Seven Greatest College Football Video games to Watch in Week 2: Bryce Underwood’s First Take a look at

Finally, now we have actual school soccer video games to dissect and bonafide takeaways to make. A extremely anticipated Week 1 of the season exceeded expectations in some areas, however different people fell flat—together with Arch Manning and Bill Belichick, two of the largest names within the sport.

But the possibility for redemption has arrived. A quasi-rivalry week is on faucet in Week 2, that includes various matchups with deep histories, however now happen between two applications that play in numerous conferences. The greatest recreation of the week isn’t identified for having two groups with unhealthy blood, however does pit colleges making an attempt to return to the game’s elite bunch in opposition to each other. Plus, Belichick’s Tar Heels have a get-right recreation in opposition to an in-state foe. 

Here’s what to observe in Week 2, that includes takes from Sports Illustrated specialists Pat Forde and Bryan Fischer:

Saturday, midday ET, ESPN

Bret Bielema’s Illini have been a classy preseason playoff decide, due to a robust end in 2024 and a positive Big Ten schedule. But these CFP aspirations shall be examined this weekend in opposition to the Blue Devils. Duke head coach Manny Diaz was aggressive within the offseason, upgrading at quarterback with the addition of Tulane’s Darian Mensah, who threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns in opposition to Elon within the opener. However, Saturday’s recreation shall be simply Mensah’s third in opposition to a Power 4 opponent—he misplaced the earlier two begins in opposition to Kansas State and Oklahoma.

Saturday, midday ET, Fox

A beloved Midwest rivalry that dates again to the nineteenth century stays a staple in early September. This recreation is sort of at all times shut—the final seven matchups have been determined by 10 factors or much less since Iowa shellacked Iowa State, 42–3, in 2016. This yr’s Hawkeyes, promising a revamped offense in ’25, regarded considerably torpid in Week 1 and can want a greater efficiency from South Dakota State switch QB Mark Gronowski (8 of 15 for 44 yards and a landing vs. Albany) to win in Ames, Iowa. 

What SI’s specialists say:

Fischer: “I’ll go with Iowa getting the three and a half … I mean, this is always a close series. It feels like it’s always coming down to the fourth quarter, somebody making a field goal, missing a field goal, something like that. I think these two teams enjoy playing against each other. I think the conservative nature of both coaches is going to play into this one. So with that hook, give me Iowa getting the three and a half.”

Forde: “I like the way Rocco Becht is playing. He made some gutty plays at the end against Kansas State in Ireland. But I’m taking Iowa. I think Iowa can win outright here, because here’s what I expect. They brought in Mark Gronowski, the quarterback from South Dakota State, and he did nothing last week. And I wonder if that’s partially by design, that we’re not even going to really break him out if we don’t have to … I did say that when I saw the box score, that you don’t change Iowa, Iowa changes you. And Mark Gronowski was changed into a pedestrian quarterback. But look, I’m expecting more. I think they will break it out a little bit more, and they’ll win the game. So I’m taking the Hawkeyes, not just to cover, but to win on the road in Ames.”

Saturday, midday ET, CW Network

This rivalry dates again to a gone however by no means forgotten league—the Southwest Conference. SMU hasn’t crushed Baylor since 1986, however has the luxurious of constructing the Bears journey up I-35 to Dallas for the showdown. The Bears protection additionally regarded porous in Week 1 vs. Auburn, which gained’t bode nicely when going up in opposition to reigning third-team All-ACC quarterback Kevin Jennings.

What SI’s specialists say:

Forde: “One more neighborhood scrap where I’m going for my lock of the week. Baylor at SMU, old Southwest Conference rivals. They’re playing in Dallas. SMU’s only giving two and a half, and I didn’t like what I saw at Baylor in the opener defensively. I think SMU has the weapons to take advantage of that and to certainly win by a field goal or more. So I’m rolling with the Mustangs there.”

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Another rivalry that extends nicely past the traces on the soccer area and dates again to the Civil War ought to ship a bodily battle with two dynamic quarterbacks. Penn State switch Beau Pribula regarded the a part of a beginning SEC quarterback with 348 yards and 4 whole touchdowns in his Missouri debut, however he’ll need to sustain with a wholesome Jalon Daniels come Saturday. The sixth-year Jayhawks QB is firing on all cylinders by way of two video games in 2025—456 yards, 80% completion proportion and 7 touchdowns—and has a historical past of delivering within the greatest moments.

What SI’s specialists say:

Fischer: “I’m leaning more towards the home team instead of just hope and a prayer. I think the reliance of Kansas on Jalon Daniels to be that team, to be that offense, Mizzou can kind of take him away just a little bit. I think that does give [the Tigers] enough headroom to win by more than a touchdown at home. So I will go with Pat’s Tigers there in this very important rivalry for both teams.”

Forde: “Pat is not going with Pat’s Tigers. I’m taking Kansas and taking the points. I just think this is a field goal game. I think it’s going to be really close. I like what Kansas has done so far. I do think Jalon Daniels is an incredibly dynamic quarterback. And the problem with Missouri, having watched the first game, they got skill talent, man. They’ve got it. But the offensive line got their quarterback hit a lot. Beau Pribula was really good, [the] Penn State transfer. But he took a lot of hits. They’ve moved their all-American left guard to left tackle. And it’s been a struggle. It’s going to be probably more of a struggle when you’re not playing Central Arkansas. So I am going to take the Hawks to cover and the Tigers to win.”

Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+

You is likely to be considering, “This game won’t be competitive, Charlotte lost its season opener to App State by 23.” Sure, however all of us watched Monday’s trainwreck of a debut for Chapel Bill. The Tar Heels regarded utterly outmatched in opposition to TCU and it’s definitely price listening to whether or not or not the Belichick school teaching experiment goes utterly off the rails. North Carolina could not lose in Week 2; nevertheless it’s how the Heels win that may bear watching. 

What SI’s specialists say:

Fischer: “I’m going with my lock of the week … North Carolina, giving 13 and a half at Charlotte. I was not impressed by the 49ers in that opener against App State. I think regardless of the [North Carolina] quarterback issue, I think that’s kind of why this line is probably as small as it is. I think that’s probably playing into the hands of North Carolina, give me the Tar Heels to cover by scoring two touchdowns on the 49ers.”

Forde: “It was a god-awful disaster. I mean, I can’t imagine. I can’t remember another really hype debut that went as badly as that one did. The first six minutes were great. And then the last 54 was the worst thing I’d ever seen. I mean, it was incredible. [The Tar Heels] did nothing right. Offensively, defensively, special teams. So that was something … I’m folding. I’m sorry. That was so bad.”

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2

Sam Leavitt confirmed why the preseason buzz across the Sun Devils was well-founded with a monster Week 1, during which he racked up 330 yards of offense and 4 whole touchdowns. ASU star receiver Jordyn Tyson additionally regarded the a part of Biletnikoff watch record honoree with 12 catches, 141 yards and two scores. But a harder opponent than Northern Arizona awaits in Starkville, Miss., as Mississippi State threatens to place a wrench in Arizona State’s nonconference slate earlier than a difficult schedule within the Big 12.

Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Quarterback play couldn’t have gotten worse for Michigan in 2025, however Underwood confirmed in Week 1 why it stands to get an entire lot higher. The true freshman threw for 251 yards and a landing vs. New Mexico and regarded poised past his years. But a Brent Venables protection threatens to throw the kitchen sink at him in Week 2. Oklahoma additionally boasts a much more skilled quarterback in John Mateer, who appears to be an ideal match for the Sooners after connecting on 81% of his makes an attempt for a career-high 30 completions in his Norman, Okla., debut.

What SI’s specialists say:

Fischer: “If there’s one thing Brent Venables is going to do, it’s going to stop the run and that’s going to put even more pressure on Bryce Underwood … I think the hype about Bryce Underwood is not necessarily for this game. It’s not necessarily even for this season. This is about building forward for Michigan. And you do like what you want to see, but he’s going to end up taking his lumps, as every true freshman is going to do, especially in an environment like this. And I can’t wait to see it, because I think this is going to kind of give us a really good indicator in terms of what is that ceiling for Michigan and ultimately kind of also, what is that floor?”

Forde: “This is going to be a different level challenge. If last week did teach us anything, it’s to expect your young quarterbacks to struggle in big games, especially early in the season, which this is. [Underwood] threw against New Mexico—and I was just looking at the highlights of his passes—he threw some great balls, but he threw a lot into traffic. Throwing into traffic against New Mexico and throwing into traffic against Oklahoma are going to be two different things. So we’ll see how that goes for him if he’s maybe a little more wary about where he places his passes. But we also have Sherrone Moore coaching this game for Michigan, which is, I think, a bonus for the Wolverines.”

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