Week 2 Viewing Guide: Quinn Ewers Takes on Alabama, a Surprise Doak Walker Candidate from the Big Ten, and a Pair of Heisman Hopefuls in Primetime

Nooners

#1 Alabama vs. Texas, 12 p.m. on FOX

H A Z A R D   W A R N I N G

For the second week in a row, the early window of games lacks a lot of compelling matchups. However, Buckeye fans seeking a commercial-flip option during the Arkansas State game may have some interest in monitoring the performance of a former Ohio State quarterback against the current top team in the nation.

In his second game as a starting college quarterback, Quinn Ewers will have the privilege of hosting Alabama at home in Texas. Last week in his Longhorn debut, Ewers got off to a rough start by throwing an interception on only his second career pass attempt. The man with the mullet ultimately rallied by completing 16 of his next 22 passes for two touchdowns, showcasing signature arm talent all along the way.

Quinn Ewers w/ an absolute DIME.
Love the vertical pocket movement and elite off-platform accuracy.
Full video available for the QBS Patreon Community
Join: https://t.co/l0CJd0zOlL pic.twitter.com/Qy4pzG13UV

— The QB School (@theqbschool) September 6, 2022

But the UL Monroe Warhawks are a far cry from the Crimson Tide. Alabama steamrolled the reigning Mountain West champions by a score of 55-0 last weekend, dropping 41 points in the first half. Utah State's first 11 drives of the game all ended in less than six plays. The Tide did not force any turnovers or record any sacks, but put on a complete enough performance to prevent any of the Aggies' three quarterbacks from completing more than three passes.

While doubtful this plays out as a psychologically crippling game for Ewers, this contest still figures to be a highly unpleasant one for Texas. Alabama enters as a 20-point favorite, and it would be a shock if the Tide end up snagging less passes from the Longhorns star than UL Monroe did a week ago.

Afternooners

East Coast/SEC Matchups & a B1G Doak Walker Candidate?

The late afternoon window has a nice variety of showdowns to choose from for folks seeking a competitive palate cleanser after the Ohio State game. A ranked matchup, potential shootout and surprise standout running back from the Big Ten are all among the viewing options for Buckeye fans to choose from.

• #24 Tennessee vs. #17 Pittsburgh, 3:30 p.m. on ABC
  Tennessee was one of the new teams to enter the top 25 this week after dismantling Ball State 59-0 in its home opener. The Volunteers now travel to west Pennsylvania to take on Pittsburgh fresh off the Panthers' Backyard Brawl victory over West Virginia on the first day of September.
  
  This is the first of three games today between two ranked schools. Former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis will continue leading the charge for Pittsburgh after throwing for over 300 yards last week, while Hendon Hooker will retain starting duties for Tennessee as ex-Michigan quarterback Joe Milton III waits in the wings.
   
• Appalachian State vs. #6 Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN2
  Regrettably, Appalachian State's blistering back-and-forth with North Carolina was not the Wildcard of the Week pick in the previous Viewing Guide. The Mountaineers played a wild game that included 62 total points scored in the fourth quarter, five touchdowns in the final five minutes, a Tar Heel onside kick return for a score, and two failed two-point conversions that ultimately doomed Appalachian State.
  
  While a bounceback for the Mountaineers seems unlikely today against a top-10 foe, Chase Brice and Appalachian State's lightning pass attack that threw for six touchdowns a week ago may provide Texas A&M with a stress test. The Aggies went largely untested against FCS opponent Sam Houston State in their home-opening 31-0 victory, so the step up in competition could come as a bit of a shock to Jimbo Fisher's squad.
   
• Virginia vs. Illinois, 4:00 p.m. on ESPNU
  W I L D C A R D of the W E E K
  Have you heard about Chase Brown? No, not the newest producer for Eleven Warriors, but rather the powerful running back from Illinois that quietly won Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week honors for his performance over Labor Day weekend?
  
  Brown has rushed for over 150 yards in back-to-back games and perhaps would be getting more press had Illinois not lost to Indiana last week on a go-ahead touchdown in the final 30 seconds. After overseeing the likes of Montee Ball, James White, John Clay, and P.J. Hill while head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, Bret Bielema certainly seems thrilled to have yet another workhorse halfback available at the center of his offense, now for the Fighting Illini.

  ILLINOIS STRIKES FIRST IN 2 PLAYS!
  
  -Chase Brown 38 yard run
  -Chase Brown 14 yard TD catch! pic.twitter.com/K2TZjPXpYA

  — @ (@FTBeard7) August 27, 2022

  Virginia quietly made some noise in the ACC a year ago before a string of games against ranked opponents in the final third of the schedule derailed its season. Current quarterback Brennan Armstrong still managed to throw for over 400 yards against half of the Cavaliers' 2021 opponents (including Illinois) and can become Virginia's all-time passing leader with 433 more yards through the air. The Cavaliers also brought back their third-leading rusher and second-leading receiver from last season in wideout Keytaon Thompson, so there will be plenty of offensive talent on display for each side.

Primetime

#20 Kentucky vs. #12 Florida, 7 p.m. on ESPN

Ohio State fans glued to the Notre Dame game last week probably missed most of Florida's upset over Utah. The parallel scheduling was unfortunate, because Anthony Richardson officially kicked off his Heisman campaign with 274 total yards, three rushing touchdowns and one of the most spectacular two-point conversions in recent memory.

#Florida QB Anthony Richardson is an absolute freak show.

The most interesting player/prospect in CFB. pic.twitter.com/95dB7ZNb4u

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) September 4, 2022

The Gators' performance in head coach Billy Napier's debut vaulted them all the way from unranked to 12th in the AP poll, and now Florida finds itself favored in the day's second top-25 showdown against Kentucky.

The Wildcats are without some of their key offensive contributors from 2021 due to non-injury related absences and the NFL draft, but former Penn State quarterback Will Levis has returned for his senior year after leading Kentucky to 10 wins a season ago. UK's win over UF in last October was a crucial moment for both teams, as the upset over a national top-10 team at the time cemented the Wildcats' rise in the SEC East while Dan Mullen's era in Gainesville began to sunset.

Florida will have a chance for revenge tonight hosting Kentucky at home. A second win over a top-20 opponent in as many weeks could firmly establish the return of the Gators as SEC contenders while they look towards consecutive road trips against Georgia and Texas A&M later in the fall.

#10 USC vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m. on ABC

Speaking of returns, USC could already be heading back towards the top of the Pac-12 given the lackluster showings a week ago from the conference's preseason frontrunners including Oregon and Utah.

All Lincoln Riley did in his first game as the Trojans head coach was guide his familiar quarterback Caleb Williams, new receiver Jordan Addison and the rest of USC's offense to 66 points in a dominant win over Rice. Though that total included three pick-sixes courtesy of the defense, Williams finished with over 310 total yards on the afternoon while making multiple impressive throws to the sideline.

Caleb Williams making an early case for his Heisman candidacy. #Pac12FB | @USC_FB pic.twitter.com/y2laYPbZ8b

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) September 4, 2022

The Trojans will get a much stiffer test this week in the form of Stanford, a team that shocked the college football landscape last season with upsets over USC on the road and a third-ranked Oregon team despite ultimately finishing with a 3-9 record. The Cardinal's leading rusher from that game now plays for Missouri, but quarterback Tanner McKee returns along with his three leading receivers from last season. Stanford will also have home-field advantage this time around.

One player worth monitoring will be Trojan halfback Austin Jones, the Cardinal's second-leading rusher from a season ago who transferred away from the program this past offseason. While Jones only managed 13 rushing yards in last season's upset, he scored two of USC's rushing touchdowns last week while leading the team's running backs in yards on the ground.

Saturday Night Fever

#9 Baylor vs. #21 BYU, 10:15 p.m. on ESPN

Veteran readers of the Viewing Guide are quite familiar with Jaren Hall and BYU at this point. Last season’s kings of late-night football had a series of thrilling games in September, including upsets over ranked opponents in Utah and Arizona State. Now, the Cougars prepare to host a top-10 opponent for the first time since 2017, fresh off a 50-21 dismantling of South Florida on the road last week.

pic.twitter.com/vyCekj5tYR

— CFB over all (@PickettsPool) September 4, 2022

Hall and the Cougars' rushing attack that totaled over 300 yards on the ground against USF will rematch a Baylor team that handed BYU one of its only two regular-season losses a season ago. The defending Big 12 champions enter largely unproven after a 69-10 win over FCS Albany last week, as the Bears surrendered nearly all of their offensive production from a season ago to the transfer portal and NFL draft. Baylor also lost four key producers in its back seven that helped the team finish 10th overall across FBS scoring defenses in 2021.

Despite their distinction as reigning conference champions, it remains somewhat surprising to see the Bears ranked so highly in the early stages of the season given their roster turnover. The Cougars are going to be a major test, and while this game figures to stay close at a spread of just a field goal in favor of BYU, the outcome of this matchup will go a long way towards determining the trajectory of each team in 2022.

On the Radar for Next Week

• Afternoon: #21 BYU vs. Oregon, 3:30 p.m. on FOX
• Buckeyes: Toledo vs. #2 Ohio State, 7 p.m. on FOX
• Primetime: #15 Miami vs. #6 Texas A&M, 9 p.m. on ESPN