With Week 1 in the books, college football season is well and truly underway. Week 2 will still mostly consist of big teams getting their feet wet against lesser opposition, but there are some intriguing games on the schedule, both marquee and otherwise. In addition, there are players to watch for various reasons.
Here’s a look at 15 key questions entering of college football’s second weekend of action.
1) Will Lincoln Riley show he belongs with the big boys?
UTEP posed little challenge for Riley’s Sooners. His coaching debut could not have gone much better; Baker Mayfield completed 19 of his 20 pass attempts and didn’t even need to play in the second half. Ohio State will be an entirely different animal. If the Sooners are serious about competing for a national championship, this is a real chance to prove their credentials against one of the country’s most talented teams. Rightly or wrongly, Ohio State is heavily favored, so even a close, competitive defeat could at least put the Sooners in the minds of those doing the voting. This is a major game for Riley as it will be his first true test since taking over for Bob Stoops.
2) Can Ohio State turn it up after shaky opener?
Of course, a statement win from the Buckeyes will have observers talking national championship. Ohio State didn’t exactly light the world on fire in their season opener, with the Indiana Hoosiers hanging with them into the second half after actually leading at halftime. Their eventual win was fine, but it wasn’t going to sit up and make anyone take notice. An impressive performance against the Sooners from one of the country’s deepest and most talented teams could do it, though.
3) Will Stanford make USC pay for mistakes?
It’s safe to say that USC was not expecting the challenge that Western Michigan gave them during the season opener. While the Trojans ultimately escaped with a double-digit win, few observers came away truly impressed with their performance. They won’t be able to afford a similar showing against Stanford, which has a legitimate chance to make a Pac-12 title game appearance. The Cardinal are very good defensively and will punish USC mistakes. If the Trojans don’t improve quickly, an upset may be on the cards here.
4) How much will Jacob Eason’s absence matter for Georgia?
The Georgia quarterback won’t play Saturday thanks to a sprained knee ligament, meaning freshman signal-caller Jake Fromm will be under center against Notre Dame. It’s enough to make the Fighting Irish the favorites in the eyes of the bookmakers, so clearly Fromm is going to have to prove himself on a pretty big stage. He was solid against Appalachian State in limited duty, but that’s an entirely different animal compared to playing in South Bend. This will either be a statement from Georgia, or a solid victory for a Notre Dame team seeking to regain its national relevance.
5) Can Auburn take a big step forward?
No, Clemson doesn’t return to Death Valley with Deshaun Watson under center, but they’re still the reigning champions and will prove a tough test for any opponent. Auburn may be one rival who is up to it. They’re a team that expects to make some genuine noise in the SEC this year, and what better way to kick off a successful campaign than upsetting Kelly Bryant at home and taking down Clemson? It’s going to be a very difficult task, but they have a chance.
6) Who will be Florida State’s answer at quarterback
The Seminoles’ home tilt against Louisiana-Monroe should be a gimme no matter who’s under center, and that has to come as a relief given the sudden uncertainty at quarterback. With Deondre Francois out for the season, true freshman James Blackman is now the man in charge. Luckily for him, he’s got a pretty easy opponent — and enough talent around him — that this contest will give him time to settle and acclimate. Any sort of impressive performance from the young quarterback would be a welcome sight, no matter how weak the opposition is. It’s a good opportunity to build comfort and confidence.
7) Will Louisville rebound?
Though Lamar Jackson was impressive, Louisville’s 35-28 win over Purdue wasn’t nearly as much. A road game at North Carolina is not a particularly straightforward follow-up, either, though the Cardinals are rightly favored to win this one. Jackson wasn’t really the problem against Purdue. Against the Tar Heels, Louisville will be relying on Jackson to deliver another strong performance. If he does, the Cardinals will probably find a way to win.
8) Can Saquon Barkley add to his Heisman credentials?
Of the major Heisman hopefuls, Barkley was arguably the most impressive in Week 1, running over Akron for 172 yards on only 14 carries and scoring two touchdowns. This week, he’ll be facing a better opponent in Pitt. Though the Panthers still had some serious difficulties with Bo Pelini’s Youngstown State squad a week ago, so this may not be as competitive as one might think it is upon first glimpse. The nation’s best running back should have another opportunity to feast.
9) Is Oregon back?
They certainly looked like they were in their season opener, which saw them put up 77 points in an annihilation of Southern Utah. This week will see the Ducks testing themselves against much better competition in the form of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The game will offer the first meaningful chance to assess the work Willie Taggart has done with his new squad. Royce Freeman — who racked up 200 total yards and four touchdowns last week — can also further raise his profile with another strong performance.
10) Might Northwestern-Duke be the most underrated game of the week?
The Wildcats and Blue Devils aren’t exactly going to be a marquee matchup, but their game could end up being one of the weekend’s more underrated tilts. Duke probably won’t be very good this season, but there is talent on this roster. Northwestern, meanwhile, can entertain realistic goals of competing in the Big Ten West. A solid performance from the Wildcats here could go a long way toward giving them the confidence to go on and do just that, even if Duke isn’t the best opponent they’ll face this year.
11) How will Texas respond?
The victims of a surprise Week 1 loss to the Maryland Terrapins, Tom Herman’s Longhorns must be feeling a bit shaken. A home game against San Jose State should provide them with a pretty straightforward opportunity to get themselves into the win column, even if it won’t quiet the accusations of “overrated.” The Longhorns will face bigger tests down the road, but a win here should at least help calm the jitters. A victory could allow Herman to put the disappointment of the Maryland result behind him.
12) What will Josh Rosen do for an encore?
In contrast to what they had to do to beat Texas A&M, Josh Rosen and UCLA should have a much more straightforward time of it with Hawaii. That means Rosen, who led the Bruins in their improbable comeback win over the Aggies, should have the chance to put up more big numbers. Is it too soon to be talking Heisman? Maybe — Rosen needs to put up several more impressive performances before he closes the gap with the likes of Lamar Jackson and Sam Darnold. But the fact that we can even ask the question is testament to how amazing he was last week.
13) How many points will Missouri and South Carolina combine for?
Missouri quarterback Drew Lock threw seven touchdowns against Missouri State last week, so we know that the Tigers offense has potential to be a lot of fun. Their defense is another story, but that’s what makes this game intriguing. The Gamecocks enter the game following a 35-28 win over NC State. They’ll believe that they have a chance to hurt the Tiger defense, which they certainly do. This might not be the most high-quality game of the weekend, but it has the potential to be one of the most fun.
14) How will Houston look under Major Applewhite?
Houston and Arizona are two good, but not elite teams, and so this will be an interesting contest. Houston will be playing their first game under new coach Major Applewhite, who takes over following the success Tom Herman built. This is also the Cougars’ first game as their season opener was postponed due to Hurricane Harvey. Arizona, meanwhile, comes in after a decisive win over Northern Arizona that showed off a very talented and effective run game. Neither of these teams are in the Top 25, but they’re a tier or two down from it and very evenly matched. Don’t be surprised if this one entertains.
15) Is Iowa State capable of knocking off their in-state rival?
Iowa-Iowa State should actually be competitive this year, mostly due to the belief that the Hawkeyes have taken a step back while the Cyclones appear poised to take a step forward. Kirk Ferentz probably isn’t going to have a great team this year, and a lower-tier bowl game looks to be in his future. Meanwhile, under coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones are young and talented, if a bit raw. Iowa State last won this game in 2014, but they have a chance to do it this season, particularly with the game in Ames.
