Week 9 in the Big 12 arrives with the race still wide open, but the league’s early shape got a jolt last Saturday. BYU and Texas Tech both took losses that few saw coming, and that left Utah as the conference’s lone unbeaten team heading into this slate.
That means plenty is on the line across the weekend. The Utes have to go to Cincinnati, where the Bearcats will try to topple a second straight ranked opponent.
Texas Tech, fresh off the setback at Cincinnati, gets Arizona at home with the Wildcats riding quarterback Noah Fifita. And BYU, eager to steady itself after the UCF loss, returns to action against Arizona State.
Colorado also has a major test waiting against Kansas State at Folsom Field, in a game that feels especially important for the program’s direction. Buffaloes Wire staffers weighed in on every Big 12 matchup, along with a pair of other notable games.
All games are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 31, unless noted, and all times are Mountain Time. West Virginia and Houston are idle this week.
UCF vs. Baylor Friday, 5:30 p.m., ESPN
Ariana: UCF
Baylor has now dropped consecutive Big 12 games to TCU and Kansas, and neither result looked good for the Bears. UCF, meanwhile, just snapped its own two-game skid by beating BYU, and the Knights have the kind of momentum that matters in a close one. Being at home only strengthens that edge, so UCF gets the nod.
James: UCF
Charlie: UCF
UCF showed me something last week by taking down BYU at home that I didn't think was there. Give me the Knights to take down a Baylor team that recently fired its coach.
No. 14 Texas Tech vs.
Arizona 10 a.m., ESPN
Ariana: Arizona
Texas Tech should probably win this one on paper, but the Red Raiders just got exposed in the loss to Cincinnati. Arizona brings the better quarterback to the table in Noah Fifita, and his production stands out clearly against Will Hammond. The Wildcats have the ingredients for the upset.
James: Arizona
Noah Fifita gives Arizona a major advantage at quarterback, and he’s playing at a high level right now. Texas Tech also has to bounce back from a damaging loss, which makes this a tough spot for the Red Raiders.
Charlie: Texas Tech
Texas Tech can’t afford another stumble at home after last week’s disappointment in Cincinnati. Lubbock should be loud, and that atmosphere is enough for me to lean Red Raiders in a tight one.
Colorado vs. Kansas State Noon, TNT
We shared our Colorado-Kansas State predictions in a separate post, with each staff member providing a final-score prediction and thoughts on what may be the biggest game of Deion Sanders' tenure.
No. 9 BYU vs.
Arizona State 1:30 p.m., Fox
Ariana: BYU
After the loss to UCF, BYU should come out with plenty to prove. The Cougars still have a path to the Big 12 title game, and this is the kind of spot where they need to respond. Arizona State has talent, including Reed Harris, but BYU looks like the better team and should handle business.
James: BYU
Charlie: BYU
BYU is still in the hunt for the Big 12 title game, with the Holy War against Utah still on the horizon. Dropping this one would wreck that chance, and the Cougars should be locked in after the loss to UCF.
TCU vs. Kansas 1:30 p.m., FS1
Ariana: TCU
Neither of these teams has exactly been lighting the league on fire. They both enter with 3-4 records and one Big 12 win, and both quarterbacks have had issues with interceptions. That points to a messy game, but TCU gets the edge with home-field advantage.
James: Kansas
Charlie: TCU
I agree that neither team is very good. If I had to pick, which I do for this exercise, I usually go with the home team, which is TCU. The Horned Frogs are slightly better in my opinion as well.
No. 5 Utah at Cincinnati 1:45 p.m., ESPN
Ariana: Utah
Utah remains the class of the conference as the Big 12’s only unbeaten team. Cincinnati already pulled a shocker over Texas Tech last week, but doing that again against a top-10 opponent feels like too much to ask. The Bearcats can make it interesting, but the Utes should leave with the win and move to 8-0.
James: Utah
Devon Dampier’s mobility should help Utah control the game and keep Cincinnati’s defense on its heels. The Utes keep rolling, and this team might have Kyle Wittingham asking to come back.
Charlie: Utah
Nippert can be a scary place, ask Texas Tech. I think Utah will be tested and Cincinnati will keep it close, but the Utes pull it out at the end.
Iowa State vs. Oklahoma State 5 p.m., Fox
Ariana: Oklahoma State
Iowa State has trouble throwing the ball, and that’s a bad sign against an Oklahoma State offense led by Drew Mestemaker. Mestemaker’s passing numbers jump off the page, and he’s the reason the Cowboys can secure their sixth win here.
James: Oklahoma State
Charlie: Oklahoma State
Iowa State might slow the Cowboys' explosive offense a bit, but it's not stopping the Drew Mestemaker train.
No. 3 Georgia vs.
No. 20 Florida
1:30 p.m., ABC (Atlanta)
Ariana: Georgia
Georgia has been the steadier team, and its loss to Auburn looked like more of a one-off than a warning sign. Florida has been too uneven to trust in this kind of game, so the Bulldogs get the win.
James: Georgia
Charlie: Georgia
No. 4 Indiana vs.
Minnesota 1:30 p.m., CBS
Ariana: Indiana
Indiana’s offense didn’t look great against Michigan last week, so an upset scare is in play. Even so, the Hoosiers still have enough defense and enough playmakers to survive and escape with a win.
James: Minnesota
With the craziness of college football, I'm hoping for another upset weekend. The Golden Gophers' defensive front will dial up the pressure against quarterback Josh Hoover to disrupt his rhythm early and give the defending champs their second loss of the season.
Charlie: Indiana
In Other News...
Colorado Answered A Brutal Fourth-Set Collapse With A Needed Home Win
Colorado volleyball got the kind of response it needed at the CU Events Center, shaking off a rough fourth-set letdown and still finding a way to beat Cincinnati in five sets. The Buffs won the first, third and fifth sets, which gave the home crowd plenty to hang onto after Cincinnati had evened the match and threatened to steal the momentum late.
There were also some notable individual markers along the way. Cayla Payne hit a major career milestone, and Jenna Ylivainio supplied a strong all-around night with a personal best in digs while also helping on serve. For a Colorado team trying to steady itself after a brutal swing in the middle of the match, the win offered both relief and a reminder that there is still depth to lean on. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Fans Now Face A Bigger Concern About JuJu Lewis
Colorado fans got a worrying update this week when quarterback Julian Lewis suffered a medical emergency at a university athletic facility and was taken to a hospital. His father later said Lewis is recovering and thanked supporters, while the university also voiced its full support as he continues to recover away from the field.
For a program already watching its quarterback situation closely, the immediate concern is less about football than about Lewis himself. The cause of the emergency has not been publicly disclosed, and there is still no timetable for when he might return to football activities, leaving Colorado waiting for more clarity before anyone can start thinking about the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces A Big Opening Against Kansas State If Playmakers Deliver
Colorado heads into its meeting with Kansas State with a chance to make an early statement, but the matchup comes with the usual caveats that have defined this part of the schedule. The Buffaloes have enough playmakers to stress the Wildcats if they can get them in rhythm, and the scouting report points to a game that could hinge on which side handles the key individual matchups better in the opening stages.
Kansas State still has questions hanging over its quarterback spot, which adds another layer of uncertainty to a game already shaped by recent form and injury concerns. For Colorado, the bigger internal wrinkle is how the offense distributes the workload, especially with Deion Sanders indicating Richard Young should be much more involved after barely seeing the field lately. [Read more 🡒]