Big 12 Update: BYU Gives Big 12 Big Win, TCU Upsets Baylor

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The Big 12 proved itself on a national stage Saturday night.

One of the conference’s schools got a big out-of-conference result while others battled amongst themselves. Here’s a recap of the Big 12’s weekend.

BYU Does It for the Big 12

Three Top 5 teams fell Saturday and a fourth needed double-OT to scrape out a win. It’s going to be hard to keep BYU out of the Top 3 when the AP Poll updates Sunday afternoon.

The Cougars bested No. 2 Notre Dame 28-24 as BYU improved to 6-0.

There were some wild swings in the contest. The Cougars took a 21-10 lead into halftime, but that came after Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr botched a spike and ended up bobbling the ball and moreso pushing it into the ground. BYU defenders made a heady play to jump on the ball, and after review, it was determined Carr didn’t have control of his spike.

CJ CARR FUMBLES ON A SPIKE 😮

BYU recovered 👀 https://t.co/vMOczouW8s

— ESPN (@espn) October 18, 2026

But that didn’t doom the Irish.

Notre Dame took a 24-21 lead in the fourth quarter before Bear Bachmeier led a 10-play, 55-yard touchdown drive to get the lead back with 1:47 to go.

Despite that, Notre Dame was still able to make it down the field, but the Irish were unable to get in the end zone.

In a bit of a reverse of Michigan’s result against Western Michigan from earlier in the year, there is some discussion as to whether Notre Dame should’ve gotten another crack at it.

The final play of BYU vs. Notre Dame has people asking questions about the clock https://t.co/C0KdyuhDp5

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 18, 2026

This was a massive win for BYU and the Big 12.

Notre Dame doesn’t have a ton of quality games on its schedule with Miami being the undeniably best opponent the Irish have left. If Notre Dame loses that game as well, it could end the Irish’s playoff hopes. Which in turn could lead to the Big 12 getting another spot.

On top of that, it’s just good PR for the conference to beat a Top 5 team from outside the conference. We’ll see if the Big 12 actually nets some respect out of the result, but the conference certainly should.

TCU Ends Baylor’s Hot Streak

The Revivalry put an end to Baylor’s hot streak.

TCU beat Baylor 17-6 on Saturday after the Bears came off a win against Colorado and a thumping of Arizona State.

Jaden Craig threw a pair of touchdown passes, while DJ Lagway threw for 256 yards and a pick. Both teams combined to finish with just 87 rushing yards.

Defenses shined, as both teams had four sacks and an interception. Baylor had 10 tackles for loss to TCU’s 6.

Baylor was approaching darkhorse status in the league, but Saturday’s result will reconsider that fact.

West Virginia (Finally) Wins a Shootout

The Mountaineers have been on the wrong end of many shootouts of late, but while defense remained optional in Morgantown on Saturday, West Virginia got back in the win column.

The Mountaineers beat Cincinnati 45-42 in a game that featured 1,220 yards of total offense.

Michael Hawkins was the whole show. He had 464 passing yards, 77 rushing yards and accounted for five total touchdowns. DJ Epps was his target of choice, as the Mountaineers’ receiver had 163 yards and a touchdown.

Cincinnati held a 42-35 lead with about five minutes to play before Hawkins hit running back Cam Cook for a 40-yard touchdown.

Then as time expired, Jack Cassidy hit a 35-yard field goal to end WVU’s three-game losing streak.

JACK CASSIDY WALKS IT OFF

📺 TruTV | TNT | HBO Max https://t.co/66UhzMI2bD

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 17, 2026

Full Week 7 Results

Houston 35, Oklahoma State 32
BYU 28, Notre Dame 24
Texas Tech 53, Arizona State 25
Utah 27, Colorado 24
West Virginia 45, Cincinnati 42
Kansas State 35, Kansas 24
TCU 17, Baylor 6

Next Weekend’s Schedule

Big 12 Standings