A look at the biggest games on weekend college football schedule, including one of the most anticipated matchups of the entire season.
It’s only Week 2 of the college football season, yet one of the most anticipated and important games of the entire fall arrives Saturday.
No. 1 Ohio State (1-0) at No. 4 (Texas), 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday night on ABC.
These kind of marquee non-conference matchups are exceedingly rare in any form but especially in home-and-home formats, away from soulless neutral-site stadiums in Atlanta or Las Vegas.
The top-ranked team in the country out of the Big Ten is visiting one of the premier teams from the SEC. Two Heisman Trophy-hopeful quarterbacks, arguably the best wide receiver in the country and loads of top-tier talent across both rosters.
It doesn’t get any better or bigger than this.
This is actually the third year in a row the Buckeyes and Longhorns are meeting, with Ohio State winning 28-14 in a College Football Playoff bout two seasons ago and then 14-7 to open last season in Columbus, Ohio, in the front end of this home-and-home series.
That was Ohio State QB Julian Sayin’s first start, as he threw for just 126 yards and 1 TD. It was also a rough game for Texas QB Arch Manning, who threw for 170 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT.
Both quarterbacks have come a long way since then, with Sayin finishing as a Heisman finalist last season and Manning closing strong to position himself as a legit candidate for the award this season.
Sayin threw for 320 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs with a rushing touchdown in the Buckeyes’ 56-3 blowout of Ball State to start the season.
Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith is generally regarded as the top receiver in the sport and had 8 catches for 151 yards and 2 TDs, while Bo Jackson (9 carries for 83 yards and a TD) and Ja’Kobi Jackson (8-83-1) form a formidable backfield tandem.
Texas, meanwhile, is loaded around Manning, who started his season with 305 passing yards, 4 TDs and 1 INT in a 59-7 blowout win over Texas State.
Ryan Wingo led the way with 7 catches for 121 yards and a TD in the opener while Cam Coleman (3-70-2) was the top WR transfer in the country moving over from Auburn. Running backs Hollywood Smothers (10 carries from 70 yards, 28 receiving yards and a TD) and Raleek Brown (2 rushing TDs) came over from NC State and Arizona State, respectively, this offseason.
Both defenses figure to be among the best in college football, though Ohio State lost eight starters (including three selected within the first 11 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft) from what was the top unit in the country last year.
It may only be Week 2, but the winner Saturday night will take the pole position as the early national champion favorite.
Texas is a 1.5-point favorite at home, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
But we’re taking the Buckeyes in this one, even on the road. Ohio State, 31-26.
Here’s the rest of the top 25 slate.
Week 2 Top 25 Matchups
(All gametimes ET, all point spreads via DraftKings Sportsbook)
No. 7 Miami 77, Florida A&M 7 (Thursday): Darian Mensah completed 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs while Malachi Toney continued his own Heisman campaign with 4 catches for 96 yards and a TD.
No. 23 Missouri 38, Kansas 21 (Friday): Austin Simmons threw for 292 yards and 3 TDs, Donovan Olugbode (6-121-1) and Cayden Lee (6-120-1) delivered big performances and Jamal Roberts rushed for 125 yards and a TD in the rivalry win for the Tigers.
No. 24 Louisville 59, Villanova 13 (Friday): Lincoln Kienholz was 16-of-21 passing for 332 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs as the Cardinals evened their record at 1-1 after the opening loss to Ole Miss.
No. 25 Virginia 59, Norfolk State 3 (Friday): Beau Pribula stayed locked in with 162 passing yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT on 12-of-14 passing.
No. 5 Indiana (1-0) vs. Howard (1-1), 12 p.m. on Big Ten Network: Nothing to see here folks. The reigning national champion Hoosiers are 57.5-point favorites. Prediction: Indiana 70, Howard 3.
No. 6 Oregon (1-0) at Oklahoma State (0-1), 12 p.m. on ESPN/Disney+: The Ducks needed to rally last week to get past Boise State, but there’s no doubting they’re one of the top teams in the country. Oklahoma State is at the start of a rebuild under new coach Eric Morris and the preseason optimism for a quick fix fizzled in a 24-10 loss at Tulsa last week. Oregon is a 23.5-point favorite. Prediction: Oregon 49, Oklahoma State 24
No. 10 Texas A&M (1-0) vs. Arizona State (1-0), 12 p.m. on ABC: This is a mildly intriguing non-conference matchup, but the Sun Devils and QB Cutter Boley (the Kentucky transfer) are probably no match for a loaded Aggies team looking to build off its CFP breakthrough last year. Texas A&M is a 14.5-point favorite. Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Arizona State 19
No. 11 Oklahoma (1-0) at Michigan (1-0), 12 p.m. on FOX: Yet another non-conference clash of big-name programs. The Sooners won the front end of this home-and-home series last year, 24-13 in Norman, Oklahoma, while making life hard on young QB Bryce Underwood. Well, things haven’t gotten any easier for the Michigan QB and former five-star prospect, who struggled mightily in his 2026 debut (12 of 22 for 170 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT) while needing a second (gifted) Hail Mary to save the Wolverines from an upset vs. Western Michigan. Oklahoma and QB John Mateer, meanwhile, rumbled to a 51-0 win over UTEP. This game is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but Oklahoma is understandably a 5.5-point favorite. Prediction: Oklahoma 24, Michigan 17
No. 16 Penn State (1-0) at Temple (1-0), 12 p.m. on ESPN: The Matt Campbell Era at Penn State started swimmingly with a 45-0 win as Rocco Becht, the QB he brought with him from Iowa State, threw for 271 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs. Penn State is a 24.5-point favorite. Prediction: Penn State 41, Temple 18
No. 2 Georgia (1-0) vs. Western Kentucky (0-1), 12:45 p.m. on SEC Network: The Bulldogs continue their soft opening schedule as 40.5-point favorites. Prediction: Georgia 45, Western Kentucky 6
No. 3 Notre Dame (1-0) vs. Rice (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on NBC: The Fighting Irish had no trouble dispatching Wisconsin, 41-13, last week and are 45.5-point favorites Saturday. Prediction: Notre Dame 51, Rice 13
No. 12 Alabama (1-0) at Kentucky (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on ABC/Disney+: This might be the second-best game of the day. Kentucky has fresh optimism under new coach Will Stein and opened with a 45-13 win over Youngstown State, with Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey passing for 301 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INT. For Alabama, redshirt-freshman Keelon Russell made his first start last week and passed for 256 yards while rushing for 86 and a TD in a blowout of East Carolina. Alabama is a 9.5-point favorite. Prediction: Alabama 37, Kentucky 30
No. 15 BYU (1-0) vs. Arizona (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on FOX: Big 12 play gets going early with the Cougars, led by returning QB Bear Bachmeier and RB LJ Martin, set as 7-point favorites. Arizona is always feisty with veteran QB Noah Fifita, though. Prediction: BYU 27, Arizona 21
Utah State (0-1) at No. 19 Washington (1-0), 3:30 p.m. on Big Ten Network: The Huskies and star QB Demond Williams Jr. are 28.5-point favorites. Prediction: Washington 41, Utah State 13
No. 17 SMU (1-0) vs. UC Davis (2-0), 4 p.m. on ACCNX: The Mustangs and veteran QB Kevin Jennings survived a battle with Florida State in Week 1 and now host a solid FCS squad in their home opener. SMU is 32.5-point favorites. Prediction: SMU 38, UC Davis 14
No. 18 Tennessee (1-0) at Georgia Tech (0-1), 7 p.m. on ESPN: An SEC-ACC clash! The Yellowjackets were humbled in Week 0 in a last-second loss to Colorado and will look to avoid digging an early 0-2 hole while facing a big challenge from the high-scoring Vols and true freshman QB Faizon Brandon, who threw for 226 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs and rushed for 68 yard and 2 scores in a blowout of Furman in his college debut. Tennessee is a 12.5-point favorite. Prediction: Tennessee 33, Georgia Tech 21
No. 22 Houston (1-0) vs. Southern (1-1), 7 p.m. on ESPN+: The Cougars and returning starting QB Conner Weigman opened with a 33-20 win over Oregon State and get an easier matchup here as 51.5-point favorites. Prediction: Houston 66, Southern 3
No. 8 LSU (1-0) vs. Louisiana Tech (1-0), 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network: The Tigers dismantled Clemson in the biggest game of last week in Lane Kiffin’s debut with the program and are set at 35.5-point favorites here. Prediction: LSU 51, Louisiana Tech 6
No. 13 Texas Tech (1-0) at Oregon State (0-1), 7:30 p.m. on CBS: The Red Raiders’ three-headed rushing attack of Cameron Dickey, J’Koby Williams and Quinten Joyner will be hard to stop for the Beavers and most opponents. Texas Tech is a 25.5-point favorite. Prediction: Texas Tech 49, Oregon State 21
No. 21 Iowa (1-0) vs. Iowa State (1-0), 7:30 p.m. on NBC: The in-state rivals battle for all the corn in Week 2. The Hawkeyes, led by RB Kamari Moulton (183 yards and 2 TDs on just 11 carries last week against Northern Illinois) are 14-point favorites. Prediction: Iowa 31, Iowa Sate 20
No. 9 Ole Miss (1-0) vs. Charlotte (0-1), 7:45 p.m. on ESPN2: The Rebels narrowly got past Louisville in Week 1 while looking concerningly vulnerable defensively, but that won’t matter this week as 45.5-point favorites. Prediction: Ole Miss 56, Charlotte 10
No. 20 Utah (1-0) vs. Arkansas (1-0): Dual-threat QB Devon Dampier is back for Utah while Arkansas is starting over with new coach Ryan Silverfield and QB KJ Jackson. Both teams had light openers and should learn more about themselves Saturday night. Utah is a 12.5-point favorite. Prediction: Utah 41, Arkansas 20
No. 14 USC (2-0) vs. Louisiana (1-0), 11 p.m. on Big Ten Network: Heisman hopeful Jayden Maiava has been sublime to start the season for USC, completing 48 of 54 passes for 635 yards, 5 TDs and 0 INTs plus a rushing TD. The Trojans are loaded on both sides of the ball and should roll Saturday night as 31.5-point favorites. Prediction: USC 56, Louisiana 10
