The Big 12 has crossed the season’s halfway mark, and the hierarchy is starting to come into focus. Three teams are still unbeaten in league play and overall, and all three are sitting in the Associated Press Top 10 this week.
Two more have taken their first Big 12 loss but are still very much in the mix. Everyone else is chasing.
That split showed up loud and clear in the latest round of results, with BYU, Houston and Texas Tech climbing while Baylor and Arizona State took hard hits.
BYU kept its perfect run alive with a 28-24 home win over Notre Dame on Saturday, and the finish was messy enough that people are still talking about it. But the Cougars did it without their top running back, LJ Martin, who was out injured for a second straight game.
The bigger takeaway was the way Preston Rex stepped in at running back. That matters because it eases the load on quarterback Bear Bachmeier in the run game, which is exactly the kind of development BYU needed.
The Cougars also showed some real toughness in the win. And if you’re looking for a team building a case for the College Football Playoff, BYU just added a pretty loud piece of evidence - whether it wins the Big 12 or not.
Houston’s rise came in a different style, but it was just as loud. Against Oklahoma State, Conner Weigman put on a show, throwing for 343 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-32 win.
Willie Fritz wants to run the football, sure, but he trusted his fifth-year quarterback to air it out, and Weigman delivered. It felt like a breakout moment for him, the kind of performance that lets the rest of the conference know what Houston has under center.
That momentum matters even more with Utah coming to town this week and College Gameday on site. Fritz gets a chance to put his program on a bigger stage, and after this win, it’s a deserved one.
Texas Tech may have made the loudest statement of all. Coming off the bye, the Red Raiders hung 53 points on Arizona State, and 43 of those came in the first half.
Will Hammond looked more settled, the offense looked sharper, and Tech did it without running back Cameron Dickey, who is dealing with a high ankle sprain. The defense has already been strong all season, and at times it’s been elite.
If the offense has turned a corner, that’s a nasty combination.
Not everyone came out of the weekend feeling better about where things stand.
Oklahoma State’s loss to Houston didn’t bury the Cowboys, but it did shine a harsh light on the defense. The secondary had its worst outing of the year, and Weigman picked them apart behind a unit that had no answer. Houston piled up more than 500 yards, and that’s the kind of game that leaves head coach Eric Morris with plenty to sort through.
Still, the offense did enough to keep hope alive. Drew Mestemaker and company scored 32 points and put up points on four of their final five possessions. That side of the ball should keep Oklahoma State in games the rest of the way.
Baylor, though, had a chance to make the kind of move that changes a season. Instead, the Bears followed a four-game winning streak and a bye week by scoring just six points against TCU in the Revivalry at home.
After nearly beating Auburn to open the year, Baylor had a clean path to 6-0 before the stretch run. With BYU, Texas Tech and Houston still ahead, the chance to be undefeated in Big 12 play in November was right there.
Now, it feels like a missed opportunity. The Bears let it slip, and that leaves Dave Aranda with a lot to think about.
Arizona State’s setback looked even uglier. The Sun Devils had to make a quarterback change in the second half, turning from Cutter Boley to Mikey Keene, and that move said plenty about where the offense is right now. It’s sputtering, the defense is giving up points, and the résumé doesn’t have much to point to beyond a win over Kansas in London.
At this point, Arizona State no longer looks like a true Big 12 contender. I was wrong about that team.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Could Catch A Break In Cincinnatis Ground Game
Cincinnatis rushing plan could look a little different against Texas Tech if GiBran Payne cannot go. The Bearcats running back is listed as questionable because of an ankle injury he picked up last week, and his status matters because he has been a key piece of their ground attack.
Cole Tabb and JC French IV have also done their part to keep Cincinnatis run game moving this season, so the Bearcats are not short on options. Still, Paynes availability is worth watching closely for Texas Tech, which would no doubt welcome any disruption to a ground game that has helped set Cincinnatis offensive tone. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Has Early Fuel In A Ranking Debate Fans Hate
Texas Techs preseason buzz arrived quickly, with the Red Raiders landing at No. 19 in the AP Top-25 poll before a single meaningful game has been played. The ranking reflects the kind of anticipation that comes with a roster built around returning key pieces and reinforced by new transfers and freshmen, the sort of mix that can make October optimism feel a little more believable in Lubbock.
Now comes the part fans tend to argue about most: whether the hype is justified before the first test even tips. Texas Tech gets an early measuring stick in an Oct. 23 exhibition against Kentucky, then opens the official season Nov. 2, with bigger goals already in view - a conference title push and a run deep into March. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Techs JT Toppin Update Brings Hope And One Big Wait
JT Toppins recovery has given Texas Tech a reason to feel better about the weeks ahead, even if the wait is not over yet. Head coach Grant McCasland said the forward is ahead of schedule after his injury, a positive sign for a Red Raiders team that could use his presence as the season moves along. There is still a long way to go before he is back on the court, but the update at least points in the right direction.
McCasland also noted that Toppin would have redshirted this season if not for the NCAAs 5-for-5 eligibility rule, which keeps the door open for him to contribute later on. Texas Tech is expecting him to return sometime during the season, and his eventual availability could change the outlook in a meaningful way. For now, though, the Red Raiders are left watching his progress and waiting for the next step. [Read more 🡒]