College Football Week 2: No. 3 Longhorns visit No. 10 Michigan for showdown between traditional powers

The main event of Week 2 of college football will take place early Saturday.

No. 3 Texas visits No. 10 and defending national champion Michigan in the game of the day. only confrontation between the top 10. It’s Fox’s big midday opener, and it comes 20 seasons after the Longhorns won their only previous meeting in a Rose Bowl Classic. The Longhorns also made the College Football Playoff last season and Lost to Washingtonthe team that Michigan beat in The title game.

The SEC-ACC game between No. 14 Tennessee and No. 24 North Carolina State is the only other Top 25 game. Look for Volunteers prodigy Nico Iamaleava to test the Wolfpack’s secondary in Charlotte.

The poster is full of intrigue.

Boise State and Star runner Ashton Jeanty Visit No. 7 Oregon the week after the The ducks were neglected and struggled to get past FCS Idaho. Dillon Gabriel had good numbers against the Vandals, but he was sacked three times and the Ducks were assessed eight penalties. The Broncos are a top contender for the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff, and even though they’re down nearly three touchdowns, they won’t be easy to beat.

Deion Sanders takes his Colorado Buffaloes to Nebraska for a clash between former Big Eight and Big 12 rivals who will try to get back to winning ways. All eyes will be on the quarterbacks: the Buffaloes’ prolific Shadeur Sanders and five-star rookie Dylan Raiola.

Arkansas, which comes from a Victory 70-0 Over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, it will get a better idea of ​​itself when it makes the short trip to No. 16 Oklahoma State. Iowa State visits No. 21 Iowa for the annual CyHawk Game and South Carolina goes to Kentucky for the first Southeastern Conference game of the season.

The best game

No. 3 Texas (1-0) at No. 10 Michigan (1-0), Saturday, noon ET (Fox)

It’s a classic matchup of top-tier teams. Michigan is the all-time wins leader and Texas is fourth, and both were in the final four in 2023.

Michigan has won a school-record 29 straight regular-season games and hasn’t lost at home since 2019. Texas has won seven straight road games, including last year’s game against then-third-ranked Alabama.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers can thrust himself into the Heisman Trophy hunt with a strong performance in the Big House against one of the nation’s elite defenses.

Heisman watch

Jaxson’s Dart is primed for another big outing when No. 6 Mississippi hosts Middle Tennessee State. The Rebels’ third-year starter completed 22 of 27 passes for 445 yards and six touchdowns, all in the first half, against Furman. He became the first SEC quarterback to throw for 350-plus yards in a half since LSU’s Joe Burrow did it during his 2019 Heisman Trophy season.

With a probability of 10 to 1 BetMGM SportsbookDart is just behind the betting public’s favorites Dillon Gabriel, Carson Beck and Cam Ward. He’ll have ample opportunity to put up prodigious numbers on a manageable schedule, by SEC standards.

Numbers you should know

15 — Rushing yards allowed by North Carolina against Minnesota in the second half.

23.5 — Collin Oliver’s nation-leading catches for Oklahoma State since 2020.

46-1: Penn State’s record since 2014 when leading by at least 10 points at halftime.

77: the highest number of newcomers from North Texas nationwide.

200 — Alabama has won since 2008, the most in the FBS and 19 more than Georgia and Ohio State.

Under the radar

No. 17 Kansas State (1-0) at Tulane (1-0), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)

The Wildcats know full well that this is a tough game. They lost 17-10 at home the Green Wave as 14-point favorites in 2022, and they still have it in their mouths.

Tulane has been on a roll for more than two years and the Green Wave aren’t expected to slow down much, if at all, under first-year coach Jon Sumrall. Darian Mensah is a dual-threat QB who will challenge the Wildcats.

Hot seat

Billy Napier from Florida The team started the season in a very difficult situation and is now very hot. Fans began to leave the swamp at the beginning of the second half of last week. 41-17 defeat against Miami —It’s never a good sign. He’s 11-15 since his celebrated hiring after his 40-12 run at Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Gators, who should get a breather Saturday against Samford, are headed toward their fourth straight losing season. That hasn’t happened since 1938, but it seems inevitable against one of the most brutal schedules in the country.

Florida entered the game against Miami as a 2.5-point underdog and failed to win. Napier would be owed $26 million if he is fired before Dec. 1. That shouldn’t be a problem.

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