By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
The Huge 12 enters Week Two with its repute in limbo.
The Convention is 1-1 in opposition to the ACC, 1-1 in opposition to the Huge Ten, and 0-1 in opposition to the SEC.
This week, the league has six matchups in opposition to Energy Convention opponents. The chance is there for the taking.
Right here, I preview the 5 video games within the Huge 12, that includes groups from the West and provides a “look in” on the different essential video games in the remainder the Convention.
Delaware at Colorado
Saturday, September 6
12:30 pm PT, FOX
The Buffs face first-year FBS program Delaware as they give the impression of being to place the loss to Georgia Tech behind them.
There have been too many cases within the opener the place Kaidon Salter ought to have run the ball and as a substitute opted to go.
Salter working extra constantly will unlock part of the CU offense that’s lacking. The senior is dynamic sufficient to do it. However till he exhibits a willingness to run, Deion Sanders’ staff will stay beneath its potential.
And within the background lurks true freshman Julian Lewis ready his flip. With the freshman more likely to see the sector in opposition to the Blue Hens, a quarterback battle could possibly be brewing.
Regardless, Colorado should convert its pressured turnovers into touchdowns. That was the staff’s downfall within the opener.
Delaware presents a “get proper” alternative. Upwards and onwards.
Cal Poly at No. 25 Utah
Saturday, September 6
3:00 pm PT, ESPN+
Okyle Whittingham’s Utes appeared the half of their opener in opposition to UCLA. The extensive margin of victory was a really constructive signal for the trajectory of the season.
Matched up with Cal Poly this week, avoiding harm is the overriding objective. Utah has suffered far too many setbacks the previous few seasons.
The sport is on ESPN+, which is a transparent sign that, frankly, no one outdoors the state of Utah is serious about watching.
The very last thing Whittingham and this system want is an harm to a key participant. If the sport is out of hand at halftime, the primary and second-string gamers must be held out the remainder of the sport.
Devon Dampier is aware of how you can run Jason Beck’s system, so there isn’t any have to threat something.
Cal Poly isn’t ranked within the FCS Coaches Ballot and the margin of victory isn’t all that necessary after the beat down of UCLA in Week One.
Play it secure, Utes.
No. 12 Arizona State at Mississippi State
Saturday, September 6
4:30 pm PT, ESPN2
Arizona State faces a important check on the street in SEC nation.
The Solar Devils didn’t play nice within the opener in opposition to Northern Arizona and there’s tangible skepticism concerning the ceiling of this 12 months’s staff.
These doubts will be answered in resounding trend with a convincing win over Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs used a powerful second half to beat Southern Miss by 17 in Week One. It was a fairly respectable margin of victory, which can be why the Vegas oddsmakers have set the road at lower than a landing.
Sam Leavitt ran everywhere in the NAU protection within the opener and can possible want to make use of that mobility in Starkville.
Limiting turnovers when he throws on the transfer figures to be pivotal. If ASU loses the turnover margin, the possibilities of leaving with a win are narrowed.
But when the Arizona State working backs have environment friendly manufacturing, Kenny Dillingham’s staff ought to shut up these cowbell-ringing followers.
Weber State at Arizona
Saturday, September 6
7:00 pm PT, ESPN+
The Arizona teaching workers handed their first check of the season. Seth Doege’s offensive system appeared competent, and Danny Gonzales’s protection performed nice.
That’s an encouraging signal for the remainder of the season. However the goodwill might evaporate if the Wildcats wrestle in opposition to Weber State.
The FCS staff isn’t ranked within the league’s Coaches Ballot and so they had been crushed within the opener by James Madison. It’s honest to count on the UA protection to maintain the Huge Sky opponent out of the top zone.
The Arizona protection didn’t let Hawaii rating a landing and Gonzales can be searching for methods to encourage his gamers.
Difficult them to maintain Weber State from scoring a landing is honest sport.
On offense, Arizona wants Noah Fifita to play higher. Overthrowing receivers and throwing into protection isn’t an excellent look.
Search for Fifita to run every so often to open up the protection and make it simpler for the offense to circulation.
Stanford at BYU
Saturday, September 6
7:15 pm PT, ESPN
Bear Bachmeier faces his first check of the season.
What occurred within the opener is meaningless. How he performs in opposition to Stanford can be way more scrutinized.
The Cardinal struggled of their Week Zero opener on the street to Hawaii.
However Ben Gulbranson is a reasonably skilled upperclassman that should be taken severely. He isn’t very cell, although, and the BYU protection might make use of a heavy quantity of strain.
The Tree’s main weapons on offense are its working backs. The offensive line acquired sufficient push in opposition to the Warriors to permit the backs to do injury.
But, this isn’t the Hawaii defensive position.
Search for BYU to win the trenches on protection, forcing Stanford to beat them via the air. The outcomes must be favorable for the Cougars.
One of many few areas of concern is how Bachmeier will reply below strain. The Stanford protection pressured 4 sacks within the Islands and appeared respectable sufficient.
If Bachmeier forces throws or isn’t cell sufficient below strain, the sport could be nearer than anticipated.
The Remainder of the Huge 12
Baylor faces No. 17 SMU for an in-state rivalry that pits the Huge 12 in opposition to the ACC.
The Bears want to save lots of face after dropping a sport to an Auburn program that was 1-5 in opposition to different Energy Convention opponents since 2020.
The Mustangs made the Playoff final 12 months and return star quarterback Kevin Jennings. A win can be extremely helpful for the Huge 12’s repute.
No. 16 Iowa State hosts rival Iowa for 9:00am PT kickoff on Fox.
It’s the second marquee matchup of the season for the Cyclones after they beat Kansas State in Eire.
A loss would injury the league’s repute and set again ISU’s playoff expectations. If there’s just one sport this weekend that the Huge 12 should win, it’s this one.
Oklahoma State travels to Eugene for a matchup with No. 6 Oregon.
From an Okay State standpoint, this sport is a catastrophe ready to occur. Mike Gundy made the unwise resolution of speaking about UO’s cash throughout his midweek press conferences.
Dan Lanning is a grasp motivator and offering him further ammunition is idiotic. Search for the Geese to embarrass the Pokes on a nationwide stage.
Okansas performs rival Missouri for the primary time since 2011.
Referred to as the “Border Conflict,” the sport presents a golden alternative for the Jayhawks and the Huge 12 to benefit from.
KU appeared robust of their opener and the SEC is a revered league. A win would change the outlook of the season for Kansas.
In the final of the essential matchups in the remainder of the Huge 12, Kansas State hosts Military.
The temper across the KSU fanbase is as poisonous as I’ve ever seen. Granted, I’ve solely been overlaying the league for one 12 months.
However man, it’s ugly on the market in Manhattan. The Wildcats want a convincing win to quell the angst amongst their rabid fanbase.
Miller covers Faculty Basketball and Faculty Soccer in addition to Components 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
