On Sept. 6, 2025, Week 2 of the college football season presents a full slate of games across the country — highlighted by Michigan’s trip to Norman for a top-20 showdown with Oklahoma, a renewed Kansas–Missouri rivalry, and several conference tests and trophy games that keep the weekend lively despite a quieter overall feel.
Key Takeaways
- Oklahoma hosts No. 15 Michigan in one of the weekend’s most consequential matchups for both programs.
- Baylor’s visit to SMU revives an old regional rivalry and shapes up as a potential high-scoring affair on The CW.
- Iowa vs. Iowa State (Cy‑Hawk) is likely to be a low-scoring, defensive battle decided late.
- Kansas and Missouri meet for the first time since 2011, returning the Border War to the schedule in Columbia.
- Oregon vs. Oklahoma State features added intrigue after recent public comments between the programs’ coaches.
- Multiple Power 5 vs. Power 5 and Group of Five matchups offer resume-building chances ahead of conference play.
- Early-season betting angles favor under totals in some defensive battles and tempo-based overs in others.
Verified Facts
The weekend schedule includes Friday night openings such as James Madison at Louisville (ESPN2) and Northern Illinois at Maryland (Big Ten Network), followed by a crowded Saturday slate that features marquee contests across ABC, ESPN family networks, Big Ten Network, SEC Network and more. Notable nationally ranked games include No. 1 Ohio State hosting Grambling State, No. 6 Oregon hosting Oklahoma State, and No. 8 Clemson hosting Troy.
In Norman, Oklahoma attempts to show offensive progress after a disappointing season. The Sooners will test adjustments made by offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle and expect production from quarterback John Mateer while five-star freshman Bryce Underwood is noted as a rising national prospect in the broader QB conversation.
The noon window contains several high-interest games: Baylor at No. 17 SMU on The CW, No. 11 Illinois at Duke (Big Ten vs. ACC), and North Carolina matchups that will reveal early trajectory for multiple coaching staffs. The rivalry renewals—Kansas vs. Missouri in Columbia and the Cy‑Hawk at Jack Trice—carry heightened local importance and will draw strong in‑stadium atmospheres.
Context & Impact
The Michigan‑Oklahoma meeting matters beyond a single result: a Michigan win bolsters early CFP credentials while an Oklahoma victory eases pressure on Brent Venables and his staff ahead of a difficult midseason stretch that includes Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU at home plus tough road tests.
For the Big 12 and ACC, interconference performances this weekend will affect perception and nonconference strength-of-schedule narratives. SMU‑Baylor and Mississippi State vs. Arizona State are examples where a Group of Five or lower-placed program beating a Power 5 opponent would reverberate through committee discussions later in the year.
- Rivalry renewals — Kansas–Missouri brings national attention back to a long‑dormant border series, altering recruiting and regional momentum.
- Coaching implications — several coaches (or staffs) face early pressure points that could shape midseason evaluation.
Gambling Corner
Official Statements
Coaches and programs are stressing urgency and execution as they enter the Week 2 slate, emphasizing that early results can shape the short‑term trajectory of each season.
KSR reporting
Unconfirmed
- Final starting lineups and any late practice‑day injuries for several teams are pending official inactives lists.
- Bryce Underwood’s exact role and snap allocations for future weeks are subject to change based on coaching decisions.
Bottom Line
Sleepy on paper does not equal uninspiring in practice: Week 2 delivers key tests for programs trying to build or rebuild momentum. Expect a mix of defensive slugfests and high‑tempo scoring games that will clarify early-season narratives and create stakes for conference play ahead.