College football is back with a bang, and Week 1 of the 2026 season gave us a little bit of everything during a Labor Day weekend that welcomed the sport back with the first full slate of the year. The weird, wacky world of college football was on full display, and we got some intriguing results.
Now, it's time to move on to Week 2, which features a pair of big-time matchups between the SEC and the Big Ten. The sport's two most powerful conferences will each send a pair of their blue-bloods into battle, in what serves as a very important non-league weekend on the calendar.
Here at Sooners Wire, we'll be all over the Oklahoma Sooners' pivotal game this weekend, but there will also be a number of other games to keep your eyes on during this week.
Here are the top five games to watch in Week 2.
1. Ohio State at Texas, 6:30 p.m. CT
Ohio State and Texas will face off in the week's biggest game, as two teams with national championship aspirations are set to do battle in a huge contest. The Buckeyes ended last season on a two-game losing streak, and they're eager to begin their pursuit of another title this week. Head coach Ryan Day has another star quarterback in Julian Sayin, and this team wants to make it back-to-back early-season wins in the series.
The Longhorns lost this game on the road a year ago, and they'll be looking to return the favor in Austin this season. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has assembled a roster with all kinds of talent, and there is a hint of pressure after missing the playoff last year. Quarterback Arch Manning wasn't good in this game last year, and his mission is to change that this time.
2. Oklahoma at Michigan, 11:00 a.m. CT
Oklahoma and Michigan square off for the second straight season, and this game could dictate a lot of how the year goes for both programs. The Sooners won this game last year, and made a trip to the CFP partially because of it. Head coach Brent Venables and quarterback John Mateer want to repeat that feat in 2026, but it'll be a tall test on the road in Ann Arbor. OU's running game will need to play a big role.
The Wolverines want to get revenge, and they also want to put last week behind them. New head coach Kyle Whittingham's team barely won in their debut, and the controversial victory already has this squad fending off doubters early in the year. A loss in Week 2, coupled with a poor showing last week might be too big of a hole for quarterback Bryce Underwood and Michigan to dig out of.
3. Memphis at Boise State, 5:00 p.m. CT
Two of the early-season contenders for the Group of Six playoff spot will collide in Week 2, as Memphis and Boise State will look to stake a claim for the best team in the G6 on Saturday. The Tigers are already 2-0 in their first season under new head coach Charles Huff, and they'd like to get a third important win before starting play in the American. Quarterback Marcus Stokes leads the way on offense, but the defense has been the story so far.
The Broncos fell just short last week in an impressive performance, and they can assert themselves as the team to beat with a win at home this week. Head coach Spencer Danielson has to be impressed with quarterback Maddux Madsen, and it's hard to imagine anyone in the Mountain West being able to beat this team on their best day. This will be a game we'll look back on later in the season.
4. Arizona at BYU, 2:30 p.m. CT
Arizona and BYU will match up in a big early game for the Big 12 league standings. In a league that may not be as wide-open as it was thought to be this time last year, every game counts and there are a lot of intriguing teams trying to make some noise. The Wildcats had a resurgent season last year, and and they're trying to put themselves in the mix this season. Head coach Brent Brennan and quarterback Noah Fifita will look to pull off the road upset.
The Cougars are one of the favorites to return to the Big 12 title game, after falling short in Arlington last year. Head coach Kalani Sitake has another physical team, led by quarterback Bear Bachmeier, but this is a good litmus test of where they stand early in the season. This is the first of surely many pivotal Big 12 league games this year.
5. Arizona State at Texas A&M, 11:00 a.m. CT
Arizona and Texas A&M meet in an under-the-radar game this weekend, but there's the potential for this game to have a lot of impact later on. The Sun Devils took a step back last year, but a lot of the pieces from the team's 2024 run are still around this season. Head coach Kenny Dillingham has a new quarterback under his wing, as Cutter Boley won the job this fall. They'll need a strong effort to get the upset on the road.
The Aggies have high expectations after a strong 2025 season, but they didn't end last year on a high note. Despite breaking in two new coordinators, head coach Mike Elko has a lot to be excited about with the talent on the roster in College Station. Quarterback Marcel Reed is the engine of the offense, and he'll get his first test of the year on Saturday.
- Week 0 - Featured Game: North Carolina vs. TCU (in Dublin, Ireland)
- Week 1 - Featured Game: Louisville vs. Ole Miss (in Nashville, Tennessee)
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: 5 college football games to keep an eye on in Week 2
