After three weeks, the Big 12 already feels like a league full of questions, and Week 4 is set up to answer a few of them in a hurry. With conference games on the board and a handful of tricky nonconference tests still looming, this weekend could tell us plenty about who’s real and who’s still pretending.
The most intriguing matchup on the slate might be the one in Morgantown, where Oklahoma State visits West Virginia in a game that could help define the conference’s sleeper race. The Cowboys came into the year with plenty of buzz around the talent Eric Morris brought in, but the Mountaineers have made their own noise by starting 3-0 for the first time in eight years.
That run got even louder after West Virginia knocked off a Top 25 Virginia team by double digits. Now both teams are chasing their first conference win, and the winner won’t just leave with momentum - it’ll have a strong argument as the Big 12’s true dark horse contender.
There’s also real pressure building in Colorado, where Deion Sanders is trying to reset things after last weekend’s ugly 41-7 loss to Northwestern. Sanders made it clear he was unhappy with how his team played and how some players responded afterward, pointing out that several players were laughing and smiling after the game.
He then said in a press conference earlier this week that he made roster changes by dismissing several players. The message was unmistakable: he was fired up and all business.
Whether that approach sharpens the Buffaloes or causes the whole thing to crack from within is the big question. For now, Colorado gets a fresh start with a trip to Waco to face Baylor on Saturday.
Houston is staring at a different kind of danger. The Cougars are a double-digit favorite, but the trip to Statesboro, Georgia, to face Georgia Southern has all the markings of a trap.
It’s an unusual setup for a Power Four team, especially this late in September, and Houston is coming off a heartbreaking loss at Texas Tech. Add in the fact that UCF is waiting next week for the conference home opener, and this has the feel of a game where a team can get caught looking ahead.
Houston may still be the better team, but it cannot afford to treat Georgia Southern like an afterthought.
Utah, meanwhile, has looked overwhelming through three games, rolling past Idaho, Arkansas, and Utah State while outscoring those opponents 142-24. That’s a dominant start on paper, and the Utes have looked every bit the part so far.
Still, the schedule hasn’t really challenged them yet, which leaves the obvious question hanging over them: how good are they, really? Saturday’s trip to Ames for a meeting with Iowa State should help answer that.
It’s a chance for Utah to show that the early blowouts mean something more than just a hot start.
Cincinnati also enters Week 4 with a lot to prove, even at 3-0. The Bearcats needed a miraculous comeback to get past Miami (Ohio) last weekend, and that kind of escape job doesn’t exactly settle nerves.
Things get harder now with Kansas State coming to town. A win would go a long way toward quieting doubts about Scott Satterfield, while a loss could change the tone around this season fast.
And the road ahead is brutal. Cincinnati still has home games against Kansas State, Texas Tech, Utah, and Colorado, plus trips to Arizona, West Virginia, Houston, Iowa State, and BYU.
One could make a strong case that the Bearcats drew the toughest conference schedule in the Big 12.
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 🡒]
Cincinnati's Unbeaten Start Comes With A Big Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Cincinnatis unbeaten start has kept the Bearcats in the Big 12 conversation, but the early schedule has also made it hard to ignore where the pressure point lies. As the league season settles in, the focus around Scott Satterfields team is shifting from the clean record to the part of the roster that has to hold up if this run is going to mean anything beyond September.
The Bearcats are one of four Big 12 teams facing revealing tests in Week 4, and their issue stands out because it comes even before the conference grind really gets rolling. The offense has helped keep Cincinnati afloat, but the defense has been the source of concern, and against a league schedule built to expose flaws, the question is how long an undefeated start can mask it. [Read more 🡒]