College Football FRAUDS EXPOSED After Week 2
There was a clear pattern across college football this week, as several road teams got off to slow starts, leading to unexpected upsets and tight games that came down to the fourth quarter. This is something we tend to see early in the season. Teams are still trying to find their identity, and playing on the road in a hostile environment only makes things more difficult. One mistake can quickly swing the momentum of a game, especially when the home crowd gets involved. We saw plenty of costly mistakes this week, and with so many inexperienced players still adjusting to bigger roles, those mistakes can be the difference between winning and losing. Several teams learned that the hard way, showing just how difficult it can be to survive on the road early in the season.
Frauds
Before every college football season, the preseason rankings come out, and everyone is left wondering the same thing: How can you rank teams before a single game has even been played? Now that we’re through Week 2 of the 2026 season, we finally have actual on-field results to judge these teams. Preseason rankings are never easy to predict. Just last season, four teams ranked inside the preseason top 10 failed to even make the College Football Playoff and struggled throughout the year. Voters are basically given an impossible task. Before the season, all they can really judge is coaching, roster talent, returning production, transfers, and strength of schedule. But once the games begin, those preseason expectations start getting put to the test. After what we’ve seen through Week 2, it’s already clear that a few teams may have been seriously overrated. And across college football, there’s one word fans love to use for teams that don’t live up to the hype: FRAUDS.
Oregon Ducks
The No. 6 Oregon Ducks suffered one of the biggest upsets of the season this weekend, falling 39-31 on the road against Oklahoma State. The Cowboys entered the matchup 0-1 after a disappointing loss to Tulsa in their season opener, making Oregon a massive 22.5-point favorite heading into the game. Instead, Oklahoma State controlled the game and completely outplayed the Ducks. The Cowboys outgained Oregon 554-281 despite turning the ball over twice. Oregon entered the season with one of the most talented rosters in the country, but that talent didn’t show up when it mattered most. This could very well end up being one of the biggest upsets of the entire season, and it has already raised some serious questions about an Oregon team that entered the year with College Football Playoff expectations.
The Ducks entered the season as National Championship contenders in the eyes of many, and the AP voters clearly agreed. Oregon was able to retain 71% of its roster from a successful 2025 season while also bringing in a top-25 transfer class to add even more talent. On paper, Oregon had one of the most talented rosters in the country, including a projected #1 overall pick in the upcoming draft at quarterback, which is why expectations were so high heading into the season. However, there were some major changes to the coaching staff that may have been overlooked. The Ducks lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators during the offseason, with Dan Lanning choosing to promote from within to replace them. With so much returning talent, those coaching changes didn’t seem like a major concern before the season.
So, what’s gone wrong? Oregon’s last two games have been very concerning, as slow starts on both sides of the ball have forced the Ducks to play from behind early. The offense has the potential to be one of the most dangerous in the country, but so far, they haven’t been able to find any sort of consistent rhythm. Quarterback Dante Moore hasn’t looked like himself and has struggled at times to process opposing defenses. That’s especially concerning considering he entered the season expected to be one of the top returning quarterbacks in college football. The defense hasn’t been much better. Through two games, Oregon is allowing an average of 414 yards per game and has struggled badly against the run. When the Ducks try to adjust and slow down the rushing attack, opponents have been able to take advantage through play-action and create big plays through the air. I believe losing both coordinators from last season has impacted this team much more than anyone expected. There is still plenty of talent on this roster, but Dan Lanning has a lot to figure out over the next few weeks if Oregon wants to get back into contention. What makes the slow start even more concerning is that this was supposed to be the easier part of their schedule. There’s still plenty of season left, but right now, things are not looking good in Eugene.
Oklahoma Sooners
The No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners suffered a tough 17-10 loss on the road against Michigan this weekend. The Wolverines were coming off an alarming but emotional win over Western Michigan, where they escaped with a victory despite not playing particularly well. Michigan still dropped out of the AP Top 25 following the win, putting even more pressure on the Wolverines heading into this matchup. Michigan responded to that pressure and took advantage of a poor performance from Oklahoma. The Sooners entered the weekend looking like a potential College Football Playoff contender, but they certainly didn’t play like one. Oklahoma struggled to get anything going offensively and failed to take advantage of opportunities in a game that was there for the taking.
The Oklahoma Sooners entered the season with high expectations after returning more than 65% of their roster from a successful 2025 campaign. A big reason for the hype was the return of quarterback John Mateer, who many believed could put himself in the Heisman conversation after a hand injury slowed down what looked like a promising season last year. With Mateer healthy and a good portion of the starting offense returning, Oklahoma appeared to have all the pieces needed to take another step forward. The Sooners had experience, talent, and a quarterback capable of leading one of the better offenses in the country. Then there’s the Oklahoma defense under Brent Venables. His defenses have built a reputation for being tough, physical, and disciplined, and that side of the ball was expected to once again be one of the strengths of this team. With experience returning on offense and a defense you could trust, there was plenty of reason to believe Oklahoma could be a serious playoff contender in 2026.
This past weekend was sloppy for Oklahoma, especially on the offensive side of the ball. John Mateer seemed to be under pressure throughout the game, which led to inaccurate throws, stalled drives, and eventually a costly interception late in the game. The Sooners couldn’t rely on the running game either. Poor offensive line play made it difficult to establish anything on the ground, while Oklahoma’s receivers struggled to consistently create separation against Michigan’s secondary. When you combine all of that, the Sooners simply couldn’t find any rhythm offensively. Right now, Oklahoma seems to be dealing with the same problem we’ve seen throughout the Brent Venables era: a great defense paired with an inconsistent offense. The defense did its job by holding Michigan to just 17 points, but at some point, the offense has to hold up its end. Oklahoma is now in a difficult position, especially with a schedule that looks even more daunting after this loss.
Washington Huskies
Washington is the only team on this list that finished Week 2 undefeated, but their 2-0 record doesn’t tell the entire story. The Huskies have been very underwhelming through their first two games, barely escaping against teams they were heavily favored to beat. Washington entered the season viewed as a potential playoff bubble team and a tough opponent in the Big Ten. With the talent on this roster, many believed the Huskies could compete with some of the conference’s best teams and potentially put themselves in the College Football Playoff conversation. So far, however, Washington hasn’t looked like that team. They may still be undefeated, but their performances through the first two weeks have raised some serious questions about whether the Huskies are actually ready to compete with the top teams in the Big Ten.
Washington received plenty of praise heading into the season after showing steady improvement over the past few years. A big reason for the high expectations was the amount of experience returning, as the Huskies were able to bring back most of their starters from last season. Quarterback Demond Williams is at the center of those expectations. Williams is a rare talent and is now entering his third year as the starter, giving Washington an experienced quarterback who has the ability to take over games. The Huskies also did a good job in the transfer portal, adding players who filled important needs on both sides of the ball. With an experienced roster, a talented quarterback, and some key additions through the portal, Washington appeared to have everything it needed to take another step forward and compete near the top of the Big Ten.
The Huskies are still undefeated with the entire season ahead of them, but there are definitely some issues that need to be figured out. The defense hasn’t been the problem, as that unit has looked pretty stout through two games. They’ve been able to pressure opposing quarterbacks, force mistakes, and create turnovers. Surprisingly, the offense has been the weak spot. Demond Williams hasn’t looked great in the passing game, and part of that stems from Washington’s inability to consistently run the football. Without a reliable rushing attack, defenses have been able to focus more on containing Williams and the passing game. The receivers haven’t helped much either. They’ve struggled to create separation even against weaker competition, making it difficult for Williams to consistently push the ball downfield. For an offense that was expected to be one of Washington’s biggest strengths, the results through two weeks have been disappointing. Washington needs to become much more balanced offensively if it wants any chance of competing with the top teams in the Big Ten. The AP voters made the right decision by dropping the Huskies out of the Top 25. If these offensive problems continue, Washington could go from a potential playoff sleeper to a team sitting near the middle of the Big Ten standings by the end of the season.
Biased Baller Week 2 Rankings
Texas Longhorns
Georgia Bulldogs
Miami Hurricanes
Ohio State Buckeyes
LSU Tigers
Indiana Hoosiers
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Alabama Crimson Tide
USC Trojans
Ole Miss Rebels
