College football's most important people in Week 2

College football spawned more questions than answers in Week 1, but that's to be expected at the start of a new season.

Each week, Yardbarker highlights the 10 most important people leading into the weekend in college football. Here's who we're keeping an eye on in Week 2:

1. Sherrone Moore | Michigan head coach

In Week 1, the Wolverines beat Fresno State 30-10, but they needed a pick-six in the final minutes for breathing room. Moore must make adjustments to beat No. 3 Texas, another SEC juggernaut. Michigan is ranked 10th, but a loss — especially in blowout fashion — will hurt its chances of defending its national title and spark questions about Moore. Millions of eyeballs will be glued to this nationally televised game in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

2. Steve Sarkisian | Texas head coach

Michigan looked so-so against an inferior opponent, but Texas can't play down to its level and expect to win. Sarkisian's preparation leading up to Saturday could define the approach Texas takes toward the rest of its schedule, which features three pushovers after this game .

3. Dillon Gabriel | Oregon quarterback

A Heisman favorite per Action Network , Gabriel had an impressive stat line in Week 1, throwing for 380 yards and two touchdowns in a 10-point win over FCS Idaho. But the eye test suggested he struggled under pressure. Against Boise State on Saturday, Gabriel must prove he can handle a potential postseason opponent and prevent an early hiccup from derailing Oregon's championship aspirations.

4. Ashton Jeanty | Boise State running back

Jeanty dropped a Heisman-worthy performance (six TDs) in a Week 1 win against Georgia Southern. If he navigates a tough Oregon defensive front and consistently gets to the second level of the defense, the Broncos — an 18.5-point underdog, per FanDuel as of Wednesday — have a shot at the season-defining upset.

5. Dabo Swinney | Clemson head coach

After getting drubbed 34-3 by No. 1 Georgia on Saturday, Swinney doubled down on his stubbornness over criticism about the way he runs the program. "Y’all gonna write crap, y’all gonna write terrible stuff," Swinney told reporters Tuesday . Even if he thinks it's "crap," it's probably the truth. How Clemson responds in Week 2 against Appalachian State could determine how the rest of the season goes for the Tigers.

6. Dylan Raiola | Nebraska quarterback

In a Week 1 blowout of UTEP, the true freshman may have convinced some that his uncanny resemblance to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes doesn't just stop with facial features. The 19-year-old passed for 238 yards and two touchdowns, giving him (and head coach Matt Rhule) needed confidence going into a revived rivalry game against Colorado on Saturday. A win at home against the Buffaloes could set Nebraska up for a dark-horse run for the Big Ten title.

7. Deion, Shedeur, Shilo Sanders | Colorado head coach, quarterback, safety

OK, we're cheating. The shootout between Dylan Raiola and Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders should be a highlight. But the sideline chess match between Deion Sanders and Rhule will be far more consequential. If Rhule outcoaches Deion in Lincoln and the Cornhuskers win, only one program can brag about making progress from last season. Keep an eye on Colorado safety Shilo Sanders, too. Raiola surely will.

8. Nico Iamaleava | Tennessee quarterback

Put No. 14 Tennessee at No. 24 N.C. State on your radar, too. An upset Saturday by the Wolfpack will put it squarely in the race for the ACC crown. Iamaleava could hold the fate of both teams in his hands. A convincing win will build his dark-horse candidacy for the Heisman and potentially set up his team for a jump into the top 10. A loss could make Tennessee an early afterthought in a stacked SEC.

9. Kirk Ferentz | Iowa head coach

The 69-year-old Ferentz was absent from the sideline in Saturday's 40-0 win over Illinois State because of a suspension . Will the Hawkeyes offensive explosion continue with him back or could longtime rival Iowa State rain on Ferentz's welcome-back party Saturday? Iowa's 40 points were the most it has scored since September 16, 2023, when it dropped 41 on Western Michigan.

10. Kenny Dillingham | Arizona State head coach

One of the most underrated games of Week 2 will be Mississippi State (1-0) visiting Arizona State (1-0) in Tempe. The Sun Devils have never beaten an SEC team. A win Saturday for second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham could show the program has turned a corner after last season's 3-9 disaster. The heat could work in Arizona State's favor. The Phoenix metropolitan area reached 100 straight days of 100-degree heat on Tuesday . Thankfully, this game will start at 7 p.m.