Week 6 in the Big 12 brought a little bit of everything: unbeaten teams staying hot, offenses exploding, and a few programs looking like they need answers fast. BYU kept rolling with a win over Iowa State, Utah handled Kansas, Oklahoma State and Houston both kept building momentum, and Arizona lit up West Virginia for 52 points. From Friday night in Provo to late Saturday in Tempe, the conference handed out plenty to celebrate, plenty to question, and a few performances that bordered on brutal.
BYU still found a way to leave some points on the table, but the Cougars remained unbeaten and Bear Bachmeier delivered the kind of response his team needed. He piled up nearly 440 total yards and two scores, even if the overall showing felt messier than the final margin suggested.
The defense did its part, but the offense and special teams gave away too many chances. Still, the result was never really in doubt by the end.
A win is a win.
Arizona’s offense looked even more convincing. In Morgantown, the Wildcats answered any lingering questions by hanging 52 on West Virginia and stacking up yards with ease.
Noah Fifita kept doing what he’s been doing, and Arizona didn’t blink even with its top three receivers out. The defense still has work to do, but the offense has enough firepower to keep Arizona in the mix against just about anybody.
Oklahoma State had a shaky start, but the Cowboys found their stride after halftime against UCF. A first-drive fumble could have sent things sideways, yet Oklahoma State scored on six of its final eight possessions and outscored the Knights 21-7 after the break.
Drew Mestemaker threw for more than 300 yards and the offense looks like it has settled in over the last couple of weeks. The defense also tightened up when it mattered most.
Houston may have made the loudest statement of the weekend. The Cougars went into the Little Apple and handled Kansas State with authority, scoring early and keeping the pressure on all night.
Connor Weigman threw four touchdown passes to Patrick Overmyer, the ground game topped 200 yards, and the defense looked much sharper than it had been. Houston scored on five of its final seven drives, and this looked every bit like a team that belongs in the conversation.
The only question now is whether the fan support shows up next week when Oklahoma State comes to town.
Utah didn’t have its smoothest outing, but the Utes still put together a strong offensive performance against Kansas. Wayshawn Parker powered the attack with 171 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Devon Dampier added three passing scores and a rushing touchdown of his own.
Parker’s role continues to stand out, especially with the way he contributes as a runner, receiver, and blocker. The defense needs some cleanup, but Utah still looks like one of the Big 12’s three best teams right now.
Arizona State got the bounce-back result it needed against Hawaii, even if the opponent didn’t tell us a whole lot. The Sun Devils’ defense held up well, and the run game produced more than 230 yards. Kenny Dillingham still pointed out that there are things to fix, but this was a useful reset as Arizona State moves deeper into its Big 12 schedule.
Not everyone came out of Week 6 feeling good. UCF started strong, just as it did against Houston, but the second half turned into another collapse.
The Knights were fighting in the first 30 minutes, then fell apart again after halftime. Over their last two games, they’ve been outscored 48-14, and even with the injuries piling up, the late-game slide is becoming a serious issue.
Kansas at least made Utah work for it longer than expected. The Jayhawks stayed in the game into the fourth quarter and had chances to score late, but they couldn’t finish.
The defense forced two turnovers, yet Utah still broke through for more than 40 points. Isaiah Marshall’s accuracy remains a problem, and the run game still isn’t giving Kansas enough.
There was effort here, but the same issues keep showing up.
And then there was the rough end of the weekend. Iowa State’s offense was hard to watch, plain and simple.
The Cyclones didn’t crack 100 yards until the fourth quarter, Jaylon Raynor struggled to keep drives alive, and Iowa State finished just 2-of-13 on third down. If BYU had been sharper, this one could have gotten ugly much earlier.
Outside of Aiden Flora, there wasn’t much to like.
West Virginia’s defense was even worse. After Zac Alley talked about simplifying things, the results somehow got uglier.
The Mountaineers gave up more than 50 points and nearly 500 yards, making it three straight games allowing more than 40. Through three Big 12 games, they’re surrendering an average of 46 points per contest.
No amount of production from Cam Cook or Michael Hawkins Jr. can cover for a defense that can’t get stops.
Kansas State rounded out the bottom of the list with a loss that stung in every way. The Wildcats were favored at home and still lost by nearly 20 points, while the defense couldn’t keep Houston off the field and never found an answer for the run game.
Avery Johnson also had a rough night connecting with his receivers. Collin Klein’s first season has not gone the way anyone in Manhattan expected, and this one felt like a new low.
In Other News...
Lance Leipold Just Got Unexpected Credit For Indianas Biggest Moment
Indianas rally against Nebraska ended with one of those fourth-quarter moments that can linger long after the final score. Down 11 entering the fourth, the Hoosiers kept chipping away before leaning on a fourth-and-1 call that helped swing the game in their favor and send them to 6-0.
What made the snap stand out was the borrowing behind it. Curt Cignetti credited Kansas and Lance Leipold for the play concept, one Indiana had adapted from a look originally used during the Jalon Daniels era in Lawrence. Indiana even had a nickname for it, and the result was the biggest play in a comeback that now has an unexpected Jayhawks connection attached to it. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Faces A Receiver Problem At The Worst Possible Time
A thin Kansas receiving room showed up at the wrong time against No. 12 Utah, and Isaiah Marshall had little choice but to lean on the pass catchers who were available. Cam Pickett, Nik McMillan and Nahzae Cox absorbed most of the workload, giving the Jayhawks a makeshift but productive outlet as the offense tried to keep pace without some of its usual options on the field.
Pickett delivered the biggest day of the group, turning in a career-best performance with eight catches for 134 yards, while McMillan added four receptions for 89 yards and a touchdown. With Keaton Kubecka and Tate Nagy unavailable, Kansas had to reshuffle its passing game on the fly, and the way Marshall distributed the ball offered a glimpse of just how thin the margin can be when the receiver depth chart gets stretched. [Read more 🡒]
Lance Leipold Weighed In On A Costly Kansas Penalty Vs Utah
Kansas had a frustrating stretch during its game against Utah, and it briefly spilled over to the sideline when Lance Leipold was hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The flag came after an official thought Leipold was charging toward him to argue, when the Kansas coach was actually heading over to check on injured cornerback Syeed Gibbs. The sequence added another layer to a drive that had already gone against the Jayhawks, with Gibbs tagged for two pass interference penalties before Utah finished it off with a touchdown.
Leipold addressed the moment after the game and tried to clear up what happened, while also acknowledging how difficult those calls were in real time. For Kansas, the episode was a reminder of how quickly a tense possession can tilt when penalties, injuries and confusion all pile up at once. The bigger frustration was the result of the drive itself, but the sideline misunderstanding became part of the nights larger conversation. [Read more 🡒]