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Whenever it appears that a CFB weekend has the look of a boring, ‘ol weekend slate of games, expect, EXPECT, the unexpected. That’s EXACTLY what week two was in the world of college football. Now, Week three has some outstanding games, on paper, mind you, and that could make it a no-doubt, all day TV watching affair on Saturday. So, let’s look back at week two, doling out some hardware in the procces and then look forward to week three in college football.

Week Two Players of the Week

Kinder’s Texas Bowl Player of the Week - (tie) Oklahoma QB John Mateer - In the one ranked matchup of the weekend, the best player on the field, performed at the highest level. Mateer was 21 of 34 for 270 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns in a 24-13 win over #14 Michigan in Norman. He totaled 344 yards and those three touchdowns in a convincing performance at home against a talented Wolverines defense.

Baylor QB Sawyer Robertson was incredible in a comeback win over SMU in Dallas. In a game that appeared early to be going sideways for the Bears, Robertson kept slinging the rock all over the field, 50 times to be exact for 440 yards and four TD in the 48-45 upset win over the Mustangs. He could’ve shared this award with his top receiver Josh Cameron who caught nine passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, but in a close vote, Robertson got the nod.

National Player of the Week - Texas A&M DE Cashius Howell - A “Sack Trick” hadn’t happened in ten years until Howell did it against Utah State in A&M’s 44-22 win over the other Aggies. Howell sacked Utah State’s QBs three times in a row on consecutive plays in a single drive. He’ll have all eyes on him when the Aggies invade South Bend this weekend and those eyes were on him last week as he did something rarely done at any level of football.

Week Two Teams of the Week

Kinder’s Texas Bowl Team of the Week - Mississippi State - Bulldogs head coach Jeff Lebby and his squad pulled out the best win of his short two year career. After Lebby's first year in Starkville in which he was unable to lead Mississippi State to a win over a Power four team, a win of any kind is due to be celebrated. But, #12 ranked Arizona State walked into Davis Wade and got popped 24-20 in a scintillating win for Lebby and the Bulldogs. What a win for the Bulldogs, now 2-0, with a strong chance to 4-0 before entertaining Tennessee in Starkville in a few weeks. The next SEC win will be MSU’s first conference win since October 21, 2023; but that discussion can wait as it’s time to celebrate what a great win Lebby, his players and staff strung together on Saturday night.

National Team of the Week - USF - There’s a sign in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium that says “Only Gators get out alive.” Well, the Gators died, metaphorically speaking, in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium as USF K Nico Gramatica knocked home the game winner from 20-yards out on the final play of the Bulls 18-16 win. That’s two straight upset wins over ranked teams for head coach Alex Golesh and the Bulls - Boise State at home in the opener and #13 Florida in The Swamp. QB Byrum Brown was brilliant for a second week in a row, completing 23 of 36 for 263 and a TD, in addition to 66 yards rushing. What a great win for Golesh and company!

Week Two Kudos

…to Oregon and Dan Lanning for, just wow, WOW, taking care of business against Oklahoma State 69-3.

…to Illinois WR Hank Beatty who had 128 yards receiving on eight catches and added a 25-yard rushing TD in a 45-19 win at Duke.

…to Mississippi State WR Brenen Thompson for his 58-yard catch-and-run TD late in the fourth quarter to lead the Dogs to a 24-20 win over #12 Arizona State. He had 133 receiving yards on six catches and another TD in the victory.

…to Baylor for their comeback win over SMU in Dallas in one of week two’s best games. Such beautifully competitive and sloppy football, at the same time, but compelling as all get out.

…to Iowa State DT Dominique Orange who has the best nickname in all of college football - the Big Citrus, dominating the Iowa interior in a 16-13 CyHawk win.

…to NC State QB CJ Bailey and RB Hollywood Smothers for leading the comeback 35-31 win over a pesky Virginia squad. Bailey threw for 200 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while Smothers had 140 rushing yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.

…to Mizzou QB Beau Pribula outdueling Kansas QB Jalon Daniels with 334 yards passing on 30 of 39 passing and three touchdowns in Mizzou’s 42-31 win in Columbia.

…to the Ohio Bobcats for knocking off a Power four conference foe West Virginia 17-10 in Athens, OH.

…to Wake Forest RB Demond Claiborne who ran for 193 yards on just ten carries and three touchdowns in a blowout 42-10 win over Western Carolina.

…to Arizona QB Noah Fifita for throwing five touchdowns in a 48-3 win over Weber State in Tucson.

…to Michigan State QB Aidan Chiles who threw four TD passes, a career high. In addition, Chiles ran in the game tying TD and completed the game winning two point conversion to WR Omari Kelly for the 42-40 scintillating win over Michigan State.

…to Syracuse players for hanging on for dear life and beating U Conn in overtime and then surviving being forced to run sprints after the game by their head coach.

…to Colorado QB Ryan Staub who threw two TDs in relief of the two QBs seemingly ahead of him on the depth chart, leading Colorado to a 31-7 win over Delaware in Boulder.

…to Washington RB Jonah Coleman for tying the Washington Huskies’ record of five TDs in a game in the 70-10 win over UC Davis.

…to Ohio State QB Julian Sayin who threw just one incompletion (18 of 19) and at one time completed 16 passes in a row in a 70-0 win over Grambling.

Week Three Preview

#16 (2-0) Texas A&M at #8 (0-1) Notre Dame

These two beat on each other in the heat of College Station last year and the Irish came out with the victory. This year, they’ll meet in South Bend after an Irish bye week and two straight Aggie victories to start the season. I expect low scoring and a lot of physicality in this matchup, if nothing else.

#6 (2-0) Georgia at #15 (2-0) Tennessee

When Tennessee lost QB Nico Iamaleava to the transfer portal, they didn’t so much as settle on QB Joey Aguilar to be its next starting quarterback, but it felt a little like that at the time. Well, that’s changed. That’s certainly not the tune that Tennessee fans are singing after watching Aguilar in the first two weeks, as he’s driven this offense to huge success in their two wins. But, can he do it against the Big Red Menace? If he does, he’ll approach Peyton Manning status in Knoxville. Okay, not to that degree…yet, but close. The Dawgs have beaten the Vols EIGHT times in a row. Can Aguilar prevent a ninth?

#18 (2-0) USF at #5 (2-0) Miami, FL

Did many think Miami was going to be 2-0 through two games? A decent number of people would’ve said no with Notre Dame the opponent in the opener. But, the Hurricanes took care of business that night and look to be even better than last year. On the flip side, NO ONE had USF going 2-0 to start the year with wins over Boise State and Florida on the road. This Alex Golesh-led Bulls squad will hit you right in the mouth and has playmakers on offense to put the ball in the end zone. If USF can survive a potential early onslaught from Miami, this could be a REAL fun watch in the second half.

Sneaky hot non-top 25 ranked game, that should’ve been…

(2-0) Vanderbilt at #11 (2-0) South Carolina

Oh, I can’t wait for the QB matchup in this one. Vandy QB Diego Pavia and South Carolina QB LaNorris Sellers are as important to each player’s team as any QBs in the nation. Pavia backs down from no one and Sellers is an intelligent, freak of nature who does things no QBs in the nation can do. I love this matchup in Columbia and can’t wait to see how each defense game plans against each QB.