With a loaded Week 1 formally within the books, we’re turning the web page.
Listed here are 5 questions now we have that Week 2 will assist us reply.
1. How deep is the Large Ten?
The Large Ten convention, winners of the previous two nationwide championships, has an opportunity to show its depth with three highway video games towards energy convention opponents.
The Iowa Hawkeyes (1-0) start the day at Related Press No. 22 Iowa State Cyclones (2-0, 1-0 in Large 12), which appears to be like like a possible Large 12 title contender for a second consecutive season. The chances are towards Iowa, however in No. 12 Illinois’ favor. The Combating Illini journey to Duke (1-0), who wanted a large second half to drag away from FCS Elon after getting into halftime tied at 10.
No. 14 Michigan (1-0) performs at No. 18 Oklahoma (1-0) in Week 2’s largest recreation. True freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood will make his first highway begin. He had a stable debut towards New Mexico, finishing 67.7 p.c of his cross makes an attempt for 251 yards (8.1 yards per try) and one landing.
Oklahoma presents a much bigger problem, and a win wouldn’t solely elevate expectations for Michigan this season but in addition give the Large Ten added credibility.
2. Are South Florida Bulls the School Soccer Playoff auto bid favourite?
The South Florida Bulls made one of many loudest statements in Week 1, soundly defeating No. 25 Boise State, which reached the CFP final season as one of many 5 highest-ranked convention champions, 34-7.
Senior quarterback Byrum Brown was dynamic, averaging 8.8 yards per cross try and including two dashing touchdowns. The protection wreaked havoc, forcing two fumbles, six cross breakups, 5 tackles for loss and one sack.
This weekend, it could possibly firmly put itself forward of the pack, which incorporates The American Convention peer Tulane (1-0), when it travels to No. 15 Florida (1-0). The Gators must be working on all cylinders after final weekend’s tune-up towards FCS Lengthy Island College, a 55-0 win.
3. Are the Alabama Crimson Tide reliving 2007?
Image it: Tuscaloosa, 2007. In Nick Saban’s first season as Alabama head coach, a ranked Crimson Tide squad misplaced to unranked Florida State, then fell to Louisiana-Monroe months later.
Flash ahead to 2025, and Alabama follows a loss to unranked Florida State with a house recreation towards UL Monroe. Issues may not appear to be they might get a lot worse for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama, but when the Tide discover themselves caught in a time loop, they’ve but to succeed in all-time low.
4. Are freshman quarterbacks nearly as good as they appear?
Michigan’s Underwood is not the one true freshman who began his faculty profession with a win. Maryland’s Malik Washington was 27-of-43 for 258 yards and three touchdowns in a 39-7 win over Florida Atlantic. BYU’s Bear Bachmeier solely had 11 cross makes an attempt however completed with 5 whole touchdowns (three passing, two dashing) in a dominant 69-0 win over FCS Portland State.
Cal freshman Jaron-Keawe Sagapolotele arguably appeared essentially the most spectacular, beginning 9-of-9 for 146 yards and two touchdowns and ending finishing 66.7 p.c of his makes an attempt for 234 yards and three touchdowns.
Every of the three has simple video games in Week 2, with Maryland and Cal taking part in FCS opponents and BYU internet hosting Stanford, which misplaced to Hawai’i in Week 0, giving the trio good alternatives to construct on their excellent debuts.
5. Is Kansas State’s rocky begin a reliable explanation for concern?
We advise TCU (1-0) and North Carolina (0-1) to rethink subsequent 12 months’s rematch of Monday’s blowout in Eire. Primarily based on current historical past, it is going to damage one among their seasons. Since 2022, the loser of the annual kickoff recreation has gone on to have a awful 12 months.
Final season, Florida State’s loss in Eire to Georgia Tech despatched it towards a 2-10 report, whereas Navy went 5-7 following a loss to Notre Dame in 2023. The earlier 12 months, Nebraska completed 4-8 and fired head coach Scott Frost in-season after shedding to Northwestern.
Kansas State had a regarding return stateside following a 24-21 Week 0 loss to Iowa State, needing a landing with 42 seconds left to defeat FCS North Dakota, 38-35.
Kansas State entered the season No. 17 within the Related Press ballot, the second-highest-ranked Large 12 program. It may start to proper the ship from its rocky begin towards Military (0-1), or comply with the trail set by people who got here earlier than it. TCU and North Carolina ought to pay shut consideration.
