College Football: B/R Experts Answer Biggest Questions for Week 2
After a five-day bonanza to begin the 2022 season, college football settles into a more typical slate in Week 2.
Only two contests kick off Friday night, so Saturday is absolutely packed with games. While a majority of the games are favorable nonconference clashes, the weekend has plenty of marquee matchups from Pennsylvania to Texas to Utah.
The six members of B/R's expert panel—Max Escarpio, David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Morgan Moriarty and Brad Shepard—shared their views on the biggest questions of Week 2.
Topics include J.J. McCarthy's opportunity to win the Michigan quarterback job, Alabama's trip to Texas and a pair of Top 25 matchups.
Which Top 25 Team(s) Will Lose to an Unranked Foe?
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Max Escarpio
One of the most interesting games on the slate is Arkansas hosting South Carolina. Arkansas had a challenging start to the season, winning 31-24 against a ranked Cincinnati team. The Razorbacks offense looked comfortable in Week 1's win, but they have to improve on the defensive side against SEC talent.
The Gamecocks saw a lot of changes this offseason, so it took them time to find an offensive rhythm in Week 1 against Georgia State. But when their offense was clicking, they made numerous plays that put them in position to score. After some game experience with one another, the Gamecocks should be able to tweak their mistakes from a 35-14 victory.
The upset is nowhere near a guarantee, but SC is looking to make noise in the CFB world, and a win on the road against a ranked opponent would be huge for the resume. Though the Razorbacks are the No. 16 team in the country, it's South Carolina's time to put on a show.
Kerry Miller
The obvious choice is No. 25 Houston at Texas Tech.
The Cougars needed three overtimes to survive last week's scare against UTSA. While Texas Tech's starting QB (Tyler Shough) is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury suffered in Week 1 against Murray State, Houston isn't even favored in this road game.
Houston is better than it showed for the first three quarters against the Roadrunners and should be the Group of Five's representative in a New Year's Six bowl. However, the Cougars will lose against a respectable Red Raiders team.
The less obvious choice is No. 11 Oklahoma State hosting Arizona State, but I'll take that ranked team to bite the dust as well. The Cowboys offense might be special, but Central Michigan gutted the defense for 44 points and 546 total yards in Week 1. With all due respect to CMU, that should never happen to a CFP hopeful. If the Pokes put forth a similar defensive effort against Arizona State, the Sun Devils win easily.
What's the Best Matchup Outside the Top 25?
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Max Escarpio
There's nothing like an in-state rivalry in college sports. The Iowa State Cyclones will travel less than two hours away to meet their Week 2 foe, the Iowa Hawkeyes, in a battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy.
This will be a defensive battle that comes down to turnovers and atmosphere. The Hawkeyes have home-field advantage, but it won't be a long trip for Cyclones fans. Iowa leads the series with a 46-22 record, riding a six-game win streak that dates back to 2015.
The home-team Hawkeyes are the favorites to win this matchup. They're a solid team, but Week 1 was a rough introduction to their 2022 season. Both teams won their first games against FCS competition, but Iowa scored seven points against South Dakota State, while Iowa State put up 42 on Southeast Missouri State. This is the real test for the season and a chance for year-round bragging rights.
Morgan Moriarty
Oregon State at Fresno State kicks off at 10:30 p.m. ET, and if you can stay up for this one, I highly encourage you to tune in.
This game features one of my favorite quarterbacks to watch, Fresno State's Jake Haener. He threw for 4,096 yards and 33 touchdowns last season, and it looks like he's on pace for another big year. In the season opener against Cal Poly, he threw for 377 yards and two touchdowns.
Fresno State faces an Oregon State squad that is looking to build on its 7-6 record last season. The Beavers won 35-17 in their opener against Boise State as quarterback Chance Nolan led his team with 251 yards and two touchdowns.
This one should be high-scoring, and I wouldn't be surprised if it came down to the wire. If you like high-flying offenses in late-night thrillers, this game is for you.
Brad Shepard
Mississippi State travels out to the desert to take on upstart Arizona in a cross-country showdown.
Somebody break up Jedd Fisch's program! The Wildcats went to a good Group of Five team's new house last weekend and dominated San Diego State like a Power Five program is supposed to. If you aren't excited about a young, new-look Pac-12 program that has spent too long in the dumpster, you don't care about football west of the Mississippi.
Speaking of that state, Mike Leach's Bulldogs will elevate the competition with quarterback Will Rogers to call the shots. If Arizona can keep him in check, this could be an intriguing matchup. Last week, the Pac-12's two showdowns against the SEC didn't turn out well. Fisch will try to change that at home, but the Bulldogs will probably be too much.
Which Under-the-Radar Storyline Are You Watching?
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Kerry Miller
Frank Gore Jr.
That's it. That's the storyline.
After back-to-back years of his name occasionally popping up and reminding us that we're old as dirt, this might be the season when he breaks out for Southern Miss.
Gore rushed for a career-high 178 yards and two touchdowns in the season opener against Liberty. He also attempted four passes—after going 10-of-16 with four touchdowns over the final three games of last season—for a Golden Eagles squad that has a great big question mark on its QB depth chart.
This could become a "second half of Lynn Bowden Jr.'s final season at Kentucky" situation in which Southern Miss embraces Gore as its full-time Wildcat QB.
And the really fun part? Playing at Miami this weekend with an opportunity to put his name on the map against the team his dad played for.
David Kenyon
Stole my answer, Kerry. That is the correct choice.
But, as usual, let's avoid a repeat.
Also during the noon ET window Saturday, Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman returns. He underwent surgery in early August for a blood clot, and the procedure ruled him out indefinitely. Fortunately, it was a relatively short absence for the 50-touchdown man from a season ago.
This weekend, the Demon Deacons travel to Vanderbilt. In recent years, that wouldn't mean much. Vanderbilt has a pitiful 1-24 record in SEC play over the last three seasons.
However, the Commodores are off to a promising start. Dual-threat QB Mike Wright has accounted for 638 yards and 10 touchdowns in two games. Sure, the competition level has been low, and I'm not saying the 'Dores will excel this year. Still, Vandy has a pair of 40-point performances, and that hadn't happened twice in a season since 2018.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Will J.J. McCarthy Become QB1 for Michigan After Week 2?
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Adam Kramer
Yes. Week 1 was very kind to J.J. McCarthy. While he didn't start for Michigan, the quarterback pulled ahead in the competition against Colorado State.
Cade McNamara was just, well, off. He completed only 50 percent of his throws, which is not something you want to do with a quarterback battle underway. Although he looked excellent at times last year, that was not the case in Week 1.
McCarthy, meanwhile, was explosive. We saw how much he can do with his arm and his legs when given time to play. He didn't have as many reps, but it didn't matter.
McCarthy will get the start against Hawai'i. The Wolverines are more than a 50-point favorite in this matchup. The starting QB is likely to shine, and I would be shocked if he isn't named the full-time guy after this week.
It's a tough situation for both QBs with limited time to make an impression. However, McCarthy is in the driver's seat.
David Kenyon
/carefully adjusts tinfoil hat
Before the season began, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh made a unique decision to announce a different starting QB for Weeks 1 and 2. McNamara took the first game, and now the Wolverines are shifting to McCarthy.
To me—and that statement must be emphasized—that feels like a telegraphed message. It is my opinion that McCarthy is being set up to start Saturday, retain the spot in Week 3 against UConn (as a confirmation of sorts) and enter the Big Ten slate as QB1.
McNamara, the incumbent QB who helped Michigan reach the College Football Playoff, is understandably annoyed about this situation.
But the message to McCarthy seems clear: Play well, and the job is yours.
Does Texas Keep It Close Against No. 1 Alabama?
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Max Escarpio
Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide travel to Austin as heavy favorites. Looking at both of the logos and seeing the storyline between the history of the coaches may give the feeling of a must-see game, but it's not. Texas should keep the game close in the first 20 minutes, but Alabama is too talented to let a first-year quarterback with mediocre receivers compete.
Saban's defense will have the biggest test in Week 2, but Alabama has an incredible linebacker core and quality secondary that won't flirt with an upset. The coaching staff knows how important it is to thrive early in the season and start working toward a better flow in each room. Teams only have a handful of opportunities to catch Saban and the Crimson Tide in a distressed manner; this is not one of them.
Alabama is almost entirely healthy and defeated Utah State 55-0 in Week 1. Although the Aggies may not be a familiar team, they won the Mountain West last season and finished with an 11-3 record. Alabama beat a talented team last week and will do it again by double digits.
Adam Kramer
I want to say yes. Truly, I do. I want to say yes because I would love to see a competitive game between two brands as big as this one.
The issue, however, is that Alabama is superior in just about every possible way. We saw this balance in a 55-0 win over Utah State. That result shouldn't surprise; we've gotten used to it. But it's still amazing to see the Crimson Tide take apart a team that won 11 games a season ago.
Texas is coming. Make no mistake about it. If the Longhorns continue to recruit like they did this past cycle, you will see a much more polished version in the future. These types of rebuilds just take time.
Still, I am excited to see what Quinn Ewers does in a game of this magnitude. I am excited to see how home field (and the Texas heat) impact this early game. These could be a factor in the result, although it won't be enough for Texas to stay close.
The spread is roughly three touchdowns. It would be a win for the Longhorns to cover this game, and I mean that sincerely. They just aren't ready yet.
Morgan Moriarty
This kicks off at 11 a.m. local time, and Alabama is a 20-point favorite. I will avoid the intrigue here and answer with an absolute and resounding no.
On paper, this matchup looks interesting. Both teams are college football powerhouses, even though Texas has been in decline for the last decade. Alabama doesn't travel on the road to face a nonconference opponent often; this is the first time since 2011.
But Texas doesn't have what it takes to compete against a team like Alabama. Let's not forget the Longhorns went 5-7 last year. Yes, adding Ohio State transfer Quinn Ewers was a big get for Texas' future. But it's hard for me to believe Ewers can have one of the best games of his young career against the best defense in the country. Even that might not be enough to keep it close against the Tide.
This one will likely be over by halftime.
How Will No. 10 USC Fare Against Stanford?
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Kerry Miller
It was merely Rice, so we don't want to get too excited about what USC did over Labor Day weekend.
Still, that Trojans offense full of transfer portal all-stars looked every bit as good as we imagined it might.
Caleb Williams was flawless. Jordan Addison scored multiple times. Nine different players had gains of at least 20 yards. And it wasn't until the fourth quarter that the offense—then full of backups—had a drive end without putting points on the board.
Stanford will supply considerably more resistance on defense than Rice did. The Cardinal are also better equipped to put what might be a mediocre USC defense to the test. But USC will fare just fine. The Trojans have scored a combined total of 40 points in their last four trips to Palo Alto, but they'll eclipse that in a 42-27 victory.
Brad Shepard
The transfer portal has allowed new USC coach Lincoln Riley to rebuild the Trojans in a single offseason. Week 1's 66-14 domination of Rice was thorough, and while they have some holes on defense, the Trojans look like an offensive machine.
They head to Palo Alto to take on a Stanford team that had a nice showing against Colgate and is trying to erase last year's abysmal season, when it looked like coach David Shaw had lost his touch.
This could be a nice bounce-back year for Stanford with Tanner McKee under center and E.J. Smith carrying the ball, but the Cardinal still have defensive issues, and those will be exploited in a big way by Caleb Williams.
Stanford may keep it close for a half, but USC is too talented not to pull away in the end.
Will No. 21 Tennessee Record Its First-Ever Win Over No. 17 Pitt?
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Brad Shepard
If the Vols want to be more than a flashy offense on a mediocre team, taking a massive step forward on the road against Pitt is vital for coach Josh Heupel.
This is the type of game the Vols haven't won many of since the mid-2000s. With an SEC gauntlet looming that includes Florida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Kentucky, Tennessee needs to avenge last year's loss to the Panthers on Rocky Top.
Pat Narduzzi's team opened the year with a hard-fought win over West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl, but it may have proved costly. Defensive end Deslin Alexandre and running back Rodney Hammond Jr. are dealing with injuries. Even so, Pitt is Kedon Slovis' team, and the Panthers will try to expose the Vols defense.
If Tennessee is truly better this season, it will begin with defensive improvement. UT quarterback Hendon Hooker should author enough points to hold off Pitt and win a big road game, but that touchdown spread is way too much. This should be a close one.
David Kenyon
These kinds of September matchups are great. Neither team is expected to contend for the College Football Playoff, but both Tennessee and Pitt are quality candidates to finish in the Top 25.
Doing so means winning games like this.
For now, though, I have more questions about Pitt—specifically, the secondary. Tennessee's depth at receiver is much greater than West Virginia's group, and WVU pushed the Panthers to the point that perhaps only a fortunate dropped pass led to Pitt's game-winning pick-six instead of what could've been a last-second loss.
Pitt stays close, but Tennessee manages a tight victory in the fourth all-time meeting between the programs.
No. 9 Baylor at No. 21 BYU: Who You Got?
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Adam Kramer
Texas and Alabama are playing in the most anticipated game of the weekend, but this is the best game of the weekend.
Given what we saw from BYU against South Florida on Saturday, Baylor is likely plenty concerned about the trip to Provo. (Also, Provo, Utah, might have the most beautiful football views imaginable. Catch a game there if you can.)
Quarterback Jaren Hall is an underappreciated player who can break out with a big performance. While running back Christopher Brooks isn't Tyler Allgeier at running back, he looked awfully impressive in Week 1.
Baylor, of course, will be perfectly fine. I love Dave Aranda, and he's turned the Bears around brilliantly. But with many new faces on the defensive side, it feels like BYU is catching Baylor at the right time and in the right environment.
BYU wins a close one. Also, please do watch this beautiful football game.
David Kenyon
I am so excited for this matchup.
Baylor lost a bunch of key contributors from last season's Big 12 championship team. However, the offensive and defensive lines are both veteran groups and create a stable foundation for this new-look roster.
On the opposite sideline, BYU brought back nearly everyone short of Allgeier and wideout Neil Pau'u. Hall is a reliable dual-threat QB who threw for 8.7 yards per attempt with 23 total touchdowns to five interceptions last year.
The main concern for this contest is BYU's top receivers, Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney, are both game-time decisions. Without them, the Cougs still have capable depth. But if they're down Nacua in particular, the offense will lack a much-needed dynamic and versatile threat.
If Nacua plays, give me BYU. But if both Nacua and Romney are sidelined, Baylor will steal a road win.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
