Texas’ key vs. Bama, Wisconsin’s scary QB foe and more we’re watching in Week 2

By RJ Young and Laken LitmanFOX Sports College Football Writers

Nick Saban vs. Steve Sarkisian. Bijan Robinson vs. Will Anderson. Texas vs. Alabama.

There is no denying the epic matchup that highlights Week 2 of the college football season — and it’s on Big Noon Kickoff, too!

But that’s not all we have going on this weekend. Here’s what were looking forward to watching in some of the biggest matchups on Saturday.

What are you watching in No. 1 Alabama at Texas (noon ET; FOX and the FOX Sports App)?

Young: With the spread at more than three TDs, I’ll be watching to see how loose Steve Sarkisian, Quinn Ewers and the Texas Longhorns will be in a home game in which only Texas fans expect the Longhorns to beat Nick Saban’s team.

If the Longhorns can punch Alabama in the mouth early and establish a double-digit lead in the first half, this game will already be more entertaining than many think it will be.

[Quinn Ewers’ towed car fueling laughs ahead of Texas-Alabama]

Litman: I’m most intrigued to see how Texas responds when adversity hits — because inevitably, it will. 

How will the Longhorns react if Will Anderson Jr. sacks Ewers twice on the first drive? What happens when the Crimson Tide stops Bijan Robinson and the run? 

This is quite a second start for Ewers. People, including his teammates, keep saying he’s so naturally talented. We will get a feel for what that means in this game. Maybe he makes a magical play with three Bama linemen in his face and we see what the future looks like at quarterback.

Alabama vs. Texas: Keys to the game

RJ Young and Geoff Schwartz break down the keys to Alabama-Texas and discuss the biggest storylines from the game.

How about Washington State at No. 19 Wisconsin (3:30 p.m. ET; FOX and the FOX Sports App)?

Young: Wazzu quarterback Cameron Ward was one of the most highly-touted players to hit the transfer portal this past offseason.

At Incarnate Word, he and Wazzu offensive coordinator (then UIW coach) Eric Morris were outstanding. Ward passed for 4,648 yards and 47 TDs while leading UIW to a 10-3 record. I’ll be watching to see what he’s capable of against Jim Leonhard’s Wisconsin defense, arguably the best he’ll face all season.

Wazzu’s got some juice.

But that’s Braelon Allen in the backfield for Wisconsin, and he’s like a Peterbilt hauling a load of dynamite. He rushed for 148 yards on just 14 rushes in Wisconsin’s season-opener against FCS Illinois State.

Litman: I’m also interested to see Ward against Wisconsin’s pass defense, which was the fourth-best unit in the country last year. Ward went 26-of-41 for 225 yards and three touchdowns in a Week 1 win over Idaho, but the Badgers will send more pressure to make him uncomfortable.

What interests you most in No. 25 Houston at Texas Tech (4 p.m. ET; FS1)?

Litman: A glimpse of the new Big 12! 

Last week, Houston got off to a slow start before rallying from a 14-point deficit in the second half to ultimately beat UTSA in triple overtime, 37-35. Quarterback Clayton Tune went 22-of-32 for 206 yards and three touchdowns, hitting eight different receivers at least twice. 

The Cougars are hanging onto their ranking as the No. 25 team in the country. Was last week’s performance against the Roadrunners, who have proved in the past to be resilient against ranked teams, a fluke or is Dana Holgorson’s group a tad overrated?

Young: The Red Raiders will begin their contest without starter Tyler Shough at quarterback against a Cougars team that looks primed to present problems in Lubbock.

After Shough left the game with a shoulder injury, Donovan Smith completed 14 of 16 passes for 221 yards with four TDs against Murray State in a 63-10 season-opening win.

With Smith expected to start against the first ranked opponent the Red Raiders will face in the Joey McGuire era, I’m watching to see just what these Red Raiders look like now that most folks who watched them dismantle Murray State know they’re coming.

There could be no better start to the McGuire era than opening 2-0 with a win against a ranked opponent in and from the state of Texas.

What catches your eye in Arkansas State at No. 3 Ohio State (noon ET; Big Ten Network)?

Litman: Will Jaxon Smith-Njigba return after missing most of last week’s game against Notre Dame? The Biletnikoff Award favorite was shaken up in the first quarter and didn’t finish the game. Ohio State coach Ryan Day said the game felt a little out of rhythm in Smith-Njigba’s absence, and they couldn’t do all of the things they wanted offensively. Instead, the Buckeyes had to grind it out and win with its defense and a strong running game.

[Down and Dirty: Ohio State finds a way to win ugly]

Will this be a week we see what kind of explosive, pass-happy offense Ohio State really has on its hands this year?   

Young: Ohio State demonstrated toughness and an ability to grind out a win against a top-five Notre Dame. Against Arkansas State, I expect them to demonstrate themselves to be a cut above the Red Wolves with a resounding win — covering the spread and making sure most of the Buckeyes letter in this game. 

The Red Wolves feature a backfield tandem that looks every bit like giving the Sun Belt Conference fits. In A-State’s 58-3 shellacking of Hue Jackson’s Grambling State, quarterback James Blackman completed 15 of 20 passes for 210 yards with TDs and tailback Johnnie Lang rushed for 124 yards on just 13 rushes. 

From here on out, the Buckeyes have to answer the question: What would Bama do? That’s the key to whether their next 11 games put them in conversation to play for and win the national title. 

Buckeyes answered two major questions in Week 1

Joel Klatt shares why he believes the Ohio State answered questions about toughness and defense against Notre Dame.

What storylines are you watching in Iowa State at Iowa (4 p.m. ET; Big Ten Network)?

Young: After a lackluster season-opening win for the Iowa offense, I’m watching to see if offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz and quarterback Spencer Petras find a way to score TDs — plural — against an Iowa State team that’s tough to begin with and toughest in this in-state rivalry game.

For the Cyclones, this is an opportunity for quarterback Hunter Dekkers to show the kind of precision and quality he demonstrated in his first career start against FCS Southeast Missouri State. He completed his first seven passes in Week 1 and finished 25 of 31 for 293 pass yards with four TDs and an INT.

Litman: Will this finally be the year Matt Campbell’s team beats Iowa? He’s 0-5 against the in-state rival. But after the performance the Hawkeyes gave in Week 1, maybe this is the year. 

Iowa’s offense was non-existent in last week’s 7-3 win over South Dakota State. The Hawkeyes relied on two safeties to win the game. Petras went 11-of-25 passing, but coach Kirk Ferentz is sticking with him for this rivalry game. To keep their winning streak over Iowa State alive, his stats are going to need to be better than that.

How about Hawai’i at No. 4 Michigan (8 p.m. ET; Big Ten Network)?

Litman: This storyline is plain and simple: If J.J. McCarthy has a good game, he will be Michigan’s starting quarterback moving forward.

Jim Harbaugh created a storyline when he told reporters before Week 1 that Cade McNamara would start the first game and McCarthy the second. In an underwhelming performance, McNamara went 9-of-18 for 136 yards and a touchdown against Colorado State. He told reporters after the game that Harbaugh’s decision to play him Week 1 and McCarthy Week 2 was “unusual” and “something I wasn’t expecting.” 

Depending on McCarthy’s performance, will Harbaugh finally choose a quarterback?

[Michigan QB tracker: McNamara, McCarthy both shine in Week 1]

Young: McCarthy spelled McNamara in Week 1 and completed four of four passes and rushed for 57 yards with a TD in the Wolverines’ 51-7 win against Colorado State.

Against Hawai’i, McCarthy will start and have a chance to show Harbaugh and the Go Blue faithful that he should be named QB1 come Week 3. I’ll be watching to see if he puts together a game that says so.

McCarthy is the most dynamic athlete at quarterback the Wolverines have featured since Devin Gardner. Now’s the time to show up and show out. 

Michigan’s QB battle is getting interesting

Joel Klatt breaks down Jim Harbaugh’s decision to switch between Cade McNamara and JJ McCarthy for Michigan’s first two games.

What’s worth watching in Georgia Southern at Nebraska (7:30 p.m. ET; FS1)? 

Young: After adding an offensive coordinator with a reputation for airing the ball out in Mark Whipple, a former Texas Longhorns quarterback in Casey Thompson and former LSU wide receiver Trey Palmer, as well as former Longhorns wideout Marcus Washington, it’s been a junior college transfer from New Mexico Military Institute who might be the engine that drives the Huskers offense. 

Anthony Grant has rushed for 290 with four TDs and averaged 6.9 yards per carry through two games. I’ll be watching to see how he performs against Nebraska’s last tune-up game before hosting mighty Oklahoma in Week 3. 

Litman: Nebraska won its home opener last week, beating North Dakota, 38-17. On paper, that seems like a solid win, but the Cornhuskers scored their last three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. It was Scott Frost’s team’s first win since Oct. 2, 2021. 

I am also interested to watch Grant, as well as edge rusher Garrett Nelson whose strip-sack last week turned things around for Nebraska. This is the Huskers’ last chance to gain some confidence before Oklahoma comes to town in Week 3.  

And finally, closing us out late-night style: How about Mississippi State at Arizona (11 p.m. ET; FS1)? 

Litman: Arizona coach Jedd Fisch remade his roster this year by adding 50 new players. We will see how that ultimately changes course for the program, but they’re 1-0 for the first time since 2017. 

Wildcats quarterback Jayden de Laura went 22-of-35 for 299 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in the win over San Diego State. He’s established a strong connection with receiver Jacob Cowing, hitting him eight times for 152 yards and three touchdowns. If they can keep up this chemistry against a tougher opponent in Mississippi State, perhaps the Wildcats are onto something this season.

Young: After scoring the most points they’ve scored in a single game since 2019, Fisch’s Wildcats look primed to follow up their season-opening win at San Diego State with their first home-opening win since 2019 and first against an SEC foe since defeating Auburn 31-19 at Arizona Stadium on Sept. 11, 1976.

After the show De Laura and Cowing put on against the Aztecs, I’ll be watching to see if their respective three-TD performance was a fluke or a sign of things to come and perhaps the Wildcats’ first bid to a bowl game in five years.

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She previously covered college football, college basketball, the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and the Olympics at Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. Her first book, written in partnership with Rizzoli and Sports Illustrated and titled “Strong Like a Woman,” was published in spring 2022 marking the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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