What to know for Week 2: Boise’s Heisman hopeful, how

Week 2 of college football is almost here.The first week of the season was all about Boise State’s superstar running back racking up six goals. What can Ashton Jeanty do for a repetition versus an Oregon team that had a hard time to put away Idaho recently? The game of the week remains in Ann Arbor, where the safeguarding nationwide champ Michigan Wolverines host the Texas Longhorns. What matches will identify who wins that game?Speaking of the

state of Texas, an underrated rivalry game between UTSA and Texas State starts Saturday. The very best part of that one is how Texas State coach G.J. Kinne played for UTSA’s Jeff Traylor back in high school, after fulfilling up for some ice cream.And then there are the freshman phenom pass receivers at Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn and Texas. How will they live up to their scintillating debuts?Our college

football reporters offer insight on huge stories and players to keep your eyes on in Week 2.

Battle for Interstate 35 Texas and Texas A&M are finally renewing their conference rivalry this season, but it may not even be as Texas-centric as the I-35 Competition between UTSA and Texas State. The two schools, less than 60 miles apart, have a lot more in common than simply proximity.Their two coaches

first fulfilled in 2005 at a Dairy Queen in Gilmer, Texas.Now-Texas State coach G.J. Kinne was then a star quarterback whose father, Gary Joe, was his coach at Canton High School in East Texas, before the daddy was shot by a dissatisfied moms and dad in the team’s locker space. Jeff Traylor, now at UTSA, was the coach of his hometown Gilmer Buckeyes, about 70 miles far from Canton, where he had actually built a powerhouse that won 3 state championships.(The Buckeyes now play at Jeff Traylor Arena. )In 2005, Traylor and G.J. Kinne first matched wits when Canton and Kinne beat Gilmer and Traylor 61-58 in a championship game. After that season, Gary Joe Kinne landed a job at Baylor and G.J., whose mother and dad were separated, decided he wished to get away the household history in the area– and his mommy and stepdad opted to move to Gilmer.This came as a shock to Traylor, who had a star quarterback, Jamell Kennedy, who was dedicated to SMU.

“We fulfill at the Dairy Queen,” Traylor said of G.J. Kinne. “You can’t make this up, now. I stated, ‘You sure we wish to do this?'”

“I believe he was attempting to talk me out of it,” Kinne stated, but he was figured out to bet Traylor if he couldn’t play for his dad, even noting he likewise had appreciated Traylor’s deal with the McCown bros (Randy, Josh and Luke) as their QB coach at another East Texas school.Kinne enrolled then Kennedy got injured. Kinne stepped in, threw for 3,216 backyards and 47 goals with one interception and rushed for 11 more ratings. He was called the Texas 3A Offensive Player of the Year and signed with Texas Longhorns before eventually moving to Tulsa, where he starred for Gus Malzahn. (Kinne likewise later on worked for Malzahn at UCF, after dealing with Traylor at SMU then at Arkansas for Chad Morris, who is now on Kinne’s personnel at Texas State. Got all that?)

Now, less than 20 years given that they satisfied at DQ, they’re 2 of the most popular coaches in the nation going head-to-head in a blizzard of emotions. Traylor has a 40-14 record with 2 American Athletic Conference titles at UTSA. Kinne went 12-2, won a Southland Championship game and went to an FCS semifinal in a single season at Incarnate Word, before taking Texas State to its first bowl game in history last season and winning it to complete 8-5 after the Bobcats completed 4-8 the year before. Traylor made every call he could to help get Kinne the job, and Kinne can’t help sharing his appreciation for Traylor. Both have jokingly stated maybe those were bad concepts as the heat gets shown up in the match. Last year’s game drew 49,000 at San Antonio’s Alamodome.UTSA is 5-0 in the

series that goes back to 2012, when both schools became complete FBS members, however 4 of the contests were decided by one rating or less. When the two coaches satisfy Saturday (4 p.m. ET, ESPNU), Kinne will deal with Traylor along with UTSA’s starting QB, Owen McCown, the child of Josh McCown.The coaches will be on opposite sidelines, however they are still family.Kinne– who remained in the wedding event of Traylor’s son Jordan, an assistant coach with the New

Orleans Saints– said this week that Jordan texted him asking whom he was supposed to root for. Kinne said he much better pick Father on that one.Meanwhile, when Kinne’s child, Swayze Jo, was born this summer season, “Jeff was one of the very first people I called,” Kinne said.The opposing

coaches have a shared love and adoration, however Traylor will always be Kinne’s old coach.”You can’t help but enjoy the kid,”

Traylor said of Kinne in 2015. “He’s good-looking. He’s young. He’s clever. He’s the entire plan.

I understand you’re not supposed to state that since I’m contending against him. But I’m simply telling you, I think the world of him, and I’ll be the huge fan.”– Dave Wilson What Michigan, Texas require to capitalize on to win in their game Michigan: The Wolverines need to manage the line of scrimmage much better than they

carried out in their opener versus Fresno State. Texas has significant edges at quarterback and pass receiver, and Michigan should dictate tempo with both its offensive line and D-line to limit the damage from Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns’ offense.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Regardless of new faces on its O-line, Michigan needs to have the ability to discover vulnerabilities in a Texas front that no longer consists of first-round draft choice Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat, a second-round choice and the Outland Prize winner. If the Wolverines can

take pressure off of quarterback Davis Warren with their run game and their defense, and also reduce the game, they should have a good chance on their home field, where they are 53-8 because the start of the 2015 season.– Adam Rittenberg Texas: Adam is right. Michigan’s offensive line versus Texas’ retooled defensive line is the secret. Texas had the uncommon capability to plug in 2 huge fifth-year elders in 6-foot-5, 320-pound Alfred Collins and 6-5, 305-pound Vernon Broughton to fill the spaces in advance following the departure of Murphy and Sweat. So, the Longhorns are still huge and experienced up front.Last year, Ewers– an Ohio State transfer, remember?– went into Tuscaloosa, where Alabama hadn’t lost a nonconference game because 2007, and ended up 24-of-38 for 349 lawns and 3 touchdowns in a 34-24 win. If the Longhorns can hold the Wolverines ‘powerful running game in check and force Michigan into a shootout, they’ll remain in their convenience zone.– Wilson Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty runs in among six TDs he had in last Saturday’s game against Georgia Southern. Richard Burkhart/Savannah Morning News-USA TODAY Sports Ashton Jeanty is all set for the buzz. The Boise State running back has actually been working

on his speed, improving his strength and enhancing his understanding of the numerous defenses this season that will attempt their best to stop him every time he touches the ball. He likewise has been working on the position. That a person. “I’m completely conscious,”Jeanty informed ESPN of the early Heisman Prize chatter during a phone call Tuesday.”I’ve been practicing it.”It didn’t take long for Jeanty to display it, either. The junior from Jacksonville, Florida, kicked off his year with a game stat line in a 56-45 win against Georgia Southern: 267 lawns on 20 carries– a single-game school record. His first goal of the game was a 77-yard run that culminated in the abovementioned Heisman present. He would go on to score 5 more times, sufficient to break another school record.”That’s up there in terms of games for me,”Jeanty, who had 41 goals throughout his senior season at Lone Star High School in Texas, stated. “But we got 11 more games so, I don’t understand, I may have a much better one.”Jeanty is no complete stranger to big games. Last season, he had seven games where he represented a minimum of 150 offending backyards and only three games where he didn’t rating. Jeanty’s development at Boise State has been steady, but there has actually never been any doubt about his production or his capacity. In his freshman season, he was not the starter, but he accounted for nearly 900

yards of offense and 6 touchdowns. Throughout his second season, Jeanty ended up being a weapon in the death game, amounting to 569 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns on the year. “Each year I have actually gotten the ball more,”Jeanty stated.”So, I’ve gotten an opportunity to be able to show what I can do.”On paper, it would have made sense if Jeanty chose to transfer to a Power 4 program entering into his junior year. There would have been no lack of groups competing for his commitment. Jeanty, however, had other strategies.”For me it’s simply having the ability to leave a tradition, “he said.”At other places, that

‘s going there for one year, maybe getting some more cash, it’s simply not the exact same. It’s just not special. And doing it with this group to me is really what makes it unique.”Sticking to Boise allowed Jeanty to understand exactly what he wished to deal with heading into this season. His focus was on improving his football IQ and finding out more about protective

plans and protections so he could chart his course before the ball remained in his hands.This past Saturday, Jeanty had currently scored 5 times, but he saw the defense’s alignment before the snap and understood he would have an open lane to run through. Seventy-five backyards later on, Jeanty was in completion zone. Nobody had actually touched him.”I think this is the very best running back I’ve seen since I have actually been here,”Oregon coach Dan Lanning said earlier today in advance of his team’s match against Boise State this weekend.”He’s definitely an NFL guy.”Jeanty stated the Heisman is not his main focus, but he understands that winning as a group– and possibly making the College Football Playoff– will be what opens the door for the awards, including that one.

When asked whether he thinks there’s a better running back in the nation than him, Jeanty does not simply give the stock answer. Even after the game of his life, he understands it’s only the start. “I do not,”Jeanty said.”

And I’m going to prove that all year.”– Paolo Uggetti Six freshman wide receivers to understand Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State: On the day the Buckeyes unveiled the country’s most pricey lineup, the freshman wideout took the program in a 52-6 win over Akron and Smith will be worth keeping an eye on again in Week 2 when Western Michigan visits Columbus.Smith led all Ohio State pass catchers with 6 catches for 92 yards in Week 1 and ended up being the first Buckeyes

freshman to catch two goal passes in his launching considering that 1996, however more remarkable was the method he did it.

After dropping a screen pass on Ohio State’s opening drive, Smith completed 3 third-down conversions on the next series, including a 16-yard goal reception. Smith took another rating in the 2nd quarter, and his 45-yard connection with Will Howard after halftime marked the Buckeyes ‘longest play of the day.Smith’s eight targets in his debut were more than any other Ohio State pass receiver in Week 1. Together With Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, the first-class newbie will continue to be one of the most fascinating pieces in the new-look attack being led by first-year offensive planner Chip Kelly in Week 2. Ryan Williams, Alabama: Kalen DeBoer and his staff made keeping Ryan Williams a concern when they arrived back in January. In Week 1, ESPN’s No. 3 possibility in the 2024 class showed exactly why the Crimson Tide worked so difficult to keep him.Williams required little time to flash the big play ability he brought to Tuscaloosa, torching an overmatched Western Kentucky secondary in his college launching. His first profession reception began an 84-yard score when Williams hauled in a deep ball from Jalen Milroe, then ran 44 lawns beyond the Hilltoppers ‘defense into completion zone in the close minutes of the first quarter. Later in the half, Milroe discovered Williams again, this time over the middle where the rapid freshman divided a set of protectors on his method to a 55-yard goal before halftime.Two captures for 2 touchdowns, 139 getting backyards and 79 backyards after the catch that ranks 10th nationally– that’s how Williams introduced himself to Alabama, all at 17 years old. The 6-foot, 175-pound pass catcher gets his next chance to impress in Week 2 against a South Florida secondary that permitted simply 122 passing backyards in its opener against Bethune-Cookman. Ryan Wingo, Texas: The 6-2, 210-pound freshman was the Longhorns ‘most efficient pass catcher in their Week 1 rout of Colorado State. Can he follow an outstanding debut with another standout performance in front of a sold-out crowd at Michigan on Saturday?Wingo authored an outstanding debut, hauling in a pair of first-half passes before making

another 2 catches after halftime, consisting of a 30-yard connection with Arch Manning. Wingo closed the day as Texas’prominent wide receiver with 70 yards on his 4 catches, earning appreciation for his physicality and poise from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian afterward.” He’s been doing nothing but that for us,”Sarkisian stated of the first-class freshman.Wingo becomes part of a new-look wide receivers group for the Longhorns this fall.

Transfers Matthew Golden, Isaiah Bond and Silas Bolden each provided strong Texas debuts of their own in Week 1. On Saturday, that system meets a Michigan secondary led by All-America cornerback Will Johnson and Wingo will have a function to play as the Longhorns make a fiercely expected journey to Ann Arbor.Auburn’s wide receiver trio: As freshman receivers starred across the country in Week 1, the Tigers upped the ante on everybody else and opened chances to three first-year pass catchers. In a 73-3 win over Alabama A&M, Web Cam Coleman, Perry Thompson and Malcolm Simmons satisfied the moment.Coleman, ESPN’s No. 5 possibility in the 2024 class

, wowed the Auburn personnel with his playmaking capability in the spring and summertime.

In Week 1, he flashed it for the crowd inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, pulling in each of his 2 targets for 62 lawns, highlighted by a cool double-move on his 44-yard goal simply 3:21 into his college debut.Thompson was ESPN’s 13th-ranked wide receiver in 2024. His pair of catches in Week 1 went for 82 yards, including his 70-yard, second-quarter goal that represented Auburn’s longest play of the day.

Simmons, on the other hand, closed his launching as the Tigers’prominent receiver, hauling in three passes for 91 backyards with help from a 51-yard rating in the closing minutes of the 3rd quarter.Wide receivers tend to succeed under Hugh Freeze. As the Tigers settle in with a pass-catching group heavily comprised of first-year transfers, this freshman trio will be worth following this fall.– Eli Lederman