What we have learned about the Big 12 so far
Before we begin the week’s recap in earnest, let’s take a look back at the Big 12 preseason rankings, shall we?
It’s safe to say that things have gone horribly awry for nearly every team predicted to finish in the top half of the Big 12 in 2024. Nine weeks into the season, BYU is 8-0 and leading the conference, and Oklahoma State is 3-5 and dwelling in the Big 12 cellar. Nobody can explain any of this, but hey, at least the Big 12 is fun again!
Iowa State (7-0, 4-0), still very much in contention, and Arizona State (5-2, 2-2), performing well above expectation, were both off, but for the rest of the conference, there was plenty of action.
BYU (8-0, 6-0) vs UCF (3-5, 1-4)
BYU is currently all alone at the top spot in the Big 12, and a 37-24 win over UCF helped cement the Cougars’ lead. Don’t let the scoreline fool you though. BYU was in charge through much of the game, including TOP of over 40 minutes. QB Jake Retzlaff has gone from strength-to-strength and he was solid against the Knights, going 16/24 for 228 yards and 2 scores. For their efforts, the Cougars were rewarded with a bye week right before the Holy War and a shiny new #9 ranking in the AP Top 25 poll.
UCF, on the other hand, is just having a bad time of it. Despite a great game from running back RJ Harvey (127 yards, 2 TD), the Knights just could not get out of their own way. Star wideout Kobe Hudson was injured on UCF’s first play and didn’t return to the game, and QB Jacurri Brown threw two costly interceptions to essentially seal the Knights’ fate.
UCF has now lost five games in a row and will need to run the table from here on out to just make a bowl game. The upcoming Space Game against Arizona might be just the thing, especially when you consider UCF has never lost a space game.
Colorado (6-2, 4-1) vs Cincinnati (5-3, 3-2)
With a 34-23 win over Cincinnati, Colorado is now bowl eligible, which is a big improvement over 2023 and also spells a big potential pay day for Coach Prime. Against the Bearcats, a flu-stricken Shedeur Sanders still played well enough to rack up 323 yards and two scores through the air, with another touchdown on the ground. But the real story was Travis Hunter, who had nine receptions for over 150 yards and added four pass breakups on the other side of the ball. He might actually be the best player in college football right now and an odds-on Heisman favorite too.
On a similar note, the Bearcats are also having a much-improved season in 2024. The offense struggled against the Buffs, unable to keep the momentum, and the defense almost never got to Sanders, but Cincinnati mostly kept pace with Colorado. Disappointed as the Bearcats were, and especially by their first-half struggles, QB Brendan Sorsby may have found a silver lining, saying “I don’t think any guy on the sideline ever lost hope.” The Bearcats will take that moral victory into the bye week before taking the field against West Virginia.
Texas Tech (5-3, 3-2) vs TCU (5-3, 3-2)
Thanks to TCU’s come-from-behind 35-34 win over Texas Tech, the Horned Frogs are now squarely in the middle of a logjam of conference teams with five wins and still looking to make a bowl game. The rally from 17-points down was keyed by a banner day from QB Josh Hoover, who threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns, including an 84-yard strike with just five minutes left in the game. It was also a breakout game for RB Savion Williams, This was a much-needed win for TCU and the Frogs have now won two in a row.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech has lost two in a row after briefly leading the Big 12 standings a few weeks ago. It’s ok to lose a game to an equally good (and equally inconsistent) team, but blowing a 17-point halftime lead is just not on, and everyone is mad. Tech would have won the game but for an unfortunate fumble by true freshman QB Will Hammond who had to step in when starter Behren Morton went down, but also, Tech would have won the game if the defense was any good.
West Virginia (4-4, 3-2) vs Arizona (3-5, 1-4)
The ‘Eers needed a win to become bowl eligible and stay in at least mathematical contention for a Big 12 title, and they got just that in a 31-26 win against Arizona. With three captains missing, including injured starting QB Garrett Green, West Virginia had to pull out all the stops for this one. Backup Nicco Marchiol played great, going 18-of-22 for 198 yards and two touchdowns. The ‘Eers were perfect on their four attempts on 4th down and scored on three of those. It’s good things are starting to come together, because there are no gimmes left on the ‘Eers schedule.
A few short weeks ago, Arizona was ranked in the Top 20 and QB Noah Fifita was widely considered one of the Big 12’s best signal callers. The team that took the field against West Virginia did not seem like those preseason Wildcats at all. The run defense did not hold up, allowing over 200 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, while Fifita had over 300 yards passing and reestablished a solid connection with star WR Tetairoa McMillan, the offense was inconsistent and did not establish itself. What sort of game was it for the Wildcats? Even kicker Tyler Loop, perfect through 119 career extra points, missed one in this game.
Utah (4-4, 1-4) vs Houston (3-6, 2-3)
Speaking of teams that have fallen from their lofty perches, Utah appears to be in free fall. The 17-14 defeat to Houston is the Utes fourth straight loss, a new low for a team that was once favored to win the Big 12. Head coach Kyle Whittingham tried to throw a mid-game changeup by switching from QB Isaac Wilson (who was solid but inconsistent) to Brandon Rose, who threw for all of 45 yards before getting picked off to set up the win for Houston. If the loss wasn’t bad enough, the Utes now have a brewing QB controversy.
Houston was hoping not to start a new losing streak of its own. Down 14-7 at the start of the final quarter, the Cougars’ passing offense had pretty much stalled out, especially in the red zone. But Houston was having its way with the Utes on the ground, and one timely interception with less than two minutes to play and eight straight running plays later, Houston’s Jack Martin kicked a field goal to put the game away as time ran out. It was the first game-winning field goal for the Cougars since 2009, and also a perfect way to get Willie Fritz his 250th career win.
Kansas (2-6, 1-4)
We have discussed KU’s Sunflower Showdown debacle in excruciating detail elsewhere on this site already, so instead I will leave you with a thing to ponder as we ready for another weekend of college football: what does this unexpectedly bad season mean for our cousins on the Kaw? Could there be consequences beyond just wins and losses?
Me (and possibly the rest of the Kansas State fanbase right now):
Baylor (4-4, 2-3) vs Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5)
Baylor had lost eight straight Big 12 games at home when the Bears took the field against Oklahoma State. But the confidence from a big win over Texas Tech the previous week had not dissipated, and QB Sawyer Robertson rode that emotion to 295 total yards and four touchdowns to a 38-28 win over the Pokes. The timing for this win could not have been better with the annual grudge match against an improving TCU team still on deck.
And last and almost certainly least, let’s talk about Oklahoma State. In my mind, there is absolutely no universe in which Mike Gundy is on the hot seat, it’s got to be at least warming up. The team has now lost five games in a row and finds itself in the conference cellar, the Big 12’s only team with zero conference wins. That the season began with such promise makes the Pokes’ fall that much harder to understand. The program had the opportunity to be the face of the league, and instead, it’s now mired in the longest losing streak in recent memory. Gundy has publicly called out his team for a lack of discipline on the field, thanks to 21 missed tackles and momentum-killing penalties that essentially kept the Pokes out of the game. So what’s going on in Stillwater?
Nobody knows.