GAINESVILLE, Fla. — College football’s second week of the 2025 season brought everything short of a live gator loose on the field. Upsets, blowouts and more coaching hot-seat chatter than a call-in radio show defined a Saturday that reminded us: nothing is safe, not even in The Swamp. College football is so back. Here’s the highlights from Week 2 and everything in between.
The headline shocker came from Gainesville, where South Florida beat Florida 18-16 in front of 90,000 fans who quickly Googled “can we fire a coach in September?” Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown calmly threw for 263 yards and a touchdown, while kicker Nico Gramatica drilled the game-winning 20-yard field goal as time expired. The Gators had every chance to win but instead drew 11 penalties for 103 yards, including a personal foul ejection for spitting — yes, spitting — that turned a close contest into meme material. Florida quarterback DJ Lagway managed 222 passing yards and a score, but the Gators’ offense sputtered when it mattered. Head coach Billy Napier’s seat, already warm, now resembles the surface of the sun.
Mississippi State nearly delivered a walk-off classic against Arizona State, pulling out a 24-20 win that sent the Sun Devils tumbling out of the rankings. The Bulldogs showed grit late, while Arizona State looked like it booked a red-eye out of Starkville before the fourth quarter. Mississippi State may not win the SEC, but they earned a little chaos-agent respect in Week 2.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, went out of its way to remind everyone that Michigan’s brief stay in the top 15 was a little too generous. The Sooners controlled the line of scrimmage and handled the Wolverines 24-13 in Norman. Michigan could not establish rhythm on offense, while Oklahoma looked like a team with playoff aspirations, not playoff questions.
Speaking of statements, Ohio State dropped 70 points on Grambling in a 70-0 demolition that looked like a scrimmage. Quarterback Julian Sayin carved up the Tigers with 306 yards and four touchdowns before halftime. Ryan Day’s squad didn’t just win, they reintroduced themselves as the Big Ten’s heavyweight. Alabama also joined the 70-burger club, dropping 73-0 on poor Louisiana-Monroe, who is still paying for it after that surprise 2007 win in Tuscaloosa, despite the multi-million dollar check obtained Saturday in the bank. At that point, even Kalen DeBoer had to be checking his watch, wondering if the mercy rule exists in college football. Tennessee, not wanting to feel left out, hung 72 points of its own in a rout that sent Neyland Stadium fans home happy and maybe a little bored by the third quarter.
Over in Chapel Hill, Bill Belichick earned his first win as head coach at North Carolina. Yes, the six-time Super Bowl champion is now grinding through ACC opponents, and yes, he looked as stoic as ever on the sideline. Belichick’s Tar Heels delivered a steady performance, and the win officially christened his return to the college ranks after decades in the NFL. The postgame press conference was peak Belichick: 11 words, no smiles, just a muttered “we’ll try to improve next week.”
Army also had its moment, knocking off Kansas State in a game that reminded everyone never to overlook the Black Knights. Iowa State continued its trend of embarrassing Power Four opponents, notching another win against a ranked team and positioning itself as the Big 12’s perpetual headache. If there’s a program thriving on the art of annoyance, it’s the Cyclones.
Out west, Oregon torched Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State. The Ducks’ offense looked like it was running downhill, posting chunk plays at will. Gundy, ever the mullet-sporting showman, had few answers as Oregon’s speed made the Cowboys look stuck in quicksand.
Georgia Tech spent its week gearing up for Clemson, a game that feels like the Yellow Jackets’ measuring stick. Georgia, meanwhile, is preparing for Tennessee in what will be billed as the SEC showdown of September. The Bulldogs cruised through their opener and have that “business trip” vibe heading into Knoxville. Tennessee fans, however, will tell you this is the year. Of course, Tennessee fans say that every year, and most of those years end with tears in the Smokies.
The numbers back up what the eye test already told us. Ohio State and Penn State opened the year near the top of most power ratings, with Georgia and Oregon not far behind. After Week 2, the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide have both flexed, Oregon looks fast enough to scare anyone, and Oklahoma reminded voters why preseason skepticism never lasts long in Norman. Florida, on the other hand, has become the cautionary tale of the month. A roster full of talent, a rabid fan base and still the feeling that a rebuilding program in Tampa just outclassed them in their own backyard.
So what do we take away? For one, South Florida is now ranked and walking taller than it has in years. For another, Napier may not survive the season if the Gators keep imploding in creative new ways. Mississippi State and Iowa State are chaos gremlins, Oklahoma is quietly dangerous and Ohio State and Alabama look every bit like the bullies of autumn they once were under Meyer and Saban, even if it took a pathetic wake-up call for the Tide to return to form. Oregon is back in the national spotlight, Georgia and Tennessee are bracing for a street fight, and Bill Belichick is somehow calling plays against 19-year-olds.
It’s only Week 2, but the season already feels like it’s writing its own stand-up routine. USF beating Florida in The Swamp? That’s the kind of setup a comedian dreams about. Ohio State and Alabama both scoring in the 70s? That’s the punchline. And Bill Belichick standing stone-faced in a Carolina blue polo shirt on the sidelines? That’s the absurdist kicker you just can’t script.
Georgia Tech defeats Gardner-Webb.
