What did we learn in Week 2 of the 2026 college football season? Texas showed serious grit, erasing a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat top-ranked Ohio State 24-23. "It wasn't very pretty, but we found a way to win," quarterback Arch Manning said. Michigan also impressed, stifling Oklahoma behind 18 carries and 87 rushing yards from Bryce Underwood. Oklahoma State bounced back from a season-opening loss to trip up No. 6 Oregon in Stillwater.

On the flip side, the Buckeyes and Ducks, a pair of preseason Big Ten and national title favorites, still have work to do. Same goes for the offenses at Oklahoma and Washington, who saw familiar issues from a year ago return.

No such drama bubbled for Big Ten and SEC contenders including Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, Texas A&M and USC. Meanwhile, several others are quietly readying to make some noise, from a Tennessee team powered by freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon to traditional powers with new leadership this fall between Florida with new head coach Jon Sumrall and Matt Campbell-led Penn State.

Here's what our ESPN college football experts learned in Week 2. -- Eli Lederman