Week 2 offered more fireworks than the Fourth of July across college football, especially in the Lone Star State. All 12 FBS programs were in action. Three games went into overtime, and that doesn't include a one-point loss by Texas to Alabama and a three-point upset by App State over Texas A&M. Texas Tech survived overtime against Houston to earn Joey McGuire's first signature win in Lubbock, and the UTSA Roadrunners moved to 14-4 in one-possession games during the Jeff Traylor era. 

There were also plenty of impressive individual performances. We pick the most important 11 from Week 2 in the latest edition of the Starting 11. 

1. UTSA WR Zakhari Franklin

Result: 41-38 win over Army in overtime 

Stats: 10 catches for 122 yards and two TDs 

The Roadrunners’ all-time leader in nearly every receiving category continued to build his legend in an overtime win over Army on the road. The Cedar Hill native caught 10 passes for the second straight week. Franklin already has 22 catches for 222 yards and a pair of scores on the season. He absolutely owns Army. He caught 12 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns in 2020. 

2. Texas Tech QB Donovan Smith 

Result: 33-30 win over Houston in overtime  

Stats: 36 of 58 passing for 351 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs; 20 carries for 28 yards and one TD rushing 

Smith wasn’t perfect, but he was excellent in key situations down the stretch and in overtime to provide the Red Raiders with their first signature win of the Joey McGuire era. Texas Tech ran 103 plays – Smith was part of 78 of those plays. He threw the ball 58 times and ran it 20 more, though, six of those were sacks. He made some mistakes in the passing game, but he was clutch enough to earn a spot on the Starting 11. He’s a winner. 

3. Texas LB Jaylan Ford

Result: 20-19 loss to Alabama  

Stats: 10 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack 

Take away an 81-yard touchdown run by Aledo product Jase McClellan in the second quarter and the Texas defense did a great job of stopping the Crimson Tide in a near-upset loss in front of a record crowd at DKR. Ford led the Longhorns in tackles and recorded one of Texas’ two sacks. His development is key for the defense as the unit has struggled to find a linebacker partner for DeMarvion Overshown. The emergence of Ford frees up Overshown and makes the Texas defense more dynamic. 

4. Texas State DB Kordell Rodgers 

Result: 41-12 win over FIU 

Stats: 2 INTs, 1 TFL 

The Bobcats defense was excellent in the blowout win over FIU in the home opener. Rogers collected two interceptions and returned one 60 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to put an exclamation point on the unit’s performance. And to top it off, it was Rogers’ birthday. 

5. SMU wide receiver Rashee Rice 

Result: 45-16 win over Lamar 

Stats: 9 catches for 132 yards, 2 TDs

Rice might be a permanent fixture on the Starting 11 is the first two weeks are any indication. Rhett Lashlee thought Rice would thrive on the outside in the no. 1 receiver role, and the first-year head coach looks right. He’s caught 17 passes for 298 yards and three scores through two contests.

6. Rice QB TJ McMahon 

Result: 52-0 win over McNeese State

Stats: 20 of 29 for 274 yards and 4 TDs 

The competition level wasn’t high for the Owls in a blowout win over McNeese, but a solid effort from their backup quarterback should provide positive vibes around the Rice locker room after Week 2. McMahon was 6 of 15 for 65 yards and three interceptions in the Week 1 loss to USC. The Owls threw three interceptions that returned for touchdowns against the Trojans, so a win without an interception was a positive step. 

7. Texas State RB Calvin Hill 

Result: 41-12 win over FIU 

Stats: 28 carries for 195 yards and one TD 

Hill averaged seven yards a carry on 28 attempts in a blowout win over FIU in San Marcos on Saturday. It was an important bounce back performance for Hill and the running game after the group struggled in the Week 1 loss to Nevada. In Week 1, Hill only managed 10 yards on nine carries. As a team, Texas State ran the ball 43 times for 250 yards and a score, averaging 5.3 yards an attempt. That might be the recipe for consistent offensive success for the Bobcats in 2022.

8. TCU QB Max Duggan 

Result: 59-17 win over Tarleton  

Stats: 23 of 29 passing for 390 yards, 5 TDs

Duggan was named the backup to start the season for the Horned Frogs but was thrust into action in Week 1 when Chandler Morris was injured. The good news for TCU is that Duggan is an experienced player who didn’t check out after being benched by the new staff. He responded with maturity in the easy win over an FCS opponent. Duggan looked efficient and explosive. He might be the starter in two weeks when TCU travels to SMU. 

9. North Texas RB Ayo Adeyi 

Result: 59-27 win over Texas Southern  

Stats: 10 carries for 135 yards and a touchdown 

The Mean Green can run the football on most teams, and that was true again in the win over an FCS program to push North Texas to 2-1 on the young season. Adeyi led the Mean Green in rushing yards despite only 10 carries. He averaged 13.5 yards a carry with a long of 59. Oscar Adaway III could’ve also made the list after rushing for 85 yards and a pair of scores on 17 carries. As a team, North Texas averaged 7.3 yards a carry on 48 rushing attempts. 

10. UTEP RB Ronald Awatt 

Result: 20-13 win over New Mexico State 

Stats: 21 carries for 115 yards, 1 TD; 1 catch, 15 yards 

The Miners limped to a seven-point victory in the Battle of I-10 against future Conference USA rival New Mexico State. UTEP only managed three points in the second half as it held on for its first win of the season. Awatt was the star in the first half. No other player on the team accounted for more than 10 yards of rushing offense. 

11. Texas A&M RB Devon Achane 

Result: 17-14 loss to App State 

Stats: 10 carries for 66 yards and 1 TD; 95-yard kickoff return for TD 

The Fort Bend Marshall product was the only source of offensive firepower for the Aggies in a home loss to Sun Belt contender App State. Achane scored the first Texas A&M touchdown on a 26-yard run in the second quarter. He scored the second, and final, Texas A&M touchdown on a 95-yard kickoff return in the third quarter. Those are the only touchdowns the Aggeis scored in defeat. Texasd A&M only ran 38 offensive plays against App State.