Top 5 matchups for Week 2 of the 2024 college football season

5. Colorado vs. Nebraska – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Colorado and Nebraska met annually from 1948-2010 and have resumed their storied rivalry three times in the past six seasons, including last year as the Buffaloes pulled off a 36-14 win in Boulder. Despite the Buffs winning the last three games in the series, Nebraska still has an all-time record of 49-21-2 over Colorado and is an early touchdown favorite to win the series’ first game in Lincoln since 2018.

Both teams entered the 2024 season with high expectations, but only one looked the part this past weekend as Nebraska was dominant in a 40-7 win over UTEP, getting 238 yards and two touchdowns from freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola in his collegiate debut. Meanwhile, Colorado barely snuck by FCS power North Dakota State, 31-26, despite 445 passing yards from Shedeur Sanders and a special performance from Travis Hunter.

Slowing down Sanders and Hunter, something the Cornhuskers failed to do last year, will be key and could help Nebraska put a strong early-season win on its resume this weekend. Meanwhile, the Buffs will not only need continued offensive production, but their defense will have to step up just as it did in 2023’s matchup when it forced four turnovers to earn a crucial early-season road win.