already; it makes sense to say that they should be able to do the same and more this year.
Duke
The Blue Devils have all the pieces to make noise in the ACC this season. They had the third-best passing defense in the nation last season, and that should continue with CB Chandler Rivers and S Terry Moore coming back. They combined for seven interceptions, 14 passes defended, 15 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles last season. It was a strong season overall for the defense, leading the ACC in sacks (43) and tackles for loss (116). On offense, the team struggled, finishing third-to-last in the ACC for average yardage. After a monster 17-45 victory over Elon, though, all of their offensive woes may be no more. Tulane transfer Darian Mensah exploded for ACC-highs across the board with 389 yards, a 79.4% completion percentage, and 11.4 yards an attempt. He led them to six touchdowns, an encouraging sign for a team that invested heavily in the offense. Illinois is no Elon, but if Mensah keeps playing like this, the Blue Devils may be able to light up any defense in the nation.
The Matchup
The Fighting Illini are the better team on paper; I mean, they have one of the best rosters in the nation. In Durham, though, it’s going to be hard to tell. Spanning over the last two seasons, Duke is 1-2 hosting ranked teams at home: they lost to (22) SMU 28-27 in 2024, beat (9) Clemson 7-28 in 2023, and lost to (11) Notre Dame 14-21 in 2023. Duke constantly challenges top teams and should continue that trend here, but it all falls on the Duke defense. Last year, Illinois was 0-3 when scoring less than 21 points and 10-0 otherwise. When Duke let up more than 21 points, they were 1-4 and 8-0 otherwise. Perhaps the game will come down to whether or not Illinois can score more than 21 points. Looking at the roster, the environment, and the way they looked in week one, I’ve got to take the Fighting Illini here. A home underdog as good as Duke is hard to pick against, and I won’t be surprised if Mensah pulls through big at home.
Yi Key to Victory
Illinois: Show off the most experienced offense in the nation and score big.
Duke: Darian Mensah is the key to the season. If he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the nation for a second week in a row, they will pull off the upset.
Prediction: Illinois 24, Duke 23
4. Texas State @ UTSA
The I-35 Rivalry has its best rendition yet. Both Texas State and UTSA top teams in the Group of 5, and a loss here would likely ruin either team’s chances of making the College Football Playoff. Last year was the Bobcats’ first time winning the matchup since both teams moved up to the FBS, and they made a statement with a 10-49 victory. Last year though, UTSA was 6-0 at the Alamodome, which is where this year’s matchup is held. In terms of Group of 5 teams, this is a heavyweight clash, and both programs are giving it everything they got.
Texas State
After an 8-5 showing, the Bobcats lost a ton of talent in the portal and failed to get much back. Based off of their first game, though, a 27-52 victory over Eastern Michigan, it seems that they’ll be just fine. The top five offense in the nation from last season picked up right where they left off, finishing week one with the fifth most yards in the nation. QB Brad Jackson, who surprisingly broke out in the offseason to win a competitive quarterback battle, was terrific. He threw four touchdowns, all of which to the new national leader in receiving touchdowns, WR Beau Sparks. The variety in scoring came from the run game. Three of their running backs scored a rushing touchdown, including Lincoln Pare, who led the way with 167 rushing yards. It seems that this offense is still elite, and they’ll only be getting better as they develop more chemistry.
UTSA
The Roadrunners have won back-to-back bowl games, and now they’re set to be a top competitor in a top-heavy AAC. Returning is QB Owen McCown, who led the team to the 11th most passing yards in the nation. He’s set to be one of the best quarterbacks in the Group of 5 if he cuts down on the ten interceptions he threw last year. Actually, almost every star on the offense is coming back. Last year’s leading rusher, RB Robert Henry, rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns in UTSA’s week one 24-42 loss at Texas A&M. Most of their receivers are returning, though they were all pretty quiet last week with the Aggies shutting down the passing game. With an elite offensive line, this offense will be better than last season, possibly pushing themselves into a top-five unit in the nation.
The Matchup
It’s clear here that this game is going to be an absolute scoring barrage. Notice that I didn’t talk about either defense here, because neither of them is particularly good. UTSA’s defense couldn’t keep up with A&M. Texas State’s defense let EMU score 27. If you’re into a lot of touchdowns (which, who isn’t), this is the game to watch. It all comes down to the quarterbacks. Jackson will have the first big challenge of his career, while McCown already has a year of big games under his belt. However, though the competition was very different, Jackson looked elite in his first game, while McCown could not get anything going in College Station (which, to be fair, is a tall ask). The deciding factor of this rendition of the I-35 rivalry will likely come down to the home-field advantage. The Alamodome is one of the most underrated home field advantages in the nation, so though Texas State may have a more talented roster, UTSA has the entire city behind them in one of the best rivalries in the Lone Star State.
Yi Key to Victory
Texas State: Slow Robert Henry down. If he can rush for 11.1 yards an attempt in College Station, the Bobcats do not want to find out what he can do at the Alamodome.
UTSA: Get the crowd going. This game is for San Antonio.
Prediction: Texas State 34, UTSA 42
3. Kansas @ Missouri
The Border War is back for the first time in 14 years, and it’s beautiful. It’s a rivalry so deep that it traces back to the Civil War and Bleeding Kansas. The two played each other 120 years in a row from 1891 to 2011, with the all time record being 56-55-9 leaning toward Missouri. After over a century of football, this rivalry has the chance to be all tied up; it’s perfect. Even better: This game goes beyond the rivalry. Both teams are fighting to climb into the top 25, and a win against a competitive non-conference opponent could do the job. It’s all bad blood here.
Kansas
After a week 0 victory against Fresno State and a week 1 victory against Wagner, Kansas is very comfortably sitting at 2-0. They outscored opponents 77-14 with QB Jalon Daniels looking like a stud. Daniels already has seven passing touchdowns (half of his 14 from last year), an incredible 80.0% completion percentage, and has been a strong scrambler with 12.7 yards per carry. The biggest worry for this team is that they basically have entirely new units on both offense and defense — just six total starters returned. Through their first two games, they’ve gotten the opportunity to gain some chemistry, and it’s looked excellent. RB Daniel Hishaw Jr. broke out with 158 yards after sitting behind Devin Neal last season. Meanwhile, the former second-best running back in all of high school, Emmanuel Henderson, transferred in from Alabama and has looked electric. He and Ball State transfer Cam Pickett have combined for 260 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns so far. On defense, 13 different players have recorded a tackle for loss. Their 179.5 yards allowed per game through the first two appearances is worlds better than last year’s 392.6 yards allowed per game. Clearly, this team is moving in the right direction, and with a quarterback like Jalon Daniels, anything can happen.
Missouri
The Tigers are coming off of back-to-back seasons ranked in the final AP Poll — the first time that’s happened in over a decade. If they manage to get through their schedule, they could make it three times in a row — it would be the first time that’s ever happened. They clearly want it. Missouri spent the offseason gathering the seventh-best transfer portal class in the nation. This includes the third-best player, EDGE Damon Wilson II, who was due to take over Georgia’s defense had he not transferred. There’s WR Kevin Coleman Jr, who led Mississippi State’s offense last season with 932 yards and six touchdowns. There’s RB Ahmad Hardy, who led the Sun Belt in rushing yards (1,351) and rushing touchdowns (13). And then there’s the new star of the show, QB Beau Pribula, who rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns in his first start. This team also did a great job at keeping together their players. Eight starters return from last year’s top 20 defense in the nation, meaning that they’re due to dominate teams on this side of the ball. Missouri has got to show up big on defense this season; they were 10-0 when forcing 27 points or less and 0-3 when not, with all three of those losses coming from ranked SEC opponents. In the meantime, their offense will have to step it up, which they seem ready to do after scoring seven touchdowns in their 6-61 victory against Central Arkansas.
The Matchup
The first two weeks have shown me that Kansas is one of the most fun teams to watch in the nation. However, they’re not facing easier teams anymore. Missouri is one of the better rosters in the nation, and they haven’t lost at home since week six of 2023. I just feel that Kansas will not be prepared for what’s to come; it will be their first road game of the year and their second-ever game under Lance Leipold against an SEC team. There is a clear contrast between Jalon Daniels being in his sixth season and Beau Pribula having his second start, but the supporting casts will make the clear difference. With all of the tension ready to snap, I have Missouri taking this one.
Yi Key to Victory
Kansas: Get to Pribula and make him fall apart in his first big game.
Missouri: Let the defensive line eat.
Prediction: Kansas 17, Missouri 34
2. (15) Michigan @ (18) Oklahoma
The only matchup of the week between two ranked opponents takes place in Norman, and it’s a clash between two national powerhouses. It’s the second ever time that these two schools are facing off, and they’re meeting with similar circumstances. The Sooners are coming off of a down year and attempting to bring themselves back up to the national glory that they had with their old coach. The same could be said for the Wolverines. Looking at the rest of these teams’ schedules, whoever loses this might just be out of playoff contention. It’s a huge game for both sides, and everyone will be watching.
Michigan
If the Wolverines had a good quarterback last season, who knows how good they could have been. Depending on how true freshman QB Bryce Underwood performs, we could be saying the same thing about this squad a year from now. Underwood’s performance will be one of the national media’s key headlines throughout the season, and last week was all the time that he’ll get to prepare himself for it. He threw for a solid 251 yards and one touchdown in a 17-34 victory over New Mexico. He wasn’t one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, but he was serviceable for this stacked roster. The defense has seven players projected to get drafted in 2026, including SAF Rod Moore, EDGE Derrick Moore, and LB Jaishawn Barham. Michigan’s defense was tenth in yards allowed last season, but their production is expected to drop off after losing the likes of Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, Josaiah Stewart, and Will Johnson to the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the offense is led by Alabama transfer RB Justice Haynes, the best running back in the portal. Exploding for 159 rushing yards and three touchdowns in week one, he’s expected to be one of the best in the nation. Things are looking up for the Wolverines, especially after finishing last year 3-0, including wins against Ohio State and Alabama.
Oklahoma
I will begin with a confession: I am the biggest QB John Mateer fan. Mateer was absolutely electric at Washington State, and he’s going to show everybody that he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. In Oklahoma’s 3-35 victory over Illinois State last week, he was excellent. He threw 30/37 and leads the SEC with 392 passing yards. He was extremely accurate, incredible on the scramble, and picked up a rushing touchdown on the way. Besides him, though, the Sooners are stacked with offensive weapons. WR Deion Burks is a top receiver in the 2026 NFL Draft class. WR Keontez Lewis had an SEC-best nine receptions and two receiving touchdowns in week one. RB Jadyn Ott is yet to return from his shoulder injury, but he was formerly the best running back in the Pac-12 back in 2023. Where Oklahoma begins to look like a real threat is on defense. Last season, they had the 29th best scoring defense. They brought back six of their starters and brought in two monster transfers — EDGE Marvin Jones Jr and LB Kendal Daniels. OU is set to make a lot of noise in their second season in the SEC.
The Matchup
This is a tough pick; we haven’t seen a good look at either of these teams and their abilities. The game being in Norman matters a lot more than it usually would here. Underwood will be playing his first road game in one of the most hostile stadiums in the nation. He has a very reliable group on offense to rely on, especially that offensive line, but it’s hard to put your trust in him. Still, he’s one of the most talented quarterbacks in the nation. Unfortunately for Michigan, that statement doesn’t hold that much weight in this game since Mateer is on the other side. This will also be Mateer’s first time in a game as big as this, but at least he has this crowd behind him. Oklahoma has the more talented roster, showed more in week one, and has home-field advantage. I’ll take the Sooners.
Yi Key to Victory
Michigan: Feed Justice Haynes the ball. He’s the best player on the field when he’s out there.
Oklahoma: Intimidate Bryce Underwood. Take risks and test if he can take the pressure.
Prediction: Michigan 17, Oklahoma 30
1. Iowa @ (16) Iowa State
The Cy-Hawk Trophy is one of the best rivalries in all of college football. Every game since 2016 has been decided by 10 or fewer points, churning out instant classics year after year. The incredible nature of this rivalry shows itself every year. For their past five matchups, the home team has lost every time. Last year, Iowa State upset Iowa, knocking them out of the top 25 for the rest of the season. The last time Iowa State was ranked going into this matchup, Iowa upset them, knocking them out of the top 10 and giving them their first loss of a very disappointing 7-6 season. To say the least, the result of this game matters a ton to both of these teams, and there’s no easy way to choose who will take the win. The only thing that is constant when these two meet: it’s going to be some amazing football.
Iowa
The Hawkeyes had the fifth-worst passing offense in the nation last season. In fact, they haven’t had a quarterback throw for more than 2,000 yards in a season since 2019 with Nathan Stanley. QB Mark Gronowski may change that. Over the past four years, Gronowski threw 93 touchdowns and 10,330 yards, leading South Dakota State to two FCS championships. In his first game in the FBS, though, he missed the mark. He was 8/15 and had just 44 yards in a 7-34 victory over Albany. I’m confident that this was just a bad day for him, though; he’s beaten up on FCS teams like this for years. He’s partnered in the backfield with a stacked running back room that combined for 274 rushing yards and two touchdowns in week one. They’re being protected by one of the best offensive lines in the nation, led by potential first-round pick OT Gennings Dunker. Iowa’s 8-5 record last year was mostly from their top-20 defense in the nation, and attempting to match that level of production will be their defensive line. DL Ethan Huckett, DL Aaron Graves, and EDGE Max Llewellyn all led the team in sacks and tackles for loss last season. With big improvement on offense, the Hawkeyes are looking to go big this season.
Iowa State
The Cyclones are already 2-0 after an electric 24-21win in Ireland over Kansas State and then a blowout 7-55 victory over South Dakota. They’ve looked really strong. After two straight 3,000+ yard seasons, QB Rocco Becht is expected to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation and he’s looked like it. With a 68.8% completion rate, he’s thrown five touchdowns for 461 yards amd got a rushing touchdown. ISU tied for having the most returning offensive starters with nine, only losing their top two receivers to the NFL Draft (and really just the Houston Texans). The experience has shown very clearly so far, especially in RBs Carson Hansen and Abu Sama, who have been anchors for this offense so far. The defense is returning five players crucial to ISU’s identity. Last season, the Cyclones had the best passing defense in the nation, allowing just 156.5 passing yards per game. DBs Jontez Williams and Jeremiah Cooper return after combining for six interceptions and 13 passes defended last season. The leader of the defense is DL Domonique Orange, though. He’s a projected first-round pick and in line for another outstanding season.
The Matchup
There’s no true way to figure out who will win this game. The better resume doesn’t matter. The talent doesn’t matter. The home-field advantage doesn’t matter. It’s simply about who wants it more. Based on ISU’s gutsy performance in Ireland, I lean toward them taking it. Iowa’s offense hasn’t figured it out yet, and it’s hard to believe that they will against the Cyclones’ terrific passing defense. A lot of this game’s weight falls onto Gronowski’s shoulders, but he’s used to showing up in big moments. However, he didn’t show up in week one, and being on the road in one of the biggest rivalries in the nation is not a kind follow-up. The Cyclones should win this game, but anything can happen for the Cy-Hawk Trophy.
Yi Key to Victory
Iowa: Get the passing game going. Mark Gronowski has got to have more options here.
Iowa State: Fight. This is going to be an ugly game, just like against Kansas State.
Prediction: Iowa 17, Iowa State 21
Final Predictions
- Liberty 13, Jacksonville State 21
- Vanderbilt 24, Virginia Tech 27
- Baylor 31, SMU 42
- West Virginia 24, Ohio 30
- Ole Miss 17, Kentucky 10
- South Florida 20, Florida 34
- Illinois 24, Duke 23
- Texas State 34, UTSA 42
- Kansas 17, Missouri 34
- Michigan 17, Oklahoma 30
- Iowa 17, Iowa State 21
