The college football season is in full swing, and teams are already positioning themselves for playoff spots. Week 1 saw some intense battles, with major programs like Texas A&M and LSU falling. While Week 2 doesn’t hold the same marquee matchups that last week did, there are still plenty of games well worth tuning in for. Programs that stumbled in their openers will have the opportunity to prove doubters wrong, while those who impressed can confirm that the hype is warranted. Here are my top five games of Week 2, including a couple of major rivalry matchups.
5. Colorado @ Nebraska
An age-old rivalry features two programs seemingly on the rise. Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes are looking to prove that they have the substance to pair with the attention that they continue to receive. The Buffs seem to have addressed their offensive line weakness well, and the talent of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders is enough to keep them in any game. Nebraska freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola will get his first true test after a quality debut against UTEP. The Cornhuskers are favored by seven in this rivalry matchup. I’ll side with Vegas here and take Nebraska in a close one.
NEB 38-31 COL
4. Georgia Tech @ Syracuse
Georgia Tech shocked the football world in Week 0, beating a Florida State team that was ranked in the top ten at the time. At 2-0, they find themselves ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2015. They’ll face another conference opponent this week in Syracuse. Former Ohio State QB Kyle McCord had an impressive debut for the Orange, with over 350 passing yards and four touchdowns. I have Georgia Tech continuing their Cinderella run and winning this one on the road.
GT 24-21 SYR
3. Iowa state @ Iowa
The Iowa Hawkeyes threw the football consistently in Week 1. That alone should be enough to get college football fans excited for this game. Iowa State’s offense, on the other hand, looked less than impressive in their opener against North Dakota, scoring only 21 points in their win. The Hawkeyes are currently three-point favorites in this matchup, and frankly, I don’t expect it to be that close. Anything can happen in a rivalry game, but I’m picking Iowa to win this one handily.
IOWA 24-10 ISU
2. Tennessee @ NC State
Nico Iamaleava looks like a future first-overall draft pick. He led Tennessee to a 69-point finish in their Week 1 win over Chattanooga, throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Dylan Sampson averaged over ten yards per carry, with three scores of his own. NC State was not nearly as dominant, winning by only 17 against FCS opponent Western Carolina. I was optimistic about NC State’s chances to compete in the ACC coming into the season, and there’s still a chance that they could find their way into the conference championship game with Florida State in a tailspin. However, the Wolfpack are currently levels below this Tennessee team.
TENN 38-21 NCST
1. Texas @ Michigan
College Football Saturday kicks off with a showdown between two of the most storied programs in the sport. Texas fans have all the confidence in the world early in the season, and rightfully so. The Longhorns are elite on both offense and defense, with top-level talent at every position. While Michigan’s offense looks to have taken a step back after their championship season in 2023, their defense is strong enough to match up with any team in the country. I expect Texas to emerge victorious in a low-scoring battle, further solidifying their title hopes.
TEX 21-18 MICH
