Week 5 is here, and with it comes a new list of storylines and things to keep up with across the Big 12.
There have been several surprises in league play so far, but we won’t know much about the Big 12 race until we see some of these teams start to face one another.
This week, there’s a lot at stake for several teams across the league, and even a potential elimination game between two of the preseason favorites to win the Big 12.
Which Big 12 team has the most at stake heading into this week? The Heartland College Sports staff discusses in this week’s roundtable.
Pete Mundo: Kansas State
Kansas State was a team picked to win the Big 12 by many, but if they lose to Oklahoma State and fall to 0-2, that could be an early nail in the coffin for K-State’s chances of winning the Big 12. The Wildcats already have a loss at BYU, which is likely worse than Oklahoma State’s loss to Utah because Utah will likely be there at the end of the Big 12 season, meaning the tie-breaker scenarios are more likely to work in OSU’s favor. Plus, a loss to OSU at home would be demoralizing for the Cats to begin Big 12 play. KSU needs a win this weekend as much as anyone, at least based on what their goals were coming into the 2024 college football season.
Bryan Clinton: Kansas State
Last week’s 38-9 loss at BYU was undoubtedly the most shocking outcome in the Big 12 thus far, but it also puts K-State in a precarious position this week. The Wildcats have been listed alongside Utah as co-favorites to win the Big 12 since the spring, but run the risk of starting off 0-2 in Big 12 play and putting themselves behind the eight-ball. Getting back to Bill Snyder Family Stadium after a disappointing loss in Provo should a big help, but losing to Oklahoma State in front of a home crowd could put this team in a tough, tough spot. Kansas State was expected to be in College Football Playoff contention coming into the year, and a loss here would likely put them two games behind Utah in the race and behind Oklahoma State in any sort of tiebreaker scenario.
Matthew Postins: Oklahoma State or Kansas State
This will probably align with everybody on this roundtable and I’m not just saying this because I’m covering the game in Manhattan. But the team that loses this game will be two games in the hole to whichever teams are undefeated. Now, it’s not an insurmountable hole to climb out of and still reach the Big 12 Championship game. But the loser of this game has no margin of error. In my opinion, that team would have to win out to have a chance.Â
Derek Duke: Kansas
I know the popular pick here will be either Kansas State or Oklahoma State, but I am going to go with the Kansas Jayhawks. They are currently sitting at 1-3, and a loss to TCU would put them at four losses before the month of October. That is crazy, considering they were a popular preseason dark horse pick in the Big 12. Between the ugly losses and the regression of Jalon Daniels, it seems like nothing is going right for this program. If Kansas loses this weekend, then they can forget about Arlington because they may not even make a bowl game.
Joe Tillery: Oklahoma State/Kansas State
While this isn’t an unpopular pick by any means on this week’s round table, it is the correct answer in my opinion. The loser of Saturday’s matchup between K-State and Oklahoma State drops to 0-2 in conference play, out of the Top 25, and has more questions than answers at this point in the season.
Members of the media expected both teams to finish among the top three in the Big 12 Preseason Poll, but Saturday’s game will be a pseudo-elimination game in the hunt for Arlington unless something crazy happens. The loser of that matchup has the most to lose in Week 5.
