The 13 FBS programs in Texas went a combined 9-4 in Week 1. The total record on the 2024 season is 10-2 because SMU began the year in Week 0 with a victory over Nevada. Week 2 offers more insights into what this year will bring for the Lone Star State. The big matchups on the slate are Texas at Michigan and UTSA at Texas State. Texas Tech also faces a tough challenge on the road against Washington State while Baylor hopes to prove its resurrection is real with a good showing at Utah.

Here are five questions heading into Week 2. The answers will dictate how good of a week it is for the programs in the Great State. 

1. Is Texas dominant enough in the trenches to punk Michigan?  

Steve Sarkisian famously took over a Texas program in 2021 that lacked enough scholarship offensive linemen to properly hold a spring game. Three seasons later, his Horns are more than a touchdown favorite in the Big House against defending champion Michigan because Texas’ perception as a soft program that can’t handle physical or mental pressure is gone. 

Sure, Texas lost T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy in the middle of the defensive line, but the Michigan offensive line lost more. The Longhorns should handle the Michigan offense if the defensive line can hold up against the power run game of the Wolverines. The real heavyweight title matchup of the game is the Texas OL vs. the Michigan DL. The winner of that battle likely leaves the Big House with a victory. 

Texas holds the advantage nearly everywhere else on the field. Steve Sarkisian vs. a first-year head coach. Quinn Ewers vs. Davis Warren. The Longhorn wide receivers are better. Michigan can’t score with Texas, so the only hope for the Wolverines is to slow this game down with the run game on offense and to make Texas one-dimensional on defense. 

Win the trenches, win the game. 

2. Who is the best G5 in Texas? 

The best G5 game in the country during Week 2 is in San Marcos as the UTSA Roadrunners travel up I-35 to face the Texas State Bobcats. UTSA is 5-0 all-time in the series and have only trailed for 25 seconds in the entirety of the football rivalry. This is Texas State’s best chance to catch the Roadrunners. The offense includes QB Jordan McCloud, RB Ish Maudi, and WR Joey Hobert. Ben Bell and the Bobcat defense are likely licking their chops as UTSA starts an inexperienced quarterback and a run game that struggled against Kennesaw State in the opener. 

Texas State is the favorite and the home team. Both programs entered 2024 with College Football Playoff aspirations. The new 12-team format guarantees a spot for the best G5 team in the land and the winner of the Week 2 clash between the Birds and the Cats has a big joker to play if that same team wins their conference championship. 

3. Was the Week 1 heart attack against ACU a blip or a worry for Texas Tech? 

No FBS team in the country allowed more than 450 passing yards in Week 1 except for Texas Tech when the Red Raiders allowed 506 to Abilene Christian. Week 2 opponent Washington State was eighth in the nation in Week 1 with 413 passing yards. Week 3 opponent North Texas was third with 446. We’ll find out if the near upset loss to ACU in Week 1 was a peculiar speed bump or a sign for a bumpy ride in 2024. 

4. Can SMU handle the P4 heat? 

Yeah, yeah, we know the stat – SMU was 0-3 against P5 opponents in 2024. But did you know the Ponies haven’t knocked off a power conference member at Ford Stadium in University Park since 2010? Their last two P5 wins came on the road against TCU. SMU faces 10-straight P4 opponents to finish the regular season, starting with BYU on Saturday. The Cougars began the season with a 41-13 win over Southern Illinois. 

5. Will Baylor make any noise in 2024? 

Even the doubters must admit that Baylor looked like a different squad in Week 1, albeit against inferior FCS competition in Tarleton State. Business picks up in Week 2 in an odd non-conference game against a conference opponent in a trip to 11th-ranked Utah. The Bears are two-touchdown underdogs against one of the Big 12 favorites. A strong showing against the Utes would provide real momentum for the Bears. A blowout loss might have fans feeling like they’re in a time loop.