Week 4 in the Big 12 doesn’t bring a ranked showdown, but it still delivers a slate with a little bit of everything: a few games that could shape the conference picture, a couple of road tests that matter, and one matchup that feels like pure filler.
At the top of the board is Oklahoma State at West Virginia, and that one has real juice. West Virginia is coming off a huge Top 25 win over Virginia, while Oklahoma State knocked off a Top 10 Oregon team just two weeks ago.
That makes this the kind of game that can tell us a lot about both teams. The Mountaineers bring a strong ground game, the Cowboys lean on their passing attack, and both defenses still leave room for doubt.
The winner could very well turn into a dark-horse Big 12 title contender.
No. 15 Utah at Iowa State comes next, and this one has quietly become one of the more interesting games on the schedule.
Utah hasn’t faced elite competition, but the Utes have rolled through opponents and look like a real conference contender. Iowa State, meanwhile, still has questions hanging over it despite giving Iowa a scare.
The big issue is whether the Cyclones can score enough against a solid Utah defense. The betting line also has moved significantly since Sunday, which only adds to the intrigue.
Kansas State at Cincinnati lands in the third spot, and it’s easy to see why. Kansas State has looked sharper under first-year coach Collin Klein, Avery Johnson seems to be settling in as the quarterback the Wildcats hoped he could be, and the defense has shown signs of being better than last season.
Cincinnati, on the other hand, has to prove it can keep pace after that wild comeback against Miami (Ohio). This feels like a chance for the Bearcats to show they can hang with one of the stronger teams in the league.
Colorado at Baylor is next, and even if it isn’t the biggest matchup on paper, the storylines are hard to ignore. Colorado got hammered by Northwestern last weekend in a prime-time loss that stood out for all the wrong reasons, and how the Buffaloes answer after Deion Sanders tore into his team will be worth watching.
Baylor also has plenty riding on this one, with DJ Lagway returning and Dave Aranda on the hot seat. For the Bears, it has the feel of a must-win.
TCU at UCF sits in the middle of the pack. Neither team looks like a real factor in the Big 12 race, and injuries have hit UCF, including quarterback Alonza Barnett III.
TCU has looked like a middle-to-bottom-tier team in the conference as well. Still, somebody has to win, and this one matters for the first conference victory of the season.
Arizona at Washington State is a non-conference game that still has some appeal. The old Pac-12 connection gives it a familiar feel, even if that chapter already seems far away. Washington State hasn’t been especially impressive, particularly on offense, but this is a chance for Arizona to grab a road win in Pullman, a place that can be tricky to navigate.
No. 25 Houston at Georgia Southern doesn’t offer much suspense on the surface, with Houston a heavy favorite even away from home.
The larger question is how the Cougars respond after a tough loss to Texas Tech, when they came very close to beating the defending Big 12 champions. That kind of loss can linger, and this game will show whether Houston can move on and handle business.
At the bottom is Sam Houston at No. 11 Texas Tech, and there’s not much mystery here.
Texas Tech should own a huge talent edge, and anything other than a comfortable Red Raiders win would qualify as a major surprise. Week 4 deserves better than this one.
In Other News...
Baylor Could Look Very Different For Its Big 12 Opener
Colorado heads into its Big 12 opener trying to steady itself after a loss to Northwestern, a setback marked by Julian Lewis throwing two interceptions after the Buffaloes had opened the season with two wins. For Baylor, the broader conversation is about availability and how different the lineup might look when conference play begins, especially with the Bears getting healthier at key spots on both sides of the ball.
Dave Aranda said Baylor expects multiple players back, including quarterback DJ Lagway, who has been cleared to play after an ankle injury. Receiver Jadon Porter and safety Devin Turner are also among the players returning after missing recent games, giving the Bears a chance to reset with more options as they prepare for a conference opener that could look a lot different than the early-season version of this team. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Faces A Colorado Problem Just Days Before Kickoff
With Baylor's season opener just days away, the Bears have reason to keep a close eye on Colorado after Deion Sanders made another roster move following the Buffaloes' loss to Northwestern. Sanders said the dismissals came after conduct detrimental to the team by a few players, a reminder that Colorado is still sorting through its own early-season issues even as the calendar turns toward another week of preparation.
For Baylor, the timing matters because any opponent making late changes can complicate scouting and game-planning before kickoff. Colorado said the roster changes are not finalized yet and an updated list will come later in the week, leaving Baylor to prepare for a matchup that could still look different by the time the teams take the field. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Just Entered A Fascinating Legacy Recruitment Battle
Bear Acys early recruitment is already carrying a layer of Baylor history with it. The five-star prospect in the 2029 class has picked up an offer from the Bears, putting the program in position to chase a player whose family name still resonates in Waco thanks to his father, Quincy Acy, who starred there from 2008 to 2012.
Quincy Acy became one of Scott Drews most notable players at Baylor, earning All-Big 12 Defensive Team honors in 2011-12, and the possibility of Drew coaching his son would make this a particularly unusual kind of family thread. It is still very early, but Baylor has put itself in the mix for a recruit whose decision could end up tying together past success, present relationships and the next chapter of the programs legacy. [Read more 🡒]