2024 Games of the Slot: Week 2
Breaking down which game to watch at each time slot this weekend
College football is finally back in full swing after a full slate of games last weekend. Most were blowouts - even the ones I and every other pundit thought would be good - but maybe this week will be better.
I think so and we’ve got some great games on the docket. Which should you watch? Check out the Week 2 Games of the Slot and set your calendar for the weekend! As always, all times are Eastern.
Friday Night
Game of the Slot: BYU at SMU (7 p.m., ESPN2)
This should be a Big 12 matchup with both teams now in the Power Four ranks, but it’s not because realignment cares little for geography. Still, this should be an entertaining start to the weekend.
BYU doesn’t have the big name at quarterback anymore and is led by junior Jake Retzlaff, who played well in last week’s 41-13 win over FCS Southern Illinois. While the Cougars’ offense was humming, I’m most impressed by their secondary, which held the Salukis (great name, by the way) to only 108 passing yards despite being down the entire game. They only defensed three passes but kept both Southern Illinois quarterbacks to a combined 50 percent completion rate and an average of 4.2 yards per pass. I think BYU’s chances here rest on their secondary.
That’s because SMU likes to air it out. There’s a funky two-quarterback but kind of a battle thing going on in Dallas between Preston Stone and Kevin Jennings that needs to get sorted out. Rhett Lashlee has said Stone is the starter, but Jennings has outplayed him in both the Mustangs’ wins so far this season. We saw R.J. Maryland go off in the win against Nevada, but disappear in the blowout of Houston Christian as Lashlee focused more on the run with 54 total carries. I admire the push for balance in SMU, but the Mustangs have to figure out this quarterback situation quick and start putting the pedal to the metal on offense.
Multi-Box Games: Duke at Northwestern (9 p.m., FS1); Western Illinois at Indiana (7 p.m., Big Ten Network)
There’s only three total games on Friday night, so we have slim pickings here. I think Duke-Northwestern, a battle between two private academic powers on the shores of Lake Michigan, could be at ton of fun. These are two scrappy teams with something to prove - Duke that they can survive in a post Mike Elko and Riley Leonard world and Northwestern that last season’s 8-5 wasn’t a fluke. Our other matchup probably isn’t going to be too great in FCS Western Illinois at Indiana, but I’m excited to put eyes on this Indiana team. New Hoosier head coach Curt Cignetti brought a ton of the James Madison talent with him along with transfer Kurtis Rourke. They beat down on FIU last week. Can the offense keep their legs in Week 2?
Saturday - 12 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 3 Texas at 7 Michigan (FOX)
This is the undisputed helmet game of the week and college football fans have longed for this matchup all offseason. These are two powerhouse teams with national titles on the mind. It’s going to be fun.
Texas came out of the gate hot by annihilating Colorado State 52-0 last weekend. Even without his top targets and two top tailback options, the Quinn Ewers-led Longhorns showed no signs of slowing down as Ewers went 20-27 through the air for 260 yards and three scores, but he did toss one interception. I’m more impressed by the Texas defense that allowed only 74(!) passing yards all day while pitching a shutout. They did surrender 118 on the ground to the Rams, but that factors out to 3.7 yards per carry, which isn’t that bad.
The Texas offense is going to get its biggest test from the Wolverine defense led by Mason Graham, Will Johnston and company. Fresno State could only muster 10 points against Michigan’s defense, which is notable because the Bulldogs’ offense is Power Four quality. They held Mikey Keene to a 41.2 QBR on the day - well below average. Michigan’s defense is going to play well, but the offense has some question marks. It took a while before the Wolverines could kick it into gear against Fresno State and the passing game wasn’t the most efficient. Even Donovan Edwards couldn’t get much going with 27 yards on 11 carries. If the Michigan offense is M.I.A. again, I think Texas will roll through Ann Arbor with an easy victory.
Multi-Box Games: Arkansas at 16 Oklahoma State (ABC/ESPN+); Georgia Tech at Syracuse (ACC Network); Troy at Memphis (ESPNU)
Oklahoma State got a multi-score win over the number one FCS team South Dakota State last week, but Arkansas presents even more of a challenge. It’s hard to know what’s for real with both programs beating up on FCS teams last week, but I expect an electric game on the ground with battles between Ollie Gordon and Arkansas’ Taylen Green. The AP pulled the trigger and ranked Georgia Tech, but they’re right on the cusp of my next five out at 31. I want to see a little more from them against a Syracuse team that could be sneaky good with Kyle McCord. The Yellow Jackets will most certainly out-physical the Orange, but can they contain Syracuse’s playmakers? Troy may not be the power it was under Jon Sumrall, but I think they still provide a challenge for Memphis. Troy got caught by Nevada last week, while Memphis powered through FCS North Alabama. I’m interested to see if the Trojans defense has any answers for the Seth Henigan-led Tiger offense.
3-4 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: Iowa State at 17 Iowa (3:30 p.m., CBS/Paramount+)
Last week’s 3:30 rivalry spot wasn’t great, but I think the Battle for the CyHawk will be better.
Iowa State came out sluggish against FCS power North Dakota and surrendered a worrying 174 rushing yards to the Fighting Hawks. But Rocco Becht and Jaylin Noel were up to the task and Iowa State was able to find the end zone thrice in the affair. I expected the Cyclones to play a little better considering they lead the nation in returning production, but they can shake off a slow start against Iowa, right?
For one thing, the game’s in Kinnick. For another thing, Iowa has a competent offense?! That’s right, Iowa put up 40 points and had a lights out game from quarterback Cade McNamara. Sure, it was against Illinois State, but still, that’s better than most Iowa quarterbacks’ season stats, right? Okay, enough with the jokes. I think Iowa is a dangerous team here for Iowa State, namely in the rushing game. Kaleb Johnson torched Illinois State for 119 yards and two scores on 11 carries last week. If Iowa State couldn’t stop North Dakota’s rushing attack, how will they handle Johnson? Especially if McNamara can actually throw the ball again.
As an aside, Kirk Ferentz returns this week after a one-game suspension for tampering with McNamara. Iowa suddenly shows it has an offense in the one game Ferentz is gone. Coincidence? I think not.
Multi-Box Games: Baylor at 14 Utah (3:30 p.m., FOX); UTSA at Texas State (4 p.m., ESPNU); Michigan State at Maryland (3:30 p.m., Big Ten Network)
Baylor has one thing Utah doesn’t - desperation. Dave Aranda’s back is against the wall and they need to prove that the Bears can get back to their winning ways. An upset of Utah would do that, but the Utes are the Utes. UTSA at Texas State is a great G5 showdown in the Lone Star state. UTSA is the more well-balanced team, but Texas State has a ton of transfer upside after a strong first season under G.J. Kinne. Don’t look now, but this is a game with Group of Five playoff implications. Last, we head to September Maryland taking on an unproven Michigan State squad. There isn’t a lot of chaos potential in the Big 10, but boy is it here. Maryland in September is something special - a good, competent squad that’s hard pressed to show up the rest of the season. Michigan State has talent and a new coach. Who wins that one? Who knows! But it’ll be fun.
Wondering where these rankings are coming from? Check out this week’s SID Sports Top 25 and Players of the Week!
6-8 p.m. EST
Game of the Slot: 11 Tennessee at 23 NC State (7:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN+)
It’s not a helmet game, per se, but it’s still going to be fun.
Tennessee lit up the scoreboard in their season opening 69-3 drubbing of Chattanooga. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava navigated Josh Heupel’s veer and shoot system like a pro and picked apart the Mocs defense while tailback Dylan Sampson sprinted through wide open holes for 124 yards and two scores on only 12 carries. The defense played well, holding the Mocs to only 74 rushing yards and a 50 percent passing day.
On the flip side, we have the antithesis of Tennessee in NC State. The Wolfpack are primed as a physical ground and pound team even with transfer Grayson McCall at the helm. He wasn’t the best against Western Carolina, but his connection with Kevin Concepcion was lights out for 121 yards and three touchdowns on nine catches. While NC State’s offense struggled, I think their defense could rise to the task against Tennessee, but it was a rough first showing against Western Carolina. If Dave Doeren can get his squad ready for this matchup, NC State could bounce back in a big way.
Multi-Box Games: South Florida at 6 Alabama (7 p.m., ESPN); Colorado at Nebraska (7:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock); Appalachian State at Clemson (8 p.m., ACC Network)
Last year’s USF-Alabama game was in Tampa and got ugly quick. This one has more potential for fireworks. Jalen Milroe is thriving in the Kalen DeBoer offense and USF built and explosive unit behind budding star Bryum Brown. Whoever’s defense is up to the task will win, but it’s an upset watch. Colorado at Nebraska is an intriguing game. Shedeur Sanders vs. Dylan Raiola is the headliner, but these two coaches are revamping entire rosters. Who’s closer to competing? Finally, I’m sticking Clemson on upset watch against Appalachian State. The Mountaineers have pushed ACC teams to the limit in the past few years, and this App State team may be the best they had under Shawn Clark. Could they out-duel the stagnant Clemson offense? I can see it.
West Coast After Dark
Game of the Slot: Boise State at 4 Oregon (10 p.m., Peacock)
Okay, first off, this is an unranked Group of Five team traveling to a consensus top-five program in prime time. This shouldn’t be a game. Oh, just you wait.
We’ll flip the script and start with Oregon. The Ducks were considered one of the nation’s best teams heading into the season - and they still are. Dillon Gabriel looked comfortable in his first action in the green and yellow, going 41-49 passing for 380 yards and two scores. But the Ducks struggled with FCS Idaho? Was it the power of the Kibbie Dome? No, the Ducks simply couldn’t put away the Vandals. Idaho kept punching back in the second half and nearly pulled the upset until Gabriel struck to Tez Johnson with 5:36 left to go ahead 24-14.
Now, Oregon gets a bigger test in Boise State. The Broncos were in a dogfight of their own last week, but topped Georgia Southern 56-45. Maddux Madsen was good enough with a 22-31 day for 280 yards and one score and interception. It was tailback Ashton Jeanty that stole the show with 267 yards and six touchdowns on the ground on only 20 carries. Oregon held Idaho to only 2.5 yards per carry, but Jeanty is different. He’s the best tailback in the nation right now. And we all know Boise State’s affinity for ignoring rankings and beating top-flight programs. This one is a lot more interesting than it says on paper.
Multi-Box Game: Texas Tech at Washington State (10 p.m., FOX); Mississippi State at Arizona State (10:30 p.m., ESPN); Oregon State at San Diego State (10:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network)
Texas Tech got beat by Abilene Christian in overtime and Washington State posted 70 against Portland State. Going into the season we all would have expected Texas Tech to win this game, but now it has plenty of after-dark chaos potential. Speaking of chaos, Mississippi State at Arizona State is rife with it. The Bulldogs are in a transition period under Jeff Lebby, and Kenny Dillingham’s Sun Devils are amidst a transition of their own. These games bleed crazy nonsense at midnight and that’s what we’re here for, right? Our last game, Oregon State at San Diego State is going to be a down and dirty battle. Both programs opened with FCS wins, but we’re looking at two strong rushing attacks here. I’m excited to see who is able to win the battle of the trenches.
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