2022-23 College Football: Week 2 Review

After an exciting opening week of the season, Week 2 provided us upset after upset. One game made a bad situation worse in Indiana. Another evoked strong memories of another upset from 2007. We saw a 2OT thriller in Utah, an overtime slugfest in Pittsburgh, and the top team in the country going down to the wire with a budding contender from Texas. The action all over the country was great and it left us with a lot of questions moving forward. It was fast and furious on Saturday and we are all better for having watched it. 

Game of the Week- #1 Alabama 20, Texas 19 (Austin, TX)

When we look back at the end of the season, we're going to look at this game and ask "what if Quinn Ewers doesn't get hurt in the first quarter?" The Texas quarterback was tearing it up at the beginning of the game, starting nine for 12 with 134 yards. He was moving the ball very well until a freak accident landing led to a shoulder injury and the Longhorns turning to backup Hudson Card to lead them to victory. What's crazy is he almost did it. This Alabama team didn't look like the team we were used to seeing. Bryce Young wasn't lighting up the field. Outside of an 85-yard touchdown run from Jase McClellan, the offense was rather anemic. They were lucky to be tied at halftime after Texas missed a field goal at the end of the first half to keep it 10-10. We had an interesting penalty mix-up early in the second half that could've been a huge difference-maker, but it wouldn't amount to anything. Texas would kick two more field goals to take a 16-10 lead in the fourth quarter, but the Alabama offense found some life seemingly out of nowhere. Young led a touchdown drive about midway through the final quarter to re-gain a 17-16 lead, finding Jahmyr Gibbs in the endzone. The Longhorns' defense would make a huge stop with just under four minutes left after stopping Alabama on 4th and 1 deep in Texas territory. Card, pretty much on one leg with a noticeable limp, led the Longhorns down the field and they would settle for their fourth field goal of the game to take a 19-17 lead with 1:29 left. This would prove to be too much time for Alabama. Young took control for another long drive, setting up Will Reichard for a 33-yard field goal to take the lead with ten seconds left that would be the dagger. Alabama was so close to losing this game and they likely do if Ewers is still in. No disrespect to Card because he played well in relief, but Ewers was carving up the Alabama defense. This was as undisciplined an Alabama team as there has been, getting called for 15 penalties for 100 yards, the most in the Nick Saban era. At the end of the day, the record will show Alabama is 2-0, no matter if they had to sweat to get it. 

Upset of the Week- Marshall 26, #8 Notre Dame 21 (South Bend, IN)

After their loss last week, I was pretty complimentary of the Fighting Irish. They'd put together a solid effort against one of the best teams in the country despite their offense not getting much going. I'm going to need to put the compliments on hold after this one. We often talk too much about the odds of who will win and things like the points spread, but Notre Dame was a 20.5-point favorite at home against Marshall. Through three quarters in this game, the Irish had just seven points and trailed 12-7. Tyler Buchner put one in the endzone and got the two-point conversion to give Notre Dame a 15-12 lead, so things looked to be moving in the right direction. The Thundering Herd wasn't going down without a fight. Henry Colombi drove the team 94 yards down the field and found Devin Miller in the endzone to take a 19-15 lead. Three plays later Buchner threw his second interception of the game and it was returned to the house to give Marshall a 26-15 lead with 4:35 left. Drew Pyne would come in and lead a touchdown drive for Notre Dame to bring them within five points, but there wasn't enough time left and the Irish fell to 0-2 to start the season.

Other Notable Games

Appalachian State 17, #6 Texas A&M 14 (College Station, TX)

There were plenty of picks for "Upset of the Week" and this was a close second. After a deflating loss the week prior, the Mountaineers lulled the Aggies to sleep for four quarters. Texas A&M was held to 186 yards on offense while racking up over 300 yards on the Aggies' defense. Regardless of the discrepancy, the game came down to a late field goal attempt from Texas A&M in the final minutes that came up well short. It wasn't blocked at the line and it came well short, so maybe the kicker caught the ground. The fans in Boone were flooding the streets as the Mountaineers pulled off their biggest win since 2007. 

#20 Kentucky 26, #12 Florida 16 (Gainesville, FL)

The Associated Press really loved the Gators' win over Utah in Week 1 because they jumped all the way to #12 with the win. They invited Kentucky into The Swamp, but Will Levis and the Wildcats didn't seem to care what Florida had done. Anthony Richardson was unable to find that same magic, throwing two interceptions and rushing for only four yards. The Gators held a three-point lead at halftime, but a pick-six and being shutout in the second half would put a damper on the Gators' night. The win allowed Mark Stoops to pass Bear Bryant as the winningest coach in program history and gave Kentucky a huge road win. 

#24 Tennessee 31, #17 Pittsburgh 24 (OT) (Pittsburgh, PA)

I could watch these two teams play every year and not complain about it. For the second year in a row, the Vols and Panthers went to war and played an amazing game. This will be another game that we look back at and ask what could've happened if the starter, in this case, Kedon Slovis, hadn't gotten hurt in the first half. Pitt's backup Nick Patti was hurt for most of the fourth quarter, so they were already fighting from behind, but that doesn't discredit Tennessee's effort. They repaid the loss from last season to continue a hot start. 

#21 BYU 26, #9 Baylor 20 (2OT) (Provo, UT)

There have been so many games this season that we can look at and think how differently the game could've ended if the kickers just made a kick. Baylor's kicker missed the PAT after their first touchdown and if the game unfolds the same way, Baylor wins by a point. If BYU's kicker makes a field goal at the end of regulation, overtime wouldn't have been needed. Each kicker missed in the first overtime as well. At the end of the day, Jaren Hill put the team on his back to complete a huge win in double overtime. The crowd in Provo for this game was wild the entire game and might be one of the best places to watch a game. 

#23 Wake Forest 45, Vanderbilt 25 (Nashville, TN)

On paper, this game wasn't very close. The reason I highlight it is because of the return of Sam Hartman for the Demon Deacons. Hartman and Wake Forest announced that the quarterback would be out with a blood clot near his collarbone for an indefinite amount of time, but it was announced he'd be cleared to play and he showed up big. He threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns as Wake Forest dominate the Commodores. His returns instantly makes the Demon Deacons a favorite in the ACC Atlantic, especially with the loss by Pittsburgh.

Washington State 17, #19 Wisconsin 14 (Madison, WI)

Unless you're Ohio State, Michigan, or Michigan State, you might as well go home now if you play in the Big Ten. With losses from Iowa, Northwestern, Nebraska, and Wisconsin, there's not much reason for optimism within the conference. Wisconsin didn't play terribly all things considered, but their offense dried up in the second half. Despite the defense playing well overall, the Cougars scored ten points in the third quarter and it would be enough to pull off the upset on the road in Madison. 

My Top 25 After Week 2

1. Georgia (2-0, W 33-0 Samford)

I've got a new team in the top spot after this weekend. The Bulldogs have allowed three points through two games and they look to be firing on all cylinders. 

2. Ohio State (2-0, W 45-12 Arkansas State)

CJ Stroud has looked extremely impressive through two games. The Buckeyes remain in the second spot after a huge win over a team they should've dominated.

3. Alabama (2-0, W 20-19 Texas)

I've dropped the Tide down two spots after an uncharacteristically sloppy game all around. They came alive in the fourth quarter, but they probably should've lost this game. 

4. Clemson (2-0, W 35-12 Furman)

DJ Uiagalelei looked sharp in their second game, carving up the Furman defense. This should serve as a confidence booster for him moving forward. 

5. Michigan (2-0 W 56-10 Hawai'i)

Both quarterbacks have had their auditions as the Wolverines try to figure out who should lead them moving forward. JJ McCarthy finished with more touchdowns than incompletions in a blowout. 

6. Oklahoma (2-0, W 33-3 Kent State)

Things are starting well for Brett Venables and Dillon Gabriel in their first two games. They've beaten up two teams and allowed just 16 points in the process. 

7. USC (2-0, W 41-28 Stanford)

It felt like the Trojans took their foot off the gas in the fourth quarter as Stanford made it a little closer at the end. Regardless, the Trojans have relied heavily on their transfers to get off to this great start. 

8. Michigan State (2-0, W 52-0 Akron)

Things for Peyton Thorne didn't go quite as well this week, but he didn't need to be amazing. The rushing attack from the Spartans and the shutout from the defense led to a snooze-fest. 

9. Oklahoma State (2-0, W 34-17 Arizona State)

I'm still waiting for the Cowboys to amaze me after two weeks. They earned a solid win over a Power 5 team to move to 2-0, but I'm not completely sold just yet. 

10. NC State (2-0, W 55-3 Charleston Southern)

They didn't allow the narrow escape against East Carolina to deter them as Devin Leary unloaded in Week 2. Leary threw for four scores and ran for another two as the defense only allowed a field goal.

11. Texas A&M (1-1, L 17-14 Appalachian State)

This loss for the Aggies came out of nowhere and shocked a lot of people, but I still don't think I'd drop them very far. They are still a good team and will be even better once their offense figures it out. 

12. Miami (2-0, W 30-7 Southern Miss)

This is the second week in a row that the Hurricanes started slow and pulled away at the end. They have a huge test coming up and a slow start could be deadly. 

13. Kentucky (2-0, W 26-16 #12 Florida)

I think it's time we start taking Will Levis and the Wildcats seriously. They stormed into The Swamp and earned a huge conference win against a red-hot Florida team. 

14. Arkansas (2-0, W 44-30 South Carolina)

The Gamecocks gave Arkansas a run for their money for 60 minutes. Ultimately, the rushing game from the Razorbacks and a 23-point fourth quarter would prove to be the difference. 

15. BYU (2-0, W 26-20 (2OT) #9 Baylor)

The Cougars are making some serious noise in Provo and I'm not just talking about their crowd. BYU overcame some kicking woes to earn a huge win against a top-ten team. 

16. Utah (1-1, W 73-7 Southern Utah)

I've dropped Utah in my rankings just a little bit despite putting up 73 points against Southern Utah. They rebounded nicely from a loss last week against a far inferior team. 

17. Oregon (1-1, W 70-14 Eastern Washington)

The Ducks put up a crooked number to get out their frustrations after a blowout loss to Georgia. Things went a lot smoother for Bo Nix in his second start, throwing for five touchdowns. 

18. Baylor (1-1, L 26-20 (2OT) # 21 BYU)

The only thing keeping Baylor from being 2-0 was a missed PAT in the first quarter. They had their opportunities to win the game but ultimately fell short in a hostile environment. 

19. Tennessee (2-0, W 31-24 (OT) #17 Pittsburgh)

It's amazing the amount of depth the SEC has because this is the sixth SEC school on this list. I think Tennessee might've gotten a little lucky with the injury to Pitt's QB, but got the job done in overtime. 

20. Wake Forest (2-0, W 45-25 Vanderbilt)

Having Sam Hartman back will be a huge boost for an already scary Wake offense. They're in a tight race with two or three others teams in the Atlantic that could win the division.

21. Ole Miss (2-0, W 59-3 Central Arkansas)

The Rebels' defense allowed just 233 yards and forced four turnovers in a rout over Central Arkansas. The offense was just as good, accumulating over 500 yards and almost 60 points. 

22. Pittsburgh (1-1, L 31-24 (OT) #24 Tennessee)

This loss by no means ends Pittsburgh's chances of making noise in the ACC or the College Football Playoff. Losing Kedon Slovis didn't help their chances of winning and might've changed things at the end.

23. Penn State (2-0, W 46-10 Ohio)

After scratching and clawing for a win over Purdue in Week 1, the Nittany Lions jump into the rankings with a strong win. They'll head into Jordan-Hare next week to face their biggest test yet. 

24. Texas (1-1, L 20-19 #1 Alabama)

Even though they lost to Alabama, Texas proved they are going to be real this season. They'll have to do it without Quinn Ewers for at least a month after leaving the game in the first quarter. 

25. Florida (1-1, L 26-16 #20 Kentucky)

I think we might've jumped the gun on Florida just a little bit. After a huge upset, they fell to an upset themselves, proving to be a little too inconsistent against Kentucky. 

My Next 5

26. Cincinnati (1-1, W 63-10 Kennesaw State)

The Bearcats didn't hang their heads after losing to Arkansas in Week 1. They put up nine touchdowns in an easy win and could jump into the Top 25 with an upset or two. 

27. Houston (1-1, L 33-30 (2OT) Texas Tech)

Houston has played two overtime games to start the season. After getting it done in Week 1, they fell to Texas Tech in 2OT to drop out of the AP Poll and my rankings.

28. North Carolina (3-0, W 35-28 Georgia State)

The Tar Heels are a case of a team with an amazing offense and an extremely shaky defense. Drake Maye has been stellar in his first three games, but the offense has put them into two tight games in a row.

29. Appalachian State (1-1, W 17-14 #6 Texas A&M)

To think that the Mountaineers are a two-point conversion away from being 2-0. They shocked the Aggies at Kyle Field by taking their offense out of the game for four quarters. 

30. Minnesota (2-0, W 62-10 Western Illinois)

Minnesota might be the only team in the Big Ten outside of the top big three that could do anything. They have looked strong defensively against two bad teams, allowing just ten points. 

Week 2 Preview

1. #13 Miami at #24 Texas A&M (College Station, TX)

I'd argue this game is even more interesting now that Texas A&M has lost and dropped far in the AP Poll. The Aggies' offense has been sputtering for two weeks now and will now face a Miami team that has been starting slow. Someone is going to course correct for this one to earn a huge win. 

 

2. #12 BYU v. #25 Oregon (Eugene, OR)

After a huge win at home over Baylor, the Cougars must now head to Oregon for another Top 25 matchup. This is going to be a tough follow-up for BYU and a win in this situation would be an ultimate resume booster, while Oregon needs to avoid that dreaded second loss. 

3. #6 Oklahoma at Nebraska (Lincoln, NE)

This game instantly got more interesting with the firing of Scott Frost today following their loss to Georgia Southern. The state of Nebraska football is in a bad place and they must begin the post-Frost with a matchup with one of the best teams in the country. 

4. #22 Penn State at Auburn (Auburn, AL)

The Nittany Lions entered the Top 25 this week and are off to a 2-0 start, but this isn't a normal game on the road against an unranked team. Auburn is not a fun place to play and a win for the Tigers would likely take their spot in the rankings. 

5. UTSA at #21 Texas (Austin, TX)

Now that Quinn Ewers is on the shelf for at least a month, Hudson Card is going to be the next man up for the Longhorns. Assuming his injured leg is better for this game, this will be a huge first test for him as the Longhorns look to jump on the momentum from the Alabama game. 

6. California at Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)

It's very weird that Notre Dame is in this situation, especially after a tight game with Ohio State to open the season. They need to figure out their quarterback situation and I think starting with Drew Pyne against Cal might be the way to go. 

7. #1 Georgia at South Carolina (Columbia, SC)

With Georgia jumping into the top spot this week, there's going to be an added emphasis on them jumping down South Carolina's throats. The Gamecocks played well in a losing effort against Arkansas, so they shouldn't lay down easily. 

8. Texas Tech at #16 NC State (Raleigh, NC)

The Wolfpack's offense was lethal against an FCS school last week but struggled two weeks ago against East Carolina. They now have to face their first Power 5 school of the season and need to prove which version of them is the true form. 

9. #11 Michigan State at Washington (Seattle, WA)

This game might be more important for the conference as a whole than it is for just Michigan State after last week. The Spartans haven't done too much to make me think of them as a true adversary for Ohio State and Michigan, but this week could go a long way to change that. 

10. Old Dominion at Virginia (Charlottesville, VA)

This game means little of consequence in the grand scheme of things, but this game will aim to give Old Dominion the sweep of the ACC teams in Virginia. The Cavaliers' offense did nothing against Illinois last week and will likely be very angry for this game.