Top 10 games to watch Week 2 of college football season

Week 1 of the 2025 season is in the books following five consecutive days of college football. Florida State stunned Alabama, and LSU and Ohio State picked up quality early season wins.

But now college football enters Week 2, with conference play starting and multiple quality nonconference Power Four games on tap. On3 is breaking down the top 10 games of Week 2 with CFP implications across the board.

1. Michigan at Oklahoma

Location: Norman
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC

Brent Venables enters the 2025 season with all eyes on him. The Sooners regressed last year, falling to 6-7 after posting a 10-3 mark in 2023. Venables and his program responded by landing one of the top quarterbacks in the portal in Washington State transfer John Mateer, who threw for 392 yards in his OU debut over the weekend. Michigan enters Year Two under Sherrone Moore, with the matchup against Oklahoma marking former No. 1 recruit Bryce Underwood’s first start in a ranked matchup. Underwood completed 21 of 31 passes for 251 yards and one touchdown with zero interceptions in Michigan’s 34-17 win over New Mexico in Week 1. Oklahoma is currently a 5.5-point favorite, according to BetMGM.

2. Ole Miss at Kentucky

Location: Lexington
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ABC

Nearly a year ago, Kentucky upset then-No. 6 Ole Miss 20-17. The loss was the first crack in the Rebels’ bid for a College Football Playoff spot. The win gave Mark Stoops the highest-ranked win of his career at Kentucky. Ole Miss visits Kentucky this weekend to open SEC play. The Rebels have a new look at quarterback with Austin Simmons, while Kentucky is rolling with former Texas A&M and Auburn quarterback Zach Calzada. BetMGM currently has Ole Miss as a 10-point favorite.

3. Illinois at Duke

Location: Durham
Time: Noon ET
Channel: ESPN

Illinois is in a position to make a serious run at the College Football Playoff, returning the most production outside of Clemson. This early nonconference matchup provides a great read on what the 2025 season could look like for the Fighting Illini. After winning nine games a year ago, they’ll face a Duke program that spent over $3 million to land Tulane transfer quarterback Darian Mensah. Manny Diaz won nine games in Year One with the Blue Devils, too. Illinois is currently a 3-point favorite, per BetMGM.

4. Kansas at Missouri

Location: Columbia
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN2

Saturday marks the renewal of the Border War, which started in 1891 and has not been played on the football field since 2011. In their last matchup, Missouri took a 24-10 win in Kansas City. The last time the rivalry took place in Columbia was 2006, when Mizzou picked up a 42-17 win. Both teams enter this week undefeated, with Kansas touting a 2-0 record from its early start to this season. Missouri is a 6.5-point favorite, per BetMGM.

5. Iowa at Iowa State

Location: Ames
Time: Noon ET
Channel: FOX

Another nonconference rivalry is renewed this weekend. The battle for the Cy-Hawk returns to Ames on Saturday. Iowa has not lost at Iowa State since 2011, while Iowa State has won two of the last three games in the series, highlighted by last year’s game-winning field goal for the Cyclones. Saturday marks the 72nd meeting between the rivals, with Iowa touting a 47-24 all-time series lead. BetMGM has Iowa State as a 3-point favorite.

6. Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech

Location: Blacksburg
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ACC Network

When Virginia Tech visited Vanderbilt a year ago, it was the first inkling that things were not the same in Nashville. Diego Pavia threw for 190 yards and rushed for 104 more as the Commodores won 34-27 in overtime. This time around, Pavia is a known national commodity and will have Virginia Tech’s full attention. The Hokies are coming off a Week 1 loss to South Carolina in Atlanta, but are a 1-point favorite, per BetMGM.

7. Baylor at SMU

Location: Dallas
Time: Noon ET
Channel: The CW Network

Baylor at SMU marks the first meeting between the two programs since 2016, with the Bears winning 13 consecutive games in the series dating back to 1920. Baylor leads the all-time series with SMU, 39-36-7, including as 19-18-4 mark in games played in Dallas. SMU is coming off a Week 1 rout of East Texas A&M, while Baylor is 0-1 after falling to Auburn. Baylor star defensive lineman Jackie Marshall remains day-to-day. SMU is a 2.5-point home favorite, per BetMGM.

8. Arizona State at Mississippi State

Location: Starkville
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN2

Arizona State scraped by Mississippi State a year ago en route to a College Football Playoff bid and Big 12 championship. The Sun Devils are return arguably the top quarterback-wide receiver duo in college football with Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson. Mississippi State will have to slow that down this weekend after squeezing by Southern Miss in Week 1, 34-17. The Sun Devils are a 6.5-point road favorite, per BetMGM.

9. Oklahoma State at Oregon

Location: Eugene
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Channel: CBS

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and Oregon coach Dan Lanning have traded barbs over NIL budgets this week in the leadup to the Cowboys visiting Eugene. Gundy commented on how much it will cost for Oregon to hold onto quarterback Dante Moore. Lanning responded by saying it “sounds like there is (a difference in our programs) listening to him talk.” Oregon is currently a 28.5-point favorite. The Cowboys will lean on backup quarterback Zane Flores, as Hauss Henjy recovers from a left foot injury.

10. USF at Florida

Location: Gainesville
Time: 4:15 p.m. ET
Channel: SEC Network

Most college football analysts penciled Boise State into their offseason CFP projections, but that was blown up by South Florida and Byrum Brown in Week 1. The Bulls could be in the driver’s seat for a CFP bid if they beat Florida this week or Miami on Sept. 13. The Gators are coming off a 55-0 win over Long Island, and Saturday against USF will be their last nonconference game before SEC play begins on Sept. 13 at LSU. According to BetMGM, Florida is a 17.5-point favorite.