Winner: Texas Longhorns
The headline result of Week 2 belonged to Texas. A gritty second-half rally lifted the Longhorns to a stunning 24-23 comeback win over previously top-ranked Ohio State, snapping the Buckeyes’ perfect start and instantly reshaping the College Football Playoff picture. Ohio State had reportedly built a substantial fourth-quarter lead before Texas clawed all the way back — a collapse made even more remarkable given that AP No. 1 teams had been a perfect 197-0 all-time when holding a 20-point lead in the fourth quarter, until Saturday night in Austin. Armed with one of the best quarterbacks in the country in Arch Manning, a talented group of skill-position playmakers, and a defense that stiffened when it mattered most, Texas now looks like a team capable of giving anyone on its schedule real problems this season.
Loser: First Impressions
A week ago, Michigan and Oklahoma State both appeared to be in serious trouble. Michigan needed controversial officiating just to escape Western Michigan, while Oklahoma State had lost to Tulsa, extending its losing streak against FBS opponents to 21 consecutive games. Neither team was given much of a chance heading into Week 2 road tests against ranked opponents.
Saturday served as a blunt reminder that first impressions can be deceiving. Michigan went into Norman and knocked off No. 11 Oklahoma, 17-10, while Oklahoma State pulled off an even bigger shock, defeating No. 6 Oregon, 39-31. Both results completely upended what many assumed they already knew about these two programs.
Winner: Boise State Running Back Dylan Riley
Boise State’s matchup with Memphis carried real weight in the race for the Group of Six’s automatic College Football Playoff berth, and running back Dylan Riley made sure his team took full advantage. Riley exploded for a career-high 206 yards on 19 carries in a 38-20 home win, helping the Broncos avoid a letdown following last week’s heartbreaking loss at Oregon. With that result, Boise State stayed firmly in the mix for one of the most important non-Power Four postseason spots available.
Loser: Oregon Quarterback Dante Moore
Dante Moore’s decision to return to Oregon instead of entering the NFL Draft is starting to look shakier by the week. Despite entering the season as the presumptive top quarterback in the 2027 draft class according to most NFL scouts and executives, cracks are beginning to show. Moore completed just 14 of 29 passes for 191 yards and three total touchdowns in the loss to Oklahoma State, opening the game 1-of-7 and managing only one completion between an early touchdown and a fourth-quarter score. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, a notable contingent of NFL scouts was in attendance specifically to evaluate Moore — only to watch him get outplayed by Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who finished with 317 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 109 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and the game-sealing first-down run.
Winner: Alabama’s Rushing Offense
No. 12 Alabama may have finally found its running game. After trailing Kentucky 17-13 at halftime, the Crimson Tide dominated the second half, ultimately winning 45-17. A rushing attack that had been a non-factor through the first two quarters exploded for 150 yards on 24 carries after the break. Running back Daniel Hill led all rushers with 18 carries for 104 yards, becoming Alabama’s first back to top the century mark since Jam Miller did so last October. Through two games this season, Alabama has already accumulated 382 rushing yards — more than it had through three full games in 2025, when the Tide averaged just 104.1 rushing yards per game. With quarterback Keelon Russell still finding his footing in his first road start in SEC play, Alabama’s rediscovered ground game may have saved the Tide from a result that wouldn’t have gone their way a season ago.
Loser: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky’s $1.9 million payday for visiting No. 2 Georgia came at a steep on-field cost. The Hilltoppers were routed 70-20, allowing the most points they’ve given up since joining the FBS ranks. Things aren’t likely to get easier next week, either, as Western Kentucky travels to face defending national champion No. 5 Indiana — though at least the Hilltoppers will collect another $1.1 million for that trip.
Winner: Mississippi State Quarterback Kamario Taylor
Sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor may be the SEC’s next breakout star. In Mississippi State’s 38-13 blowout win at Minnesota, Taylor completed 16 of 22 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 86 rushing yards on 13 carries. He opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown strike down the left sideline, then delivered a pinpoint 39-yard throw over the middle on the very next drive to set up a first-and-goal opportunity. Taylor later extended Mississippi State’s lead to 28-3 with a rollout touchdown pass to receiver Anthony Evans III. He may still be just scratching the surface of his potential, but Taylor is already forcing the rest of the conference to pay attention.
Loser: Sloppy LSU Tigers
One week after dismantling Clemson in Lane Kiffin’s debut, LSU looked like a team with one eye already on next Saturday’s massive trip to Ole Miss. The Tigers turned the ball over four times in the first half against Louisiana Tech, including a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown, and were flagged 10 times for 101 yards on the day. LSU still won comfortably, 45-14, dominating the box score by holding Louisiana Tech to negative-3 rushing yards and outgaining the Bulldogs 528-140 overall. Still, the sheer volume of mistakes was a warning sign that LSU isn’t quite the well-oiled machine it appeared to be after Week 1. Without real correction, Kiffin’s much-anticipated return to Oxford next week could turn into a nightmare rather than a signature win.
More Week 2 Winners Across the Country
Beyond the marquee storylines, several other results shaped Saturday’s slate. USC improved to 3-0 with a 49-30 win over Louisiana, as quarterback Jayden Maiava threw for 261 yards and five touchdowns, though the Trojans will be monitoring an apparent injury to running back Waymond Jordan going forward. Utah looked every bit like a Top 25 team in a 43-10 rout of Arkansas, with quarterback Devon Dampier accounting for four total touchdowns. Iowa reclaimed the Cy-Hawk Trophy with a dramatic 16-13 win over rival Iowa State, thanks to a go-ahead 42-yard field goal from kicker Caden Buhr with just 15 seconds remaining — Iowa’s first win in the rivalry since 2021. In one of the day’s biggest surprises, FCS program Illinois State knocked off Northern Illinois 28-24, marking the fourth FCS-over-FBS upset of the 2026 season. Elsewhere, Georgia, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Miami, and Tennessee all cruised to lopsided wins, further separating the sport’s true contenders from everyone else just two weeks into the season.
What Week 2’s Results Mean Going Forward
Between Texas’ stunning comeback, Michigan and Oklahoma State’s back-to-back upsets, and warning signs surfacing for both Oregon and LSU, Week 2 dramatically reshuffled the college football landscape. With the playoff picture already looking far less predictable than it did after Week 1, the sport is shaping up for one of its most unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
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