Road to Vegas: Top 25 matchups to watch in Week 2 of college football

The 2027 College Football Playoff race moves into Week 2, with several high‑profile contests offering ranked squads a chance to build momentum or suffer an early setback. Below are five games worth watching as the slate gets underway. **No. 1 Ohio State at No. 4 Texas** The season’s first top‑five showdown pits two title‑aspiring programs against each other. Ohio State opened the campaign as the nation’s No. 1 team, rolling past Ball State 56‑3. Texas climbed to No. 4 after a 59‑7 victory over Texas State in Week 1. Playing at home, the Longhorns have the setting for a potential upset in a game loaded with star power, including Heisman Trophy contenders Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith and Texas quarterback Arch Manning. **No. 11 Oklahoma at Michigan** Oklahoma travels to Ann Arbor for a clash of historic programs, though the sides arrive in markedly different positions. The Sooners rose to No. 11 following a season‑opening 51‑0 shutout of UTEP, while Michigan dropped out of the AP Top 25 after needing a last‑second Hail Mary to edge Western Michigan in Week 1. The last meeting between the schools saw Oklahoma prevail 24‑13 in Norman last season. **No. 12 Alabama at Kentucky** Alabama begins its SEC slate ranked No. 12, but the Crimson Tide will face a Kentucky squad playing at home coming off a 45‑13 win over Youngstown State in Week 1. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Alabama remains among the favorites to contend for the SEC crown, yet Kentucky has an opportunity to knock off a ranked opponent and derail Alabama’s title hopes early. Alabama is a 10.5‑point favorite after its 48‑10 season‑opening triumph over East Carolina; Kentucky must limit the Crimson Tide’s early offensive burst if it hopes to keep its home crowd engaged throughout the contest. **Iowa State at No. 21 Iowa** The Cy‑Hawk rivalry resumes Saturday night, with the No. 21 Hawkeyes aiming to improve to 2‑0 and the Cyclones seeking their first victory over a ranked foe since August 2025. Iowa opened the year with a dominant 40‑0 shutout of Northern Illinois, while Iowa State enters the matchup after a 17‑10 win over South Dakota. Although the Hawkeyes are favored, Iowa State has kept the rivalry competitive in recent years, winning three of the past five meetings. Saturday’s outcome could hinge on which team better manages the rivalry atmosphere and the pressure of an early‑season showdown. **Arizona at No. 15 BYU** BYU enters its second game of the season ranked inside the top 15 and will host an Arizona squad that garnered votes in the latest AP Top 25. The Wildcats launched the campaign with a 35‑7 victory over Northern Arizona, amassing 520 yards of offense. Despite BYU’s home‑field edge, Arizona nearly pulled off an upset against the Cougars last season, falling 33‑27 in double overtime. Returning to Provo seeking to finish what it started a year ago, Arizona could present BYU with a stern early‑season test.