Week 7 has a loaded feel across the Big 12, but the real heat is coming from Provo and from the long game in the desert.
No. 8 BYU gets the kind of stage that can change how a conference is viewed, with No.
2 Notre Dame coming in for what should be the biggest Big 12 non-conference game in years. At the same time, Arizona keeps stacking results without getting nearly enough attention, while Arizona State is starting to look like a team with real work to do just to get to bowl season.
Arizona is the easiest team in this league to overlook right now, and that’s a mistake. The Wildcats are 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play, with their lone loss coming against BYU in Provo in a game that was closer than the final score made it look.
Noah Fifita has been one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the country, and he’s backed that up with a huge season, leading the conference in both passing yards and touchdown passes. That’s even more impressive when you remember Arizona has been dealing with injuries at wide receiver.
The defense deserves credit too. It may not grab headlines the way BYU’s unit does, but statistically, Arizona sits as a top-five defense in the Big 12.
Put that together with what Fifita is doing, and it’s fair to wonder why the Wildcats are still flying under the radar. I don’t know, but I believe this team can compete with anyone in the conference.
And I expect the Wildcats to be 6-1 when they head to Lubbock on Halloween.
Arizona State is on the other end of that spectrum. The Sun Devils were blown out by Baylor a couple of weeks ago, and last weekend they didn’t exactly make a convincing case against a bad Hawaii team.
There was plenty of roster turnover for Kenny Dillingham this year, but this is still a rough look. Cutter Boley has regressed, the run game isn’t doing much, and the defense hasn’t been up to the task.
The record says 3-2, but the road ahead is brutal. Arizona State still has Texas Tech, Kansas State, BYU, Colorado, UCF, Oklahoma State and Arizona left on the schedule.
It’s hard to spot three more wins in there. If the trajectory doesn’t change fast, the Sun Devils could be watching bowl season from home.
Then comes BYU and Notre Dame, a matchup that feels much bigger than a standard non-conference game. Bear Bachmeier has been excellent, carrying the offense with star running back LJ Martin out, and BYU’s defense has a claim as the best in the Big 12. Even as a double-digit underdog, the Cougars look like a real problem.
Notre Dame has the ranking, but not necessarily the résumé to match it. The Irish haven’t seen anyone at BYU’s level yet, and now they have to go into Provo and deal with an undefeated Top-10 team in a hostile setting. That’s a difficult ask, and it’s why this one feels dangerous for Notre Dame.
This is the kind of game Big 12 fans have had circled for months. It matters for BYU, obviously, but it also carries weight for the conference’s College Football Playoff hopes and national perception. Two major brands, College GameDay on site, prime time under the lights - it doesn’t get much bigger than that.
Call me crazy, but I smell an upset brewing.
In Other News...
BYU Suddenly Has A Notre Dame Backfield Decision To Make
BYU got a notable backfield development this week when second-string running back Sione Moa was medically cleared to play and took part in practice ahead of the matchup with Notre Dame, according to offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick. Moa had been sidelined since suffering a knee injury in the season opener and undergoing surgery in September, so his return after five weeks points to a recovery that appears to have moved faster than many might have expected.
Sione Moas availability still isnt settled, though, and the Cougars are weighing whether he is ready for the physical demands that come with this particular game. For a BYU offense that could use added depth in the backfield, his status adds a real layer of intrigue heading into a high-profile test, with the staff having to decide how much to lean on a player who is back on the field but not yet a sure thing for Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Clayton Young Just Gave BYU Fans A Stunning Reason To Celebrate
Less than a month after nursing a hamstring injury, Clayton Young gave BYU fans plenty to smile about at the Chicago Marathon. The former Cougar delivered a personal best, finished seventh overall and led all Americans in 2:05:23, turning in one of the most eye-catching performances by a U.S. runner in recent memory.
Young came up just short of the American record held by his training partner Conner Mantz, but the bigger story for BYU supporters is how quickly he bounced back and how well he handled the recovery process. He took a cautious route, tested the hamstring in training runs before signing up to race, and then showed he was ready for the biggest stage with a result that should only add to the buzz around the program. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Landed A Huge Recruiting Opportunity With A Five-Star Wing
BYU is set to get a major look in the recruitment of AJ Williams, one of the top wings in the 2027 class, when the five-star prospect arrives in Provo on October 15. Williams, a 6-foot-7 standout from Eagles Landing Christian Academy, has trimmed his list to 10 schools and already taken several visits, putting the Cougars firmly in the mix at a time when every impression matters.
What makes this trip especially noteworthy is how much momentum BYU appears to have already built in the race for a player ranked No. 5 in his class. No decision date has been announced, but with Williams still weighing a handful of top options and an early signing period looming in November 2026, the Cougars now have a chance to strengthen their standing on the kind of recruit that can change the outlook of a class. [Read more 🡒]