There are winners and there are losers. That’s life, and that’s college football.
Here’s a look at our most notable winners and losers from Week 2.
Winners: Steve Sarkisian & the Texas Longhorns
The Texas Longhorns were faced with a 4th-and-9 from their own 40-yard line, trailing No. 1 Ohio State by 20 points with just under 3 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The game felt over for Texas. Nothing was going the Longhorns’ way. Should-be explosive plays became turnovers. Rushers were fumbling the ball left and right. It had been that kind of night.
Though Texas was completely lacking momentum, it was still a 3-possession game with 18ish minutes remaining. It would really be over if the Buckeyes regained possession just a few yards outside field goal range. For some coaches, extending the game with a punt would be the preferred approach.
Not for Steve Sarkisian, though.
“That’s how losers think,” Sarkisian said. “Winners win, baby. You’ve gotta go for it. Keep it close? They didn’t hire me to keep it close, they hired me to win.”
And win they did. Longhorns QB Arch Manning, who mentioned after the game that he simply couldn’t lose to Ohio State again, drove the field and led his team into the end zone for the first time. 23-10. Texas then forced a 3-and-out, and Manning delivered again with a 13-play, 72-yard touchdown drive. 23-17.
After Ohio State missed a field goal the ensuing drive, Manning led another touchdown drive — this time amassing 12 plays and 73 yards — to clinch an epic 24-23 comeback win. The Longhorns are now 2-0 and considered the country’s No. 1 team by the Associated Press.
Losers: Oklahoma fans
What a dreadful Saturday it was for Oklahoma football and its fanbase. Let’s work our way through OU’s checklist of misery, shall we?
- The Sooners suffered a debilitating loss to a team that needed a Hail Mary to kind of beat Western Michigan.
- John Mateer puked on his cleats in his 2026 prove-it game.
- Star LB Kip Lewis suffered a non-contact injury and “will miss time,” per HC Brent Venables.
- Rival Texas not only beat Ohio State but is 1) now considered the No. team 1 in the country and 2) owns perhaps the most impressive win any team will collect all season.
- Rival Oklahoma State snapped a 12-game losing streak by beating No. 6 Oregon.
If all that wasn’t enough, Oklahoma has to travel to face No. 2 Georgia in Week 4 before a bye week and the Red River Shootout in Dallas to kick off Week 6.
Winner: Kamario Taylor
Man, can Kamario Taylor sling it or what? The Mississippi State quarterback shined in Week 1 against UL Monroe, but he was even better against PJ Fleck and the Golden Gophers, accumulating just over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 38-13 pantsing of Minnesota.
Taylor’s velocity is downright astounding. The ball teleports to its intended receiver.
He’s developed from an athletic marvel to a true quarterback. Taylor completed 72% of his passes against Minnesota and has yet to throw an interception this season. He hit some shots downfield and in the short passing game, can scramble and throw on the run as shown above and is almost nonchalant in the pocket with pressure in his face. Taylor has taken just 1 sack so far this season. This guy’s ceiling is way, way the heck up there.
Get ready for Kamario Taylor vs. LaNorris Sellers in Week 3.
Loser: Kansas’s social media guy (or gal)
Kansas… If you’re going to bring up Civil War-era militant leaders, the philosophy of good/evil and the sins of your rival’s ancestors in your hype video for a rivalry matchup you haven’t won since 2008, you’d better win the daggum football game.
The Jayhawks… did not win the football game.
Mizzou played with its food then ran away in the second half to collect its fifth straight Border War victory, 38-21. Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz said postgame that the Kansas hype video was so “embarrassing” that he called on Austin Simmons to step on the Jayhawks’ throat in the final minutes of regulation while already leading by 2 possessions.
Sad trombone.
Winner: Alabama’s defense
I’m not sure people have realized how good Alabama‘s defense is quite yet. I’m not here to crown East Carolina or Kentucky or anything, but the scale of dominance has definitely been notable through 2 weeks.
Yhonzae Pierre is a game-wrecker off the edge. Devan Thompkins is becoming a force in the middle. Caleb Woodson and Luke Metz both had massive games at linebacker against Kentucky, including a pick-6 from Metz. Alabama opponents are a dismal 1-for-23 on third down this year, and the Crimson Tide are one of 4 teams across the country who have held opponents to under 200 yards per game.
Kentucky had one good offensive drive on Saturday after the Wildcats defense caught a Keelon Russell deflection and bullied its way into the end zone. After Kentucky led 14-7 with 6 minutes left in the 2nd, Alabama took over and outscored the Wildcats 38-3 across the remaining 36 minutes of regulation. Kentucky totaled just 57 yards in the second half and turned the ball over twice alongside 2 turnovers on downs.
Alabama gets a chance at revenge at home against Florida State in Week 3.
Loser: The Big Ten (except Michigan and Iowa)
Eight Big Ten programs faced off against a power conference opponent this week. Only 2 — Michigan (Oklahoma) and Iowa (Iowa State) — finished Week 2 with a win.
The big losses of the week belong to Ohio State and Oregon, as mentioned above. The Buckeyes apparently think college football games are 45 minutes rather than 60. As for Oregon, the Ducks “got (their) ass kicked in a lot of areas” — head coach Dan Lanning’s words, not mine — by a team that hadn’t won a football game since August of 2025.
I’ll give Rutgers a pass — there’s no stopping Boston College in the Red Bandanna Game. Purdue fell to Wake Forest at home, Minnesota wilted at the hands of Kamario Taylor and Illinois fumbled home-field advantage in a 31-27 loss to Duke. And although Washington won, the Huskies came dangerously close to losing to Utah State, 16-14.
The Big Ten is 3-7 against non-conference power 4 opponents through Week 2. The SEC is 8-2 in such games.
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Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
