The Big 12’s third week delivered exactly what the league needed: a marquee finish in Houston, a surprise statement from West Virginia, and a tight one in London that Arizona State managed to close out.
The headliner was No. 12 Texas Tech’s 28-26 win over No.
23 Houston. That one went right down to the wire, with Houston quarterback Conner Weigman ultimately being called short of the goal line on the game-tying two-point conversion with 49 seconds left.
West Virginia added its own twist to the weekend, knocking off No. 25 Virginia by 11 points in the Duke's Mayo Classic to stay unbeaten. And in London, Arizona State and Kansas played a game that stayed close all the way through, with the Sun Devils escaping 24-17 after Arizona State quarterback Cutter Boley picked up a key third-and-five on the final drive to keep the ball away from the Jayhawks.
After three weeks, BYU and Texas Tech are the league’s only Big 12 teams with both a perfect overall record and a conference win. Cincinnati, Kansas State, Utah and West Virginia also remain unbeaten overall, while Arizona and Houston both sit at 0-1 in Big 12 play. Kansas is still searching for its first league win.
Big 12 football standings after Week 3
BYU Cougars (3-0 overall, 1-0 Big 12)
Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-0, 1-0)
Cincinnati Bearcats (3-0, 0-0)
Kansas State Wildcats (3-0, 0-0)
Utah Utes (3-0, 0-0)
West Virginia Mountaineers (3-0, 0-0)
Arizona State Sun Devils (2-1, 0-0)
Baylor Bears (2-1, 0-0)
UCF Knights (2-1, 0-0)
Colorado Buffaloes (2-1, 0-0)
Iowa State Cyclones (2-1, 0-0)
Oklahoma State Cowboys (2-1, 0-0)
TCU Horned Frogs (2-1, 0-0)
Arizona Wildcats (2-1, 0-1)
Houston Cougars (2-1, 0-1)
Kansas Jayhawks (1-2, 0-1)
Week 2 Big 12 results
Big 12 matchups:
Texas Tech 28, Houston 26
Arizona State 24, Kansas 17
Versus Power Four:
West Virginia 38, Virginia 27
Northwestern 41, Colorado 7
Versus Non-Power Four:
Oklahoma State 59, Murray State 0
Iowa State 55, Bowling Green 7
UCF 44, Georgia State 30
Arizona 42, Northern Illinois 17
BYU 41, Colorado State 23
Baylor 36, Louisiana Tech 19
Cincinnati 35, Miami Ohio 31
Utah 33, Utah State 0
TCU 31, Arkansas State 7
Kansas State 31, Tulane 20
In Other News...
Deion Sanders Just Entered A Brutal Stretch Colorado Cant Afford
Colorados lopsided loss to Northwestern was more than a bad afternoon, it was a reminder that the margin for error has all but disappeared. At 2-1, the Buffaloes are still early in the season, but the defeat made the road to bowl eligibility noticeably tougher and put an immediate spotlight on a schedule that was already going to test them in a hurry.
Deion Sanders enters his fourth season facing a stretch Colorado cant really afford to botch, with several upcoming games looking like uphill fights and the Big 12 opener against Baylor looming as a pivotal one. The larger concern is not just one loss, but whether the program has closed enough ground to keep pace with a conference that appears stronger around it. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado's Next Game Could Reshape Several Buffaloes Roles
Three games into the season, Colorado has already started to sort out which players are pushing their way into bigger roles and which ones are sliding the other direction. Smith, Fontentte and Martinez have all moved up in standing thanks to timely, impactful plays, while Lewis, Lester and Welch have seen their stock dip after quieter or less effective outings. It is the kind of early-season movement that can happen fast when a team is still searching for the right mix, and it has given the Buffaloes a clearer sense of who is earning more trust.
The next game could sharpen those decisions even more, especially with so many roles still in flux. Lewis has already taken responsibility for his interceptions in the latest game, and how he responds will matter not just for him, but for the way Colorado weighs its options around the offense. For a team still trying to stabilize its pecking order, the coming week offers a chance to turn a few emerging trends into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado's First Blowout Exposed Problems Deion Sanders Cant Ignore
The loss to Northwestern was the kind of setback that can sharpen a teams picture fast, and for Colorado it clarified a few uncomfortable realities for Deion Sanders and his staff. The offense has looked more coordinated under Brennan Marion, but the Buffaloes are still fighting basics that tend to decide September games, especially ball security and the kind of consistency that keeps drives alive.
Defensively, the problems look harder to patch in a hurry. Colorados depth on the line and at linebacker has already been tested by injuries and eligibility issues, and the passing game still feels like it is waiting for the right pieces to click, with Danny Scudero among the players limited by injury. For a program trying to keep building momentum, the next stretch now feels less about style points and more about whether enough of the roster can get healthy and steady before the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]