Week 2 is where the Big 12 quarterback picture starts to sharpen. After a first weekend filled mostly with soft landing spots against Group of Six and FCS defenses, a handful of league passers are about to get a much better read on where they stand.
One quarterback already took his lumps. Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker was the only Big 12 starter to face a non-power opponent and come away with a loss, and his day at Tulsa was a rough one: 29-of-49 passing for 241 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in the Cowboys’ 24-10 defeat.
Only three Big 12 quarterbacks went against Power Four defenses in Week 1, and that small sample still offered a few clues. Colorado’s Julian Lewis and Baylor’s DJ Lagway each flashed at times, but neither was especially clean. Cincinnati’s JC French IV didn’t hit many explosive throws against Boston College - his longest completion went for 21 yards - though he still made a real impact on the ground with 52 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Now the schedule gets more revealing. Five Big 12 quarterbacks are set to face defenses from the Big Ten or SEC in Week 2, and another pair will square off when Arizona meets BYU. That makes this a better checkpoint for the league’s top passers, and the rankings begin with a quarterback who already saw one of the toughest defenses the Big 12 will face all season.
DJ Lagway didn’t deliver a clean outing, but Auburn was likely the hardest opponent any Big 12 quarterback saw in Week 1. He gave Auburn a couple of early turnovers that will stick out, yet he also uncorked several impressive deep throws against a strong secondary.
Lagway finished 27-of-54 for 333 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a lost fumble. Baylor now gets Prairie View A&M this week at 8:08 p.m.
EDT on ESPN+, with Louisiana Tech next, and that stretch gives Lagway a chance to build momentum before Big 12 play really starts to tighten.
One of the more efficient stat lines from opening weekend came from Utah State transfer not mentioned here; instead, the Big 12’s next quarterback in the mix is UCF’s quarterback Barnett. His only major blemish in the Knights’ debut was an interception on a throw that sailed over his receiver and into a defensive back’s hands.
Even with UCF leaning heavily on the run, Barnett still went 11-of-18 for 158 yards and a touchdown through the air, while adding nine rushing yards and another score on the ground. His first Power Four test as a Knight comes this week at Pittsburgh at 3:30 p.m.
EDT on ESPN2. Miami (OH) quarterback David McComb was uneven against the Panthers last week, finishing 16-of-33 for 240 yards and a touchdown, but Barnett brings more to the table as a runner.
Boley’s first game at Arizona State hinted at why the Sun Devils are so intrigued by him. His 387 yards and six touchdowns against Morgan State were padded by long catch-and-run plays, but the bigger point is that Kenny Dillingham has him in a far more quarterback-friendly setup than the one he dealt with at Kentucky.
Arizona State’s next challenge is a serious one: Texas A&M at noon EDT on ABC. The Aggies’ defense helped drive their College Football Playoff run last season, and this game should push Boley hard.
Kansas State’s Johnson was sharp in a 71-3 win over Nicholls, completing 15 of 21 passes for 199 yards and three touchdowns while also running for another score. All three passing touchdowns came on intermediate throws, including a 46-yard catch-and-run by running back Joe Jackson. The Wildcats host Washington State this week at noon EDT on TNT, and the Cougars just saw what a dual-threat quarterback can do after Demond Williams Jr. posted 268 passing yards, a touchdown through the air, 61 rushing yards and another score in Washington’s 24-0 win over them.
Houston’s Weigman had one mistake in the Cougars’ 33-20 win over Oregon State, and it was a costly-looking one: an interception on a ball thrown too far in front of his receiver that bounced to a defender. Outside of that, he was productive and controlled the game, completing 20 of 30 passes for 305 yards and a touchdown while adding 30 rushing yards and another score.
Houston plays Southern this week at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN+, and if things go as planned, Weigman’s night should be wrapped up by the middle of the third quarter.
BYU’s Bachmeier was the model of efficiency in the Cougars’ 63-7 win over Utah Tech, going 16-of-20 for 198 yards and three touchdowns and adding 30 rushing yards and another score. He gets a much bigger test now, as BYU opens Big 12 play against Arizona at 3:30 p.m.
EDT on FOX. Bachmeier was shaky in last season’s meeting with the Wildcats, finishing 12-of-29 for 172 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in BYU’s win.
Arizona’s Fifita looked comfortable in his first start of 2026, finishing 23-of-30 for 279 yards and two touchdowns against Northern Arizona. The opponent didn’t force him into a rescue act, but both scoring throws were placed where only his receivers could make a play.
Arizona heads to BYU this week at 3:30 p.m. EDT on FOX, and Fifita’s performance in last season’s 33-27 double-overtime loss there was uneven: 25-of-45 for 219 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Utah’s Dampier rounds out the group after a steady opening performance against Idaho. He didn’t lean on his legs much, rushing six times for 31 yards, but he was efficient through the air, completing 13 of 18 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns.
Most of his throws were short or intermediate. The Utes’ first Power Four matchup of the season comes late Saturday against Arkansas at 10:15 p.m.
EDT on ESPN, and the Razorbacks should be better on defense after a rough 2025. Utah, meanwhile, will be seeing a Power Four opponent under a completely new coaching staff for the first time.
In Other News...
Houston Finally Gets A Needed Answer On Stephon Johnson
Houston finally has one of its lingering early-season roster questions answered, and it lands at a good time with Southern coming to town in Week 2. Wide receiver Stephon Johnson has been cleared to play after a temporary restraining order and final approval from both the programs compliance office and the NCAA, giving Willie Fritz another option as the Cougars keep sorting out their lineup in the opening stretch of the season.
Willie Fritz also said Johnson will be available for the upcoming game, which at least stabilizes one part of the picture for Houston. The next issue, though, is still hanging in the air, since transfer safety Myles Rowser remains unresolved and appears unlikely to be eligible this week, leaving the Cougars waiting on one more key answer as they prepare for their next matchup. [Read more 🡒]
Kelvin Sampson Just Gave Houston Fans Real Reason To Dream Again
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For a program that has turned sustained roster construction into a calling card, getting that kind of early traction matters. It gives Houston an initial core to sell on the trail and another reminder that the Cougars are not waiting around to think ahead. The class is still taking shape, but the early outline is already the kind that can keep fans looking forward. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Looked Far More Vulnerable Than A Ranked Team Should
Week 1 had a way of humbling several AP Top 25 teams, and Houston fit right into that uneasy early-season picture. While Michigans messy win over Western Michigan turned into the biggest poll fallout, the Cougars also spent the weekend making their ranking look a little shaky, joining Oregon, SMU and Washington among the teams that left plenty of questions after facing unranked opponents.
Houston still got what it needed, but the performance was far from the kind that settles a restless fan base. With a veteran group back in place, the expectation was that the Cougars would look steadier than they did, and instead they were pushed into an uncomfortable finish that kept the opener from feeling like a clean statement. [Read more 🡒]