Welcome to our College Football Week 2 preview! Alex and Jake Majka are back to break down the 5 biggest games of the weekend, starting in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Next year, these two teams will be battling for SEC supremacy. This year, both teams are looking to jumpstart their journey toward a College Football playoff berth.
Alex’s Games to Watch
#11 Texas at #3 Alabama
Our college football week 2 preview begins with two of the most storied programs in college football face off at Bryant-Denny Stadium in a rematch in what was one of the best games of the 2022 season. Last year in Austin, Alabama came out on top 20-19 in a shocking defensive battle. It’s the last season before we see Texas join the SEC and this game becomes more commonplace, Alabama currently is -7.
Last week Alabama lit up MTSU, 56-7 with QB Jalen Milroe throwing for 3 TDs and running in 2 others. Against the average Conference USA team, the Tide look as prepared as they always do. Week 2 however sees them against the defense that held them to their lowest point total last season and looks on paper to be primed for the next step. Saban and his boys will have a tough time on Saturday.
Alright, alright, alright. The Texas Longhorns kicked off the 2023 season with a 37-10 win against their “rival” Rice. The offense under 2nd-year starter QB Quinn Ewers was efficient but had an issue finishing drives in the first half.
After an early TD, the Longhorns had to settle for three field goals to close out the 1st half. Not an issue against a team like Rice but that won’t fly against Alabama or against the rest of the Big 12. The defense looked good, intercepting journeyman QB JT Daniels twice and getting two sacks. It should be a great game on Saturday, Hook’Em.
#20 Ole Miss at #24 Tulane
Not often a rivalry that is talked about but Tulane is actually Ole Miss’ oldest rival in school history dating back to 1893. All-time Ole Miss leads 42-28 and are on a current winning streak of 12 dating back to 1989. This is also the first time that these two teams have faced off with both being ranked in the AP since 1956!
The Rebels under Lane Kiffin are looking to put together a complete season and prove they belong in the crowded SEC. An early win over a ranked opponent can help set a good tone for the season.
Last week they faced off against Mercer and won 73-7, an impressive offensive showing against an FCS team. QB Jaxon Dart got the start and had 4 TD passes, before being relieved by former Okla St. QB Spencer Sanders who added 2 more scores through the air. Good offense has been a staple of Kiffin’s teams but the question remains; Can it win them the big games?
Tulane not only has the coolest logo in college football they also are a good football team that won the Cotton Bowl last year in the all-time classic against USC.
Last week the Green Wave washed away (sorry) the competition with a 37-17 win over South Alabama. QB Michael Pratt was nearly perfect when he went 14/15 for 294 yards and 4 TDs. He did have 1 fumble that was lost to go along with 2 other lost fumbles by the team. Tulane will need to clean up the turnovers if they hope to win against Ole Miss.
#19 Wisconsin at Wash St
My college football week 2 preview ends in Pullman, spiritual home of College Gameday. Saturday marks only the 4th time that these two teams have faced off and is the second game in their home-and-home series. Wash St won last year in Madison 17-14 and could very well be primed for the upset again this year.
Wisconsin under new Head Coach Luke Fickell had a solid start last week.
They beat UB 38-17 and had RBs Braelon Allen and Chez Mellusi run for a combined 298 and 4 TDs. In the air though it was less successful with QB Tanner Mordecai throwing two interceptions that against a Power 5 team could be even more costly for the Badgers season.
Wash St kicked off the season with a bang putting 50 points up on Colorado St.
The 2nd year starter QB had an insane stat line of 37/49 for 451 yards 3 TDs and ran for 40 more yards and another score. The Cougars also were able to pick off Colorado St. twice but struggled to get to the QB only having 1 sack. Ward will also need to protect the ball better having 3 fumbles and 2 going for a loss. If they want to pull off the upset in Pullman, they’ll need to be more careful with the ball.
Jake’s Games to Watch
Nebraska at #22 Colorado
After the dust settled on week one, what a slate we have for our College Football Week 2 preview.
And what a matchup we have for week 2. Nebraska and Colorado first met in 1898 and have met 71 times. Nebraska leads the series 49-20-2 but Colorado took their last meeting in 2019, a thrilling 34-31 overtime victory.
So much has changed since then.
Last week, Colorado shocked the nation. If you’re living under a rock, they won 45-42. Shedeur Sanders broke the school record with 510 yards. 4 receivers eclipsed 100 yards, including Travis Hunter who played over 110 snaps in the game. Colorado didn’t just look like they belonged, they looked like they could make some noise.
The defense? Left some to be desired. Which is the exact opposite experience Nebraska fans had last week.
Matt Rhule couldn’t break the curse yet. Nebraska lost in heartbreaking fashion yet again, 13-10 on a last-second field goal to Minnesota.
Nebraska beat themselves in this one, committing 4 turnovers including an interception in the end zone. Even with that, they had a chance to win the game with the ball in the last 5 minutes.
Colorado is a different animal entirely, but this game is truly a clash of styles.
The atmosphere in Boulder should be memorable. This is one of the sleeping giants of college football fanbases. Coach Prime brings the juice everywhere he goes, to the tune of the most-watched game in FOX Big Noon history.
You can expect the crowd to match that energy.
Bet the under, and I know the 3-point spread feels like a trap but I’m walking into the trap. Colorado wins handily but doesn’t have the offensive explosion from the week before.
Colorado (-3) 31, Nebraska 17
#10 Notre Dame @ NC State
That’s all you really need to know about what’s different this year for the Fighting Irish.
Last year the Irish went 9-4, averaging 31 PPG (42nd in the nation).
This year Notre Dame has started 2-0 and is averaging 49 PPG 🔥🔥🔥.
Sam Hartman has been almost perfect against lesser competition. He’s 33-40, 445 yards and 6 TDs. He’s efficient and electric. Drew Pyne could never.
That was really the only question mark surrounding ND. Could they field a top-flight offense to match with their stout defense?
This year, the answer is a resounding yes so far, but they have their first big test of the season traveling to face a tricky NC State team. Last year’s 8-5 team defeated Hartman’s former team, Wake Forest, 30-21.
They also defeated Florida State and North Carolina in upsets. They were competitive in all losses. This is a frisky team that the Irish can’t overlook.
NC State started the year grinding out a victory at UConn.
Brennan Armstrong, formerly of Virginia, will have to have one of the best games of his career for NC State to keep pace with Hartman. I expect Notre Dame to pull away late.
Notre Dame (-7.5) 38, NC State 24
Alex Majka’s Top 25 – Week 2
- Georgia
- Michigan
- Alabama
- Florida St
- OSU
- USC
- Penn St
- Washington
- Notre Dame
- Texas
- UNC
- Tennessee
- Utah
- LSU
- Oregon St
- Oregon
- Kansas St
- Ole Miss
- Oklahoma
- Wisconsin
- Duke
- Tulane
- Colorado
- Texas A&M
- Clemson