| Week 2 Capsules |
| Matchup | Key Stat | Player to Watch | The Skinny |
No. 1 Ohio St. at
No. 11 West Virginia
8 p.m. (CBS) |
58-14 The score by which WVU lost the last time a No. 1 team played in Morgantown (Miami, 1986). |
Amos Zereoue, RB, WVU
The Heisman candidate was third in the nation in rushing last year with 1,505 yards. |
The entire state of West Virginia is itching to see this game. Both have national title and Heisman hopes. Someone will leave disappointed.
Game preview
|
No. 3 Florida vs.
The Citadel
6 p.m. |
$275,000 The money The Citadel will get to be Florida's early-season hors d'oeuvres. |
Jesse Palmer, QB, Florida
The pride of Nepean, Ontario, gets his chance to put up huge numbers in just his second college start.
|
Another year, another non-conference patsy for the Gators.
Game preview
|
No. 4 Nebraska vs.
UAB
1:30 p.m. |
43 Nebraska's home winning streak, fifth-best all-time. |
Correll Buckhalter, RB, Nebraska
Ran for 143 yards on 19 carries with two TDs in his first start last week. |
After withstanding La. Tech's air show, the Huskers should have it much easier against the Blazers, who are in their third year of I-A football.
Game preview
|
No. 5 Michigan at No. 22 Notre Dame
2:30 p.m. (NBC) |
16-10-1 Michigan's edge in the storied series which dates back to 1887. |
Jarious Jackson, QB, Notre Dame The new starting QB takes after Tony Rice instead of Ron Powlus, which could mean a brighter future in South Bend. |
Even without Brian Griese and Charles Woodson, Michigan looks just as strong as the national championship team that held off a spirited Irish attack in last year's game.
Game preview
|
No. 6 Kansas St. vs.
Indiana St.
7:10 p.m. |
116 Rank (out of 118 Division I-AA teams) of Indiana State's offense in 1997. |
Michael Bishop, QB, KSU
The Heisman candidate should pick up where he left off (390 yards of total offense in the Fiesta Bowl). |
If only Larry Bird could put on pads for the Sycamores. K-State is following Florida's path of scheduling I-AA patsies.
Game preview
|
No. 8 Arizona St. vs. No. 18 Washington
10:15 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) |
9 Sacks by the UW defense of ASU QB Ryan Kealy in last year's game, a 26-14 Husky win. |
J.R. Redmond, RB, ASU The most talented Sun Devil back is making a Heisman push by becoming a three-way player and joining the ASU secondary. |
Starting off with a bang: The last four times these teams have met in the season opener, the winner has won the Pac-10.
Game preview
|
No. 10 Tennessee at
No. 17 Syracuse
Noon (ESPN) |
423 Points scored by Syracuse last year, setting a Big East record. |
Jamal Lewis, RB, Tennessee
Rushed for 1,364 yards in 1997 despite not starting until the Vols' fourth game. He is now the focal point of the offense. |
Syracuse has a brutal opening schedule that features Michigan next week. The Vols begin life without Peyton Manning but are confident with new QB Tee Martin.
Game preview
|
No. 12 North Carolina vs. Miami (Ohio)
6 p.m. |
209.3 Yards per game allowed by the vaunted Tar Heel defense last year, second in the country only to Michigan. |
Dre Bly, CB, North Carolina The question is: Will the RedHawks even throw in Bly's direction? |
Carl Torbush begins his first full season as the Tar Heels head coach with a relatively easy game. However, Miami does have one of the nation's top RBs in Travis Prentice.
Game preview
|
No. 13 Penn St. vs.
No. 21 Southern Miss
3:30 p.m. (ABC) |
100-10-1 Penn State's record in home openers. |
Brandon Short, LB, Penn State
The latest product from Linebacker U. |
Joe Paterno's march for 300 wins faces a tough roadblock against a good Southern Miss team. Just don't call it an upset if the Golden Eagles win.
Game preview
|
No. 15 Colorado State vs. Colorado
in Denver, 10 p.m. (ESPN) |
52-15-2 Colorado's record in this rivalry that dates back to 1893 |
Mike Moschetti, QB, Colorado The new Buffs QB is a former minor-league baseball player who led his California JUCO team to a No. 1 ranking last year. |
This in-state battle has a couple of new quirks for '98: It's now in Mile High Stadium and the Rams are the favorites. The Buffs look to regain some respect from a mediocre '97.
Game preview
|
No. 16 Virginia at
No. 25 Auburn
Thursday 8 p.m. (ESPN) |
4-13-2 Virginia's record when opening on the road compared to Auburn's 39-3-1 record in home openers. |
Anthony Poindexter, FS, UVA
An SI preseason All-America, he is one of eight returning starters on the Cavs' defense. |
The Auburn has a strong defense but its offense is still questionable now that Dameyune Craig is gone. The Cavs have a solid offense led by up-and-coming QB Aaron Brooks.
Game preview
|
No. 19 Georgia vs. Kent
5 p.m. |
103 Receptions by Kent WR Eugene Baker in 1997 to lead the nation. |
Champ Bailey, DB, Georgia This triple-threat back, one of the few sure things on a talented Bulldog team, will have his hands full with Baker. |
The Bulldogs will use the Golden Flashes to break in new players at the offensive skill positions.
Game preview
|
No. 20 Wisconsin at
San Diego St.
9:05 p.m. |
46 Yards gained by Ron Dayne in last year's season opening loss to Syracuse |
Ron Dayne, RB, Wisc.
Despite dealing with injuries all year, Dayne rushed for 1,457 yards and 15 TDs |
Dayne needs a better opening game if he wants to contend for the Heisman. However, no one can be sure what to expect from the enigmatic Aztecs.
Game preview
|
No. 23 Michigan St. at Oregon
3:30 p.m. (ABC) |
13-1 Oregon's record in its last 14 season openers |
Bill Burke, QB, Mich. St. He still gets the start for the Spartans despite struggling in the loss to Colorado St. last week. |
The Ducks, who won their bowl game in 1997, will give the Spartans little chance to recover from their stunning loss to Colorado State.
Game preview
|
No. 24 Arizona at
Hawaii
Thursday 11 p.m. (ESPN2) |
329.8 Yards per game allowed by Arizona's Desert Swarm defense last year to lead the Pac-10 |
Trung Canidate, RB, Arizona
Ready for a breakout year in the Wildcats' explosive offense after rushing for 808 yards last season |
The Wildcats, who could be a surprise team in the Pac-10, starts off the season with relative ease.
Game preview
|
Cent. Fla. at La. Tech
7 p.m. |
590 La. Tech QB Tim Rattay's passing yards against the vaunted Nebraska defense last week |
Daunte Culpepper, QB, Cent. Fla. Should improve on his 25 TD passes from '97 and make pro scouts drool even more |
Call out the Blue Angels, we've got an air show as Culpepper and Rattay show off their passing prowess. |
Texas vs.
New Mexico St.
7 p.m. |
1,928 Yards Ricky Williams needs to break Tony Dorsett's record for career rushing yards (6,082) |
Ricky Williams, RB, Texas
The Heisman chase begins ... now. |
Mack Brown begins his reign at Texas with a relatively easy game.
|
Kentucky at Louisville
3 p.m. (Fox Sports Net) |
398 Passing yards by Kentucky QB Tim Couch against Louisville in last year's game to break on to the national scene. |
Chris Redman, QB, Louisville Looks ready to break out under new coach John L. Smith and his pass-oriented offense. |
Commonwealth pride is at stake as Louisville's new Papa John's Stadium is christened with a possible air war between Couch and Redman. |
MULTIMEDIA
