Week 7 gives the Big 12 a little bit of everything: a massive non-conference showcase, two ranked league games, and rivalry matchups that can still flip the conference race on its head. It’s the kind of weekend that can reshape the conversation fast, and the headliner is obvious.
No. 8 BYU against No.
2 Notre Dame sits at the top of the board for a reason. BYU has been one of the season’s biggest surprises, while Notre Dame carries the national profile and College Football Playoff expectations that always travel with that brand.
The quarterback battle alone makes this one worth circling, but the bigger draw is how both teams have already shown they can win in different ways. BYU has found answers in multiple styles, and Notre Dame has leaned on the physicality and depth that separate elite programs from the pack.
Put that on a national stage with the spotlight turned all the way up, and it’s easy to see why this is the game everyone will be watching.
The second ranked showdown on the schedule deserves plenty of attention too. No.
18 Oklahoma State heads to No. 20 Houston in a meeting that brings real heat to the Big 12 weekend.
Oklahoma State’s offense has caught fire in recent weeks, with Drew Mestemaker emerging as one of college football’s top quarterbacks. Houston has its own weapon in Connor Weigman, who may be the most underrated quarterback in the country.
Both teams arrive playing some of their best football of the year, and if Houston fans were waiting for a game to make the stadium shake, this is it.
Rivalry games are never just background noise, and TCU at Baylor is proof. TCU’s season may not be living up to its usual standard, but this matchup still carries plenty of weight inside the conference.
Recent meetings have been full of points, though this one may not follow that script. Baylor comes in as one of the few unbeaten teams in Big 12 play, and it has a chance to further solidify its place in the race.
Then there’s Kansas at Kansas State, another rivalry game with no shortage of edge. The Sunflower Showdown has belonged to Kansas State in recent years, but this is the sort of spot where Kansas can make the night uncomfortable.
Both teams are coming off losses, which gives the meeting even more urgency. The simple question hanging over it: Can the Jayhawks finally snap the streak?
Cincinnati at West Virginia doesn’t carry the same title stakes, but it has more intrigue than it first appears to. Cincinnati has only one loss, though it’s coming off a heavy defeat to Arizona.
West Virginia is in a similar spot after Arizona handled the Mountaineers with ease last week. Both teams need a response, and with defensive questions on both sides, this one could turn into a track meet in Morgantown.
Arizona State at No. 10 Texas Tech looked better on paper before the season than it does now.
Arizona State has lost some of its shine after being blown out by Baylor two weeks ago and struggling against Hawaii last weekend. Texas Tech has issues of its own, but the Red Raiders still have a major edge in talent and should be in command for most of the afternoon.
Finally, No. 11 Utah at Colorado carries an unusual number attached to it: a road favorite by more than two touchdowns.
That says plenty about the gap between the two teams right now. Utah has played like one of the best teams in the Big 12, maybe the best, and looks set to keep rolling.
Colorado, meanwhile, has been sliding in recent weeks. Unless the Buffaloes suddenly find something they’ve been missing all season, Utah should head into Boulder and leave with a comfortable win.
In Other News...
BYU Is Asking Bear Bachmeier To Do Too Much Right Now
LJ Martins injury has changed the look of BYUs offense at exactly the wrong time. With the running back expected to miss four to six weeks, Bear Bachmeier has been pushed into carrying a much bigger share of the load, and the Cougars have leaned on him heavily in recent games to keep the attack moving.
It worked against Iowa State, when Bachmeier was the centerpiece of a 24-10 win and did damage both through the air and on the ground. But there is a difference between surviving that kind of workload for a night and asking it to hold up against a stronger opponent like Notre Dame, which is why BYU has to be careful about how much it puts on its quarterback from here. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs Notre Dame Test Just Added More Holy War Intrigue
Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley offered a small twist to a week already loaded with intrigue by voicing support for the Big 12 and saying he was interested in the upcoming showdown between No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 8 BYU. For the Cougars, the matchup is more than a marquee nonconference date. It is another chance to strengthen a postseason resume that already has the attention of the sport and to keep the Big 12s national standing front and center.
BYU and Utah also remain tied together in a conference race that could end up shaping the league race and the rivalrys next chapter. If the Cougars handle Notre Dame, the ripple effects would reach well beyond one Saturday, giving the Big 12 a stronger talking point and adding even more weight to the eventual Utah-BYU meeting. With both teams still in the mix as serious contenders, the stakes around that rivalry keep climbing. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Heads Into Rivalry Week With One Big QB Question
Week 6 in the Big 12 offered another reminder of how much quarterback play is driving the leagues early-season race, and BYU was right in the middle of that conversation. Bear Bachmeier turned in a strong outing for the Cougars, giving them another reason to feel good about where the offense stands as the schedule tightens and the ranked-team matchups start stacking up across the conference.
The leagues Week 7 slate only raises the stakes, with several quarterback duels looming and the latest read on the Big 12 pecking order starting to take shape. Arizonas Noah Fifita also helped fuel the discussion with a 300-yard passing performance, and the weekly quarterback rankings reflect just how crowded the top tier has become as BYU tries to keep pace with the conferences best. [Read more 🡒]