College football did what college football does best this weekend: it made a bunch of us look stupid.

That is why I started The Morning After in the first place. Instead of sprinting to the internet five minutes after a final whistle and pretending my first reaction is automatically my best one, I want to go back, rewatch the games everybody is talking about and actually figure out what the hell happened.

Week 1 gave us Michigan’s magical extra second, the Rocky Mountain rivalry games and LSU making a statement against Clemson.

Week 2 somehow turned the volume up.

Oregon walked into Stillwater with vastly more talent and walked out after getting bullied by a program that had not beaten an FBS opponent in 21 games. Michigan spent an entire week getting laughed at and responded by making Oklahoma miserable. Texas spent three quarters looking like every negative stereotype about Texas football before Arch Manning suddenly remembered his last name. Then Missouri and Kansas reminded everyone that some college football rivalries probably shouldn’t be allowed to have access to social media before kickoff.

The theme of Week 2?

Talent is great. Identity is better.

And several teams found out which one they actually have.

---

Oregon 31, Oklahoma State 39

Oregon Had Better Athletes. Oklahoma State Was the Better Football Team.

This was supposed to be the get-right game for Oregon.

The Ducks didn’t look particularly impressive against Boise State in Week 1, but they survived. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, had just lost Eric Morris’ debut to Tulsa after going 1-11 last season.

This should not have been complicated.

Instead, Oklahoma State punched Oregon directly in the mouth.

From the beginning, something felt different about the Cowboys. Morris’ offense did not look like the old Mike Gundy Air Raid we became accustomed to seeing in Stillwater. There was still space, tempo and explosiveness, but Oklahoma State was willing to run the football, use Drew Mestemaker’s legs and attack Oregon horizontally before taking its shots.

And the most important part?

They were physical.

Oregon could put an extra tackle on the field at tight end and Oklahoma State was still stuffing them.

That was when my biggest takeaway started becoming obvious: Oregon’s athletic advantage didn’t matter.

The Ducks looked like a team hoping momentum would carry them through the game rather than a team controlling its own destiny.

At one point, Oregon had just 12 yards of offense nearly 13 minutes into the game. The passing game wasn’t there. Drives kept dying. Oklahoma State kept finding explosive plays.

Oregon’s defense actually did plenty to keep the Ducks alive. Devon Jackson’s 96-yard pick-six was enormous, and another interception gave Oregon a one-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter.

But that was part of the problem.

Oregon’s defense kept creating offense because Oregon’s offense wasn’t creating enough of its own.

Meanwhile, Mestemaker kept coming back.

He responded to the pick-six. He responded to Oregon grabbing momentum. He responded every time it looked like the more talented team was finally about to take control.

That matters to me with a quarterback.

There are guys who look like prospects. There are guys who put up numbers.

Then there are quarterbacks who feel like they’re in control of the game.

Mestemaker looked like one of those guys Saturday.

Oregon Finally Took the Lead — and Oklahoma State Didn’t Blink

This is where my recording got screwed up by the weather delay, so I went back and reconstructed the finish.

Oregon finally looked like Oregon late in the third quarter.

Dante Moore hit Dakorien Moore for a 36-yard touchdown. Oklahoma State answered with a field goal, but Moore then found Evan Stewart for 38 yards on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Suddenly:

Oregon 31, Oklahoma State 30.

There it was.

The moment where the giant wakes up, the underdog realizes it missed its chance and everybody watching says, “That was fun, but Oregon is going to win now.”

Except Oklahoma State apparently didn’t get the memo.

The Cowboys responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate 4:30, and Mestemaker finished it himself on a 10-yard quarterback run.

Oregon’s response?

Three plays. Negative six yards. Punt.

Then, after getting the ball back, Oregon went four-and-out.

Oklahoma State added a field goal to make it 39-31. Oregon finally started moving again with a little more than three minutes remaining, but Dierre Hill Jr. fumbled at the Oregon 40 with 1:59 left.

Ballgame.

And the final numbers are somehow even worse for Oregon than the score.

Oklahoma State outgained the Ducks 554-281. Mestemaker finished with 317 passing yards, 109 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. The Cowboys ended a 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents, students stormed the field and eventually sent a goalpost swimming in Theta Pond.

That is not stealing an upset.

That is beating somebody.

What Does This Mean?

I am officially worried about Oregon.

Not “the season is over.” It is September. Relax.

But there is something fundamentally concerning about watching a roster with that much talent get physically beaten and offensively controlled by Oklahoma State.

Oregon spent the preseason being talked about like a national championship contender.

After two weeks, I still don’t know what the Ducks do exceptionally well.

Oklahoma State?

I know exactly what they want to be.

That might be Eric Morris’ biggest victory of the entire afternoon.

And Cowboys fans, somehow your Saturday was about to get even better.

---

No. 11 Oklahoma 10, Michigan 17

Michigan’s Defense Was Basically Michael Myers

Michigan deserved every joke it got last week.

Western Michigan had them beaten. The clock hit zero. A phantom second appeared. Michigan threw a Hail Mary and escaped 13-12.

So I entered this game asking two things.

First: Was Kyle Whittingham’s team actually that bad?

Second: Oklahoma looked offensively competent against UTEP, but was that real?

It took about one quarter to realize we were not getting an offensive shootout.

Both defenses were good.

Michigan’s was just meaner.

The best way I can describe the Wolverines' pass rush is this:

It was like being stalked by Michael Myers.

You might get away for a little bit. You might think everything is fine.

But eventually he is showing up.

John Mateer spent the afternoon dealing with that. Michigan’s front kept collapsing the pocket, its secondary was comfortable playing aggressive man coverage, and even when Oklahoma found something, the Wolverines made the Sooners work for every inch.

Michigan held Oklahoma scoreless in the first half and ultimately limited the Sooners to 289 total yards and 3-of-13 on third down.

That is what Michigan football is supposed to look like.

Physical. Annoying. Violent.

A team that makes you hate every offensive possession.

Bryce Underwood Is Starting to Look Familiar

I kept having the same thought watching Bryce Underwood:

Denard Robinson.

I’m not saying he is Denard Robinson.

But Michigan clearly realized something after Week 1.

Stop asking the kid to be something he isn’t yet.

Use his legs.

Underwood’s athleticism became a legitimate problem for Oklahoma. His 38-yard touchdown in the first quarter was the perfect example: break tackles, find daylight and turn a broken situation into six points.

He finished with 87 rushing yards, and Michigan leaned into a quarterback-run offense that looked infinitely more comfortable than what we saw a week ago.

There is still a problem.

Michigan eventually has to throw the football better.

Underwood went 9-of-17 for 111 yards, and only 2-of-4 for 15 yards after halftime. Whittingham basically admitted afterward that Michigan cannot survive all season by just running the ball.

But Week 2 was not about building the finished product.

Week 2 was about proving Week 1 wasn’t the finished product.

Michigan did that.

Oklahoma Had Chances. Michigan Kept Taking Them Away.

The Sooners finally found life in the third quarter.

Mateer began finding some speed mismatches, Oklahoma got on the board, and suddenly Michigan’s 10-0 halftime lead was down to 10-7.

Then Oklahoma tied it.

And Michigan’s offense had basically disappeared.

This was Oklahoma’s chance.

Instead, Mateer underthrew a second-down pass with a little more than eight minutes remaining. Jyaire Hill jumped it and returned the interception deep into Oklahoma territory.

Jordan Marshall scored shortly afterward.

17-10 Michigan.

Mateer later produced one of the coolest plays of the entire game, going airborne on a helicopter-style scramble that would make John Elway proud.

Holding.

Gone.

That felt like Oklahoma’s afternoon.

Every time the Sooners finally created something, something else erased it.

Oklahoma got one final opportunity with 1:06 remaining.

How did the game end?

Of course.

Michigan sack.

Perfect.

Michigan desperately needed this after last week. Oklahoma, meanwhile, is already out of room for casual mistakes.

The Sooners are talented enough to matter.

But if your offense scores 10 points in a game your defense keeps within reach all afternoon, eventually the excuses run out.

And Oklahoma fans, don’t worry.

Your biggest rival was about to have a much more interesting night.

Michigan fans?

Same deal.

---

No. 1 Ohio State 23, No. 4 Texas 24

For Three Quarters, Texas Was Everything People Make Fun of Texas For

There might not be a less self-aware program in college football than Texas.

And for three quarters Saturday night, they were proving every stereotype correct.

Texas started with the football.

Immediate fumble.

Ohio State got three points.

Then Arch Manning took his first real deep shot. The receiver bobbled it, Ohio State intercepted it, and suddenly Texas had two possessions and two turnovers.

Neither was really Arch’s fault.

But that’s the Texas experience.

Something always happens.

Meanwhile, Ohio State looked calm.

Julian Sayin was playing well. I still don’t know if there is anything about Sayin that makes me think, that guy is absolutely going to win a national championship, but it certainly helps when Jeremiah Smith is running around outside.

Smith is ridiculous.

I cannot wait until he is no longer in Columbus so I can actually enjoy watching him.

He basically turns 50-50 balls into first downs.

Ohio State built a 10-0 lead. Texas couldn’t get them off the field. Sark started getting cute. Ryan Wingo dropped what should have been a touchdown. The Longhorns settled for three.

Then Ohio State kept adding.

13-3.

20-3.

23-3.

And the entire time I kept writing down the same issues.

Drops.

Turnovers.

Missed receivers.

Questionable play calls.

Arch trying to do everything himself.

Texas’ defense was actually keeping the game from becoming embarrassing, but offensively there was nothing.

At one point I literally wrote:

“It will be a miracle if they pull it off.”

Oops.

Then Arch Manning Remembered He Was a Manning

The comeback did not begin with one magical 80-yard bomb.

That’s what made it more impressive.

It started with Arch using his legs.

It started with Texas converting fourth downs.

It started with the tempo changing.

It started with Texas finally deciding that if it was going to die, it might as well die attacking.

Manning hit Ryan Wingo for the first touchdown early in the fourth.

23-10.

Then the defense got the ball back.

Texas went for another fourth down and converted.

Hollywood Smothers eventually punched it in.

23-17.

Now the stadium believed.

And this is the part where I wrote:

“Don’t let Texas fans believe they’re back.”

Because we have seen how this movie goes.

Except this time, Ohio State blinked.

The Buckeyes drove into position to make it a nine-point game, but Connor Hawkins missed a 45-yard field goal.

That was the moment.

Texas got the football back and Arch Manning looked completely different from the quarterback we had watched for three quarters.

Tempo.

Confidence.

Using his legs.

Getting everyone lined up.

Leading.

He looked like a Manning.

Texas drained the clock, got to the goal line and Hollywood Smothers went over the top with 25 seconds left.

Texas 24.

Ohio State 23.

The Longhorns scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, completing the largest fourth-quarter comeback ever against an AP No. 1 team. Manning completed 11 of his final 15 passes after looking completely lost for most of the night.

Ohio State’s final desperation pass was intercepted.

Miracle complete.

Ohio State Didn’t Lose Because of One Missed Kick

It would be easy to blame the kicker.

Don’t.

Ohio State had Texas down 23-3 entering the fourth quarter and did not score again.

That is the problem.

Ryan Day had the No. 4 team in the country dead.

Then Ohio State started playing like a team protecting a lead instead of the No. 1 team trying to bury somebody.

Remember what I said about Oregon?

There is a difference between controlling the game and hoping your momentum lasts long enough.

Ohio State crossed that line.

Texas’ pass rush started bothering Sayin. The Longhorns finally handled Jeremiah Smith when they absolutely had to. Texas’ offensive line began winning physically. Sark stopped waiting for something to happen and started forcing the issue.

The entire game flipped.

Ohio State is still absolutely one of the best teams in the country. Sayin threw for 278 yards and Smith had 164 receiving yards.

But Saturday became Arch Manning’s game.

For three quarters, I was ready to write another paragraph about Texas hype.

Then the kid engineered a 20-point fourth-quarter comeback against No. 1 Ohio State.

I’ll shut up for a week.

Probably.

---

No. 23 Missouri 38, Kansas 21

College Football Rivalries Are Better When the Teams Actually Hate Each Other

Normally, Texas–Ohio State would be where I end this.

Main event over.

Goodnight.

Except Missouri and Kansas apparently decided the Border War needed a post-credit scene.

This rivalry already has more history and genuine hatred than almost anything else in college football. It dates back to 1891, disappeared from the schedule after Missouri joined the SEC and finally returned last season.

Friday was the first Border War played in Lawrence since 2005.

And because apparently that wasn’t enough, Kansas released a pregame hype video leaning heavily into the Civil War-era history behind the rivalry.

That became important later.

The actual football game was competitive for a half.

Kansas special teams were fantastic early. The Jayhawks blocked two Missouri field-goal attempts, and Austin Alexander returned one of them 88 yards for a touchdown.

Jamal Roberts answered with a 64-yard touchdown run.

Kansas answered.

Missouri answered again.

14-14 at halftime.

Then Missouri reminded everybody which roster was better.

Mizzou Took the Game Over After Halftime

Austin Simmons looked really good.

Not flashy-for-the-sake-of-being-flashy good.

Efficient. Aggressive. In control.

Missouri came out of halftime and scored touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to make it 28-14.

Kansas eventually answered with an 83-yard touchdown drive, but the Jayhawks spent most of the second half trying to recover from the damage already done.

Simmons finished with 292 passing yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Jamal Roberts ran for 125. Donovan Olugbode and Cayden Lee both topped 100 receiving yards.

Missouri finished with 469 total yards to Kansas’ 255 and held the Jayhawks to just 81 rushing yards.

That is domination disguised by a competitive halftime score.

But the part everybody will remember came at the end.

Eli Drinkwitz Decided Winning Wasn’t Enough

Missouri led 31-21 late.

There were about two minutes remaining.

Fourth-and-9.

Most coaches kick. Maybe you kneel around it. Maybe you take the points.

Eli Drinkwitz sent his offense back out there.

Austin Simmons threw a 13-yard touchdown to Brett Norfleet.

38-21.

Afterward, Drinkwitz made it very clear that this was not an accident.

Talking about Kansas’ hype video, he said that was why he “tried to embarrass them at the end.”

This is where college football becomes absolutely ridiculous in the best possible way.

Kansas used the historical violence surrounding the rivalry as part of the buildup. Drinkwitz thought they crossed a line. Missouri responded by deliberately trying to run up the score.

Then players nearly got into it afterward, a Missouri player attempted to plant a flag and Drinkwitz had to intervene.

Everybody behaved like an adult.

Perfect.

Now, there is a fair argument from the Kansas side that Missouri has spent years embracing the exact same “Border War” history and cannot suddenly decide the history is inappropriate when Kansas uses it. That criticism has already surfaced from Jayhawk writers.

And that is precisely why this is such a great rivalry.

Nobody agrees on anything.

Not the history.

Not the framing.

Not who started what.

Not whether the other school deserves respect.

Missouri has now won five straight meetings, and instead of calming anything down, this weekend might have made the hatred worse.

College football needs more games where both sides genuinely care whether the other one is miserable afterward.

Maybe leave the Civil War propaganda department at home next time.

But absolutely keep the hate.

---

My Biggest Week 2 Takeaway

Talent Does Not Equal Identity

That is what I came away thinking after watching these games.

Oregon unquestionably had more blue-chip talent than Oklahoma State.

Who looked like the better football team?

Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma entered Michigan looking much cleaner than the Wolverines did after Week 1.

Who knew exactly how it wanted to win?

Michigan.

Ohio State controlled Texas for three quarters.

Who adapted when the original plan stopped working?

Texas.

Kansas created chaos early against Missouri.

Who imposed itself for four quarters?

Missouri.

We spend the entire offseason talking about recruiting rankings, transfer classes, quarterback ceilings, NFL Draft prospects and preseason polls.

Then football starts.

And suddenly none of that matters if you don’t know who you are.

Oklahoma State knew.

Michigan rediscovered it.

Texas found it with its season staring directly into the abyss.

Missouri never seemed confused about it.

The rankings reacted accordingly Sunday: Texas jumped to No. 1, Ohio State fell to No. 6, Oregon plummeted to No. 21, Michigan re-entered at No. 19 and Oklahoma dropped to No. 24.

Two weeks into the season, we know significantly less than we thought we did in August.

Which is exactly how college football should work.

So now I want to know:

Is Oklahoma State actually dangerous, or did we just watch the perfect storm in Stillwater?

Can Michigan win enough games with Bryce Underwood’s legs and that defense while the passing game develops?

Did we just watch Arch Manning’s real arrival, or are Texas fans about to become unbearable again?

And was Eli Drinkwitz justified in trying to embarrass Kansas, or did Missouri lose the moral high ground the second it started celebrating the same rivalry history?

Week 2 gave us some answers.

It gave us a hell of a lot more questions.

We’ll do it all again next Sunday.