2026 College Football Season - Week 2 Recap and Top Performers
After an electric Week 1, the question was whether college football could deliver an encore in Week 2. Turns out, it absolutely did — and the games were just as compelling. Here’s what we learned from another wild weekend across the sport.
What Did We Learn After Week 2?
Oklahoma State Upsets Oregon
Welcome to the Drew Mestemaker experience. There might not be a bigger enigma in college football.
When he’s locked in, he looks like the best quarterback in the country. When he slips, it can get messy fast. Yet against one of the nation’s top teams, he shook off two interceptions — including a pick‑six — and still piled up over 400 total yards and three touchdowns, one of which will be living on highlight reels for days.
We still don’t fully know what to make of Mestemaker, but one thing’s clear: he may have just jump‑started Oklahoma State’s program with one of the biggest upset wins in school history.
As for Dan Lanning and the Ducks, it’s back to the drawing board. And honestly, after their shaky showing against Boise State in Week 1, this result shouldn’t come as a complete surprise.
Texas pulls off a stunning comeback win over Ohio State
Coming into the fourth quarter down 20, it looked like Ryan Day’s Buckeyes were about to get the best of Arch Manning yet again. But little by little, Texas chipped away at the deficit — and before anyone could process what was happening, the Longhorns had stolen both the lead and the game, 24–23.
For Steve Sarkisian, this is the signature home win he’s been chasing: a victory over a true championship contender, and the same program that embarrassed Texas in Week 1 last season.
Now comes the real question: after such an emotional, draining comeback, how will the Longhorns respond next week? It’s a fair thing to wonder.
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Coming off one of the most controversial finishes in recent memory, Michigan could have folded against Oklahoma. Instead, the Wolverines gutted out an ugly, defense‑driven win that showed real resilience.
The game also raises a fair question about the Sooners: is this who they are right now, or is there another level they haven’t reached yet? Either way, Michigan’s morale should be high — and deservedly so.
Florida A&M took the trip to Miami for one reason: a sizable payday. The game itself was a mismatch from the opening snap, turning into such a lopsided blowout that both staffs agreed to shorten the fourth quarter to ten minutes. Safe to say the Rattlers should steer clear of this kind of matchup going forward.
The outcome against Indiana felt inevitable — Howard was never going to keep pace with Josh Hoover and company. What really stands out, though, is how this team keeps finding new ways to win. This week, the ground game took center stage, with Lee Beebe Jr. and Turbo Richard setting the tone early and never letting up. When the run game hits like that, everything else opens up.
The final score in the Arizona State–Texas A&M matchup was misleading — the game was far tighter than it looked. A few costly Sun Devil mistakes proved decisive, while Marcel Reed did just enough to push the Aggies ahead.
Arizona State still has reason for optimism: Cutter Boley is an emerging talent who should only improve with time, despite the interceptions.
Quarterback Kamario Taylor is making Mississippi State football must‑see TV again. He didn’t replicate his Week 1 explosion, but he still outplayed Minnesota’s Drake Lindsey and led the Bulldogs to a big win.
If there’s one player who doesn’t get nearly enough credit, it’s Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton. He keeps evolving every week, both as a passer and as an overall playmaker. In Georgia’s blowout win over Western Kentucky, Stockton threw five touchdown passes before halftime — an absurd pace that set the tone early.
This Bulldogs team may not have the same top‑to‑bottom talent as the squads that won back‑to‑back titles, but they’re every bit as dangerous.
The only word for Notre Dame’s win over Rice: flawless. That’s it. That’s the whole story.
Here's what the nation needs to know about SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings: he's good, really good. What he showed against Florida State as a sample, but the way he dissected UC Davis was as great a performance you will get from a quarterback. It is time that Jennings is mentioned as one of the top quarterback in the nation.
After a rope‑a‑dope first half — capped by a pick‑six — Alabama regrouped and steamrolled Kentucky after the break. Right now, the Roll‑Tide defense is clearly this team’s backbone. Keelon Russell has talent, but he’s still very much in the development phase.
Beau Pribula stacked another multi‑touchdown outing in Virginia’s win over Norfolk State, pushing the Cavaliers to a confident 2‑0 start. They look almost too good this early — and after last year’s rush to crown Florida State, caution feels warranted. Still, everything about this group suggests they’re trending the right way.
Let’s talk about Colorado quarterback Julian Lewis. After a shaky Week 1, he came out firing against Weber State, torching them for 300‑plus yards and five first‑half touchdowns. That’s not a bounce‑back — that’s a statement. If this is the version of Lewis that Coach Prime can count on, he might be sitting on a goldmine. And if it continues, Colorado won’t just be a bowl team — they’ll be a problem.
If you missed Week 1, Louisville quarterback Lincoln Kienholz went toe‑to‑toe with one of the nation’s premier passers in Trinidad Chambliss. He carried that momentum straight into Week 2, delivering a full‑on clinic in the Cardinals’ win over Villanova. Louisville may have a legitimate star emerging — one capable of taking them deep into the season if the trajectory holds.
Much like Miami, NC State handled business with an expected blowout of Richmond. The biggest positive for Wolfpack fans: CJ Bailey looked like his old self again, a reassuring sign as conference play inches closer.
Conner Weigman and his Houston Cougars have quietly put together two solid weeks of football. Their win over Southern showed a real glimpse of what this offense can be when it’s humming.
We’ve talked about the Drew Mestemaker experience, but the Sam Leavitt experience at LSU is just as wild. Three interceptions. four total touchdowns (three of them rushing). He’s electric with his legs, but if LSU wants to be a true title contender, he has to match that efficiency through the air. Even so, the Tigers look every bit like the team to beat in the SEC.
Week 2 Top 10 Performers
Offense -
QB Lincoln Kienholz - Louisville
QB Drew Mestemaker - Oklahoma State
QB Julian Lewis - Colorado
QB Kevin Jennings - SMU
WR Reed Harris - Arizona State
QB Gunner Stockton - Georgia
WR Vernell Brown III - Florida
WR KJ Duff - Rutgers
WR Jeremiah Smith - Ohio State
RB Jadan Baugh - Florida and QB Sam Leavitt - LSU
Defense -
DB Kingston Lopa - California
DL Tavion Gadson - Kentucky
LB Caleb Woodson - Alabama
LB Wendell Gregory - Kansas State
DE Princewill Umanmielen - LSU
DE John Henry Daley - Michigan
S Alex McLaughlin - Washington
DL Mi'Quise Humphrey-Grace - Kentucky
DL Devan Thompkins - Alabama
DE Marco Jones - Texas A&M
Notable mentions: RB Hollywood Smothers - Texas, LB Chris D'Appolonia - Syracuse, LB Colin Simmons - Texas, LB Lamont Lester Jr. - Colorado, WR Joseph Williams - Colorado, LB Luke Metz - Alabama, DL Bryce Young - Notre Dame, QB CJ Carr - Notre Dame, DL Keishaun Calhoun - Indiana, RB Caleb Hawkins - Oklahoma State, QB Austin Simmons - Missouri, LB Devon Jackson - Oregon, RB Javian Mallory - Miami, LB Aiden Sullivan - Oregon State, DB Reggie Powers III - Oklahoma, RB Jayden Scott - NC State, RB Lee Beebe Jr. - Indiana, RB Turbo Richards - Indiana, DB Jalen Mayo - Houston, LB Curly Ordonez - Temple, QB Kamario Taylor - Mississippi State, QB Darian Mensah - Miami, RB Nick Herman - James Madison, DE Nnanna Anyanwu - Virginia, QB Beau Pribula, QB CJ Bailey - NC State, LB Justin Rowe - Virginia, LB Gavin Willis - Charlotte, RB Mark Fletcher Jr. - Miami, DB Marcus Upton - Boston College, RB Jamal Roberts - Missouri, S Kensley Louidor-Faustin - Missouri, RB Antwan Raymond - Rutgers, LB Anthony Palano - Boston College, S Lagonza Hayward - Florida, and DB Ellis Robinson IV - Georgia.
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