Week 4 in the Big 12 brings a little bit of everything: five league games, a full conference slate taking shape, and by the end of the weekend every team will have at least one Big 12 game under its belt. The schedule is loaded, but a few teams are walking into Saturday with more to answer for than the rest.
TCU is first on that list. The Horned Frogs have already steadied themselves with wins over Grambling and Arkansas State after the disaster in Dublin against North Carolina, and they’ve done it in style at home in Fort Worth, outscoring those two opponents 94-14 combined.
Still, that only gets you so far. The real test is coming now: a Big 12 opponent, a true road game for the first time this season, and a trip to the Bounce House in 80-degree humidity in the middle of the day.
TCU also lost there two years ago, 35-34, so this is the kind of game that can tell you whether the Horned Frogs are actually ready to be the dark horse team people keep bringing up.
Arizona is in a similar spot, even after a 2-1 start. The Wildcats head to Washington State, and the trip matters more than the opponent’s record might suggest.
The Cougars are 1-2, with a 34-7 loss at Kansas State and a 24-10 defeat in the Apple Cup against Washington, but Arizona’s bigger issue is simpler: it has to show it can win away from home. The Wildcats’ only road game ended in a 28-17 loss at BYU, and they were ahead at halftime before getting shut out after the break.
With West Virginia, Texas Tech and Kansas State still on the road schedule, Arizona needs at least two of those wins if it wants to stay in the Big 12 title conversation.
Cincinnati is unbeaten, but not exactly convincing. The Bearcats are 3-0, yet the resume has some rough edges.
Boston College had to grind out a win over Maine last weekend as a near-40-point favorite, and after Cincinnati beat BC, the Eagles only got past Rutgers by seven. The Miami (OH) game also raised questions; it was a rivalry matchup, sure, but Cincinnati was pushed hard after a dominant showing against Western Carolina the week before.
Now the Bearcats get Kansas State in their fourth straight game in Cincinnati, including the Miami game at the Bengals’ home. Even with the record, there’s something to prove here, especially when it comes to a defense that gave up 410 yards of total offense to Miami.
Then there’s Oklahoma State, which may have the biggest point to make in the week’s most interesting game against West Virginia. The winner of that one could be ranked by Sunday and suddenly have a real path toward the Big 12 Championship race.
After weighing it, Oklahoma State feels like the team with more on the line. The Cowboys’ only loss came on the road, and this will be their second road game, this time in Morgantown, where winning is never simple.
Eric Morris knows that environment from his time as a Texas Tech assistant coach, and if OSU wants to make a legitimate run, these are the kinds of games it has to handle. The matchup also asks a hard football question: can the Cowboys’ assignment discipline hold up against a Rich Rodriguez offense?
That approach worked against Oregon and Murray State, but West Virginia’s run game, with quarterback Michael Hawkins and running back Cam Cook, is a different kind of problem.
In Other News...
Jerrod Calhoun Just Landed A Local Recruiting Win Bearcats Fans Will Love
Cincinnati picked up an important early boost for Jerrod Calhouns first recruiting class, landing four-star guard Joshua Tyson from the 2027 cycle. Tyson, a local target with plenty of attention, is ranked 54th nationally and 12th among point guards by 247Sports, and he chose the Bearcats over Xavier and other suitors.
For a program trying to blend the transfer portal with longer-term development, this is the kind of commitment that matters. Calhoun has made it clear he wants high-ceiling talent he can grow, and Tyson gives Cincinnati a promising young guard with both talent and local appeal, while also sending a message in a recruiting battle fans always notice. [Read more 🡒]
Cincinnati Just Landed A Local Guard Who Changes Its 2027 Outlook
Cincinnatis 2027 recruiting picture got a major boost with the commitment of Josh Tyson, a local guard who already brings some serious national cachet to the Bearcats long-term plans. Tyson, a 6-foot-1 combo guard from La Lumiere School and a Cincinnati native, is ranked No. 42 nationally by 247Sports and picked Cincinnati over offers from programs such as Ohio State and Michigan State.
His pledge gives first-year coach Jerrod Calhoun another early building block in the 2027 class, where Tyson joins Kam Mercer. For a program trying to establish momentum under a new staff, landing a high-profile local talent adds both credibility and a clear reminder that the Bearcats can still compete for top prospects close to home. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Faces A Dangerous Spot It Can't Afford To Waste
The Big 12s early-season picture is already getting a little messy, and Cincinnati is right in the middle of that conversation as the league heads into Week 4. The Bearcats have a difficult schedule ahead, the kind that can quickly turn a promising start into a weekly survival test, and that backdrop makes every result across the conference worth watching for how it reshapes the race around them.
Houstons road trip to Georgia Southern is one of the sharper pressure points on the board, but it is not the only one. Colorados coaching changes under Deion Sanders, Utahs looming matchup with Iowa State, and the possibility of Oklahoma State or West Virginia emerging as dark horses all feed into a league table that could look different again by the time Cincinnati settles into its next stretch. [Read more 🡒]