The Big 12 is walking into November with real College Football Playoff juice, and the conference’s biggest week may be just getting started.
Five Big 12 teams are ranked right now: No. 3 Utah, No.
7 BYU, No. 13 Texas Tech, No.
17 Houston and No. 24 Arizona.
That alone tells the story. But this weekend pushes things even further, because two of those ranked teams are set to meet with a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game on the line - along with a possible CFP berth.
The first official College Football Playoff rankings arrive this week, and that’s where the conference finally gets its first real read on how the committee sees it compared with the polls. All season, the Big 12 has been chasing respect while the SEC and Big Ten have soaked up most of the attention, even as the league has stacked up quality football across the country.
Texas Tech is still very much alive in the playoff race at 7-1. The Red Raiders’ path is clear enough: West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Baylor and TCU are all still .500 or better, and finishing 11-1 by winning out would give the committee something to seriously consider.
BYU, also 7-1, took a hit after its upset of No. 2 Notre Dame, but the Cougars still have the biggest statement game left on the board.
No. 3 Utah is the obstacle that matters most, both for a trip to Dallas and for any CFP hopes.
The Holy War will be the highest-ranked matchup in the history of the rivalry, and BYU has a three-game winning streak in the series it wants to protect while also knocking Utah out of the unbeaten ranks.
Utah, meanwhile, has spent 2026 blowing past preseason expectations. At 8-0, the Utes get BYU this week in a game that carries far more than rivalry bragging rights.
A win would not only damage BYU’s playoff dream with a second loss, it would keep Utah’s own dream season rolling under new coach Morgan Scalley. It would also give Devon Dampier’s dark-horse Heisman push a major boost.
Arizona and Houston are both 6-2 and still have a route to Dallas, though their CFP paths are tougher. Oklahoma State is an odd but real wild card in the mix, with a chance to get to Dallas at 9-3 if it wins out and beats Texas Tech along the way.
Tuesday’s rankings should tell us plenty. Utah, Texas Tech and BYU all have cases to land in the Top 10 and sit in strong position for playoff spots. Houston should be in the conversation too, with time left to move up before December.
For the Big 12, the possibility of landing two teams in the CFP has never looked more real than it does in 2026. Texas Tech, Utah and BYU appear to be the conference’s best bets, but nothing is locked in yet. With four weeks left, the committee still has plenty to sort through, and it starts with the first rankings this week.
In Other News...
BYU Heads Into Utah Week With One Awkward Tie And Injury Drama
Utah week always carries extra weight for BYU, but Keanu Tanuvasa adds a personal layer to the rivalry. The defensive lineman spent time in Salt Lake City before transferring across the aisle, and he still has enduring connections there, including with Utah head coach Morgan Scalley. Even with that history, Tanuvasa sounded eager for the chance to line up at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the emotion of the matchup will be matched by a very different kind of family milestone as his wife is expecting their first child soon.
On the injury front, BYU is still sorting out two important names before kickoff. Coach Kalani Sitake said running back LJ Martin and cornerback Evan Johnson will continue to be evaluated over the next few days as the Cougars try to determine whether either can go against Utah. For a game that already has plenty of edge, the availability of both players could shape how BYU approaches one of its biggest tests of the season. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces A Huge Holy War Test After Its Uneven Stretch
BYU left Tempe with a 27-20 win over Arizona State, but the bigger picture now shifts quickly to the road and to the kind of game that can define a season. Kalani Sitake has made it clear the Cougars still need to sharpen up after an uneven stretch, and the timing could hardly be more demanding with No. 3 Utah waiting on Saturday morning in Salt Lake City.
The Holy War has a way of stripping everything down to urgency, and BYU enters this one trying to keep its momentum while also proving it can play cleaner football against a top-tier opponent. The Cougars will get their shot on November 7, with kickoff set for 10 a.m. MST, and the stakes are obvious: a chance to extend their winning streak against Utah and show that the recent bumps have not knocked them off course. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Betseys Quiet Start Puts BYU Fans In Wait-And-See Mode
Tyler Betseys first few days in a BYU uniform have given Cougar fans a little bit of everything except the scoring burst they were hoping to see. The Syracuse transfer has started both exhibition games, but he has made just 1 of 6 shots, a quiet beginning for a player expected to help on the wing as the season takes shape.
Kevin Young has not sounded concerned, pointing to Betseys defensive work and saying the shooting will come around. The Cougars will get a better read soon enough, with Ohio State up next in a non-conference game at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, where the stakes and the pace should offer a clearer picture of how Betsey fits. [Read more 🡒]