College Football – Week 2 Storylines

Quinn Ewers Against Alabama

This match up is unquestionably the biggest game of the weekend, and one of the most anticipated contests of the 2022 season. For Texas fans it’s an opportunity to measure where your program currently stands against the goliath that has ruled college football for over a decade. Alabama is nearly a three-touchdown favorite due primarily to doubts as to whether the Longhorns defense will force any stops whatsoever against Heisman favorite Bryce Young and the Alabama offense. The key storyline in this game that I am focused on is what does Quinn Ewers look like when his primary target is taken away. Alabama’s defenses under Nick Saban will disguise coverage and blitz from places Ewers has not seen before in his short career. How he handles those situations will be key in determining whether Texas keeps this close, or whether Alabama runs away with this game early.

What’s on the Line in Lubbock?

It’s never too early in the season to overstate how important a game is, and this week’s matchup between Houston and Texas Tech is massive for both programs. For Houston this is the last remaining out of conference test on a schedule that allows Cougar fans to dream in September of a perfect regular season. For Texas Tech a 2-0 start before heading to #18 North Carolina State would give Red Raider fans legitimate hope that they may be tracking back towards the upper echelon of the Big 12 earlier than scheduled under first time head coach Joey McGuire. Houston jumped all over Texas Tech in their 2021 matchup before collapsing in their only regular season loss of the season. The Cougars will need more production through the air than they showed against UTSA if they want to win this game because if there is one thing Tech will do a lot of, it’s score.

Can Baylor Steal an Upset in Provo?

Although #9 Baylor outranks #21 BYU in the AP Poll the Bears are 3-point underdogs at BYU which is notoriously one of the more difficult venues to play in, specifically at night. Baylor opened the season with a 69-10 throttling of Albany in a game that provided virtually no test for the Bears. The preseason selection to win the Big 12 has dark horse playoff aspirations and a win in Provo would give life to that dream. My interest is in how Blake Shapen plays in this environment. The Bears QB played well last season in the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State and their top 10 defense, but that was at a neutral site. This will be the toughest road scene the young QB will have faced, and he will need to play to his potential for the Bears to come away with a win.