November has arrived, and the Big 12 is starting to sort itself out in a hurry. The title race is tightening, bowl hopes are getting real for some teams and fragile for others, and this weekend brings one of the conference’s biggest showdowns with everything on the line. Utah and BYU headline the slate, but there are plenty of other games that could reshape the month ahead.
The biggest spotlight belongs to the Holy War, and for good reason. Utah hosts BYU in a rivalry that sits just 45 miles apart but always feels bigger than geography.
This year, the stakes go well beyond pride. Utah is still the Big 12’s only unbeaten team, while BYU has just one loss, and both teams still control their own path in the conference title race.
There are more games left after this weekend, but this is clearly the toughest test remaining for either side. The winner takes a major step toward AT&T Stadium and the Big 12 Championship Game.
The loser suddenly has a much thinner margin for error.
Cincinnati is trying to stop a November slide that has become hard to ignore. Since Scott Satterfield took over in 2023, the Bearcats are 1-11 in games played during November.
That one win, oddly enough, came against Houston - the same team Cincinnati faces this weekend. But this Houston group is not the same one Cincinnati beat before.
The Cougars have climbed into the Big 12 contender picture, while the Bearcats are still fighting to prove they belong there. After last week’s lopsided loss to Utah, Cincinnati needs a response badly if it wants to show this season won’t follow the same November script.
Bowl eligibility is also very much in play when Baylor meets Iowa State. Baylor looked energized last week under interim head coach Joe Klanderman, rolling past UCF soon after Dave Aranda was dismissed.
That win left the Bears one victory shy of becoming bowl eligible, and with a tough finish still ahead, this may be their best shot to get there. Iowa State is in a similar spot, needing two more wins to lock up a bowl berth.
A road win in Waco would give the Cyclones a much clearer path through the final month.
Oklahoma State’s defense is under the microscope after last week’s collapse against Iowa State. The Cowboys gave up 51 points and more than 500 yards, and that kind of outing naturally raises questions about whether the unit can hold up over the stretch run.
The offense can score with anybody in the league, but the defense has too often kept the Cowboys from cashing in on that firepower. Kansas State should give them a chance to clean things up, though the Wildcats are dealing with major quarterback issues and are expected to turn to their third-string signal-caller.
If Oklahoma State can’t make a stand in that matchup, the concerns around that defense only grow louder.
West Virginia brings a different kind of problem to Lubbock. The Mountaineers know how to put points on the board, and their rushing attack led by Michael Hawkins Jr. and Cam Cook has been one of the most explosive in the conference.
That ground game has caused headaches all season. The flip side is that West Virginia’s defense has struggled just as much as the offense has thrived, which is why so many of its games turn into shootouts.
Texas Tech has a solid defense, but its offense has been inconsistent. The Red Raiders are favored to control things, yet West Virginia has enough firepower to make this one far more interesting than it might look at first glance.
If the Mountaineers get rolling early, it could turn into one of the most entertaining games on the Week 10 slate.
In Other News...
BYU Is Making A Visible Helmet Change Fans Will Notice
BYUs football helmets are about to look a little different, with the school and Trucordia announcing an expanded multiyear corporate sponsorship agreement that will put the companys logo on the helmet bumpers beginning Nov. 7. It is a visible addition, one that will be hard for fans to miss once the Cougars take the field.
The move is part of a broader effort to raise Trucordias profile among BYU fans while also providing support for the football program. For a team with a passionate following, even a small change to the helmet carries extra attention, and this one will be part of the look from here on out. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Utah Hopes Suddenly Center On One Crucial Return
A viral snap from former BYU offensive lineman Connor Pay has given Cougar fans something unexpected to argue about online, with the clip drawing more than 3 million views and turning a routine football exchange into a minor social media debate. The video shows the ball landing in a throwing position with the laces on the fingers, and while some viewers hailed it as a perfect snap, others pushed back on that description.
All the while, BYU is getting ready for Utah with a much more consequential storyline on the field: the possible return of running back LJ Martin from injury. In a rivalry game where every healthy body matters, Martins status could end up carrying far more weight than any viral highlight ever will. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Faces Its Biggest Test Yet With One Major Concern
BYU heads into its showdown with Utah with plenty on the line and just as much attention, as the matchup brings together two top-10 teams in one of the most anticipated games on the schedule. The Cougars have spent the week preparing for a Utah defense that has been sturdy and a Utes offense that presents its own challenges, while offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick is already looking at ways to adjust the running game if needed.
The biggest concern for BYU is the likely absence of key offensive player LJ Martin because of injury, a development that could force the Cougars to lean on depth and creativity in a game where every possession matters. Coaches have talked through the preparation and the strategy, but the real test will come on the field, where BYU will have to find answers against a rival that rarely makes things easy. [Read more 🡒]