Week 1 of the college football season saw four teams inside the AP top 25 take their first loss, with the biggest upset being the unranked Florida Gators defeating Kyle Whittingham’s Utah Utes in Gainesville, as well as Georgia’s demolition of the No. 11 Oregon Ducks in a game that cemented the Bulldogs’ as National Championship contenders once again. Additionally, UNC and App State combined to score 124 points and Houston and UTSA needed three overtimes to determine a winner.
The slate of games in Week 2 is not as exciting as the opening week, though there are still multiple games that you should make sure to tune into as a college football fan.
As a reminder, the games to watch are broken down into four tiers. The “headliners” category consists of the marquee games of the week. When two ranked teams square off, particularly if it’s a conference game or rivalry game, the matchup is a definite must-watch. I also included a section of “Solid TV” games, featuring games that may not get the most media attention but should certainly be entertaining. Next, we have “under the radar” games, which will highlight games that could be more entertaining than expected, either because of an upset possibility, two underrated teams facing off, or an intriguing battle between some of the most talented players in the nation. Finally, I also chose one game in which an AP top 25 team could be facing an upset.
Headliners
Sept. 10, 7:00 ET on ESPN
Following their thrilling upset over Utah in Week 1, the Gators have made a significant jump to 12th in the AP poll and will welcome another ranked team to Gainesville in Kentucky. The game will be a matchup between two potential first-round quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft with Will Levis at Kentucky and Anthony Richardson at Florida. A major storyline to watch will be the availability of Kentucky’s star running back Chris Rodriguez, who was suspended for the Wildcats’ first game against Miami (OH).
Sept. 10, 10:15 ET on ESPN
Both the Bears and Cougars dispatched their Week 1 opponents with relative ease last Saturday, but they will each be tested on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU quarterback Jaren Hall will face a tough and battle-tested Baylor defense led by linebacker Dillon Doyle. If Baylor can go at BYU and escape with a victory, they may cement their status as the Big 12 favorite before conference play begins.
#1 Alabama @ Texas
Sept. 10, 12:00 ET on FOX
Easily the most difficult non-conference game of the season for the Crimson Tide, Texas will have a chance to take the nation by storm with an upset victory at home. To do so, freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers will need to play a nearly perfect game, while the Longhorns defense will be tasked with slowing down reigning Heisman winner Bryce Young. The Alabama quarterback accounted for 295 total yards and six touchdowns in just over one half against Utah State in Week 1.
Sept. 10, 3:30 ET on ABC
Pittsburgh continues its challenging non-conference slate after a narrow victory against West Virginia last Thursday night. The Panthers allowed West Virginia running backs to run for nearly 200 yards in Week 1. They simply cannot allow that to happen against Tennessee running backs Jabari Small and Jaylen Wright, as that will also open up the passing game for Tennessee’s standout quarterback Hendon Hooker.
Solid TV
#10 USC @ Stanford
Sept. 10, 7:30 ET on ABC
The Lincoln Riley era at USC got off to a tremendous start with the Trojans’ rout over Rice in Week 1, but the real challenge now begins for Riley and his sterling offense. Stanford QB Tanner McKee may not get the media attention that USC QB Caleb Williams does, but the junior has an impressive arm and a trio of talented receivers at his disposal for the Cardinal. USC should come out victorious, but this game will likely come down to one or two possessions in the fourth quarter.
Appalachian State @ #6 Texas A&M
Sept. 10, 3:30 ET on ESPN2
Texas A&M goes into this Week 2 contest as 19-point favorites, though the Mountaineers have a dynamite offense that could cause issues for the Aggies. A talented A&M defense will have their hands full with QB Chase Brice, RB Nate Noel and an offense that just put up 61points in a thrilling game against North Carolina.
South Carolina @ #16 Arkansas
Sept. 10, 12:00 ET on ESPN
The Razorbacks picked up a statement win over Cincinnati in Week 1 at home, but the tough schedule continues for K.J. Jefferson and Arkansas with the beginning of conference play. South Carolina QB Spencer Rattler was inconsistent in his first start against Georgia State, while Jefferson shined with four total touchdowns and 223 yards passing in their win over the Bearcats.
Oregon State @ Fresno State
Sept. 10, 10:00 ET on CBSSN
Preseason expectations weren't extremely high for Oregon State but after a resounding Week 1 win against Mountain West favorites Boise State, the Beavers are trending up quickly. They will have another Mountain West test on Saturday as they travel to Fresno State to face QB Jake Haener and the Bulldogs. Haener was terrific in Week 1 against Cal Poly, completing 36 of his 42 passes for 377 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Under-the-Radar
Marshall @ #8 Notre Dame
Sept. 10, 2:30 ET on NBC
The Fighting Irish gave Ohio State all they could handle in a narrow loss to begin the season and will now kick off their home schedule with high expectations for the rest of the campaign. They will do so by welcoming Marshall to South Bend, a team that looks ready to make noise in the Sun Belt. Notre Dame will be heavily favored, but the Irish cannot afford to overlook the Thundering Herd after last week’s emotional defeat.
Louisville @ UCF
Sept. 9, 7:30 ET on ESPN2
The Cardinals disappointed massively in their Week 1 loss at Syracuse, but any game featuring Louisville’s dynamic dual-threat quarterback Malik Cunningham is a must-watch. Cunningham and the Cardinals will be looking for their first win of the season against UCF and QB John Rhys Plumlee, who defeated FCS South Carolina State with ease last week.
Upset Alert
Washington State @ #19 Wisconsin
Sept. 10, 3:30 ET on FOX
On paper, this may not seem like a game that the Cougars have much of a chance in against a Big Ten opponent. After all, Washington State trailed by 10 at one point in their narrow win over Idaho in Week 1. But the Cougars do have a player that can break out this season in QB Cameron Ward and a win at Wisconsin would vault him into the upper tier of quarterbacks in the Pac-12. The Cougars will need to slow down Wisconsin star RB Braelon Allen, which is easier said than done, but by containing the Badgers’ running game and forcing Graham Mertz to throw the ball more often, Washington State could find a way to hang around and keep the score close late in the game, at which point the dynamic Ward may be able to make a decisive play in the fourth quarter.
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