Texas, Texas A&M and Houston are among the teams predicted by the SwampButt Underwear Scale of Sultry to benefit from greater heat and humidity acclimation

LAKE JACKSON, Texas, Sept. 11, 2026 — After correctly picking 61% of the winners during Week 1, the SwampButt Underwear™ Scale of Sultry returns with predictions for 86 games during the second full week of the college football season.

The eight featured games include Ohio State at Texas, Arizona State at Texas A&M and Southern at Houston.

The Scale of Sultry predicts Texas will defeat Ohio State because the Longhorns train in Austin’s hotter, more humid environment, potentially giving them a conditioning advantage over players accustomed to the relative comfort of Columbus, Ohio.

The model also favors Texas A&M over Arizona State because College Station is expected to be sultrier than Tempe, Arizona.

“This proves the adage, ‘it’s not the heat; it’s the humidity,’” said Nick Heraldson, SwampButt Underwear spokesperson and self-described “Weather Channel wannabe.” “Knowing that a town in Texas can be more uncomfortable than Tempe, Arizona, is satisfying and horrifying all at once.”

The ‘scale’ finished Week 1 with a 55–35 record, correctly predicting 61% of the winners across 90 games. Every selection was based on one deliberately narrow variable: which team was more accustomed to a hotter, more humid home environment.

How the Prediction Works

The ‘Scale of Sultry’ generally favors the team whose players train in the hotter, more humid home-campus environment. The theory is that players accustomed to hotter, stickier conditions may have a conditioning advantage over players who are not—and that the advantage could translate into more victories. When two teams receive the same rounded Scale of Sultry rating, the home team receives the tiebreaker.

The model deliberately ignores rankings, betting lines, coaching, injuries and player talent.

Week Two’s Eight Featured Games

No. 1 • Saturday • Noon ET • ABC

Arizona State at Texas A&M

Venue: Kyle Field
City: College Station, Texas
Game-site forecast: 7.8/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: Texas A&M to win
Home-campus SOS: Arizona State 6.9 • Texas A&M 7.8

No. 2 • Saturday • Noon ET • ESPNU

App State at East Carolina

Venue: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
City: Greenville, North Carolina
Game-site forecast: 7.6/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: East Carolina to win
Home-campus SOS: App State 5.4 • East Carolina 7.6

No. 3 • Saturday • 7 p.m. ET • ESPN+

Southern at Houston

Venue: TDECU Stadium
City: Houston, Texas
Game-site forecast forecast: 7.5/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: Houston to win
Home-campus SOS: Southern 7.0 • Houston 7.5

No. 4 • Saturday • 3:30 p.m. ET • ESPN+

UL Monroe at UAB

Venue: Protective Stadium
City: Birmingham, Alabama
Game-site forecast: 7.4/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: UL Monroe to win
Home-campus SOS: UL Monroe 7.7 • UAB 7.4

No. 5 • Saturday • 3:45 p.m. ET • ESPNU

UNLV at North Texas

Venue: DATCU Stadium
City: Denton, Texas
Game-site forecast: 7.3/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: North Texas to win
Home-campus SOS: UNLV 6.4 • North Texas 7.3

No. 6 • Saturday • 4 p.m. ET • ACCNX

UC Davis at SMU

Venue: Gerald J. Ford Stadium
City: Dallas, Texas
Game-site forecast: 7.3/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: SMU to win
Home-campus SOS: UC Davis 5.2 • SMU 7.3

No. 7 • Saturday • 3:30 p.m. ET • The CW

UTSA at Texas State

Venue: UFCU Stadium
City: San Marcos, Texas
Game-site forecast: 7.2/10 — Very sultry
Prediction: Texas State to win
Home-campus SOS: UTSA 7.2 • Texas State 7.2

With both teams receiving the same rounded home-campus rating, Texas State receives the prediction as the home team.

No. 8 • Saturday • 7:30 p.m. ET • ABC

Ohio State at Texas

Venue: DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
City: Austin, Texas
Game-site forecast: 6.4/10 — Sultry
Prediction: Texas to win
Home-campus SOS: Ohio State 5.5 • Texas 6.4
Featured matchup

See all 86 Week 2 predictions →

Players, coaches, fans, band members, cheerleaders, mascots—and athletic directors who insist on wearing suits and ties no matter the weather—had better hope their deodorant works and their backsides do not leave sweaty “butt prints” behind when they stand up.

About SwampButt Underwear

SwampButt Underwear™ is a real company with a real product designed to address a real problem: visible sweat on a man’s backside. Its performance underwear is made for people who experience excessive perspiration, uncomfortable dampness and visible butt sweat. The moisture-wicking fabric moves perspiration away from the skin, dries faster than traditional cotton underwear and helps reduce discomfort during heat, humidity and physical activity.

SwampButt Underwear is based in Lake Jackson, Texas. SwampButt Underwear™ is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries. The company paid a lot for it, so please do not use it without permission.