Colorado-Nebraska was once a Big Eight rivalry that evolved into a Big 12 rivalry.
The Buffaloes and Cornhuskers took a break when it would have been a Big 12-Big Ten game and then reconnected as a Pac-12-Big Ten matchup.
Now, that the Buffs are back in the Big 12, the rivalry has circled back to check that Big 12-Big Ten box.
The 2024 season is a lot about settling into the most recent wave of conference realignment. That Stanford-Syracuse Atlantic Coast Conference matchup in a few weeks will be especially jarring. The shuffling even impacts the nonconference season as fans sort through a weekly game of ‘What conference are they in?’
Here’s a good one: Baylor visits No. 11 Utah on Saturday.
Wait, wait, we know that one! Big 12 game!
Wrong. It is a nonconference game. The back end of a home-and-home series was already on the schedule for the Bears and Utes, so when Utah left the Pac-12 for the Big 12 the two decided to keep this game outside the conference slate.
The Utes will play their first Big 12 conference game Sept. 21 at Oklahoma State.
We’re just happy to have Colorado and Nebraska playing again. Especially at this fascinating potential inflection point for two programs that have struggled to find their footing since they were last conference rivals in the early 2000s.
Just because neither is ranked doesn’t mean Buffs-Huskers can’t be the most intriguing game of Week 2.
Colorado at Nebraska (minus 7 1/2)
Year 2 for both coach Deion Sanders at Colorado and Matt Rhule at Nebraska. These are two very different rebuilds, one portal-centric (Buffs led by transfer QB Shedeur Sanders), one more focused on high-school recruiting (five-star freshman QB Dylan Raiola leads the Huskers). This feels like a game that could launch the winner toward a good season and send the loser into questions about where they are heading.
Pick: Nebraska 34-21.
No. 3 Texas (minus 7 1/2) at No. 10 Michigan
Two of the five winningest programs in college football history, and two of last year’s playoff participants, meet for the first time in the regular season. The Longhorns have two starting-caliber quarterbacks in Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. The Wolverines are still trying to determine if they have one.
Pick: Texas 24-14.
No. 14 Tennessee (minus 7 1/2) vs. No. 24 NC State at Charlotte, North Carolina
Two second-tier contenders in their conferences, but with potential to jump to the top. An interesting ACC-SEC matchup after Miami scored one for the ACC and Georgia emphatically notched one for the SEC in Week 1.
Pick: Tennessee 35-20.
Boise State at No. 7 Oregon (minus 19 1/2)
The Ducks got themselves into a tight spot against Idaho last week. Ominous sign or just a weird game? A Boise State defense that couldn’t stop Georgia Southern looks like relief to Oregon. Stopping Broncos preseason All-American Ashton Jeanty, who scored six touchdowns last week, will be more challenging.
Pick: Oregon 45-24.
Iowa State (plus 2 1/2) at No. 21 Iowa
The Hawkeyes have won seven of eight in a rivalry that has produced six straight games decided by 10 points of fewer.
Pick: Iowa State 17-16.
The rest of the games involving ranked teams and FBS opponents, with odds from BetMGM:
Western Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State (minus 38 1/2)
Buckeyes needed a couple of quarters to limber up against last week’s MAC opponent … OHIO STATE 55-13.
South Florida (plus 31 1/2) at No. 4 Alabama
Crimson Tide went to Tampa last year and got into a sloppy game on a rainy day with the Bulls. It was the last time QB Jalen Milroe didn’t start. He has been getting better ever since … ALABAMA 49-21.
Northern Illinois (plus 28 1/2) at No. 5 Notre Dame
Maybe a little letdown for the Fighting Irish after a successful trip to Texas A&M? … NOTRE DAME 42-17.
Middle Tennessee (plus 41 1/2) at No. 6 Mississippi
Rebels hung 76 on Furman last week while MTSU needed a last-minute TD to beat Tennessee Tech. Uh-oh … OLE MISS 52-20.
Bowling Green at No. 8 Penn State (minus 34 1/2)
Falcons have quietly become one of the pluckier teams in the MAC … PENN STATE 48-10.
Buffalo at No. 9 Missouri (minus 34 1/2)
Bulls coach Pete Lembo spent the last three seasons in the SEC as special teams coordinator at South Carolina. He’s familiar with the Tigers, but that might not help much … MISSOURI 49-13.
Baylor (plus 14 1/2) at No. 11 Utah
Shuffling quarterbacks, the Utes needed a late rally to win at Baylor last year. Having QB Cam Rising back and playing at home should make this a little easier … UTAH 27-17.
Utah State (plus 28 1/2) at No. 13 Southern California
Former Utah QB Bryson Barnes, college football’s most famous pig farmer, starts for the Aggies … USC 45-21.
Houston at No. 15 Oklahoma (minus 29 1/2)
Third time the Cougars and Sooners have played since 2016. None of them conference games, though they did share a conference for a year … OKLAHOMA 45-13.
Arkansas (plus 7 1/2) at No. 16 Oklahoma State
Razorbacks and Cowboys have played 44 times but not since 1980 … OKLAHOMA STATE 31-26.
No. 17 Kansas State (minus 9 1/2) at Tulane
Not sure the Green Wave, under first-year coach Jon Sumrall, is built for another upset of the Wildcats … KANSAS STATE 33-20.
No. 19 Kansas at Illinois (plus 5 1/2)
Jayhawks won last year’s meeting in Lawrence … ILLINOIS 28-27.
Jacksonville State at No. 22 Louisville (minus 28)
Memory lane for Gamecocks coach Rich Rodriguez, whose last game at Louisville was as West Virginia coach in a top-five matchup of Big East teams in 2006. The Cardinals won a thriller … LOUISVILLE 48-16.
No. 23 Georgia Tech at Syracuse (plus 3)
The Yellowjackets are ranked for the first time in nine years, and are now road favorites. Seems like a trap … GEORGIA TECH 24-23.
Appalachian State (plus 17 1/2) at No. 25 Clemson
Tough get-right opponent for the Tigers … CLEMSON 31-17.
Social media requests
BYU (plus 10 1/2) at SMU. Two schools that took long roads to power conferences … SMU 33-24 (@woodymullet).
Texas Tech (plus 1 1/2) at Washington State. In honor of the memory of the late great coach Mike Leach, the Red Raiders and Cougars should throw 120 passes … TEXAS TECH 49-45 (@JustinJVan80).
Pitt (plus 1 1/2) at Cincinnati. Former Big East rivals. That was a thing, kids … PITT 28-24 (@BigNateBaum).
Mississippi State (plus 6 1/2) at Arizona State (6 1/2). Sun Devils were one of the most impressive teams of Week 1, with a surprisingly easy victory against Wyoming … ARIZONA STATE 33-28 (@johnbday).
UTSA (plus 1 1/2) at Texas State. Roadrunners are 5-0 in a rivalry between two schools separated by about 50 miles … UTSA 38-31 (@RedDirtSport).
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RECORD
Last week: Straight-up — 14-4; Against spread — 11-7.
Season: Straight-up — 14-4; Against spread — 11-7.
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Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP
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