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The 2024 College Football is underway and a top-5 team has lost to a team from the MAC. The Pac-12 no longer exists, Texas and Oklahoma are members of the SEC, and the College Football Playoff will feature a 12-team field — leaving more room for error than ever before. Let’s dive into the first Top 25 of Week 2.
25. Boise State Broncos (1-1)
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Boise State’s special teams unit is to blame for its crushing defeat at Autzen Stadium. The visiting Broncos more than held their own against Oregon. Behind star rusher Ashton Jeanty, Boise held a lead in the fourth quarter and appeared to have control of the game. Shortly after Tez Johnson returned a punt 85 yards to put Oregon up 27-20 entering the fourth quarter, Jeanty exploded for a 70-yard TD to tie the game. Following a defensive takeaway, Jeanty scored his third TD of the game to give the Broncos a 34-27 lead. Unfortunately, Boise allowed a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff and ultimately lost on a walk-off field goal. Despite the loss, the Broncos appear to be a threat to reach the CFP as a Group of 5 team. An early Heisman candidate, Jeanty finished with 192 yards and three TDs — pushing his two-game total to 459 yards and nine TDs.
24. Notre Dame Fighting Irish (1-1)
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Oh, Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish opened the year with a huge win in College Station — taking down a ranked Texas A&M team and seemingly setting themselves up for a run to the College Football Playoff. Ranked No. 5 entering last weekend, Notre Dame failed to build on the momentum and instead suffered a humiliating defeat. The Irish lost to Northern Illinois, 16-14, as the offense struggled for the second week in a row. Northern Illinois received a massive game from Antario Brown (99 rushing yards and 126 receiving yards), but the story of the game was Riley Leonard’s inability to lead ND’s offense. The former Duke QB finished 20-of-32 for 163 yards with two interceptions. On the final play of the game, kicker Mitch Jeter had his 62-yard field goal attempt blocked.
23. Arizona State Sun Devils (2-0)
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This is something I didn’t expect to say in 2024 — Arizona State may be a factor in the Big 12 race. The Sun Devils entered the year with low expectations. However, Kenny Dillingham’s team has put together two impressive performances in a row. The Sun Devils routed Wyoming 48-7 in their opener and built a 30-3 lead over Mississippi State this past weekend. QB Sam Leavitt rushed for two scores and C.J. Fite had a glorious scoop-and-score in the first half en route to a 27-3 lead. After allowing the Bulldogs to go on a 20-0 run in the second half, running back Cam Skattebo put the game away for ASU. The electric back rushed for a career-high 262 yards and also led the team with 35 receiving yards.
22. Washington Huskies (2-0)
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Like Michigan, Washington is not at the same level as last year’s team. With a completely revamped roster and coaching staff, the Huskies are going to go through some growing pains in 2024. With that being said, the team is off to a decent start. Former Mississippi State QB Will Rogers threw four touchdown passes and completed 21-of-26 attempts for 261 yards against Eastern Michigan to lead UW to a 30-9 win. After two easy victories, Washington will need to raise its game to another level this weekend as it takes on Washington State in the Apple Cup. The Cougars (2-0) are coming off an impressive 37-16 win over Texas Tech.
21. LSU Tigers (1-1)
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The Tigers are still fuming over their loss to USC two weeks ago. Looking to get their first win over the season with Nicholls visiting Baton Rouge, the Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game. However, the Colonels wouldn’t back down. Running back Collin Guggenheim opened the third quarter with a 67-yard touchdown run to cut LSU’s lead to 23-21. Guggenheim finished with 145 yards and two scores, but it was not enough for Nicholls. Following his 67-yard dash, LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier threw three TD passes in the final nine minutes of the third quarter to push LSU’s lead to 44-21. LSU opens SEC play with a trip to South Carolina this weekend.
20. Michigan Wolverines (1-1)
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Michigan coming in at No. 20 may appear harsh, but I was tempted to leave the defending champs out of my Top 25. The Wolverines opened their title defense with an uninspiring showing against Fresno State. Entering last weekend’s showdown with Texas, Michigan was an underdog at home — and I believed the Longhorns would win comfortably. Still, Michigan’s performance was jarring. The offense continued to struggle, but the defense’s struggle to slow down Texas’ offense was alarming. Michigan has a chance to reboot this week with Arkansas State coming to Ann Arbor, but if it doesn’t improve immensely it is facing a second loss in two weeks when USC comes to town.
19. Louisville Cardinals (2-0)
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When your first two opponents are Austin Peay and Jacksonville State, you should be 2-0. A week after smashing Austin Peay 62-0, Louisville dispatched Jacksonville State 49-14. Tyler Shough played well for the second week in a row, completing 21-of-33 passes for 349 yards and two scores. The team now has an extra week to prepare for its first ACC game of the year — a home game against Georgia Tech (2-1).
18. Iowa State Cyclones (2-0)
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The state of Iowa belongs to the Cyclones in 2024. While Iowa State has improved under the coaching of Matt Campbell, Campbell entered last weekend’s matchup with a 1-6 record against the rival Hawkeyes. And, a seventh loss appeared to be in the cards for much of Saturday’s battle. The Cyclones trailed 19-7 with less than five minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, Rocco Becht threw a 75-yard TD to Jaylin Noel 11 seconds after Iowa extended its lead to 12 points to bring State right back into the game. Kyle Konrardy hit two field goals in the fourth including a 54-yarder with six seconds remaining to secure a 20-19 win.
17. Illinois Fighting Illini (2-0)
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Entering the rankings at No. 17, the Fighting Illini. Illinois recorded a 45-0 win in its opener but all eyes were turned towards the matchup with Kansas. The Illini won thanks to a great showing from their defense. One of the top units in the country a few years ago, Illinois limited star QB Jalon Daniels to 141 yards and intercepted three passes. Impressively, the defense blanked KU for the last 19:57 of action — allowing the offense an opportunity to win the game with 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
16. Oklahoma Sooners (2-0)
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Oklahoma was just one of a handful of ranked teams to lay an egg last weekend. Playing a Houston team that lost its opener, at home, to UNLV by 17 points, the Sooners struggled to get going offensively. Jackson Arnold threw for just 174 yards and the team’s leading rusher finished with 40 yards. The Sooners were outgained 318-252 and their only points in the second half came via a safety with less than two minutes left on the clock.
15. Arizona Wildcats (2-0)
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Did Arizona look past its Week 2 matchup? Probably. With a grueling road trip looming — @ Kansas State and @ Utah — Arizona put together a dull showing against Northern Arizona. The Wildcats failed to find the endzone in the first half en route to a 10-6 deficit. Noah Fifita found Jeremiah Patterson for a 17-yard touchdown three minutes into the second half for the winning score, and a 56-yard run from Kedrick Reescano iced the game with a tick under 10 minutes remaining in the fourth. Arizona will need to bring its A-game this week if it wants to extend its winning streak to 10 games.
14. Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-0)
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We are still trying to figure out how Oklahoma State won this game. Playing host to Arkansas, the Cowboys needed overtime to earn their second win of the season. The Razorbacks had 12 more first downs than State (33-21) and outgained the Cowboys 648-385. State’s first score of the game was a pick-six, but Arkansas responded three minutes later and extended its lead to 21-7 entering halftime. At one point in the fourth quarter, Arkansas had a 90% chance to win. This result is baffling but a win is a win.
13. Kansas State Wildcats (2-0)
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In its final game before opening Big 12 play, Kansas State nearly lost to Tulane. With QB Avery Johnson struggling for much of the first half, K-State found itself down 20-10 at the break. Tulane QB Darian Mensah (342 yards, two TDs) and running back Makhi Hughes (128 yards, one TD) nearly did enough to topple the ranked Wildcats. However, the Wildcats came through in the clutch with a series of huge plays. A 60-yard scoop-and-score gave K-State a 34-27 lead with 8:13 remaining in the game and an interception in the endzone with 12 seconds remaining secured the win.
12. USC Trojans (2-0)
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While rival Notre Dame laid an egg following its huge win over Texas A&M, USC avoided a letdown following its impressive victory over LSU. The Trojans hosted the Utah State Aggies for their home opener and sent the Aggies back home with a 48-0 loss. With new defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn at the helm, USC had its first shutout since 2011. The defense limited Utah State to 190 yards and 10 first downs, while running backs Quinten Joyner (84 yards, two TDs) and Woody Marks (103 yards, one TD) led the way offensively. USC has an early Bye Week and will then travel to Michigan to face the Wolverines in two weeks.
11. Tennessee Volunteers (2-0)
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The Vols are quickly rising the ranks. A 69-3 victory over Chattanooga to open the season was impressive but not unexpected. Tennessee’s 51-10 demolition of a ranked NC State squad? That was a statement. Dylan Sampson opened the scoring for the Vols with nine seconds remaining in the first quarter and the team quickly put the game out of reach before halftime. After each team made a field goal early in the second, defensive back Will Brooks turned the game on its head with an 85-yard pick-six to put the Vols up 17-3. The Vols would go on a 20-0 run following the pick-six and held a 37-3 lead with 4:02 remaining in the third quarter. Suddenly, the SEC has another CFP contender.
10. Utah Utes (2-0)
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For one half, Utah looked like the team it hoped to be — the best team in the Big 12 and a true threat to reach the College Football Playoff. QB Cam Rising threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter and Utah’s defense forced a fumble and four punts to begin the game. On Baylor’s sixth possession, Utah blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown to extend its lead to 23-0. However, Rising would soon leave the game with a hand injury and the Utes struggled the rest of the way. With Rising in street clothes, Utah failed to score in the second half and relied on its defense to secure the win. The Utes can win next week if Rising can’t play, but they will need him for the following two games — @ Oklahoma State and vs. Arizona.
9. Missouri Tigers (2-0)
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Through two games, Missouri is outscoring its opponents 89-0. The Tigers overcame an uninspired first quarter — they led 3-0 after 15 minutes — by scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter en route to a 38-0 win. QB Brady Cook rushed for a pair of scores in the second and star receiver Luther Burden III added a TD of his own on the ground. Arguably the top receiver in the nation, Burden has just seven catches for 64 yards through two games. This week, Missouri will host No. 24 Boston College in what should represent its first test of the season.
8. Alabama Crimson Tide (2-0)
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The most deceiving final score of the week belongs to Alabama. The Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 with a 42-16 win over USF, but they could have lost this game. The Tide took a 14-6 lead into halftime but saw their lead cut to one point when Ta’Ron Keith found the endzone for the Bulls in the third quarter. With a little over six minutes remaining in the game, a successful USF field goal brought the score to 21-16, Alabama. Then, the Tide hit three haymakers in a row to finish with a 26-point win. Alabama struggled with USF in 2023, so maybe we shouldn’t be shocked by the first 55 minutes of this game.
7. Miami Hurricanes (2-0)
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A week after steamrolling Florida at The Swamp, Miami hosted Florida A&M and defanged the Rattlers. Heisman candidate Cam Ward threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter to set the tone for the Hurricanes and ultimately accounted for over 300 yards and four TDs. Fellow transfer Damien Martinez (Oregon State) rushed for 91 yards and one TD on 11 carries for the Canes. Defensively, Miami limited A&M to three field goals and forced three turnovers on the day.
6. Oregon Ducks (2-0)
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Two weeks, two unconvincing victories for the Oregon Ducks. Oregon entered the season as the No. 3 team in the country and now finds itself ranked No. 9. Following a victory over Idaho to open the year, the Ducks faced a good Boise State team last weekend. Led by an elite running back, the Broncos outgained Oregon and held a lead in the fourth quarter. The Ducks won thanks to a handful of explosive plays. QB Dillon Gabriel had TD passes of 34 and 59 yards, respectively, Tez Johnson took a punt 85 yards to the house, and Noah Whittington returned a kickoff 100 yards…before dropping the ball at the goal-line resulting in Jayden Limar scoring a 0-yard TD…to propel the Ducks to victory.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0)
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Following its big road victory over West Virginia to start the season, Penn State found itself in a bit of trouble Saturday afternoon. The host Nittany Lions fell behind early as Bowling Green went 75 yards in 2:21 to start the game with a touchdown. Following a field goal on their second drive, the Falcons once again marched 70 yards downfield and extended their lead to 17-7 on a Malcolm Johnson Jr. TD reception. At the end of the first half, the Falcons held a shocking 24-20 lead. However, Penn State’s defense showed up after the intermission and turned the game on its head. The defense blanked Bowling Green until 47 seconds remained in the game — allowing the offense time to score two TDs of its own en route to a 34-27 victory.
4. Ole Miss Rebels (2-0)
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When your quarterback begins the game with 24 completions in a row, odds are it is going to be a pretty good day. Star QB Jaxson Dart finished the day 25-of-27 for 377 yards and one TD en route to a 52-3 victory over Middle Tennessee. However, Dart wasn’t the biggest star of the day. Running back Henry Parrish Jr. gashed the Blue Raiders for 165 yards and four TDs on 14 carries and had a 16-yard reception, as well. The Rebels went 7-of-9 on third-down and approached 700 total yards while committing zero turnovers. Next, Ole Miss will hit the road to take on Wake Forest (1-1).
3. Ohio State Buckeyes (2-0)
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It will be a while before we have a true feel for Ohio State, but the team has taken care of business thus far. A week after hosting Akron, the Buckeyes welcomed an overmatched Western Michigan team to town. The Buckeyes received big afternoons from their two stud running backs as Quinshon Judkins (108 yards on nine carries) and TreVeyon Henderson (10 carries for 66 yards) scored two touchdowns apiece. The defense was dominant, as well. Overall, the Broncos gained six first downs and finished with 99 total yards — compared to 30 and 683 for the Buckeyes.
2. Texas Longhorns (2-0)
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The biggest statement of the season so far was made by Texas this past Saturday. Facing the defending National Champions on the road, the Longhorns pummeled Michigan in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggests. Texas dominated on both sides of the ball en route to a 24-6 lead after 30 minutes. The defense forced turnovers on back-to-back possessions to close out the half and Quinn Ewers capitalized by leading the Horns to 10 points. The team stepped off the gas after extending the lead to 31-6 in the third quarter, but a clear message was sent — Texas is a threat to win it all.
1. Georgia Bulldogs (2-0)
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To the surprise of nobody, Georgia didn’t have to sweat out its second game of the season. The No. 1 Bulldogs dispatched Tennessee Tech by a score of 48-3 — their second week in a row surrendering just three points. Future pro Carson Beck threw five TD passes for Georgia before making way for Gunner Stockton, and the defense held Tech to under 150 total yards.
