College Football Winners and Losers: Week 2 Brings Surprises, Blowouts, and Letdowns
After a Week 1 filled with jaw-dropping matchups and early-season drama, Week 2 promised a bit of a breather for the nation’s top programs. For some teams, that “breather” worked out perfectly. For others… not so much.
Alabama came into Week 2 looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Florida State. And boy, did the Crimson Tide respond. They rolled over Louisiana-Monroe, leading 42-0 at halftime on their way to a 73-0 domination. Ty Simpson was perfect in the first half, completing 17-of-17 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns before giving way to Austin Mack. Germie Bernard hauled in all three of Simpson’s TDs, and star receiver Ryan Williams—who missed the game with a concussion—wasn’t missed at all.
Elsewhere, the top 10 teams in the AP Top 25 were flawless on Saturday. No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Penn State combined for a 104-0 annihilation of their opponents. Even No. 6 Oregon had a surprisingly smooth outing against Oklahoma State, winning 69-3, after struggling against Montana State in Week 1.
Clemson had a tougher go of it. After dropping their opener to LSU, the Tigers looked sluggish at first against Troy, falling behind 16-0 thanks to a first-half pick-6. Eventually, Clemson found its footing, scoring 27 straight points and pulling off a 27-16 win—but the offense only managed 316 yards on 55 plays. If the Tigers hope to stay competitive, they’ll need a much sharper performance against Georgia Tech in Week 3.
Florida had one of the most disappointing performances of the weekend. The Gators were 18.5-point favorites over South Florida but blew an 18-16 lead late, stumbling due to poor execution and penalties. Florida’s struggles in the second half make it clear the Gators aren’t yet ready to contend in the SEC, and with a brutal schedule ahead—including a prime-time showdown at LSU—big improvements are needed fast.
Meanwhile, Kansas State also faltered. The Wildcats, a preseason Big 12 favorite, were expected to cruise against Army. Instead, they fell 24-21 at home, largely due to Army’s clock-controlling offense and success on fourth down. K-State ran just 43 plays all game while the Black Knights ground down the clock with long, sustained drives. The Wildcats now sit at 1-2—an early-season setback that could loom large in conference play.
Week 2 Winners
Illinois impressed with a 45-19 road win over Duke. Luke Altmyer threw for 296 yards and three touchdowns, while the running game contributed multiple scores. Duke may have outgained Illinois, but turnovers and mistakes proved costly.
Baylor survived a wild 48-45 double-overtime thriller at No. 17 SMU in Dallas. The Bears never led in regulation until overtime, but QB Sawyer Robertson’s 440-yard, four-TD performance and Bryson Washington’s dominant ground game made the difference.
Mississippi State matched its 2024 win total in one dramatic game, edging No. 12 Arizona State 24-20 on a late touchdown. With a favorable stretch coming up, MSU could be 4-0 before facing No. 22 Tennessee, signaling progress under a still-developing program.
Jacksonville State got its first win under Charles Kelly, defeating Liberty 34-24 behind a punishing rushing attack. Cam Cook ran for 195 yards and four TDs, giving the Gamecocks momentum in Conference USA.
North Carolina snapped a tough Week 1 start with a 20-3 win at Charlotte. QB Gio Lopez managed the offense efficiently, and the team avoided turnovers, giving fans reason for cautious optimism.
Week 2 Losers
Oklahoma State suffered a historic 69-3 blowout at the hands of No. 6 Oregon. The Cowboys were dominated from start to finish, managing just nine first downs while Oregon racked up 631 yards. It was the worst loss in program history, a stark reminder that rebuilding under new coordinators will be a long road.
West Virginia lost 17-10 at Ohio, despite holding the Bobcats scoreless after the second quarter. With minimal offensive production and poor third-down efficiency, the Mountaineers have plenty of work ahead as they gear up for the Backyard Brawl.
Virginia Tech’s early hope vanished against Vanderbilt, falling 44-20 after being outscored 34-0 in the second half. The Hokies must get convincing wins in upcoming home games to regain fan confidence.
Iowa struggled to move the ball through the air, falling 16-13 to Iowa State. QB Mark Gronowski has yet to find his rhythm, with underwhelming stats in both games so far.
Oregon State couldn’t hold a late lead at home, losing 36-27 to Fresno State. A last-second pick-6 sealed their fate, leaving the Beavers staring at an uphill battle for bowl eligibility in 2025.
Week 2 of college football proved that early-season favorites can dominate—but surprises, collapses, and nail-biters are never far behind. As the season marches on, one thing is clear: consistency will separate contenders from pretenders.
