CFB Week 2 top performers: Texas' Arch Manning, Oklahoma State's Drew Mestemaker lead teams to thrilling wins

Manning's signature win could propel the 2-0 Longhorns back to the College Football Playoff after narrowly missing it last season. It could also show scouts that the 6-foot-4, 222-pounder has the traits every franchise QB needs. 

Oklahoma State Cowboys sophomore QB Drew Mestemaker 

Mestemaker (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) wears No. 17 because Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen is his favorite player. Perhaps he's been watching too many of the 2024 NFL MVP's highlights. 

In Saturday's home contest against the No. 6 Oregon Ducks, Mestemaker tried to hurdle a defender on a 10-yard TD run late in the fourth quarter. Allen's leaps are much more graceful. 

The Oklahoma State star, however, probably thought it was worth it after his score helped lead the Cowboys (1-1) to a 39-31 win over the Ducks (1-1), snapping their 21-game losing streak against FBS opponents. Mestemaker outdueled Oregon QB Dante Moore — a candidate to go No. 1 overall in the 2027 NFL Draft — logging 426 yards (317 passing, 109 rushing) and three TDs (two passing, one rushing). Moore, meanwhile, threw for 191 yards and two TDs but rushed for none.

CBS Sports' Mike Renner compared Mestemaker to New England Patriots QB Drake Maye, a 2025 MVP finalist, in preseason. More draft gurus may hop on the Oklahoma State QB's bandwagon after Saturday's game.

Michigan Wolverines senior DE John Henry Daley

New Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham brought Daley from his previous stop with the Utah Utes. Wolverines fans are glad he did after he wrecked the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners offense Saturday. 

Daley finished second on the team in tackles (eight), led the team in tackles for loss (three) and tied for the most sacks (one), helping the Wolverines (2-0) pull off a 17-10 home upset over the Sooners (1-1).   

"Daley [6-foot-5, 252 pounds] looks the part," wrote McShay. "He's a tall, long, powerful edge with a well-proportioned frame, and he was disruptive from the beginning." 

Arizona State Sun Devils senior WR Reed Harris 

Most draft gurus have been more interested in Sun Devils senior WR Omarion Miller (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), but they should begin paying more attention to Harris (6-foot-5, 220 pounds). 

The Boston College Eagles transfer was one of few bright spots in a 48-20 Sun Devils (1-1) loss to the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies (2-0) on Saturday. He had nine receptions for 189 yards and two TD catches.

"Arizona State produced a first-round WR [Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints] this past April," wrote The Athletic's Dane Brugler while reacting to Harris' 58-yard TD in the third quarter. "They might have another in the pipeline with junior Reed Harris."

Indiana Hoosiers  junior WR Charlie Becker

Becker caught three passes for 81 yards in a 55-0 Hoosiers (2-0) win over the Howard Bison (1-2) on Saturday; all three were TDs.

Even after the departure of Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza (now with the Las Vegas Raiders), Becker has remained a TD-catch machine for the Hoosiers (five in two games, tied for No. 1 in the country). The 6-foot-4, 208-pound WR's production will continue to raise his stock. 

"Becker's got surreal hand strength, body control and explosive speed," wrote Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports in his preseason scouting report. "That in and of itself serves as the baseline of a perimeter role in the NFL."