Top 5 matchups for Week 2 of the 2024 college football season
2. No. 14 Tennessee vs. No. 24 NC State – Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Tennessee and NC State don鈥檛 play often, but this will undoubtedly be one of the best contests of the weekend and is one of the few games featuring two ranked teams. The two programs have faced off just three times ever with the first meeting coming back in 1911, the second in 1939 and the third in 2012 as the Volunteers have won two of the three matchups.
Tennessee is favored by around a touchdown to win its third straight game over the Wolfpack coming into Saturday following a dominant performance this past weekend where the Vols beat Chattanooga, 69-3. Young quarterback Nico Iamaleava looked tremendous in his first start of the year, throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns. Tennessee also posted 300 yards on the ground as a team.
A road game in Raleigh will likely be a greater challenge for the Vols鈥� offense, but the Wolfpack鈥檚 defense did struggle at times in Week 1 against Western Carolina, particularly as it surrendered two first-quarter touchdowns. The defense stepped things up late though, as did NC State鈥檚 offense as Grayson McCall threw for 318 yards while star wideout Kevin Concepcion scored three touchdowns. The McCall-to-Concepcion connection will be needed to defend home field against the Vols, while an early road win over a ranked opponent could solidify Tennessee as an SEC contender.
