College football spawned more questions than answers in Week 1, but that’s to be expected at the start of a new season.
Each week, Yardbarker highlights the 10 most important people leading into the weekend in college football. Here’s who we’re keeping an eye on in Week 2:
1. Sherrone Moore | Michigan head coach
In Week 1, the Wolverines beat Fresno State 30-10, but they needed a pick-six in the final minutes for breathing room. Moore must make adjustments to beat No. 3 Texas, another SEC juggernaut. Michigan is ranked 10th, but a loss — especially in blowout fashion — will hurt its chances of defending its national title and spark questions about Moore. Millions of eyeballs will be glued to this nationally televised game in Ann Arbor on Saturday.
2. Steve Sarkisian | Texas head coach
Michigan looked so-so against an inferior opponent, but Texas can’t play down to its level and expect to win. Sarkisian’s preparation leading up to Saturday could define the approach Texas takes toward the rest of its schedule, which features three pushovers after this game.
3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon quarterback
A Heisman favorite per Action Network, Gabriel had an impressive stat line in Week 1, throwing for 380 yards and two touchdowns in a 10-point win over FCS Idaho. But the eye test suggested he struggled under pressure. Against Boise State on Saturday, Gabriel must prove he can handle a potential postseason opponent and prevent an early hiccup from derailing Oregon’s championship aspirations.
4. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State running back
Jeanty dropped a Heisman-worthy performance (six TDs) in a Week 1 win against Georgia Southern. If he navigates a tough Oregon defensive front and consistently gets to the second level of the defense, the Broncos — an 18.5-point underdog, per FanDuel as of Wednesday — have a shot at the season-defining upset.
5. Dabo Swinney | Clemson head coach
After getting drubbed 34-3 by No. 1 Georgia on Saturday, Swinney doubled down on his stubbornness over criticism about the way he runs the program. “Y’all gonna write crap, y’all gonna write terrible stuff,” Swinney told reporters Tuesday. Even if he thinks it’s “crap,” it’s probably the truth. How Clemson responds in Week 2 against Appalachian State could determine how the rest of the season goes for the Tigers.
6. Dylan Raiola | Nebraska quarterback
In a Week 1 blowout of UTEP, the true freshman may have convinced some that his uncanny resemblance to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn’t just stop with facial features. The 19-year-old passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns, giving him (and head coach Matt Rhule) needed confidence going into a revived rivalry game against Colorado on Saturday. A win at home against the Buffaloes could set Nebraska up for a dark-horse run for the Big Ten title.
