Will Hammond kept climbing in the Big 12 quarterback picture after a strong showing against Houston, and now he gets one more tune-up before conference play starts to tighten. That’s the backdrop as Week 4 arrives with a slate that includes five Big 12 quarterback matchups and a few chances for some signal-callers to answer questions from last week.
Hammond showed he could hurt defenses with his legs when Texas Tech needed it, and his work with Kenny Johnson helped open up the passing game. The one blemish came on throws that were a little behind his targets, including an interception that came after his receiver slipped on the route. Even with that context, the ball was still put in a dangerous place.
Texas Tech’s final nonconference test comes against Sam Houston State at Noon EDT on TNT. The Bearkats will only see one Power Four offense all season, and it’s the Red Raiders.
Michael Hawkins Jr. also made a clear statement in Week 3, accounting for all five of West Virginia’s touchdowns in the win over Virginia. He kept defenses honest with his legs, but he also worked the middle of the field effectively, hitting DJ Epps three times for gains of more than 20 yards. Later, he dropped a 38-yard completion to Jaden Bray into a tight window.
West Virginia’s next test is at home against Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. EDT on FS1. The Cowboys did enough defensively to keep Dante Moore and Oregon under control in Week 2, with many of the Ducks’ scoring drives coming on short fields.
Another quarterback who stood out on the ground was Johnson, who reminded the league why he belongs in the dual-threat conversation during Kansas State’s 31-20 win over Tulane. He piled up 152 rushing yards and scored twice on the ground, highlighted by a 66-yard burst late in the first half.
Kansas State opens its first Big 12 challenge at Cincinnati at 7 p.m. EDT on ESPN2. Boston College quarterback Mason McKenzie ran for 78 yards against the Bearcats in Week 1, his first start at the FBS level.
Drew Mestemaker was nearly flawless in Oklahoma State’s 59-0 win over Murray State. His only real mistake was a fumble late in the first half, and everything else was clean: 20-of-22 passing for 324 yards and five touchdowns. One of those scores came on a sharp 31-yard deep ball to the end zone early in the third quarter.
Now he gets his first Big 12 defense of the season when West Virginia comes to town at 7 p.m. EDT on FS1. The Mountaineers’ only Power Four opponent this year leaned heavily on the run, and their secondary allowed Deuce Bailey to throw Coastal Carolina into a one-score game in the opener.
Conner Weigman turned in a gritty performance in Houston’s 28-26 loss at Texas Tech. He was a problem with his legs all night, and his passing highlight was a 46-yard touchdown to Koby Young, who pinned the ball to his right shoulder as he crossed the goal line.
Houston closes nonconference play at Georgia Southern this weekend at 4 p.m. EDT on ESPNU. The Eagles went to Clemson in Week 2, though unlike Houston, the Tigers are still unsettled at quarterback.
Julian Lewis had a rough night in Colorado’s 41-7 loss at Northwestern, and Week 4 now offers a chance for either him or DJ Lagway to reset. That’s one of the more intriguing quarterback storylines on the board, along with Hawkins and Mestemaker meeting in a clash of very different offensive styles.
Elsewhere, Bachmeier made just one real mistake in BYU’s 41-23 win at Colorado State, and it came on an interception thrown behind an intended target in the end zone. BYU leaned on the run, but Bachmeier still completed 75% of his passes and connected with Legend Glasker and Walker Lyons on tight-window throws.
The Cougars are off in Week 4 before returning to Big 12 play at TCU in Week 5.
In Arizona, Fifita was sharp in a 42-17 win over Northern Illinois, going 31-of-34 and creating offense when his first options weren’t there. He also delivered a one-handed touchdown strike to Tre Spivey and finished with a 30-yard touchdown run after escaping pressure in the pocket.
Arizona finishes nonconference play at Washington State at 7:30 p.m. EDT on CBS. Fifita was 34-of-43 for 342 yards in the last meeting between the schools, back when they were Pac-12 members.
Dampier’s lone miscue in Utah’s 33-0 win over Utah State was a lost fumble in the third quarter. He carried it 10 times, but his biggest damage came through the air, where he found Braden Pegan for a pair of deep touchdowns.
Utah opens road play at Iowa State this weekend at 3:30 p.m. EDT on FOX. The Cyclones allowed only one explosive pass against Iowa, though the Hawkeyes are hardly the most athletic offense around.
In Other News...
WVU Just Added A New Back To An Already Crowded Rotation
West Virginias running back room is getting even more crowded as Rich Rodriguez adds another experienced piece for the 2026 roster. Former Utah back NaQuari Rogers is headed to Morgantown after already spending time at Campbell and New Mexico, giving the Mountaineers a veteran transfer with stops across multiple levels of college football.
Rogers arrival came after he was granted a preliminary injunction in Indiana that allowed his transfer to move forward, but there is still a question hanging over his immediate future. The uncertainty now is when hell actually be cleared to suit up for games, leaving WVU with another name in the mix and another layer to watch as the roster takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Zac Alley Sends West Virginia Defense A Clear Message After Win
West Virginia left the field with a 38-27 win over Virginia, but the mood on the defensive side was anything but celebratory. The Mountaineers had built a three-possession cushion late in the fourth quarter, yet the way Virginia kept pushing back clearly bothered defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who pointed to the lapse as a sign the unit still has work to do.
Alleys frustration was rooted in the final drive, where he said the defense lacked discipline and execution when the game should have been under control. For a team that wants to establish a tougher, more reliable identity, the message was plain: the standard has to hold from the opening snap through the end of the fourth quarter, not just in the stretches when the score looks safe. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Road Test That Could Change The Big 12 Mood
West Virginias Big 12 opener brings a different kind of measuring stick to Morgantown, where the Mountaineers will welcome Oklahoma State in a matchup of two teams that have already shown they can handle a little early-season pressure. West Virginia has built its own buzz by knocking off then-No. 25 Virginia, while Oklahoma State arrives with wins over Oregon and Murray State and the kind of offensive production that has put it atop the conference in yards per game.
It is the sort of league opener that can quickly sharpen the mood around the Big 12, especially with West Virginia leaning on the ground game and Oklahoma State bringing a high-powered attack into a road environment that is never easy to navigate. Both coaching staffs have already acknowledged the quality on the other sideline, and this one now feels like a chance for one of these teams to announce itself a little louder while leaving the bigger questions about where it fits in the conference picture still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]