College Football Week 2: Rivalries Reignite and Unbeaten Streaks Tested

As the college football landscape ignites with the fervor of Week 2 matchups, pressing questions echo across fanbases and pundit circles. Will the Texas Longhorns exact revenge for last season’s stinging defeat against the Ohio State Buckeyes? Can the Michigan Wolverines shake off a controversial and near-disastrous Week 1 performance against Oklahoma? Furthermore, which teams that showcased brilliance in their opening games will prove their early success is not a fleeting anomaly, but rather the dawn of a dominant trend? The answer to these compelling queries, and many more, will begin to unfold this weekend as a slate of high-stakes, cross-conference clashes promises to captivate college football enthusiasts nationwide.

This week’s schedule is a veritable buffet of marquee contests, featuring showdowns like the aforementioned Texas-Ohio State and Michigan-Oklahoma battles, alongside intriguing matchups such as Illinois versus Duke, and a multitude of other compelling contests that underscore the depth and excitement of the current college football season. To help navigate this thrilling weekend, our panel of FOX Sports college football analysts – RJ Young, Laken Litman, Michael Cohen, and Ben Portnoy – have weighed in with their straight-up picks for Week 2, dissecting the key matchups and offering their informed perspectives on which teams are poised to emerge victorious.

Here’s a look at the analyst’s Week 1 records and their overall season standings:

Missouri vs. Kansas

When: Friday, 8 p.m. ET (FOX)
Where: David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium, Lawrence, Kansas
Line: Missouri -5.5

The Week 2 slate kicks off with a Friday night showdown between Missouri and Kansas. The Tigers, under the guidance of Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz, are looking to build on a promising Week 1 performance. A significant storyline for Missouri is the emergence of quarterback Austin Simmons, a highly touted freshman who made an immediate impact in his debut. Simmons showcased his talent by throwing for 252 yards and four touchdowns, completing an impressive 20 of 22 passes. This dual-threat capability from Simmons has energized the Missouri offense.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Missouri. Young highlights Missouri’s superior quarterback play and a still-potent run game, even with the absence of key player Ahmad Hardy.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Missouri. Litman anticipates a multi-touchdown performance from Austin Simmons, leading the Tigers to victory over the Jayhawks in this historic rivalry.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Missouri. Cohen points to Simmons’ exceptional efficiency in Week 1 as a strong indicator of his ability to lead the Tigers. He expects Simmons to continue his impressive play against Kansas.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Missouri. Portnoy is convinced that Austin Simmons will be a game-changer for Missouri, even with potential limitations in the run game. He also notes Drinkwitz’s strong track record as a favorite, believing he will secure another win this week.

Michigan vs. Oklahoma

When: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Line: Oklahoma -5.5

Perhaps the most anticipated matchup of Week 2 features the Michigan Wolverines hosting the Oklahoma Sooners. Michigan’s Week 1 performance was a rollercoaster, marked by a shocking and controversial near-upset against Western Michigan. The Wolverines ultimately escaped with a victory, but the performance raised significant questions, particularly surrounding the play of young quarterback Bryce Underwood. Underwood’s debut was far from flawless, and he will face an immense challenge against a formidable Oklahoma defense.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Oklahoma. Young believes the Sooners hold an advantage at quarterback, wide receiver, and on the defensive line. He suggests Michigan could be in for a rough outing if Underwood doesn’t show significant development.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Oklahoma. Litman’s primary concern is how Michigan’s quarterback, Bryce Underwood, will respond after a shaky Week 1. She anticipates Oklahoma’s Head Coach Brent Venables will devise a defensive scheme specifically designed to stifle the young signal-caller.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Oklahoma. While acknowledging Michigan might show some improvement after their controversial win, Cohen views Oklahoma’s defense as a significant threat to Bryce Underwood. He suggests Underwood’s tenure as the starter might be short-lived.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Oklahoma. Portnoy admits to being heavily influenced by Michigan’s Week 1 performance, finding little evidence to suggest they can compete with Oklahoma’s caliber of play. He views the Sooners as legitimate dark horses in the SEC and is particularly impressed by a healthy John Mateer. He expects a decisive victory for Oklahoma.

Oregon vs. Oklahoma State

When: Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Line: Oregon -22.5

The Oregon Ducks, fresh off a surprisingly close win over Boise State in Week 1, will travel to Stillwater to face an Oklahoma State team reeling from an upset loss to Tulsa. The Ducks, widely considered to possess one of the most talented rosters in the nation, will be looking to make a statement and reassert their dominance. Oklahoma State, on the other hand, will be eager to rebound from a disappointing season opener.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Oregon. Young points to Oregon’s superior roster and Oklahoma State’s opening-week stumble against Tulsa, the nation’s smallest FBS program, as reasons for an Oregon rout. He boldly suggests picking any number for the Ducks’ margin of victory.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Oregon. Litman views Boise State as a potential Group of Six College Football Playoff representative, indicating Oregon’s Week 1 opponent was no slouch. However, she believes Head Coach Dan Lanning will have his Oregon squad fully prepared to dominate an Oklahoma State team in transition.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Oregon. Cohen expects a strong defensive response from Oregon after their highly-touted unit allowed significant yardage against Boise State. He anticipates a comfortable victory for the Ducks against an Oklahoma State team that looked unconvincing in their loss.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Oregon. After a scare from Boise State, Portnoy believes Oregon will not falter two weeks in a row. He describes Oklahoma State’s performance in their opener under Eric Morris as "atrocious" and would be shocked if the Ducks didn’t secure a dominant win.

BYU vs. Arizona

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
Line: BYU -7.5

A significant Big 12 matchup sees BYU hosting Arizona. The Cougars are aiming to establish themselves as legitimate contenders in their new conference, and a win against the Wildcats would be a crucial early-season statement. BYU’s defense will be tested by Arizona’s offense, led by quarterback Noah Fifita, who showed flashes of brilliance last season.

• RJ Young’s Pick: BYU. Young expresses more confidence in the BYU defense’s ability to contain Arizona’s offense than he does in quarterback Noah Fifita’s capabilities.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: BYU. Litman believes quarterback Bear Bachmeier and the Cougars need to secure their first Big 12 victory to keep pace with conference frontrunners like Texas Tech and Houston. She expects them to handle business against Arizona.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: BYU. Cohen views this as a pivotal early-season game for BYU’s aspirations within the Big 12. He anticipates a controlled victory over Arizona will provide the Cougars with substantial confidence as they embark on conference play.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: BYU. Portnoy argues that if BYU intends to contend for a Big 12 title, they must win games like this. While acknowledging Arizona’s improvement and the return of Noah Fifita, he believes BYU’s talent advantage will prevail.

Illinois vs. Duke

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Where: Gies Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois
Line: Illinois -5.5

The Illinois Fighting Illini host the Duke Blue Devils in a non-conference tilt that has generated significant buzz, evidenced by a sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium. Illinois, under Head Coach Bret Bielema, is looking to build momentum, while Duke, the reigning ACC champions, brings a potent running game led by Nate Sheppard, who had a standout performance in Week 1.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Duke. Young points to Duke’s star running back, Nate Sheppard, and the Illinois defense’s struggles against the run in their opener against UAB, where they surrendered 194 rushing yards, as reasons for his selection.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Illinois. Litman predicts that quarterback Katin Houser will build upon his four-touchdown performance from Week 1, leading Illinois to a victory over a Duke team potentially without key player Darian Mensah.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Illinois. Cohen emphasizes the electric atmosphere expected at Memorial Stadium for this game, suggesting the passionate home crowd will provide a significant boost for Bret Bielema’s squad.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Illinois. Portnoy is impressed by Katin Houser’s production at East Carolina and believes his return to the Big Ten is off to a strong start. He sees Houser as an effective replacement for Luke Altmyer and believes Illinois, under Bielema, is the superior team despite Duke’s talent.

Syracuse vs. Cal

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (USA Net)
Where: JMA Wireless Dome, Syracuse, New York
Line: Syracuse -3.5

A potential ACC classic unfolds as Syracuse welcomes Cal to the JMA Wireless Dome. Syracuse, under new Head Coach Fran Brown, appears to have found stability at the quarterback position with Steve Angeli. Angeli, healthy and leading the offense, is seen as a key factor for the Orange. Cal, in its first year under Head Coach Tosh Lupoi, is looking to rebound from a Week 1 loss.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Syracuse. Young believes Fran Brown has found his quarterback in Steve Angeli, who he sees as having the potential to be as effective as Kyle McCord was at Syracuse. He favors the veteran coach Brown against a rookie coach like Lupoi, especially with Cal traveling across three time zones after a loss.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Syracuse. Litman anticipates a strong ACC matchup, with Syracuse quarterback Steve Angeli continuing his momentum from a solid Week 1 performance. She expects Cal to fall to 0-2 under the new coaching era of Tosh Lupoi.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Cal. Cohen admits to a degree of "fool me once, shame on you" from Cal’s Week 1 performance, but is willing to back the Bears again, believing they will bounce back with a victory.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Cal. Portnoy acknowledges that Cal’s loss to UCLA last week didn’t bolster his belief in them as ACC contenders. However, he’s sticking with the "Calgorithm" and believes that despite Syracuse’s potential improvement with Steve Angeli, Lupoi’s team will rebound after a challenging opener.

Boise State vs. Memphis

When: Saturday, 6 p.m. ET (USA Network)
Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Line: Boise State -8.5

Boise State, coming off an impressive near-upset of then-No. 2 Oregon on the road, hosts Memphis in a crucial Group of Six matchup. The Broncos showcased their championship mettle in Week 1 and are aiming to solidify their status as one of the top teams outside the Power Five. Memphis, after defeating UNLV in their season opener, will be looking to make a similar statement.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Boise State. Young is convinced that Boise State is one of the two best teams in the Group of Six, and sadly for Memphis, they are not the other.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Boise State. Litman points to Boise State’s strong Week 1 performance against Oregon as evidence of their potential, and expects them to secure a win at home.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Boise State. Cohen views Boise State as legitimate College Football Playoff contenders from the Group of Six after their impressive showing against Oregon. He believes they are a cut above Memphis, who also started their season with a victory.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Boise State. Portnoy is backing the Broncos until proven otherwise, citing their experience and strong performance against Oregon. While acknowledging the possibility of a letdown, he believes Boise State’s ability to run the ball effectively against Memphis will give them the edge.

Texas vs. Ohio State

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
Where: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas
Line: Texas -1.5

The marquee matchup of Week 2 is a highly anticipated rematch between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Last season, Ohio State defeated Texas in a hard-fought contest, and the Longhorns will be eager to avenge that loss on their home turf. This game is seen as a significant test for both teams, with national championship aspirations on the line for Texas and Ohio State looking to assert their dominance early in the season.

• RJ Young’s Pick: Ohio State. Young identifies Ohio State’s offensive line as a weakness but points to the potential of quarterback Julian Sayin and the explosive talent of receiver Jeremiah Smith as game-changers. He believes Smith can single-handedly overcome any offensive line struggles.
• Laken Litman’s Pick: Texas. Litman believes that Arch Manning and the Texas defense will not allow Ohio State to secure a third consecutive victory against them in less than two years.
• Michael Cohen’s Pick: Ohio State. Cohen anticipates that new Ohio State offensive coordinator Arthur Smith will introduce strategic wrinkles that the Texas defense, which struggled against new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia’s schemes last year, won’t be prepared for. He predicts an Ohio State victory.
• Ben Portnoy’s Pick: Texas. Portnoy poses the question, "If not now, when?" for Texas and their national title aspirations, viewing this game as a critical opportunity to solidify their position as the nation’s top team. While still harboring skepticism about Arch Manning, he believes the talent drain on Ohio State’s defense will be evident in Austin, and the home team will gain a significant resume boost.

The stage is set for another thrilling weekend of college football, brimming with rivalries, unexpected performances, and the relentless pursuit of gridiron glory. As these Week 2 matchups unfold, the narratives of the season will continue to be written, and the contenders for this year’s national championship will begin to separate themselves from the pack.