Week 2 of the college football season brings a lot more than just scoreboard watching for the Detroit Lions. With several ranked matchups and draft-caliber talent on display, there are a handful of players who should be on the Lions’ radar when Saturday rolls around.
The most eye-catching matchup in the middle window comes when Minnesota meets Mississippi State at 3:30 p.m. EST, and it features a cornerback showdown that could shape the early conversation for the 2027 draft class.
Mississippi State’s Jones is viewed as a likely first-round pick thanks to his 6-foot-4 frame, athleticism, and range. The former high school quarterback backed up the hype with Third Team All-SEC honors last season, and he looks set up for a breakout 2026.
He’ll also be tested by Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey, who has been seen as a sleeper for the NFL Draft this year or later. Jones showed real playmaking ability last season with two interceptions and multiple pass breakups, while also allowing three touchdowns.
On the other side of that game, Minnesota’s Nestor has quickly become one of the more interesting defensive backs in the country. The former Iowa transfer burst onto the scene in 2025 with six interceptions and posted an 81.4 PFF coverage grade in his first season as a starter.
His stock is still all over the map, with some viewing him as a top-10 corner and others seeing a fringe draft pick, but this season is going to go a long way in settling that debate. Nestor has the size teams want at 6-foot-1, and he brings value in space with the ability to tackle and come downhill.
Some evaluators even see a future safety. He’ll get a major test right away against Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Davis, who threw for more than 350 yards and accounted for five total touchdowns last week.
Michigan’s noon showdown with No. 11 Oklahoma puts another name front and center: Stone.
A player many around the Michigan area already know from Michigan State’s heavy pursuit during the 2024 recruiting cycle, Stone stayed closer to home after the coaching change involving Mel Tucker. Since arriving at Oklahoma, he’s played at a high level and has drawn first-round attention from multiple outlets, including CBS, as the top defensive lineman in the draft.
His strength against the run is the big draw, and that should show up early against a Michigan offense trying to get Jordan Marshall and freshman Savion Hiter involved. The concern is his pass-rush production, where a sub-10% win rate and just two sacks last season leave some questions.
Still, this is a major stage, and his battle with the Wolverine offensive line should be one of the key stories at noon EST.
The nightcap gives Texas edge rusher Simmons a chance to go against Ohio State in one of the weekend’s biggest games. He has been a wrecking ball for the Longhorns, piling up 21 sacks over his first two seasons and cementing himself as a first-round pick in next year’s draft.
Saturday night offers a chance to show exactly how early he should come off the board. Simmons’ biggest strength is a true pass set win-rate that sits above 29%, and while he has been flagged nine times, his production more than offsets that issue.
His athleticism has also led some teams to consider him as a linebacker, where he could still be a problem for offenses.
The top Group of Six prospect on the board this week is Broncos quarterback Madsen, who gets Memphis in a game with College Football Playoff implications. Both teams are trying to position themselves as the Group of Six representative in the CFP this winter, which makes this a de facto elimination game.
Madsen has already put together an impressive run as a starter, throwing 41 touchdown passes over the last two seasons. He also made a statement in Week 1 with a three-touchdown performance against Oregon, helping put the Ducks on upset alert.
Now he gets another chance to steady the Broncos and keep them in the hunt for a second playoff berth in three years.
Memphis, though, has its own pressure point on the edge. The Broncos are replacing the production of NFL Draft pick Kage Casey at tackle, and that is exactly the kind of weakness Tigers EDGE J’Mond Tapp will try to attack.
Tapp, who was highlighted by Lions On SI in week zero, has already posted 2.5 sacks through two games, and Madsen will be the best quarterback he’s faced so far this season. The Broncos and Tigers kick off at 6:00 p.m.
EST on Saturday.
In Other News...
Lions Make An Unexpected Week 1 D Line Move Before Saints
The Lions made an early defensive line adjustment ahead of their season opener, releasing Levi Onwuzurike from the active roster and rookie Tyre West from the practice squad. Onwuzurike had spent much of training camp on the roster bubble after dealing with injuries, but he still broke camp on the initial 53-man roster, making the move a notable shift this close to Week 1.
It is the kind of transaction that suggests Detroit is still fine-tuning the back end of its defensive front while the games now count for real. Dan Campbell also addressed the teams travel plans for an upcoming game in Germany, another reminder that the Lions are already juggling more than just the Saints and the usual opening-week prep. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Part Of A Bills Gameday Twist Detroit Fans Will Notice
Before the Lions kick off at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 13, the pregame scene will carry a distinctly cross-border flavor. The Bills announced they will play both the American and Canadian national anthems, with Aulii Cravalho handling the U.S. anthem and the Barenaked Ladies performing the Canadian one, a small but notable nod to the audience Buffalo has long tried to reach north of the border.
It also fits with the Bills broader push to deepen ties with Canadian fans, including an expanded radio network now reaching three major Canadian markets. For Detroit, it is just another wrinkle in a road trip that already comes with plenty of attention, because the atmosphere around this game is shaping up to be about more than what happens once the opening whistle finally sounds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Are Taking A Real Gamble With One Starting Spot
The Lions are heading into Week 1 with an open question on the left side of their offensive line, and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing says the team plans to keep leaning into it. Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch are set to share the work at left guard as Detroit tries to sort out who fits best in the spot, with the competition framed less as a setback than as a chance to sharpen the depth chart before the season settles in.
Petzing stressed that the rotation is part of the process and is expected to keep going unless something breaks down. For Detroit, it is a calculated gamble at one of the most important spots up front, because the Lions are still trying to determine whether they already have the answer on the roster or whether the job will eventually belong to one player alone. [Read more 🡒]