Week 2 Predictions – 2026

Cory Steger:  The new-look Ohio State defense passed the test. Without multiple starters and draft picks from last year’s team, the Buckeyes limited Ball State to just three points in last week’s dominating win over the Cardinals. They only forced one turnover, but the pressure was on Ball State early and often and the Cardinals could not respond. The difficult ramps up significantly for Ohio State this week with a trip to No. 5 Texas. Last year, the Buckeyes used a strong defensive performance and controlled the clock to limit Texas to just one touchdown – a late one at that. Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning has improved since then, but it’s not just the passing game Ohio State will need to stop. The Longhorns have a terrific running game with backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. The games between Ohio State and Texas have typically been close ones, and often come down to just one turnover. In that type of game I trust Julian Sayin with the ball more than I trust Manning.   Ohio State 24, Texas 21 

Dave Culver:  Ohio State 32 @ Texas 21 

Gregg Watson:  It feels like we were here just a year ago.  Texas and Ohio State were two highly ranked teams, and everyone was thinking the winner was a lock for the playoffs.  That is likely the case again this year as both teams have the talent and the strength of schedule to be in line for the playoff after a victory Saturday. Personally, I don’t think Coach Day has been serious enough to win a national championship since the victory over Michigan last year.  It just feels like so much was put into winning that game and starting to remove the Wolverine/Monkey of their backs, that this team has considered everything else downhill.  Now it is time to get serious and start playing like they ‘have’ to win again.  “Hopefully” we take care of business.  The defense needs to step up and shut down the Longhorns enough to win this one.  The offense will score but they better start using Jeremiah Smith more.  Let’s say, 10 catches and 2 TDs and 125 yards?  I say the Buckeyes win this one but that is more my heart talking than my head.  Buckeyes, please give me something this week to bring my confidence back.   Ohio State 27  Texas 24       

Jason Harris:  Ohio State heads to Austin for one of the most anticipated games of the 2026 season and a potential national championship preview. The No. 1 Buckeyes enter 1-0 after dominating Ball State, while #4 Texas cruised past Texas State, 59-7. Ohio State has won the last two meetings, but this is a different Longhorns team led by second-year starting quarterback Arch Manning, who threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns in the opener despite Texas struggling to run the ball.

The biggest question is whether Ohio State can slow Manning and force Texas to become one-dimensional. The Buckeyes rebuilt defense looks elite having allowed just three points in their opener, while Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith lead an explosive offense. Texas has the home-field advantage, but Ohio State’s ability to protect Sayin, run the football and avoid turnovers will be critical in what should be a four-quarter battle.

Texas has enough talent and home-field advantage to make this a close game, but Ohio State’s defensive depth, championship experience and playmakers on the perimeter give the Buckeyes the edge. Smith should be a major factor, while Sayin makes enough plays late to help Ohio State escape Austin with another statement victory.   Prediction: Ohio State 31, Texas 27

Joe Hylton:  OSU

John Seibert:  This is one of those rare times I wish I wasn’t a Buckeyes fan and could just watch this one without a rooting interest, as it should be a good one.  Week one for both was eerily similar.  Both blew out outclassed opponents.  Neither offensive line looked impressive in run blocking.  Texas popped a 45 yd run on its first carry, then only managed 111 yards the rest of the way against an undersized Texas St D-Line that they should have been able to manhandle.  Ohio State managed a whopping 30 yards in the first half.  They went for more than 200 yards in the second half, aided by a couple of long TD runs.  Passing stats were similar – saying 21/25 for 320 yds and 3TDs, manning 20/27 for 305 with 4TDs and a pick.  Easy to see why the spread is only 1 ½ points, as this is basically a pick-em type of game.  The outside observer in me likes Texas, but that’s what I thought last year as well.  Manning seems to be more mistake prone than Sayin.  If the Bucks O’Line gives Julian time, I think the Bucks can pull off the W, but nothing would surprise me here.  Ohio State 24  Texas 20 

Josh Watson: Ohio State and Texas did not have to reveal much in their respective openers, but both provided a glimpse of how explosive their offenses could become. The Buckeyes accumulated 671 yards in a 56-3 victory over Ball State, while Texas defeated Texas State 59-7 behind 305 passing yards and four touchdowns from Arch Manning. The challenge is separating the impressive numbers from the level of competition. Ohio State rushed for 237 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per attempt, but much of that production came from Bo Jackson’s 65-yard touchdown and Ja’Kobi Jackson’s 49-yard score. Before those two plays, the Buckeyes’ offensive line did not consistently generate the movement Ohio State will need against Texas. Ohio State’s opener by the numbers That places considerable importance on Julian Sayin, who completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards against Ball State. Jeremiah Smith remains the best individual matchup on the field after catching eight passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns in the opener. Texas can bracket Smith, disguise its coverages and test Ohio State’s protection, but completely removing him from the game is another matter. The other side presents a fascinating rematch between Manning and the Ohio State defense. Manning struggled in last season’s 14-7 loss in Columbus, but Texas should allow him to attack more aggressively at home after his productive opener. Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo give him dangerous targets, while Ohio State must clean up the missed tackles and missed opportunities in the backfield that appeared against Ball State. Ohio State also committed nine penalties for 81 yards in Week 1. Those mistakes were largely inconsequential against Ball State; in Austin, a pre-snap penalty, missed sack or protection breakdown could decide the game. Texas has home field and a quarterback seeking redemption, but Ohio State still has the most difficult player to defend and the stronger overall defense. I expect a more conservative opening than either team showed last week, followed by Sayin making two or three throws in the second half that change the game. Ohio State 27, Texas 24

Steven Smith:  OK, I’ll admit it, your guess is as good as mine. The Texas offense is legit and should be better with another year under the belt of Arch Manning. The OSU defense has been depleted of some elite talent, but the Buckeyes probably have the deepest bench of any team in America. Even so, how do you replace Styles, Reese and Downs? That’s a huge task. The Buckeye offense looks to be a bit more balanced with a lot more options around Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith. Devin McCuin has been an excellent addition and Legend Bey has a huge shot at living up to his name. We’ll definitely get more scoring, but I don’t expect a huge game from either team. Both coaches will play a tight controlled game, especially on Ryan Day’s side, as OSU’s margin for error is a lot slimmer given their brutal schedule. Special teams probably will play a role in this one, and I’ll give the edge to the Longhorns in that respect. Texas wins a squeaker with a late field goal.   UT 24-21.  

Stefan Armintrout:  This is tough. I think both teams are really good and should still be in the playoff mix if they lose. I’ll probably give the advantage to the Buckeyes. I have faith in Sayin and Smith. Plus Ryan Day is a better big game coach than Sark. It will be close. I see the Buckeye winning it late, just like in the last 2 match ups. Ohio State wins and remains unbeaten. (Ohio State, 24-21) 

ESPN GameDay:  Stanford Steve – Texas,  Desmond – Texas,  Nick – Texas,  Pat – Texas,  Glen Powell – Texas

Final Score:  Ohio State xx   Texas xx 

Cory:  The Kyle Whittingham era at Michigan has begun, and it almost began with a loss. Or, it should have been a loss – depending on which clock you are going by. Ref and clock shenanigans aside, there is some real concern about Michigan’s offense. The line does not block well, and it does not appear that Bryce Underwood has made any significant improvements in the offseason. He still looks lost out there, he is still having trouble reading defenses, and the Wolverines are struggling to hold onto the ball and generate meaningful possessions because of it. They are at home this week, but facing the Oklahoma defense is an enormous test for the Wolverines. The Sooners shut out UTEP last week, and in that game they had four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and recoveries, and limited the Miners to just two third conversions all game. Underwood struggled mightily against the Sooners last year, and I don’t think the home cooking this year will be enough to change that.   Oklahoma 31, Michigan 21

Dave:  Oklahoma 28 @ Michigan 12 (60:01 already up on the clock in the Big House)

Gregg:  If Western Michigan figured a way to neutralize Underwood, I think the Sooners can do the same. But if he can get it together between the first and second game, Michigan will have a chance. Oklahoma is just too deep though and I think they will dominate this game from start to finish.  I do not give UM any chance to win this game.  I suspect the Sooners will place a ton of pressure on Bryce and will be successful.  Michigan only had 201 yards of offense against WMU last week going into that final drive.  Do you think they will do better against OU.   Oklahoma  31  Michigan 10

Jason:  Oklahoma travels to Ann Arbor for one of the most interesting early-season matchups of the 2026 season, with the #11 Sooners looking to duplicate last year’s 24-13 victory over Michigan. Oklahoma enters the matchup after opening the season with a dominant 51-0 shutout of UTEP, while Michigan froze time, magically gaining an extra play in a dramatic and highly controversial 13-12 win over Western Michigan. The Sooners have the more impressive résumé entering the game, particularly on defense, but Michigan will have the advantage of playing its first-ever home game against Oklahoma in front of a Maize Out crowd at the Big House.

The matchup could come down to Michigan’s ability to generate offense against an Oklahoma defense that was among the nation’s best last season. John Mateer gives the Sooners an advantage at quarterback after throwing for 344 yards and three touchdowns against Michigan last year, while the Sooners return key pieces from a defense that ranked third nationally against the run and recorded 45 sacks. Michigan will need a stronger performance from Bryce Underwood, along with its running game and defense, to keep the game close.

 Michigan should be much better than it was in the opener, and playing at the Big House could make this a four-quarter game. However, Oklahoma is the more complete team at this point, particularly in the trenches and at quarterback. Mateer’s ability to extend plays and create explosive plays with his legs should ultimately prove difficult for Michigan to contain. I expect the Wolverines to hang in there early, but Oklahoma’s defensive front and overall experience should allow the Sooners to leave Ann Arbor with another statement victory and a 2-0 start.   Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Michigan 10

Joe-S-U:  Oklahoma

John:  I didn’t think I could dislike TTUN any more, but that farce last week makes me feel sick.  One expects a MAC team to get screwed in a Big Ten stadium, just not so blatantly as W. Michigan got hosed last week.  And the worst part is that WMU can’t jeopardize future $2M+ paydays by calling out the obvious homerism here.  I’m not one of those Buckeye fans that wants UM to be unbeaten every year when they play OSU.  Quite to opposite, although most of the time I am ambivalent – hope they lose but don’t really car either way..  Now, thought, I hope they get the living snot kicked out of the every week.  You never know what you are going to get with Oklahoma.  There may not be a more schizophrenic team in all of CFB the last decade.  Fortunately, UM’s  downfield passing game will be nonresistant so long as Underwood is QB.   Oklahoma 27  Michigan 17

Josh: Michigan technically enters the week undefeated, although it required every second—and perhaps one more—to escape Western Michigan with a 13-12 victory. The Wolverines scored on a final-second Hail Mary after producing only seven points through the first 59 minutes. Oklahoma’s opener was considerably less dramatic, with the Sooners defeating UTEP 51-0. John Mateer completed 11 of 17 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns in limited action for Oklahoma. The Sooners also defeated Michigan 24-13 last season, and their offensive performance in Week 1 suggests Michigan will need far more than one successful desperation play to reverse that result. The primary concern for Michigan is whether Bryce Underwood can consistently diagnose Oklahoma’s defense and keep the offense out of third-and-long situations. Oklahoma can pressure him, change the picture after the snap and force Michigan to produce sustained drives instead of relying on isolated explosive plays. Michigan’s defense and the Big House crowd should keep the game competitive early. However, a defense can only absorb so much pressure when its offense struggles to stay on the field. Oklahoma does not need to dominate every possession; the Sooners simply need to avoid turnovers and make Michigan repeatedly drive the length of the field. The Wolverines may have survived their opener, but Oklahoma represents a substantial step up in speed, physicality and quarterback play. This time, even 60:01 may not be enough.   Oklahoma 30, Michigan 13

Steven:  After last week’s inexplicable gift from the gods and Big Ten officiating, Michigan coach Kyle Whittingham said “We have a lot of work to do.” He ain’t kidding. Look for Oklahoma to do their best to keep the Wolverine offense off the field. By the end of this one, Whittingham might just want them to. UM’s offense is abysmal and there has been little or no development of QB Bryce Underwood. Things must not be much better on the defensive side of the ball when Western Michigan beats them for a full 60 minute game. Look for Oklahoma QB John Mateer to have a good game. As long as he stays healthy and upright, this could be a beatdown. The Sooners bring the Boom to Ann Arbor. OU 38-10.

Trout:  I don’t see the Wolverines being boat raced. They do have a decent defense that should keep them in the game for a while.  But Underwood is terrible, and I don’t see him playing well in the game. I can see the game being close early, but then Oklahoma pulls away and wins by a few scores.   (Oklahoma, 23-10) 

ESPN GameDay:  Desmond – Michigan,  Nick – Oklahoma , Pat – Oklahoma,  Kirk – Oklahoma, Glen Powell – Oklahoma (and if you wonder if Desmond is ignorant, remember that he has Oklahoma winning the National Championship)

Final Score:  Oklahoma xx   Michigan xx 

Cory:  A new era has begun at Iowa State with the departure of head coach Matt Campbell, who is now at Penn State. The Cyclones won their opener, but, there are some concerns there as the offense did not look good. Despite facing off against SE Missouri State, the Cyclones only put up 303 total yards of offense. If it weren’t for SE Missouri State’s three turnovers, this game could have been much closer. Iowa enters this game with a two-quarterback system between Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski. Brown started and led multiple touchdown drives, while Hecklinski played and was just OK. Hawkeyes coach Kirk Ferentz said both will continue to play so expect that again this week against Iowa State. Even though there are questions about Iowa’s passing game, the running game with Kamari Moulton is strong. Combine that with Iowa State’s offensive struggles and we’re looking at a Hawkeye win in this one.   Iowa 21, Iowa State 10

Dave:  Iowa 28  Iowa State 14

Gregg:  Coach Frentz still at Iowa, Iowa State with a new coach with one year of D1 experience.  Normally Iowa is all about defense and punting stats, last week they put up 40 points.  Hopefully for the Hawkeyes, this means they are going to put more focus on getting points on the board.  Here is another chance for them to prove it,  Iowa 27  Iowa State 17

Jason:  Iowa State and #21 Iowa meet at Kinnick Stadium in the 73rd Cy-Hawk rivalry, with both teams entering 1-0. The Hawkeyes dominated Northern Illinois, 40-0, while Iowa State opened the Jimmy Rogers era with a 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri. The Cyclones have won the last two meetings in Iowa City, but Iowa will look to take back control of the rivalry. The last eight meetings have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

The key will be whether Iowa State’s rebuilt roster can handle Iowa’s physical style and home-field advantage. Jaylen Raynor gives the Cyclones an experienced playmaker at quarterback, but Iowa’s defense and running game could be decisive if the Hawkeyes control the line of scrimmage. Expect another physical, competitive rivalry game that could come down to the final possessions.

This has all the makings of another classic Cy-Hawk game, and I expect it to come down to the final few possessions. Iowa State has won the last two meetings in Iowa City, including a 20-19 thriller in 2024, so the Cyclones should have plenty of confidence entering Kinnick. However, Iowa’s dominant opener, home-field advantage and ability to lean on the running game give the Hawkeyes a slight edge. I expect a physical, low-scoring battle with Iowa’s defense making a couple of critical stops late and a field goal ultimately giving the Hawkeyes the win.    Prediction: Iowa 23, Iowa State 20

Joe-S-U:  Iowa State

John:  One gets the impression that Iowa might just be better than average this year.  In game one they were fairly balanced on O and stout on D, although to be fair is it was against Northern Illinois.  Iowa State was not as impressive beating SE Missouri.  Now, they go on the road for a night game and while Kinnick at night isn’t Happy Valley or Death Valley that is a tough environment for a double digit dog to pull of an upset.   Iowa  30  Iowa State 13

Josh: The Cy-Hawk rivalry rarely follows a clean script. Iowa State has won the past two meetings, including a 16-13 victory last season, and Iowa has not defeated the Cyclones at Kinnick Stadium since 2018. That history makes a two-touchdown spread uncomfortable, no matter how different these teams appear on paper. Iowa State opened the Jimmy Rogers era with a 38-10 win over Southeast Missouri. Arkansas State transfer Jaylen Raynor accounted for two passing touchdowns and two rushing scores, while the Cyclones’ defense recorded six sacks. Isaac Terrell produced three of those sacks and immediately emerged as someone Iowa must account for in protection. Iowa State’s opening victory Still, this is an Iowa State roster that underwent massive offseason turnover. The Cyclones lost more than 50 players through the transfer portal and entered the season without a returning starter. A rivalry game at Kinnick is a difficult place for a rebuilt team to discover whether its opening-week success will translate against Big Ten competition. Iowa’s formula will be familiar: control field position, create negative plays, avoid turnovers and gradually squeeze the life out of the opposing offense. Raynor’s mobility gives Iowa State a way to escape pressure, but Iowa’s defense will be significantly more disciplined than what he faced in the opener. The biggest question is whether Iowa can score enough to cover 14.5 points. In a rivalry that frequently becomes a low-possession fight, that is a large number. I think the Hawkeyes create a defensive or special-teams score that finally pushes them beyond it, but this may remain uncomfortable well into the second half. Iowa 27, Iowa State 10

Steven:  As usual, Iowa rolls out a stout defense, but the question remains whether they have found an offense. a 40-0 win over Northern Illinois might not be the greatest measuring stick, but Herky did amass over 500 yards of offense. Iowa State had a similar outcome over SE Missouri State. It’s too early in the year to really know who these teams are or their potential, but Iowa State QB Jaylen Raynor will prove a tough test for the Hawkeye secondary to defend. Iowa might have actually awoken a bit, but don’t expect the air raid offense. This will be ground and pound most of the day. Iowa wears out the Cyclones 33-19.

Trout:  I see the Hawkeyes winning this game. I think they have the better defense and now it seems that they have actually have a serviceable offense. Also, Iowa State has a new coach. As overrated as he is, Matt Campbell would at least have the Cyclones playing decent. Roger’s tenure is still very young. Iowa wins this game, but I do see it being close.   (Iowa, 17-14)

Final Score:  Iowa xx   Iowa State xx  

Cory:  Mississippi State traveling to Minnesota to face the Gophers is the SEC-Big 10 matchup that everybody is paying attention this week, right? RIGHT?! It’s not? Oh, well, OK. The Bulldogs and Gophers may not be the focal point of national attention this week, but this is still an intriguing matchup. The Bulldogs are in the third year of coach Jeff Lebby’s tenure and there are signs of a turnaround. The had a good start last season, opening 4-0, before winning just one game down the stretch. This season, they’ve got an exciting dual-threat quarterback in Kamario Taylor, who combined for 413 total yards and five touchdowns in the team’s season-opening win. Minnesota has a decent quarterback of its own in Drake Lindsey. Lindsey does not get a ton of attention, but he might be the Gophers’ most talented quarterback in quite some time. Minnesota will focus on slowing down Taylor and forcing the Bulldogs to win the game with other players. The Bulldogs were not good in the face of adversity last season, so I am going with Minnesota in a close one.   Minnesota 35, Mississippi State 31

Dave:  Mississippi State 21  Minnesota 16

Gregg:  Not really sure on this one but I have to support the Big Ten over the SEC.  Go Gophers   Minnesota 24  MSU 21

Jason:  Mississippi State and Minnesota both enter 1-0 after dominant opening-week victories, setting up an intriguing SEC-Big Ten matchup in Minneapolis. The Bulldogs cruised past ULM 62-13, while the Gophers rolled past Eastern Illinois 59-7. Mississippi State brings plenty of offensive firepower, but Minnesota will have the advantage of playing at home.

The game could come down to the quarterbacks and the running game. Mississippi State’s athleticism and tempo will challenge Minnesota, while the Gophers will lean on Drake Lindsey and running back Darius Taylor. Expect a physical, competitive matchup that stays close throughout.

The Gophers’ home-field advantage and balanced offense give them the slight edge in what should be a back-and-forth game.   Prediction: Minnesota 31, Mississippi State 27

Joe-S-U:  Minnesota

John:  I’m not going to pretend I have any idea on this one.  I did see that Miss St put up some big numbers last week  against a college that might struggle to beat Lakewood St. Ed’s.  The Gopher’s week one opponent wasn’t much better.  Miss St is only a 1 ½ point road favorite.  I’m going to go with the home team in this one, and the Big Ten gets to extend bragging rights over the SEC, at least until OSU/Texas finishes later Saturday night.   Minnesota  30  Mississippi St 27

Josh: This may be the most evenly matched game on the list. Mississippi State travels north after opening with a 59-7 victory over Eastern Illinois, while Minnesota begins its first meaningful test after handling an overmatched Week 1 opponent. Minnesota’s advantage starts with quarterback Drake Lindsey and a veteran defensive front led by Anthony Smith, who paced the Big Ten in sacks last season. Playing at home, the Golden Gophers will attempt to control the clock and force Mississippi State to remain patient rather than chase explosive plays. Mississippi State has enough offensive experience to make that difficult. Anthony Evans III returns after leading the Bulldogs with 67 receptions for 831 yards in 2025, providing a reliable option when Minnesota takes away the deeper routes. The Bulldogs also rebuilt their offensive line with several experienced transfers, a group that will receive a much more meaningful evaluation against Minnesota’s front. This game should be determined by red-zone execution. Both teams are capable of moving the ball between the 20s, but neither can afford empty possessions or short fields created by turnovers. Minnesota has the environmental advantage; Mississippi State has slightly more explosiveness. I expect a physical, one-score game that remains undecided into the final five minutes. The Bulldogs produce the decisive touchdown, then survive one final Minnesota possession.   Mississippi State 27, Minnesota 24

Steven:  Mississippi State is last in the SEC power rankings which probably puts them even with the Gophers, who are in some rankings viewed as a middle of the pack Big Ten Team. I like the Bulldogs a bit more than many of the pundits. Incoming QB Kamario Taylor could be a difference maker. Last week, the Bulldogs racked up top in the nation 762 yards, with 417 coming off the arm of Taylor. It was against ULM, but even so, that’s a ton of production. If they bring 75% of that to Minneapolis, they destroy the Gophers. Mississippi State is favored by 1.5. They should blow right past that. MSU 34-14.

Trout:  I think the Gophers get the win. I don’t think either team is great, but I do think Minnesota is slightly better. It will be a low scoring sloppy game, but the Gophers do just enough to pull off the win.   (Minnesota 14-13)

Final Score:  Minnesota xx   Mississippi State xx 

Cory:  Highly-touted quarterback Keelon Russell made his first start for Alabama in their season-opening win over East Carolina last week, and did so with some decent results. Russell threw for 256 yards, and added 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Traveling to Kentucky should be a more difficult contest than a home game against East Carolina, however, the Kentucky defense is not great right now. They did only allow 13 points to Youngstown State, but the Wildcats gave up some passing yards and allowed the Penguins to convert 8 of 15 third down attempts. That won’t cut it against Alabama. Kentucky will need to outscore the Crimson Tide and I’m not sure that is possible. Kentucky has a new look this year under first-year head coach Will Stein, and they’ve got an interesting quarterback in Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey. Minchey did put up 301 passing yards and four touchdowns last week, and will be expected to carry the Wildcats again this week. I just don’t see it being enough, however.   Alabama 31, Kentucky 24 

Dave:  Alabama 32  Kentucky 21 

Gregg:  Is Alabama back?  Did they ever go away? Any program would adjust to losing a coach the talents of Nick Saban.  My question is, “Did they have to adjust to losing one of the greatest college coaches ever, or was it simply they have to adjust to a college football world where EVERY team pays their players and not just the SEC?”There are no shortages of talented teams in the SEC so eventually you will need to play some great competition.  Don’t think the Tide is really built for that anymore.  Fortunately for them, Kentucky is a basketball school and are not one of the elite teams either.  With this being in Lexington and the Wildcats are used to losing to Alabama, I think fan support will be riding high and will carry them a few rounds.  But in the end, the Tide wins a close one and will continue to wonder, where did all the glory days go to anyway.   Alabama 24  Kentucky 20

Jason:  Alabama and Kentucky both enter 1-0, but the Crimson Tide face their first real test of the season when they travel to Lexington. Alabama opened with a convincing 48-10 win over East Carolina, while Kentucky dominated Youngstown State 45-13 in the debut of new head coach Will Stein. The Wildcats will have the benefit of a raucous home crowd, where they are looking to pull off a major upset.

Alabama QB Keelon Russell, who impressed in his first start with 256 passing yards and 86 rushing yards, will look to build on his early success, while KentuckyQBKenny Minchey also looked sharp, throwing for 301 yards and four touchdowns in the opener. If the Wildcats can pressure Russell and force him into mistakes in his first road start, they have a chance to make this interesting.

Kentucky should keep it competitive early, but Alabama’s superior talent and depth should eventually take over. The Crimson Tide’s defense should make enough plays to slow Minchey, while Russell settles in and leads Alabama to a comfortable road victory.   Prediction: Alabama 34, Kentucky 20

Joe-S-U:  The Fighting Finebaums!  (Uh, Alabama)

John:  The game is in Lexington, so that might keep it close for a while.  Tide rolls in the end.   Alabama  35  Kentucky 17

Josh: Both teams looked comfortable in their openers. Alabama defeated East Carolina 48-10 behind freshman quarterback Keelon Russell, while Kentucky began the Will Stein era with a 45-13 victory over Youngstown State. Kenny Minchey threw for 301 yards and four touchdowns for the Wildcats. Now the level of resistance changes dramatically for both quarterbacks. This will be Russell’s first road start and first SEC game. Kroger Field should provide Kentucky with an energetic environment, particularly if the Wildcats can force an early turnover or prevent Alabama from establishing the run. Kentucky cannot allow Russell to settle into a comfortable rhythm of short throws and favorable third downs. Alabama’s deeper roster should become more noticeable as the game progresses. Daniel Hill and EJ Crowell give the Crimson Tide multiple options in the running game, while Ryan Coleman-Williams enters the matchup after recording 130 receiving yards in the opener. Kentucky may be able to limit one element of the offense, but doing so without creating favorable opportunities somewhere else will be difficult. Minchey’s performance gives Kentucky a realistic path to making this competitive. If he protects the football and hits a few throws against pressure, the Wildcats can keep Alabama from separating early. The problem will be sustaining that execution for four quarters against a defense that can rotate more talent and continue applying pressure. Kentucky makes Alabama uncomfortable in the first half, but the Crimson Tide take control at the line of scrimmage after halftime. A late Alabama touchdown provides the cover.   Alabama 34, Kentucky 20

Steven:  It has only been one week, but it seems like parity has taken hold of the SEC. I expect the league to chew itself up, but yet ESPN will push for as many 3 loss SEC teams to be included in the playoff as possible, because of course, in the SEC, it just means more.  I like Kentucky to keep this close, and quite possibly pull the upset, since the gap between the top and the bottom of the SEC has narrowed quite a bit in the NIL era. Alabama’s defense is still a force, but I expect Wildcat QB Kenny Minchy to outduel his Crimson Tide counterpart Keelon Russell. If Kentucky can shut down the run and force Russell to throw under pressure, they can pull the upset. Wildcats pull off the upset 21-17. 

Trout:  Alabama wins. Although the Deboer’s teams have had ups and downs, I have zero faith in Kentucky. The Tide may not be as dominant as fans would like, but I do see them winning by a few scores.   (Alabama, 32-10)

Final Score:  Alabama xx   Kentucky xx