College football’s Week 2 upset board is already taking shape, and Arizona is the name that stands out most.
After coming painfully close last week with Louisville falling just short against Ole Miss on a buzzer-beater field goal, the focus shifts to a fresh set of underdogs. There are two upset picks on the card this weekend, but the Wildcats against BYU are the one that jumps off the page.
The numbers from Week 1 make the case interesting. BYU put up 63 points, while Arizona scored 35. But the Wildcats actually outgained the Cougars on offense, finishing with 537 yards to BYU’s 521.
The bigger edge may be on the defensive side. Arizona’s defense is being viewed as one of the most underrated units in the country heading into the season, and it currently sits 16th in defensive success rate. There’s also the belief that the Wildcats may have an even better roster in 2026.
That’s why Arizona is the favorite upset play for Week 2, with the pick being that the Wildcats’ defense can carry them to the win.
The other upset angle this week comes in the Texas-Ohio State matchup, but the call there is to stick with the Buckeyes. The reasoning is simple: Ohio State was clearly the better team last season, even after their Week 1 meeting, finishing first in offensive success rate and eighth in defensive success rate. Texas ended the year 80th and 30th in those categories.
The question is whether Texas improved enough in the offseason to deserve the favorite’s role this weekend. The answer here is no, with Ohio State backed to win again.
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