College football’s Week 2 slate already has the feel of a pressure cooker, with the No. 1 spot in the next AP poll hanging in the balance and several heavyweight matchups carrying real weight against the spread.
The biggest one is Ohio State’s trip to Texas, a rematch of last season’s opener and the kind of game that can reshape the top of the rankings in a hurry. The Buckeyes are trying to stay on top, but they’re walking into a road test that doesn’t leave much room for error.
Texas has already shown it can make life uncomfortable for Jeremiah Smith. In two career meetings, the Longhorns held him to under 50 combined yards, even if this Texas secondary is now built mostly from new pieces. Ohio State will still look to make Smith its primary weapon as it tries to get an early edge and stretch the field.
On the other side, Arch Manning could end up being the swing factor. Last August, he was a green quarterback facing a very strong Buckeye defense.
Now he comes in with a year of sharper play, wins over several ranked SEC teams, and a receiving group loaded with blue-chip talent. He’s also operating behind a modified offensive line.
Texas wins 24-21
Another major Big Ten-SEC showdown lands in Ann Arbor, where newly unranked Michigan hosts Oklahoma. The Wolverines are coming off a wild, controversial last-second win, but the bigger concern is still the offense. They had real trouble running the ball, and if Western Michigan could make that a problem, Oklahoma’s front seven looks more than capable of turning up the heat.
That could leave Michigan leaning too much on Bryce Underwood, and that’s a dangerous place to be against a defense like this. Oklahoma’s offense had ugly blocking and rushing numbers a year ago, but the Sooners have made some small changes that mattered against UTEP, helping protect quarterback John Mateer and opening up the run game.
Michigan’s front tacklers are no joke, but Oklahoma still gets the edge. Oklahoma wins 27-13
BYU also gets a favorable read in its rematch with Arizona. These teams played a double-overtime thriller last season, and that result helped push the Cougars into Big 12 contention.
This time, BYU brings back about eight starters from a defense that looks sturdy, especially in the secondary, where the tackling should be good enough to challenge Arizona’s vertical passing game. BYU wins 28-20
There’s also Alabama’s visit to Kentucky, where the Wildcats shouldn’t be judged too harshly for a dominant opening win over Youngstown State in Will Stein’s first game as head coach. Still, Kentucky’s defense completely shut down a good mobile quarterback, and that matters here because it’s the same kind of test they’ll face against Keelon Russell, the Alabama five-star who led the Tide in rushing last week.
DeBoer’s offense may have trouble getting its ground game moving against Kentucky’s front seven, but Alabama still comes out on top. Alabama wins 24-20
In Other News...
BYU Suddenly Has A Backfield Concern Fans Didnt Want
BYUs backfield took an early hit in the season opener against Utah Tech when Sione Moa went down with a torn MCL and PCL, a setback that immediately changed the look of a unit the Cougars were counting on to get rolling. The injury landed in the first quarter, and Moa later confirmed the surgery and his recovery progress on social media while also opening up about how difficult the mental side of the process has been.
For BYU, the concern is bigger than one game or one player. Moa was already trying to work back after a previous major health issue in 2025 cost him 10 games, so this latest loss adds another layer of uncertainty to a position group that needs stability. The Cougars will have to keep moving without him for now, while Moa leans on the support around him and starts another long recovery. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Secondary Is Still Waiting On One Crucial Return
BYU got the kind of season-opening result it wanted against Utah Tech, rolling to a 63-7 win, but the night still came with a pair of injury concerns that reached beyond the box score. Running back Sione Moas knee injury was serious enough to require surgery, and safety Raider Damuni also went down with a severe leg injury, leaving the Cougars to rework the back end of the defense as the schedule tightens up.
Defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga said Damuni is targeting a return after the bye week, with the chance he could be back for a game against TCU or Notre Dame. In the meantime, BYU has already moved Tommy Prassas into a starting safety role, a reminder that the secondary is trying to keep its footing now while waiting on one of its key pieces to come back. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Frontcourt Addition Could Matter More Than Fans Realize
BYUs frontcourt got a little more interesting with the addition of Serbian center Petar Ostojic, a 19-year-old seven-footer who arrives with professional experience in Serbian leagues. On paper, he looks like the kind of depth piece every roster needs, especially in the middle, where size and foul trouble can quickly change the feel of a season.
For now, Ostojic is expected to sit behind Jaxon Kohler, but the bigger question around BYUs front line still hasnt been answered. Kohlers eligibility for the upcoming season is unresolved ahead of a Sept. 29 hearing, and the outcome could determine whether Ostojic is simply a developmental addition or someone who has to step into a much larger role sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]