Week 2: Not So Great Lakes State

Standings:

1.) Hoying 3-1 (0-1 upset)
1.) Schweinfurth 3-1 (0-1 upset)
1.) Seeberg 3-1 (0-1 upset)
4.) Draper 2-2 (0-1 upset)

After the season-opening fireworks of week 1, quality matchups are a bit harder to find in week 2. All eyes are focused up north for That Team Living on Borrowed Time to start making payments with interest, while the Buckeyes are back under the lights in the early season for the third time in four years.

Texas Longhorns @ Michigan Wolverines

Draper: This is clearly the matchup of the week...but I'm expecting a dud here.  TTUN has a real live defense that can hang with anyone in the country.  Joyfully, their offense is an absolute disaster.  Orji can't take the starting job from a reincarnation of Cade McNamara (actually worse) and the cover athlete for EA College Football 25 stunk it up last week.  Texas came out firing, but it was against a paper bag so we'll learn something about them this week.  Ewers is hoping to keep his name in the Heisman race and this would go a long way in that mission.  I just don't see a world in which the Wolverine offense can put up enough points to support their defense in their marquee non-conference matchup. While this program will face the executioner soon, this will be the beginning of the end on the field.  Expect a slugfest early, but there won't be enough points for the maize and blue to take out the Longhorns.  Hook them.  UT: 27--UM: 13
Hoying: But for Texas being completely incapable of stopping Michael Penix in last year's Sugar Bowl semifinal, this would have been your 2024 National Championship. And the Wolverines probably would have steamrolled the Longhorns just as effortlessly as they did the Huskies. But other than maybe adding a little extra spice to the visitors' motivation, that doesn't really matter for this year's matchup. JJ McCarthy's gone, Blake Corum's gone, Zak Zinter, Roman Wilson, Kris Jenkins (stupid Bengals)...this is not the same team that's had a stranglehold on the Big Ten in the post-sportsmanshipCOVID era. The Longhorns saw the second-most departing players selected in last year's draft (second only to you-know-who), including standout WR Xavier Worthy, but should be a bit better poised to weather the storm. I have a sneaking suspicion that Texas won't live up to their early top-5 ranking, but I'm more convinced that UM won't be reaching the heights of their last three seasons anytime soon (why, we'll never know). Hook them. UT: 24--UM: 13

Schweinfurth: I'm going to preface this by saying I didn't get to see any of Texas' game last week. However, I did get to see most of the Wolverines' stinker against Fresno St, and boy do they have some problems. Donovan Edwards looked lost trying to run the ball and Orji is a mess throwing the ball. There was a time when I actually thought that game was going to come down to the wire, but the UM defense bailed them out. I can't see where the Wolverines score more than 14 points with that popgun offense. Texas will have some issues moving the ball at times, but they should be able to get the drives they need to win. UT: 21--UM: 13 

Seeberg:  Is Texas back?  A top 10 opponent on the road would, in theory, give us some clarity on that annual question.  However, most agree the recently vaunted maize and blue have taken steps backwards, on offense and in intel.  Texas looked the part, demolishing a woeful foe 52-0 last week while UM managed just two offensive touchdowns against a second-tier G5 team.  Maybe coaching without a contract will do that to a guy?  To me, this has the feel of last year's OSU-Mizzou game.  There's little chance the UM offense can sustain drives consistently, and as good as that defense is, they are likely to get worn down by quarter number four.  Plus, Buckeye-adjacent QB Quinn Ewers gets it.  He wants to take down the team up north too.  Horns up.  UT: 27--UM: 17

Iowa State Cyclones @ Iowa Hawkeyes

Draper: Does Iowa finally have an offense to go with the stout defense? Honestly, the answer is almost assuredly no, but there is more hope this year that they can get above the Mendoza line.  Regarding the Clones, I don't know much about them this year, but the Matt Campbell honeymoon phase is drawing to a close.  Iowa has won of the last 10 in this matchup and the game is in Iowa City.  The Wave outdoes the Cyclones for another B1G non-conference win.  ISU: 10--Iowa: 20
Hoying: Finally, Iowa's long nightmare is over: Brian Ferentz is off the sidelines. True, his dismissal isn't exactly the removal of Vecna's restraining device but the Hawkeyes should at least be able to function without being actively held back when they have the ball. Every Iowa OC is allotted a fixed amount of points over their career, and Brian chose to use them all against Ohio State in 2017. Anyway, the Iowa attack should also gain a bit of breathing room from the absence Iowa State's star LB Caleb Bacon, out this week with a leg injury. The Hawkeyes took care of their FCS opponent with much more aplomb than Iowa State did last week, and I think they'll keep their momentum rolling here. Iowa: 20--ISU: 13

Schweinfurth: Ahhh, El Assico. Will we see the offensive ineptitude we have seen the last few years? Probably, but Iowa looks like they can actually run the ball. With the Iowa defense still looking stout, this one will still be a slog. ISU: 9--Iowa: 24

Seeberg:  Iowa had three touchdown receptions by wide receivers last week.  Iowa had three touchdown receptions by wide receivers last season.  Incredibly, both of the aforementioned statements are true.  To say Iowa's offensive futility has been fixed is about as grandiose an overstatement as one can make in the college football landscape, but it does, at least, seem to be headed towards respectability.  And respectability is about all it needs to beat most teams with their annually stellar defense.  Matt Campbell is still at ISU right?  He was mentioned for literally every big job opening in the post-BCS, pre-Covid era.  My how the turn tables.  He's still a good coach, but his overachieving Cyclones won't be able to manufacture enough points in this one.  Hawkeyes pull away late.  ISU: 13--Iowa: 24

Tennessee Volunteers vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack

Draper: Tennessee was the darling of the week in the analytics community with excitement around Nico Iamaleava, but we can take very little from these super cupcakes in week 1.  NCState, on the other hand, played Western Carolina quite close before getting the victory.  That is a rather disturbing omen.  The Vols should be able to take care of business here to provide a 2nd decent nonconference win (over the ACC).  Don't expect UT to run the table in the SEC but the ACC's showing has been less than stellar thus far.  Vols move to 2-0.  UT: 34--NCSU: 20
Hoying: This week's only other ranked matchup takes us to another stupid neutral site game to see Tennessee take on...the NC State Wolfpack? I guess when you have to rank 25 teams you really start to reach to fill in the last five or so. The Wolfpack looked wholly unremarkable struggling to put away Western Carolina last week while Tennessee was busy whomping on Chattanooga. Much is being made of Tennessee's QB Nico Iamaleava, who despite leading the Vols to a Citrus Bowl blowout win over Iowa last year, is still technically a freshman as he ended up redshirting for the 2023 season. But you have to wonder about the potential of a guy who didn't start because he was backing up Joe Milton of all people. Yes, I've seen Joe air it out in the NFL preseason, and no, I'm not impressed, any more so than when he was dragging Michigan's 2020 season into the bowels of futility. At any rate, I don't see a reason why NC State should be able to hang with Tennessee, so I'm going with the Vols for now. UT: 31--NCSU: 21

Schweinfurth: I'm not really sure about this game. It sounds like Tennessee has a decent QB. I honestly know nothing about the Wolfpack this year. The ACC has looked like hot garbage so far and I'll pick the trend here. UT: 35--NCSU: 17

Seeberg:  Wait, this is a neutral site game?  Between two teams who literally don't have anything in common or any beef or much-if-any national gravitas?  We've officially beaten a dead horse into the ground with these early season neutral site contests.  I didn't even know the LSU/USC game was in Vegas until I turned it on.  In any event, welcome to the only other ranked matchup of the week.  The Vols smoked their I-AA warmup squad while NC State...won at least?  Somnambulists through three quarters before finally shaking off the cobwebs to win.  Charlotte crowd might help, but the Vols travel so even that may be a wash.  Second-tier ACC teams generally don't beat second-tier SEC teams and I'm betting that trend will continue.  UT: 38--NCSU: 20

Western Michigan Broncos @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes

Draper: What to take from week 1? I was a little iffy on Howard's performance out of the gate, but a step back showed a solid (though not excellent) performance--outside of the goofy throw back garbage.  Honestly, Howard managed the game well, ran well, threw...ok, and didn't turn it over.  Jeremiah Smith is 'HIM' and will continue to put up ungodly numbers, but I hope to get Egbuka a little more involved this week.  The O-line needs to open up some more lanes in the run game (please come back Donovan Jackson), but they pass protected fine.  The Broncos are a slight step up in the competition department, but this shouldn't be close.  Expect another powerhouse performance by the Bullets.  Jack Sawyer gets home for 2 sacks this week, Smith catches another, Howard rushes for at least one TD and Egbuka goes over 100.  Show up, dominate, prep for next week. WMU: 13-OSU:48

Hoying: I suppose last week calls for a sigh of relief. Will Howard does not appear to be a bust, although a season-opening dismantling of Akron doesn't really give a good indication of the trajectory of a season (*cough cough, 2011*) or a quarterback (*cough cough Joe Bauserman wheeeeze*). But there was still a lot to love about last week's performance. The defense was solid start to finish other than a few missed tackles, both running backs (and James Peoples!) were reasonably effective, and Jeremiah Smith appears to be as good as advertised. Also, the departure of Parker Fleming was felt in the best way (see Ferentz, Brian above). As for the Buckeyes' cupcake de la semaine, the Broncos put a scare into Wisconsin last week after forcing a three-and-out with a fourth quarter lead, but a turnover on a muffed punt put the Badgers back in control to close out the game. I imagine this has more to do with Wisconsin's continued struggle to find an identity under Luke Fickell than any particular danger presented by WMU. It would be nice to see a bit of a faster start from the Buckeyes this week as we saw more than our share of the slow variety last week and last season, but we should be fine either way. The four-week preseason rolls on. WMU: 10--OSU: 45

Schweinfurth: Watch out everyone. We could actually see a QB get vaporized into red mist if teams decide not to block Jack Sawyer. That was one of the most dominant defensive performances by a Buckeye D-lineman since Chase Young was blowing by opposing linemen. Will Howard looked like the QB Ohio State needed. Not doing too much and distributing to his talented weapons. I would like to see the Buckeye offense have success running off tackle a little more, but there is time to build. Isn't it nice we get to wait all day to watch a demolition? Yea, this should be a nooner. Whatever. WMU: 6--OSU: 49

Seeberg:  Guys, guys!  WE ACTUALLY HAD REAL PUNT RETURN YARDAGE LAST WEEK!  Amazing what lifting dead weight from a coaching staff will do.  In comes MACtion opponent number two in Western Michigan, who acquitted themselves well against Wisconsin, leading briefly in the fourth quarter before the Badgers finally took command.  Jeremiah Smith is, well, he's real, and real good.  Carnell Tate as a third option is pretty frightening, if the O-line can get healthy.  Jackson may sit again as there shouldn't be any real need for him until October (although getting reps as a full unit would be nice to see as well).  Two defensive touchdowns were the highlight of the day, helping out an offense that will need September to, hopefully, find a rhythm.  Not sure we can rely on 14 points from the D each week, but the 5 sacks were also nice to see, and Jack Sawyer will be in that Akron QB's nightmares.  Make some corrections, stay healthy, and how about a special teams TD this week?  Go Bucks.  WMU: 7--OSU: 45

Upset Special
Draper: Boise State over Oregon
Hoying: Illinois over Kansas
Schweinfurth: Baylor over Utah
Seeberg:  Arkansas over Oklahoma State