Week 2 of the college football season is here. While we all know that most of the games this week are “money games”, there are still a few games, that have serious meaning for not just the upcoming season, but potentially, for the college football playoff picture.
So here are the 3 most important games to watch this weekend.
1)#11 Illinois Fighting Illini at Duke Blue Devils. Game starts at Noon (EST) on ESPN.
The Fighting Illini are highly ranked and return their best players in starting quarterback Luke Altmeyer, and linebacker Gabe Jacas. Both performed well in their Week 1 win over WIU.
They need junior running back Aidan Laughery to have another 100-yard game, and keep the Duke offense, off the field.
Illinois is a popular “sleeper team” in the Big Ten. They must win games these non-conference games, as their conference schedule starts off tough.
Blue Devils starting quarterback Darian Mensah transferred in from Tulane and made a big impact in Week 1. The sophomore went 27 of 34, for 389 yards, with 3 TDs and 0 INTs. He’ll need to keep that momentum going, because the run game is lacking.
Prediction – Illinois wins 35-28.
2) #15 Michigan Wolverines at #18 Oklahoma Sooners. Games starts at 7:30 PM (EST) on ABC.
This is only the 2nd time these two rich and storied programs have ever met.
This game is all about the tale of two different quarterbacks.
Michigan is starting a true freshman in Bryce Underwood in his first “true road test”. He looked OK, in his first start last week, going 21 of 31, for 251 yards, with 1 TD.
Oklahoma is trotting out a veteran transfer in junior John Mateer. He looked great in his Sooner debut, going 30 of 37, for 392 yards, with 3 TDs and 1 INT.
Both teams need this win, to break the absolute stink of last season off their skins.
I think homefield and crowd noise is going to play a big part early in this game. It’s hard to play on the road in college football, and Norman is going to be rocking.
Prediction – Oklahoma wins 28-17.
3) Iowa Hawkeyes at #16 Iowa State Cyclones. Game starts at Noon (EST) on FOX.
Nothing like an early season rivalry game to get the juices flowing.
The Cy-Hawk Trophy Game was started in 1977 by fans, after these two football teams didn’t play for 43 years.
It is one of my favorite rivalry games and trophies.
We all know that the Iowa Hawkeyes seem to be allergic to the passing game. They really on defense and running the football. They ran for 310 total yards in their Week 1 victory, and will absolutely need to do the same thing again. Their defense is always gap sound, and they don’t miss tackles. Senior kicker Drew Stevens nailed a 55-yarder last week, and that’s a great weapon to have.
Iowa State is led by redshirt junior Rocco Becht. He’s a three-year starter for the Cyclones. He’s a gritty and tough quarterback, who has proven he knows how to win big games. Through two games this season, he’s gone 33 of 48, for 461 yards, and 5 TDs and 0 INTs.
Iowa leads the series 47-24, but Iowa State won the trophy last year in a gritty 20-19 game. The Cyclones have won 2 of the last 3 games.
Prediction – Cyclones make it 2 straight wins with a 27-24 victory.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.
Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, profootballnetwork, clutchpoints, and sportsgrid.
Week 1 of the college football season has come to an end. Except for the UNC vs TCU game tonight.
Ohio State made Paul Finnebaum look like the clueless jackwang that he really is. Defeating Texas 14-7.
Unranked Florida State coming off a two-win season, upset an obviously over-rated #8 Alabama 31-17.
#9 LSU went into Death Valley and defeated #4 Clemson 17-10.
#17 Kansas State BARELY avoided starting the season 0-2, defeating FCS North Dakota 38-35.
The Arch Manning hype train proved to be what I said it was months ago. I did not, and do not believe he’s even a Top 5 college football quarterback right now.
My Upset special for Week 1 did not come through, as the Toldeo Rockets fell to the Kentucky Wildcats 24-16.
So, without further ado, here are my helmet sticks for Week 1.
1) Florida State Seminoles.
Coming off one of the worst seasons in program history. They went out and got another transfer quarterback from the portal. Tommy Castellanos had a history with new offensive Gus Malzahn; and they used it to pull off the upset of the season (as of now).
2) Isaiah Chisom, Linebacker, UCLA.
The linebacker transferred from Oregon State to UCLA and had a whopping 17 tackles for the Bruins, in a 43-10 thumping at the hands of the Utah Utes. He was all over the field. The lone bright spot for a Bruins team that had so much hype around their new incoming quarterback.
3) Eddie Lee Marburger, QB, UT Rio Grande Valley.
The transfer quarterback from UTSA, went 18 of 19, for 365 yards, with 5 TDs and 0 INTs. That’s a 94.7% completion percentage and a QBR of 343.0.
Week 2 of the college football season begins on Thursday night at 6:00 PM (EST), with 5 different division 2 or division 3 games.
– by Sean McKenzie
Stats and scores courtesy of…..NCAA.
Pictures courtesy of…..wallpapercave, uclabruins, and goutrgv.
The college football season starts on Saturday, August 23rd. That’s just 66 days away (as of this writing).
The coaching carousel ran its course in the offseason, with big names like Rich Rodriguez heading back to West Virginia. Dan Mullen leaving the booth to take the job at UNLV. Bronco Mendenhall going to Utah State. Of course, the one that got all the headlines was Bill Belichick leaving the NFL and taking the job at North Carolina.
So, we now look ahead to the 2025-26 season, and which coaches are or could be coaching for their jobs.
Luke Fickell – Wisconsin – (12-13 overall. 8-10 in the Big Ten).
I was all on this train back in 2023 when he was named the Badgers head coach. After compiling a 57-18 record at Cincinnati and taking them to the College Football Playoff. That success just hasn’t translated in Madison.
Wisconsin missed a bowl game for the first time since 2001, after going only 5-7 last year, and is only 12-13 in his 2 seasons. Getting smoked by rivals Iowa and Minnesota doesn’t make it any easier.
The alumni and the fans are not going to tolerate another losing season and are already demanding action. He must at the very minimum make a bowl game, or he’s getting canned.
Hugh Freeze – Auburn – (11-14 overall, 5-11 in the SEC).
Unlike at up north, I didn’t like this hire at all in 2023. So far, I’ve been proven right.
They always have talent at Auburn, and for a team with the history and traditions this is unacceptable to their alumni and fanbase.
There is a bit of hope here though. Freeze had great success in the transfer portal, landing QB Jackson Arnold and the #1 WR in Eric Singleton Jr. They return almost their entire OL intact as well.
While it would be nice to beat Alabama and/or Georgia, it isn’t a necessity right now, just don’t get clobbered again. A bowl game is an absolute must for this team.
Mike Norvell – Florida State – (33-27 overall, 20-20 in the ACC).
You do not go from an undefeated 13-0, to a 1-11 against FBS teams the very next season and think your butt ain’t on the line.
The college football world just doesn’t work that way.
They’ve been recruiting as well as any program in the country and have the NIL money to spend in the portal, which they do.
Something just isn’t right in that locker room down in Tallahassee.
Norvell brought in 2 brand new coordinators in Gus Malzahn (OC) and Tony White (DC).
They hit the portal hard, getting 4 new starters along the offensive line, 2 new starters at wide receiver Duce Robinson (USC) and Squirrel While (TENN). They brought in another transfer quarterback in Tommy Castellanos (Boston College), who worked with Malzahn when both were at UCF.
They MUST win at least one rivalry game (CLEM, MIA, UF) and make a bowl game, or he’ll be unemployed before leaving the locker room on November 29th.
Lincoln Riley – USC – (26-14 overall, 17-10 in conference).
Since quarterback Caleb Williams went to the NFL, Riley only has a record of 18-12 overall.
8-5 in 2023 and 7-6 in 2024.
USC has one of the best and richest histories and traditions in all of college football. Who doesn’t get goosebumps watching Traveler gallop onto the field. The Trojan Warrior piercing the turf at midfield with his sword.
The USC alumni has proven that they have NO QUALMS about paying out a “buyout penalty” and Riley’s is reportedly $90 million dollars.
Riley must win 9 games, make a bowl game, and beat UCLA if he’s going to keep his job.
Brent Venables – Oklahoma – (22-17 overall, 17-10 in conference).
Like Luke Fickell, I was all about this hire by the Sooners. Venables was a great defensive coordinator at Clemson, and deserved his shot.
Nobody said the transition from the Big-12 to the SEC was going to be easy. The 6-7 record last season, gave the Sooners 2 losing seasons in the last 3 years, and they hadn’t had a losing season since 1998 (5-6).
Fairly or not, Venables and Oklahoma’s successes and failures are directly tied to the burnt orange and white of Texas.
The Longhorns success since joining the SEC really puts the pressure on Brent in his 4th season at the helm.
To keep his job, I believe it starts with Oklahoma beating Michigan at home in Week 2, and somehow find a way to win 8 games, and make a bowl.
Question of the day – Which head coach do you think has the hottest seat in college football?
– by Sean McKenzie.
Follow me on X (Twitter) @JoeAmerican6771 and @allsportsfancom.
Stats and information courtesy of…..NCAA, ESPN, Lindy’s, sports-reference, and Athlon Sports.
Pictures courtesy of…..on3, MSN, LATimes, and wallpapercave.
With the 2025-26 college football season starting in just under 100 days; I thought we should look and talk about the best returning players in the sport.
This list does not include quarterbacks. Yes, it’s the most important position. There will be a sperate list for that.
Y’all know me, so let’s get right into it.
Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State.
2024 stats – 76 receptions, for 1,315 yards, with 15 TDs.
Smith broke multiple records at Ohio State in his freshman season with ease. He was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and was a First-Team All-American.
The crazy thing is that the 6’3″, 215 lbs sophomore, still has 2 years of college football to play. He was unguardable last season and will continue to improve under OC/WR coach Brian Hartline.
Smith could walk into the NFL and be WR1 for most teams today. He has the size, speed, and hands to dominate the game for the next decade.
2, Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State.
2024 stats – 81 total tackles, .5 sacks, 2 INTs, 6 PDs, 1 Punt Return TD.
The 6’0″, 205 lbs junior can do everything on defense. He can come down and play in the box. He’s an excellent blitzer, hitting the gaps with speed. He can deliver big hits. He can drop back and play the deep safety. He can come up and play in the slot. He does it all.
He adds additional value in the return game, as evidenced by his punt return touchdown against Indiana.
As a sophomore last season, he won Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year Award. He was a finalist for the Thorpe Award, and the Nagurski Award. He was also named a unanimous first team All-American.
The 6’3″, 235 lbs junior was a second-team All-American last season. He has the speed and burst to beat the offensive tackle off the snap and is able to drop back in coverage. He goes for the football, evidenced by his 4 forced fumbles.
4. Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama.
2024 stats – 48 receptions, for 865 yards, with 8 TDs.
The 6’0″, 185 lbs Williams started his freshman season very strong, scoring a touchdown in his first five games. The first thing that comes to mind when talking about him is SPEEEEEEDDDD.
Williams is very fast, and if you don’t get hands on him at the line of scrimmage, you’re eating dust and seeing his numbers.
He faded in the second half of last season. Teams figured out that he can be bullied on the LOS and be taken out of the play because of his small size.
I think that changes this season, and he’ll be better using his hands of the snap. He was first-team All-SEC and Freshman All-American.
5. Jeremiyah Love, HB, Notre Dame.
2024 stats – 163 carries, for 1,125 yards, with 17 TDs. 28 receptions for 237 yards, with 2 TDs.
The 6’0″, 212 lbs junior is the best running back in the country, especially when he’s healthy. All those numbers you see above and the highlights on YouTube, he did all that while battling a number of injuries.
He has the speed to score from anywhere on the field. The power to break tackles and run between the lines. He has the hands to catch the ball out of the backfield. He’s improved his pass blocking and blitz pickup as he’s progressed in his time in South Bend.
Fighting Irish OC Mike Denbrock even said that he was going to “deploy Love in the slot this season”, showing the he can be a playmaker anywhere.
The 6’3″, 265 lbs junior set a new school record for forced fumbles and had the most sacks in a season for Clemson, since 2018. He has good burst at the snap, and he’s always looking for the football.
Even if the offensive tackle gets his hands inside on him, Parker still has the strength to force him into the pocket and force the quarterback to get out of his rhythm.
Parker was the only FBS player in 2024 to finish in the Top 10 nationally in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles.
The 6’1″, 230 lbs senior is a tackling machine. He has the speed to play sideline-to-sideline. He has the strength to take on DT (see Iowa State game), and the toughness to take on the strongest of HBs at the LOS (see the hit on Arizona State HB Cam Skattebo).
He has great hand usage, to get off of blockers and make the tackle. He wraps up and doesn’t let go.
He was named Captain as a junior and has the complete trust of his teammates and coaches.
The 6’5″, 265 lbs, senior has ideal size and length at the position. He has the burst to win off the edge and strength to bull rush through the offensive tackles body.
He more than held his own, playing opposite of #3 draft pick Abdul Carter last season.
He played his best football in the college football playoffs, getting 4.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and an INT in those 3 games.
With new DC Jim Knowles now running the defense, he’ll have even more opportunities to make his mark this upcoming season.
The 6’3″, 315 lbs junior is the best DT in America, and possibly the best overall defensive lineman in college football.
That’s right, I said it.
Woods has the strength and speed inside, to demand double teams on every play. You absolutely cannot have him one on one. What makes him even better, is that he can kick out and not only play DE but play it well.
He can play in either a 4-3 or a 3-4, and be just as productive in both schemes.
He plays his best games, against the best teams (see Georgia and Texas games) last season.
Putting my “fan cap” on, I’d LOVE to see him in my Cleveland Browns Orange next season.
There you go, the 10 best non-QB returning players for the upcoming college football season.
Do you agree or disagree?
Who would put in or take out?
Let me know.
– by Sean McKenzie
Follow me on X (Twitter) at JoeAmerican6771 and allsportsfancom.
Stats and information courtesy of…..ESPN and NCAA.
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