Big 12 Buzz: Arizona Stays Perfect, Kansas Haunts Iowa State Again, and the SEC’s Title Drought Grows
One Undefeated Left Standing in the Big 12
With Iowa State’s loss to Kansas on Tuesday night, the Big 12 is down to just one unbeaten team-and it’s Arizona. The Wildcats, now 17-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play, continue to roll through their schedule with a mix of high-level talent, depth, and a resume that’s as good as anyone’s in the country.
Arizona’s win over in-state rival Arizona State on Wednesday wasn’t just another tally in the win column-it was a reminder of how dangerous this team can be when its role players step up. While the trio of Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, and Jaden Bradley has been the engine all season, it was forward Toba Awaka who stole the show this time, dropping a career-high 25 points to help the Wildcats survive a scare from the Sun Devils.
That’s the thing with Arizona: they’re not just top-heavy. This team can beat you in a number of ways.
They own the Big 12’s top-ranked offense, they clean the glass with consistency, and they know how to force teams into uncomfortable spots on defense. They’re built to win in March-and maybe beyond.
Their upcoming trip to UCF could pose a test, but the real circle-your-calendar matchup comes on January 26, when they travel to Provo to face AJ Dybantsa and BYU. That one has the feel of a statement game-on both sides.
Another Phog Allen Nightmare for Iowa State
Phog Allen Fieldhouse has never been an easy place to play, but for Iowa State, it’s become something of a recurring nightmare. Tuesday night’s loss to Kansas marked the Cyclones’ seventh straight defeat in Lawrence.
Their last win there? Back in 2017.
Since then, it’s been heartbreak after heartbreak-and this latest one might sting the most.
Iowa State came in undefeated and left looking rattled. Kansas, on the other hand, looked like a team that had been waiting for this moment.
The Jayhawks played their best basketball of the season, while the Cyclones couldn’t seem to get anything going on either end of the floor. It was a perfect storm-and not the good kind if you’re Iowa State.
But here’s the thing: one loss doesn’t define a season. Especially not in college basketball, where the grind of the schedule demands short memories and quick turnarounds.
Kansas might not be the dominant blue blood they’ve been in past years, but Bill Self still knows how to win big games at home. He’s now 24-5 at Phog Allen when his team is ranked lower than the visiting opponent.
That’s not luck-that’s a pattern.
Iowa State gets another shot at Kansas on February 14 at Hilton Coliseum. And while Valentine’s Day is usually about love, you can bet revenge will be the only thing on the Cyclones’ minds that night.
SEC’s Title Game Absence Extends to Year Three
As we head into the national championship game, one notable absence looms large: the SEC. For the third straight year, no team from the so-called “best conference in college football” is playing for the title. That’s a drought we haven’t seen from the SEC in over two decades-and it’s raising some eyebrows.
From 2006 to 2022, the SEC dominated the sport, winning 13 of 17 national championships. But since 2023, the crown has shifted north, with Michigan and Ohio State each claiming titles. Now, either Miami or Indiana will add their name to the list, and the SEC will be watching from home again.
And yes, the SEC still had five teams in this year’s expanded 12-team playoff. But none of them made it past the quarterfinals.
In fact, through two years of the new format, eight SEC teams have made the field-and they’ve gone just 5-8. Those five wins?
They came against Arizona State, Clemson, Tulane, Georgia, and Oklahoma. Translation: nearly half of those victories came against fellow SEC or Group of Five teams.
The playing field has been leveled. The money, the resources, the coaching talent-it’s spread out more than ever before.
And the results are starting to reflect that. The SEC isn’t falling off a cliff, but it’s clear they’re no longer head and shoulders above the rest of college football.
So whether it’s Arizona flexing its depth, Kansas reminding us why Phog Allen is one of the toughest places to play, or the SEC watching the title game from the couch, one thing is clear: the balance of power in college sports is shifting. And that’s a good thing for the game.