College football Week 2: No. 3 Longhorns visit No. 10 Michigan for a matchup of traditional powerhouses

The most important event of the second week of college football will take place on Saturday morning.

No. 3 Texas visits No. 10 and defending national champion Michigan in tonight’s game just a top 10 list. It’s the start of a big game at Fox, coming 20 seasons after the Longhorns won their only previous meeting Rose Bowl classic. Last season, the Longhorns also competed in the College Football Playoff and lost to WashingtonMichigan team defeated in game for the title.

The SEC-ACC matchup between No. 14 Tennessee and No. 24 North Carolina State is the only other matchup in the Top 25. Expect Volunteers wunderkind Nico Iamaleava to put the Wolfpack defense to the test in Charlotte.

The show is full of intrigue.

Boise State and star running back Ashton Jeanty visit No. 7 Oregon a week later The ducks were sloppy and struggled to get past FCS Idaho. Dillon Gabriel had solid numbers against the Vandals, but he was sacked three times and the Ducks were penalized eight times. The Broncos are a top contender for the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff and, despite being underdogs by nearly three touchdowns, they won’t be an easy opponent.

Deion Sanders takes his Colorado Buffaloes to Nebraska for a clash of former Big Eight-Big 12 rivals who are trying to get back to winning ways. All eyes will be on the Buffaloes’ prolific Shadeur Sanders and five-star freshman Dylan Raiola.

Arkansas, after leaving Won 70-0 over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, will have a better self-assessment when it makes the short trip to No. 16 Oklahoma State. Iowa State visits No. 21 Iowa for the annual CyHawk Game, and South Carolina travels to Kentucky for its first Southeastern Conference game of the season.

The best game

No. 3 Texas (1-0) vs. No. 10 Michigan (1-0), Saturday, noon ET (Fox)

It’s a classic Blue Bloods matchup, with Michigan leading the all-time wins list while Texas is fourth, and both were among the top four in 2023.

Michigan has won a school-record 29 consecutive regular-season games and hasn’t lost at home since 2019. Texas has won seven consecutive road games, including last year’s game against then-No. 3 Alabama.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers could be in the running for the Heisman Trophy if he plays well at the Big House against one of the best defenses in the country.

Heisman watch

Jaxon’s Dart is poised for another big performance when No. 6 Mississippi hosts Middle Tennessee State. The Rebels’ third-year starter was 22 of 27 for 445 yards and six touchdowns — all in the first half — against Furman. He became the first SEC quarterback to throw for more than 350 yards in a half since LSU’s Joe Burrow did it during his 2019 Heisman Trophy season.

At odds of 10 to 1 BetMGM Sports BettingDart is right behind bookmaker favorites Dillon Gabriel, Carson Beck and Cam Ward, and he’ll have plenty of opportunities to put up impressive numbers on what is, by SEC standards, a manageable schedule.

Numbers worth knowing

15 — Number of yards North Carolina allowed to score in the second half against Minnesota.

23.5 — Collin Oliver’s best league score for Oklahoma State since 2020.

46-1 — Penn State’s record since 2014 when the team led by at least 10 points at halftime.

77 — North Texas is the state with the highest number of newcomers.

200 — Alabama has the most wins in FBS since 2008 and 19 more than Georgia and Ohio State.

Under the radar

No. 17 Kansas State (1-0) at Tulane (1-0), Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)

The Wildcats know full well that this is a tough game. They lost at home 17-10 the Green Wave as 14-point favorites in 2022, and that still doesn’t leave them alone.

Tulane has been on a roll for more than two years now, and the Green Wave have no plans to slow down much, if at all, under first-year coach Jon Sumrall. Darian Mensah is a dual-threat QB who will provide a challenge for the Wildcats.

Hot seat

Billy Napier from Florida entered the season on the hot seat and it’s hot now. Fans began leaving the Swamp early in the second half of last week’s Lost 41-17 to Miami — never a good sign. He is 11-15 since his celebrated hiring following a 40-12 run at Louisiana-Lafayette.

The Gators, who should rest Saturday against Samford, are headed toward their fourth straight losing season. That hasn’t happened since 1938 but seems inevitable in one of the most brutal schedules in the country.

Florida entered the game against Miami as a 2.5-point underdog and lost. Napier is due $26 million if he is fired before Dec. 1. That shouldn’t be a problem.

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