SEC vs Big Ten debate takes center stage in college football Week 2 winners, losers

SEC vs Major Ten debate takes center stage in college football Week 2 winners, losers.

Key points

• After lighting up Louisiana-Monroe in the opener, Taylor completed 16 of 22 attempts for 227 yards with three touchdowns and ran 86 yards on 13 carries.
• Paul Myerberg breaks down the latest US LBM Coaches Poll after Texas stunned Ohio State in a result that could shape the College Football Playoff race.
• Overall, the Major Ten went 2-5 in Week 2 nonconference games against the Power Four, with Michigan's win joined by No.
• More: Steve Sarkisian blows off Holly Rowe interview after Texas comeback vs Ohio State.
• The Major Ten, Arch Manning and Oregon lead the Week 2 winners and losers.

US LBM Coaches Poll: Texas win over Ohio State reshapes playoff debate.

Saturday was pretty good for the SEC. Not so much for the Major Ten.

In one of the biggest games of the regular season, No. 3 Texas stormed back from 20 points down to beat No. 1 Ohio State 24-23 and bolster the SEC's case for being seen as the nation's best conference.

Given the two teams involved and the high possibility for a down-the-road impact on the College Football Playoff, that result more than overshadows No. 24 Michigan's surprising 17-10 win at home against No. 10 Oklahoma.

That was by far the best news of the week for the Major Ten. It had a dreadful run beginning on Friday night.

Opinion: Whittingham ends Michigan's QB controversy with six words. Not everyone will purchase it.

Rutgers lost to Boston College. Illinois lost to Duke. Purdue lost to Wake Forest in double overtime. No. 19 Washington barely beat Utah State. And worst of all, No. 6 Oregon lost 39-31 to Oklahoma State. It opened the year with a loss at home to Tulsa.

Overall, the Major Ten went 2-5 in Week 2 nonconference games against the Power Four, with Michigan's win joined by No. 21 Iowa's predictably tight 16-13 against rival Iowa State.

Notably, the loss to Texas is the marquee result that will shape this week's US LBM Coaches Poll. But every nonconference loss has the potential to impact how the CFP selection committee views teams from the Major Ten against fellow contenders from other Power Four leagues.

For context, the Major Ten, Arch Manning and Oregon lead the Week 2 winners and losers. College football Week 2 winners.

Though the entire Texas offense was pathetic until the final drive of the third quarter, the numbers weren't great. Beginning then, Manning led Texas on scoring drives of 91, 72 and 73 yards to take down the Buckeyes in what should rank among the most memorable regular-season wins in program history. Overall, Manning finished with 196 passing yards, 22 rushing yards, a touchdown and an interception. But his ability to keep the Longhorns on track despite a feeble first half and clutch play down the stretch will transcend the box score to create Manning the early-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy.

Oregon's stunning loss to Oklahoma State hurts Boise State. It barely lost to the Ducks in the opener. Looking toward December, the Ducks could return that to a positive loss by turning things around in the Major Ten. The Broncos did their part on Saturday by beating Memphis 38-20 behind 206 yards from running back Dylan Riley and 375 yards on the ground overall. It offset an explosive Memphis passing game that had gains of 44, 68 and 87 yards. The win gives Boise a little more separation from the pack in the Group of Six and could be a crucial data point in any down-the-line comparison between the Pac-12 and the American.

This is a statement win for Jeff Lebby in his third season: Mississippi State rode another massive game from sophomore Kamario Taylor and beat Minnesota 38-13 in an under-the-radar SEC and Sizeable Ten clash. After lighting up Louisiana-Monroe in the opener, Taylor completed 16 of 22 attempts for 227 yards with three touchdowns and ran 86 yards on 13 carries. The Bulldogs dominated up front while the sloppy Golden Gophers committed 12 penalties, the most in the P.J. Fleck era.

No. 18 Tennessee needed a quarter to obtain settled against Georgia Tech but took over from there, turning a 10-7 deficit into a 45-24 rout thanks to 147 rushing yards from DeSean Bishop and a defensive touchdown. There are still some rough spots, including 14 penalties, and the passing game still isn't clicking behind freshman Faizon Brandon. But he did toss two touchdowns without an interception and created far better decisions than Georgia Tech starter Alberto Mendoza. This person was intercepted twice. College football Week 2 losers.

In practice, a disappearing and one-dimensional offense is the defining thread of the Brent Venables era, linking together the plenty of mind-numbing losses that have prevented the Sooners from a true breakthrough. Against Michigan, OU was unable to obtain anything going on the ground and way too reliant on John Mateer. This person doesn't have the physical gifts to carry this offense on his shoulders. Given what they have ahead on the schedule, this loss feels fatal to the Sooners' odds of another at-large playoff berth.

This may not be a particularly good team. Maybe Boise State is really good – the Broncos are moving into that territory, at least. Though if the Cowboys are really good than Tulsa is going to win the national championship, maybe Oklahoma State is really good. Maybe another round of transfers haven't meshed as well as groups previously, testing Dan Lanning's ability to mold reworked rosters into national championship contenders. Personnel-wise, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with what Oregon has built. Translating that into action has been a major matter, though, and the room for error in the playoff chase has been almost erased after just two games.

Ohio State stepped off the gas after taking a 20-3 lead into halftime. That's particularly unlike a program that has left tire treads on the backs of most opponents throughout Ryan Day's tenure. But there's no doubt the Buckeyes' unwillingness or inability to push the tempo in the second half directly contributed to a defensive collapse in the fourth quarter. Gassed and breathing hard after spending most of the third on the field, OSU had no answers down the stretch against Manning and the Longhorns' rejuvenated offense. Some really bad teams.

We're beginning to obtain a read on which teams will definitely not play for the national championship. One is Northern Illinois, which lost 28-24 to Illinois State of the Championship Subdivision. Another is Louisiana-Monroe, losers to Alabama-Birmingham. Additionally not going to the playoff: Sacramento State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Sam Houston State, Western Kentucky and Texas State. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

In short, SEC vs Big Ten debate takes center stage in college football Week is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.