College football’s opening act, with a rare trio of top-10 clashes, was going to be hard to top. But as the saying goes, one should not let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
The Week 2 slate is admittedly lighter on marquee matchups. There is still, however, a lot to like for your viewing entertainment on Saturday, Sept. 6. In addition to another showdown of big-name programs from the two premier conferences, there’s a fierce in-state trophy game, a renewal of another heated rivalry, and a couple of other pairings that could provide more intrigue than one might surmise.
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Here’s a look at our picks for the best games to watch.
No. 13 Michigan at No. 24 Oklahoma
Time/TV: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
Why watch: The day’s lone ranked matchup features two proud programs looking to bounce back after disappointing seasons. The Wolverines did finish last year with wins against Ohio State and Alabama but had fallen well out of Big Ten contention by then. The Sooners endured a rough first ride through the SEC but bigger things are expected in 2025. Much-ballyhooed Oklahoma transfer QB John Mateer got off to a quick start against Illinois State, with WR Keontez Lewis emerging as his primary target. The Michigan secondary, backed by hard-hitting DB Brandyn Hillman, will be tougher to solve. Freshman signal-caller Bryce Underwood passed a slightly tougher test for the Wolverines in his first start against New Mexico, with huge ground support from RB Justice Haynes. They’ll be facing a tough Sooners’ front seven, led by LBs Kip Lewis and Sammy Omosigho.
Why it could disappoint: This might be another case of the defenses being ahead of the offenses, so if you were underwhelmed by the lack of scoring in Texas-Ohio State last week this might not be the game for you. But it should be worth the payoff if that results in more fourth-quarter drama, so don’t give up too quickly.
Iowa at No. 18 Iowa State
Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, Fox.
Why watch: The annual clash for the Cy-Hawk Trophy rarely lacks drama. It has added intrigue this year with both these heartland squads hoping to make noise in their respective conferences. The Cyclones, already with a Big 12 win in hand, want to make it back to the league title tilt. The Hawkeyes, long known for tough defense, look to play sleeper in the Big Ten with an upgraded passing game. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht has been efficient if not overly flashy with his aerial game, taking advantage of TEs Gabe Burkle and Benjamin Brahmer in the red zone. The Hawkeyes LB corps, with veterans Karson Sharar and Jaden Harrell now in starting roles, must be ready. New Iowa QB Mark Gronowski wasn’t asked to do much in the Week 1 tune-up against Albany, and he’ll likely try to stretch the field more this time to give promising freshman RB Xavier Williams room to operate. That won’t be easy against the Cyclones’ solid secondary, anchored by DB Jamison Patton.
Why it could disappoint: Again, there aren’t likely to be a lot of aerial fireworks in this one with the strong defensive units figuring to get the better of things. But that means a blowout either way is unlikely, so expect another down-to-the-wire finish.
No. 14 Mississippi at Kentucky
Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC.
Why watch: Notable as the first official SEC game of the season, this contest ultimately might not figure in the league race. But the Wildcats are hopeful that it does after a down year in the conference. Ole Miss arguably has tougher games ahead but must nevertheless take this one seriously, especially after its loss in this series last year like cost it a College Football Playoff berth. Kentucky prevailed 24-16 in its opener against Toledo, likely to be among the top teams in the Mid-American Conference. Well-traveled QB Zach Calzada had a subpar passing day but delivered a needed TD run to help the Wildcats escape. The Ole Miss attack is now in the hands of QB Austin Simmons, who was more productive but served up a couple of picks as well against overmatched Georgia State.
Why it could disappoint: Kentucky’s inconsistency in the passing game must be ironed out quickly, or any early deficit the Wildcats face might prove insurmountable. The Rebels for their part would like to quiet the Kentucky crowd early.
No. 12 Illinois at Duke
Time/TV: Saturday, noon ET, ESPN.
Why watch: Don’t dismiss this matchup just because it’s not taking place on hardwood. The Fighting Illini put their highest starting poll position since 1990 on the line in Durham, North Carolina, where the Blue Devils look to continue their quest for an increased gridiron presence in the ACC. QB Luke Altmyer and his Illinois offense were nearly flawless in a warm-up against Western Illinois. Duke DE Vincent Anthony Jr. will lead the effort to disrupt his rhythm. New Blue Devils QB Darian Mensah took a little longer to get rolling in his team’s opener against Elon, but he finished well and threw for nearly 400 yards. Opposing him will be Illini LB Gabe Jacas.
Why it could disappoint: We’ll probably know fairly soon if it will. If the Blue Devils hold their own on both sides of the line of scrimmage, the game should be competitive for four quarters. If Illinois proves to have a significant edge in the trenches, there won’t be much Duke can do about it.
South Florida at No. 15 Florida
Time/TV: Saturday, 4:15 p.m. ET, SECN.
Why watch: What was expected to be a tune-up for the Gators on the eve of entering SEC competition got a lot more interesting after South Florida’s impressive takedown of Boise State. Now the Bulls look to upend the balance of power in the Sunshine State with this opportunity and a date with Miami to follow. The best news for Florida from its opener against Long Island was that QB DJ Lagway got in some work and got out of the game quickly, and the same can be said for LB Myles Graham and his fellow first-teamers on the Gators defense. The Bulls counter with veteran QB Byrum Brown, who played a clean game and ran for two scores, and LB Jhalyn Shuler, who was all over the field in the Aug. 28 stunner against the Broncos.
Why it could disappoint: With all due respect to the Mountain West and its defending champion Boise State, a road game in the SEC represents a major step up in weight class for the Bulls. That said, the Gators haven’t needed to show much yet, so it will be worth a look to see how long USF can hang around.
Kansas at Missouri
Time/TV: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2.
Why watch: The Border War returns after a 14-year hiatus, and the timing seems ideal with both programs on an upward trajectory. Neither the Tigers nor the Jayhawks have been challenged in their combined three victories to date, so this figures to be a huge measuring stick game for both. Mizzou QB Beau Pribula wasted little time establishing himself in Columbia after backing up Drew Allar at Penn State. Kansas regains the services of dual-threat QB Jalon Daniels, who is finally healthy and showing how dynamic he can be. Names to know on the defensive side include Jayhawks LB Trey Lathan and Mizzou LB Josiah Trotter, who were formerly teammates at West Virginia.
Why it could disappoint: It shouldn’t, but again it’s hard to peg how these teams will stack up in the trenches given the lack of tangible results thus far. There was more than a little animosity between these programs when they were Big Eight rivals, but hopefully the renewal of acquaintances won’t lead to fisticuffs.