The Big 12 football season is less than a month away from starting and all 16 teams are going through fall workouts.
Each has a 12-game schedule to navigate. Only two teams can reach the Big 12 Championship game in December.
Along the way, there are potential trap games for each team. These are games that each team will likely be favored in, a game that team should probably win. But it could turn into a trap, depending on the opponent.
After looking at each Big 12 schedule, here is one potential trap game for each team going into the 2025 season.
Arizona: vs. Oklahoma State, Oct. 4
The Cowboys won’t go winless in Big 12 action again this season. In fact, OSU could be good enough to be pesky. The Wildcats will have played Iowa State the week prior. Arizona shouldn’t allow its attention to be diverted for this one. Â
Arizona State: vs. TCU, Sept. 26
The Sun Devils will have one less day to prepare. The Horned Frogs should have one of the best passing games in the Big 12. Arizona State gets a week off after this game. The Sun Devils will also be coming off a tough opener at Baylor that will have their attention. This is a potential mess for ASU.
Related: Five Big 12 Football Takeaways From the 2025 Preseason Coaches Poll
Baylor: vs. UCF, Nov. 1
By November, the Knights should be a much better team that they look on paper. If the Bears are contenders, this could be a troublesome game. Like Arizona State above, the Bears get a bye after this game. That’s always a recipe for looking ahead.
BYU: at East Carolina, Sept. 20
The Cougars must go across the country to face the Pirates, who are typically a good home team. It’s a rare chance for the Pirates to host a power conference team and they will do everything possible to keep it from slipping away. Plus, if BYU’s quarterback situation is still in flux, then the situation could get worse.
UCF: vs. Jacksonville State, Aug. 28
It’s Scott Frost’s second debut as head coach. Theoretically, the Gamecocks should not be the team they were last season under then-coach Rich Rodriguez. Jacksonville State should still be a good team, and it will be catching the Knights at the perfect time.
Related: Ranking Every Big 12 Starting Quarterback Ahead of the 2025 Season
Cincinnati: vs. Bowling Green, Sept. 6
The opener with Nebraska is getting a massive build-up. The Bearcats return home to host Bowling Green, which has been to a bowl game three straight seasons and has a new head coach — Eddie George. It’s the perfect recipe for a stumble by a Cincinnati team that probably needs a 3-0 start to reach a bowl game.
Colorado: at Houston, Sept. 12
Houston is becoming a trendy candidate for a flip from a losing season to a winning season. The Buffs are breaking in a new quarterback and have two non-conference games before heading to sweltering Houston on a Friday night.
Houston: vs. Stephen F. Austin, Aug. 28
Houston wants to start the season on the right foot. The Lumberjacks are a borderline Top 25 team in FCS with a potential all-America at quarterback in Sam Vidlak. This could turn into a really tough game for the Cougars if they don’t take it seriously.
Iowa State: vs. South Dakota, Aug. 30
This is a textbook trap game. The Cyclones go to Ireland, play a conference opener against Kansas State and then host South Dakota the following weekend. The Coyotes went 11-3 and reached the FCS semifinals last year. Remember — Iowa State lost to Ohio two years ago.
Kansas: at UCF, Oct. 4
This will be Kansas’ third straight week with a Big 12 game and after two home games the Jayhawks must go to Orlando for a game that will likely be played in the day. The Knights should be just good enough by this point to make Kansas’ life miserable.
Kansas State: vs. Army West Point, Sept. 6
The road is littered with teams that the Black Knights have upset, or nearly upset, over the years. Their triple option offense is a nightmare to prepare for. It’s a nightmare to defend and K-State only needs to remember that not too long ago Army nearly beat Oklahoma in Norman before losing in overtime.
Oklahoma State: vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 18
This will be OSU’s second straight home game after hosting Houston on Oct. 11. By this point, the Bearcats could be desperate for a win to keep their bowl hopes afloat. The Cowboys will have played two straight games against lightly regarded league teams. A third might be the perfect trap.
TCU: vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 29
TCU is a stealthy choice to win the Big 12. This game will be the Horned Frogs’ fourth straight without a break and comes after a road trip to Houston. TCU may be fighting for a Big 12 title game berth. Cincinnati may be fighting for Scott Satterfield’s job. Hijinxs could ensue.
Texas Tech: vs. Oregon State, Sept. 13
The Red Raiders’ first two games of the season are against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Kent State, both at home. By then, Tech may have been lulled into a false sense of security, enough for a Beavers team to make the Red Raiders’ lives miserable.
Utah: at Wyoming, Sept. 13
The Cowboys play more than 7,000 feet above sea level. That probably won’t be an issue for the Utes. But Laramie is still a tough place to play. Just ask Texas Tech, which went there a couple of years ago and lost a night game.
West Virginia: at Ohio, Sept. 6
After opening the season at home against Robert Morris, the Mountaineers head to Athens, Ohio, to play the Bobcats before the Backyard Brawl with Pitt. Big 12 fans have seen this movie before.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
