Week 7 is bringing a little bit of everything for the Big 12: ranked matchups, a rivalry game that could shake up the bottom of the standings, and more evidence that the conference’s quarterback play is not getting nearly enough love.
Start with the signal-callers. Big 12 quarterbacks have been lighting it up all season, yet none of the league’s top passers are sitting inside the top five of the Heisman Trophy odds.
Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, fresh off another strong showing in the Cowboys’ 42-28 win over UCF, checks in with the seventh-best odds. Utah’s Devon Dampier, BYU’s Bear Bachmeier, Houston’s Conner Weigman, and Arizona’s Noah Fifita are all clustered between 15th and 20th.
Kansas State’s Avery Johnson is sitting around 30th, and West Virginia’s Michael Hawkins Jr. isn’t on many boards at all, even though he has stacked up several productive offensive outings while the Mountaineers’ defense keeps slipping.
That’s the thing about this league right now: the respect is lagging behind the production.
Arizona is making a loud case that it belongs in the conversation at the top of the league. The Wildcats moved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play with a 52-31 win over West Virginia, and they’ve now scored at least 34 points in every game except their road loss at BYU.
That defeat came against the highest-ranked team in the conference, and outside of it, Arizona has looked sharp on offense nearly every step of the way. The next month will tell the real story, though.
Road trips to Texas Tech and a home date with Utah are the kind of games that decide whether a team is simply hanging around or truly threatening for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game.
At the other end of the league picture, Kansas State is suddenly in an uncomfortable place. The debate over the Big 12’s worst team really comes down to Kansas or Kansas State, and right now the Wildcats have earned the nod based on recent form.
They were impressive in non-conference play, but conference action has gone sideways fast. Even a home blowout loss to a ranked Houston team didn’t calm the nerves in Manhattan.
The good news is that redemption is sitting right in front of them this weekend against Kansas. The bad news is that if Kansas State drops this one, the season may be heading into full tailspin territory.
The Sunflower Showdown kicks off first, at 11 a.m. CT on FS1 in Manhattan.
Neither Kansas nor Kansas State has picked up a conference win yet, but the Jayhawks at least showed some fight last week at Utah. They went toe-to-toe with the Top 15 Utes for three quarters and were still within 27-24 entering the fourth before Utah finally pulled away.
Kansas hasn’t beaten Kansas State on the football field in 18 years, but this does not feel like a matchup where the streak is untouchable. The Wildcats have been shaky, and if Kansas can get its offense moving early, the Jayhawks have a real shot at the upset.
The loser of this one could wind up near the bottom of the league standings.
Later in the day, Oklahoma State and Houston meet in a ranked showdown that should bring plenty of points. The Cowboys, ranked No. 18, are chasing a second win over a ranked opponent this season.
Houston, ranked No. 20, is still looking for its first Top 25 victory. For the Cougars, this has the feel of an elimination game after a conference loss to Texas Tech.
Another stumble would be a major blow. Oklahoma State has more breathing room, with only one more ranked opponent left after this one, so a loss would sting but wouldn’t necessarily knock the Cowboys out of the Big 12 title picture.
FOX has this one as its primetime game of the week, with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
The biggest game of the weekend, though, may not even be inside the conference. No.
2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU in a top-10 clash that carries major playoff weight.
Notre Dame comes in at 6-0, BYU at 5-0, and both teams are squarely in the College Football Playoff race. The line opened with the Fighting Irish favored by 11.5 points and has already moved to 10, with more movement likely before kickoff.
BYU is also dealing with a blow in the backfield, as star running back LJ Martin is expected to miss the game because of injury. That puts even more on Bear Bachmeier, who may need the best performance of his career.
Both sides bring strong defenses and high-level quarterback play, which usually means the game will turn on turnovers, special teams, and a few crucial snaps. ABC has it as its Game of the Week, with kickoff also set for 6:30 p.m.
CT.
However the weekend breaks, the Big 12 is about to be in the spotlight. Between Arizona’s push, Kansas State’s problems, and the heavyweight games on deck, Week 7 has a chance to say plenty about where this league really stands.
In Other News...
BYU Just Made A Clear Statement Before Notre Dame
BYU is leaning into a familiar look for one of its biggest stages of the season, choosing its classic royal home uniforms with white pants and a white helmet with a royal blue facemask for the game against Notre Dame. It is a throwback combination that was most associated with the 1980s and 1990s, and it gives the Cougars a clean, traditional presentation for a matchup that will draw plenty of attention.
The choice also stands out because BYU has already rotated through multiple uniform combinations this season, but this one feels deliberate. The Cougars last wore the look in November 2025 against TCU, and bringing it back now suggests they want the classic brand front and center when the spotlight is brightest. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Gets Timely Injury Boost Ahead Of Notre Dame
BYU got a useful lift this week as it heads into its matchup with Notre Dame, with starters Raider Damuni and Isaiah Glasker both back on the depth chart after dealing with injuries. Kalani Sitake said most of the regulars should be available, a welcome bit of news for a team trying to line up as close to full strength as possible for one of the biggest games on its schedule.
The Cougars still have a couple of notable absences to sort through, with Andrew Gentry and LJ Martin not yet back in the mix. Running back Sione Moa has returned to practice, but he has not been added back to the depth chart yet, leaving BYU with a little more clarity than it had earlier in the week and a few questions still hanging over the final game-day setup. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Added A Tradition Twist To Notre Dame Week
BYU is leaning into a classic look for one of its biggest nonconference stages of the season. For Saturdays meeting with Notre Dame, the Cougars announced they will go with a white helmet featuring the royal blue stretch Y, paired with a royal blue uniform and white pants with royal blue stripes, a combination that gives the matchup a little extra throwback feel.
It is the first time BYU has worn that set against Notre Dame since 1993, and the look most recently appeared in last years game against TCU. The primetime slot only adds to the spotlight, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MDT on ABC, and the uniforms now join the list of small details that tend to matter when a program is trying to make a statement in a game like this. [Read more 🡒]