Ohio State’s playoff path got a little cleaner over the weekend, and not just because the Buckeyes handled Ball State 56-3. A few of the teams standing in the way also left Week 2 looking a touch less imposing, which matters in a race this crowded.
Oregon had to scrap in a dogfight with Boise State, and while that says plenty about the Broncos, it also didn’t do the Ducks any favors in the eyes of the playoff chase. And then there was what happened in Ann Arbor, Michigan. That game is still two and a half months off, but it already looks more manageable for the Buckeyes as the postseason picture starts to take shape.
This weekend, though, the spotlight shifts again. Ohio State and Texas headline Saturday night, but there’s a full slate of games that could ripple through the playoff race.
One of the more interesting ones is No. 23 Missouri against Kansas.
The Border War is back for a second straight year, this time at David Booth Memorial Stadium in Lawrence. Missouri usually takes care of business when it’s the better team, but the Tigers have had trouble getting over the hump against the SEC’s best.
Kansas, meanwhile, is still trying to become the team people keep predicting it can be. Maybe this is the year it finally happens when nobody expects it.
No. 6 Oregon also gets another test, this time against Oklahoma State.
The Ducks had to rally from a 10-point first-half hole against Boise State in their opener, and this matchup looked like a tougher early nonconference game before the season started. Oklahoma State brought in North Texas head coach Eric Morris to replace Mike Gundy, and he brought plenty of players with him from a team that reached the American Conference title game.
Last season, the Cowboys ranked third in college football in yards per play, with quarterback Drew Mestemaker steering the offense. But in Week 1, they looked more like the old Oklahoma State, as their FBS losing streak stretched to 21 games in a loss at rival Tulsa.
They could bounce back and make life uncomfortable for Oregon, or this could resemble last year’s meeting in Eugene, when the Ducks hung 70 on them.
Then there’s No. 11 Oklahoma against Michigan, the Big Ten-SEC undercard before the main event in Austin.
Based on what happened last weekend, this feels like it should be a comfortable win for the Sooners. Based on comments from Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham, Bryce Underwood might not even finish the game as the Wolverines’ quarterback.
It’s a huge one for Oklahoma because the Sooners have four top 10 opponents waiting in SEC play. Michigan, on the other hand, would probably be happy just to keep it competitive after looking like a team that isn’t headed for a bowl game against Western Michigan.
A solid showing against Oklahoma would at least give the Wolverines something to build on before Big Ten play begins.
No. 12 Alabama gets an early SEC check-in against Kentucky.
Kalen DeBoer has not matched the standard in Tuscaloosa in his first two seasons, though Alabama still has the talent to put together a big 2026. The Crimson Tide opened with a dominant win over East Carolina.
Kentucky looks very different now, with Mark Stoops gone after 13 seasons and former Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein drawing plenty of optimism. In the portal era, turnarounds can happen fast, and Kentucky might have a chance to make some noise in the SEC.
This game should tell us plenty about how the league might unfold.
Arizona’s meeting with No. 15 BYU is another one to watch closely.
BYU enters the season with major expectations in the Big 12 and is viewed as one of the conference’s clear top two teams alongside Texas Tech. Everyone else is chasing a way to break that pairing, sneak into the title game, and keep playoff hopes alive.
Arizona, with Noah Fifita back for his fourth year as a starter, has a real shot to crash that party. The Wildcats have BYU and Texas Tech on the schedule, and their experience could matter over the course of the league slate.
If they can win in Provo, they’ll be worth serious attention.
No. 18 Tennessee also has a chance to make a statement against Georgia Tech.
The Yellow Jackets opened in heartbreaking fashion, getting a potential game-winning field goal blocked in a loss to Colorado. The bigger concern was how the offense looked under Indiana transfer Alberto Mendoza.
It stalled at the wrong times and never found enough rhythm when it had chances to put the game away. That’s a dangerous formula against a Tennessee team that routinely puts up points under Josh Heupel.
The Volunteers should roll, and they could be sitting high in the rankings once they hit the toughest part of their SEC schedule.
And then there’s the big one: No. 1 Ohio State against No.
4 Texas. This is the biggest nonconference game of the 2026 college football season.
These teams met in the College Football Playoff semifinals two years ago, and by AP Poll ranking, they’re lined up for another heavyweight showdown. The beauty of the 12-team playoff is that the loser doesn’t have its season ruined, but this is still a massive game for playoff qualification.
Both programs are staring at brutal schedules, which is why the stakes feel so high this early. If Ohio State loses, it will likely need to beat at least three of Iowa, Indiana, USC, and Oregon.
If Texas falls, the road gets even steeper: the Longhorns would have to beat at least four, probably five, of Tennessee, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Missouri, LSU, and Texas A&M. The winner gets out ahead in the playoff race.
The loser will be feeling the pressure right away.
In Other News...
Ohio State Fans Will Want To See Yetis New Buckeyes Gear
Ohio State fans looking to add a little scarlet and gray to their everyday carry now have a new option from Yeti. The company has rolled out a limited-edition 26-ounce Rambler water bottle in Buckeyes branding as part of its Collegiate Fandom Collection, giving supporters a chance to rep the program with a familiar piece of gear built from stainless steel and double-wall vacuum insulation.
The bottle comes with Yetis TripleHaul Handle and Chug Cap, and it is dishwasher safe, with an optional straw cap sold separately. It is one of 12 college football designs in the collection, but the Buckeyes version is not a permanent run, since it will be discontinued once current inventory is gone. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees Ohio State Texas Coming Down To One Big Play
Urban Meyer isnt treating Ohio States trip to Texas like a heavyweight mismatch. The former Buckeyes coach called the Week 2 showdown a coin toss after both teams opened the season in impressive fashion, and he pointed to the quarterbacks as the center of it all, with Julian Sayin and Arch Manning expected to carry much of the spotlight when the game kicks off on ABC.
Austin adds another layer to a matchup that already feels like it could swing on a single mistake or a single burst of execution. Texas has been tough at home, and Meyer made clear that the environment will matter, which only raises the stakes for Ohio State as it heads into one of the biggest early-season games on the calendar with little separating the two teams. [Read more 🡒]
Ohio State Heads To Texas With One Early Concern Looming
Texas opened the season with a win over Texas State and now turns its attention to a Week 2 home game against Ohio State, a matchup that already carries plenty of early-season intrigue. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, are coming off their own opener against Ball State and will be trying to settle in on both sides of the ball after making changes along the offensive line and defense.
One of the first things Ohio State will have to monitor in Austin is Texas health on defense and in the backfield. Running back Derrek Cooper is expected to miss the game after an ankle injury, and safety Yaheim Riley also did not dress in the opener, leaving the Longhorns with some uncertainty to sort through before the Buckeyes arrive. [Read more 🡒]