Week 2 of college football has one of the early big games of the year
The second week of college football doesn’t come with near the same amount of hype as Week 1. But there’s two non-conference marquee matchups that includes a top-10 meeting with No. 3 Texas traveling to No. 10 Michigan. In the primetime slot, No. 14 Tennessee and No. 24 NC State are meeting in a neutral site matchup. In non-ranked action, one of the most anticipated games of the week is a battle of quarterbacks with Colorado paying a visit to Nebraska in a matchup between top 2025 NFL Draft prospect Shedeur Sanders and freshman phenom Dylan Raiola.
There’s plenty of action to keep an eye on with a full game slate on Saturday. Let’s talk about prospects we’re keeping an eye on and more on the best game on deck for Week 2.
Texas WR Talent (Isaiah Bond) vs. Michigan CB Will Johnson
The Longhorns are souped up with plenty of talent at the receiver spot from eligible draft prospects like Bond and other uber-talented underclassmen who are soon to make waves in the college football and NFL Draft world. Bond is a talented transfer from Alabama who put up five receptions and a score last week against Colorado State. The former highly touted recruit is as impressive of a straight-line athlete as you will see in college football this season. If Bond wants to cement himself into potential first-round conversation, he needs to perform when he lines up against Johnson.
Speaking of Johnson, he’s still very good and has a shot to be the number-one pick in the 2025 NFL Draft for a team that doesn’t need a quarterback. You won’t often see cornerbacks in this kind of regard, but Johnson earns it. He stole a pick-six to help lead Michigan to a win in what was a highly contested game for the majority. Johnson has the size advantage in this matchup. You’re not going to want to miss this one.
WILL JOHNSON PICK SIX
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 1, 2024
pic.twitter.com/pN8Mpog335
Can USF QB Byrum Brown pull his team into a close contest against ‘Bama?
It’s not often that the University of South Florida houses one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but that is exactly the case for the talented Byrum Brown. This will be one of his toughest contest’s of 2024 and a great opportunity for some great film against one of the best teams in the country.
Brown has plenty of traits to work with as a prospect with NFL throws littered across his redshirt freshman film. If Brown takes the next step on a play-to-play basis, he’ll push to be a household name in no time. The Bulls gave the ‘Tide a game last season. This is a 31-point spread. If the Bulls cover with ease, it’s very likely because Brown led them there.
USF QB Byrum Brown was my 36th overall prospect on my first big board for the 2025 NFL draft.
— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) August 23, 2024
Brown is young (he's a RS Soph who turns 20 in September) and he might still need time. But there is a lot to like with Brown's traits and game.
Loose arm, good athlete, tough. pic.twitter.com/eYfap3NES5
Colorado WR Travis Hunter looks to continue Heisman ascension against underrated Nebraska CB Tommi Hill
There’s buzz aplenty for Colorado do-everything athlete Travis Hunter who plays nearly every snap for his team on both offense and defense. There’s no doubting that Hunter is a blue-chip player. However, the real argument for which position best suits Hunter remains up in the air. Last week showed he might belong at receiver with wow play after wow play while showing off impressively strong hands. Truly, Hunter can probably play whichever position he/the NFL team that chooses him wants.
Hill is a lesser-known player, for now, on the Huskers. The Arizona State transfer cornerback is more on the brolic side with Hunter a lankier player. Look for Nebraska to use Hill in an attempt to press Hunter with him garnering the significant amount of snaps he does. Hill having a good corner performance against Hunter and the high-flying Colorado passing attack would go a long way for him.
RIDICULOUS TD CATCH
— ESPN (@espn) August 30, 2024
Make that three touchdowns for Travis Hunter tonight pic.twitter.com/zzohGx3ybZ
Game of the Week
No. 3 Texas @ No. 10 Michigan
Saturday, Noon EDT
FOX
This ought to be one fascinating game with the first top-10 matchup of the 2024 college football season taking place in Ann Arbor, MI. The explosive Texas offense gets to take on one of the best defenses in college football for the Wolverines.
Texas has one of the best 2025 quarterback prospects in the country with Quinn Ewers once again at the helm for the Longhorns. Ewers is looking to take another step in his development. The former No. 1 overall prospect in the country has every tool you could want as an NFL passer. His protectors up front are led by former five-star left tackle Kelvin Banks who has plenty of natural talent and thrives as a pass protector. If Banks can continue to elevate his physical dominance as a junior, he might be in for first-round status. DJ Campbell is an NFL-caliber guard prospect as well.
At the receiver spot, it’s Bond and Oregon State transfer Silas Bolden leading the way for their draft-eligible talents. Bolden is small in stature, but he’s explosive enough to make a game-changing play in this ball game. Don’t be fooled by his Week 1 stat line.
Michigan undoubtedly has the best defensive tackle duo in the county with Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant. Graham looks like a shoo-in top-10 pick with his counterpart Will Johnson. Grant is a massive athlete at 6’3” and 340 pounds who’s looking to put up further statistical production in 2024. Grant needs to show some more pass-rush juice to prove his worth as a potential first-rounder. Josaiah Stewart will look to give Banks issues off the edge for the Wolverines. He posted two sacks last week against Fresno State.
Jaishawn Barham will stack behind Graham, Grant, and Stewart as an uber-productive linebacker over his career with plenty of athleticism to boot. The Maryland transfer is looking to make noise with his new team.
Safety Rod Moore is out for the foreseeable future so it is Makari Paige looking to make a mark at that spot as Keon Sabb has moved on to Alabama.
The earmarks of this game will come when Texas’ offense is on the field against Michigan’s defense, But the other side has talent as well.
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards is an extremely athletic game-breaker looking to become a more complete back in 2024. Tight end Colston Loveland could be the best tight end in this coming draft class and the Wolverines’ clear number-one receiver. Myles Hinton is a quality tackle for the Wolverines.
On Texas’ defense, defensive end transfer Trey Moore joins the Longhorns coming off a 14-sack season with UTSA. Barryn Sorrell will play across from him. In the middle at defensive tackle, Alfred Collins is a returning veteran who will pair alongside Vernon Broughton.
Cornerback Jahdae Barron is one of Texas’ best players regardless of position or unit. Barron is a very good athlete and makes plenty of plays for the Longhorns secondary. Barron had an interception to start the season last week against Colorado State. Joining him is Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba at safety.
As you’ve seen, this is a loaded prospect pool in this game with plenty to see on both sides of the ball. Michigan looked brutal last week on offense, but they’ll have a shot for redemption against a high-powered Texas team they’ll have to keep up with.