Overall, it’s a weak slate of games for week 2 of the college football season.  There are, however, some quality games that could go along way in determining the playoffs at the end of the year.

#15 USC  at  #11 Stanford – Saturday, 9/6  3:30 pm EST, ABC

USC and Stanford meet for a pivotal early conference showdown.  Stanford returns the nucleus of their Pac12 Championship team of a year ago, but lost some major parts.  Leading rusher Tyler Gafney and his 1,700 yards are gone as is Consensus All-American guard David Yankey.  The leading tackler for each defensive position group is also gone.  Stanford has recruited well lately, though, and they have some talented, unproven guys they hope can step up. USC returns a whole lot on offense, though they do have to replace a couple of lineman, and most of their defense as well.  New coach Steve Sarkisian has a lot to work with here, but has a tall task to go into Stanford and beat a well coached, physical Cardinal team.

#8 Michigan State  at  #4 Oregon – Saturday, 9/6  6:30 pm EST,  FOX

Oregon finds itself again right near the top of college football hoping to compete for their first national title, but also still answering questions about winning big games when facing a top flight defense.  Oregon returns a lot of offense including their Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterback, and most of the offensive line and runningbacks.  They do have to replace wide receivers, though the Ducks haven’t had much issue finding athletic playmakers on the outside in recent years.  That offense will be going up against a Michigan State defense that was one of the best in the nation last season, but is replacing a lot.  The Spartans will still be very good on defense, but expecting the same quality play as last year might be much. On the other side of the ball Michigan State returns almost all their skill positions while losing most of the OL.  Oregon’s defense lost a lot up front and on the backend, but returns virtually all of their linebackers.   I think Oregon has too much firepower for Michigan State.  They will need this victory to springboard a hopeful College Football Playoff run.

BYU  at  #24 Texas – Saturday, 9/6  7:30 pm EST,  FoxSports1

Last season Texas traveled to Provo, Utah and were pounded by a relentless BYU ground game that set Mack Brown’s coaching seat to level inferno.  Fast forward a year and new coach Charlie Strong has the task of navigating the Texas ship onto a more accustomed path.  He inherits a team with more blue chippers than anyone this side of Tallahassee and Tuscaloosa, but as of yet many of them haven’t lived up to their billing.  What we’ll find out in the coming weeks and months is how much of that was coaching and how much of that was just bad recruiting luck.  BYU returns almost all of his rushing attack and offensive line that shred Texas for 550 yards on the ground last year. Yes, you read that number correctly.  This will be an early indicator to see how much magic Strong has been able to work in just one offseason.

Michigan  at  #17 Notre Dame – Saturday, 9/6  7:30 pm EST,  NBC

One of the great name games in all of college football.  Two of the most storied programs in history facing off on a yearly basis.  Notre Dame unexpectedly found themselves in the BCS Championship just two short seasons ago after years mired in mediocrity.  After slipping to four losses last year in a season that just got off to a bad start with the year long suspension of quarterback Everett Golson, the Irish hope that Golson’s return and a fresh start mean good things for the Irish.  Golson will go up against a Michigan defense that returns just about everyone.  That’s a good thing and a bad thing for Michigan fans.  It’s nice to have an experienced, returning defense.  However, that defense was exactly spectacular last season and has very few dominating players that wow you.  Last season was a high scoring affair and I think the same may hold true this year.  Not because either offense is a juggernaut or either defense is a sieve, though, but because both offenses are ahead of both defenses.

Virginia Tech  at  #6 Ohio State – Saturday, 9/6  8:00 pm EST, ESPN

When this game was scheduled several years ago, this probably had the makings of a big time out of conference games between ranked teams both pushing for a conference title.  Ohio State has held up their end of the bargain while dominating the regular season the last several years, though maybe never truly showing themselves as a contender.  Virginia Tech on the other hand, has fallen off to levels not seen in Blacksburg in decades.