Week 2 of the 2026 Big 12 season delivered the kind of chaos that can make even early-season overreactions feel justified. A few teams made noise against Power 4 opponents, one program flipped the script in stunning fashion, and a couple of losses left real questions hanging after just two Saturdays.
The biggest jolt came out of Stillwater, where Oklahoma State went from losing to Tulsa one week to beating No. 6 Oregon 39-31 in Eric Morris’ debut at Boone Pickens Stadium.
That’s the kind of swing that stops college football in its tracks. The Cowboys’ defense set the tone, limiting the Ducks to 90 rushing yards at 3.0 per carry while Dante Moore was held to 191 yards on 14-of-29 passing with a 22.4 QBR.
Oklahoma State also looked far sturdier on both lines than it had in Week 1. The North Texas transfers who took plenty of heat during the week answered back, too.
Drew Mestemaker finished 26-for-43 for 317 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, Caleb Hawkins carried 23 times for 110 yards and a score, Wyatt Young caught five passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, and Ethan Wesloski led the defense with nine tackles, .5 sacks and .5 tackles for loss.
The Big 12’s early nonconference profile got a major lift from more than one result. The league went 1-2 against the SEC, with Arizona State and Kansas taking losses as underdogs and Utah winning as the favored team.
That leaves the Big 12 at 4-5 against Power 4 opponents so far, with a 6-3 record against the spread. If the Pac-12 is folded into the picture, the conference is 7-5 overall and 7-5 ATS.
Oklahoma State’s upset obviously stands out, but Iowa State also played above its weight class, and Arizona State did plenty in a 48-20 loss that the final score doesn’t really capture. The Sun Devils finished with more pass yards, more rushing yards, more yards per play, more first downs and more sacks than Texas A&M.
On the flip side, TCU’s loss to UNC and UCF’s loss to Pitt were the kind of ugly defeats that linger because the Big 12 teams looked like the better sides and still came away empty.
BYU, meanwhile, opened Big 12 play with a statement. Bear Bachmeier threw for 217 yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars rallied past Arizona 28-17 in the conference opener.
Arizona had led 17-14, but BYU took control in the second half and shut the Wildcats out over the final 30 minutes. Arizona managed only 82 total yards after halftime, and Noah Fifita took the blame even though the offense never got much going on the ground either.
Through two weeks, BYU looks like the most consistent team in the league and, at 1-0 in conference play, sits in first place.
Texas Tech’s 35-24 win over Oregon State came with a very different feel. The Red Raiders got the result, but they spent much of the night in a fight.
Braden Atkinson threw for 346 yards against them, Texas Tech averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, and the Red Raiders piled up 70 penalty yards while looking sloppy on both sides of the ball. There’s also the possibility of a quarterback battle developing between Will Hammond and Thomas Castellanos.
For a team with as much talent as anyone in the Big 12, the first two weeks have not yet looked like a fully formed contender.
Iowa State rounded out the weekend with a performance that may not have shown up in the win column, but still said something about the team. The Cyclones lost 16-13 to Iowa on Saturday night, yet they played a clean game with zero turnovers, held the Hawkeyes to 3.2 yards per rush and won time of possession.
Tyler Roehl got conservative on offense in the second half, especially once Iowa’s run defense tightened, but that’s part of the grind in a rivalry game. Even so, Iowa State’s showing suggested a team that will be difficult to deal with all season.
In Other News...
BYU Backfield Suddenly Faces A Bigger Problem Than Fans Expected
BYUs updated depth chart for the Colorado State game brought more than the usual pregame housekeeping, and the changes in the backfield stood out immediately. Sione Moa is no longer listed after suffering torn MCL and PCL ligaments, a blow that reshapes the running back rotation just as the Cougars turn to their next conference test. The chart now puts true freshmen Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka into the mix, while Preston Rex slides in as the primary backup behind LJ Martin.
Siale Esera also disappeared from the two-deep because of an injury, though he is expected to miss only the upcoming game rather than the season. For BYU, the bigger concern is how quickly the offense can settle a position group that suddenly looks thinner and younger than expected. With Colorado State up next, the Cougars are left sorting out both depth and durability in a spot where they could least afford a setback. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Early Snap Counts Are Already Revealing A Clear Trust Shift
BYUs win over Arizona offered more than a clean result in the standings. It also provided an early look at how this coaching staff is sorting out its rotation, and the snap counts made it clear which players were being leaned on when the game tightened up. Nusi Taumoepeau, Jayven Williams, Cannon DeVries and Tommy Prassas all logged meaningful work, a sign that the staff is already settling into a comfort level with a core group while injuries and game plan decisions continue to shape the rest of the depth chart.
Elsewhere, the distribution told its own story. Tiger Bachmeier and Justin Kirkland saw limited action, which only adds to the sense that this is still a moving picture rather than a finished lineup. For BYU, that matters because September snap counts often hint at who the coaches trust in bigger moments, and who still has to wait for a fuller opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Win Over Arizona Turned On 3 Momentum-Swinging Moments
BYUs 28-17 win over Arizona was shaped by a handful of plays that kept flipping the tone of the game, and the Cougars were the ones who kept making the bigger responses when it mattered. A linebacker takeaway from Cade Uluave helped swing momentum back in BYUs favor, while Kyler Kaspers touchdown catch gave the offense a needed punch in a matchup that never stayed settled for long.
The other turning point came on a fourth-down stop that could have gone the wrong way if not for BYUs challenge, and the replay review ultimately upheld the Cougars stand. Put together, those moments gave BYU a workable cushion and kept Arizona from fully seizing control, which is exactly why this one felt less like a clean run and more like a game decided by a few high-leverage snaps. [Read more 🡒]