The five most interesting ranked vs. unranked matchups of Week 2

Even outside of the two ranked matchups, Alabama-Texas and Ole Miss-Tulane, there are seven other ranked teams with games against Power Five teams this week.

That doesn’t even include a couple potentially challenging games for ranked squads against opponents from the Group of Five level.

Here are the five most interesting ranked vs. unranked matchups of Week 2:

Nebraska at No. 22 Colorado

Spread: Colorado -3

Deion Sanders and his staff did a hell of a job using the underdog label with his team heading into its upset of TCU. Now, here’s the next challenge for him: Getting his players to maintain the right mindset and approach coming off that emotional win and with the Buffaloes no longer being doubted or overlooked. This will be a nice second test for Colorado’s offense too after posting 565 yards and six touchdowns in the 45-42 victory over TCU. Even though Nebraska lost to Minnesota last week, the defense wasn’t the issue. During the 13-10 loss to Minnesota, the Cornhuskers’ Tony White-led defense held the Golden Gophers to 251 yards and one touchdown.

No. 23 Texas A&M at Miami

Spread: A&M -4

Texas A&M and Miami both have a number of 2024 NFL draft prospects and the capability to have very solid seasons after both finishing 5-7 last year. Nevertheless, we’ll have a much better feel on both coming out of this matchup. The Aggies weren’t tested during their Week 1 52-10 win over New Mexico, just like the Hurricanes weren’t during a 38-3 season-opening victory over Miami (Ohio).

No. 19 Wisconsin at Washington State 

Spread: Wisconsin -6

Based on feedback I’ve gotten from sources at Washington State, I’ve continued to be a big believer that Cougars QB Cam Ward is set for a big year and for a rise up NFL draft boards leading up to next year’s NFL draft. Here’s a huge showcase opportunity for him. In his first game under new Washington State offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle, Ward threw for 451 yards, ran for an additional 40 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns in a 50-24 win over Colorado State.

No. 13 Oregon at Texas Tech

Spread: Oregon -6.5

While it was a beyond disappointing Week 1 result for Texas Tech, a 35-33 overtime loss at Wyoming, don’t forget about the Red Raiders just yet. Texas Tech was 7-1 in non-road games last season. Last week was also the first loss in eight games as a starting quarterback for the Red Raiders for ex-Oregon transfer Tyler Shough, who was the Ducks’ starting QB in 2020 and will now have a chance to lead an upset against his former team.

SMU at No. 18 Oklahoma

Spread: Oklahoma -15.5

While Oklahoma should have a big bounce-back season in Year 2 under Brent Venables, especially factoring in a schedule that currently includes just one ranked opponent, the Sooners do still have a lot to prove after last year’s 6-7 finish. This is a nice early-season opportunity to show what they’re capable of. SMU will soon be at the Power Five level and already has plenty of P5 caliber talent. The Mustangs have a number of former Power Five transfers as well as other former high ranked recruits like QB Preston Stone, who was a Class of 2021 top-130 overall recruit. Another former top recruit, Texas A&M running back transfer LJ Johnson, ran for 128 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries during SMU’s 38-14 win over Louisiana Tech last week. Another, On3 Class of 2022 five-star wide receiver Jordan Hudson, connected with Stone for a 67-yard touchdown against Louisiana Tech.

Another potential test for a ranked team: No. 10 Notre Dame at NC State