We’re deep enough into the Big 12 season now that the picture is starting to sharpen. The teams sitting on top want to keep rolling.
The ones stuck in the mud need a jolt. And in Week 6, four programs have a lot to answer for.
Arizona is walking into one of the trickiest setups of the weekend. The Wildcats have to travel to Morgantown, cross three time zones, and deal with a noon kickoff that will feel even earlier to their bodies.
Arizona doesn’t recognize daylight savings time, so the clock there is the same as California’s right now, which only adds to the adjustment. On top of that, West Virginia is desperate after dropping two straight Big 12 games.
This is the kind of spot where the Mountaineers will throw everything at it. Arizona has to show it can handle the travel, the early start and the urgency on the other sideline.
If it can win here, it can stay in the Big 12 race for the long haul.
Kansas State’s issue is much more straightforward: stop the run. The Wildcats had two weeks to sit with what happened against Cincinnati, where they gave up 271 rushing yards.
Now they get Houston, and that means dealing with Conner Weigman, one of the best running quarterbacks in the conference, plus a backfield that features Re’Shaun Sanford II and Makhi Hughes. Weigman can throw it, but after what Cincinnati did on the ground, the Cougars are going to test Kansas State the same way.
The K-State offense showed up against the Bearcats. The defense has to match it by holding up against the run.
Oklahoma State has gone from the bottom of the barrel to a team with some real momentum. The Cowboys beat West Virginia to open Big 12 play, snapped an 18-game losing streak, won their third straight game and climbed back into the AP Top 25 for the first time in two years.
Head coach Eric Morris and his staff used the weekend to recruit hard, and the timing lined up perfectly with the surge. But now comes the next test: making sure the team doesn’t get too comfortable with all the praise.
The Cowboys have spent the last two weeks hearing how good they are. Morris has to keep them locked in, because if Oklahoma State wants to contend in this league, losing to UCF on Saturday is not part of the plan.
Arizona State has a different kind of pressure after getting overwhelmed by Baylor. That loss raised a real question about whether the Sun Devils are actually the team many thought they could be heading into the season.
Maybe they still are. Maybe Baylor is simply that strong.
But giving up 55 points is not something Arizona State can afford to repeat. The Sun Devils now get one-win Hawai’i, and that makes this a good chance to reset the tone.
If they don’t look dominant, the concern around Arizona State only grows.
In Other News...
UCF Heads Into A Trickier Oklahoma State Test Than Fans Realize
Oklahoma States quick rise under new coach Eric Morris has changed the feel around Stillwater in a hurry. After a 1-11 season a year ago, the Cowboys are 3-1 and ranked No. 18, with Morris putting his stamp on the program through an offense-first approach and a defense that has leaned on solid, fundamental tackling.
Even with the fast start, there are still some rough edges Morris has been trying to smooth out in practice. Turnovers and third-down production remain part of the conversation, which is why this team feels a little trickier than its record might suggest, especially for an opponent like UCF that is walking into a much more confident Oklahoma State than the one fans saw last fall. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces One Big Offensive Question Against UCF
Oklahoma State gets its first home Big 12 game of the season Saturday when UCF comes to Boone Pickens Stadium for an 11 a.m. kickoff, and the Cowboys are riding a three-game winning streak into a matchup that should tell plenty about where they stand early in league play. The 3-1 start has kept things steady in Stillwater, and with UCF making its first trip to town, the opening act on the home conference schedule comes with a little extra weight.
One of the bigger offensive questions centers on wide receiver Wyatt Young, who is listed as questionable but is expected by coach Eric Morris to be available. Young gave Oklahoma State a major lift against West Virginia, and his presence would matter for a passing game that could use as many reliable targets as it can get with both teams carrying multiple names on the injury report. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces One Big Offensive Concern Entering UCF
Oklahoma State heads into its meeting with UCF trying to keep a winning streak alive, and the Cowboys at least got one encouraging update on the offensive side this week. Head coach Eric Morris said wide receiver Wyatt Young is expected to play and be at full strength, a welcome sign for a unit that wants to keep building momentum as the Knights come to town.
The bigger question sits up front, where offensive lineman Johnny Dickson III is practicing but still not fully recovered. Oklahoma State does have options if he cannot go, with Desmond Magiya among the depth pieces available and Braydon Nelson also in the mix for a return, but the line remains the one area worth watching as the Cowboys try to protect the offense's rhythm. [Read more 🡒]