The inaugural week of the 2024 college football season brought many interesting matchups but few close games, with only the Notre Dame-Texas A&M and USC-LSU matchup having considerable intrigue towards the end of their respective contests.
The Week 2 slate does not hold as much intrigue in terms of matchups, but there are still some games that should be worth watching this weekend, none more than the titanic matchup between No. 3 Texas and No. 10 Michigan Saturday at noon inside Michigan Stadium.
Here are Buckeye Sports Bulletin’s games to watch for the second week of the college football season:
No. 3 Texas At No. 10 Michigan (12 p.m., FOX)
The Week 2 slate begins with a classic matchup between two household college football programs, with No. 3 Texas paying a visit to defending national champion No. 10 Michigan in what is just the second-ever matchup between the two teams.
While the Wolverines were able to have a mediocre showing and still defeat Fresno State by double digits in their season opener, the same won’t be the case on Saturday afternoon, with the Longhorns entering Michigan Stadium with one of the more loaded teams in the country. Headlining Texas’ roster is veteran quarterback and former Buckeye Quinn Ewers, who is looking to have an early “Heisman moment” against a Wolverines defense that is still searching for some continuity after several of their starters departed for the NFL and star safety Rod Moore was declared out for the season after tearing his ACL this spring.
Michigan can still pull out some tricks behind the brains of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, but he’ll still have his hands full with the Longhorns boasting some NFL talent on their offensive line as well as explosive playmakers Isaiah Bond and Ryan Wingo on the perimeter. The Wolverines also have some question marks on offense, specifically at quarterback with former walk-on Davis Warren set to make his second career start, which could make this a tall task for the defending champs to come away with the top-ten victory at home. BSB Prediction: Texas 20, Michigan 13
No. 23 Georgia Tech At Syracuse (12 p.m., Peacock)
Georgia Tech has been one of the main surprises of this early college football season after defeating then-ranked Florida State in Week 0 and Georgia State in Week 1, but they’ll face a stiff road test on Saturday when they travel north to take on former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord and Syracuse in the Carrier Dome.
McCord is coming off an eye-opening debut with the Orange, throwing for 354 yards and four touchdowns to just one interception in a 38-22 win over Ohio University, and he looked comfortable throwing to new top pass catchers Oronde Gasden II and Trebor Pena, among others. But that offense will be tested against a physical Georgia Tech team who has allowed just 16.5 points per game to its first two opponents.
The Yellow Jackets have also impressed on offense, and that starts with quarterback Haynes King, who has completed 35 of his 45 passes thus far this season for 421 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, while also rushing for another 91 yards and a score. These skills will be put to the test in upstate New York on Saturday, but he will be complemented by lead running back Jamal Haynes and wide receiver Malik Rutherford. BSB Prediction: Georgia Tech 31, Syracuse 20
Colorado At Nebraska (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Colorado and Nebraska renew an old rivalry Saturday night at Nebraska’s Memorial Stadium, and there will certainly be no shortage of star power on the field.
That talent begins with Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes, who despite having an almost brand new team after bringing in 53 transfers, are still led by superstar quarterback and Deion’s son Shadeur Sanders. The elder Sanders, who projects to be a first-round NFL Draft selection this upcoming April, has lived up to his dad’s “prime time” status so far this season, throwing for an impressive 445 passing yards and four touchdowns in the Buffaloes 31-26 win over FCS powerhouse North Dakota State.
Sanders is likely one of two generational talents on Colorado’s roster. Two-way player Travis Hunter is also must-see TV this season after catching seven passes for 132 yards and a whopping three touchdowns, while also recording three tackles on defense. The Buffaloes, who also boast former Ohio State running back Dallan Hayden on offense, are still searching for consistency on the offensive line, which should play into the Huskers favor at home.
Nebraska is also becoming must-see television on offense following the emergence of true freshman and former highly touted five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola, who won Big Ten Freshman of the Week over Jeremiah Smith last weekend after throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns in less than three quarter of action in their season opening win against UTEP. BSB Prediction: Nebraska 41, Colorado 35
No. 14 Tennessee Vs. No. 24 NC State (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Perhaps the best game of Week 2 is between No. 14 Tennessee and No. 24 NC State, who will match up in Charlotte after both coming away with Week 1 victories. North Carolina State survived a little bit of a scare in their season opener against Western Carolina after finding themselves down 21-17 in the third quarter, but they still boast a potent offense led by Coastal Carolina transfer Grayson McCall, who threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns to one interception in his Wolfpack debut.
McCall, who threw for over 10,000 passing yards for the Chanticleers, will face a stiff test with Tennseee’s defense, however, who gave up just three points and 227 total yards in its 69-3 blowout win over Chattanooga. The Volunteers are led on that side of the ball by defensive back Will Brooks and defensive tackle Tyre West, who combined for seven tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in the victory.
But the Volunteers are perhaps most potent on offense, where they are led by Heisman Trophy dark horse quarterback Nico Iamalvea, who threw for an efficient 314 passing yards and three touchdowns in the Week 1 victory. However Imalavea will face his first real test as a starter against a tough Wolfpack defense in front of what should be a jacked up neutral site crowd at Bank of America stadium. BSB Prediction: Tennessee 35, NC State 27
