Competitive games are on the way.
After trying to parse a bunch of blowouts, SEC fans get a much better Week 2 slate.
Which is where we come in. Here we break down the schedule — whether you’re the glued-to-the-recliner type or the choosy fan trying to figure out how to best spend your brief time, we’ve got you covered.
We rank the games in terms of the boring nap-fodder blowouts (1 star) to the make-your-excuse, sneak-away-from-the-family-gathering must-see (5 stars).
Here’s the Week 2 situation:
Snooze-fest ⭐ (1-star games)
Games you can fall asleep to.
Western Kentucky at Georgia (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
Another week, another easy win for Georgia. WKU won’t tell us much more about the Bulldogs than last week’s FCS opponent did.
Campbell at Florida (5:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
At least last week’s game was the opener of the Jon Sumrall era at Florida. This week, it’s just another lopsided blowout.
Towson at South Carolina (7 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
It’s South Carolina‘s week for an FCS beating and that’s what this will be.
Charlotte at Ole Miss (7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN2)
Off a wild Week 1, the Rebels earned a snooze break, which they will get here.
A bit compelling ⭐⭐ (2-star games)
Not the best the weekend has to offer, but mildly intriguing:
Louisiana Tech at LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+)
The only reason this one graduates to the ranks of 2-stars is that there’s significant interest in whether the LSU Tigers have a Week 1 hangover. The guess here is no.
Southern Miss at Auburn (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
This probably sounds like a better game than it is, because Brett Favre is certainly not walking through the door for the Golden Eagles.
Now we’re listening ⭐⭐⭐ (3-star games)
If you’ve got nothing else going on, relax and check these games out:
Arizona State at Texas A&M (Noon ET, ABC)
Cutter Boley, the former Kentucky QB, had a huge Week 1 for Arizona State. Meanwhile, Texas A&M was sluggish at times in Week 1 and can make a bit of a CFP statement by taking care of business in this game.
Delaware at Vanderbilt (4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
To be blunt, this game is of interest for 2 reasons. First, if Vanderbilt plays like it did in Week 1, Delaware has a fighting shot. Second, the Jared Curtis era could begin in this game. Good enough for 3 stars.
Tennessee at Georgia Tech (7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This one probably had a bit more sizzle before Tech’s 14-13 loss to Colorado last week, but it’s still a nice chance for Faizon Brandon to prove his maturity in a little more adversity than the Vols faced in Week 1. Tech probably has more to gain, but the Vols would benefit from a strong showing.
Arkansas at Utah (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Arkansas looked awful in Week 1, but it has a chance to deliver a statement win in Week 2 and show punch for a possible 2026 bowl run.
Break out the guacamole ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4-star games)
Invite some friends over to watch these matchups:
Missouri at Kansas (Friday, 8 p.m. ET, FOX)
The Friday night game to watch. The Tigers don’t have a lot of chances to make an impression early, but this is at least one against a solid Big 12 opponent.
Alabama at Kentucky (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Normally, the Tide and Wildcats feels more like a 2-star game… but swaggy Will Stein makes this more intriguing than it usually would be. Kentucky football looked very unlike traditional Kentucky football in Week 1 — but Week 2 will probably tell the tale of how much that will matter in the SEC.
Mississippi State at Minnesota (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
This again doesn’t feel like a 4-star game, but first, it’s tied for the smallest point spread in Week 2 SEC action. Second, this is a shot at a legitimate solid SEC over Big Ten win for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, who figure to need all the wins they can get to reach 6 of them.
Block off the time, turn off the phone, pop the popcorn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5-star games)
You’re not going to want to miss a single second of these matchups:
Oklahoma at Michigan (Noon ET, FOX)
Sort of a must-win for both teams. Oklahoma needs to prove it’s a player for those CFP spots, and Michigan needs to prove that it’s not the worst 1-0 team ever. In any other week, this would be the game to see.
Ohio State at Texas (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Two top-4 teams and the game that will (finally?) launch the Arch-for-Heisman campaign and give the SEC back some bona fides in the battle with the B1G? Yes, please. Week 2 or CFP Week 2 — it won’t look much different.
The Game to See
Has to be Ohio State at Texas. Half of the top 4 and a shot at the Big Ten in a meaningful environment. It’s the game to watch.
Dark Horse Game to Watch
That’s going to be Mississippi State-Minnesota. It’s got that potentially overtime and chaos type factor involved of a game where anything could happen. Don’t sleep on Tennessee-Georgia Tech as well. Surely the Yellow Jackets can get more out of Mendoza than they showed a week ago.
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Joe Cox is a columnist for Saturday Down South. He has also written or assisted in writing five books, and his most recent, Almost Perfect (a study of baseball pitchers’ near-miss attempts at perfect games), is available on Amazon or at many local bookstores.
