Let Week 1 be a reminder that college football weekends with one ranked matchup can still — and usually will — deliver the goods. We got a walk-off blocked field goal, a walk-off goal-line tackle, the No. 2 team pushed to the brink, a Labor Day blackout, one very controversial second in Ann Arbor, and much more. Plus, the ranked matchup between Ole Miss and Louisville was arguably the best of the bunch. And this weekend’s ranked matchup should be even better.Here are the top 10 games of Week 2, starting with a few honorable mentions and counting down.Honorable Mention: No. 6 Oregon at Oklahoma State, Appalachian State at East Carolina, UCF at Pitt, Cal at Syracuse, Duke at Illinois, Maryland at UConn, Iowa State at No. 21 Iowa(All point spreads are courtesy of BetMGM. All kickoff times are Eastern and on Saturday unless otherwise noted.)10. Arkansas (1-0) at No. 20 Utah (1-0), 10:15 p.m., ESPNThis one spawned headlines in the spring when Arkansas complained about the late kickoff time followed by an early start next week. It wasn’t exactly a vote of confidence for the Razorbacks. Neither was first-year coach Ryan Silverfield saying the Week 1 win over FCS North Alabama was “one of the worst offensive performances I’ve been a part of.” Now Arkansas will have to keep up with a Utah squad that hung 66 points and 633 yards in its own season-opening win over an FCS opponent.Line: Utah -12.59. No. 18 Tennessee (1-0) at Georgia Tech (0-1), 7 p.m., ESPNThe Vols steamrolled FCS Furman while Georgia Tech short-circuited against Colorado, rushing for only 51 yards and allowing 183 in a home loss. Told this week that Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said it will be a physical game, GT’s Brent Key joked that Heupel was being nice. But for as out-of-character as Georgia Tech’s performance was against the Buffs, the Yellow Jackets at least have the experience of having been tested this season, while Tennessee does not.Line: Tennessee -12.58. Mississippi State (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0), 3:30 p.m., CBSThis is the type of on-campus, evenly matched nonconference meeting we need more of. To wit: These two teams have never played each other, the Bulldogs haven’t faced a regular-season Big Ten opponent since 1980, and the Gophers haven’t faced a regular-season SEC opponent since 1959. Fun quarterback matchup, too. Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor can throw it over those mountains, and Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey is already creating NFL Draft buzz.Line: Mississippi State -17. Memphis (2-0) at Boise State (0-1), 6 p.m., USA NetworkWas there a more impressive Week 1 loser than Boise State? (Still unclear whether Western Michigan is eligible for this honor.) The Broncos went toe-to-toe with No. 2 Oregon on the road and were tied midway through the fourth quarter. Even in defeat, it was a reminder of why Boise State is the standard in the Group of 6 and favorite for the G6 CFP spot. A well-rested Memphis is a G6 team that could challenge the Broncos, with a pair of wins after running back Jaylin Carter posted 183 rushing yards and four touchdowns against Arkansas State.Line: Boise State -86. No. 23 Missouri (1-0) at Kansas (1-0), Fri., 8 p.m., FoxLast season marked the first football Border War since 2011 and a return to campus for the first time since 2006. The game featured a fourth-quarter comeback by Mizzou and a Tigers fan passing up a chance to win $25k to troll the Jayhawks instead. This year’s tilt heads to Lawrence, Kan., for a Friday night showcase before it goes on hiatus again until 2031. Mizzou transfer quarterback Austin Simmons looked sharp in Week 1 (17-for-19 passing, four TDs), but star running back Ahmad Hardy is still unavailable as he works his way back from an offseason gunshot wound.Line: Missouri -55. Arizona (1-0) at No. 15 BYU (1-0), 3:30 p.m., FoxWas Arizona the quietest nine-win team last season? The Wildcats almost had 10, if not for a dramatic double-overtime loss to BYU last October. A pair of Bear Bachmeier touchdown runs tied the score in the final seconds of regulation and then won it for the Cougars, who are considered the top challenger to Texas Tech in the Big 12 this season. Arizona can enter that conversation with some revenge Saturday. Bachmeier is back for BYU, as is Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita in an early September meeting that could impact the Big 12 title race.Line: BYU -7.54. No. 12 Alabama (1-0) at Kentucky (1-0), 3:30 p.m., ABCThere’s some young talent worth watching in this game, and an interesting early road trip for the Tide against Will Stein and the Wildcats. Alabama sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell impressed in his first career start, accounting for 342 total yards while leading his team in rushing. On the other side, Notre Dame transfer quarterback Kenny Minchey threw for 300 yards for Kentucky, completing touchdowns to freshman wideouts Kenny Darby — this year’s Malachi Toney? — and Prince Jean. But Alabama has owned this series, with Kentucky winning just twice in 42 meetings since 1917, most recently in 1997.Line: Alabama -10.53. Arizona State (1-0) at No. 10 Texas A&M (1-0), noon, ABCAside from BYU hosting Notre Dame next month, this game is the Big 12’s best chance to sway the narrative when it comes to the conference’s hopes of putting multiple teams in the CFP. The shine on ASU has dimmed a bit since it nearly beat Texas in the Playoff a couple of years ago, but if the Sun Devils can somehow upset quarterback Marcel Reed and a top-10 SEC squad on the road at Kyle Field, it casts the top of the Big 12 in a different light. That’s no easy task: ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said this game is “about as big of a step up as you can get.”Line: Texas A&M -142. No. 11 Oklahoma (1-0) at Michigan (1-0), noon, FoxWhat a week for the Wolverines. Michigan stole a victory against Western Michigan last Saturday on a, uhhh, “last-second” Hail Mary. But aside from the 1-0 record, there’s little to be encouraged about, with Michigan dropping from No. 16 to out of the rankings. New coach Kyle Whittingham didn’t fully throw quarterback Bryce Underwood under the bus, but he didn’t step in front of it, either, stating that the high-priced sophomore is the starting QB “right now” after Underwood completed 12 of 22 passes for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception. It won’t get easier against an aggressive Sooners defense.Line: Oklahoma -5.51. No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) at No. 4 Texas (1-0), 7:30 p.m., ABCAnother week with only one ranked matchup — but it’s a doozy. A pair of top-five teams and national title contenders. Big Ten vs. SEC. Arch Manning vs. Julian Sayin. Arch Manning vs. The Narrative. Jeremiah Smith vs. Cam Coleman. After a sleepy, season-opening win for Ohio State last season in Columbus, the Buckeyes head to Austin for the most anticipated game of the season that doesn’t involve Lane Kiffin. Both teams have tough enough schedules that a loss won’t sink their CFP hopes, but it will shrink the margin for error. Many will be tuned in to see how Manning and the unending cycle of hype and scrutiny fare against the Ohio State defense.Line: Texas -2
Week 2’s top 10 college football games: Ohio State-Texas, Oklahoma-Michigan and more
A pair of top-five teams and title contenders meet Saturday night when Ohio State visits Texas and Arch Manning.















