The first full week of conference play is in the books and we have some very interesting outcomes to mull over for a few days.
BYU’s throttling of Kansas State, Utah’s performance without Cam Rising, and Colorado’s impossible comeback were some of the week’s biggest storylines. Fans from across the league are overreacting to what happened this weekend.
So with that, what can we take as gospel, and what should we take with a grain of salt? Let’s discuss it in this week’s edition of Overreaction Monday.
Kansas State’s Season is Cooked
Overreaction: If you’re a Kansas State fan reading this right now (first of all, thanks for reading), I would encourage you to take a moment and look at what happened in Provo from a 30,000-foot perspective. For the first time in his career as a starter, Avery Johnson failed to get in the endzone and had multiple interceptions. After BYU punt returner Parker Kingston made one of the craziest plays you’ll ever see to put the Cougars up 31-6 in the third quarter, an already raucous Provo crowd went nuclear. After that, there was no coming back. Despite the ugly loss, I’m not concerned about this team. The culture that Chris Klieman has maintained in Manhattan will win the day, and the Cats will flush that one and get back to business this week against Oklahoma State.
It’s Time to Replace Sonny Dykes
Overreaction: Yes, the head coach’s seat in Fort Worth (TX) is getting warmer, and it should be. The Horned Frogs are 4-8 in their last 12 games, and they’ve given up a combined 527 rushing yards to their previous two opponents. The defense is a major issue right now and TCU isn’t going bowling if that isn’t shored up soon. However, you can’t cut ties with Sonny Dykes just two seasons after playing in a national championship game. Yes, it’s been bad, but the Horned Frogs have been among the best teams in the Big 12 on the recruiting trail and the transfer portal. Dykes deserves the rest of the season — at least — to get things figured out.
Utah is the Big 12 Favorite Until Further Notice
Not an Overreaction: Isaiah Wilson made his second consecutive road start for Utah this past week and managed to lead his team to victory in Stillwater. Beating Oklahoma State in Stillwater has been very difficult under Mike Gundy, but Kyle Whittingham’s group had what it takes to survive. Cam Rising’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious enough that it will keep him out much longer, and when he comes back, Utah appears to be the best team in the Big 12 by a wide margin. After hosting Arizona this week, Utah will have a bye week to get him healed up. After that, they’ve got a few games to get him going again before a final stretch that includes BYU, Colorado, Iowa State, and UCF.
BYU Can Make a Serious Run at Arlington
Not an Overreaction: There might not be a team in America that’s overachieved expectations more than BYU through four games. At this point, the Cougars were supposed to be 2-2 and looking at a gauntlet of schedule that might keep them from making a bowl game. Now, with one of the most efficient defenses and special teams units in the country, BYU is starting to roll. The back-to-back road trips to UCF and Utah still look daunting, but there’s not a game on the schedule that BYU can’t win with how they’re playing right now. ESPN’s matchup predictor favors the Cougs in five of their remaining eight games. Win those games and split the others and we’re talking about a 10-2 record. There’s a path to Arlington for this squad, as long as they can keep building momentum and keep taking care of business.
Travis Hunter Should be the Heisman Favorite
Not an Overreaction: Will Travis Hunter win the Heisman Trophy? No, but he should if he continues playing at the level he has through four weeks. While it appears that playing quarterback is a requirement to win the Heisman nowadays, there’s no question who the most outstanding player in college football is.
You may not like Deion Sanders or Colorado football, but there’s no denying greatness when you see it. Travis Hunter is a generational athlete who is playing out of his mind in 2024. Hunter has now logged five straight games with over 100 yards receiving — the longest streak in college football — and forced the fumble against Baylor that gave the Buffaloes an unlikely comeback win in overtime this week. He’s a playmaker unlike anyone else in the country, and right now, he’s the best player in the sport.
