Big 12 Update: No Conference Favorite After Early Chaos

There’s no telling how things will end in this conference.

After only two full weeks of conference action, only two Big 12 teams are still unbeaten — BYU and Iowa State. And the teams picked in the preseason to finish in the top three — Utah, Kansas State and Oklahoma State — all already have at least one conference loss. The Cowboys are still looking for their first Big 12 win with two losses after losing to K-State 42-20 on Saturday, which you read about all over PFB and read the recap here.

Outside of OSU’s disaster in Manhattan, here’s how things went throughout the rest of the Big 12.

No. 22 BYU 34, Baylor 28

This looked to be a blowout early after BYU jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Baylor continued to claw back, though, and made it respectable, but the Cougars ultimately prevailed to remain unbeaten in Big 12 play after thumping Kansas State last week. Baylor remained winless in league play after losing to Colorado last week.

BYU gets a week off now, while things don’t get any easier for Baylor with a trip to Iowa State at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

TCU 38, Kansas 27

The disappointed continued for Kansas, dropping its fourth game in a row. It’s like the Jayhawks are back to their old ways, having yet to beat an FCS team. TCU, though, bounced back from back-to-back losses to UCF and SMU.

Next week could very well be another loss for Kansas on the road against a surprisingly good Arizona State team. TCU will host Houston, the punching bag of the Big 12.

Colorado 48, UCF 21

The Buffaloes are starting to play to their talent level, handing UCF its first loss of the season and in Orlando. Speaking of talent, Travis Hunter stayed in the Heisman race after catching a TD on offense and getting an interception on defense.

One of three teams still undefeated in Big 12 play, Colorado will have a real test after a week off, though, when it hosts K-State on Oct. 12. UCF will look to rebound against instate rival Florida at The Swamp on Saturday night.

No. 18 Iowa State 20, Houston 0

And in a blink of an eye, Matt Campbell is the winningest football coach in Iowa State history as the Cyclones stayed unbeaten at 4-0 this season. Houston, meanwhile, still hasn’t even scored a point in Big 12 action after two games.

At 1-4, Houston will have a quick turnaround against TCU on Friday night. The Cyclones will host Baylor.

 Texas Tech 44, Cincinnati 41

The Mahomes-Kelce Bowl was a fun one Saturday night.

Cincinnati missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired as Texas Tech held on and is now 2-0 in Big 12 play and 4-1 overall. In the win, Tech running back Tahj Brooks totaled 172 rushing yards and a pair of TDs.

https://t.co/jWQARdiE4E pic.twitter.com/TvhHhvwriL

— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) September 29, 2024

Next, Tech has a laaaate one at Arizona at 10 p.m. Saturday. Cincinnati will get some rest before hosting UCF.

Arizona 23, No. 10 Utah 10

And this game is why there’s no clear favorite in the Big 12.

After Utah, the preseason favorite, handled OSU last week it looked like the Utes were the team to beat. Then, in true Big 12 fashion, they lost the very next week as Arizona handled the Utes. Two weeks before, K-State thumped Arizona in what was technically a nonconference matchup. But then K-State was whooped by BYU before embarrassing OSU, which was picked to finish third in the Big 12. So Arizona has actually lost to a Big 12 team but is technically 1-0 in conference play. This conference is nothing but chaos, even with scheduling.

Next, though, Utah gets a bye before going to Arizona State on a Friday night. Arizona hosts a storming Texas Tech team Saturday.

Big 12 Standings