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CFB Week 2: Longhorns Stampede Continues
Texas triumphed, Colorado crumbled, and Northern Illinois dropped our jaws.
Christian Medley & Noah Sausville
September 09, 2024
A pack of wolverines would be no match for a stampede of longhorns in the wild. The same was the case for the Wolverines of Michigan when they welcomed the Longhorns of Texas on Saturday in what was the biggest matchup of the weekend.
Multiple elite programs’ “buy games” turned into nail-biting affairs while plenty of interconference matchups sought to entertain. Every TV window featured more than enough excitement in Week 2.
1. #24 Boston College Eagles 2-0 (1-0) |
2. Syracuse Orange 2-0 (1-0) |
3. Virginia Cavaliers 2-0 (1-0) |
4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 2-1 (1-1) |
5. California Golden Bears 2-0 |
6. Duke Blue Devils 2-0 |
7. #19 Louisville Cardinals 2-0 |
8. #10 Miami Hurricanes 2-0 |
9. North Carolina Tar Heels 2-0 |
10. Pittsburgh Panthers 2-0 |
11. SMU Mustangs 2-1 |
12. #22 Clemson Tigers 1-1 |
13. NC State Wolfpack 1-1 |
14. Stanford Cardinal 1-1 |
15. Virginia Tech Hokies 1-1 |
16. Wake Forest Demon Deacons 1-1 (0-1) |
17. Florida State Seminoles 0-2 (0-2) |
Key Performances
Syracuse 31 - 28 Georgia Tech | Kyle McCord and the Orange made a statement on Saturday versus a #23 ranked Georgia Tech. McCord threw for 381 yards and 4 TDs and made sure to call out the naysayers.
California 21 - 14 Auburn | The Golden Bears went on the road to Auburn and secured an early signature win as a new member of the ACC. Efficient offense and forcing Auburn QB Payton Thorne to throw 4 interceptions were key to winning the day.
Notable Developments
Maalik Murphy propels Duke to win in 2OT | Texas transfer Maalik Murphy threw 2 TD passes in overtime to lead the Blue Devils over fellow academic powerhouse Northwestern. The game was at a stalemate entering the fourth quarter and finished at 26-20.
Clemson gets back on track versus App State | The Tigers rebounded with a blowout win of their own after a dismal showing last week versus Georgia. They amassed 712 total yards and 66 points against a Mountaineers team that’s thought to be a dark horse for the last CFP spot.
Look Ahead to Week 3
#24 Boston College @ #6 Missouri (-16), Saturday 12:45pm ET | This matchup looks much more intriguing considering the Eagles’ hot start under new head coach Bill O’Brien. The Tigers high-powered offense led by Brady Cook and Luther Burden III will look to crush hopes of an upset.
Memphis @ Florida State (-5.5), Saturday 12:00pm ET | The Seminoles need to salvage their season, but the Tigers won’t make it easy. Memphis is another team predicted to challenge for the last CFP spot.
1. Michigan State Spartans 2-0 (1-0) |
2. Illinois Fighting Illini 2-0 |
3. Indiana Hoosiers 2-0 |
4. #23 Nebraska Cornhuskers 2-0 |
5. #3 Ohio State Buckeyes 2-0 |
6. #9 Oregon Ducks 2-0 |
7. #8 Penn State Nittany Lions 2-0 |
8. Rutgers Scarlet Knights 2-0 |
9. #11 USC Trojans 2-0 |
10. Washington Huskies 2-0 |
11. Wisconsin Badgers 2-0 |
12. Purdue Boilermakers 1-0 |
13. UCLA Bruins 1-0 |
14. Iowa Hawkeyes 1-1 |
15. #17 Michigan Wolverines 1-1 |
16. Minnesota Golden Gophers 1-1 |
17. Northwestern Wildcats 1-1 |
18. Maryland Terrapins 1-1 (0-1) |
Key Performances
Nebraska 28 - 10 Colorado | Smothering defense led the way for the Cornhuskers as they welcomed Coach Prime and Colorado to Lincoln. Offensive line remains a problem for the Buffaloes as Nebraska sacked Shedeur Sanders five times.
Illinois 23 - 17 Kansas | The Fighting Illini took full advantage of being at home versus the #19 ranked Jayhawks to get the upset. Coming back from 17-13 and scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter sealed the win in Champaign.
Notable Developments
Last-second field goal saves Oregon | Through two weeks, Oregon has failed to meet expectations but has found ways to win. Boise State nearly pulled off the upset behind Ashton Jeanty’s 192 yards and 3 TDs, but the Ducks did just enough to escape behind a field goal as time expired.
Penn State flirts with disaster | Bowling Green tested the Nittany Lions, as they went into halftime holding a 24-20 lead. However, Penn State shut down the Falcons in the second half and RBs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen rushed for 100+ yards each.
Rutgers Monangai rushes for 200 | Running back Kyle Monangai has started the season “scarlet hot” for Rutgers. After leading the Big 10 in rushing last year, he has amassed 373 yards and 4 TDs through two games.
Look Ahead to Week 3
#9 Oregon (-14) @ Oregon State, Saturday 3:30pm ET | The Ducks visit Corvallis as the “Civil War” rivalry is renewed. Oregon State will need Reser Stadium as a 12th man to slow down Oregon.
Indiana (-3) @ UCLA, Saturday 7:30pm ET | The Hoosiers travel to the Rose Bowl in a battle of first year head coaches: Curt Cignetti for Indiana and Deshaun Foster for UCLA.
Shooting Our Shot
BIG 12 CONFERENCE
1. #12 Utah Utes 2-0 (1-0) |
2. #20 Arizona Wildcats 2-0 |
3. Arizona State Sun Devils 2-0 |
4. BYU Cougars 2-0 |
5. #21 Iowa State Cyclones 2-0 |
6. #14 Kansas State Wildcats 2-0 |
7. #13 Oklahoma State Cowboys 2-0 |
8. TCU Horned Frogs 2-0 |
9. UCF Knights 2-0 |
10. Baylor Bears 1-1 (0-1) |
11. Cincinnati Wildcats 1-1 |
12. Colorado Buffaloes 1-1 |
13. Kansas Jayhawks 1-1 |
14. Texas Tech Red Raiders 1-1 |
15. West Virginia Mountaineers 1-1 |
16. Houston Cougars 0-2 |
Key Performances
Oklahoma State 39 - 31 Arkansas | The Cowboys overcame a 21-7 second quarter deficit and a 149 rushing yard and 3 TD performance from Arkansas RB Ja’Quinden Jackson. They won an absolute thriller in Stillwater over the Razorbacks.
Iowa State 20 - 19 Iowa | The 2024 Cy-Hawk rivalry came down to the last five seconds, where Cyclone K Kyle Konrardy drilled a 54-yard FG to secure the win. Iowa QB Cade McNamara threw for 99 yards and 2 INTs, an expected performance from an Iowa QB.
Notable Developments
Utah secures win in first Big 12 game | Utah was able to build a 23-0 lead, behind 2 passing TDs from QB Cam Rising before injuring his throwing hand, and hold on for a 23-12 win over Baylor for their first win as members of the Big 12.
Kansas State comes from behind to beat Tulane | Kansas State RB DJ Giddens combined for 177 total yards and 1 TD and freshman S Jack Fabris’s fumble recovery for a TD proved to be the winning play as the Wildcats overcame a 20-10 halftime deficit for a 34-27 win.
Look Ahead to Week 3
Arizona @ Kansas State (-7.5), Friday 8:00pm ET | Arizona travels to Manhattan for their first game as members of the Big 12 in a top-20 matchup between Wildcats.
Colorado (-7.5) @ Colorado State, Saturday 7:30pm ET | Bragging rights for the beautiful state of Colorado will be determined in Saturday’s Rocky Mountain Showdown. The Buffaloes will look to bounce back from their Week 2 loss at Nebraska when they travel to Fort Collins to take on the Rams. If this game is anything like what we saw last year in Boulder, we’re in for a treat.
1. South Carolina Gamecocks 2-0 (1-0) |
2. #4 Alabama Crimson Tide 2-0 |
3. #1 Georgia Bulldogs 2-0 |
4. #6 Missouri Tigers 2-0 |
5. #15 Oklahoma Sooners 2-0 |
6. #5 Ole Miss Rebels 2-0 |
7. #7 Tennessee Volunteers 2-0 |
8. #2 Texas Longhorns 2-0 |
9. Vanderbilt Commodores 2-0 |
10. Arkansas Razorbacks 1-1 |
11. Auburn Tigers 1-1 |
12. Florida Gators 1-1 |
13. #15 LSU Tigers 1-1 |
14. Mississippi State Bulldogs 1-1 |
15. Texas A&M Aggies 1-1 |
16. Kentucky Wildcats 1-1 (0-1) |
Key Performances
Texas 31 - 12 Michigan | Quinn Ewers looked like a true Heisman contender, throwing for 3 TDs and 246 yards, as Texas absolutely dominated the reigning national champions in Ann Arbor. Michigan’s offense looked lost as QB Davis Warren threw 2 picks and failed to find the end zone until late in the 4th quarter.
Tennessee 51 - 10 NC State | Tennessee secured their first ranked win of the season behind 2 TDs and 132 rushing yards from Junior RB Dylan Sampson, and 2 TDs and 211 passing yards from QB Nico Iamaleava. Tennessee jumped +7 spots in the latest AP poll, coming in at #7 after their big win.
Notable Developments
Gamecocks win first SEC conference game of 2024 | South Carolina never trailed once en route to their first conference win of the season. Kentucky QB Brock Vandagriff was abysmal (3-10, 30 yds, 1 INT) as the Gamecocks stand alone atop the SEC standings.
True Freshman QB Lagway leads Florida to first win | Florida QB DJ Lagway put on a clinic vs Samford, throwing for 456 yards and 3 TDs in the Gators’ 45-7 Week 2 win. If Billy Napier wants to keep his job, Lagway will be the starting QB for Florida moving forward.
Look Ahead to Week 3
Alabama (-15) @ Wisconsin, Saturday 12:00pm ET | Alabama faces their first true road game of the Kalen Deboer era as they travel to Madison to take on the Badgers of Wisconsin in each team’s premier non-conference game.
LSU (-7.5) @ South Carolina, Saturday 12:00pm ET | LSU hits the road to face the undefeated Gamecocks in Columbia. A win for the Gamecocks would secure their place atop the SEC standings for the second straight week.
Best of the Rest
Key Performances
Northern Illinois 16 - 14 Notre Dame | A week after going down to College Station and beating a ranked Texas A&M team, Notre Dame would only score 2 TDs, via the run, in a jaw-dropping upset loss to the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Huskies took a 16-14 lead with 31 seconds left after a 35-yard FG from K Kanon Woodill. If the loss itself does not sting enough, Notre Dame owes Northern Illinois $1.4 million for making the trip.
UNLV 72 - 14 Utah Tech | The Runnin’ Rebels did just that, running for 6 TDs with 6 different scorers, in their rout of Utah Tech. Their offense ran for 503 yards, with 5 different players rushing for over 60 yards. UNLV WR Ricky White III also caught all 3 of their passing TDs from QB Matthew Sluka, all in the 2nd quarter. UNLV remains undefeated ahead of their Week 3 matchup @ Kansas.
Notable Developments
Late rally saves Liberty | The Flames retained their undefeated record by scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter versus New Mexico State. A magical late game drive capped by a 44-yard TD run from running back Quinton Cooley saved Liberty’s CFP aspirations.
Fashion battle in Kentucky | Western Kentucky’s home opener is always a “white-out” game year over year. However, visiting rival Eastern Kentucky decided to wear their white uniforms to spite the Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers ultimately had the last laugh, winning 31-0.
Look Ahead to Week 3
UNLV @ Kansas (-7), Friday 7:00pm ET | The undefeated Runnin’ Rebels will travel to Lawrence to take on a Kansas Jayhawk team fresh off an upset loss in Week 2 to Illinois. A key non-conference win is on the line for both teams before conference play starts.
Washington State @ Washington (-4.5), Saturday 3:30pm ET | The 2024 rendition of the Apple Cup will be the first with the Huskies as members of the Big Ten. Washington QB Will Rogers has yet to throw a pick and Washington State is coming off a huge home win vs Texas Tech.
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