Another loaded week is on deck in the Big 12, and the headliner is the conference’s lone ranked showdown: Houston against Utah. Elsewhere, Texas Tech and Cincinnati are set to collide, Kansas State gets Arizona State, Colorado tries to spring a surprise on Oklahoma State, and no one in the league gets a week off.
The best matchup on the board is Houston vs. Utah, and it brings together two top-16 teams in the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Both came close to a stumble last week - Utah against Colorado and Houston against Oklahoma State - but both held on. With Utah still unbeaten, this game carries real weight for the conference picture.
If Houston pulls off the win, only BYU and Texas Tech would remain undefeated in the Big 12.
There’s plenty of quarterback firepower in this one. Houston and Utah both bring elite passers, strong ground games and dangerous receiving groups.
Conner Weigman is coming off a five-touchdown passing performance against the Cowboys, while Devon Dampier threw his first interception in his first game against the Buffaloes. Even so, both quarterbacks have enough talent to swing a top-15 matchup, which should make this one worth every snap.
The upset watch centers on Colorado and Oklahoma State. The Buffaloes’ offense isn’t the flashiest group, but it found something against Utah and put up a season-high 24 points.
More importantly, Colorado’s defense looks like a real strength and may be one of the better units in the Big 12. That side of the ball could decide everything, especially if it can force an interception or two from quarterback Drew Mestemaker.
Oklahoma State is still favored by double digits, but this is the kind of game where an upset doesn’t feel far-fetched.
There’s no shortage of other Big 12 games with stakes attached. Texas Tech goes against Cincinnati with a chance to stay undefeated, and the Red Raiders are double-digit favorites. BYU also has unbeaten status on the line against UCF and enters as a seven-point favorite.
West Virginia meets TCU, with the Horned Frogs favored after their win over Baylor last week. Baylor will try to rebound against Kansas, and the Jayhawks are slight favorites.
Kansas State and Arizona State are both chasing a second Big 12 win when they square off. Arizona is also aiming for its sixth win of the season against Iowa State.
In Other News...
Reagan Kotschau Gave Colorado Fans Another Reason To Celebrate
Colorados womens soccer team kept rolling with a 4-0 win over Arizona, getting goals from four different players and another clean sheet in a season that has been defined by control on both ends. Senior midfielder Reagan Kotschau was right in the middle of it, helping the Buffaloes dictate the pace while head coach Danny Sanchez saw his group back up the momentum with another convincing road performance.
Kotschau also gave Buffaloes fans a milestone to remember, adding to a season that has already featured plenty of production from the veteran midfielder. Colorado outshot Arizona 13-5 and never let the Wildcats generate a shot on goal, which made the night feel even more complete as the Buffs locked down their ninth shutout of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Faces An Oklahoma State Threat Fans Shouldn't Overlook
Oklahoma State arrives with more than just a dangerous offense, because Drew Mestemaker has become one of the more talked-about quarterbacks in the country. The buzz around him has been loud enough to push him into first-round NFL Draft conversations, and some mock drafts have even sent him as high as No. 2. He has been a major reason the program has regained national attention, with head coach Eric Morris leaning into modern recruiting methods and an offensive system that fits Mestemaker's skill set.
For Colorado, the challenge is obvious: this is a quarterback who can swing a game with his arm and command a defense's full attention. The concern for Oklahoma State, though, is that the hype comes with some volatility, and Mestemaker has already thrown six interceptions this season. That makes him a fascinating threat to prepare for, because the ceiling is enormous even if the margin for error has not disappeared. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Injury News Could Change What Oklahoma State Faces Saturday
Colorados injury report for Saturdays visit from Oklahoma State brought a little more clarity, even if it still leaves the Buffaloes short-handed heading into Week 8. The official list shows seven players unavailable, but there was at least some movement in the right direction as Ashley and Lester were upgraded from questionable to probable, giving Deion Sanders team a bit more optimism on the margins.
The more revealing part of the report came with Richardson and Atkins being taken off the injury list altogether, which usually points to something bigger than a simple week-to-week setback. For Colorado, that matters in a few different spots, from depth on defense to the tight end room, and it leaves the Buffs still sorting out who is truly close to returning before they try to handle an Oklahoma State team that will be watching those updates just as closely. [Read more 🡒]