Weber State (link to depth chart)
What stands out: One of the biggest questions that the Wildcats had to address in spring and fall practice concerned how they would replace all-purpose offensive weapon Rashid Shaheed. An early answer: Junior wide receiver Haze Hadley.
Why that could be important: Hadley has pitched in sparingly as a pass catcher and punt returner since 2019, but WSU’s opening romp over Western Oregon suggests he’ll assume a much bigger role on both fronts. He had two catches for 33 yards and six punt returns for 131 yards, meaning that he could be a sneaky field position weapon for which Utah State will need to be prepared.
Auburn (link to depth chart)
What stands out: One unexpected challenge with which the Tigers will have to contend moving forward is the recent medical retirement of star center Nick Brahms, meaning that junior Tate Johnson is the man at the point of attack for now.
Why that could be important: With 33 career starts under his belt, Brahms’s departure is a pretty significant one. The good news for Auburn fans is that Johnson passed his first test against Mercer with flying colors, posting an overall PFF grade of 74.5 in Week 1, but this will be a big opportunity for Lando Grey, Soane Toia, and other Spartan defenders on the interior to cause a few unexpected headaches.
Michigan
What stands out: Michigan’s quarterback competition is still ongoing, so Cade McNamara started last week against Colorado State and it’ll be J.J. McCarthy’s turn this week against Hawaii.
Why that could be important: Jim Harbaugh’s maneuvering isn’t breaking news at this point, but the Warriors will at least get the benefit of film on both Wolverines signal-callers and Michigan, for their part, might be able to resolve the quandry once and for all. McCarthy had the better afternoon against the Rams, so it might be his job to lose at this point.
Idaho State (link to game notes, depth chart on page 13)
What stands out: The Bengals haven’t made any changes from their Week 0 projected lineup, which means that just four seniors — left tackle Tyler Clemons, nose guard Raemo Trevino, defensive tackle Terrance Jones, and weakside linebacker DJ Hagler — are likely to see the field on the first snap.
Why that could be important: After last week’s disappointment against Arizona, this is as ideal a “get right” game as San Diego State could ask for. Idaho State is an incredibly young team that will struggle to win games this year, as evidenced by UNLV’s 31-point victory in Week 0, so the Aztecs should have every opportunity to assert themselves on both sides of the ball and remind everyone why they’re Mountain West contenders.
Oregon State (link to depth chart)
What stands out: The Beavers haven’t made any changes from their Week 1 lineup against Boise State, but one relatively new starter who made a big impact against the Broncos was wide receiver Anthony Gould, currently listed with an “or” alongside Silas Bolden.
Why that could be important: When Chance Nolan wanted to attack down the field last Saturday night, Gould was often the one on the spot. He had two catches for 69 yards on four targets, a nice performance that made for a very effective complement to established veterans like Luke Musgrove and Tre’Shaun Harrison. If nothing else, it will give Fresno State’s defense one more thing to think about in preparations for their late game this weekend.
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